CLASSIC LATIN AMERICA

News, commentary and opinion on Central and South American philately

Dealers

Brian Moorhouse estate to be sold by Corinphila

Brian Moorhouse

The late Brian Moorhouse’s entire estate is to be sold by Swiss auction house Corinphila.

In what promises to be one of the most important sales of Central and South American material in many years, the esteemed dealer’s stock holding will be sold off in a series of auctions.

Brian Moorhouse died in July 2017 and was globally recognized as the authority on Latin American philately. His opinions and certificates accompany many of the philatelic treasures from across Central and South America. Early multiples, covers, proofs and rarities from each of the republics will be represented from his extensive stock.

The breadth and quantity of material to be sold is no doubt too extensive for the market to absorb in one hit. Sensibly, the estate will be sold in a number of auctions starting in summer 2019 and extending into 2021.

Amongst the lots will be many of the finest items of Latin American philately. Brian’s knowledge of the region was unsurpassed and for forty years he dominated the market, gladly sharing his knowledge with advanced collectors and new enthusiasts alike.

Along with his dealer stock, his two award winning collections of Haiti and Tierra del Fuego will also be be sold. It is likely that these collections will be sold by private treaty.

The Tierra del Fuego will be displayed at the RPSL’s forthcoming Stockholmia exhibition between 29th May and 2nd June.

Brian Moorhouse RIP

Brian Moorhouse

Brian Moorhouse, the renowned Latin America expert and dealer, died on 15th July.

I last saw him at his September auction, seemingly as fit as a fiddle and with no indication that this was on the cards. This will come as a sizable shock to the philatelic community, not least to the thousands of collectors he will have interacted with over his 45 year career.

Moorhouse certificates are recognized as the gold standard in Latin American philately and his name accompanies many of the key philatelic items from Central and South America. He leaves a significant legacy but also a large void that will be next to impossible to fill.

His wife, Mimi, has put up a condolences page on www.brianmoorhouse.com. It is already starting to fill up with comments, recollections and condolences from well wishers around the world.

Latin American Auctions – first event for eighteen months

Seebeck Mosquito Coast

Brian Moorhouse’s auctions tend to be somewhat infrequent affairs, the last being held in February last year. Peterborough is a rather incongruous location but for a single day it becomes the epicenter of Latin American philately.

Brian had curated over 750 lots and attendance was good with a number of international collectors who had made the pilgrimage. And bidding was strong with less than 4% of items unsold.

A wonderful selection of over 100 die proofs of the El Salvador 1895 ‘Coat of Arms’ issue sold for £2500 and a run of 14 exhibition pages of the 1932 Nicaragua ‘Earthquake’ issue achieved £2000.

A pair of the 1858 Uruguay 180c Block Letters reached £1100. Interesting to note the premium paid for the pair as the preceding lot was for a single of the same issue in equivalent condition that was snapped up for a mere £70. Shows how even small multiples can have a significant knock-on effect on price.

Colombia was strong (as ever) and Haitian collectors were well served with a good selection of lots, including an 1846 pre-stamp cover bid up to £1100.

A surprise result was for the 1894 Mosquito Coast Provisional with seven copies on piece. This achieved nearly 14 times the start price, closing at £550. The preceding lot was also a Mosquito Coast Provisional, this time a pair on cover and went for £280. Although not listed in Gibbons or Scott, it appears in Michel and is an issue apparently sort after by ASFE (A Stamp From Everywhere) collectors, a branch of philately particularly popular in Eastern Europe, with the objective of collecting at least one item from every stamp issuing ‘authority’.

I placed a few select bids on some of the bulkier lots and came away with some useful selections for future sorting.