Top 15 philatelic sales of the year 2019

In 2019 the leading auction houses conducted a great number of outstanding sales, providing collectors with an opportunity to acquire real philatelic gems. Some lots that were auctioned during the previous year rarely pop up on the market that is why their appearance ignited a philatelic furor. The most valuable collection sold in 2019 was The New Amsterdam Collection of United States Stamps that achieved close to $7 Million on 10th July 2019. Spectacular results were also shown at the sales of "ERIVAN" Collection, Ambassador J. William Middendorf II collection, Lam Man Yin’s collection, etc. Some top items that found their new owners in 2019 include centerline block of Jenny Invert, “Alexandria Blue Boy” stamp and many others that entered our ranking of “Top 15 philatelic sales of the year 2019”.

Centerline block of the Jenny Invert is a magnificent and unique centerline position block that is clearly ranked as one of the greatest items in the world philately. Its name derives from the fine red guidelines running through the central perforations in each direction. This is one of six surviving blocks of four from the original Jenny Invert sheet of 100. Centerline block of the Jenny Invert appeared at Spink auction that took place on September 27. Described by the auction house as featuring “beautiful centering, with the left pair being especially choice, disturbed original gum, which it has away been since in Col. Green's possession, very fine”, this outstanding philatelic item fetched an incredible price of $1.74 million. But the record holder is still Jenny Invert plate number block that fetched $4.8 million in 2014. 

Baden 9-kreuzer black on blue-green paper is one of the most expensive philatelic items that were sold in 2019. It appeared at Heinrich Koehler auction that took place in June 2019. This was Baden 9-kreuzer black stamps erroneously printed on blue-green paper instead of the intended rose paper. The item, on the mailed cover, was sent from Ettenheim to Karlsruhe. This world-famous philatelic rarity was a valuable part of the lifelong collection that belonged to German-born billionaire businessman Erivan Haub. His precious possession will be offered in more than 30 auctions over the course of the next five years. Whereas the 9kr error stamp on cover was sold for €1,524,601.50, or approximately $1.73 million in U.S. dollars.

United States 1867 15¢ black Abraham Lincoln stamp with very scarce Z grill, featuring distinctive horizontal ridges, was sold for $1.4 million at Cherrystone auction on July 10. With the 15 percent buyer’s premium added, the rare stamp achieved a record price of  $1,610,000. This is one of two specimens having 1962 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates; the other example belongs to William H. Gross. 1867 15¢ black Abraham Lincoln stamp, which was part of the 220-lot New Amsterdam collection, managed to set a new auction record for a single United States stamp. It succeeded the 1918 24¢ Jenny Invert airmail error stamp that was sold by Siegel for $1,593,000 on Nov. 15, 2018, in New York City. 

A famous “Blue Boy” stamp amazed collectors with the price it was sold at. This icon of philately that appeared at H. R. Harmer auction on June 22 realised an amazing sum of $1,000,000. The item on a cover was part of the "ERIVAN" Collection created by German business magnate and philanthropist Erivan Haub. The stamp was one of seven issued, and the only one printed on blue paper. The envelope bearing the stamp should have been burned upon opening, because it contained a letter detailing a forbidden romance between young lovers of different religions. Fortunately, the only one specimen survived that captivates the generations of philatelists nowadays. 

10c green Z. Grill stamp is a major philatelic rarity worthy of the finest collection. There are only six known copies of this impressive item, one of which is in the Miller Collection. The auction house described this lot as featuring “segmented cork cancel, well centered on crisp white paper, completely sound, ex-Laurence and Stryker, with 1958 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation certificates”. It was part of the renowned “The New Amsterdam Collection”. The stamp was sold at an impressive price of $1,000,000.

1897 10¢-on-9-candareen dark green Dragons and Shou stamp with the 10¢ surcharge inverted, from China’s Empress Dowager issue, is one of the most desirable philatelic gems. Only three examples of the surcharge invert are known to exist today. The only unused copy of this stamp was offered during January 18-20 at Spink auction in Hong Kong. This stamp was previously in the world famous collection formed by Sir Percival David which was auctioned in London in 1970. The 9 candareen stamp with the variety 10c. surcharge inverted was sold for a hammer price of HK$6,100,000, or approximately $933,300, setting a new world record for an item from these early issues of China. 

1908 2c carmine, vertical coil pair appeared at Cherrystone’s auction on 10th July 2019. It was part of the New Amsterdam Collection of United Stamps that was formed over fifty years ago. Its mission is to complete spaces in a newly acquired Scott National Postage Album. With the final hammer, the New Amsterdam Collection took its rightful place among the most valuable stamp collections in philatelic history. The 321 coil pair is one of the premier rarities of United States Philately (if not all of Philately in general) with only five pairs known. Described by the auction house as “top stamp, well centered, featuring beautiful color, in a very fine condition, with 1985 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates”, this spectacular lot fetched $700,000.

24c Inverted "Jenny" stamp was offered this year by Spink on Sept. 27. This example is from the exceptional Gross collection and is one of the finest and best-preserved of the five recorded mint never hinged specimens. It features a beautifully rich and colorful print upon clean crisp paper which is complete with original gum. The stamp was described by the auction house as “one of the finest and best-preserved of the five recorded mint never hinged examples, featuring a beautifully rich and colorful print upon clean crisp paper which is complete with original gum.” This world-famous philatelic item realized $575,100.

1869 30c ultramarine and carmine, flags inverted appeared at Cherrystone auction on July 10. Unused, without gum, well centered, featuring fresh color, this interesting lot was sold as a part of The New Amsterdam Collection of United States. The specimen is one of only three known sound copies of this premier U.S. Rarity. Only one has original gum, the other six have no gum. The copy offered here was last offered in a 1960 H.R. Harmer's sale where it realized $6,000.  At this auction the lot fetched an incredible price of $250,000.

“Large Beaumont” cover was sold as a part of the Erivan collection of United States and Confederate States postal history at Harmer auction that took place on December 10. The cover’s nickname comes from its franking: the unique example of the large Beaumont, Texas, 10¢ black on yellow postmaster’s provisional (Scott 12X3). There is only one Beaumont provisional stamp attached to cover that is why it is considered to be unique and was listed amongst Life magazine’s “World’s Rarest Stamps”. Widely recognized as the most important of all the icons of Confederate philately, “Large Beaumont” cover was sold for $210,000. Adding in Harmer’s 18 percent buyer’s premium brought the final realization to $247,800.

Canada 12d black or The Black Empress of Canada is a magnificent Canadian postage stamp issued in 1851. The item shows the portrait of Queen Victoria by Alfred Edward Chalon and is the third stamp issued by the province. The attraction of the 2¢ large queen is understandable – it is thought that only 3 exist in the whole world. But, they are all used specimens. This remarkable lot was offered by Eastern Auctions in February, 2019. The auction house described the lot as “virtually unmatched combination of physical attributes, including prominent laid lines, large margins, exceptional colour and a clear impression on pristine fresh paper.” This spectacular item realized $227,000.

Cover sent from Geneva to Paris, 1854 was part of the of the Erivan collection of classic Switzerland that was auctioned by Corinphila on Dec. 3-7. The collection belonging to the late German billionaire businessman Erivan Haub is one of the most celebrated collections of American philately. The cover that was offered by Corinphila is franked with a block of four and a block of three of the 1850 Geneva 5-centime black and red Cross and Post Horn stamp. It was described by the auction house as “a key piece of Switzerland’s early philatelic history, is mentioned in all relevant publications on the postal history of Geneva or cantonal stamps”. The cover hammered 150.000 CHF or roughly $153,400.

 

1d “Perot” provisional stamp was sold at “STOCKHOLMIA 2019 Private Treaty Sale” that was conducted by Daniel F. Kelleher on May 29 - June 2, 2019. Bermuda’s first postage stamps were produced locally in 1848 by Hamilton postmaster William B. Perot, consisting of the words “HAMILTON BERMUDA” in a circle, with the year and Perot’s signature in the middle. Only 11 examples of Perot's First Issue are known to exist today, six struck in red, five in black. The specimen offered at this sale is one of the finest of the remaining reds. An exceptionally rare and iconic stamp fetched $150,000.

5c deep blue special printing stamp, 1880 is one of the most valuable US stamps. It was offered by Cherrystone at its sale of The New Amsterdam Collection that took place on June 10. This is one of the rarest Special Printings, with 1950 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates. Philatelists assert that there are only 18 examples of this Special Printing. Described by the auction house as “and unused example without gum as issued, well centered with wide margins on all sides, fresh color”. 1880 Special Printing of the 1879 Issue realized and the incredible price of $150,000. One of the finest examples of 5c Bright Blue was offered by Robert A Siegel for $450,000 on June 26, but, unfortunately, it was not sold.

1c Blue Ty. I appeared at Siegel auction that took place In October, 2019. It was part of the outstanding Ambassador J. William Middendorf II collection. 1c Blue Ty. I is the only one of the 1,000 positions used to print imperforate one-cent stamps that shows the complete design. This is without question one of the finest in existence. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps regularly issued prior to the 1868 Grills. An exceedingly rare sound four-margin example of one-cent  1851 Type I, position 7R1E managed to fetch a great sum of $120,000.

You may also get acquainted with Top 12 philatelic sales of 2017 here  and Top 10 philatelic sales of 2018 here.