Green Shoots of Recovery?
The Specialised Great Britain auction held at Grosvenor on April 23rd provided some evidence for a possible upturn in prices, reaching a pleasing final sale total of £267,313. Collections led the way, some reaching remarkable levels but there were also single items, mainly covers, that also caught the eye.
Among the collections offered, an impressively in-depth study of the King Edward VII 1d. [lot 591] did not surprise with its realisation of £5,208, the accompanying 1/2d. study [lot 590] reaching £3,968. An extensive gathering of the 2d. blue from 1840 onward [lot 28] raised eyebrows by climbing inexorably to £14,260 before finding a new home.
Hugely popular was the colourful and fascinating nine volume collection of North Kent postcards [lot 165] which soared to £5,952. An unusual collection of 1918-19 War Savings Pictures cinderellas [lot 86] also sold well, reaching £1,017.
For postal historians, an attractive 1859 entire from London to Paris with a three colour franking at quadruple rate plus late fee [lot 501], featured on the front cover of the sale catalogue, reached £992. The green 1844 numeral of Denbigh cancelling an 1841 1d. on 1853 entire to Towyn. [lot 448] realised £1,674. An accidentally applied black Maltese Cross applied to an 1843 stampless entire from Carlisle to Dublin that also showed a handstruck “2” [lot 141] produce a £769 realisation.
The smallest flaw can drastically reduce the market price of a rare stamp to quite low percentages of the catalogue value (whether those values are too high is another question). Minor traces of ink on the face of the mint 1882-83 blued paper 5s. rose [S.G. 130, lot 518] resulted in a price of just £3,472 whilst a light crease affecting the white paper £5 orange limited it to a price of £2,356, though both stamps were attractive examples.
Realisations quoted include buyer’s premium.
Grosvenor is home to the only regular major sales of specialised Great Britain and the next auction is scheduled on October 29th 2025 with consignments accepted until August 29th.
For further information please contact Tom Margalski or Verity Smith at the Grosvenor London office.