Cherrystone auction of rare stamps and postal history of the world Jan. 7-8

By Charles Snee

Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers will tempt bidders with more than 1,500 lots of rare stamps and postal history from around the world during a Jan. 7-8 sale at its gallery in Teaneck, N.J.

The two-day auction will take place in four parts, with sessions each day at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

According to Cherrystone, the auction will open with “United States, featuring a large collection of U.S. sheets and modern errors.”

“Worldwide sections include an exceptional holding of Israel, including Forerunners and Interim Period,” Cherrystone said. “There are solid sections of France, Germany, Italy and Italian States, British Commonwealth, with many individual rarities. Eastern Europe offers a collection of Poland, with many better Krakow overprints, as well as Imperial Russia, with rare inverted backgrounds, Romanov correspondence, followed by Soviet Union, including Air Post and Civil War issues.”

The two-day sale concludes with 165 “Large Lots and Collections, ranging from single country albums, specialized holdings, multi-carton worldwide groups and large cover lots offered intact,” Cherrystone said.

During the morning session on Jan. 7, Cherrystone will offer an intact pane of 100 of the United States 1907 5¢ Pocahontas stamp (Scott 330) from the three-stamp set (328-330) honoring the 1907 Jamestown Exhibition held April 16-Dec. 1 in Hampton Roads, Va.

Cherrystone notes that eight of the 100 stamps are lightly hinged; the other 92 are never hinged. There are also a “few minor [perforation] reinforcements and hinge marks on the reverse of corner selvage (well away from the stamps),” Cherrystone said.

In mint, never-hinged condition, the 5¢ Pocahontas stamp is valued at $375 in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers.

According to Cherrystone, the stamps in the pane are “exceptionally well centered” for the issue.

In the printed sale catalog, Cherrystone lists this complete pane of 100 of the 5¢ Pocahontas stamp with an opening bid of $5,000.

Among the British Commonwealth stamps to cross the auction block during the afternoon session on Jan. 7 is a mint, never-hinged example of the Ceylon 1927 100-rupee ultramarine and dull violet King George V stamp (Scott 247) from the 1921-33 regular issue (225-247).

Cherrystone describes the stamp as “fresh and well centered” with “faint and natural gum discoloration.” The stamp has been signed by expert Enzo Diena, according to Cherrystone.

Cherrystone is offering this mint Ceylon 1927 100-rupee ultramarine and dull violet King George V stamp with an opening bid of $2,000.

In unused, hinged condition, Ceylon Scott 247 is valued at $2,750 in the Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940.

Among the 165 large lots and collections to be sold during the final session on Sept. 25 is what Cherrystone describes as an “1862-1970 collection made up of an old Hong Kong Philatelic Society auction lot and a N.C. Yang Stamps & Coins specialty Hong Kong album.”

The collection contains an “excellent run of mostly used from the 1862 first issue through the end of the Queen Victoria issues,” according to Cherrystone.

There are many duplicates illustrating various color varieties and different cancellations, Cherrystone said. The collection has strength from the Edward VII issues through the 1954-62 Queen Elizabeth II issues.

Overall the collection is an “excellent lot for the specialist interested in Hong Kong or someone interested to dive head-first into Hong Kong philately,” Cherrystone said.

Cherrystone is offering this 1862-1970 Hong Kong collection with a starting bid of $450.

The catalog for the Jan. 7-8 worldwide stamps and postal history sale can be viewed and is available for download on the Cherrystone website, www.cherrystoneauctions.com, with online bidding options available through Cherrystone and Stamp Auction Network.

Information also is available from Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers, 300 Frank W. Burr Blvd., Second Floor, Box 35, Teaneck, NJ 07666.

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