A rare block of 1956 50d centre-inverted stamps from Iran looks set to provide a highlight in a major upcoming auction of world philately.
 Will the four Iranian stamps top the prices seen by a US 1857 10-cent block? |
The stamp will sell with a $10,000-15,000 estimate on August 23-25 - the highest valuation given in the sale. This estimate is shared by a block of four US 1857 10-cent stamps that, under ordinary circumstances, would normally far exceed the value of the vast majority of Iranian stamps.
That is, of course, unless we are talking about the 1950 Iranian 15-rial centre-inverted single stamp which sold for $75,000 in 1988.
Like the aforementioned, the block of four at auction was taken from the only sheet of 100 ever printed with the central image upside-down, and stands as a unique top right margin group. In the positions 1-2 and 11-12, the stamps are in very fine to extremely fine condition, with only the skips and minor bends found in all examples marring their otherwise fantastic state.
The estimate given by the auction house is based on the $10,000 that the block realised when last sold and the Scott Catalogue valuation of $15,000 for four singles. However, a never-hinged example in very fine condition sold for just $1,750 against a $3,750 estimate back in 2008, casting doubt on whether the block will realise its full potential.
Paul Fraser Collectibles specialises in providing the latest news from the stamp collecting world, as well as a stunning selection of investment-grade rarities. This magnificent block of 96-cent stamps is a unique unused multiple of the Hong Kong's rarest colour error.
