As the previous and current years have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the auction houses have been forced to conduct their philatelic sales in accordance with new health protocols that underline the significance of preserving social distancing and other guidelines when running a business. In the first half of the year, many auction firms had to cancel or postpone even the most important sales, but the situation was stabilized a bit in the second part of 2020, as many companies decided to trade the stamps online allowing collectors to avoid the danger of catching the virus when bidding in person.
The results of 2020 were quite impressive, as auction houses managed to sell the most important philatelic items from various famous collections, including “The William H. Gross Collection: the United States 1847 First Issue”, “Lugano” collection, “The Edward Morton Collection of Outstanding Quality U.S. Stamps”, "ERIVAN Collection of United and Confederate States Postal History”, etc. Our ranking will tell you about the most impressive lots that were auctioned in 2020.
"Rush" cover, 1847
"Rush" cover is widely regarded as one of the most expensive philatelic items on the market today. It was sold by Robert A Siegel auction at its “The William H. Gross Collection: the United States 1847 First Issue” auction that took place in October 2020. Described by Philip H. Ward, Jr. as "the most important vintage cover known to American philately", the letter took two weeks to reach Richard Rush at soixante-trois Rue de Lille in Paris. The envelope had been sent by Rush’s son, Benjamin, from Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 26, 1848.
The cover contains the largest known strip of Washington 10¢ vintage stamps.
The auction house described this lot as follows: “Positions 55-60L, horizontal strip of six with inter-pane sheet margin at right, Position 57L (third stamp from left) is the "Harelip" plate variety, mostly full to large margins except at bottom center where just barely into framelines, tied by multiple strikes of red "5" numeral in circle cancel with matching "PHILADA. RAILROAD" straightline handstamp applied at the New York City post office on an envelope to Paris, France, from Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia to his father, Richard Rush, the American minister to France...”
The lot fetched an incredible sum of $510,000.
24c Inverted Jenny stamp, 1918
Considered as one of the most famous American philatelic items, the 24c Inverted Jenny stamp is a vintage stamp that is definitely worth collectors’ attention. It was sold at Siegel auction in March 2020. The item was originally part of the plate number and arrow block of eight stamps, and then it was part of the unique bottom arrow pair.
In a superior condition, this sound and perfect specimen of the legendary stamp has not appeared at the actions since 1950. Unfortunately, many specimens of this spectacular error were poorly handled that is why many of them have flaws.
The example sold at this sale is in perfect condition and was described by the auction house as “Position 28, the eighth stamp in the third row of the sheet of 100 stamps purchased by William T. Robey (discoverer of the Inverted Jenny stamps) on May 14, 1918, original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and bright colors, attractive centering and margins”.
The stamp managed to reach $230,000.
'Medio Real' error of color stamp, 1859
'Medio Real' error of color stamp, 1859 is probably one of the most valuable Venezuelan vintage stamps. Being sold as one of the starring lots from the impressive “Lugano” collection, it was auctioned by Spink for €180,000, or roughly $212,000 on April 26, 2020.
The rarity and expensiveness of this vintage stamp are explained by the error of color: all items with value ½r nominal value were designed and issued in yellow color, but some specimens were printed in red (like 2r values).
This vintage stamp was in the collections of such famous philatelists as H.R. Harmer and Ferrari who considered this item as a real gem. The auction house described this impressive lot as “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”.
Croce di S. Andrea cover, 1852
Waukegan cover, 1847
The rarity of the Waukegan cover is caused by the finest multiple of 10¢ 1847 Washington vintage stamps it contains. Such a combination of beauty and rarity made this philatelic item one of the most valuable covers available on the stamp collecting market today. The census says that there are five covers and one front with a 10¢ strip of four stamps, but the Waukegan cover, which was called “wonderful” in The New Yorker headline, stands out because of the superior quality.
The strip on this cover lacks flaws with margins all around and a generous portion of the sheet margin at the left, this spectacular lot was sold for $155,000.
Livingston Cover, 1846
Livingston Cover is widely regarded as the most significant Confederate States item in existence. It stands out from other Confederate provisional due to the beauty of the design. The second factor that made the cover’s fame is the scarcity of Livingston stamps either on- or off-cover. Philatelists assert that only 11 genuine examples exist today. Although some Confederate Provisionals are scarcer, the unique combination of beauty and rarity elevates Livingston above all other issues.
The cover graced the collections of Count Philipp von Ferrary, Alfred H. Caspary, Josiah K. Lilly, John R. Boker Jr., and Erivan Haub—all titans of 20th-century philately. The lot with an extraordinary example of the Brattleboro “Devil with Pitchfork” fancy cancel was offered by H.R. Harmer at its sale of the "ERIVAN" Collection of United and Confederate States Postal History on December 10, 2020. It managed to fetch $125,000.
Block of eight “Vaud 5” of Geneva stamps, 1850
Block of eight “Vaud 5” of Geneva stamps is a rare multiple of vintage stamps with the items 7-10 and 17-20 from the sheet of 100 stamps. This is an unused block with wide margins and almost complete original gum.
The upper right stamp (item 10) has a peculiarity: a red point in the middle of the cross. Being a flawless museum piece, this multiple is widely regarded as one of the great rarities of classic Swiss philately.
Experts assert that there are three unused blocks of eight Vaud 5 Geneva stamps. Two of them were in Paul Mirabaud's collection until 1908, the third one from the upper right corner of the sheet was last offered by Edouard Locher in 1930 and then it disappeared.
The block appeared at Corinphila auction in September 2020 fetching an incredible price of $113,000+.
5c Blue vertical pair on cover, 1908
5c Blue vertical pair of Lincoln stamps on cover is an impressive philatelic item that bears a rare vertical pair of 5-cent Lincoln imperforate stamps, as well as a scarce 2-cent Washington vertical experimental vintage stamp. This is the first time such a combination of stamps has appeared on the cover in more than half a century. This cover was mailed by William Pirtle Herod, an Indianapolis attorney from a famous political family.
Unfortunately, he didn’t understand the rarity of the pair, like most philatelists at the time.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest covers in all of the 20th century US philately, this philatelic item was offered by Robert A Siegel at its “2020 Rarities of the World” sale that took place on July 1, 2020. The lot managed to fetch an incredible sum of $110,000.
Inverted Double Geneva stamps on cover, 1843
5c + 5c "Inverted Double Geneva" vintage stamps on cover is extremely superior lot that was auctioned by Robert A Siegel on July 1, 2020.
Double Geneva was the first stamp issued by the Canton of Geneva, on October 1, 1843. Almost all specimens from the issue were cut from the sheets in the traditional left-right configuration.
But some examples were produced cut from the sheet with the two stamps transposed from their normal positions, resulting in the famous "Inverted Double Geneva". The lot managed to fetch an a sum of $105,000.
Mauritius 1d orange block of six, 1848
1848 Mauritius 1d orange block of six stamps is the largest known multiple of the 1d orange Queen Victoria vintage stamps from the 1848 Post Paid issue. The block in extremely fine condition, postmarked with the blue numeral 1 of Mahebourg cancellation, and featuring unusual toning, was offered by David Feldman in April 2020.
The auction house described this lot as a “spectacular block in its rich bright shade that clearly shows, amongst other characteristics of the earliest impression the ‘sticky print’ and uneven inking of the beginning period.” Considered as an outstanding cover of phenomenal importance and extraordinarily fine for such a rare and large multiple, the lot was sold for GBP 80’000 or roughly $104,000+.
The Unique 30th Sept Cover with Large Hermes Heads, 1861
The Unique 30th September Cover with Large Hermes Heads vintage stamps, 1861 is a phenomenal Greek philatelic rarity featuring three single blue 20 Lep stamps, and one rose 80 Lep stamp, “all neatly tied by lozenge “97” and “ALEXANDRIA/30.SEP.61” on 1861 folded cover from the Greek Post Office in Alexandra cover to Syros”.
Considered as one of the most significant items of all Greek philately, the lot appeared on November 30th - December 4th, 2020. The lot with O. Vlastos certificate fetched EUR 95.000 or roughly $103,000+.
1c Blue, Ty I stamp, 1851
1c Blue Franklin, Ty I stamp is one of the most spectacular philatelic items in the US philately. It appeared at Siegel auction sale of “The Edward Morton Collection” on April, 2020 and was sold for $90,000.
This vintage stamp features complete design, large right and bottom margins and finest cancellation in red. That is why this vintage stamp is regarded as a true rarity.
