Lady Mairi Bury was an aristocratic eccentric who piloted her first plane at 11 and her last aged 85, was a close friend of politicians such as Harold Macmillan and often greeted guests with a parrot on her shoulder. But Lady Mairi Bury also had another side to her – she was one of the greatest female philatelists.

Now Sotheby’s is to sell what it describes as one of the finest collections of British postage stamps to come to market for 25 years.

Following Bury’s death, aged 88, last year, the auction house said it would need three days to sell what is, by any standards, a vast collection. As well as the tens of thousands of stamps, there are early examples of printed envelopes and letters relating to another private passion of Lady Mairi – Victorian sensations and scandals.

Ashton said Lady Mairi’s collection was outstanding, one of the finest of recent years. “She was fascinating because although there would have been very little that was outside her financial reach, she was far more interested in buying something that added to the interest of her collection. Something for £50 gave her as much pleasure as something that was £5,000.”

The sale is expected to make in excess of £2.6m. Aside from British stamps, which include the very finest examples of the penny black and two pence blue, there are items that shine a light on some of the most enjoyable stories from the Victorian age. One example is an extremely rare printed envelope telling in boys-own detail the story of the iron-paddle steamer Nemesis.

The Nemesis was used by the East India Company in the first opium war of the 1840s, sailing all the way to China and into the river system. “The first thing the Chinese knew was when it was behind them blasting them all over the place,” said Ashton.

Nemesis captured the public imagination but the used envelope for sale is unique. The only other recorded example is in mint condition, unused, and owned by the Queen.

The collection was never kept in a safe or bank vaults. “If she woke one morning and decided it was going to be stamp day, she wanted to be able to reach for them,” said Ashton.

There are 2,185 lots and tens of thousands of stamps. “It’s not far short of being the biggest sale I can remember. It’s certainly one of the largest sales of stamps which relate to Great Britain. The sale is already causing much excitement in the specialised stamp world.

Ashton has his own view on why some people turn to stamps. “Stamps are one of those things, you can’t spot who collects them. Very often though, collectors are from the professions – accountants, law, medicine. I think it’s people who lead stressful lives but can’t afford to take to drink. If you’re a surgeon, you can’t have a gin and tonic the night before a big operation.”

guardian.co.uk

The Penny Black was sold for GBP 1,120.00. Its approximately US $1,785.78.

The Penny Black was printed from 11 plates, but as plate 1 was completely overhauled due to excessive wear, it is generally considered to be two separate plates, 1a and 1b. Plate 11 was intended originally solely for the new red stamps, but a small number were printed in black. These are very rare.

The stamps were printed in unperforated sheets, cut with scissors for sale.

The Penny Black is not a rare stamp, but very desired and valuable for collectors. The total print run was 286,700 sheets with 68,808,000 stamps and a substantial number of these have survived, largely because envelopes were not normally used: letters in the form of letter sheets were folded and sealed, with the stamp and the address on the obverse. If the letter was kept, the stamp survived.

The used Penny Black is readily available on the collectors’ market; a used stamp in poor condition can cost as little as £10 ($20); in 2000, a used stamp in fine condition cost about £110, an unused example about £1,600 , with prices steadily rising.

Another rare British stamp was sold on Ebay for approximately US $2,079.84 (Winning bid: GBP 1,400.00). Its a wonderfully centered used greenish-grey stamp with outstanding full colour and freshness. A crisp LIVERPOOL CDS for AUG 8 1883. Quite without any fault and with premium for this quality.

Catalog #: SG 135, £7000.

Do you want to know a real current price for this beautyful 1882 year 5 pound British stamp? US $1,582.77 !
This rare stamp was sold with a certificate.

Seller’s description:

1882 5 GBP ORANGE, CN, SUPERB USED-PERFECTLY CENTERED-CANCELLED WITH ALRESFORD CDS DATED 21 NOVEMBER 1889 AND BOXED “C.H.B. G.P.O.” HAS SHORT BLUE STRIKE AT LOWER RIGHT.

THIS STAMP IS TOTALLY SOUND WITHOUT DEFECTS. CERTIFIED AS DESCRIBED BY HEINZGEORG RICHTER IN 1990. (SEE PHOTOS)

THIS 5 POUND ORANGE IS CATALOGUED (SG 2008) AT GPB 4,500

Look at the beautiful rare GB stamp. Winner pays US $2,487.99 for this lot. Its a Britain Scott 124 1891 £1 green 3 Crowns unused with original gum.

Stamp description:

GB SG212(Scott 124) 1891 £1 green wmk 3 Crowns VF unused O.G.

Catalogue value of £6,000.00($8,750.00).
Fabulous example of this Queen Victoria top value.

Centered slightly high, few tiny natural gum wrinkles, few uneven perfs, otherwise absolute perfection with no trace of a hinge, deep intense color.

Another British stamp was sold on Ebay 3 days ago. Its a GB SG128 or Scott 74. Used, in goof codition with Maltese Crosses watermark.

Item description:

GB SG128(Scott 74) 1867-83 10sh gray-green wmk Maltese Cross VF used
Outstanding example with neat double cds cancels
Cat £4,900.00($7,300.00)

Winning bid: US $1,134.36

Here a famous British stamp I spied this outstanding eBay auction. Its a SG183a 1883-4 10sh pale ultramarine UM.
Item location: United Kingdom. Winner from Britain, too.

Winning bid: GBP 959.11 (approx US $1,419.15).

Item description:

GB SG183a 1883-4 10sh pale ultramarine UM
Deep rich colour.
Beautiful fresh stamp, seldom seen this nice.
Cat value £2,250 for hinged.