A Victorian £5 orange stamp is estimated to sell for £2,500-£3,500 for its Somerset owner in the Charterhouse auction of stamps, coins, militaria and toys on Thursday 29th May in Sherborne.
“Having had an interest in stamps for over 50 years this is one of the best examples of a Victorian stamp I have had the pleasure to see and handle.” Commented Richard Bromell.
The orange £5 stamp, at the time over a month’s wages for a farm worker, was first issued in 1882. The stamp at Charterhouse, cancelled in Glasgow on 15th April 1882, was issued within the first three weeks of the £5 orange stamp first being printed.
Only 246,759 £5 stamps were issued to post offices for use over its life of 21 years. It is estimated only around 8,000 are still in existence today and was the highest value pre-decimal stamp ever to be issued.
This rare £5 orange stamp forms part of the three-day May auction at Charterhouse with wine, port & whisky on the 28th, stamps, coins, militaria and toys on the 29th and then antiques & interiors on the 30th.
Viewing is at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne from Tuesday 27th May, with all lots & live internet bidding on charterhouse-auction.com