Heritage and Matthew Bennett Int'l Join, Create Rare Stamps Authority

Dallas, TX - Heritage Auction Galleries announced today that Harvey Bennett will join the auction house as Director of Philately.

"The combination of Heritage and Matthew Bennett International, via Harvey Bennett, creates a real Philatelics auction powerhouse," said Steve Ivy, Co-Founder of Heritage Auction Galleries, and a name well-known in Rare Stamps circles as the namesake of Steve Ivy Philatelic Auctions, and as one-third of the former Ivy Shreve & Mader. "The benefit to collectors of rare stamps is obvious: We're fusing the most advanced auction technology, marketing skills and a huge collector base with unparalleled stamps expertise and the very best customer service."

In the more than 30 years that have passed since its inception, Heritage has grown into the world's largest collectibles auction house, selling coins and currency, comics, movie posters, Americana, historical documents and fine art, as well as 20 other specialties. After a 15 year absence from the philatelic field, due to a non-compete agreement, Heritage has recently rejoined the stamp auction market with the addition of a philatelic division.

Matthew Bennett International was founded in 1948 and was a Midwest regional presence for many years, eventually expanding its reach to the Mid-Atlantic. Harvey Bennett joined the family business in 1969 and took over the helm in 1993. Under his guidance, the firm expanded into an international presence and has earned a reputation as one of the foremost auctioneers of important philately in the United States, Europe and Asia. Bennett has conducted more than 50 single-owner sales, including: The Ernst Nyugren Collection of Finland, The Morris Rosen Collection of Olympics, The Frederick Mayer Collection of the 12c 1856 Issue, The Margie Faiman Collection of St. Louis Bears, The Gavin Fryer Collection of Important Worldwide Postal History and the "Sun" Collection of Chinese Red Revenues.

"We're quite pleased to have Harvey Bennett join the Heritage team," said Ivy. "He's a recognized expert and a widely respected voice in rare stamps. In combining the reach and tech savvy of Heritage with the history and reputation of Matthew Bennett International, our goal is to create a whole new generation of stamp collectors from a broad array of non-traditional categories while offering experienced collectors the very best rare stamps the market has to offer."

Heritage Auction Galleries' conducts weekly Internet Rare Stamp Auctions, with the next one beginning approximately April 12. The next Signature® Stamp Auction is scheduled for late spring 2009.

For more information email Harvey Bennett at HarveyB@HA.com.

Reinvigorating Rare Stamps: $1.4M+ Inaugural Stamps Auction at Heritage

The first Signature® Stamps Auction in more than 15 years at Heritage Auction Galleries, Feb. 5-7, proved a $1.4 million success, with the company's one-of-a-kind post-auction buys continuing to increase the total. Collectors from around the nation, having waited 15 years to see the Heritage name back in rare stamps, took notice and logged on to the Internet, bid via the telephone and attended the auction in-person at Heritage's Dallas headquarters yielding the solid results.

"It's hard to know what to expect in economic conditions like this," said Steve Crippe, Director of Rare Stamps at Heritage, "but collectors responded quite enthusiastically to the offerings in this auction. We saw strong prices on several important lots."

With several different stamps vying for the marquee position in the auction, it was the Ben Franklin #1a, 1847, 5c Dark Brown, SUP 98J PSE, with original gum and previously hinged, that occupied its rightful spot at the top of the heap. The stamp is the bottom right sheet corner margin single, Position 100R, believed to be the unique mint example that unquestionably proves its plate position. The stamp shows little wear from its 160+ years, a fact of particular interest considering how delicate and porous the paper used for this issue is by nature. It finished the auction at $71,700, including Buyer's Premium.

Several other Philatelic treasures stood out in the auction, among them: a #295a, 1901, 2c Carmine and Black, Inverted Center, F 70 PSE, (Original Gum — Previously Hinged) Fast Express with inverted center, of which approximately 155 unused copies exist, realizing $41,825; a #296a, 1901, 4c, Deep red Brown and Black, (Original Gum - Previously Hinged) Electric Automobile in Washington. This 4c Pan-American Invert is a special printing. It brought $26,290; a #C13-15, 1930, 65c - $2.60 Zeppelins, SUP 98J PSE, (Original Gum - Never Hinged), the most sought after Airmail stamps in the World - United States Graf Zeppelins, one of the top three graded sets in existence, which sold for $17,925; a #467, 1916, 5c Carmine, SUP 98 PSE, (Original Gum - Never Hinged) a magnificent large margined showpiece showing parts of all the eight adjoining stamps. It realized $11,352,50.

"We're off to a solid start in the Rare Stamp market," said Crippe. "We're going to build on the success of this auction with our monthly Internet stamp auctions, plus we're on the constant lookout for consignments of rare stamps for our next Signature auction, to be held in August."

If you are interested in consigning to an upcoming Internet or Signature Rare Stamps Auction, call Steve Crippe at (800) 872-6467, ext. 1777, or email StevenC@HA.com.