Spink to Offer Archive of Napoleon Exile and Autographs of Nelson, Elizabeth I & Henry VIII
Nov 11 2013

On the 15th of November, Spink will proudly be offering some rare, historically significant autographs. These include an original letter from 1576 signed with the typically flamboyant signature of Queen Elizabeth "in the XIXth yere of my reigne."   Lot 2038 Elizabeth I Estimate: £12,000-15,000 This sale of over one hundred lots also includes some hugely important autographs, from Nelson to Henry VIII, and a fascinating research archive of Napoleon's exile on St. Helena, estimated to fe...

The Man, the Legend: Spink China presents the Bruce Lee 40th Anniversary Collection
Nov 11 2013

On the 5th of December 2013, forty years since the passing of Bruce Lee, Spink's expanding Hong Kong office is very proud to offer a stunning and unique collection of personal articles from the life and career of The Little Dragon.   From iconic film memorabilia to items of personal clothing and jewellery, this extraordinary selection of prized collectables represents landmark moments in the life of Bruce Lee, an evocative and enduring Chinese icon and a remarkable human being who has in...

Spink to Auction Rare Olympic Games Issues
Nov 06 2013

Spink's upcoming Collector's Series Sale will include a series of rare and fascinating issues from Olympic Games throughout history. These will go under the hammer on the morning of Wednesday the 13th of November, part of a diverse three-day sale in our London auction room. Athens has particularly good coverage, beautifully illustrating the immense history of the world's biggest and most influential sporting event.     Lot 1313 1896 Athens, 1L. to 1d., short set of nine, used...

The Man Who Saved Stanley: Spink to Sell Awards Bestowed Upon Doctor on Stanley’s Last African Expedition
Nov 04 2013

Above: Lot 29 On the 21st of November, Spink will be offering the opportunity to own the historically important group of honours and awards bestowed upon Surgeon-Major T.H. Parke, who saved the life of Henry Morton Stanley, the most famous African explorer of the age. Surgeon-Major T.H. Parke was a Doctor, Soldier, Explorer, and Naturalist. He served alongside Stanley in the Advance Column as Medical Officer on the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition of 1887-89, on which he saved the lives of both...

American Valentines Capture Hearts at Spink
Nov 01 2013

Among the copious treasures of a three-day Collector's Series Sale in London from the 11th to the 13th of November, is a series of magnificent Valentine-themed items from the United States. Primarily from the 19th century, these 200 or so lots provide an evocative insight into the history of St Valentine's Day in the US. The highlights include envelopes estimated to fetch several thousand. A high number of US bidders are expected to join us for the auction online via Spink Live. We are also d...

Spink Achieves Outstanding Results in Week of Stamp Sales
Oct 24 2013

Spink's London auction room has this week played host to four notable sales that have achieved excellent results for a wide range of philatelic rarities. These four strong collections featured items that attracted bidders both old and new, making for an eventful few days and enduring interest in the room. A high number of bidders also joined us over the phone for these sales, with many more bidding live online via Spink Live, which continues to bring in new global attention. We are proud to a...

Spink Hires Three Numismatic Experts in Hong Kong Office
Oct 23 2013

Just a month after the move of Chairman and CEO Olivier D. Stocker to Hong Kong, Spink is delighted to announce the hiring of three senior numismatic experts who are well known to the Hong Kong and Mainland China collecting community. Dr Kelvin Cheung, Paul Chow and Kin Choi Cheung total between themselves over 50 years of experience. They will be based in Hong Kong and bring their expertise in Chinese Banknotes, Coins, Medals, and Bonds and Share certificates. Speaking of this major growth...

Spink to Offer Most Important Bermuda Stamps in Recent History
Oct 17 2013

On 22 October, some of the rarest Bermudan stamps on the market will go under the hammer in Spink's London auction room. This wonderful collection, formed by Dr. the Hon. David Saul, former Premier and Minister of Finance of Bermuda, contains many remarkable items. The sale will begin with a Crowned Circle from Hamilton and then has no less than four of the Postmasters' stamps, the most notable being Perot's first issue examples in both red and black.   Lot 2 The Postmasters' Stamps, W....

Part III of Award-Winning “Medina” Stamp Collection for Sale at Spink
Oct 17 2013

On 23 October 2013, Spink will be offering the third in a series of auctions for this remarkable holding of India. The sale will commence with a good group of the 1852 Scinde Dawk issue with all three colours represented. The 1854 issue includes a wonderful 9½ arches ½a. essay corner block of ten.   Lot 1016 1854, Half Anna 9½ Arches Essay Estimate: £24,000-26,000 Not an opportunity to be missed, the above is believed to be the largest remaining block in this shade. A good array of th...

Unique Opportunity to Acquire Important British Empire Revenues at Spink
Oct 17 2013

On the 23rd of October, Spink will be offering a unique opportunity to acquire important revenues, essays, proofs, issued stamps and documents from selected British Empire countries including Ceylon, East Africa and Sierra Leone. Highlights include possibly the greatest gem of Revenue philately - a unique £100 Kenya and Uganda 1922-27 block of four, estimated at £8,000-10,000.   Above: Lot 1623 Also on offer is a very rare 1937 issue from Kenya, the largest recorded multiple of its ki...

Spink to Sell South African Stamp Collection Hidden From Market for 20 Years
Oct 17 2013

Spink is proud to present the collection of Union of South African stamps accumulated by the late J.B. Bloom, to be auctioned on 24 October 2013. It is a remarkable collection, the result of many treasured years, and contains some of the rarest South African stamps on the market today. J.B. Bloom, a pharmacist born in South Africa, embarked upon a fruitful interest in philately from an early age, and in 1983 was awarded a gold medal at a philatelic exhibition in Durban (Natal). He has mentored...

£6 Million Realised During Two Weeks of World Records at Spink
Oct 09 2013

Spink has started Autumn in London with a remarkable two weeks of world records, historic rarities, and almost £6 million in numismatic sales. We are delighted to announce a number of record-breaking figures for some extraordinary coins and banknotes. Some of the rarest items on the market have gone under the hammer over the past weeks, spread across six sales.   WORLD RECORD FOR A TRIPURA COIN AT AUCTION Sold for £21,600 on 24 September Tripura, Durga Manikya(1809-13), Mohur  &nb...

Record-Breaking Week for Banknotes at Spink
Oct 04 2013

We are proud to announce that the Government of Iraq specimen 50 fils, sold at Spink on Wednesday, is a world record for an Iraqi banknote at auction. This was one of a number of notes sold this week for record-breaking prices. Today's African banknotes - the remarkable collection by Ibrahim Salem - attracted bidders from around the world. The collection included some of the most beautiful, intriguing African banknotes on the market, and resulted in an array of noteworthy highlights. Lot 39...

Kennedy Assassination Wire Copy Offered at Spink USA
Oct 03 2013

Spink's October 9th and 10th New York Collector's Series sale features some of the most historically important items of the year. These include wire copy from one of the most remembered events in American history - the assassination of Kennedy, John Fitzgerald "Jack" (JFK) (1917-1963), thirty-fifth President of the United States.  The lot is an archive of Associated Press Wire Copy from November 22, 1963, covering 24 hours of news as it came into an Iowa newsroom that day over a news ti...

Exceptional Results at Spink for Rare World Banknotes
Oct 03 2013

A memorable week at Spink has continued with a World Banknotes sale spanning two eventful days. It is the biggest and most diverse world note sale in recent history and featured some truly remarkable items. The sale included fantastic collections of Egypt, India and South Africa, the Alan Cole collection of Romania, and the extensive John Glynn collection of World Notes.  Many of the notes sold for many thousands above estimate, including the following eye-catching highlights.   &...

A Golden Age for Coin Auctions at Spink
Oct 02 2013

Yesterday afternoon, Spink sold almost £2 million of rare world coins. The sale featured 600 lots from around the world, including superb rarities from Italy, Spain and Transylvania. With many of the coins in the sale coming from a collection formed between the wars, there was huge interest from many European collectors and dealers. This led to intensive bidding with the best lots seeing impressive prices.   Among the afternoon's considerable highlights were several coins that received a...

Rarities on Offer at Spink Switzerland’s Inaugral Bonds & Shares Auction
Sep 27 2013

On the 19th of October 2013, Spink Switzerland will be holding its inaugral Bonds & Share Certificates sale to further expand Spink into the continental European market. In 2011, Spink aquired Swiss stamp specialist Investphila. This year, a cooperation was made with Hiwepa AG, the market leader for bonds and shares in Switzerland. Spink Switzerland has also welcomed Dr. Peter Christen onto its specialist team, one of the best connoisseurs of collectable bonds and shares. He has put toget...

Further Success for Nicholas Rhodes Coins at Spink
Sep 26 2013

A busy season for Spink's record-breaking coin department continued this week with two exemplary sales - the North East Indian Coins from the Nicholas Rhodes Collection Part I, and Indian, Islamic, British and Anglo-Gallic Coins and Commemorative Medals. Tuesday's North East Indian Coin Sale featured over 500 coins from a region that has earned increasing interest from collectors. After the success of last month's Tibetan Coins from the Nicholas Rhodes Collection in Hong Kong, which achieved r...

Unmissable Chance to Buy Unique Banknotes at Spink
Sep 25 2013

On the 2nd and 3rd of October, Spink will be holding a major banknote auction featuring over 2000 lots. This will include the Alan Cole collection of Romania, the extensive John Glynn collection of World Notes, and unique Egypt and South Africa collections. The rarities to be offered at the sale include an original pair of Number 1 notes from the Falkland Islands. One of these, the £1, is the first Government note ever issued in the Falkland Islands.   Lot 527 Government of the Falkland...

Extremely Rare Gold Coins to Come Back Onto Market at Spink
Sep 24 2013

A collection of extremely rare gold coins, assembled in the 1920s and 1930s, is to come back onto the market in the Spink World Coin auction in London on the 1ST of October. Among the highlights is a splendid Dodici doppie e mezza (12½-Doppia) of Genoa dated 1638. This coin was known to the compilers of the Corpus of Italian Coins (volume III published in 1912) only through a description in a 19th century sale catalogue, and experts have speculated as to whether the coin really existed or not...