BREAKING NEWS:
SPECTACULAR “OFF THE CHARTS” RESULTS FOR THE DU PONT BRITISH GUIANA COLLECTION
“In 40 years as auctioneer, I have never had the experience where every single lot was underbid to an astonishing multiple of the original estimate, leaving no lot unsold!“, said David Feldman at the end of this historic auction.
Following the sale of the famous One Cent Magenta on June 17 in New York by Sotheby’s for a record of USD 9.5 Million, the auction of the main collection of John E. du Pont last Friday in Geneva was an unbelievable success.
The sale featured highly competitive bidding from collectors in David Feldman’s auction room in Geneva, on the phone as well as around the world via the Internet. The result ended 500% greater than pre-sale estimates. It took no less than 3 1/2 hours to clear the 131 lots.
The auction surpassed all possible expectations with 100% of the lots sold for a total over EUR 6 million.
Discover the prices realised of British Guiana Collection of John E. du Pont
Notable highlights:
1856 Provisional 4 cents black on blue surface glazed, initials of postal clerk Wight “EDW”, cut octagonally, used on cover to Sophia’s Hope Estate in Mahaicony, very lightly cancelled by village datestamp of Williamstown A 3 C OC 30 1856
Estimate: EUR 150’000
Sold for EUR 288’000
1850-51 2 cents black on pale rose, Townsend Type A, with initials of postal official Smith “JBS”, cut round, usual defects, central Demerara datestamp OC 7 1851, one of the only two single examples remaining in private hands (two pairs, each on cover, are also known outside institutions)
Estimate: EUR 100’000
Sold for EUR 228’000
1856 Provisional 4 cents black on blue glazed surface-coloured, Type 3, initials of postal clerk Wight “EDW”, cut square with exceptional margins for this difficult stamp, very fresh colour, central Demerara datestamp SP 27 1856
Estimate: EUR 40’000
Sold for EUR 204’000
1850-51 pelure paper (very thin and transparent, almost onionskin) 4 cents black on pale yellow
Estimate: EUR 120’000
Sold for EUR 192’000
1856 Provisional 4 cents black on blue glazed surface-coloured, initials of postal clerk Wight “EDW”, cut octagonal, village datestamp A 8 C DE 05 1856 (SG £90’000) – A very rare stamp with less than two dozen known in total
Estimate: EUR 20’000
Sold for EUR 180’000
1850-51 12 cents black on blue, Townsend Type A, thick frame, without initials, exceptionally rare unused example, deep colour, cut round.
Estimate: EUR 40’000
Sold for EUR 156’000
1850-51 12 cents black on blue, Townsend Type C & B, horizontal pair showing both thin and thick frames se-tenant, with initials of postal clerk Wight “EDW”, cut octagonally, with light Demerara datestamps MR 21 1851
Estimate: EUR 10’000
Sold for EUR 156’000
1850-51 8 cents black on blue-green, Townsend Type D, initials of postal official Lorimer “WHL”, thick frame, deep fresh colour, used on cover from Plantation Foulis
Estimate: EUR 15’000
Sold for EUR 156’000
1856 Provisional 4 cents black on rose-carmine, Type 4, initials of postal clerk Wight “EDW”, exceptionally large even margins, light Demerara datestamp of SP 15 1856
Estimate: EUR 6’000
Sold for EUR 156’000
1856 Provisional 4 cents black on rose-carmine, Type 1, initials of postal clerk Dalton “ETED”, cut square, light Demerara datestamp of SP 27 1856, fresh colour, rare.
Estimate: EUR 3’000
Sold for EUR 156’000