The Sante Fe Collection
December 7-8, 2011
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #478 GREECE 1871-72 40L lilac rose on greenish paper, the so-called "Solferino", used, with three large margins, uneven to just touching at upper left, excellent color, cancelled Piraeus 12 July 71, fresh, signed Peter Holcombe, with his 1988 certificate ("the stamp has an extremely fine and fresh colour and is without defects. Large margins on three sides and the outer frame line just touched at the top of fourth side. One of the finest of the very few known copies of the rarest and most popular stamps of Greece.") A legendary stamp, of which only 13 (!) have been recorded (among these, one is on piece, another on cover. Two are in sound condition, while all others have varying degrees of faults). This is number V in the Williams classification, ex-Herbert Bloch collection. The "Solferino" got its name after the infamous battle, where it was rumored that the blood on the dead soldiers uniforms had this particular color (Hellas No.36a, catalogue value Euro 130,000 for an example with faults) O Catalog #37a Catalog Value $75,000 | Price Realized $35,000.00 |
