Submitted by aarAdmin on Tue, 12/07/2021 - 00:00
The front cover catalogue picture showed a pair of 2/- stamps imperforated on three sides - that became the top selling lot for $119,800 at Melbourne-based Abacus Auctions four-day sale of stamps, postal history, coins and banknotes, general collectables and sporting memorabilia from December 1-4, which totalled more than $3 million with buyers premiums included.
The stamps were part of the exceptional ‘Artemis’ Collection of Kangaroo & Map Rarities, for which Abacus produced a special hardbound catalogue with full page descriptions and photographs of each of the 150 lots.
Lots priced up to $5000 attracted strong bidding, with most selling above estimates. The unique 2/- brown postally used monogram block of 12, claimed to be the most important used multiple of the Commonwealth of Australia, charged to $47,920 including buyer’s premium before going under the hammer.
A £2 Third Watermark Harrison and Small Multiple Watermark Ash imprint blocks each sold for $89,850 much to the delight of vendors.
Day Two collections were hotly contested with most of the 850 stamps on offer selling at several times their estimates. Australian collectors were particularly keen on KGV heads, other pre-decimals, war savings stamps and ‘Cinderellas’.
Rare and beautiful stamps representing the Australian colonies sold well, the feature being the South Australian departmental offerings.
Worldwide, China was popular with very high prices paid even for defective stamps. While GRIs from New Guinea were solid, NWPI Overprints went through the roof. The 2/1/2d form of 30 with JPB monogram changed hands for $16,170 and the much scarcer ‘CA’ for $17,370 despite the top row being absent.
Day three began with almost 100 lots of postal notes of the world, many of which went to the first bid.
Coins and banknotes were strongly supported, with $2365 paid for a 1967 Swan Pattern Dollar in its presentation case a highlight and a box of American coins achieving almost 18 times is $100 catalogue estimate.
Among the day four sporting memorabilia was one of Australia’s best ever boxing collections that included many vintage pieces assembled over many years.
A signed 1915 photograph of heavyweight Jack Johnson brought the top price for this section of $5990, while an 1897 boxing glove-shaped program for the 1897 Corbett v Fitzimmons fight reached $3115 and an extraordinary Bob Fitzimmons letter from before the fight $4075.
The Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali section was virtually sold out, and a framed print of a young Lionel Rose at his family’s house a bargain at $360.
