Melbourne stamps and postal auction by leading expert

Leski Auctions first Stamps, Coins & Postal History auction since December last year will be held from 12pm Wednesday August 28 and largely reflects substantial contributions from new team member Matt Hancock.

Hancock is an acknowledged expert in stamps and postal history and is keen to expand his knowledge of the types of collectables that pass through Leski Auctions doors.

The auction, at 727-729 High Street Armadale, features consignments from more than 60 vendors and includes a substantial group of Australian Commonwealth collections (lots 90-123).

Of particular interest to collectors will be the pair of “Spitfire” War Savings Stamps Imprint blocks (lots 135 and 136) and a pair of First Watermark 5/- Kangaroos with a complete CTO strike (lot 147).

Other attractions include a 6d Blue Roo on a 1917 cover to General Birdwood (lot 157), a KGV 1d Green with a complete offset on the gum (lot 200) and a KGV Large Multi 1/2d CA-CA Monogram block of 24 (lot 213).

A KGV 2d RED NO WATERMARK error block of 4 (lot 225) and a KGV 1d Red Perkins Bacon Die Proof (lot 226), both from the Arthur Gray collection, join the unique 1931 Kingsford Smith Imperforate Die Proofs (lot 249) and the remarkable 1/- Lyrebird marginal block of 4 with a wide blank band at the base (lot 262) as further interesting lots for collectors.

Rare KGVI definitive Die Proofs (lots 275 to 277) should appeal and a substantial range of Decimal period accumulations (lots 291-323) also is on offer.

Rare booklet collectors get a look in with the 1911 Victorian issue (lot 357) and collectors of Tasmanian postal history likewise should be impressed with several nice early strikes (lots 466-483).

Victorian half-lengths (lots 486-492) are another find – while the World Collections & Accumulations section (lots 527-593) is at the beginning of the Rest-of-the-World listings, with some of the lots quite large and disorganised, according to Leski Auctions.

Individual country selections follow including China (lots 609-631), Great Britain (lots 666-692), Israel (lots 702-710), New Zealand (lots 752-768), an 1830s-1840s piece of Norfolk Island convict history (lot 769)  and a range of Papua New Guinea material (lots 777-791) featuring unique bird and animal proof material.

Leski Auctions next philatelic event will be its involvement in “Aeropex 2019”, a centenary celebration of the first aeroplane flight from England to Australia – to be held in Adelaide from December 6 to 8.

The company’s pioneer aviation auction will follow on December 11 in Melbourne.