4th September 2020

THE VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION – KATRIN RAYNOR-EVANS

2020, Misc, Stamps, Summer

Philately is a new interest of mine, for no real reason than that I had not given it much attention before. My ignorance on the subject changed around five years ago when I was admiring a few first day covers that my father had: a keen stamp collector, he has amassed thousands of stamps over the years. I had just completed a GCSE in astronomy via evening classes; with my curiosity piqued, I started to wonder what astronomy- and space-themed stamps were out there.

THE SEVENTH EARL OF DESMOND, THE ENGLISH JUSTICIARY AND A CORK GROAT

2020, Coins, Misc, Summer

This is the tale of the making of a groat in Cork. It is one of three Irish coins known from the second reign of Henry VI, all of which are Cork groats.

DEFYING THE ODDS: PEN HADOW’S SOLO NORTH POLE EXPEDITION

2020, Lifestyle, Misc, Summer

“If I do nothing else with my life I will make it solo, with no re-supplies, to the North Pole.” These are the last words my father heard as he died in my arms. The words had just welled up unexpectedly from a place deep inside, but my father and I both knew this is was the sort of thing he had been working towards. I needed him to know he had successfully handed me the baton, and that I was not going to stop until it was done, whatever the cost. If ever there was an unbreakable commitment, a vow even, it seemed to me that this was one.

THE ROYAL GOES TO STAMPEX – VIRTUALLY!!

2020, Lifestyle, Misc, Stamps, Summer

On 5th March 2020, Bob Galland gave an excellent talk on The Evolution of the British Franking System at the Royal Philatelic Society London, 15 Abchurch Lane, with a full display of hundreds of sheets and the usual presentation to the assembled audience of 86 members and guests. The Auditors were hap-pily ensconced in the office on the third floor trying no doubt to find a flaw in our accounts to justify their fee.

The Story Behind the Medals – THE CHELSEA PENSIONERS

2020, Lifestyle, Misc, Summer

At Spink we are used to hearing incredible stories of bravery and heroism, often in battle, which lie behind many of the medals sold at auction here, but what of the living men and women who have served their country selflessly during both war and peacetime – the unsung heroes, if you like?

FORTHCOMING EVENT – WORLD BANKNOTES

2020, Banknotes, Misc, Summer

This Autumn we are holding our annual World Banknotes auction with a varied group of interesting paper money.

FORTHCOMING EVENT – STAMPS AND COVERS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

2020, Misc, Stamps, Summer

In 1974 Robson Lowe published an illustrated monogram on this correspondence to commem-orate his visit to the National Philatelic Exhibi-tion held in Pretoria. The collection was sold privately at the time, and 46 years later it has resurfaced, intact, to be offered in the October Stamps & Covers of Southern Africa auction.

FORTHCOMING EVENT – THE MARK T RAY COLLECTION OF ENGLISH BANKNOTES

2020, Banknotes, Misc, Summer

The banknote department will be starting its autumn auctions with an offering of the Mark T Ray Collection of English Banknotes.

FORTHCOMING EVENT – AUTUMN STAMP SALES

2020, Misc, Stamps, Summer

It is all hands on deck in our London office. Between September and December we boast no less than nine auctions ranging from the highly anticipated first part of the ‘Dubois’ collection of Jamaica postal history and stamps to a hugely exciting sale of worldwide rarities, the ‘Doyen’ collection.

FORTHCOMING EVENT – NEW YORK AUTUMN ROUND UP

2020, Misc, Stamps, Summer

The recent Canada & British North America e-Auction at Spink New York showcased the diversity of the country’s philatelic history, with items ranging from early stampless covers through to modern errors and varieties.

4 September 2020