Paris auction house Rossini's sale of stamps early this month demonstrated perfectly that, even if you can't afford stamp lots priced at six-figures, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy the investment benefits that philately holds.
For instance, regular readers might remember our report on Interasia Auctions largest-ever stamp auction held during July-August of last year. Among the sale's highlights was a complete sheet of 80 of the 1980 Year of the Monkey stamp.
In the end, the sheet set a new World Record price at HK$1,265,000 ($162,914), sold to a telephone bidder. According to Interasia, the sale was greeted with the "amazement and applause of a packed room of stunned and frenetic bidders."
 The Chinese stamp collection, including the Year of the Monkey specimen (right) |
However, collectors at Rossini's auction had a chance to own a little monkey of their own. What's more, this single Year of the Monkey stamp was sold within a one volume collection of Chinese stamps including pieces dating from the Cultural Revolution to the year 2000.
While the collection - with quality ranging from mint to poor and the 1963 stamps only 90% complete - couldn't boast the value or spectacle of Interasia's complete sheet of 80, it nevertheless brought a very pleasant surprise for its seller.
In the end, the collection almost tripled its €5,000 estimate to bring €14,000. Rossini's sale was held on February 8.
- Click here to view our stamps for sale
- Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in rare stamps
- Read all the latest Stamps & Covers news
Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today
