King George VI Imprimaturs at $158,500 in Chartwell stamp auction

A magnificent set of King George VI imprimaturs will highlight the latest instalment of the Chartwell Collection stamp auctions, which will be held on September 12 in London.

The set originates from the National Postal Museum archives

The Chartwell Collection is a legendary collection of stamps assembled by Sir Cyril Humphrey Cripps, which boasts the finest, investment-grade material from Great Britain and the British Empire ever put up for auction. The huge collection has been offered over several sales, and has already seen some impressive results.

The latest auction will feature George VI, Edward VII and Elizabeth II essays, proofs and stamps as we reach the latter part of the collection. The stunning King George imprimaturs will lead, with an estimate of £80,000-100,000.

The set of 15 values spans ½d to one shilling in imperforate blocks of four. Each block is printed on watermarked paper with full original gum and originates from the archives of the National Postal Museum. A truly exhibition quality set - as are most of the lots in the sale - each block boasts evenly balanced margins with fresh, rich colours.

Only one minor fault impairs the set, with the ½d showing a small ink mark on the selvedge, although this in no way affects its extraordinary quality.

The Elizabeth II section will see a particularly interesting selection of 10 photographic essays, which comprises some of the earliest proposed designs under the current monarch's reign. The most intriguing among the set is a 6d design by MC Farrer-Bell, which is mounted on card and was never adopted for issue.

The remaining nine were all adopted for the final issues and feature a number of alterations that will fascinate modern collectors. The collection will sell with a £6,000-8,000 estimate.

Also featuring in this sale is an extremely rare set of Jersey stamps, which bear the Nazi swastika.

Paul Fraser Collectibles also has a fantastic collection of British and Commonwealth stamps, which features the legendary Tyrian Plum, one of just 12 known to exist.

Get all your stamp collecting supplies from www.boscastlesupplies.com

Source: http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/News/STAMPS/King-George-VI-Imprimaturs-at-$158,500-in-Chartwell-stamp-auction/11755.page?catid=80
 

Family Guy - Peter and Chris Try Stamp Collecting

Paralympic Star Ellie Simmonds And Natasha Baker Honoured By Royal Mail Stamp

Dressage rider Natasha Baker will be honoured with a special stamp to mark her second win in the Paralympic Games.

Paralympic swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds, from Aldridge, Walsall, will also get an Olympic stamp in celebration of her gold medal triumphs in the 200m Individual Medley and 400m Freestyle.

Miss Baker, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, came first in the Grade II freestyle class on her horse Cabral at Greenwich Park today, breaking a Paralympic record.



The triumph came 48 hours after the 22-year-old, who suffers from an inflammation of the spine, was crowned Grade II individual champion, breaking another Paralympic record.

Royal Mail said it was "delighted" to be issuing stamps to recognise Great Britain's Paralympic champions.

It is the first time that a set of stamps has been issued to celebrate Paralympic gold medallists from the host country.

The stamps will go on sale at more than 500 post offices around the UK tomorrow. Uxbridge residents will be able to buy them at the post office in nearby Hayes.

Miss Baker is the third member of ParalympicsGB to appear on two gold medal stamps.

The others are cyclist Sarah Storey, who won gold in the women's C4/5 500m time-trial and 3km individual pursuit, and horse rider Sophie Christiansen, who triumphed in the single Grade 1A and team dressage events.

Before the Olympics Royal Mail said it would not be producing individual stamps for Paralympic gold medallists.

Instead, the firm said it would create a series of six first-class stamps featuring every medallist to be produced after the Paralympic Games finished on 9 September.

But, after issuing 29 gold medal stamps for the Olympics and in the face of criticism on Twitter of its stance on ParalympicGB champions, it did a U-turn saying first-class stamps for individual ParalympicGB gold medal winners would be issued. Team gold medal winners will also be recognised, but featured on stamps as a team.

The stamps will go on sale tomorrow.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/04/simmonds-baker-stamp_n_1853373.html