As we leave the first month of 2025 behind us, it is time to look forward to the rest of the year. Here at the World Paper Money Department, we look back on a successful NYINC auction and now anticipate our upcoming Hong Kong and Maastricht auctions, to be held in April and May respectively. The cataloging for the Hong Kong auction is in full swing, and my colleague Kelvin Cheung recently previewed the sale in another blog post. As for the Maastricht auction (to be held in conjunction with the MIF Paper Money Fair, in Maastricht, the Netherlands, during the first week of May) we are rapidly approaching the consignment deadline, but are still accepting consignments for a few more weeks.
Over the past few years, the semi-annual Maastricht auction held by Stack’s Bowers Galleries has evolved into one of the premier world paper money sales in Europe. In just the past two sales since I joined the company, we have offered landmark collections including the Landhuis Collection of Curacao, extensive selections from the Al Kugel Collection, the Mombasa Collection of East Africa and select offerings from other advanced and noteworthy collections. Not surprisingly, collectors from Europe and beyond look forward to this twice a year event, and it is always a great pleasure for our team to work on this sale and its catalog.
In our two Maastricht sales in 2024, we offered key lots such as a group of 9 proofs from the Government of the Olonets in Northern Russia, which sold for $300,000, and a 1907 10 Dollar Specimen from the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank that brought $78,000 (both lots came from the extensive Al Kugel Collection). Other highlights offered by us in Maastricht in 2024 include a Haj Pilgrim 100 Rupees graded Very Fine 30 by PMG which brought $33,600 and a 50 Mil Reis from Portugal dated 1898 and graded Very Fine 25 by PMG that brought $20,400 (more than doubling the last price record for the type). Finally, as the show is held in the Netherlands, Dutch and Dutch Colonial notes are always in demand, and in 2024 this area included a new price record of $13,200 for a 1954 100 Gulden from Curacao graded Choice Very Fine 35.
We are still accepting consignments for the 2025 Spring Maastricht Auction, but time is running out quickly. To take advantage of the strong world paper money market, record-setting prices and marketing at Europe’s premier World Paper Money show, please contact Dennis Hengeveld at [email protected] or call 800-458-4646.
