Mauritius Bordeaux Cover

World Record - Highest price for a Philatelic Item

Sold CHF 6,123,750 in 1993 in Switzerland
In 2008, an offer of 10 million euros was refused

The all-time world record for any philatelic item for what is considered one of the Crown Jewels of philately, the famous 1847 "Bordeaux cover" franked with the complete first issue of Mauritius.

Sweden Treskilling

World Record - Highest price ever for a Stamp

Sold CHF    977,500 in 1984 in Switzerland
Sold CHF 2,875,000 in 1996 in Switzerland

1855 The Treskilling yellow, the unique colour error of the first issue.

France

1849 1F Vermilion in Tete-beche block of four

Sold CHF 437,000 in 1993 in Switzerland
Sold EUR 907,000 in 2003 in London

1849 1F Vermilion in Tete-beche block of four, the unique mint tete-beche.

United Kingdom

1840 Penny black

Sold GBP 100,000 in 2009 in London
 

1840 Penny black, the World First postage stamp in a mint block of four.

Brazil

1843 Pack strip

Sold CHF 1,322,500 in 1993 in Switzerland
Sold USD 2,185,000 in 2008 in the U.S.

1843 Pack strip, the unique se-tenant pair of two different values of the First issue.

Russia

1858 First + second issue combination franking

Sold USD    517,500 in 2006 in the U.S.
Sold EUR 1,314,500 in 2008 in Switzerland

1858 First + second issue combination franking, the "Crown Jewel" of Russian philately.

China

The Countess Caroline cover

Sold CHF    322,000 in 1984 in Switzerland
Sold EUR 1,165,125 in 2008 in Switzerland

The Countess Caroline cover, the highest franking with First issue China.

France

Largest known multiple of the 20c Bordeaux Type I (issued during Paris Siege)

Due to the Siege of Paris, rest of France had to suffer a lack of postage stamps. The French Government then based in Bordeaux ordered emergency on site printings of some unperforated stamps bearing the effigy of Ceres from year end 1870 to early 1871.

United Kingdom

One Penny Black

Queen Victoria portrait engraved by Wyon for a coin was used for the World First Postage stamp: the “One Penny Black”, presented here as a Proof cancelled by experimental postmark.

United Kingdom

“Two Pence” addressed to Mauritius

Postal stationery to Mauritius with additional franking (three examples of the 1841 2d blue). Those rare stationery were seldom used to abroad. Extremely rare destination. Probably unique.

India

1854 Queen Victoria 4 annas First issue showing inverted center

1854 Queen Victoria 4 annas First issue showing inverted center. The most famous Indian stamp. Number 23 from the 27 examples known.

France

Unique cover known with postal marking “Bonaparte / 1er Consul de la Rép.”

Owned by Jean-François Baudot
(Maison Jamet-Baudot)

New find. Unique cover known with postal marking “Bonaparte / 1er Consul de la Rép.” dated March 25th, 1800 (Bonaparte was appointed Premier Consul on December 25th, 1799). The only recorded postal marking used by Napoleon bearing his name.

Russia

1858 Cover from St Petersburg to Wolmar with a strip of four 20 kopecks

The largest multiple franking of this stamp.

U.S.A.

Virginia Dare

Original sketch by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the 1937 stamp “Virginia Dare.”

British Guiana

Cotton-reels

The 2 cents only exists in 11 examples including three covers with pairs. This one was acquired by King George V.

Switzerland

Basel Dove

In 1846, Canton Basel issued the World's First Postage stamp in three colours, the famous Basel Dove. Spectacular and unique franking with six examples. It is one of the world's most important philatelic jewels.

U.S.A.

Airmail stamp

Postal card from Waco, Texas to New York with the World's First Airmail stamp, issued in 1911.

United Kingdom

Additional franking of five examples of the 1840 2d

At the same time Great Britain was issuing the Ony Penny Black, a prepaid cover was also issued, designed by William Mulready.

Kenya-Ouganda-Tanganyika

Unique known example of the 1954-59 5 cents with inverted center

Unique known example of the 1954-59 5 cents with inverted center. Spectacular showpiece once in the collection of the Ameer of Bahawalpur.

Finland

The first stamp of Finland

The largest multiple franking with four pairs of the 5 kopecks on a cover to Lübeck.

Japan

Cover from Yokohama to France

Rare tricolour franking from 1875. A French post office was operated in Yokohama from 1865 to 1880.

Valuation: EUR 5,000 (by Maison Jamet-Baudot)

Switzerland

The famous Basel Dove, 1845

Valuation: EUR 15,000 (by Maison Jamet-Baudot)

France

Exceptional tricolour franking with Napoleon imperforated stamps to Boston in 1854

Valuation: EUR 10,000 (by Maison Jamet-Baudot)

France

Ballon Monté Mail from besieged Paris to Kentucky

During the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War, communications between Paris and the rest of the World were interrupted. Parisians used hydrogen inflated balloons to over cross enemy lines.

Valuation: EUR 20,000 (by Maison Jamet-Baudot)

France

20 centimes black, France’s first stamp cancelled with postal marking Mers-el-Kébir/Algérie

Unique 1849 usage

Valuation: EUR 70,000 (by Maison Jamet-Baudot)