Market Matters Victoria cancel on aged stamp gets $A8,685
At the Abacus Auctions in Melbourne on 25 March 2021, this numeral “253” cancel of Framlingham shown nearby, on a pretty common 4d pink Beaded Oval Victoria stamp, with age spotting and staining, was invoiced for $A8,685 after the usual Buyer Fees were added. This was against a starting auction estimate of just $A250. Gary Watson from Abacus said he thought it was a World Record hammer price for a single Victorian Barred Numeral. He and others in the room could not think of an example reaching this price level before. It was sold to a very determined room bidder. The lot looked like stalling at around the $1,000 mark with a pause in the action, and then it kept going - and going! A VERY happy vendor I am sure, as the stamp was found sitting un-noticed in one of his stockbooks of duplicates! You can buy a VERY nice mint 1913 £2 kangaroo for $8,650, so a lot of money to pay for numeral cancel. MANY reading this of course own rare cancels from this area, but have no idea they own them - as was the case with this vendor, until it was pointed out by those more
Higher than a mint 1913 £2 Kangaroo! expert. So how do you KNOW what scarce cancel you have? That of course is the obvious question whether your cancel is worth 8 cents, $8, or $800 or $8,000 like this one sold for you do need to have guidance. Luckily there are superb handbooks on cancels from the Australia States or Colonies The Victoria numeral cancels were all updated heavily by Hugh Freeman’s near 500 page A4 size hard cover with dust jacket, “Numeral Cancellations Of Victoria” superb tome. Detailed review of it and Hardinge Tasmania cancels book is here - tinyurl.com/Glen12-18
“Knowledge Is Power”
An Essential handbook for these. 56 - Stamp News
I have typed 1000 times here, and on stampboards, that “Knowledge Is Power” and the examples just on this page alone, proves that truism beyond all doubt. Owning or having access to the relevant literature and catalogues is essential. The total cost of these books is paid immediately with locating just one very MODEST scarcity item in a junk box, or mixed lot, or club sheet or approval lot, just ONCE in your lifetime. The owner of the
