Stamps, Postal History and Postcards – Sale Results

An unmounted pair of Chinese Golden Monkey stamps from the popular series of New Year Stamps based around the Chinese Zodiac sold strongly in Tennants Auctioneers’ sale of Stamps and Postcards on 3rd November. Produced in 1980, the Year of the Monkey, the stamps have a red background - a very lucky colour in China, and the face value is the lucky number eight. One of the most sought after contemporary stamps, this horizontal pair were sold for £2,000 (plus buyer’s premium).

However, the top lot in the six-hundred lot sale was a complete set of 1840 British 1d or Penny Black Plates 1a to 11, which presented a wonderful and rare opportunity to buy the full plate range in one transaction. This rare set was sold for £3,500 (plus buyer’s premium).

Postcards and photocards of Yorkshire and the North East proved once more in great demand, with a collection of cards depicting Pickering, split into three lots, selling particularly well. The majority of the Pickering postcards were produced by Sydney Smith. Smith began life as a delivery boy at the Pickering Co-op, but after being shown a pinhole camera he became a fanatical photographer for life. The first lot featuring images of local floods sold for £350 (plus buyer’s premium), the second featuring topographical and social history scenes sold for £550 (plus buyer’s premium), and the third featuring street scenes and local celebrations sold for £700 (plus buyer’s premium).

The sale resulted in a total hammer price of £95,555, with an 88% sold rate.

We are currently accepting lots for the next Stamps, Postal History and Postcards auction on 14th February, please contact us on 01969 623780 or enquiry@tennants-ltd.co.uk for details.