$50,000 Columbian 'Aristocrats' lead Cherrystone's rare stamps of the world sale

Cherrystone is offering its latest Rare Stamps and Covers of the World auction on April 6-7, 2011.

Consignments are offered from several owners and estates and the sale features rare stamps and postal history of the world including United States.

The company is excited to present specialised collections of Austria, France and Germany, whilst the  Italian States include mixed frankings of Lombardy-Venetia, Parma, extensive Roman States and much more, plus interesting Proofs and Essays of Italian Colonies and Vatican City.

There are several highlights, of which the first we will focus on are investment-grade Columbian multiples.

The first is an 1859 5c and 20c blue, se-tenant, Stone A block, presenting positions 24-26/35-37/46-48, and containing the 5c transfer error (position 35) on a plate of 20c, forming a se-tenant multiple with adjoining stamps.

Position 25 is the retouched transfer, unused with full original gum, large margins, beautiful rich colour and fresh paper with the usual horizontal and vertical gum creases, in very fine condition.

This is the smaller of the only two se-tenant blocks known, one of the "Aristocrats" of South American Philately.

Columbian se-tenant stamp block

Dieter Bortfeldt's "Colombia Philatelic Handbook and Catalogue 1859-1860" states (page 41), "Only 4 pieces known, all in mint condition." It was once part of the Thomas William Hall, Crocker, Newbury, Neuberger and Islander collections and is listed at $50,000.

Likewise, there is an 1859 20c blue, tete-beche, stone A block, presenting positions 1-4/12-15, with top left corner sheet margins, containing the inverted transfer at position 13, forming a tete-beche multiple with adjoining stamps.

Unused with full original gum, hinge remnants, large margins all around, bright fresh colour and paper and the usual gum creases, it is in very fine condition, and signed Alberto Diena.

One of five recorded tete-beche multiples of the 20c Centavos and the smaller of the two blocks containing the inverted transfer, it is another of the 'Aristocrats', listed with the same estimate and previously part of some of the same collections.

Cherrystone's auction takes place in New York and online. Watch this space for more details.