Welcome to our catalogue number 111, which coincides with Autumn Stampex where we can be found as usual on stand number 7. On this occasion we will have taken additional stand space so we can take more of our stock with us and we will of course direct you as necessary from Stand 7 to our other stand. We look forward to meeting friends old and new so don’t hesitate to make yourself known to us and say hello if you are visiting the show.

This catalogue is brimming with goodies throughout and hope you will find something of interest. A strong GB section contains a very good range of Penny Blacks including a very nice Manchester ‘Fishtail’Maltese Cross and a four margin Plate 11 with one of the best cancels we have ever seen on this scarce plate. The later line engraved also has examples of the more awkward 2d stars. Key Victorian high values include very nice copies of the 1867 – 83 high values including cds copies of the 10/-, £1 Brown and an exquisite£5Orange. The later Victorian £1’sare also offered and well worth consideration. Later GB includes a further selection of George V controls, which sold very well in our previous list. The QEII errors and varieties are also well represented.

The Commonwealth section has much of interest. Lot 603 illustrated on the front cover is particularly rare. Just three examples of this stamp are known, one being in the Royal collection and the other in private hands in South Africa. Forget the SG valuation, the last sale took place at roughly three times their figure! It is often the case with such rarities that the catalogue price can take some while to adjust when the number of transactions is perhaps only one or two in a lifetime. The stamp comes with a clear certificate and is an exhibition item. The chance to acquire such a stamp does not occur that often and we hope to find it a new home. Likewise lot 1042 has two certificates and a known provenance. Just 20 are thought to exist and it thus represents a rare opportunity for a collector of West Indies or Cayman Islands in particular. The highlight of the non-commonwealth listings is without doubt the Chinese Imperial Post set of Waterlow ‘specimen sheets’. These are a lovely assembly and we have only ever handled a single sheet previously, never the set. Other strong areas include the allied zones of occupied Germany post WW2 and Persian Gulf (Iraq / Iran) particularly.

With so many highlights, we can but repeat our usual message that the photo plates are your best guide to the range and quality available.

Don’t forget that if you supply your email address to us we can notify you when each new catalogue is published online and you will also get reminders when the closing date looms. Our email subscribers also have the option of receiving ‘Daily Offers’ which cover a wide range of material, often procured on the same day on which it is offered, giving some excellent opportunities for those quick off the mark. The number of recipients of these offers is increasing so we must be doing something right. Do you want to join them? Simply send an email with the Subject of 'JOIN' to dailyoffers@thestampcentre.co.uk 

You may fax, phone or email your bids to us and as usual we look forward to hearing from you. Please have alternatives ready where possible in case your first choices are unavailable.