Indian Errors Excite Interest at Stanley Gibbons Auction

London, United Kingdom, June 25, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Wednesday 15th June saw collectors and investors from across the globe focusing their attention on the Stanley Gibbons bi-annual public auction, held at 399 Strand, London as more than 1000 world lots went under the hammer.

Starting with foreign countries, the auction got off to a strong start with all Chinese lots finding buyers. More than 60% of Chinese lots went for double or more their pre-auction estimate including lot 19; the ever popular 1964 Chinese Peonies 2y miniature sheet (SG MS2199a) fine u/m, which sold for £2,760.

The highlight of the foreign section however, was lot 57; A 1862 (April 9) Neapolitan Provinces cover to Glasgow franked with the 1861 1g, 2g, 5g and 20g which were cancelled by two Napoli al Porto cds's. This superb quadruple franking cover with two other covers sold for £16,100 after a long battle between room and telephone bidders.

The highlight from the British Commonwealth offering was a very strong section of India, where errors were strongly fought over. Lot 271, a 1976 Wildlife 25p with black omitted (SG 825a) fine u/m with a catalogue value of £500, reached £1,610, but this was quickly outshone by the very next lot; a 1992 Birds of Prey error of value (SG 1525a) fresh and fine u/m which realised £11,500 against a catalogue value of just £1,000.

The Great Britain session held in the afternoon saw lot 1092, a collection of approximately 350 RAF Covers in seven volumes, most being signed by such as William Reid VC, Douglas Bader and Sir Barnes Wallis, realising more than double its pre-auction estimate, at £2,530.

Interestingly for a philatelic auction, one of the final items to go under the hammer, lot 1183, a mixed accumulation of coins, achieved more than five times its pre auction estimate, selling for £506.

Note: realisations include 15% buyer’s premium.

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