The Newport Collection. Philip Weiss (www.prwauctions.com), a “general” auctioneer of stamps, coins, baseball cards and sports memorabilia, furniture, art, books, toys, comic art, Worlds Fair memorabilia, and much more, has secured a phenomenal US collection that Pursers estimates to be worth over $6,000,000. Mr. Weiss will conduct the sales at his Oceanside, Long Island New York Galleries. Andy Kupersmit, co-owner of Purser and Associates, will be consultant to the sale of "The Newport Collection". In his role as consultant, he will compose all of the descriptions, and assist with the marketing and publicity.

The collection was formed mostly in the late 1960's and early 1970's with purchases from all of the major auction houses of the era as well as many prominent dealers. When he died in the late 1970's, one of his sons, with whom he had spent a few hours every Saturday studying and enjoying the collection, lovingly stored the collection for almost thirty years until he passed away. Now the collection is coming to market.

The highlights of this fabulous collection are literally too numerous to mention but the singles include an Inverted Jenny (Pos. 31), a set of unused 1869 inverts, a set of Pan American inverts, all Special Printings incl. Nos. 167-177, 180-181, 192-204, 205C, 211D, and J8-J14 plus 1857 and 1861 Reprints complete, Nos. 233a, 314A mint pair (ex Cromwell and Engel; 1 of 6 known pairs), 316 Line Pair, 318 Pair, 321 Pair, 322 Pair, 356 Line Pair, and Orangeburg coil used single, plus 4c and 8c Blue Papers, 485 double error, 544 used, 594 mint, 596 precanceled, O94, PR47, R157 and R158 and Hawaii No. 12.  The plate blocks include No. 24 1c Type V, many 1881 issues to the 10c in Plate Blocks of ten and twelve, No. 229 Plate Block of twelve, No. 260 Plate Block of 12, No. 277 Plate Block of six, Columbians in Plate Blocks of eight to the 50c (no 30c), Trans-Mississippi in Plate Blocks of four to the 50c, Pan-Americans complete, 2c Lincoln Blue Paper (No. 369), Pan-Pacific Complete (Nos. 397-404), Washington-Franklins include Nos. 342, 500, 523, 524, 534B, 547, and much more including No. 573, Parcel Posts to the 20c, and a Complete Set of Ducks.

Most of the important stamps and plate blocks in the collection have Philatelic Foundation certificates from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when the collector acquired most of his stamps, and they will have 2007 or 2008 Philatelic Foundation certificates when they are sold. 

Please visit www.pursers.com and www.prwauctions.com to see descriptions and images of stamps and certificates (when they are ready) as well as bidding and viewing information for this fabulous collection.

At the Philip Weiss Auction of Part I of the Newport Collection in Oceanside NY on Saturday February 9, a packed auction room witnessed United States Philatelic History. 24 United States Stamps with their center vignettes inverted realized $2,795,592.

The stars were the three unused 1869 issues with the center vignettes inverted. The 15c with only three known realized $757,100. The 24c with only four known realized $1,271,250, and the 30c with only seven known realized $248,600. The 24c is not only the highest price achieved for the issue, but it is the highest price achieved for a single United States stamp, breaking the record set just a few months ago. The set of three was purchased at the Feb. 1, 1974 Daniel F. Kelleher sale of the Schafer collection for $100,000. Prior to Schafer, the set once belonged to Sinclair, Ward, Ferrari and Hindes.

The Inverted Jenny also starred. This example was Pos. 31 from the original sheet. It realized $271,200. The Jenny was purchased at a Harmer Rooke auction on Sept. 20, 1972 for $24,000.

Many of the Revenue stamps with Inverted Centers were purchased at the Robert A. Siegel auction of the Matthies collection on Nov. 14-15, 1973.

Here are the individual results (hammer prices – excluding the 13% buyer’s premium):

All stamps were sold with 2007 Philatelic Foundation certificates. The Philatelic Foundation is the world’s most respected philatelic expert committee for United States stamps. Their certificates gave bidders confidence that they were buying authentic stamps, and contributed greatly to the amazing prices that the stamps achieved. Information about the Philatelic Foundation can be obtained by visiting www.philatelicfoundation.org.

Unknown to us, one of Phil’s clients taped the sale of the 24c 1869 with inverted center and uploaded it to YouTube. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S0ni9lTdI4

Descriptions and photographs of the stamps and the 2007 PF certificates can be viewed at www.prwauctions.com and clicking on “current catalogues” then on the link to the Newport Collection. Only the first 24 lots are Part I of the Newport Collection; the subsequent lots belong to other owners. The direct link may work as well.

Part II comprises the main United States stamp collection featuring Special Printings and other great rarities will be held in May. Many stamps including all of the important singles will have 2008 Philatelic Foundation Certificates. Sales for additional portions of the Newport Collection are scheduled for September 2008 (US plate blocks) and January 2009 (US blocks of four and foreign).

Please visit www.pursers.com and www.prwauctions.com to see descriptions and images of stamps and certificates (when they are ready) as well as bidding and viewing information for this fabulous collection.

There will be viewing in New York City and as always, Jonathan Orenstein and Andy Kupersmit are available to answer questions and provide bidding assistance at all Philatelic Public Auctions (and a few Mail and Internet Sales) Worldwide.

We can be reached at 732-261-1265 (Andy) or 857-928-5140 (Jonathan) or at info@pursers.com   regarding these two sales, or regarding any other Philatelic Auction.