The recent Spink Shreve’s sale of Robert Cunliffe’s outstanding collection of inverted stamps in New York on June 18th drew worldwide attention in the press and on the internet. . Mr. Cunliffe was a Pittsburg stockbroker who died last year at the age of 83. His achievement in bringing together such a large number of the inverted stamps from so many countries represented a collector’s dream. For most people, to have acquired a single inverted stamp would be unusual in itself, but to have amassed a whole collection like this is truly remarkable.

Here is a sampling of what was offered in the sale from just a few of the countries:
(All amounts are in $U.S.)

UNITED STATES

Lot 16 Scott 63e Catalogue $4,000 Realized $57,500

Lot 21 Scott 129aP4-122aP4 Catalogue $150,000 Realized $230,000

Lot 30 Scott 295a Catalogue $55,000 Realized $47,500	Lot 31 Scott 295a Catalogue $60,000 Realized $35,000

Lot 36 Scott 296a Catalogue $550,000 Realized $260,000

Lot 41 Scott 1610c Catalogue $84,000 Realized $67,500

“Inverted Jenny”

Lot 46 Scott C3a Catalogue $500,000 Realized $170,000

Lot 153 Scott R146a Catalogue $25,000 Realized $100,000

AUSTRIA

Lot 1019 Scott 226a Catalogue $21,500 Realized $65,000

BELGIUM

Lot 1030 Scott 139a Catalogue $67,500 Realized $130,000

CANADA

Lot 1044 Scott 387a Catalogue $12,000 Realized $6,500

Lot 1046 Scott 1181a Catalogue $12,000 Realized $6,500	Lot 1047 Scott 1376b Catalogue $9,000 Realized $3,750

CHINA

Lot 1103 Scott 237a Catalogue $20,000 Realized $60,000

KENYA, UGANDA & TANGANYIKA

Lot 1225 Scott 103b Catalogue $25,000 Realized $57,500

MEXICO

Lot 1251 Scott 632a Catalogue $25,000 Realized $35,000

RUSSIA

Lot 1301 Scott 65a Catalogue $5,500 Realized $100,000

SUDAN

Lot 1350 Scott 84a Estimate $10,000 Realized $45,000

We would not expect to see a collection as unusual and rare as this offered at auction again for a long time. Looking at it makes us want to stand back in sincere admiration of the late Mr.Cunliffe for his wonderful achievement.