Staff Picks

1952, Gymnastics by Radio (S4) complete (Yang S14-53. Scott 141-150), left margin blocks of 16 yielding four sets of blocks of four, most of the blocks are neatly folded through the center, without gum as issued, Very Fine, rare multiples. Scott $5,600 (HK$ 43,080). Est. HK$22,000-26,000

1938, Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Area, Military Post, deep red (Yang NC8), fresh with rich color, clean lines and nice margins, without gum as issued; shallow, inconsequential paper thin, still Very Fine, a lovely example of this iconic issue. Est. HK$18,000-22,000

1878, Large Dragon on thin paper, 3ca brown red (Chan 2. Scott 2), setting 1, bottom left corner margin horizontal block of 6, an eye-catching multiple with full bottom selvage, intact perforations and near-perfect centering throughout; very light crease across top of lower row, faint toning at bottom of selvage, otherwise Very Fine, an exquisite item for the connoisseur. Scott $8,700 as singles (HK$ 66,920). Est. HK$16,000-20,000

BRITISH EMPIRE 1840-1936 M collection in a fine pair of Imperial printed albums, well filled, particularly from the later QV period onwards. The condition is a little mixed in places (many earlier issues without gum, a little toning in places on the later issues), but there is plenty of fine material, with better sets and many high vals throughout. The GB incl. a range of 97 1d red Plates (mostly unused), with 40 or so Surface Printed issues (unused) incl. 1855 6d (2), 1872 6d grey and 1880 1s, 1862 6d (o.g), 1887 £1 green (creased), KEVII incl. 2/6d (2), 5s, 10s & £1, 1913 Waterlow to 10s plus £1 (fine), 1918 Bradbury set, PUC £1 and some Officials. Thereafter, useful Antigua (some earlier unused & toned), 1921 to £1 etc, Ascension 1922 & 1924 to 3s (plus 6d with 'torn flag'), Australia with a range of Roos and Heads, 1932 Sydney Bridge 5s etc, Bahamas with early issues, 1884 to £1, 1902 & 1912 to £1 etc, Barbados with Britannias, Bechuanaland incl. 1888 to 5s plus Surcharges to 6d on 6d plus 1s on 1s, ½d on 3d and 1888 Protectorate to 1s. Bermuda incl. 1874 3d on 3d, 1875 1d on 2d (both unused) and 3d on 1s (heavy mount), KGV 10s (both), British Columbia 1868 25c, British East Africa 1895 3r and 1897 10r, a few early British Guiana with later issues, attractive British Honduras (some unused) then 1891, 1904 and 1913 to $5, British Levant and Solomons and Brunei. Canada incl. 1897 Jubilee to 50c, later Cape issues with Mafeking SG.6 and 3d Baden-Powell (disturbed gum), a few early Ceylon with later QV, 1910 to 10r etc. and the scarce 1868 'Service' 2d to 2s and 1d plus 3d issues, Cyprus with 1880 4d & 1s, 1894, 1903 and 1904 to 45pi, 1921 10s, 1924 £1 and 1928 set to £1, Falklands with some QV, 1921 set, 1929 £1 and 1933 Centenary 2/6d & 5s Penguin (toned). Useful early Fiji, then 1906 & 1912 to £1, attractive Gambia, Gibraltar with 1903 to 8s (excl. 2s), 1904 to and 1907 to 4s, 1912 to £1, 1921 to 8s and 1925 to £1, Gilbert & Ellice 1912 £1, Hong Kong with some early (mostly unused, incl. 1877 16c), 1903 incl. $2 and $10 (fine), KGV to $2 & $5, Postal Fiscals 1891 $5 on $10 (fine) and 1897 $1 on $2. India incl. a useful range of Convention States sets with Feudatory States incl. useful Bhopal, Duttia, Jaipur, Kishangarh etc, Iraq, Jamaica, K.U.T with 1903 to 3r, 1904 to 5r, 1922 1s to £1, Kuwait with 1923 and Officials to 10s, Malta with a group of ½d 'yellows', KEVII to 5s, KGV to 5s & 10s, 1926 & 1930 sets etc. Mauritius with earlier QV (mostly unused, 1859 1s and 1863 to 9d etc), 1879 to 2r.50 (excl. 38c), 1902, 1910 sets etc, comprehensive Morocco Agencies, a few early Natal then 1902 £1 and £1.10s, an impressive range of early Newfoundland (mostly unused), then 1887 to 10c, 1894 & 1896 issues, 1897 Anniversary and 1910-11 sets, 1919 Caribou, 1933 Airs and the Balbo issue, a group of 17 New Republic, New Zealand with 1898-1900 issues, 1906 Christchurch, 1913 Auckland etc, Nigeria 1914 £1 and 1936 set to £1, North Borneo, Nyasaland with 1891 to 10s, 1896 to 5s and 1903 to £1, some Papua 'Lakatois', Rhodesia with 'Arms', a group of 'Double heads' to 2s and Admirals to 10s (also optd. Specimen 18 vals to £1, unused, scarce). Decent ranges from St. Helena, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, Sierra Leone with 1896 £1 and 1904 to £1, Straits Settlements with 1867 ½c to 4c plus 12c (regummed) and later issues, F.M.S with 1904 $5 and 1922 to $5 (SG.80), Johore and Kedah etc, Transvaal, Turks etc. Running throughout are (in most cases) small groups from the Australian States (Western Australia 1854 1s noted). A most impressive collection, enormous catalogue value, excellent value and highly recommended.

GJ.300CI + 301CI + 302CI + 304CI + 307CI + 311CI + 313CI, 1910 Centenary of the May Revolution, the complete set of 7 INVERTED CENTERS, a magnificent group of the finest quality known, extremely rare!

Plate 1 DJ/EL BLOCK OF SIX, good to large margins on three sides, close at base but not cut into design, traces of three adjoining stamps visible at top, pressed out vertical crease DK/EK - hardly detracts, cancelled with red MC's, lett DJ showing re-entry. A rare multiple - (block of four Cat. £22,000).

France (1939) Scott B90-1 Yvert 440-1 France repopulation campaign. Mother and children. Full sheets of 25 Color Proofs. The first French stamps printed in more than one color with rotary presses and therefore listed as No 1 and No 2 in the specialized catalogue for Color proofs issued by Jean Pierre BONHOMME in 1992. Trial Color Die Proofs DO NOT EXIST for this issue as reflected in the 2024 award- winning catalogue by Pierre PUECH. The sheet for B90 seems to been printed in only one color, whereas all the proofs in the B91 sheet are multicolors Color names have been written on the upper right corners and it is not clear what they refer to, may be the different colors that have been tried. Mint, original gum with 2 light hinge marks. The sheet for B92 shows a small margin tear (see photo). MAJOR RARITIES FOR THE French PROOF COLLECTOR! Maury 2019 Catalogue value is 15,000 Euros ($17,000). Bonhomme 1992 catalogue value was already 100,000FF!! Exhibit items! Mint, OG, LH. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.

FRANCE 1928 'Ile de France' Surcharged 10f on 1f.50 blue provisional (Cat. £15,000 as used), with 50c & 1f.50 on New York to Le Havre catapult mail cover, with Paris transit and Le Havre arrival strikes. Lacking the 6 line catapult h/stamp. A great rarity. Hunziker, Milulski and Diena Certs. (Sold for £4250 plus premium Harmers of London 1994)

CHINA 1920 (May 7) Tientsin to Peking Handley-Page return flight 3c letter sheet (uprated with 10c), tied 'Aeroplane Service Tientsin C.P.O' cancels (clock types) in violet, endorsed with bilingual 'Chinese Post Office Despatched by Aeroplane Tientsin to Peking' and 'Delivered by Aeroplane' cachets in violet. On reverse 'Government Police Headquarters Tientsin' cachet in violet & green 'Express Delivery' label. The typed message within begins: 'Dear Burr, in about five minutes this note and my papers will be on their way to Peking by the big Handley Page Plane'. The cover has a vertical fold and some minor peripheral faults and soiling but a most attractive example of this great rarity. 35 covers only were flown.

Sc.J22/J28, 1891 Complete set of 7 values, MNH perfect, as fresh and impeccable as the day they were printed, superb!

1916-19, "Limited for Use in Sinkiang Province" 2nd overprints on Junk Issue, 1st Peking printing, $1-$20 (Chan PS34-38. Scott 34-38), a lovely quintet, clean and fresh, the $5 and $10 bottom margin part-imprint singles ($10 with plate number as well), Very Fine. Scott $1,877 (HK$ 14,440). Est. HK$3,600-4,000

GJ.1057, 1951/7 50P. San Martín, 3 die essays of unadopted designs, each one consisting of 2 overlapping parts: the centers are engraved and the frames are drawn (2 cases) or printed photographically. Unique, great rarity of modern Argentine philately!

ICELAND 1933 'Hopflug Itala 1933' optd set of three (Cat. £4750) plus 30a on registered cover to Boston tied 'Reykjavik 7 7 33' cancels, flown on the Balbo Iceland to USA flight. New York transit and Boston arrival strikes on reverse. Exceptional quality and very scarce with just 289 covers carried.

1923, 1fr Advertising Booklet, Mineraline covers, 10x10c pane, complete and unexploded, o.g., never hinged, Fine.SG DSB13. Maury C1; €7,250 ($7,830).

French Sudan (1939-42) Yvert  110-21,122-4,125-8, 129-30, PA1-5 Three examples of every stamps distributed by the UPU in Switzerland between October 1939 and June 1942.  The stamps were affixed in Mauritania to ledger pages and handstamped SPECIMEN / COLLECTION / MAURITANIA.  78  specimen presented on fragments from the original ledger sheets including a fragment with nine stamps with margin inscription:  "Bulletin No 2135 du 3 avril 1940 de Berne" with number 33 in blue and and another fragment with nine stamps with margin inscription:  "Bulletin No 1 du 19 janvier 1942 " with number 134 in blue". An article was written about the UPU specimen in the French Colonies Facebook group in 2025 by Pierre Wertheimer.  A first for these very interesting items!  You can find a link to a copy of the text in the introduction to the sale. A unique assemblage from the Mauritania UPU Specimen Archive which includes the "Vichy" issues Scott 118-9, 120-1 and even though they were not placed on sale in Sudan, samples were sent by the UPU to Mauritania! Brown stains at the bottom of a one strip of 9 mentioned for accuracy, otherwise VF.  Of course, guaranteed genuine, but we  will pay the  expertization if they are sent to J. F Brun in Paris. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

1867-83 Wmk Maltese Cross £1 brown lilac GB, VFU with boldly struck 'Glasgow' c.d.s, good colour for this stamp, SG.129. Cat. £3500+

AUSTRALIA 1919 First Aerial Post 'Ross Smith' vignette in deep blue on cover from UK to South Australia tied 'First Aerial Mail Great Britain to Australia Received 26 FEB 1920' double oval cancel, one of 24 covers posted in Baghdad 'On Active Service' (inscribed OAS), of which 16, including this cover were signed by 'J. Bennett' the flight mechanic. Very small tears at right and base but generally fine condition for this rare and highly sought after flight cover.

RUSSIA 1929 (Sept 29) first flight Moscow to New York via the Arctic Ocean and Bearing Sea cover to promote Soviet Aviation, carried on the 'Land of the Soviets', bearing the 1924 Air set of four and 1927 10k, tied 'Moscow 7 8 29' cancels. With just nine covers carried, a rare and important Russian airmail cover. Philatelic Foundation Cert. 1973, signed Joffe.

JAPANESE OCCUPATION - TRENGGANU 1942 $25 purple & blue with Type I opt (chop F) tiny tone spot on reverse o/w fine UM with fresh colour, SG.J116, BPA Cert. 1999 (bottom stamp) from a vertical pair. (1) Cat. £2750.

Plate 1b block of four CH/DI, good to clear margins on three sides, CH cut into at top, cancelled with red MC's, CH/CI with pressed horizontal crease - not detracting from the appearance.

1897, Small Figures surcharges on Small Dragons, 1¢ on 1ca-5¢ on 5ca complete (Chan 31-33. Scott 25-27), sound and solidly centered, o.g., lightly hinged, Very Fine. Scott $740 (HK$ 5,690). Est. HK$1,400-1,800

1908 2½d hand stamped by J. H. O'Sullivan, Inspector of Police on 4d brown & blue, fine M, SG.35, RPS Cert. 1983. Very scarce. (1) Cat. £1800

1913-19 1½d drab brown Admiral P.14 vertical pair with IMPERF BETWEEN variety, large part o.g with trivial gum wrinkles (mentioned for accuracy), SG.199b, Holcombe Cert. 2022. (2) Cat. £2500

1908 Provisional unissued Surcharge 1d on 4d black & red/yellow, a rare M corner marginal Plate BLOCK OF FOUR, fresh with light creasing/bend. BPA Cert. 1982. Ex. Sotheby's - The Lord Steinberg Collection. The 1d Surcharge on 4d (No 29) issued in mid-May, was intended as a revenue stamp and was never authorised for postal use, used examples were either cancelled by favour or passed through the post in error.

Egypt (1950) Scott 47, 54, 51, 55, 56, 71, 119, 150, B9, B11, B12 Attractive complete group of 11 Deluxe sheets printed in 1950 by the French Printer Hélio Vaugirard with accompanying presentation sleeve (serial number 219). Each Proof has two inscriptions below the stamp . on the left " L' Egypte des Pharaons et le Tmbre-Poste", on the right " Hélio-Vaugirad - 1950". These Deluxe Sheets were prepared by Hélio-Vaugirad to show postal administrations how well they could compete with engraved issues using the cheaper Héliogravure chemical process. Many countries used this printer including Saar for which Proofs can reach very high prices. Attractive grouping showing life under the Pharaohs includes Cleopatra, Ramses II etc. Stamps chosen are from 1906 to 1947! Very Fine and Attractive! A group of 3 Deluxe sheets was sold by Spink for $350. Complete sets are hard to find! Estimate $900 - 1,200.

France (1949-50) Cérès. Scott 3 and 6. Maury 3 and 4. 20 centimes black and 25 centimes blue. Beautiful selection of selected used stamps. Except for 3 stamps, all are beautiful Very Fine 4 margins copies. Includes 20 centimes black: pair mint no gum (200 Euros), one pair used, four single four margin copies, and two 3 margin copies with possible "Noir Intense". 25 centimes blue including blue on yellow, bleu clair sur bleuté, plus 12 other four margins copies with various shades, and one 3 margin copy. Maury Cat over 2300 Euros ($2600). Nice opportunity and basis for further expansion. Estimate $700 - 800.

Sc.4CL8/10 (RHM.Z-7/Z-9), Zeppelin flight to USA, the cmpl. set of 3 values on covers or cards flown from Rio de Janeiro to New York (with arrival backstamps), excellent quality!

HAHN REPRINT: 1910, Columbus 20c. red-chestnut, engraved, sheet of 204 examples watermarked "Chile and star", very fine overall quality!

17/AP/1929 Monte Caseros to Buenos Aires, third experimental flight of Aeropostale, with arrival backstamp of 19/AP, excellent quality, very rare! (only 18 pieces were carried!)

TOSCANINI, Arturo: Postcard used in Buenos Aires on 15/AU/1904, with musical score, varied inscriptions and his signature on back, excellent quality and very rare!

GJ.525, 5c. Urquiza printed on paper with FISCAL SUN WATERMARK, the first "A" of CAPITAN with long leg, it is a very rare example missing in most collections, with VARIETY, probably unique, very lightly hinged, superb!

France (1943) Scott 460-3 Yvert 572-5 Coat of Arms. Compound Collective Deluxe Sheet with protective glassine in superb almost perfect condition . Very hard to find in this pristine condition! Rarity! Exhibit item! Estimate $500 - 600.

Germany (19th century) Collection of 19th century private local stamps Privatstadtpost. Over 400 stamps organized by cities. Neatly hinged in a 49 pages note book. The German Michel specialized Privatstadtpost was not used, so better values might be included. A few faulty stamps, but over 90% should be in F-VF quality. A nice collection. Rarely offered! Estimate $800 - 1,000.

France (1921) Scott 142 Yvert 133 Sower (Semeuse Lignée) 30 centimes violet. Outstanding centering. Mint Never hinged! Yvert 550 Euros + 100% for very good centering = 1100 Euros ($1250). XF! Beauty! Estimate $400 - 500.

1928 MSCA £5 black/yellow optd SPECIMEN in red, fresh M, SG.117as.

1928 2½d on 2d purple brown, fine M, SG.1105, BPA Cert. 1942. (1) Cat. £1300

1888-90 £5, £6 (thinned), £7, £8 & £9 each superb used with a Melbourne c.d.s for Jan.26.01. Simply a gorgeous set of high values.

RARE COVER with postmarks of Tacna under Chilean administration and after its reincorporation into Peru: Registered airmail cover mailed from Talca to Tacna on 21/AU/1929, arriving on 24/AU (still during Chilean rule), and 4 days later it was returned to sender when Tacna had been transfered back to Peru, with the typical violet postmark that came into use FROM THAT DAY, it also bears a transit mark of Santiago 18/NO and a final arrival marking at Talca for the 19th, very fine quality, rare, ex-Henry Harman, possibly UNIQUE combining these two postal markings!!

7/AP/1920 Erevan to Tiflis (arrival mark 10/AP), registered cover franked on front and back with splendid and colorful group of stamps overprinted with the monogram "H.P.", excellent quality!

1893, Old Calabar provisional, ½d on 2½d purple on blue, green surcharge (Scott 28), o.g., hinge remnants, Fine to Very Fine.SG 35.Scott $600.

SAILORS OF BATTLESHIP GRAF SPEE INTERNED IN ARGENTINA: Cover mailed with franchise from the internment camp on Martín García island on 17/AP/1941, by sailor Erich Pilz to his girlfriend (later wife) Elfriede Poschner in Villa Ballester, on back there is a receiving datestamp for the following day, excellent quality!

GJ.9a, 15c. with accent, VARIETY: 8 cut angles, signed by V.Kneitschel, wide margins, it has a barely visible thin on back in the hinge area, insignificant given the beauty and rariety of this stamp!

AIRPLANE ACCIDENT: Cover sent from Buenos Aires to New York by PAN-AM on 27/JUL/1937. The airplane made a stop in Guayaquil and Canal Zone, on 2/AU at 7.40 pm, due to bad weather, it crashed in the Mosquito Gulf. The wet mail was recovered and later dried in a bakery in the Canal Zone, and this cover received an official seal on reverse, with a handstamp on front indicating the wreck, and arrival backstamp of New York 9/AU, VF quality!

Yvert 54, 1862 4c. chestnut on salmon, COMPLETE SHEET of 100 stamps, MNH and of excellent quality. It has 4 hinge remnants in the 4 corners, the rest MNH and very fresh!

1904, 2¢ Louisiana Purchase on Postcard with Exposition Cancel (Scott 324), cancelled September 10, 1904; postcard produced by S. Cupples Co. depicting the Palace of Agriculture; Post Office Department Exhibition cancel used as backstamp; addressed to Chicago, Illinois.

France (1945) Scott 473 Yvert 611. Chenonceaux tied by APO cancel of April 22, 1945, used on EFM (Expedionary Force Message). Red censorship cancel and Central Radio circular date cancel of April 26. Half-telegram as usually found. The half Telegram is listed in the Mayer catalogue at 1200 Euros ($1400) Amazing historic document! Estimate $300 - 400.

1853 1d brown red block of six with good to mostly huge margins, trace of crease, hardly detracts, FU with wide bars cancellations, SG.3a. (4) Cat. £1500+

DENMARK 1929) 2Kr Copenhagen Coal & Coke. Company Booklet, complete and unexploded, contains two 7o panes of four, two 5o panes of four, one 2o pane of four and combined 10o + 7o (2 stamps each) pane, all with advertising labels, interleave pages with company advertising including photographs of ships and truck.. Man carrying Coal ads. NH , VF-XF . Facit HRE8. Pristine condition. Estimate $200 - 250.

Sc.129, 1931/6 Kangaroo and map 2£, with watermark "C of A with small crown", perf 11½x12, with SPECIMEN overprint, mint part gum, and small thin on back, superb front!

GJ.3705NA, $1 Indigeneous art (basket) printed on UV neutral paper, with sheet corner and TRIPLE LABEL, very few known, extremely rare!