Written by Blanca | 30th May 2018
In our Expert’s Choice feature, one of our in-house experts shares their favourite items in auction. This week our Spanish philatelic expert, Atanasio Soriano, selects three lots from our Spanish Stamp auction (25th May - 4th June) that you don’t want to miss.
1. España 1850 – Isabel II. Baeza de Lerma y “A” de abono de Burgos
This spectacular block of 4 stamps of 6 quarters from 1850, belongs to the plate cancelled with date stamp type Baeza de Lerma (Burgos, Spain) and also special payment mark ‘A’ from Burgos (Spain). It includes a Graus Certificate. To date, there are only 4 blocks known like this one.
2. España 1850 – Isabel II. Sol de Boiro.
The so-called ‘Sol De Boiro’ is one of the most famous and beautiful postmarks on the first stamp in Spain. There are currently no more than 15 pieces known with this postmark, most of which are on plate II stamps. We are pleased to present at this auction a six-quarter 1850 edition with a mixed postmark Sol de Boiro and a COMEX-certified black spider from plate II.
3. España 1851 – Isabel II. Matasellos araña negra y parrilla azul
This 6-quarter from 1851 perfectly reflects the postal regulations of the period. According to the laws of the period, the 31st December 1851 would be the last day of usage of the spider postmark, making 1st January 1852 the first day of usage of the grille postmark. This indicates that this stamp was used for a letter sent on 31st December 1851 as well as possibly on 1st January 1852 when it arrived at its destination. To comply with the current regulations of that day, the stamp is again cancelled with the blue grille, which was the postmark to be used from that day onwards.
About the auction
All of the stamps offered in this auction, either individually, as a block, fragment, wrapped or letter, have one thing in common: a mixed postmark. A mixed postmark is the combination of two or more different postmarks or marks on the same stamp; usually as a result of a coincidence, sometimes intentional, and sometimes influenced by other circumstances. The appearance of the postage stamp in 1850, the need to cancel it so that it could not be fraudulently reused later and the not always clear postal legislation, has left us pieces of the philatelic period of Isabel II (1850-1868) that displays such a wide range of postmarks (accidental or not), which for decades has attracted the attention of collectors. In this auction, we have some of the most sought-after postmarks of this era, such as pre-philatelic marks, special payment marks, portage marks, official, private, provisional and fortune postmarks.
____________________
Inspired by Atanasio's selection? Visit our weekly Stamps auctions to find more exceptional stamps.
Discover more Stamps | Spanish Stamps | Isabel II