1961 Tristan Relief Surcharges, set of four canceled on registered cover addressed to Ascension, v.f., signed Raybaudi, with his 1996 certificate (SG 172-175) (The small island of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, hit the headlines in October 1961 when violent volcanic activity caused the evacuation of the population. The authorities on the neighboring island of St. Helena, some 1,400 miles to the north-east, started a Relief Fund, and a supply of Tristan da Cunha stamps were surcharged "St. Helena Tristan Relief" with a surcharged amount destined for the fund. Unfortunately only the Colonial Office in London could authorize new stamps, a fact clearly unknown to the Governor, and the issue was withdrawn after only one week. These are among the rarest of modern stamps as only 434 sets were sold) cat. £8000 (Cat No. B1-4) (Image)

Cat. £8000, Est.US$2,500