Spink auction house is to hold its next auction that will offer the marvelous “Hermione” Collection that is the finest collection of France. One of the highlights that will be sold during this sale is France`s 40-centime Ceres stamp. The item features a very interesting color shade as it is printed in blue rather than the usual orange. This rare exceptional example of France`s 40-centime Ceres stamp is estimated at €20,000 to €30,000 (approximately $22,650 to $34,000).
The Ceres series was the first postage stamp series of France, issued in 6 different values from 1849 to 1850 as a representation of the French Republic. The stamps issued within this series shows Ceres - goddess of growing plants in Roman mythology. Jacques-Jean Barre did the initial drawing and gravure.
According to Spink, a very few examples of 40-centime Ceres stamp are recorded. This unissued stamp was devised for the projected change of colour of 9 March 1849, but abandoned. The auction house described the lot as featuring “a delicate shade and fabulously margined, exhibiting a good portion of the sheet at right with the other margins being marvelously large and well balanced, featuring clarity of impression”. The stamp is definitely superb in every respect and is a must have philatelic item for the demanding collector of high quality, which must be considerably appreciated in a stamp of this extreme rarity and high significance.
