Rare stamps sought

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 2

Rare stamps sought

An Australian stamp dealer, Mr Robert Rex, was in Christchurch yesterday on the first day of his New Zealand tour in search of rare and unusual stamps. This is his fifth visit to New Zealand. Last year he paid $2OOO for- a rare 1906 Christchurch Exhibition penny stamp which he says is now worth $6OOO. Earlier this year he toured Europe and Britain. On that trip he spent more than $250,000 on behalf of his firm, Rex and Fair Philatelists Proprietary, Ltd, based in Melbourne. His customers in Australia are often millionaire collectors, glad to obtain the stamps they are after and willing to pay the price, he says. The 1850 s and 1860 s stamps and those with any big mistakes carry the big money. New Zealand stamps sell well and are always in demand in Australia. “There is not a lot of big money in New Zealand for stamps and people like the opportunity to sell to someone from overseas Who can offer them a better price,” he said. The stamps Mr Rex buys during his visits are mainly New Zealand issues, including general collections.