The Mahendra Sagar Collection of Inverted Centers
October 5-6, 2011
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #195 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH INDIA 1854 1/2 Anna deep vermilion on toned paper, Plate II (9 1/2 arches), lower right sheet corner imprint block of eight, with clear "Genls Office by H M Smith Calcutta April 1854", block rejoined vertically between stamps, unused without gum as issued, v.f., signed John Wilson (he was the curator of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Collection), possible largest known multiple, with 1995 Royal cert.  (*)Catalog #SG 1a | Price Realized $25,000.00 |
 | Lot #196 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH INDIA 1854 4a red and blue, Head Inverted, first printing, Head Die I, a handsome used example of this important classic rarity, being neatly cut to shape as nearly all known examples are found, with frame lines just touched at a few points, with diamond of dots cancel, thin at upper left, small tear at foot, with 1980 Royal and 2002 BPA certificates. This is example XXV (illustrated in Williams' "Rare and Famous Stamps"). The 4 Anna "Inverted Head" of India is one of the legendary rarities in 19th century philately. Ever since the first one was publicly exhibited in 1874 at the Royal Philatelic Society of London this major error has fascinated generations of collectors and has been sought after by most of the world's most prominent philatelists. To date, there are just 27 confirmed examples of this stamp, only three of which are cut square. Why the vast majority of these rarities are cut to shape is a matter of some speculation. The most popular scenario is that these errors were discovered very early on and som O Catalog #6c Catalog Value £ 50,000 | Price Realized $100,000.00 |
 | Lot #197 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH INDIA 2007 Fairs of India Baul Mela, sheetlet of 16 with "2007" printed double, one inverted and displaced upwards (due to inversion), n.h., v.f., only seven sheets reported, at least one of which has been broken up ** | Price Realized $210.00 |
