China Postage Stamp Auction - Sun Yat Sen inverted pair brings record $707,000 to HK auction

A Hong Kong auction of Chinese postal history has seen an extremely rare pairing of the $2 Dr Sun Yat Sen invert set a new world record, becoming the most valuable Republic of China (1912-1949) stamp lot ever sold at auction.

The current record for any Chinese stamp stands at $1.15m

The October 13-15 sale topped the previous £311,000 ($500,000) record for a single example of the Dr Sun Yat Sen invert, with the pair selling for $707,700. The price represents a 9.2% increase on the $645,000 high estimate.

The Dr Sun Yat Sen invert is one of the rarest stamps in all of Chinese philately, with just one sheet of 50 stamps ever issued featuring the inverted centre error. The pair in the present auction is one of only two vertical pairs known to exist, originating from the collection of the renowned philatelist Huang Ming Fang.

The remarkable pair, both of which were in pristine condition with full original gum, was also lightly initialled by stamp expert Peter Holcombe on the reverse, further boosting its appeal to collectors.

Originating from 1941, the stamps bear the head of Dr Sun Yat Sen, a Chinese revolutionary and the first president of the Republic of China. Sun was instrumental in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and is often referred to as the "Father of the Nation".

Paul Fraser Collectibles is currently offering a unique block of four 96c olive-bistre stamps, which are considered some of the rarest stamps in Hong Kong's postal history. Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for more of the latest news from across the philatelic community.

Source: http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/section.asp?catid=211&docid=12074&n=171012

www.boscastlesupplies.com - Your destination for Stamp Albums and Pages

Stamp and postal memorabilia collectors converge at Kalamazoo Expo Center

 

Steve Sherman representing the Kalamazoo Stamp Club at the Expo Center. Anthony Smigiel | Kalamazoo Gazette
 

KALAMAZOO, MI – For anyone who collects stamps and other postal memorabilia, the Kalamazoo Expo Center was the place to be on Saturday.

The Southwest Michigan Postcard Club Show and the Fall Stamp and Cover Show sponsored by the Kalamazoo Stamp Club were held at the Expo Center.

Steve Sherman, a member of the stamp club, said the show is the biggest of its kind in West Michigan. He said the show has been around for at least 30 years and is more important than ever since there are no longer stamp shops.

"It's the one place where you can come to see a large amount of dealers and inventory," Sherman said.

Peter Foote, 79, traveled from Chicago with a couple other members of the Beverly Hills Philatelic Society for the show. He said he has been to the show three or four times and keeps coming back because of the quality of the exhibits.

"Some of these exhibits are fascinating," he said. "They have so many different facets to them."
Foote served in the Korean War and was most interested in the displays and memorabilia related to World War II. He especially liked the display of letters home from a man who was on the USS St.
Lo, formerly USS Midway, that was sunk by a kamikaze plane near the Philippines in the Battle off Samar.

Foote collects postage censor stamps from Ireland from the World War II era and added to his collection on Saturday.

Mike Dennany, 12, was at the show with his grandpa and was helping out at the youth table. His reason for collecting stamps was simple.

"They got fish on them," he said.

Visit www.boscastlesupplies.com for your stamp and postcard collecting supplies

Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/10/stamp_and_postal_memorabilia_c.html