A fine example of the 1922 Kenya & Uganda £20 stamp has led Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries' June 27 auction of The World Traveller Collection of Elusive World Stamps in New York.

The postal services of Kenya and Uganda were unified under British rule, with Tanganyika included later

The rare stamp, issued in 1922 when Kenya and Uganda were still under the rule of the British Empire, is in fantastic condition.

One of just a few mint never hinged copies extant and boasting superb centring and colour, it sold for $30,000 - 36.3% increase on its $22,000 estimate.

The World Traveler Collection was formed over a period of 60 years by a father and son collecting duo, who have managed to compile 260,000 major Scott Catalogue listings and 33,000 Scott-listed varieties.

With all but roughly 1,600 major listings present, it is over 99% complete. This was the first auction in a planned series from Robert A Siegel.

One of the rarest errors issued in the British Empire under the rule of King George VI

An imperforate horizontally, vertical pair of the 1939 2½d Olive Green and Rose Violet from the Solomon Islands brought the second highest bids, doubling its $12,000 estimate at $24,000.

With this being one of the rarest of all King George VI errors in the British Empire, the example at auction is highly desirable, still bearing the selvage at the top edge and in mint never hinged condition.

Aside from the pencil notation on the gum, as is commonly found with this issue, the stamp has vibrant colours and is flawlessly centred.

For the latest exciting addition to your Great Britain and Commonwealth collection, see our stamps for sale, which include some of the most prized rarities from this huge collecting field.