A stamp that is the Australian version of the world-famous Inverted Jenny is for sale at a British collectibles dealer.
The 1930 airmail stamp shares several key features with the Jenny, which has sold at $2 million for a single example, with blocks going for more.
The “Australian Jenny” is for sale at Paul Fraser Collectibles, the world’s largest rare collectibles dealer.
It was issued for Papua New Guinea, to celebrate the arrival of an air mail service in the territory, then governed as an Australian territory under British colonial rule.
Papua: extremely beautiful and in 1930 extremely difficult to reach.
Paul Fraser, chairman of Paul Fraser Collectibles takes up the story.
“The earliest official Papua stamps were printed in 1901, under the name ‘British New Guinea’.
“These stamps featured the image of a Lakatoi – a traditional native vessel used by the island’s indigenous Motu people.
“In 1906 the territory fell under Australian administration, and in 1907 the Lakatoi stamps were updated and reissued with the Papua name.
“Then in 1929 the arrival of airmail revolutionised the island’s postal service – and some new stamps were needed.
“The swiftest solution was to overprint existing stamps.
“These overprints, issued in 1930, featured a charming image of a single propeller airmail plane, overprinted in carmine.”
The attractive design and eye-catching juxtaposition of old and new techs make the stamps a standout issue for collectors.
The reverse of the stamp is as fine as its front, and bears the marks of the some of the world’s greatest ever stamp collectors. Image courtesy of Paul Fraser Collectibles.
But, a small number are beyond attractive.
A single sheet of 40 stamps were put into a press upside down.
Mr Fraser is selling what he says is the finest-condition example of these 40 stamps.
“The colours are fresh and vibrant. The margins are large and clear. And the condition is equally good on the reverse,” he says.
It has been owned by some of the most famous stamp collectors in history one of whom, Herbert Bloch, a renowned authenticator, who signed the stamp (in pencil) probably before it was sold to King Carol II of Romania.
King Carol II of Romania was perhaps a better stamp collector than he was monarch. He owned this stamp.
Mr Fraser says he expects the stamp to sell quickly, because it comes from a growing sector of the market.
“Stamps from the Oceania regions have shown strong increases in value in recent years, fuelled by a rising number of affluent collectors.”
The 1930 Papua 1930 1s air mail error is for sale now for £15,000.
