siegel despatch no. 46from the gross 1847-56 collection and walske’s hawaii. dr. heimburger’s...

The Siegel DespatchNews and Articles from America’s Premier Stamp Auctioneer Issue No. 46

Winter 2014

Featured SalesThe Wildhorse Collection of United States Revenues

The Benjamin Wishnietsky Collection of Confederate States Postal HistoryThe Richard L. Calhoun Collection of Charleston S.C.—The First Year of Secession

Siegel International Sale of Worldwide Stamps and CoversUnited States Stamps in March

DespatchNo46_1-2_11-12_Siegel Despatch No. 46 2/7/14 3:53 PM

2 • THE SIEGEL DESPATCH • WINTER 2014 (NO. 46)

The countdown has started. As I write these words, there are 841 days left until the ribbon-cutting ceremony for World Stamp Show–NY 2016 at the Jacob Javits Center. That’s only

13,328 waking hours to prepare, and there is much to be done. To start, the decision whetheror not to make the show an FIP event must be made.

There has been a lot of talk about NY 2016 after the recent FIP shows in Melbourne andRio, where Bill Gross’ U.S. 1847 exhibit was denied the Grand Prix International award notonce, but twice, despite its obvious and overwhelming superiority to the winning contenders. I have been the loudest voice, the rabble rouser, the one who says “enough,” and the mostdetermined proponent of telling the FIP “no thank you”—we do not need to call NY 2016 an“FIP exhibition” to make it a success.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the FIP—the Fédération Internationale dePhilatélie—it is an organization founded in 1926 and based in Luxembourg, whose stated goalsare “to promote stamp collecting and philately, to maintain friendly relations and friendshipamong all peoples, to establish and maintain close relations with the philatelic trade and postaladministrations, and to promote philatelic exhibitions by granting Patronage and Auspices.”

International philatelic exhibitions (that is, competitions) may or may not be held with thepatronage of the FIP, but most exhibitors feel that FIP shows have more clout, and I tend toagree. In consideration for a patronage fee and sizable travel expense reimbursement, the FIPwill furnish commissioners to transport exhibits and promote their countries’ home team, andFIP-qualified jurors will review the exhibits and award the points and medals. The words“Grand Prix collection” bestow a recognizable degree of importance on a winning exhibit. Somebelieve that such status even increases the value of a collection.

The FIP organization comprises 91 member nations, who vote on important matters affectingworldwide philatelic events. Each member gets one vote, much like the United Nations GeneralAssembly. It does not matter if the country is big or small, whether it has an active, well-organ-ized philatelic community within its own borders, or even if the representative knows muchabout philately outside of his or her own country. One country, one vote.

To become an accredited FIP judge, one must climb the ladder as an exhibitor, apprenticejuror and accredited juror. To win gold medals is rewarding, but to qualify as an FIP judge issupreme recognition of philatelic acumen. Jurors at any given exhibition are selected from theFIP jury pool, and an effort is made—or at least should be made—to give each show balancebetween the home country’s judges and those from other countries. Many judges are alsoactive exhibitors, but do not exhibit and judge at the same event.

The president of the FIP has historically yielded considerable power. Like any person in aposition of power, the FIP president can be conservative or activist, even-handed or despotic,unbiased or biased. He can insert himself into the judging process and exert influence, eitherto ensure the integrity of the judging, or to skew the voting in favor of (or against) exhibits ofhis choosing.

Considering the natural biases that affect any international judging process or decision-making organization, it is remarkable that the FIP works at all. Without question they havedone much good over many years to promote philately and provide a competitive exhibitingarena. However, when the greatest collection ever formed of a major country’s first issue losesto inferior collections in two separate FIP shows, one need not see any more smoke to knowthere’s a fire.

Something is wrong with the FIP, and the hearsay suggests that it is a systemic infection ofpoliticking, deal-making, or possibly worse. My formal request to the FIP Board to conduct aninternal investigation into the judging at recent FIP shows was rejected. Their attorney wroteto me to say that the Board did not think anything was wrong. I was not reassured.

Well, I have better things to do than attempt to reform the FIP from the inside out. And Ican think of better ways to spend money than paying the FIP to “patronize” NY 2016 with itscommissioners and judges.

If the FIP can change its ways and prove itself reliable, they are welcome. If not, no problem.I believe we have enough knowledgeable, hard-working, honest and fair people in philately whowill fill the void if NY 2016 is held without the FIP. We will get the exhibits. We will have thedealer support. And we will stage a phenomenal event, inspired with innovation and creativity,and free of the politicking and closed-door dealing that has become pervasive in FIP shows.

Whether you agree or disagree, e-mail me your opinion: [email protected].

NY2016 & FIP

Commentary Scott R. Trepel

May 28-June 4, 2016www.ny2016.org

DespatchNo46_1-2_11-12_Siegel Despatch No. 46 2/7/14 3:53 PM

THE SIEGEL DESPATCH • WINTER

The Wildhorse Collection was formed by acollector with meticulous taste who boughtin all of the landmark Revenue sales of thepast decade. The Siegel firm is pleased tooffer this collection in a single-owner saleto be held in conjunction with the UnitedStates Stamps sale in March (featuringother Revenue stamp collections).

THE

COLLECTIONUnited States Revenues

MARCH 2014

3¢ Playing Cards ImperforateUncancelled and sound

DespatchNo46_3-10_Siegel Despatch No. 45 2/7/14 3:58 PM


Benjamin Wishnietsky was the author of Confederate Patriotic Covers and TheirUsages, the editor of the Confederate States of America Stampless Cover Catalog, co-editor of the American Stampless Cover Catalog, and author of more than 100 arti-cles for the Confederate Philatelist. His outstanding collection of Confederate StatesPostal History was formed over decades and will be offered in its own special salecatalogue in a sale to be held on February 26.

The Benjamin Wishnietsky Collection ofConfederate States Postal History

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26


THE SIEGEL DESPATCH • WINTER 2014 (NO. 46) • 5

For the on-line Wishnietsky catalogueand to register for

Live Internet Bidding, please go to

siegelauctions.com



The Richard L. Calhoun Collection of Charleston, South Carolina—The First Year of Secession

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Rick Calhoun is the author of Charleston, SouthCarolina and the Confederate PostmasterProvisionals and has authored numerous articlesfor the Confederate Philatelist. His award-winningcollection of Charleston S.C.–The First Year ofSecession is the most comprehensive study of thisfascinating subject ever formed.

Rick Calhoun receives the CSA John H. Reagan Award from Trish Kaufmann



For the on-line Calhoun catalogueand to register for


siegelauctions.com



SIEGEL INTERNATIONALSPRING 2014 AUCTIONS



For the on-line Siegel Internationalcatalogue and to register for


siegelauctions.com

Siegel International is now accepting consignments for two majorauctions to be held in April and June. To discuss the sale of yourcollection, please call Charles Shreve at 214-754-5991.

For the convenience of our clients outside the U.S., you may use our UK and Australia numbers:

UK +44 (0) 203 372 4312 Australia +61 (0) 28 417 2773



The year’s first major sale of United States Stamps will beheld in March and features outstanding rarities, includingfurther offerings from the Diamond U.S. Possessions.

United States StampsMARCH 2014


014&SalesEvents


The Siegel Despatch Copyright ©2014 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries,Inc. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright Note: We encourage others to use and/ordisseminate the information and illustrations in this newsletter, but only in anews-related or editorial context with credit given to Siegel Auction Galleries.Any other use violates our copyright protection. If any date, figure or factcontained herein is inaccurate or changed after publication, we regret theerror, but disclaim any liability for its consequences.

AUCTION GALLERIES, INC.

siegelauctions.com

February 26-27The Benjamin Wishnietsky Collection ofConfederate States Postal History

The Richard L. Calhoun Collection ofCharleston S.C.–The First Year of Secession

MarchThe Wildhorse Collection of U.S. Revenues

United States Stamps

AprilWorldwide Stamps and CoversOffered by Siegel International

Still open for consignments–call Charles Shreve @ 214-754-5991

May-JuneRarities of the WorldStill open for consignments

60 East 56th Street, 4th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022Phone (212) 753-6421 • Fax (212) 753-6429

E-mail: [email protected]

2Siegel’s 2013 Sales Top $38.5 Million

The Siegel firm’s 2013 sales (with 15% buyer’s premium)achieved $38,560,440, comprising 26 catalogues and

13,707 lots. The first full year of the Siegel Internationaldivision, under Charles Shreve’s direction, held fourWorldwide sales for a total of $5,161,764, about 13% of thesale total. Individual sale totals are listed below (adjustedfor returns and after-sales).

Scott R. Trepel commented on the results: “The overallsales total brings great pride and satisfaction to our team.But even more rewarding is the scope of our offerings in2013. We had everything from $200 lots to the $2 millionDawson cover. We sold a “Stolen Pony” cover and selectionsfrom the Gross 1847-56 collection and Walske’s Hawaii. Dr. Heimburger’s award-winning 1869’s were followed bythe incredible World’s Fair, Curtis and Golden Oak collec-tions. In our Worldwide sales, conducted by Charles Shreve,we sold more than $5 million in 2013, including the WorldTraveler and Porter Venn collections. And the prices weachieved here in New York trumped what they are gettingin London and Europe.”

Trepel has a forecast for the coming year: “Watch whathappens in 2014 and 2015 as we lead up to the NY 2016show. Competition for exhibitable items will be fierce.Great collections are coming on the market—there is nodoubt—which will present collectors and exhibitors withunparalleled opportunities for acquisition. And, as oursales of worldwide material expand, I see the mix betweenU.S. and other countries in our auctions reaching 50/50. Ithink Siegel will become the dominant force in auctions ofworldwide philatelic material in the next few years.”

With competitors raising their buyer’s premium to 18%or more, Trepel reaffirmed his commitment to maintain the15% premium: “I can understand why those houses need toraise the premium—they must be struggling financially—but I’m glad that buyers and sellers get more for theirmoney at Siegel, and I intend to keep it that way.”

Sale Date Lots Hammer1038 Alyeska Pony Express 3/20 32 797,1351039 Scarsdale Part 9: Postal Stationery 3/21 166 789,9301040 U.S. Stamps 3/26 1,488 2,415,4551041 Gross Collection: 1847 & 1851-56 4/9 413 1,893,7001042 Worldwide 4/16 935 1,678,2601043 Confederate States 4/18 638 671,5651044 U.S. Essays, Proofs and Stamps 5/22 385 659,5351045 Walske Hawaiian Postal History 6/25 44 3,072,0251046 Declaration of Independence 6/25 2 569,5001047 U.S. 1847 Proof Panes 6/25 1 01048 2013 Rarities of the World 6/25 351 2,503,3501049 World Traveler Worldwide 6/26 1,219 1,189,2501050 U.S. Stamps 7/16 1,006 912,0601051 U.S. & C.S.A. Postal History, U.S. Poss. 7/23 845 654,9951052 Beverly Hills U.S. Inverts 10/9 6 2,250,0001053 U.S. Essays and Proofs 10/9 119 297,4001054 Dr. Heimburger 1869 Pictorial 10/10 466 1,433,2101055 World’s Fair–Columbian Issue 11/6 236 2,000,9151056 World’s Fair–Trans-Mississippi 11/6 148 673,9051057 Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 11/7 403 1,443,7901058 Porter W. Venn France 11/13 96 219,5701059 Worldwide 11/13 743 1,401,4101060 Diamond U.S. Possessions 11/18 164 362,7751061 U.S. Stamps 11/19 1,556 1,628,4621062 Golden Oak U.S. 12/17 923 2,192,5201063 U.S. Postal History 12/19 1,322 1,820,100

33,530.817Jan-Dec 2013 Total Lots and Sales (w/premium) 13,707 $38,560,440

T

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siegel despatch no. 46from the gross 1847-56 collection and walske’s hawaii. dr. heimburger’s...

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