Stamp auction results reach massive highs

Since May, when the largest world gathering of professional philatelists and serious stamp collectors for the year assembled at the Royal Exhibition Building, Leski Auctions stamp auction clearance rates have gone through the roof.

“At the time, millions of dollars in early Australian material changed hands and people were concerned that this would just flood the market,” managing director Charles Leski said.

Instead, this major world event created new interest and reawakened dormant stamp collectors who began actively seeking out new material.

As a result, Leski Auctions clearance rates in dollar terms have climbed massively from a norm of low to mid-70 per cent to 105 per cent.

“The other significant factor is the merger with Mossgreen (the two businesses will begin operating from the old Sotheby’s Australia Armadale site in October) because it has certainly expanded the mailing list,” Mr Leski said.

The next stamp auction is from 5pm Wednesday at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East and Mr Leski is confident this high clearance rate trend will continue.

Of particular interest to collectors should be the early Australian material, particularly the Kangaroo stamp issue, which is currently celebrating its centenary year.

Another is the King George V period with the 1932 5/- Sydney Harbour Bridge stamps highly prominent.

The auction also contains a large number of aviation history items, with material relating to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith always popular.