Spink is going to sell the magnificent “Lugano” collection of Venezuela on 26th of April. It contains a great variety of rarities including the two errors of colour and the tête-bêche block of six. Almost all lots are offered with certificates of authenticity. One of the most important items that will appear during this sale is the "Medio Real" Red with an error of colour. It is considered as the most important item of Venezuelan philately.
The normal ½r. stamps were printed in yellow or orange shades, but the 2r. value was printed in red, possessing excellent margins all around and clearly showing the frame lines, coming from Position 37 on the sheet, very fine used by a clean strike of "Correos/ Dic 9/La Guaira" double circle cancel in blue. This stamp was the most significant item in the famous collection of Venezuela formed by H.R. Harmer mainly in the pre-WWII period and it was exhibited by him, attracting the attention of the philatelic world, at the 1950 London International Stamp Exhibition. The stamp is also noted to have been in the Ferrary collection. This extraordinary unique first issue fine impression rarity must surely be considered as the most important item of Venezuelan philately, with its rarity being comparable to the famous Uruguay 1858 180c. error of colour. It is expected to fetch €250,000 or roughly $269,687.
