Featured Collections & Specialised Holdings
A central highlight of the sale was the astonishing and vast remaining Indian States holdings of the late Adolph Koeppel, most famous for co-authoring the Crawford Medal-winning book The Court Fee and Revenue Stamps of the Princely States of India (Volumes I and II) alongside Raymond Manners.
Whilst India & States represented his primary area of expertise, Koeppel’s collecting interests were far broader, extending to strong holdings in Russia, France, and Germany, with most offered completely intact as intact collections. Property from other vendors included a wonderful holding of Ireland, as well as highly specialised Great Britain and Commonwealth material.
The sale was deliberately scheduled following the Revenue Society meeting on 5 September at the Royal Philatelic Society, attracting international collectors to London for a weekend of philately preceding Monday's viewing and Tuesday's live auction.
Record Realisations & Standout Lots
Bidding was fierce throughout the session, leading to record realisations across multiple key items:
- Uganda Poll Tax 1940-52 5s pale grey and deep green MINT: One of just two known examples of the Uganda KGVI keyplates, this standout lot realized £13,530 inc. premium (+340% above low estimate).
- Kenya Kodi 1950 1s perf 13 block of twenty mint: Sold for £8,610 inc. premium.
- India Telegraphs 1860 4a imprimatur pair: Achieved £5,535 inc. premium.
- Uganda Poll Tax Revenue 1940-52 1s blue and carmine McClellan P1: Fetched £5,166 inc. premium (+320% above low estimate).
- Malaya Straits Settlements KGVI $25 and $100 keyplate revenues: Realised £3,690 inc. premium (+650% above low estimate).
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