One of the best stamp investments you could make today
There is a British stamp, which has proved one of the finest of investments in the past 20 years.
It has always been one of my favourite stamps.
It is also one of the hardest to find in fine condition.
Twenty years ago, the stamp I refer to had a catalogue value of £7,500. Today, it is listed at a value of £45,000.
That’s 25% simple annual growth over a twenty year period.
From one little piece of blue paper…
1840 2d blue, plate 2
It serves as a great example of the power of rare tangible asset investing.
Today, I would like to offer you something very similar.
It won’t cost you anywhere near as much as £45,000.
Yet, I think it could prove just as lucrative as a long term investment.
Allow me to explain…
10 times rarer than the penny black
The two penny blue was contemporary with the penny black and therefore shares the accolade of being one of the world’s first two postage stamps.
The philatelic example I present for you to today is not only exceptionally attractive, it is also a major rarity in this form…
Great Britain 1840 2d blue Plate 2, SG5, fine used strip of six lettered OA-OF
Officially, the two penny blue stamps were valid for postage from 6th May, 1840 (the same day the first penny blacks were used). However, they were only made available from 8th May.
Whilst the penny black is the jewel in the crown of many collections, any collector interested in Queen Victorian stamps really should have a two penny blue.
The problem facing collectors is the two penny blue is much rarer and extremely challenging to find in fine condition.
The design of the two penny blue is exactly the same as the penny black and was struck from the same die. The first 2d blue stamp differs from all subsequent 2d blue stamp issues in having no white lines above the value and below “POSTAGE”.
The initial printing of the two penny blue took place from 1 May 1840. In all, 6,460,000 were printed from two printing plates until 29 August 1840.
In comparison over 68 million penny blacks were printed meaning the two penny blue is over 10 times rarer than the penny black.
Furthermore, the two penny blue was in issue for just one year.
The 2d rate was used to cover postage on packages weighing over half an ounce.
Back in 1840, the Victorians were still finding their feet with the new innovation of sending letters by post. The concept of sending parcels at that time remained a bit too alien.
As a result, the two penny blue wasn’t used much and the survival rate is considerably lower than the penny black.
You can imagine then just how unusual it is to find a strip of six 2d blue stamps, which were used for postage. Almost unheard of, it is that rare.
Superlative Quality
This is certainly the finest used multiple of two penny blue stamps I have ever handled and exceptional in all regards in this quality.
Finding philatelic perfection like this is what makes me jump out of bed in the morning.
Many days my exuberance is not rewarded.
This is one of those rare days where my constant search for perfection is rewarded…
- The colour of all six stamps are a deep blue and vibrant
- Every stamp has all four margins present and some with very large margins
- Each stamp neatly cancelled by a crisp Maltese Cross providing huge aesthetic appeal
Furthermore, this strip of six comes from the rarer second printing plate.
The experts agree
I am not alone in thinking this philatelic piece exceptional.
It is unusual for the independent expertisers of stamps to provide anything other than a technical description on their certificates of authenticity.
Evidently, this item delighted the highly regarded expertiser, Martin Eichele of Basel as much as it did me…
Such an overwhelmingly complimentary certificate of authenticity clearly adds further value to this magnificent philatelic piece.
The much rarer plate 2
There were 3,977,280 2d blues issued from the first printing plate.
The second printing plate was put to press on July 27th, 1840 with 2,485,680 being issued. 633 sheets were spoiled in printing meaning 151,920 had to be destroyed.
The much rarer second printing plate of the 2d blue is actually almost 30 times rarer than the penny black.
A Strong Buy Recommendation
As mentioned earlier, fine mint examples of the 1840 2d blue from plate 2 have increased in value by 500% in the past 20 years.
The catalogue value of used examples from plate 2 have increased from £450 to £1,000 over the past twenty years. This represents a more modest appreciation in value of 122%.
In my view, used examples of the 2d blue from plate 2 are considerably undervalued in the SG catalogue for three key reasons:
- The catalogue value of a fine used penny black is £375. Theoretically, the two penny blue, being at least 10 times rarer, should command a value of £3,750 based on its much higher rarity value
- It is more than 10 times more difficult to find a fine used example of the 2d blue from plate 2 in fine condition than it is to find a fine used example of the penny black
- Auction realisations are on the up with a number of sales being at above catalogue value for fine used examples
So, what you have here is something which has shown stable, albeit fairly unexciting, levels of growth in value in the past twenty years.
At the same time, we have clear market indicators suggesting prices are rising now as their true value is being appreciated.
Finally, what I am offering today is so much rarer and more desirable than a single used example. A strip of six in such fine condition is a major rarity with a considerable premium value.
Offered at a very attractive price
At a recent London auction, a strip of four used two penny blues from plate 2 realised £5,200.
The current Stanley Gibbons catalogue value for a single used example is £1,000.
Consequently, the six used examples as single stamps have a catalogue value of £6,000.
Obviously, there is a considerable premium to this value appropriate in light of the huge rarity factor associated with being a strip of six. This is hardly ever seen.
Yet, my price to you is just £5,000.
This is not a price to be missed for something this valuable and attractive…
Easy to sell, hard to buy
I always sell used two penny blues quickly. My problem has always been how hard it is to find good quality examples.
This splendid strip of six is in a different league entirely.
To summarise:
- A very rare multiple of the two penny blue from the rarer second printing plate
- Exceptional quality in all regards and a very attractive philatelic display piece
- With a very strong independent certificate of authenticity
- Presenting evident potential for future price appreciation
- At an exceedingly fair price
Call me immediately on +44(0)1534 639998.
Or email me today at mike@paulfrasercollectibles.com.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Mike Hall
PS. Alternatively, I also have a single 2d blue from plate 1 available with lovely fresh colour and with one of the most startlingly bold examples of the black Maltese Cross cancellation I have ever seen…
SG CATALOGUE VALUE: £975
PRICE: £750 (discount 23%)
