Stamp valuer comes to Catterall after stamps from local estate sold for £3,200

A mystery local seller raised £3,200 after their collection of four albums of Hong Kong stamps sold at auction.
Stamp expert Andrew Morris is coming to Catterall to give free valuations of stamp collectionsStamp expert Andrew Morris is coming to Catterall to give free valuations of stamp collections
Stamp expert Andrew Morris is coming to Catterall to give free valuations of stamp collections

Now Lancashire residents are being invited to follow that lead and take their stamps into a local auctioneer for a specialist valuation.

The Lancashire, Lakes and Rural Communities office of Adam Partridge auctioneers at Catterall, near Garstang, is set to welcome stamp expert Andrew Morris next Tuesday (September 15) from 10am to 4 pm.

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Free valuations will be provided with no obligation to sell stamps, but senior auctioneer and valuer Steven Parkinson who runs the Catterall office, emphasised appointments must be made in advance and face masks must be worn.

The sought after stamps from Hong Kong, which sold for £3,000+ at a specialist stamp auctionThe sought after stamps from Hong Kong, which sold for £3,000+ at a specialist stamp auction
The sought after stamps from Hong Kong, which sold for £3,000+ at a specialist stamp auction

Steven, who also works as an antiques and collectables consultant for the BBC and other

television companies, recalled the unexpected discovery of the Hong Kong stamps. He said: "It was a local estate. The family called me in to assess what was in the house - is there anything in here worth anything? There were about 12 to 13 albums of stamps. These were well presented and collated clearly."

He said that Hong Kong, Chinese and Russian stamps can raise good prices, particularly now there is internet bidding and sales attracting overseas collectors. He said: "Some stamps can be worth hundreds of pounds."

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The four Hong Kong albums, containing stamps dating from 1862 to 2002, sold to an overseas buyer.

Steven Parkinson, auctioneer and valuer  at the Lancashire, Lakes and Rural regional office of Adam PartridgeSteven Parkinson, auctioneer and valuer  at the Lancashire, Lakes and Rural regional office of Adam Partridge
Steven Parkinson, auctioneer and valuer at the Lancashire, Lakes and Rural regional office of Adam Partridge

Stamp expert Andrew Morris has 38 years experience in the industry training in philately (the study of postage stamps and postal history) after leaving school. During his career he has handled some of the world's rarest stamps and as a lifelong collector has built up notable collections including Edward VIIth printings, Great Britain official issues, classic Transvaal, Albania, Leeward Islands and British West Indies stamps, postal history and vintage postcard collections of Anglesey and other towns.

Meanwhile Steven, from Burnley, who has expertise in antiques, jewellery, coins and other collectables said his favourite part of the job is finding the hidden treasures most people have thought worthless and were going to be consigned to a charity shop. He said: “I really do love it when customers bring in a box of costume jewellery that they think has no value or saleability and to be able to say to them that box is worth £400 – 600 at auction.”

He cited the recent example of someone bringing in a box of costume jewellery to his offices at the Beacon Retail Park: "It's a big thing at the moment. Sometimes you can have Swedish or Norwegian jewellery, nice enamelled brooches. (I said) You've got one brooch there which is worth £40 - £60. They were gobsmacked."

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He stressed the value of a piece of jewellery was not simply its gold or scrap value.

Celebrity auctioneer Adam PartridgeCelebrity auctioneer Adam Partridge
Celebrity auctioneer Adam Partridge

* Adam Partridge has auctions rooms in Liverpool and Macclesfield and valuation offices nationwide and also holds specialist sales. Adam Partridge appears regularly as an expert and auctioneer on television programmes including Flog It!, Bargain Hunt, Dickinson’s Real Deal, Cash In the Attic and Find it, Fix it, Flog it.

* Contact Steven Parkinson to make an appointment for a stamp valuation.