OLD STAMPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1938, Page 2

OLD STAMPS

EARLY NEW ZEALAND ISSUES.

KEEN BIDDING IN LONDON.

A recent find of early New Zealand stamps was the chief item at an important philatelic auction in London recently. The stamps came from letters written to relatives in England between 1855 and 1860 by James Ellman, grandson of the chief original breeder of Southdown sheep. Ellman was at the_ time experimenting in sheep breeding in New Zealand. The stamps were auctioned by H. R. Harmer, the New Bond Street dealers, in 19 lots, but, as some included group's of two or more stamps on the same envelope, the total number sold was slightly over three dozen. They realised rather more than £250 and a- number of other early New Zealand stamps sold at the same time brought the total for 32 lots to nearly £4OO. All the Ellman stamps bore the portrait of Queen Victoria in her Coronation robes. The top price of £55 was paid fpr a block of six Id d ill orange of the 1856-59 issue. It is believed to be the largest block known of these stamps. Bidding started at £2B and rose briskly a number of buyers participating. The highest price for a single stamp was £46, paid for a Is pale yellowgreen on blued paper, of the July, 1855 issue, printed in London. Bidding for this stamp, which was in very good condition, rose from £lO. Other good prices were £26 and £24, brought by pairs of July, 1855, 2d dull blues. The lowest price was £2 for a less perfect sample of this stamp. Old New Zealand stamps from other sources which realised good prices included a November, 1855, Is green, bisected vertically for use as a Od stamp, complete with envelope, and in very fine condition, which brought £4O. and an 1862 pelure paper 2d ultramarine unused, which was sold for £22. Prices realised were considerably in advance of expectations, and no lots w<re passed. There is a brisk market :it present for early British colorin'! issues. There were about 30 dealers and collectors present and bidding was very general. In addition, a number of bids was received by mail, several being from collectors on the Continent.