We had great pleasure in presenting our 2009 sale of Fine and
Rare Stamps and Covers of the World. Now in our 8th year, we were delighted to
be continuing the annual ‘Rarities Sale’ concept, re-introduced to the
Australian auction calendar by us in 2002, and we were privileged to
present the outstanding collection of Queensland formed by Francis Kiddle.
The Australian Colonies section featured the magnificent
‘Commercial Philately in Australia’ exhibit
collection, comprising many rare and desirable items relating to the
pioneer philatelic traders in this country. New South Wales was highlighted by
fine Sydney Views, and was followed by ‘The Francis Kiddle Collection of
Queensland’, with Chalon proofs, rare singles and multiples, Specimens,
and the pre-eminent holding of Qld Revenues, encompassing notable selections of
Adhesive Duty, Beer Duty, Impressed Duty, Stamp Duty and Railway Stamps. Other
Queensland featured Moreton Bay District entires and Charity essays and proofs.
Victoria included rare Half-lengths and the ‘Calvert Collection’ of
Emblems, with great items including essays, proofs, multiples,
perforation and watermark varieties, and usage on cover. There was also a fine
selection of Victorian Stamp Duty issues and Western Australia postal
history.
In Australian Commonwealth, the Kangaroos
included, in First Wmk, the 10/- unmounted and another punctured large ‘OS’
mint, and in Third Wmk, the 10/- with inverted wmk and £2 unmounted. The KGV
issues featured the ‘KGV Heads Usage Collection’, with many
unique or best of kind usages, followed by a range of varieties, the 4½d Die II
c.t.o in a block of four and the 2d Postal Forgery ‘unmounted’. The
‘KGVI Usage Collection’ includes a commercial usage of all the
‘different’ stamp issues of this reign; Postage Dues with material from the
David Herendeen collection, as well as the 1909-10 6d value with ‘CA’ monogram
from the left (abnormal) side of the sheet, previously unlisted; the
22-volume Postal Stationery collection is remarkable for the
breadth of material it contains; and Postal History includes a film case,
airmailed from Great Britain and bearing the amazing franking of the KGVI 10/-
Dark Blue x 40.
Rest of the World featured Bahamas overprint
varieties; Great Britain missing colours; Malaysian States revenues; New Zealand
with QV issues, Pictorials, the 1906 Christchurch and 1913 Auckland exhibitions,
KGV recess and surface printed issues, including proofs, and further Postage
Dues from the Herendeen collection, with essays and covers; P.N.G. included the
‘1952-1966 Usage Collection', again the finest and most
comprehensive collection of its kind; and Singapore featured ultra-high value
revenues.