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