Commonwealth Games Melbourne Australia 2006 scarce IMPERFORATE stamp issue sells

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Australia 2006 Commonwealth Games

Imperforate Block of 4 - Limited Issue

With almost no announcement Australia Post issued on February 1st, 2006 a range of very collectible and unusual versions of the Commonwealth Games 50c stamps. Stock quickly sold out.

A limited release was made of an IMPERFORATE block of 4. This imperforate was otherwise not sold or issued in any way. A similar size design perforated block of 4 with margin was also issued - also obtainable no other way. MUH blocks of both unique formats are illustrated above.

Imperforate blocks are highly popular with local collectors. I offered the 2005 50c Rotary imperforate block in recent months at $80 each and got a strong response - see link below - i have 6 blocks left in stock. 10,500 blocks of those were sold, and I have heard on good authority (but cannot confirm) there were FAR less blocks of any of these 4 Games blocks sold to stamp collectors.

https://www.glenstephens.com/rotary.html

The issue on January 10, 2006 of the 'Archive Treasures' imperforate block met with even more interest (and controversy) and dealers are already getting $1,250 for this issue. The "Stamp News" Editor reports that one sold at the Canberra Stamp Show March 18/20 for $1,250! The BUYER was another member of the trade who will sell it in imperf pairs at $400 a pair. This Commonwealth Games set is the 3rd issue in the Imperforate series. Do NOT miss out. Remember the old truism - the FIRST issues of any series nearly always turn out well - as most collectors and dealers usually totally overlook buying them.

Commonwealth Games is a big selling topic/thematic worldwide and these are clearly THE headline rarities from the entire world issue program.

This issue also had the 50c peel'n'stick version single also in sheetlet form as per illustration above in the centre photo. You get this in my package deal below. The only other way to obtain this stamp design in self-stick was in rolls of 100 - end to end horizontal. This "Sheetlet Of One" is therefore also unique. In my view it is an important as the Imperforate sheetl. It reminds me in appearance of the recent USA un-announced Duck "pane of one" which rapidly went from a $20 issue price to $2,000 - read all about that below and see the photo of it. Yes, collectors whinged and whined in magazines about these when first advertised by dealers to all comers at $US49 and soon after at $US79. (=$A105)

https://www.glenstephens.com/snoctober05.html

As you can read in the link above, one letter writer to Linn's, Carl A. Hedin described such a profit margin on a $20 item as: "usurious and mercenary" in a letter to Linn's published August 15, 2005. Another writer Philip Roscher criticised Linn's for running the ads, and said the ads at $US49 and later $US79 were "the most distasteful example of greed I've seen".

Collectors who instead of whining about dealer mark-ups, and DID purchase "at market" when these panes were freely offered by dealers for considerably less than $US100 must be rather pleased already. Their timely purchase now worth at least $US1,775 - and that price is higher still - 7 months later.

I have a VERY small stock of this Limited Edition issue of 4 panes to offer clients. You receive all the 3 blocks illustrated above also a similar sized block with TWO vertical 50c peel'n'stick stamps side by side. Also available in NO other way. (Not illustrated due to space reasons.)

You receive - 4 similar sized blocks, with 11 x 50¢ Games stamps in total. Absolute perfect small sized to display all 4 sheetlets on a single stockbook, Hagner or album page. Apologies about the price, but the wholesale price has been going nuts lately since the trade discovered these had actually been issued and rapidly sold out. I could only locate a tiny number of sets as it was. Once sold I will not be able to replace them, and will remove this page.

I also secured a few FDC on the official unaddressed Australia Post Commonwealth Games special envelopes. These bear side by side matched corner copies of the perf and Imperf stamp issues cancelled FDI, Feb 1st. (Lot "F") - $A45 per FDC. (2 sets for $A75, 5 for $A165) I believe only a few dozen would exist worldwide. You can choose to get these on the pretty "Pastel" FDC as shown below, or the other official blue/yellow/green FDC design also shown below - Lot "G" for $A75 for the 2 different design FDC's. Or buy lot "K" for the FOUR panes all on these FDC at $A115.

A. Set of 4 same sized sheetlets MUH (3 of which are illustrated above) - $A95

B. Set of 4 same sized sheetlets (3 of which are illustrated above) all Used cancelled FIRST DAY ISSUE - $A95

C. TWO sets of either lots A or B - your choice of either Mint or Used - specify please - $A165

D. FIVE sets of either lots A or B - your choice entirely of either Mint or Used - specify please - $A375

E. "Pane Of One" (illustrated in centre above) and the similar "Pane of 2" - one of each MUH - $A30

F. First Day Cover of the imperf and perf single togther as illustrated below - on Official PO FDC - $A45

G. TWO FDC's - perf and imperf both on very different design PO envelopes as shown below. $A75

H. First Day cover of the "Pane of One" or "Pane Of Two" (your choice - specify) as shown below - $A40

I. Both of the options in choice H on two seperate FDC's so as to be complete! - $A70

J. For FDC lovers - all 3 FDC - i.e. Lot F plus Lot H with Pane of one and "Pane Of Two" - save $15 - $A110

K. The four panes on 4 seperate FDC! i.e. like the "Pane Of One" illustrated below. VERY rare. All F.D.I. ! $A115

These are offered STRICTLY SUBJECT UNSOLD. Orders will be mailed in strict order of receipt. Early ordering is advised. I reserve the right to adjust the price at any time. You may order these Mint or Fine Used - or a set of both - please specify which you prefer. Many folks order both mint and Used, so I have created a special $165 price for 2 sets. I'll assume you require MINT if only 1 set of 4 is ordered.

Registered Post anywhere in Australia is $A5, or $A12 anywhere overseas. Insurance Extra. All credit cards accepted.

Order quickly on-line at - www.glenstephens.com/orders.html and call lot item "Games Sheets Lot X"

Above - the Official Australia Post Games envelopes with the first day issue cancel of the imperfs. Only a tiny HANDFUL of covers were serviced worldwide bearing the imperf stamps, or the peel'n'stick panes. These will always be VERY keenly sought after covers, and at $45 each a savvy buy. (A single imperf of the Jan 2006 "Archive Treasures" stamp on FDC sells for $250 already.)

You may order them on the envelope illustrated above (the more colourful of the two!) or with same cancel on the one shown below (or on both if you wish) - which is also an official Australia Post Commonwealth Games FDC envelope. Or, if you wish buy BOTH envelopes for $A75 - saving you $15. (Lot "G".)

If you wish to have the peel and stick "Pane of One" (or even the "Pane of Two" peel and stick) cancelled First Day Issue on the Official cover below (fits perfectly as you can see) each one of those is $40 - or the both for $A70. OR - order lot "J" and get all three!

Reverse of the cover is shown here. As you can see it is a multicolour OFFICIAL Commonwealth Games licensed Australia Post cover. A few FDC would have been done on plain covers - or non Post Office un-official covers, but only a handful of OFFICIAL AP covers exist worldwide with First Day Cancels of February 1st. Lot "K" is all FOUR panes on 4 of these covers - $A115 the lot. Only TEN sets of those were produced.

NO GST is added to prices to any items on this website.
All prices on EVERY list are weak Australian Dollars!!

All prices are "nett" ... what you see is what you pay. NO Nasty, nasty 15%-20% Auction house "Buyer's Commission" silly nonsense is later extorted from you!

www.GlenStephens.com
The most visited stamp dealer website in the Southern Hemisphere!

IMPORTANT NOTE ... all my stamps - on this page or other pages are charged in AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS at the $A prices shown. Where I have used a £Stg or $US price etc conversion in text on any offer at any time - that is to be treated as very APPROXIMATE as it may have been computed a while back. It was correct at that time, but $A exchange rates have been VERY volatile in recent times. Please use the spinning gold currency converter found on Home Page of my website to ascertain the current EXACT amount in your own currency according to today's mid-rate. Remember - I will always charge your credit card the $A sum shown for each lot, (plus shipping and insurance) and NOT the sum shown as rough approximation in a non-Australian currency.

There are NO nasty 15% "Buyer's Commissions" or other such outrageous fees added to the price YOU pay when you deal with Glen Stephens. A $1,000 Kangaroo stamp from me costs $1,000 plus shipping. You could bid "$1,000" for the same Kangaroo stamp from an "Auction" house (who in Sydney OFTEN owns the stamp themselves anyway!) and it might cost $1,000 plus 15% "Buyer Fee" plus 10% GST on that $1,150 = the "$1000" stamp is now invoiced at $1,265. All depends on whether possibly saving $265 is important to you I guess.

GLEN $TEPHEN$

Full Time Stamp Dealer in Australia for over 25 years.

Life Member - American Stamp Dealers' Association. (New York)
Also Member - Philatelic Traders' Society. (London) ANDA. (Melbourne) American Philatelic Society, etc

ALL Postage + Insurance is extra. Visa/BankCard/MasterCard/Diners/Amex all OK, even for "Lay-Bys"! All lots offered are subject to my usual Conditions of Sale, copy upon request BIGGEST STAMP BUYER: Post me ANYTHING via Registered Mail for my same-day cheque. Avoid the GENERALLY 40% Auction " Commissions" (15% + 17½ + GST, etc.) AND their five-month delays! Read this for details.

"Lothlórien," No. 4 The Tor Walk, CASTLECRAG (Sydney), N.S.W. 2068
Phone: (02) 9958-1333 Fax: (02) 9958-1444 (Both 25 Hours, 7 Days!)
E-Mail: glen@glenstephens.com
Web Sites: www.glenstephens.com www.glenstephens.net or www.australianstamps.net

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