Sotheby auction of N.Z. stamps

Press, 7 March 1983, Page 29

Sotheby auction of N.Z. stamps

NZI’A London Early New Zealand stamps from between 1855 and 1872 will be auctioned at Sotheby's later this month. All the New Zealand stamps, which number more than 70 lots, feature the head and shoulders of the young Queen Victoria. The picture is from the painting in 1838 of the Queen in her robes of State and wearing the ribbon of the Garter, by Alfred Edward Chalon. The artist was the first to paint her after her accession and the Queen liked what many regarded as an unduly flattering portrait so much that she granted him the title of "Portrait Painter to the Queen. ' Included in the New Zealand stamps is a "very exceptional collection of Chalon head issues 1855 to 1872. well written-up to exhibition standard." said a spokes-

woman for Sotheby’s. The collection is in three maroon peg-fitted albums. “As can be expected with a collection of this type, condition is extremely mixed but nonetheless it includes very many exceptional items. In total there are some 664 Chalon impressions unused or used which are arranged in three date groups," she said. The collection is expected to fetch between £4OOO and £ 5000 (about SNZBSOO to SNZIO.SOO). Other individual New Zealand stamps range in price between an estimated £4O (SNZBS) to £6O (SNZI2S) for a single “fine and scarce" one shilling 1855 "original g perkins" Chalon head, to £ 200 (SNZ42S) to £260 (SNZSSO) for an 1864 12 penny stamp, which Sotheby’s said “is one of the very few recorded examples of this rarity."