2016-01-21 Thu

Brace yourself and gear up for one of the most awaited events in the word of Philately! A 150 year old letter cover featuring a rare Bermuda stamp is all set to be auctioned this month.

This priceless stamp was found on a mourning envelope that Midshipman John Hemery Robinson wrote to his mother in New Brunswick on January 22, 1863. Midshipman Robinson died at the age of 25 in late 1870 while serving on board the HMS Endymion, and was buried in the Sea of Japan. That is why this stamp is considered as one of the rarest stamps of the world.

“This unique cover shows a fine strike of the previously unrecorded American-style 32mm ‘Paid at Ireland Island/Bermuda’ circular date stamp and with locally made handstruck ’6d’, the latest recorded date of use, at upper right, both struck in red”, Spinks said.

Bermuda is considered as one of the first countries in the world to officially print and use uniform postal rate in 1842, just two years after the United Kingdom launched the Penny Black. Researchers believe that the stamp used on the cover was obtained from an American source by the Bermuda postmaster-general for use at Ireland Island.

Perot stamps, named after William Bennett Perot, were the earliest Bermuda stamps. William served as Bermuda’s first postmaster-general from 1818 to 1862. Only 11 Perot stamps are known to still exist, and they can fetch more than $100,000 at auction.

All eyes will be on the mourning envelope from Midshipman John Hemery Robinson that will be auctioned as part of Spink’s Philatelic Collector’s Series sale, which begins on January 27.

A note on the item by Spinks Auction House in London described this unique stamp of the world as an “incredible rarity”, estimating a sale price of between £12,000 and £15,000.