PUBLIC STAMP AUCTIONS

Public Stamp Auction #48

Saturday 21st March 2026

West Plaza Hotel, Wellington, NZ

 Commencing at 11.30am

Click here to download a PDF copy of the Catalogue

Click here to access our Live Bidding platform (an extra 3% charge applies to all successful bids placed through the live bidding facility, whether placed before or during the auction). 

Lot images coming shortly!

Welcome to our 48th sale. This bi-annual auction comprises 1,021 lots with estimates of $1.1M. We are priviledged to feature several significant collections, and material from over 140 vendors.

Highlights include:
• Over 250 World collections including 65 New Zealand.
• 120 Full Face Queen lots - 1,000 stamps! Includes 3 x SG1s (est $2,000 to $15,000), mint SG 3 est $10,000, 2d "stitch" wmk, plus many scarcer SG no's.
• Over 140 lots of Great Britain, including further items from Iain Luton's extensive collection, postal history, and a 1d Black VR cat £25,000 (est $7,500).
• 1996 Teddy Bear error complete sheet of 100 - believed to be the only sheet remaining, cat Jury $150,000, est $40,000.
• Over 430 NZ lots including 1d Claret Christchurch Exhibition (lot 618) and 35/- Arms (lot 705).
• The gold medal revenue collection from Jenny Banfield (MNZM), (lot 225) est $15,000.
• Further items from the estate of John Gahagan.
• Remarkable postal history of Northland, ex Jim Baird.
• A strong Pacific offering including early Cook Islands.
• We conclude with Bob Watson's extensive collection of United States - the finest to be offered by auction in NZ.

Overseas bidders please note the mails are very slow. Please send your absentee bids to us by email, via the website, fax or phone, or you can bid live online through the course of the auction.

Viewing in Wellington is available on Friday 20th March and Saturday morning prior to the auction; or until Wednesday 18th March at our premises in Otaki. We are only 50 minutes from Wellington Airport and ten minutes from Waikanae commuter railway station. We can pick you up from either (by appointment only).

My thanks go to John Mowbray, David Smitham, Graham Burnett, Alan Jackson, and Ken Markham, who have produced another great catalogue, ably assisted by Maree Malin, Kirsten Fulford, Amor Van Tonder, Sallie Bassett, Clare Cross, Kelly Robertson and Liam Jennings.

We look forward to your participation in this sale and wish you well with your bidding.

Christopher Burtt
Philatelic Manager

Auction 48 - Saturday, March 21, 2026

FURTHER INFORMATION ON LOTS
For any enquiries regarding lot descriptions etc, contact our office +64 6 364 8270 or email auctions@mowbrays.nz

 INSPECTION OF LOTS
At the premises of Mowbray Collectables, Main Highway, Otaki, by appointment: from about Monday 23rd February to Wednesday 18th March, during normal office hours; at the West Plaza Hotel, Wellington: Friday 20th March - 9am till 5.30pm, and Saturday 21st March prior to the Auction - from 9am.

Bids can be placed live during the auction via our live bidding platform.  
Otherwise by mail, phone, fax or email - such bids should be received by us no later than 8am NZ time (GMT + 13 hours) Saturday 21st March (at your risk if not received in time).
Due to mail delays, please send bids by email, phone, fax or via the website.
Phone bidding may be made during the auction by prior arrangement only; please make early contact. Total $1,000 minimum in bids applies.

BUYERS PREMIUM
Buyers Premium of 17% (plus GST on buyers premium for NZ buyers) will be added to the hammer price of each lot.  (All buyers please note: no GST will be added to the hammer price of lots).

ALL ESTIMATES ARE IN NEW ZEALAND DOLLARS
At time of publishing NZ $1 = UK 44p, USA 60c, Euro 51c, Australia 86c.  Click here for an online currency converter.

PHOTOCOPIES/SCANS OF LOTS
Available on request. We can supply representative images of bulk lots or collections.

Note: credit card payments will incur at surcharge of 2% for Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

BIDS UNDER 70% OF ESTIMATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED as this is the reserve on all lots. No vendor bids shall be accepted.