Hawaiian missionary 5c stamp sent under the hammer at German auction

Just yesterday, we were noting that an extremely rare overprint pair of Newfoundland stamps was to head a Californian auction.

Now it seems that its auction season for Newfoundland philately as a major German auctioneer is limbering up to offer some important rarities too.

It is a vast sale, covering the whole world with an astonishing 30,000+ lots on offer during the four day schedule. There are over 100 philatelic lots of Newfoundland alone.

1932 Newfoundland surcharge stamp block
One of a kind? The 1932 Newfoundland surcharge stamp block

The one which stands out, however, is a four block of the Newfoundland 1932 $1.50 on $1 deep blue with inverted surcharge. This is the same stamp of which we had an example until November, but the example going under the hammer in this case is the only block of its kind known.

What's more, it's in remarkably good condition with full original gum, very fine overall and signed E. Diena. It is expected to sell for around €75,000.

Although not expected to be quite as valuable in the auction, there is another more famous stamp looking to grab the headlines.

Hawaiian postage stamp 5c
Famous in philately - the Hawaiian missionary postage stamp

This is an 1851 Hawaii 5c blue - better known as one of the 'Hawaiian missionaries' (so called because they were issued for use mostly for missionaries in Hawaii), Crocker Type I.

It is unused with no gum, a rich colour, and repaired with margin and frameline added at the top. There is a closed tear across most of ornaments above numeral '5'. It is of fine appearance, and one of twelve recorded unused examples of the Hawaiian - according to the auctioneer.

Two of these are in the Tapling Collection at the British Library. The example in the auction is expected to bring €30,000 when it sells on day two of the February 6-10 auction.

Collectors on the lookout for early stamps will be excited to know that a trial plate of 12 from Great Britain's Rainbow Trials (from before the birth of the Penny Black) is available from our stock - perhaps the only one of its kind.


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