(Wiesbaden/pcp) The 384th auction of the Heinrich Köhler auction house took place at the end of September 2024. The auction included covers and stamps from various collecting areas. The highlight of the auction was the first day cover with the first German stamp, the ‘Schwarzer Einser’. It was sold for €440,000. Interest in the auction was enormous. Around 50 collectors bid on site, with hundreds bidding online and by telephone. The starting price for this extraordinary item was €250,000.
The ‘Schwarzer Einser’ first day cover, sent from Wegscheid to Hengersberg on 1 November 1849, is considered the most important document in German philately because it marks the beginning of the stamp era in Germany. Not only experienced collectors from around the world, but also new enthusiasts who appreciate the significance and rarity of historical stamps took part in the auction and ensured exciting bidding battles. ‘The response from the collector world at the auction was overwhelming. Today’s hammer price impressively confirms the value of this historic piece for philately. This first day cover is more than just a collector’s item – it is a piece of history. We are proud to have been able to auction this outstanding object,’ says Dieter Michelson, managing partner of the auction house Heinrich Köhler. The media also showed great interest, reporting in detail on the auction of this rare letter well in advance of the event. ‘I was able to give many interviews about the first day cover. We are very pleased that we have received positive feedback here and that the topic of stamps has received appropriate attention with the help of the media,’ says Michelson.
Translated with DeepL (www.deepl.com)
Auctioneer Tobias Huylmans announces the final hammer price for the historic ‘Schwarzer Einser’ first day cover at the 384th Heinrich Köhler auction in Wiesbaden. Photo: Auctioneers Heinrich Köhler.
The unique ‘Schwarze Einser’ first day cover that was sold for €440,000 at the 384th Heinrich Köhler auction on 27 September 2024. A piece of inestimable value and historical significance. Photo: Auktionshaus Heinrich Köhler.
