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Lot 20003 – THE OUTSTANDING JOHN WILKINS EXHIBIT COLLECTION

Lot 20003 – THE OUTSTANDING JOHN WILKINS EXHIBIT COLLECTION
Afghanistan
Price realised
30’000 EUR
Estimate
28’000 – 32’000 EUR
Auction date
Fri 13 Dec 2013 at 15:00 (Europe/Zurich)
Description
THE OUTSTANDING JOHN WILKINS EXHIBIT COLLECTION 1871-2006, Ambitious and astounding exhibit collection on some 550 pages in four file boxes, plus extra pages, extra full sheets, numerous extra covers and important literature, with plating (incl. plate varieties) and usages on non-philatelic covers throughout. Many items of the early 20th Century are from the collections of the late Major Adrian Hopkins and Frank Patterson with whom the vendor had a long association. The write up to the collection displays the latest findings with images and Dari translations to assist in understanding the Afghan culture. The vendor’s research included preparing a 50 page booklet on “Afghanistan Postage Stamp Issues Errors Flaws & Oddities 1870-1989”. Box 1 shows the 1871-1931 period, with highly specialised Tiger’s Heads incl. rare 1872 6sh & 1R values, excellent covers from the beginning incl. mixed frankings with India and one Anglo-Afghan War cover, later issues include studies of paper and platings, e.g. the scarce to rare 1907-08 Recess issues perf. and imperf. with sheets, the Zig Zag Roulette issues (the rarest of the 20th century issues) with only about fifty known extant, the two Double Impressions which are extremely rare, the Abasi Plate A trial perforation ON COVER (the only used copy seen by the vendor in 40 years). The Plate A & B issues that form the rest of the section are also rare and under-catalogued, and included are early postal stationery from 1909 and a delightful section of the Parcel Posts and Officials. The rare Transit Cancel period of 1927 is included on covers including the civil war 1928-29 period overprints. Box 2 presents 1930 to modern Officials and other special purpose issues, plus 1931-51 postage, airmails and ps, with many covers, scarce imperfs, WWII censored, and much more, difficult to assemble in this depth Box 3 includes both the 1951-63 issues printed in Kabul (incl. some “back of book”), and the notorious 1961-64 New York contract agency period, with many of the latter acquired after the expiration of the contract and sent down for use on letters (usually reg’d airmail) from Kabul as the stamps remained valid and very few had been sent there originally. Probably the largest if not the only such collection of legitimate covers in existence! Finally, the 1964-65 Kabul post-contract issues incl. stationery. The vendor displays his recent identifying of the the 1951 UPU substituted cliché that replaced the 35 Poul error of value in the 125 Poul sheet. The 125 Poul imperf. sheet displayed contains the error of value and is one of only 250 issued. Also seen is the 50 Poul green sheet with the 25 Poul issue which was withdrawn and a substituted cliché in this 1960-72 regular issue has been identified on a rare cover with three copies of the substituted cliché. Box 4 presents the 1965-2006 period including postal stationery, FDCs and reg’d airmail covers up to 1977, then the 1978-2004 Communist Revolution & Soviet Occupation (to 1990), and 1990-2006 Civil War and Reconstruction period with many covers, incl. both the Taliban and the Karzhai government periods. The Russian invasion period 1978-1989 is only represented by issues printed in Afghanistan and includes archive 1971-72 Air and Independence day issues bisected by the Soviet Russian puppet government to remove King Zahir Shah’s image and used during 1979-80. This collection also includes some additional sheets incl. large full sheet of unissued 1892-93 1R black on green Registration issue, two stockbooks with extra items from all periods incl. many varieties and imperfs. A thorough examination is highly recommended, as all the major catalogues have shown significant recent price growth and few large in-depth collections of the modern period could even attempt to match this one, while the early period, with partial platings and interesting usages, could easily be developed into several superlative competitive exhibits. We feel strongly that it would take many years and far more money than our estimate to begin to approximate this collection on all its levels! The vendor’s collection has received 3 silver medals from 1960-1988 but has not been exhibited, except privately, since that period with many further additions after 1988. Estimate: € 28’000 – € 32’000

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