2016-12-15 Thu

The 1850 Bombay cover is considered to be the greatest philatelic item in existence. Also known as an Aristocrat of Philately, the Bombay Cover was auctioned by David Fieldman in Geneva on 1st December 2016.

With only twenty-six examples in existence today, the first postage stamp of Mauritius is the epitome of philatelic treasure. But the piece de resistance is the famous Bombay cover. Discovered in a street market in India in 1895, the cover bears two large-margined examples of the 1d “Post Office” stamp, tied by barred cancels on a cover addressed to Bombay.

It is an unusual item for several reasons, first, it was sent in 1850, three years after the issue. Secondly, it was sent eastbound, to Bombay as opposed to the other covers which were either used on the island or sent to Bordeaux, France. Most importantly, the quality of the stamps is remarkable.

The cover was bought by Raymond Weill in H.R. Harmer’s 1968 sale of the Dale-Lichtenstein collection for $380,000. It had changed hands only privately since then. The cover has now gone to a new owner for $2,548,000.