PDF Version - Prestige Philately

May 24, 2008
Prestige Philately - The Sixth International Rarities Auction Page: 3
Prestie Points #136
Sixth International Rarities Auction
Gary Watson
Director and Auctioneer
Operations Manager:
Daniel Brown
Email: daniel@prestigephilately.com
Accounts:
Bev Woods
Email: accounts@prestigephilately.com
Despatch and Client Liaison:
Nick Anning
Email: nick@prestigephilately.com
Lotting and Client Liaison:
Matt Hancock
Email: matt@prestigephilately.com
Client Support:
Kim Campbell
Email: support@prestigephilately.com
Our Sydney Agent:
Kevin Nelson
Phone: (0402) 224 400
Email: kevin@prestigephilately.com
Our Perth Agent:
Ross Duberal
Phone: (08) 9341 3576
Email: ross@prestigephilately.com
Our British Agents:
Roger Lee
Phone/Fax (01869) 240 555
Email: roger@prestigephilately.com
Patrick Reid
Phone (01344) 300 309
Email: patrick@prestigephilately.com
Our American Agent:
Steve Schumann
Cell Ph: (510) 415 6158
Email: steve@prestigephilately.com
1. All of us at Prestige Philately are proud to present to you the catalogue for our
Sixth International Rarities Auction. As is the standard for our Rarities Auctions,
no expense has been spared in presenting philately as art, with some 98% of
the lots illustrated - many enlarged up to three or four times actual size. On this
occasion we have made a feature of including numerous subsidiary images:
enlargements of plate numbers, varieties, backstamps etc. Where it makes
sense to do so, we have presented extracts, rather than entire items. We’re sure
you will agree that this makes the catalogue even more user-friendly and a more
valuable reference work.
2. I’ve made the point before that all our Rarities Auctions have been
characterized by being completely different from one another. Last year, the
Australian section was relatively modest and the sale was built around a three
exceptional Australian Colonies properties, namely Bernie Manning’s
Queensland, Harry Lower’s South Australia, and Trevor Davis’ Destination Mails.
The year before we had a spectacular array of magnificent Kangaroos and
wonderful Victorian Postal History.
Rarities #6 is perhaps remarkable for the balance achieved between Australian
Commonwealth (156 lots), and the Australian Colonies (166 lots), with a healthy
63 lots in the Rest of the World section.
3. We kick things off with a book that every collector should want to own, and a
couple of quirky space-exploration items. The Australia includes a number of
quite sensational rarities, the most noteworthy being Tim Rybak’s incredible and
unique Plate Number block of our unissued 1956 3½d Olympics stamp. A group
of “fresh as a daisy” die proofs are sure to be popular, as will be our two Aussie
feature sections: the “Blamire” Collection of Bicolour Kangaroos; and the
Sydney Harbour Bridge Large Gold Medal exhibit formed by former Australia
Post Chairman Maurice Williams.
4. The second section of the sale is, of course, “Australian Colonies”. We have
been able to assemble a truly eclectic mix of classic stamps, rare proof material,
and exceptional postal history from a surprising number of different vendors. All
six “States” have their notable features but New South Wales is especially strong
with the inclusion of another excellent competitive exhibit, Dr Jim Johnstone’s
study of the 1888 Centennial Issue. It should be noted that this was the first
commemorative stamp set in the world and Jim’s collection is thus a
philatelically important study.
I must also make mention here of a wonderful historical letter of 1826, which is
the earliest mail in private hands from the Northern Territory, when it was
still part of New South Wales. Lot 238 contains a spell-binding account of the
short-lived settlement at Fort Dundas on Melville Island. I’m sure everyone will
be captivated by this marvellous item and the story behind it.
5. From the “Rest of the World” we have some truly magnificent stamps from
Great Britain, New Zealand and Norfolk Island, and stupendous covers, notably
one of the few fine Fiji Times Express covers, an exceptional Papal States
franking to Australia, and an amazing item from India to the Holy Land but
missent to Labuan!