SINGAPORE.- As we enter the month of Spink’s 350th anniversary,
Spink have lined up a series of auctions which are set to thrill even the most even-tempered (serene/mild-mannered) collector. One of which will be Fine Stamps and Covers of South East Asia, which will take place from 2.30 pm at the Hilton Hotel in Singapore. Such a beautiful venue and exotic setting perfectly complements the wide variety of exciting foreign rarities contained within this collection.
This auction is full to the brim with exciting rarities and some of the most interesting postal history sure to pique many collectors’ interests. Many will be pleased to find that the sale contains an 1894 “THREE CENTS” on 32c. carmine-rose, an interpanneau L-shaped strip of three. We are sure this will set the room furiously bidding as its upper stamp has the surcharge omitted, making it utterly unique in this format and one of the major rarities of Straits Settlements philately. Lot 269, estimated: SG$30,000 – 40,000
This extraordinary lot is closely followed by another particularly special item, lot 270 is an 1899 (Mar.) “FOUR CENTS” on 5c. carmine, variety surcharge omitted. A very fine example and another one of the key stamps of the Straits Settlements. We record nine examples of this variety, one of which is in the Royal Collection. This is a sale not to be missed! Lot 270, estimated: SG$30,000 – 40,000
In a very different vein, the sale contains a particularly interesting 1891-95 “Appendix” sheet dated “Oct. 16 1890”. It bears four examples of the “IMPERIUM” 2c. perf. 14. These examples were prepared and submitted as the most economical options, printed in singly fugitive ink with duties in doubly fugitive ink, in response to a request from the Colonial Secretary of Singapore for a new die for any one of the Native States (Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Sungei Ujong). The proposal was rejected with a new request from the Governor of Singapore for a design incorporating a tiger rampant, the resulting sketches being also subsequently rejected. Lot 426, estimated: SG$4,000 – 5,000
