NEW ZEALAND STAMP
EARLY ISSUES
GOOD PRICES IN LONDON
(From The "Post's" Representative.) LONDON, February 23.
A recent find of early New Zealand stamps was the chief-item at an important philatelic auction in. London yesterday. The stamps came from letters written, to relatives in England between 1855 and 1860 by James Ellman, grandson of the -chief original breeder of Southdown sheep. Ellman was' at the time experimenting in sheep breeding in New Zealand.
The stamps were, auctioned by H. R. Harmer, the New Bond Street dealers, in 19 lots, but as some included groups of two or more stamps on the same envelope, the total number aold was slightly over three dozen. They'realised rather more than £250 and a number "of other early New Zealand stamps sold at the -same time brought the total for 32 lots to nearly £400.
All the Ellman stamps.bore the portrait of Queen Victoria in her Coronation robes. . The..top ;priqe of £55 vvas paid for a block- of six Id dull orange of the -1856-59 issue. : It is believed to be the larges\ block known of. these stamps. Bidding started ;at £28 and rose briskly, a number o£ buyers participating.
The highest price for a single'stamp was £46, paid for a Is pale yellowgreen on blued paper, of the July 1855 -issue, printed in London. Bidding for this stamp, which was in very good condition, rose from £10^ Other good prices were £26 and £24, brought by pairs of July, 1855, 2d, dull blues. The lowest price was £2 for a less perfect sample of this stamp.
. Old New Zealand stamps from other sources which realised good prices included a November, 1855 Is green, bisected vertically for use as a 6d stamp, complete with envelope and in very fine condition, which brought £40, and an 1862 pelure paper 2d ultramarine • unused, which .was sold for £22. .
Prices realised were considerably in advance of expectations and no lots were passed. There is a brisk market at present for early J British colonial issues. There were .about 30 dealers and collectors present and Ridding was very general, i In addition, a number of bids were received by mail, several being from collectors on the Continent. .-...,.' . : < r
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19380325.2.22
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1938, Page 4
Word Count
369NEW ZEALAND STAMP Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1938, Page 4
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