On June 17^th 2014, Spink London began a trio of back to back philatelic auctions with a sale of 'Rhodesia featuring Arms and Admiral Issues from the Vestey Collection'. This was the first in a series of ten auctions in eighteen months to be sold by order of the trustees at Spink. 

The auction gained a huge amount of interest from collectors, whose competition enabled items to surpass estimates, and in many cases doubled them.    

Stamp Specialist, David Parsons, commented; "These outstanding results confirm the continuing strength in the Rhodesia market".

Opening with a grand selection of 19^th Century Rhodesia Arms, the auction offered rarities such as lot 32, a £20 yellow-bistre marginal horizontal strip of four, S.G. 93a. Doubling its estimate, it realised an impressive £30,000.

Lot 32

Price Realised: £30,000

The auction then moved to concentrate upon the Admiral Issue, containing an outstanding selection of essays, colour trials and issued stamps with a range of multiples, there were many items offered that had not been seen since the Gibbs sale of 1988. 

The highlight of the Rhodesia Admiral issues was lot 309, a 1-/ black and dull blue marginal block of four from the foot of the sheet with full imprint, the vertical pairs imperforate between, S.G. 300b. This garnered a lot of interest from Spink Live, phone and room bidders, eventually realising a fantastic price of £55,200, the highest achieving item in the auction.

Lot 309

Price Realised: £55,200

Amongst the other items on offer was lot 281, a 2d. Head Die III, perforated 15 lower right corner block of four, S.G. 279c. A great rarity and thought to be unique, it achieved £34,800. 

Lot 281

Price Realised: £34,800

Other highlights included lot 86, a rare example of a 1d. rose-red perforated 15 horizontal pair imperforate between, S.G. 204a.

Believed to be one of only two recorded examples, this great rarity realised £13,200

Lot 86

Price Realised: £13,200

Spink London will be holding two more philatelic sales on the following days; The "Garrison" Collection of New Guinea "G.R.I." Surcharges on June 18^th and The "Lionheart" Collection of Great Britain and British Empire - Part III on June 19^th.

About Spink

Spink is the world's leading auctioneer of stamps, coins, banknotes, medals, bonds & shares, autographs, books and wine.  Since its foundation in 1666, the Spink name has become synonymous with tradition, experience and integrity. Holder of royal warrants and numerous records for prices achieved at auction, Spink offers an unparalleled range of services to collectors worldwide.  Headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore, Spink holds over 70 auctions a year.  Catalogues can be accessed through the Spink website (www.spink.com) or via the Spink App for iPhone and iPad.

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