World's Largest Stamp Captures Record Sale Price

AP - Sumanther's Auctions in Brussels, Belgium announced today a record sale price for the world's largest stamp - the elusive $3.50 Trinidad and Tobago sailfish issue of 2011. An interesting and visually quite spectacular stamp issue, it measured 45 cm x 28 cm; however, it was discovered only on the day of release that there were no envelopes in the Caribbean country large enough to accommodate the issue. It was intended for first class, tracked service to the mainland. The stamp was released at 9AM on June 1, 2011 but all stock was withdrawn from sale at noon. Authorities report that only one half pane was sold, and as far as is known, only three exist on a (manufactured) cover that went through the mails. As a further complication, postal authorities discovered that wicket clerks were severing the stamp to make it fit available covers. To date none of these covers have been reported. The Sumanther item was posted to a Summerside PEI address and returned to the sender, as it turned out to be undeliverable. The cover captured a price of 32,500 Euros at the sale. The location of the two remaining full sailfish on cover rarities is apparently a closely guarded secret, while it is rumoured that a half or quarter sailfish on cover could command as much as 100,000 Euros.

Very fascinating story - thanks for sharing! Incredible how such recent items can be considered that valuable.

If I may be excused for being speculative, it almost sounds like a planned exercise (from someone at T&T post) in order to create some very scarce items...

It's long been rumored that a block of 4 fully intact stamps was used by a T&T ebay seller to mail a package to a buyer in Canada. Unfortunately though, Canadian postal clerks affixed a registered label over the stamps after using a black marker to write delivery instructions. No one can bring themselves to even think of a value had the stamps not been ruined.

Is there a picture available of this stamp?

Jenny 2U - I'd heard that. And actually the real story about that 6 foot x 4 foot parcel is that it was used by the T&T ebay seller to ship his pet alligator to Toronto so he would be able to have it with him when he visited friends on his holiday. They would never have allowed him to take it on the plane.

I don't have a scan of the stamp, but here is a 1/16th "bisect" used to pay the interisland postcard rate:




Excuse the poor quality of the image...it is from an old ebay listing.

WOW! And I thought I knew about this issue. Are you going to put it up or are you going to hold onto it?

Oh, that's not mine. I was an underbidder...I don't have those kinds of resources. I suppose I should have made that clear.

<sigh> And now having seen it - I know there must be the other 15/16. What an achievement to be able to put the whole 16/16 together. It would be known - I'm sure of this - as the "T&T 16/16" - right up there with the Penny Black. And worth enough to buy a large chunk of the islands.

I've received a private message from someone claiming that there is no such thing as a "1/16th bisect", and that the proper term is a quartered quarter.

Since a bisect is already a half, apparently a 1/16th bisect would be a 1/32nd, and they don't exist...

You learn something new everyday.

I think there is far too much hair splitting in philately. The accuracy fanatics form a sect unto themselves IMHO.

Sadly, the image of the 1/16 "bisect" appears to be one of the rotary gummed Spicoli forgeries that appeared soon after in 2012. Note the white tips of the perfs where the rotary process caused the gum to press outward due to centrifugal force. This could be verified by measuring the dimensions of the "3"; in a genuine flat plate 2011 stamp the dimensions must be 19 1/2 mm x 22 1/2 mm.

Chris

They said the winner was anonymous but I know the previous owner who sold it. It was this guy from Nigeria, he told me needed someone to help him bring the profits to the U.S. to avoid taxes. All I needed to do was send him my bank account number so he could split the profits with me.

Now I am waiting for my big deposit, I think I will use my half to buy some "rare" stamps on ebay.

Wouldn't have been a problem for me. I asked the seller if he had a cert for it, and he said if I was high bidder he would be willing to issue one for just $10 more. Way cheaper than PF.

I buy my certs in bulk. Cost just $2 a roll. I recommend them.

What kind of world do we live in where a buyer can issue his own cert?

I'm not comfortable unless a second party is issuing it, like a seller. If I'm getting a cert from the seller, I can be very comfortable that I'm not issuing it in my own self interest.