Sale 1384 — 2026 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 June, 2026
Category — Brazil thru Portugal
Brazil, 1843, 30r Black, Intermediate Impression (1a). Left sheet-margin single, large margins, with dividing line at left, large part original gum, the impression is unusually strong and almost qualifies as an early impression, lovely rich shade
EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1843 30-REIS BULLSEYE, INTERMEDIATE IMPRESSION.
Although issued with gum, the vast majority of Brazil's first issues are found without gum. The Scott Catalogue notes "Stamps with original gum command substantial premiums."
Scott $4,250 (as no gum).
Brazil, 1843, 90r Black, Late Impression (3b). Recut lines at left and outer frameline, large part original gum, huge margins all around, with dividing line at bottom, attractive late impression
EXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY HANDSOME ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-REIS BULLSEYE, WORN IMPRESSION.
With 1946 Fulpius and 1981 Buhler certificates. Scott $3,500 (as no gum). The Scott Catalogue notes "Stamps with original gum command substantial premiums."
Egypt, 1938, £1 King Farouk Birthday, Imperforate, Frame Only (224 var; Nile Post C82e). Mint N.H., large sheet margin at right, other margins large, fresh color, insignificant staple hole in margin
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE FRAME-ONLY ONE-POUND KING FAROUK BIRTHDAY ISSUE. JUST 50 WERE PRINTED.
Nile Post $3,500.
Egypt, 1949, 1m-30m Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition, Miniature Sheets, Royal Imperforate Proof (278-279 vars; Nile Post MS3a-MS4a). Two sheets, Cancelled back (in Arabic), exceptionally fresh colors, a few very minor wrinkles mostly in margin (as generally seen)
VERY FINE. A SUPERB PAIR OF THE 1949 AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION MINIATURE SHEETS WITH "CANCELLED" BACK. ONE OF THE RAREST ROYAL IMPERFORATE PROOF ITEMS OF EGYPT WITH JUST SIX and eight PRINTED.
Just one press sheet of each miniature sheet was printed. The 1m-22m press sheet comprised of six examples. The 10m-30m press sheet comprised of eight examples. These both originate from the Royal Palace Collection.
France, 1849, 20c Black on Yellowish, Tête-Bêche Pair (3c; Yvert 3d). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), full to large margins all around, intense shade and impression
VERY FINE. A lovely UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1849 20-CENTIMES BLACK ON YELLOW TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIR.
From our 2009 Rarities of the World sale. Signed A. Brun. With 1969 P.F. certificate. Scott $9,250. Yvert €6,500.
Certificate
1969 PF No. 30108 View Cert
Germany, Offices in China, 1898, 10pf Carmine, 45 Degree Overprint (3a; Michel 3I). Mint N.H. complete sheet of 100 comprised of two panes of 50 with horizontal interpanneau gutter at center, full selvage and values at top, bold color, strong vertical crease along center perfs causing splitting thru most of top pane (sensible hinge reinforcements in selvage), minute adhesion to one stamp at bottom left
VERY FINE. A RARE SURVIVING COMPLETE SHEET OF THE 1898 10-PFENNINGS WITH 45 DEGREE OVERPRINT.
From the Magnolia Collection. Catalogued as singles. Scott $10,000. Michel €12,000.
Germany, Offices in China, 1900, 50pf Purple & Black on Salmon, Tientsin Handstamp Reading Top to Bottom (22 var; Michel 13S). Well-centered, exceptionally fresh colors, used with 1898, 3pf, 5pf, 10pf (2), 20pf, and 25pf (1-5; Michel 1II-5II), two singles of 10pf, all tied by "Tientsin, Deutsche Post 11/12 00" circular datestamps on registered printed cover to Otto Schulze in Leipzig, Germany, Tientsin registry label, cover with vertical file fold of no consequence
VERY FINE. THE 1900 50-PFENNIGS TIENTSIN PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP READING TOP TO BOTTOM IS ONE OF THE RAREST GERMAN OFFICES IN CHINA STAMPS—PARTICULARLY SO ON COVER. ONLY FIFTEEN ARE RECORDED WITH JUST EIGHT COVERS KNOWN.
It is believed that no more than 20 stamps were overprinted with this orientation—the cause or reason is still a matter of speculation. Only fifteen are recorded in Jaschke-Lantelme's Die Handstempelaufdrucke von Tientsin (p. 70-73). Of those, eight are on covers, six on pieces/fragments, and one single off cover. They are all believed to originate from the Otto Schulze covers, which have sequential registry label numbers. Another common characteristic is the small dot between the "I" and "E" of "Tientsin" in the Tientsin datestamp.
Ex "Magnolia". Signed Thier, Freyse, and Kosack. With 2004 Jakubek and 2024 Jaschke-Lantelme certificates. Unlisted in Scott. Michel €70,000.
Kiauchau, 1900, 5pfg on 10pf Carmine, Ty. "a-c", 45 Degree Overprint, Shifted Overprint and Without Blue Crayon Line (1a-3a vars; Michel 1IFI). Vertical strip of five with "4,00" value inscription in selvage at top and interpanneau gutter margin at bottom, Michel Ty. 1/1/2/2/3a, original gum, top stamp lightly hinged, other four stamps Mint N.H. (hinged in selvage), each with strong surcharge shift downwards causing split surcharge between perfs, bold color, center stamp with trivial surface abrasion at right
VERY FINE AN IMPRESSIVE STRIP OF THE 5-PFENNIGS WITH SHIFTED OVERPRINT AND WITHOUT THE BLUE BARS—PARTICULARLY WITH THE MICHEL TYPE 3A SURCHARGE.
Stamps without the blue crayon bars were only sold on May 9, 1900. The Michel Ty. 3a is particularly rare, as it comes from only one position (Pos. 44) in the setting (twice in a sheet).
Ex Gross and "Magnolia". Signed Kosack. With 2001 Steuer certificate. Michel €2,750 simply as hinged singles with no premium for Mint N.H. or rare Michel subtype.
Certificate
2001 Steuer No. 832 View Cert
Kiauchau, 1900, 5pfg on 10pf Carmine, Ty. "c", 56 Degree Overprint, Without Blue Crayon (3 var; Michel 1IIFII). Mint N.H. with sheet selvage at bottom, Michel Ty. 5, fresh color, Very Fine and choice, stamps without the blue crayon were only sold on May 9, 1900, the rare Michel subtype 5 only occurred once in a pane, therefore about 20 examples are possible, signed Dr. Pirl and "Magnolia", with 2008 Jaschke-Lantelme certificate
Certificate
2008 Jaschke-Lantelme No. 16245 View Cert
Kiauchau, 1900, 5pf on 10pf Carmine, Ty. "f", Horizontal Pair, One with Additional "5" Surcharge (6/8; Michel 2+3WZd). Horizontal se-tenant pair, right stamp only with the additional "5" surcharge, underlying surcharges Michel Ty. 3c-3b, tied by "Taputur, Kiautschau 23/7 00" first day of opening circular datestamp with additional strike on back on uprated German Offices in China, 5pf Green postal card with "China" overprint, addressed to Tsingtao, Tsingtao (Jul. 23) arrival datestamp, message side with "Heute wurde die hies Postagentur (deutsche) eroffnet im Beisein von..." (Today the postal agency (German) was opened in the presence of...) and signed by five individuals (presumably governmental officials)
VERY FINE. AN INCOMPARABLE HORIZONTAL pair OF THE 1900 5-PFENNIGS SURCHARGE WITH ONLY ONE STAMP RECEIVING THE ADDITIONAL "5" SURCHARGE ON POSTCARD USED ON THE FIRST DAY OF OPENING OF THE POST OFFICE IN TAPUTUR. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED HORIZONTAL SE-TENANT PAIR KNOWN IN ANY CONDITION - UNUSED, USED, OR ON COVER/CARD. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KIAUCHAU ITEMS IN THE MAGNOLIA COLLECTION AND A KEY POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT FOR ANY AWARD-WINNING EXHIBIT COLLECTION.
There are a few aspects to this postcard which together create one of the most important items of not only Kiauchau but of the entire German Colonies.
1) This horizontal se-tenant pair is the only recorded example with one stamp receiving the additional "5" surcharge. This is the rarer of the two types (other is the large format "5 Pf" -- Scott 9, Michel 4). Only about 100 examples were additionally surcharged along the bottom row of panes. Due to the placement of the underlying surcharge, it was felt that it was not easily readable. This surcharge was applied to remedy any issues with visibility. Vertical se-tenant pairs are major rarities in their own right and catalogue €110,000 as unused pairs. We theorize the postal employee who applied these surcharges must have overlooked this stamp when applying the surcharges by hand.
2) The underlying "5 Pf" surcharges are very rare Michel subtypes 3c and 3b. These only occurred on the last surcharge plate change and only on positions 98-99 (Ty. 3c-3b). Ty. 3b also occurred on position 100. Only three examples of Ty. 3c and six examples of Ty. 3b are thought to have been printed.
3) July 23, 1900 marked the first day of opening of the post office in Taputur. This is further confirmed by the presence of the note written on the message side of this card and signed by what we presume were five postal/governmental officials.
Ex Schmidt and "Magnolia". Signed Bothe BPP. With 2007 Steuer and 2025 P.F. certificates.
Italian States, Sardinia, 1818 "Regie Patenti" and "Manifesto Camerale" Official Documents for Cavallini Letter Sheets. Two documents, first "Regie Patenti" printed at the Royal Printing House in Turin dated "7 Novembre 1818", with manuscript "Publicato li 6 Obre 1818" at bottom, second an eleven page notice document titled "Manifesto Camerale" printed at the Royal Printing House in Turin and dated "3 dicembre 1818", with manuscript date of Jan. 1819 at bottom, last page with original impressions of the three stamped values in blue ("Modelli de' Bolli"), design of cupid/cherub with a horn riding a Giara pony (native to Sardinia), pages with slightly rough edges but in far superior condition than typically found
VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-PRESERVED PAIR OF official DOCUMENTS -- THE PATENT AND NOTICE OF ISSUE AND USE OF THE CAVALLINI LETTER SHEETS. THE PRECURSOR OF POSTAL STATIONERY AND THE EARLIEST USE OF POST OFFICE PREPAID STATIONERY.
Beginning in 1818, Sardinia issued Cavallini letter sheets which were double sheets that allowed for easy folding into the size of an envelope. Each sheet had one of three values (15c, 25c, and 50c) applied which paid different rates based on distance. They were originally handstamped (first issue) before being embossed (second issue). They were sold not only at post offices but also local tobacco shops around the island. This helped facilitate and consolidate the prepayment of postal fees rather than sending covers collect and postal fee paid by the recipient. These official documents were used to inform the public and officials of their purpose, use, rates, and regulations/limitations.
Japan, 1872, 30s Gray, Compound Short Tool and MLL Perforations (18 var). Mint N.H. horizontal strip of three, with Matsuda Long Large (MLL) perforations vertically between selvage and left stamp and between first and second stamps, other perforations are the normal short tool, incredibly fresh, with lovely rich color and a crisp detailed impression, pristine original gum that has never been hinged, middle stamp with natural gum crease (which exists on the other four known copies), couple faint toned spots
VERY FINE. ONE OF JUST FIVE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 1872 30-SEN GRAY WITH A COMBINATION OF MATSUDA LONG LARGE AND SHORT TOOL PERFORATIONS. AN IMPORTANT RARITY OF CLASSIC JAPAN.
For decades, this strip was contained in a sheet of 40 (8x5), in which the first two vertical rows of perforations were produced with the distinct Matsuda Long Large perforations, while the rest of the sheet had the normal short tool perforations. Sometime after our sale of the "Isleham" collection in 1986 (Sale 664, Lot 3097), the sheet was broken up and five horizontal strips of three were created with the compound perforations. Therefore, only five examples with the compound perforations are possible. This strip is from the fourth row (positions 25-27 on the sheet). When contained in strips of three or larger, the contrast between the two types of perforations is unmistakable.
Ex Burrus and Peyton ("Isleham") when in a complete sheet. JSCA Y4,100,000. A similar (hinged) strip of three realized €21,000, plus buyer's premium, in the "Meiji" collection recently offered by David Feldman.
Portugal, 1855, 5r Red Brown (5; Michel 5; Mundifil 5a). Type II, Mint N.H., huge margins all around, unbelievably fresh, with deep intense color and a superbly detailed impression on immaculate paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. UNQUESTIONABLY THE FINEST UNUSED EXAMPLE THE 1885 5-REIS IN EXISTENCE. A BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY REGARD.
When our describer first glanced at this stamp, he thought it looked too good to be true. Its stunning impression, extraordinarily large margins and absolutely pristine gum made it seem more like a proof than an issued stamp. That, coupled with the fact that nearly every unused example of No. 5 has faults to some degree, makes it all the more improbable that a stamp could survive 171 years in this phenomenal state of preservation.
Ex. "Cascais" and "Evergreen". With 1996 N.F.A.C.P. certificate. Catalogue values are as hinged. Scott $15,000. Michel €12,000. Mundifil €15,200.
Certificate
1996 N.F.A.C.P. No. 4370/96 View Cert