An envelope sent from Whakaari/White Island to Cambridge on December 14, 1928, is being auctioned and is expected to fetch around $650. The envelope is unique due to its postmark from White Island, as the post office on the island was only operational from 1927 to 1930, making letters from there quite rare. The post office was forced to close when sulphur mining, which it supported, became unprofitable during the 1930s depression.
This envelope is part of a larger auction that includes some of New Zealand’s most significant coin auctions, set to take place in Wellington next week. The auctions, which include $1.7 million worth of coins and stamps, are expected to bring the total sales for the year to a record $3 million. David Galt, the recently appointed managing director of Mowbray Collectables, said the rare stamps on offer are almost never seen.
Among the items for sale is a 1925 Twelve Shillings and Sixpence stamp, used for paying stamp duty tax and featuring Queen Victoria, which is estimated to fetch $75,000. A Threepence 1949 stamp, commemorating the cancelled visit of King Charles’ grandfather, George VI, to New Zealand, is expected to sell for $65,000.
The top coin estimate of $18,000 is for a set of six New Zealand coins from 1935, including the rare Waitangi Crown coin. The most valuable banknote is a 50 Pounds Reserve Bank note from 1934, also featuring Tamati Waka Nene, estimated at $20,000.
Other items include pennies that were stuck in the press and show two heads, and two “mule” coins that combine head designs from different countries with New Zealand designs. There are also eight medals from the 1860’s New Zealand Wars and eight memorial crosses issued to the New Zealand families of soldiers killed in World War II and onwards. These items serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served overseas, especially as ANZAC Day approaches in April.
