(wm-pcp) Those who visited the website https://ibra2023.de/ibra-schatzkammer/ in the past months already knew that during IBRA (25-28 May 2023 in Essen) a treasure trove will be on display in which the unique “Bordeaux letter” – the only known one with the blue and orange-red Mauritius Post Office stamp from 1847 – will be exhibited. Thanks to the mediation of Briefmarkenhaus Richard Borek GmbH & Co KG, this is once again possible after almost 15 years.

However, the text on the aforementioned website also hints that there will be further top pieces of the exceptional class around this “crown jewel of philately”. The annual preview of the Wiesbaden auction house Heinrich Köhler – the house is the official auctioneer, major sponsor and philatelic partner of IBRA 2023 – already reveals a little of the secret. For in this treasure trove of the IBRA, the three most valuable rarities of German philately will also be on display. These include: the only known first day cover of the “Black One”, the Bavarian 1 Kr. stamp of 1 November 1849, the legendary “Baden misprint” 9 Kr. on cover, which was printed on green instead of pink paper (only one other letter and one piece of cover are known of this one) and last but not least the only complete sheet of the “Saxony Three”, Germany’s second stamp, still in existence.

Never before has this “trio” been admired together, and it was only through the mediation of Dieter Michelson, managing director and co-owner of the Wiesbaden-based company, that Joseph Hackmey (UK), the Museum Foundation Post and Telecommunications and a private collector who has not been named made these rarities available.
More details are expected to emerge in the coming weeks and months about other precious objects that will be on display at the IBRA Treasury in May 2023.