Arthur Hind Auction Catalogues, 1933-35

Arthur Hind (1856–1933) was possibly 20th century’s greatest all-world collector. His collection had iconic items such as the British Guiana One Cent Black on Magenta, two “Post Office” Mauritius, and the most special of them all – the Bordeaux Cover from Mauritius to France bearing 1d Red and 2d Blue “Post Office” stamps on them.

Hind’s collection of US including the Confederate States was auctioned by Charles J. Phillips and William C. Kennett in 1933. Phillips and Kennett prepared the catalogue for the British Empire portion but the executors of Hind’s estate sold the collection to H. R. Harmer of London for $450,000! Harmer then sold this material in a series of 11 sales. After the sale, the auction catalogues and the prized realised were bound by the auction house in two quality part leather and cloth volumes.

This offer contains the complete set of Hind’s Catalogues:

• The Postage Stamp Collection of the Late Arthur Hind of Utica, N.Y. Catalogue. United States including the Confederate States. Both the Catalogue and Plates complete. Prices Realised (photocopy) laid in. Sale held November 20-23, 1933.
• The Postage Stamp Collection of the Late Arthur Hind of Utica, N.Y. Catalogue. British Empire. Both the Catalogue and Plates complete. Sale scheduled to be held March 31, April 2-8, and April 9, 1934 but never held!
• Catalogues and List of Prices Realised of the “Arthur Hind” Collection of Empire Postage Stamps. This volume contains Sale Nos. 1 (Great Britain, European Colonies, and British North America), 2 (British Possessions in West Indies and Central and South America), 3 (British Possessions in Asia and including India and States), 4 (British Possessions in Africa and including Mauritius), and 5 (Australia and Oceanic Possessions). Prices Realised bound in.
• Catalogues and List of Prices Realised of the “Arthur Hind” Collection of Foreign Postage Stamps. This volume contains Sale Nos. 6 (France, Post Offices and Colonies), 7 (Northern European Countries and Possessions), 8 (Southern European Countries and Possessions), 9 (Spain and Colonies), 10 (Asia and Africa), and 11 (Central and South America, Cuba, Philippine Islands, Porto Rico and Hawaiian Islands). Prices Realised bound in.

The Phillips and Kennett catalogues are softbound and have tears some which have been repaired. The hardbound are in quarter (red) or half (green) leather. Overall, the volumes are in very good condition. Hard to find them these days as most seem to have disappeared into the libraries of bibliophiles!