30 January 2020
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JustCollecting’s upcoming online auction will star 200+ exceptional stamp rarities, including errors, multiples and covers
- The Jersey auctioneer’s Stamp Rarities Auction includes GB, commonwealth, China and US material, many offered without reserve
- The auction starts on February 6, ending on February 27 – bidding available through the Invaluable website
Rare error block of four
A hugely rare Great Britain Queen Elizabeth II 1970 5d Literary Anniversaries error block of four (SG824ac) is among the standout lots of the auction.
Produced to mark the centenary of Charles Dickens’ death, the four stamps each feature a scene from one of the author’s novels. Yet the expected silver inscriptions, namely Pickwick, Micawber, Copperfield and Oliver, are missing in all cases.
It is one of only two such error mint blocks recorded by Pierron, making it “one of the great rarities of QEII philately”, according to JustCollecting’s Dan Wade.
Last listed on the SG GB Concise Catalogue at a value of £50,000, the lot is estimated at a mere £10,000 - offering a potential 80% discount against catalogue value.
The commemorative stamps were designed by Rosalind Dease, perhaps best known for co-creating the controversial 1965 Battle of Britain stamps, which featured a swastika.
JustCollecting notes the item is a “superb unmounted original gum block of four with silver (inscriptions) omitted and a dry print of greenish blue on the Oliver Twist stamp.”
Most valuable lot
Staying with the present monarch, the expected most valuable lot of the sale is an attractive Great Britain 1997 Queen Elizabeth II 20p Royal Golden Wedding error (SG2011b). It’s expected to achieve £12,500.
The superb unmounted full original gum top marginal example completely lacks the expected gold face value, with the frame also partially omitted.
“A block containing two vertical strips of four stamps (Rows 1-2) was discovered with the top two stamps both showing the (gold) face value omitted,” explains JustCollecting.
“The error was caused by the gold frame (and value) stopping at the base of the second stamp.”
Accompanied by a 2010 British Philatelic Association Certificate of Authenticity, this is a superb example of an important British Royalty error.
Further lots
A Great Britain 1840 1d, Plate 1b, June 11th 1840 cover - the earliest date of use of this printing plate - is expected to achieve £7,250. A Great Britain 1858 2d blue plate 7 block of four has a £6,000 valuation.
Also on offer is a scarce Great Britain 1965 3d Post Office Tower-omitted unmounted example. The popular error is estimated at £1,750.
JustCollecting’s Dan Wade comments: “We’ve priced the reserves in this auction to sell. Which means shrewd buyers may be able to pick up sensational lots at bargain prices.”
Bidding takes place through the Invaluable website.
The auction begins on Thursday, February 6 and ends on Thursday, February 27.
For further information and images please contact Dan Wade at [email protected] or call (UK) 0117 933 9502.