75 Years and Counting
 |
 |
 |
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE Siegel firm, which was established in 1930 by Robert A. Siegel when he was just 17 years old. Bob Siegel used to say that he did better selling stamps during the Depression than his peers who wanted more traditional professions. Judging his lifetime career in philately, it is safe to say he was the master of his trade. When he passed away in 1993 at the age of 80, he was on his way to work, no doubt contemplating another satisfying day of chatting with collectors, working on stamps and making deals.
It is unusual in the business world for a privately-held company to survive the loss of its founder and principal manager. Yet Siegel Auction Galleries continues to provide buyers and sellers with outstanding auctions, year after year. The firm’s longevity is testimony to Bob Siegel’s extraordinary talents and impeccable reputation for honesty and reliability. Without the first 63 years of his commitment and involvement, there would never have been another 12 years to celebrate.
One of the firm’s great traditions is the annual Rarities of the World sale, which brings together philately’s most coveted stamps and covers in a single auction event. Since the first Rarities sale was held in 1964, there has never been a year in which a significant Rarities sale did not materialize. We are proud of that record, and in this Diamond Jubilee year we feel even more responsibility to assemble a Rarities sale of extraordinary magnitude.
The 2005 Rarities sale is the first to require two catalogues and two selling days. By that measure alone, it is our biggest Rarities sale ever. Both catalogues offer remarkable diversity and a plethora of fabulous stamps and covers. You will find newly-discovered Colonial covers, major Postmasters’ Provisionals and 1847 Issues, superb Classics such as the “Seymour” 5c Indian Red, rare Special Printings, Gems such as the Inverted “Jenny”(graded 95 by P.S.E.), complete sheets and record-size multiples such as the Yorktown Imperforate Vertically plate blocks, exotic foreign-mail usages from Arthur White’s estate, Carriers and Locals with highlights of the Calvet Hahn estate, Western Express covers and Confederate States Postmasters’ Provisionals.
We look forward to the participation of our many valued clients, and, in this anniversary year, we wish to express our profound appreciation for your continued patronage and support.
—SCOTT R. TREPEL
