Spink is starting their new season at the beginning, with a grand sale of Great British stamps dating back to the start of stamp issues with just under 600 lots going under the hammer.
The natural place to start is with an excellent Penny Black block. Penny Black stamps are not necessarily valuable as so many were issued, but blocks of them in good condition usually are.
In this case there is a Plate V block of eight running from II-JL positions. There are clear to large margins all round and with very light red Maltese Cross cancellations. The IJ and Il positions have pinholes and the IJ has a thin.
Of fine appearance, it is a rare and desirable multiple and listed at £12,000-14,000 ($22,400).
Collectors of the earlier stamp issues will also be excited to learn that a very rare sheet of 12 test stamps made for the 1840 1d Rainbow Trials has recently come onto the private markets.
From the stamps issued in Queen Victoria's early reign we move to the last phase of her rule with a spectacular error on a block from 1887-1900 Jubilee Issue.
 A design unlikely to catch on: The Jubilee issue error block |
This is a 3d. purple on yellow lower right corner block of six, the corner with diagonal pre-printing paper fold resulting in four stamps with partial or no printing on face and appearing on the gummed side.
In fresh, unmounted mint condition, this is a unique error which surely rates as one of the best of the Jubilee issue. It is listed at £12,000-15,000 ($24,000).
Spink's sale takes place on September 20 in London. Watch this space for more details of this exciting auction.
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