Basel Dove

Shown here is a copy of a 'Basel Dove' which is being auctioned off this week by the Rapp auction house in Switzerland.

On the website Swissinfo.com, Rapp Ohmann said, "The auction would attract collectors dealers, agents who buy for others, and even people who weren't collectors but who wanted, for example, a Basel Dove - the world's first tri-coloured stamp, which has become something of a magnet."

The 'Basel Dove' was issued Switzerland in 1845. It features a white embossed dove carrying a letter in its beak. Now regarded as a beautiful and classic stamp, it was unpopular when it was issued and was withdrawn soon after its release.

According to the site, Rapp has an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as having had the world's largest stamp auction back in 1980.

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To learn more about the 'Basel Dove', click here.