About
Spink
As an independent firm, Spink continues to uphold a long tradition of expertise and client service whilst also being forward-thinking and dynamic.
No-one else in the field of collectables offers such a broad range of services to the collector or to those seeking advice on disposing of single items or a collection.
Location
Spink's custom built headquarters are based in an old Post Office building in Bloomsbury, London.
In addition to our activities in London, we also hold regular auctions in New York, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Singapore and are present at all major shows and trade fairs worldwide.
Specialist Advice
At the heart of our business are our specialists, whose combined experience amounts to over 400 years, and whose knowledge of our various markets is unsurpassed.
Our History
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World auction record for a China Dowager stamp at Spink Hong Kong: US$950,000
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Spink sells a rare Hermès Sterling Silver Mini Kelly handbag for a record US$61,000.
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Spink is appointed as one of the official auctioneers at the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC). A full cask of Macallan whisky has been sold in Spink's Hong Kong auction for HK$2,928,000, setting a new world record for a whisky cask sold at auction. This spectacular sale has eclipsed Spink's previous record of HK$1,952,000 made in 2014.
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2016 was a very special year beginning with no less than three World Records from the Meiso Mizuhara Collection, the largest philatelic auction ever held in Asia. The catalogue for which will stand as a reference work for future sale collections. 2016 was also the year that Spink celebrated 350 years as a business of indisputable reputation and integrity. The celebrations were exciting and a riot for the senses. Here's to 350 more years to Spink!
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Spink were the main sponsor of the World Stamp Exhibition in Singapore, holding five auctions and achieving several World Records and also launching the much-awaited Banknotes of British Malaya, The Frank Goon Collection including The Straits Settlements, Malaya, British North Borneo, Sarawak, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore (2nd edition) by Frank Goon. Published by Spink, the 2nd edition is a masterpiece and a testament to a lifetime of banknote collecting. 2015 also saw the acquisition and first publication of the Spink Maury Catalogue; The Spink Maury catalogues will continue to provide the highest level of detail for the stamps and covers of France and the French colonies.
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Spink achieved 12 outstanding world records for philatelic items of Malta and Australia, an Egyptian banknote, a Reddite Coin, an Inverted Jenny, a Tudor Sovereign, and items of postal history from Dubai, Muscat, Kuwait, Guadur, Sharjah and Bahrain.
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Spink's Chairman and CEO Olivier D. Stocker relocates to Hong Kong to further galvanise Spink's thriving Asia business, focussing on client relationships and helping them develop and build collections.
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Spink expands in China with acquisition of Phila China and Oeno China auctions in Hong Kong.
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Spink acquires Investphila in Switzerland to further enhance it's presence in the Americas and Russia.
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Spink set a new world record for a Chinese banknote sold at auction. The 1 yuan note sold for HKD$990,000 on 24th January 2010 in Hong Kong. The highly valuable note featured 2 black dragons signifying the prowess of the Emperor and Monarch and accordingly named as the "Ooi-Long note".
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Spink acquires Smythe in New York City, one of America's leading auction houses for coins, banknotes, autographs, bonds, and share certificates.
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Spink acquires Shreves Philatelic Galleries, America's leading Philatelic Auctioneer, with offices in New York and Dallas. The acquisition created the world's largest auctioneer of rare stamps.
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Spink sell the Edward III Double Leopard for £460,000. This set a new world record price for an English coin sold at auction.
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Spink achieved a new UK stamp auction record, grossing over £3.3 million. This included the British Honduras block of 6, which set a record at £140,300. A new world record for a collection of English gold coins was also achieved this year, with the sale of the Samuel King Collection. The celebrated Vigo five guineas of Queen Anne was one of the highlights, selling for £149,500. Through a group restructuring, the controlling shareholder increased his stake, enabling his Singapore based investment vehicle, 1818 Capital, to control 88.5% of Spink.
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Set new world records for a Victoria Cross and for an English gold coin. The VC group of eight to Sergeant N.C. Jackson and the Coenwulf Penny both sold for £230,000.
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The Slaney Collection of English Coins sets eight new world records. Spink holds its first sale in Paris, the La Fayette Collection, and achieves a world record price still unbeaten to date for a French philatelic item. The 1fr Tête-Bêche block of four sold for €924,000.
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Spink & Son is acquired from Christie's by an investment capital firm based in Singapore.
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Launched www.spink.com
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This year saw the relocation of the Indian and Islamic Arts business to its own self-contained premises in King Street. Spink Collectables and Spink Special Commissions moved to new premises in Bloomsbury.
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Christie's stamp auction department, which formerly operated as Robson Lowe, is integrated into Spink.
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The Leger Galleries is acquired and merged with Spink Pictures, forming Spink Leger Pictures. Spink acquires Seaby Numismatic titles from B.T. Batsford.
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Christie's acquired Spink from Andrew Weir & Co Ltd and integrated its own coin and medal department into Spink.
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Spink held its first coin auction.
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Andrew Weir & Co Ltd acquired Spink.
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Started a furniture restoration business based in Kennington which became one of the finest English furniture restoration business in the world.
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Listed on the London Stock Exchange with the Spink family retaining a controlling interest.
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Moved to the corner of King Street and Duke Street, St James.
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Spink moved to Piccadilly, and opened its famous art dealing business specialising in British Pictures and Oriental Art.
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We received our first Royal Warrant for medals services to Queen Victoria in the year 1900. Spink now holds two Royal Warrants for medal services to HM Queen Elizabeth, and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh; in addition Spink was recently awarded the Royal Warrant for philatelic services to HM Queen Elizabeth.
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Spink produced the medal for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Fourteen of these medals were made.
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Published the Numismatic Circular (until October 2012). This was the oldest regularly published coin and medal catalogue.
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Purchased the Soho Mint, a small independent foundry and mint in central London and started to design and produce medals.
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Spink started dealing in Oriental Art.
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The firm Spink and Son was established. Increased dealing in gold and silver coins.
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Spink moved to Gracechurch Street, London, and built up jewellery and coin dealing business.
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The business was founded by John Spink, principally as a goldsmith's and pawnbroker's, based off Lombard Street, London. Lombard Street was completely destroyed when the Great Fire of London swept through the City. After a short spell in other premises John Spink returned to the rebuilt Lombard Street.
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