Sought-after Commonwealth stamps in online auction from Tamworth

Timed sale runs 4th to 14th July

A COLLECTION of rare Commonwealth stamps goes under the hammer in Staffordshire next month.

Dating back to the 1920s, the archive came to light at a free valuation at The Lichfield Auction Centre last week and is expected to fetch around £1,700.

Catalogued across eight lots, the collection includes ‘hard to find’ sets and individual stamps, said Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ philately expert Phil Ives.

Highlights include four King Edward VII high value Straits Settlements overprinted specimen stamps of $500, $100 and two $25 in different designs.

The stamps – all in ‘nice clean condition’ – were overprinted with ‘specimen’ so they could either be sold to collectors at the time or sent to other countries so those postal services would know what the stamps looked like.

The four are guided at £500 to £800 in Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ timed online auction, starting on Friday, July 4, and finishing Monday, July 14.

“These are rare stamps in good condition – they are really hard to get hold of,” said Mr Ives.

The sale also includes a 1922 Kedah 25 cent inverted overprinted Malaya Borneo Exhibition stamp with certificate.

The stamp, which has the Stanley Gibbons number 43a, was overprinted to use in the Malaya-Borneo Exhibition promoting trade and economic possibilities, which was arranged to coincide with the visit of the Prince of Wales – the future Edward VIII – to Singapore in March 1922.

In this example, what is already a sought-after stamp is made rarer still as the overprint has been placed upside down in relation to the design.

Further highlights include a 1925 North Borneo stamps set less couple of minor values, pictured at top of page, and two Malayan States Jahore $100 and $50.

“This is an impressive collection with some really hard to find sets and individuals,” added Mr Ives.

Other countries featured include Gibraltar, Australia, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco Agencies, Malta and Sarawak.

The stamps were consigned to auction on Thursday (June 19) by a client from Burntwood whose father put the collection together.

They feature in a timed online-only auction which can be viewed here from 5pm on Friday, July 4.

A huge football collection including thousands of programmes, sticker albums, souvenirs, scarves, annuals and autobiographies can also be found in the same sale.

Viewing in person for everything in the sale takes place at The Tamworth Auction Rooms in Church Street and can be arranged by calling 01827 217746 or emailing tamworth@richardwinterton.co.uk.

Free valuations and home visits for large collections and house clearances are also available – call 01543 251081 or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.