Reverend Dr. Leonard L. Tann B.A. (1945-2007)

Leonard Tann was born in London, England in 1945, and started collecting stamps when he was seventeen.

As a natural scholar, Leonard’s interest soon became directed to the history and philately of Imperial Russia, covering the latter days of the Tsars, up to the Revolution of 1917. He joined the British Society of Russian Philately and Rossica in the United States. Next was his discovery of, what he termed, the indispensable handbooks of Le Cercle Philatélique France-U.R.S.S., and he and plunged into what would become a lifetime of intensive research.

At this time (1971), Leonard was a student at the University of London, just embarking on a one year course for the degree of Master of Theology, as he was then a seminarian of the Orthodox Jewish faith.

While he began to put together his collection, Leonard wrote to the editor of Stamp Magazine to question why there were no articles on Russian philately being published, to which the editor replied, with a telephone call, suggesting that he would publish such an article if Leonard would write it! Thus began a stream of articles and books, in ever-expanding depth, that began appearing in philatelic journals, magazines and newspapers for the next thirty six years.

Leonard covered the whole gamut of Russian philately, specializing in The Arms Issues, the Romanov Jubilee, Railway cancellations, Russia used in Finland, particularly the Aland Islands. He kept up a worldwide correspondence and developed a superb collection.

When the Canadian Society of Russian Philately was formed in 1977, Leonard soon became its European representative and a regular contributor to the society’s journal. That same year, he wrote and published The Imperial Romanovs, a Philatelic Study of the 1913 Jubilee Issue. In 1980, with the cooperation of the CSRP, Leonard released The Arms Issues of 1902-20.

When Leonard moved to the north of England, he set up a branch of the BSRP and arranged a splendid series of well attended meetings and memorable events.

Leonard was always a keen supporter of interfaith community events, and he was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate for his contributions to these worthy causes.

The Imperial Romanovs was dedicated “to my dear wife Irene, who has shared my interest and enthusiasm in Russian Stamps, who has assisted me in the purchase of several select items, and who has consistently encouraged me, as well as assisted me, in the preparation of this handbook, which we both hope will be some small contribution to the world of Russian Philately”.

The field of Russian philately has, all too soon, lost one of its staunchest supporters, a gentleman, a scholar and, indeed, a philatelist’s philatelist. He will be sadly missed.

Patrick Campbell, Secretary CSRP

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 06:40 | click to create a permanent link

Prices realized for all sessions can be viewed here. Highlights of the sale to follow.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 13:47 | click to create a permanent link

Prices Realized are available for the first two sessions of our November 12-13, 2008 sale.

In spite of the weak economy and strong dollar, our clients are still buying stamps. Today we continue with the Balance of British Commonwealth, Italy, Poland, Russia etc., as well as large lots and collections.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 07:06 | click to create a permanent link

Lot 1353 in our upcoming November 12-13, 2008 sale is a rare Chinese Dowager Surcharge:

1897 Dowagers surcharged, 30c on 24c purplish red, h.r., usual perforations, fine and rare stamp. The stamp is listed in Scott's #72 and has a catalogue value of $13,000.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 17:09 | click to create a permanent link

The Rev. L. Tann Collection of Imperial Russia will be sold on December 3, 2008. The catalogue is now available online and can be viewed here.

The sale contains many rare proofs and essays, as well as seldom seen varieties.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 09:36 | click to create a permanent link

Prices for the First Two Sessions of the S. Shtern Collection of Soviet Union exceeded our estimates by nearly 50%. In spite of the global situation, there is still a strong market for Russian Philatelic material, with fierce competition for scarce material.

Some of the highlights include:

• 1922 7,500 imperf. tete-beche block of four, which sold for $149,500
• Lot 132 - Rostov-On-Don in Strips/Pairs sold for $195,500
• Consular Post 24 "Marok" error sold for $138,000
• 1925-27 Esperanto imperf. block of four sold for $24,150

Prices realized for the first two sessions are available here.

The sale continues tomorrow with the "Nurkas" Souvenir sheet, plus Soviet Union (post 1933) and Air Post.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 16:22 | click to create a permanent link

Among the great rarities contained in the S. Shtern Collection of Soviet Union Stamps (To be sold October 29-30, 2008) are several spectacular R.S.F.S.R. (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) items. One of the great showpieces (exhibited Internationally by Mr. Shtern) is lot 73:

1922 7,500r blue, horizontal watermark, gutter tete-beche block of four with sheet margin, never hinged and post office fresh, folded twice (vertically) in gutter, just touching two stamps in margin, otherwise v.f. These stamps were printed in large gutter panes and cut along the gutters by the postmasters. They were not sold in philatelic shops and only a handful of tete-beche pairs survive. This is believed to be the only known gutter tete-beche block of four. A fabulous rarity from RSFSR (Standard #41var).

The block has a presale estimate of $100,000.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 06:45 | click to create a permanent link

Our latest sale has been posted: A multimillion dollar sale with a good showing of United States, South American with inverted centers from Argentina, Asia with excellent China, Japan and Thailand, European Countries including France and Colonies, Germany with exceptional Colonies, Italy, Poland, Romania and Russia, British Commonwealth with a significant array of rarities, worldwide Zeppelin Covers, Large Lots and Collections including a single Collection of the Americas offered intact and valued at over $75,000.

Click here to browse the sale

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 15:03 | click to create a permanent link

Lot 576 in the upcoming Shtern Collection of Soviet Union features the scarce unissued "World Peace Cruise" stamp of 1964.

1964 World Cruise, intended for "Khrushchev's Visit to Sweden", 4k line perf. 12 1/2 and printed on special ungummed Goznak paper. As Khrushchev was removed from power, the stamp was withdrawn and never issued. Only a few copies of this legendary stamp exist. This rarity is certainly one of the highlights of the this collection.

While we have long "heard" about this rare stamp, this is the first time Cherrystone has had the pleasure of offering it at auction. The stamp, though well known, is currently unlisted in the Standard catalogue. It is listed (but not photographed) in the Liapine catalogue, where it has a value of €15,000. The auction should determine the "market price" of this stamp.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 08:52 | click to create a permanent link

The highlight of the S. Shtern Collection of the stamps of the Soviet Union is the unique "All Soviet Philatelic Exhibition" personalized for N. Nurkas, the President of the Moscow Philatelic Organization.

1932 All Soviet Philatelic Exhibition in Moscow, souvenir sheet of four on thick card, with the unique three line personalized overprint "To the best shock worker of the All Russian Philatelic Society - President of the Moscow Philatelic Organization E.M. Nurkas", unused without gum as issued, v.f., signed "Shtern". While 25 souvenir sheets were overprinted with the two line "To the best shock worker of the All Russian Philatelic Society", three were additionally personalized with a three line overprint. One was given to the notorious Genrikh Yagoda (head of the NKVD), and one each to the presidents of Moscow (Nurkas) and Leningrad Philatelic Organizations/Societies. The latter, as well as Yagoda were executed on Stalin's orders, with only Mr. Nurkas (and his souvenir sheet) surviving. During the purges, Mr. Nurkas was imprisoned and traded the sheet with another inmate, a physician who miraculously survived Stalin's Gulags and World War II. An important piece of history and perhaps the greatest rarity of the Soviet Union Philately.

The block has a presale estimate of $500,000.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 14:54 | click to create a permanent link

The Groundbreaking Sale of Stamps of the Soviet Union - October 29-30, 2008

The great collections of Russian Philately formed by Faberge, Goss, Liphschutz, Mikulski and Denisenko (the latter two sold through Cherrystone) focused entirely on Imperial issues. The Shtern collection is the first important sale devoted exclusively to stamps of RSFSR and the Soviet Union. This award winning collection (over 50 medals, including large golds) contains a strong selection of proofs, essays, perforation varieties, imperforate errors and fantails, as well as stamps that were prepared but not issued for political reasons.

The Russian philatelic market has appreciated significantly over the past few years, with thousands of advanced philatelists all over the world. This sale provides new opportunities to acquire material never before offered at auction. As always, Cherrystone Auctions is at the forefront of philatelic growth and innovation. A special hardcover handbook for this exciting sale is available to our clients and regular bidders. A limited number of catalogues has been set aside and can be purchased on here for $35.

In the coming weeks, I will highlight some of the scarce items from this exciting sale.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 15:05 | click to create a permanent link

We have updated our Gallery of Rarities to include some of the items recently sold at our September 16-18 auction.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 07:07 | click to create a permanent link

Prices realized for today's sessions are available here: http://www.cherrystoneauctions.com/_auction/pr.asp?task=viewpr&auction=200809

Despite the bleak economic conditions, there was strength in virtually all areas, including U.S. Offices in China (which realized a combined $30,000 for the K1-16 blocks), France and Colonies, German Area and British Commonwealth. Details to follow.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 16:54 | click to create a permanent link

Just a reminder that there is less than a week to bid in our upcoming sale. Opening prices are updated often.

New items added to www.cherrystonestamps.com, our online stamp store.

Over 100 items recently added, including British Commonwealth, France and Colonies and more. Click the link above to browse the store.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 06:37 | click to create a permanent link

Lot 818 in our upcoming sale of Worldwide stamps contains the rare "1 Shilling" G.R.I. Overprint of Samoa. This is one instance where the "variety" is the corrected version of the stamp.

1914 1 "Shilling" (instead of "Shillings" as the majority were printed) on 1m carmine, well centered, small h.r., fresh and v.f. example of this rare stamp, only 15 (!) issued, with 1972 PFC (SG 111, Scott 110a - Catalogue value of £11,000) Samoa was seized by New Zealand forces in August 1914 and stamps over the German Colony were surcharged for usage.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 11:03 | click to create a permanent link

We are pleased to offer a portion of the Lef Nosi Collection of Albania in our upcoming September 16-17, 2008 sale of Worldwide stamps.

Lef Nosi (1877-1946) was the first Minister of Post and Telegraphs of Albania (1912). He was a signer of the Act of Independence from Turkey (November 18, 1912). In 1918 he became Minister of Economy and Social Relations and in 1943 was chosen as a member of the Albanian High Council. As Minister of Posts, he was responsible for the issuance of nine sets of stamps.

The Nosi Collection was hidden by the Nosi family after the Communist takeover of 1946 and the collection is considered to be one of the finest and most comprehensive of the Albanian Area.

Our September sale contains over 50 lots from the collection (Lots 102-155) including many overprint varieties (such as color varieties, tete-beche, etc.), as well as Postal Stationery and Local Issues.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 08:51 | click to create a permanent link

Our upcoming September sale of U.S. and Worldwide stamps features a collectiono of previously unoffered "Offices in China".

Lot 906 contains one of  the rarest items of Italian Offices Abroad - $2 "Pechino" (Peking) Type II:

1919 "2 DOLLARI (all "uppercase", where as the "normal" surcharges are not) Pechino" on 5L, type II, well centered, fresh color, never hinged, v.f., of the 15 known copies (both used and unused), this is certainly the finest, signed Raybaudi, with 1968 Diena cert. (also ex-Diena 5.1.1963) (Sass.30).

The stamp has a catalogue value of €137,500.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 06:49 | click to create a permanent link

Our upcoming September 16-17, 2008 auction of United States and Worldwide Rare Stamps has a nice selection of French area material, including several Modern France errors. Two highlights include:

Lot 290:

1977 80c Red Cicada, value omitted, block of four, n.h., v.f., signed Calves (Ceres 1947a). The block has a catalogue value of €22,000 (as singles). This error is not listed in the Scott's catalogue (#1555var).

Lot 291:

1985 2.10fr St. Valentine, value omitted, right margin single, n.h., v.f. example of this modern rarity, of which only one sheet of 25 was printed, signed Calves (Ceres 2341h). The stamp has a catalogue value of €25,000. It is unlisted in Scott's (#1965var).

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 07:54 | click to create a permanent link

Lot 2457 in our upcoming September 17-18, 2008 Specialized Sale of Russian Material features the scarce Air Post Official (Consular Air Post - for use on consular mail between Russia and Germany, hence the overprint in "German Marks") 1200m on 50k type IV.

1922 1,200m on 50k, overprint type IV, lightly hinged, v.f., with Mikulski certificate. Type IV occurs only twice per setting of 25, hence only four can exist. A rarity (Standard $220,000+)

Overprint Type IV has heavy lettering (as type I) and measures 32.5mm across. The type occures only on positions 9 and 14, making it a major rarity. The Standard Catalog assigs a 100% premium for this better type, which has a catalogue value of 5,200,000 rubles.

Joshua Buchsbayew @ 14:09 | click to create a permanent link

Our upcoming September 16-17, 2008 sale (U.S. and Worldwide Stamps) features several lots of U.S. Offices in China in large blocks and multiples.

Lot 86 is the $1 on 50c light violet (K15), plate block of 16:

1919 $1 on 50c light violet, left margin plate no. block of 16, centered to right, few well centered, bright color, n.h. but with slightly dried gum as usual, fine and extremely rare multiple; unpriced never hinged in Scott's as this is possibly the only known example and it has never before appeared on the market (catalogue value for hinged plate block of six and ten unhinged singles).

The block has a catalogue value of $23,250 as hinged.

The U.S. Offices in China lots come from a holding of Chinese Offices Abroad (including French, Italian and Japanese Offices in China) which was acquired directly from the respective post offices and has not been on the market since.

In addition to the K15, there are large multiples or plate blocks of all other U.S. Offices in China,

Josh Buchsbayew @ 06:54 | click to create a permanent link