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An example of the very first New Zealand postage stamp from 1855 sold for over $11,000 at auction this weekend.
Over $1million in sales were recorded at an international stamp and coin auction in Wellington over the weekend as the industry appears to benefit from people spending more time at home because of Covid-19.
On Friday, an extremely rare set of eight pieces from 1939 sold for $32,700 to an overseas bidder at the auction, which was held both at the West Plaza Hotel and online.
Mowbray’s coins, banknotes and medals manager, David Galt, described it as the “sale of the day” with the South African set one of only 30 produced, reaching more than 70% above its estimate before the auction.
Galt said there had been strong interest in New Zealand military badges, with some hard-to-get badges selling for up to four times their pre-auction estimate.
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Auctioneer John Mowbray of Mowbray Collectables said he had noticed there had been a “very positive effect” on the collectibles market, due to more people staying at home due to of Covid-19.
“I think, quite simply, people have been spending a lot more time at home over the past couple of years, and they’ve been ‘going through the attic’ and having time to rekindle interest in their old hobbies. collection time,” he said.
As a result, inquiries about appraisals of all collectibles have increased, Mowbray said.
An example of one of the very first New Zealand postage stamps from 1855 sold for over $11,000. Mowbray had previously estimated its worth at $8,000.
Cameron Burnell / Stuff
David Galt, Coins Manager of Mowbray Collectables, pictured here in 2016 holding a medal presented by Captain James Cook during his trip to New Zealand. (File photo).
A special one-penny stamp issued for the 1906 Christchurch Exhibition fetched over $13,000 and some early New Zealand specimen stamps sold for more than double their estimated pre-auction value.
One of the New Zealand five-dollar notes, issued in the weeks following the switch to decimal currency in the winter of 1967, sold for $380.
Mowbray said it was the first time both auctions had live bidding, which has now become an integral part of events, but the presentation of people in the room demonstrated that many eager bidders still prefer to have the upper hand. to be able to closely inspect what they buy.
“Weekend auctions show the diversity of prices that can be paid, and the advent of online auctions has improved the immediacy of our auctions and expanded the international market potential for any collectible, so the search for ‘Professional assessment is key here,’ he said. .