Auction Reviews
Portishead Stamp Auctions Ltd.
August &
September 2011 Auctions
It is a pleasure to have this
opportunity to write a review of this Auction House.
Having been established some
three years ago after the demise of two other West Country Stamp Auction Houses,
this auction house has filled the void and at the same time has created an
identity that is synonymous with their slogan of Personal Service Assured.
Their slogan is further
enhanced by the spread of material in their auctions. They have made their
auctions attractive to both the vendor and the buyer by creating sensible
reserve prices that will appeal to both traders and collectors alike.
The auctions have run like clockwork – be careful when venturing outside for your lunch break since the auction starts promptly at 1:30 and the Auctioneer displays all the assets of being “Ship-shape and Bristol Fashion” to the full, “piloting” her way like all Portishead Pilots of old, through the material at an average rate in excess of 250 lots per hour. There is no hold-up either when you finish your bidding since provision has been made for bidders to collect their invoice, pay and collect their “new” material whilst the auction remains in progress. Indeed, all the staff within the auction room are friendly and prepared to give assistance, indeed, if necessary to help carry your lots to your car!
A feature of their last two
auctions has been the spread of material from General Collections in both albums
and boxes, to the specialised collections of Themed Material. Further, their
Specialist material covering material from China and from The British South
Africa Company (Rhodesia) brought many specialist dealers and collectors to the
auction. With reserve prices set at 20% of SG catalogue value, fierce bidding
ensued leaving the past owner and vendor pleased, and the new owner having to
part with much cash but still delighted with his new material.
Having been a collector &
student of the early Rhodesian stamps for almost 50 years I intend to collate
the realisations from this auction house into a useful “modern” catalogue,
covering both the 1910 Double Head Issue and the 1913 Admiral Issue paying
special attention to realisations of the varieties that seem to be
lost/forgotten in most publications. This data will be published on this site
once complete.
May I now recommend this
Auction House to all philatelists, both vendors and collectors, since
you are assured of friendly, personal
service from a family run business.
H. A. de Rossi.