Preview 6th auction
1.-2.December 2017

A very specialised collection of Russia and Soviet Union forms one of the highlights of our 6th auction. The collection is split up into several single lots. Let us have a look on some of the most important items.

The first souvenir sheet of the Soviet Union appeared in 1937 to honour the poet Puschkin. It was printed on chalky paper but a small number was made on ordinary paper. The total number of sheets printed was 140.000 copies but only 3.000 were made on ordinary paper. The item offered here comes in unmounted mint condition.

Another very scarce souvenir sheet is the 1949 „Lenin mausoleum“ sheet which was issued in a perforated and in an imperforate version. Due to their large size are used examples in fine quality not often seen.

„From the ridiculous to the sublime is only a small step“ – at least this is how you can see it if comparing the perforate and the imperforate version of the 1930 Zeppelin issue. The perforate set is quite inexpensive and is mostly found in average collections of the area. However, the imperforate version is very scarce and much sought after. The set offered comes in unmounted mint condition. We start with a quite moderate estimate of 2000 Euro.

A leap in time – from 1930 to the year of 1967. This was the year when the then 50-years-old Isvestija newspaper (the organ of the political elite) was awarded the Order of Lenin, the highest decoration in the former Soviet Union. This event was honoured by a special overprint on the regular Isvestija commemorative stamp. On the occasion of a celebration these overprinted copies were handed out to high ranking officials or prominent persons such as cosmonauts, famous athlets etc. The overprinted stamps were never sold over the post office counter, however, they are listed in the Russian Standard catalogue and valued at 60.000 Euros. Our estimate of 10.000 Euros could let your imagination run wild...

Other highlights of this offer are some items of the Russian Far East Territories in the years after WWI. We are talking about Siberia and the Priamur rural provinces where old Russian stamps were overprinted with new denominations. Of some items only tiny numbers are in existence. According to official sources only some dozens of the 10 on 5K value were overprinted and of the 5 Roubles value a mere 15 copies were made.

Both stamps are world rarities (although the catalogue quotations are unchanged since ages...) and it is self-understood that both come with certificates of well-reputated experts suchs as the Friedl Expert Comittee or Mr. Mikulski.

A letter from Copenhagen to England of 1863 bears a 4-colour franking of DENMARK`s „square“ issue. As the addressee had moved the letter was re-addressed which is documented by several cancellations and thus we have in our hands an item „full of character“.

A very fine cover bearing GREAT BRITAIN 1856 6d embossed goes to the isle of Mallorca which was at that time not that kind of Mecca as it is for tourists nowadays. This is a very desirable item not only for a collector of the British Isles.

The classic items of SWITZERLAND are popular and there are a couple of items on offer including a Dove of Bale or a 4 Rappen of Zurich. A very curious item is the depicted 4 Rappen essay. It is a so-called „Essay of Esslingen“ without year. These early proofs are described in the Handbook of Swiss Cantonal Stamps and they are very scarce.

Also to mention are the official stamps of 1918. These were ordinary Swiss definitives overprinted „Industrielle Kriegswirtschaft“ (= Industrial War Economy). These overprinted stamps are seldom found on commercial mail. The printed matter shown here bears the 7 ½ Rp. stamp (Mi.No. 3I) the quality of which meets even raised demands.

Starting with ASIA there is a fine selection of Peoples` Republic of China on offer among which „Mao`s thesis“, „Youth Souvenir sheet“ or the „Red Monkey“ can be mentioned.

AFRICA – here are some nice items of the Cape region, e.g. a block of seven of the TRANSVAAL 1 Sh. green showing a tête-bêche pair fine used. This is much scarcer than you can expect from the very „conservative“ price quotation in the SG catalogue.

Another remarkable lot is a part perforate copy of the 9d green SOUTH AFRICAN 1925 air mail stamp on a registered letter from Durban. We have not seen such a variety in the last twenty years.

Our „tour d`horizon“ ends up in LATIN AMERICA. COLUMBIA`s first air mail stamp of 1919 comes on a letter and it is in a remarkably fine condition. As the separation of single stamps from the sheet was done by using a knife most stamps come with perforation faults. The copy offered here can be considered as nearly perfect.

Nice classic stamps can be found from several countries, such as from Bolivia, Mexico, Columbia or Venezuela.

A small selection. Shown here are a 500c „Condor“ proof of Bolivia`s first issue, a magnificent corner copy of Mexico, the scarce 2 1/2c. value of 1861 of the Granada Confederation in perfect condition and a tête-bêche pair of Venezuela of 1875. Of this latter mentioned pair are less than 10 copies known. Thus we can speak of a world rarity.

GERMANY and German area is strong as usual. Apart from rarities and a well sorted offer of the so-called standard material there are the „little things“ which should attract the reader`s attention.

There is for example a „chair“-franking of a 3 Kr. narrow perforation of BADEN. It is really difficult to separate these stamps from the sheet – due to the thin paper and the very sensitive perforation – and to separate a block of three must have meant a real challenge for the post office man. However, this blocks comes in perfect condition. Alongside you can see one of the most appealing pieces in existence with a 6 Kr. brown first type of BAVARIA. With large margins all around originating from the sheet margin and bearing a clear and attractive cancellation this piece meets highest demands.

Official mail from HELIGOLAND. „Govt Heligoland“ is the manuscript marking at bottom left of the envelope – bearing the official seal of the Heligoland administration on the backside -, however, the postage had to be paid as the letter went to Brunswick and this was abroad.

„This is the way you can collect the first issue of the German Reich....“ The piece shown here bears the rarest stamp of the first issue, a 2 Kr large shield, attractively cancelled and in pristine condition.

A 1900 postal pictorial card from German South West Africa addresses a „Trumpeter Kirschstein at the Imperial Protection Forces“ at the „North Expedition“. The howabouts of this expedition and wherefore a trumpeter was necessary you may read in our auction catalogue. It can be taken as granted that a second piece will be hard to find!

And again – another „little rarity“: A vertical pair with „bridge“ of the 50 Pfg. Crown and Eagle used as a forerunner in SAMOA. This was in the year of 1899.

At the end a commercial letter from the camp of RUHLEBEN.

This camp was established for British Internees during WWI. There were postage stamps produced and in circulation. These stamp are quite inexpensive and you mainly find them in unused condition.

However, the letter shown here documents that the camp stamps had been in use for some commercial purposes. It is not a world rarity, but you have to find one!

The whole offer of our 6th auction will be online at the 28th of October 2017. The offer comprises more than 4400 lots of which are nearly 1500 collections and lots.

The print version will be mailed on th 1. November 2017