2016-10-07 Fri

An unused corner-margin single of India’s first issue, printed from the first plate was sold for $51,200 at Spink Auctions held during Sept. 9-10, 2016.

The country’s first issue consisted of simple designs showing a profile bust of Queen Victoria. Issued in the year of 1854, the stamp features country name “India” and were issued the denomination in words, from “half anna” to “four annas.” The stamps were printed locally and issued imperforate.

The bicolour octagonal 4 anna stamp, for example, was printed in two different plate configurations. An unused corner-margin single of the first setting was presented at the Spink Auction Australia. It also included part of the bottom-margin imprint of the office in Calcutta that did the printing, which makes it pretty unique.

It fetched triple its presale estimate, i.e. $51,200, including the 20 percent buyer’s premium and is considered to be the hottest Philatelic Item of the Auction.