News-Antique.com - Mar 05,2009 - Dallas, TX – The first Signature® Stamps Auction
in more than 15 years at Heritage Auction Galleries, Feb. 5-7, proved
a $1.4 million success, with the company’s one-of-a-kind post-auction
buys continuing to push the total beyond $1.5 million. Collectors from
around the nation, having waited 15 years to see the Heritage name
back in rare stamps, took notice and logged on to the Internet, bid
via the telephone and attended the auction in-person at Heritage’s
Dallas headquarters yielding the solid results.
“It’s hard to know what to expect in economic conditions like this,”
said Steve Crippe, Director of Rare Stamps at Heritage, “but
collectors responded quite enthusiastically to the offerings in this
auction. We saw strong prices on several important lots.”
With several different stamps vying for the marquee position in the
auction, it was the Ben Franklin #1a, 1847, 5c Dark Brown, SUP 98J PSE
,
with original gum and previously hinged, that occupied its rightful
spot at the top of the heap. The stamp is the bottom right sheet
corner margin single, Position 100R, believed to be the /unique/ mint
example that unquestionably proves its plate position. The stamp shows
little wear from its 160+ years, a fact of particular interest
considering how delicate and porous the paper used for this issue is
by nature. It finished the auction at $71,700, including Buyer’s Premium.
Several other Philatelic treasures stood out in the auction, among
them: a #295a, 1901, 2c Carmine and Black, Inverted Center, F 70 PSE
,
(Original Gum - Previously Hinged) Fast Express with inverted center,
of which approximately 155 unused copies exist, realizing $41,825; a
#296a, 1901, 4c, Deep red Brown and Black
,
(Original Gum - Previously Hinged) Electric Automobile in Washington.
This 4c Pan-American Invert is a special printing. It brought $26,290;
a #C13-15, 1930, 65c - $2.60 Zeppelins, SUP 98J PSE
,
(Original Gum - Never Hinged), the most sought after Airmail stamps in
the World - United States Graf Zeppelins, one of the top three graded
sets in existence, which sold for $17,925; a #467, 1916, 5c Carmine,
SUP 98 PSE
http://stamps.ha.com/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=1106&Lot_No=31740&type=PR-PRTE021109>,
(Original Gum - Never Hinged) a magnificent large margined showpiece
showing parts of all the eight adjoining stamps. It realized $11,352,50.
“We’re off to a solid start in the Rare Stamp market,” said Crippe.
“We’re going to build on the success of this auction with our monthly
Internet stamp auctions, plus we’re on the constant lookout for
consignments of rare stamps for our next Signature® auction, to be
held in August.”
If you are interested in consigning to an upcoming Internet or
Signature Rare Stamps Auction, call Steve Crippe at (800) 872-6467,
ext. 1777, or email StevenC@HA.com mailto:StevenC@HA.com
