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Glen Stephens
Monthly "Stamp
News"
Market Tipster Column
Washington 2006 "World Stamp Expo". Red Hot China and Roo prices!
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The market is red hot for Chinese
material - that much is clear.
Stanley Gibbons Sydney had an auction
June 21 which smashed all kinds of price records.
I spoke to auctioneer Danny Jurd about
the sale and he told me he has never seen such intense
bidding on any section of any of the countless auctions
he has been involved in.
Auction calling of the mere 136 China
lots took him 2 hours and the intense bidding saw the
invoices rise to about $A385,000.
There were multiple phone, room and book
bidders hammering it out on most of the lots I was told.
Interestingly many of the staggering prices were for
quite modern material - not pre-war classics etc.
A collection of 1963 to 1970 People's
Republic was the first lot in this section and set the
tone for the rest of the section. Estimated at $2,000
the lot was knocked down for $7,130.
A collection of 1960's blocks of four
estimated at $1,000 sold for $7,590.
The 1950 Dairen Tien An Men $10 Blue
vertical pair imperforate between, estimated at
$300 sailed well above that as the phone bidders battled
it out. When the dust settled the invoice was a
staggering price of $10,925.
Mei Lanfang was one of the legends of Peking Opera. From his birth in 1894 until his death in 1961 his fifty year career in the Peking Opera has given him Legend status and the stamps and mini sheets issued in his honour in 1962 are always popular. |
Sold for average $5,359
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Lots 600 to 602 were
imperforate Mei Lanfang sets, Lot 600 was the set in blocks
of four- estimated at $4,000 and was eventually knocked down
for $11,960,
Lot 601 the same set in imperforate pairs with "some toning" estimated at $1,200 sold for $6,670. Lot 602, four Imperf sets in strips or pairs estimated at $2,500 sold for $9,200.
The next five Lots 603 to 607 were the Mei Lanfang mini sheets all of which had some faults, and as such were estimated at $1,000 each. The sale prices left these figures way behind as they sold for $4,945, $5,520, $5,175, $5,290 and $5,865 - or an average price of $5,359 each!
The full Yang catalogue price for this mini sheet is $US2,000 MUH with small faults, and $US2,500 for perfect condition.
All 5 of these SG auction sheets had pretty serious faults. Creasing and toning etc - the top one in the photo nearby has 2 obvious corner creases for starters!
Yet all 5 sold to frantic bidding - each for more than most mint £2 Kangaroos fetch. Food for thought.
I wrote some years back about needing to source this mini sheet for a client in Tamworth. I think I charged him $400 for it when I located one.
I bet he is pleased now, as it was in very nice condition. Who says truly scarce stamps do not appreciate in value?
I asked Danny Jurd where the collection had originated. He chuckled and told me he was asked to visit an exclusive 8 figure type home in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs to give an opinion on some stamps for insurance purposes.
The albums were stored in a damp musty garage alongside cases of beer etc, and Danny advised the owner there was already a good deal of toning and rust among them, and to retain them would see that spread. This would lessen the value.
The owners had no real interest in stamps and decided to consign them to auction, and they were estimated at $100,000. They sold for $A330,000 plus the 16.5% "Buyer's Fee" including GST = $A384,450.
That exceeds the value of the houses of many readers - unless you live in Sydney's Eastern suburbs of course!
It seems a relative who had passed away 5 years back had formed the collection. He had a Russian/Jewish background, and his collection of Israel and Russia were in the same sale, and sold for modest figures. Buying the China was his master stroke it seems.
Danny made mention to me that overall the condition was poor by usual stamp standards on these stamps. The SG sale catalogue mentioned condition, and estimated them accordingly.
It seems obvious that buyers of China material are not as concerned with condition as those who collect many other countries, and this is worth noting. "Perfect" condition for much of this era is just not seen. |
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I returned recently from a week visit to the wonderfully
successful "Washington 2006 World Stamp Expo".
Brilliantly organised, in a great central venue. Official figures were about 225,000 visitors through the doors over all days of the event (including those that re-visited) and that is great for stamps. EVERY dealer I spoke to - from Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada, Europe and the USA all told me they were ahead of budget and ahead of expectations. There is ALWAYS a fixed % of 'whiners' at all shows, so this positive feedback from all dealers I spoke to was most unusual.
I bumped into a large number of Australian and NZ
dealers at the show, either with stands or wandering
around, and doubtless there were others there walking
around I did not see.
Locals with stands I spoke to included Andy and Richard
Juzwin, Michael Eastick, Paul Fletcher, Geoff Kellow,
Mark Knothe, Ross Waugh, Steve Hamilton, Gary Watson,
John and Jane Mowbray, and Torsten Weller.
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%20writing%20a%20cheque.jpg)
| Gary Watson from Prestige Philately in Melbourne writing out a cheque to buy some material. (Another left handed stamp dealer!) |
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I loved the material on display - I closely inspected the
$A4 million "Inverted Jenny" mint block I wrote about in my
January column.
I wandered for hours through the exhibits and saw Arthur
Grey's classy 1927-1936 Australian commems and recognised
several pieces I'd sold him over the years! Not a patch
visually on his Kangaroos exhibit was my humble opinion.
I was able to congratulate Paul Fletcher on his Australian
Postage Due Exhibit, which along with Arthur's Australia and
Geoff Lewis's Philippines, both won Large Golds. Australian
exhibitors hauled in quite a number of Gold and other
medals.
A full listing of the Australia exhibitors who won medals
may be found at -
www.apf.org.au/exresults.htm
My hotel was next to the National Postal Museum, so I went and inspected the only other "Z Grill" known, apart from the one swapped for the Jenny block. First time this other one has been on display for decades. There were good deals to be had for the sharp eyed. I bought an item (correctly described) from one large dealer (who advertises here) walked 10 yards and sold it to a leading Australian dealer who offered me $1,000 more for it - on the spot. I said 'yes' very fast, and I have no doubt he has on-sold it for $1000s more. |
| A small section of the crowd waiting for the 10am opening on a mid week day. The line stretched way back into the distance. |
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Richard Juzwin had just purchased a 6 figure collection of mint New Zealand Chalon heads. He told me the SG #1 and SG #3 were as nice as the Sir Gawaine Baillie copies which sold for astounding record figures earlier this year. They were from the Count Ferrary auctions in 1924 and have been in the same family ever since. |
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Margaret and Glen setting off for another
long day walking the Exhibition hall! A once in a decade
chance to see Glen wearing a tie and holding a briefcase!
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"Duck" Sheets
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Visitors could line up and buy 10 x US Post Office
"Duck" sheets for $US25 each on the Thursday. And
sell them cash before they left the halls for
$US1,000 more than they paid the Post Office.
Of course they would have been wiser to put their 10 sheets up on ebay a week later as one lot and get double that - or $US2,555 from their $250 outlay as one clever chap recently did. (Lot 9526672910) $US255 each is $A340 each. A rather high price for something (not even a postage stamp!) of which 10,000 copes exist. Half (5,000) were sold at the show, and half by mail order.
The engraver, Piotr Naszarkowski sat around signing
the lower half of the sheets. Much of the time he
was not busy. All 10,000 copies were artist signed.
Possibly only 2500 are also signed by the engraver.
The several Australian dealers I witnessed selling their sheets on issue day lost $US500 by not spending 10 minutes to get them signed by Naszarkowski! |
$250 to $2,555 in weeks
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The line formed to secure these stretched a long way.
Of course it did, as everyone with a pulse knew 10 of
these would be worth at least $1,000 more than they paid
for them.
I urged Australia Post - in print .... 7 months BEFORE
the disastrous "Pacific Disaster 2005" to issue a
similar Limited Edition item purchasable primarily at
the show - to attract a crowd.
Of course they and the Committee, being much cleverer than me at marketing, did no such thing, and the crowds stayed away. Only about 10,000 turned out by most estimations, and that is a real shame. |
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A small section of the long line June 1 to buy the
USA Duck Stamp new issue. Each person could buy 10 sheets. Some made
$1000s of profit from that one purchase.
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Some curious things happen if you write stamp
columns!
A couple of weeks back I went to collect my mail and
my postmaster (who I know very well) handed over one
envelope and gave me a rather curious look, but said
nothing.That envelope is illustrated nearby. It was very attractive and the sender at top left was "Parliament House/The Gay Kingdom Of The coral Sea". The cover was franked with an International Post $1.85 whale. And a 2 Euro "Gay Kingdom" stamp clearly postmarked "Heaven" by the GLK (Gay and Lesbian Kingdom) Post Office. |
"ROYAL GAY MAIL"
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Very attractive
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Anyway, all very interesting, and I must say the stamps
are designed and produced to a higher design and
production standard than many 'real countries' new
issues.
If anyone collects these interesting Cinderellas and is
interested in the cover or sheetlet please contact me.
I recall years ago driving several hours north of Perth
to visit 'Prince' Leonard, at the Hutt River
Principality. A bleak little farm well off the main
road to Geraldton was the Royal Castle.
"Prince" Leonard Casley of course created many sets of
Hutt River Province stamps - indeed even coins and
banknotes, and even stamped my passport when there. The
postage stamps are still keenly sought.
Late last year when
visiting Broome on holiday I took one of those Camel
safaris along Cable Beach at sunset. (Stunning.) The
very Caucasian looking owner of the camel train was the
unlikely named "Abdul" Casley.
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More record prices
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Please take a moment and tell me what you think this cover is worth - mailed from Cocos Island in 1944 to Randwick NSW. |
What is this worth?
.jpg)
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As an allegedly experienced dealer I'll be the first to confess if I saw it in a shoebox of bits and pieces I would not glance twice at it. Common stamps and a common destination and indistinct cancel.
It recently sold at auction for $4,140! Surely this a world-record auction price for any KGVI commercial cover from ANYWHERE bearing very common stamps? The auctioneer was Prestige Auctions in Melbourne and the price was obtained in their June 24 auction.
During WWII, troops from Ceylon were based
on Cocos - who of course did not issue their
own (Australian valid) stamps until 1963.
This cover was sent in 1944 by an RAAF
serviceman in transit at Cocos Islands on
his way home from the war.
The local garrison troops enjoyed free
postage but others such as the writer of
this letter were required to pay the 55c
Ceylon stamps airmail rate. Only a few
covers posted at RAAF FPO 301 bearing stamps
of Ceylon are recorded - most of the other
mail being "no stamp required" free postage.
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Wounded Kangaroo gets $15,525
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Prestige also got an amazing
price for an ugly looking and torn
1945 2/- CofA watermark Kangaroo
with inverted watermark. It sold
for $15,525 - on an estimate of
$5,000.
The stamps was described was being as
having "wrinkles" and having a 5mm tear
at left. That aside is clearly an ugly
looking stamp, both cancel and
perforation wise. Yet it sold for more
than $10,000 above the estimate.
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Amazing price
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ACSC says 3 others
copies are known - and
possibly this publicity
here may unearth new
examples. This 1945 2/-
issue (SG 212) is an
exceedingly common stamp
in used condition, and
still exists as packet
bundleware. Indeed even
mint copies are only a
dollar or so apiece.
Please let me know if
you find one and I'll
record it here.
And find another someone
surely will. My recent
articles on the KGV 2d
orange with inverted
watermark most
certainly unearthed new
copies to add to the 4
recorded as known, as
listed in the current ACSC.
One new discovery of
that 2d stamp I have in
stock, with an AIEP Certificate
of Genuineness. It is
fine used and without
faults, and I
recently listed it on my
"Rarity" web-page priced
$7,000 - well under half
what this ugly roo with
a tear just sold for.
https://www.glenstephens.com/rarity.html
Indeed it is priced well
under half the $18,640
this 2d Orange has
auctioned for in recent
times for similar used
grade. I may need to
up-rate the price in
view of this and other
recent sales on inverted
watermarks!
Michael Eastick selling
the 1915 6d Kangaroo
with inverted watermark
- also a very ugly
looking parcel
used stamp - for $48,500
as I reported here
recently, has really set
this market alight.
All these roo and KGV
with inverted watermarks
are red hot right now,
and those with only a
few known seldom sell
for less than 5
figures. Tuck them
aside now if you collect
them is pretty sound
advice.
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I
visited the Smithsonian's
National Postal Museum,
where the only other copy
existing of the rare "Z"
Grill was on display. The
Miller collection copy from
the New York Public Library
illustrated here has not
been publicly seen for
decades. The multi million
dollar "Zoellner" copy now
owned by Bill Gross will be
displayed alongside it until
October 1.
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