Twigg- Smith Pony Express Collection to Be Auctioned

The Pony Express collection formed by noted philatelist, Thurston Twigg-Smith will be auctioned off by Siegel Auctions sometime during October or November.

According to the Siegel Dispatch, "Estimated at $2.5 to $3.5 million, the collection contains dozens of important pieces, including one of three known First Day Covers, the unique Pony cover to Switzerland (shown above), one of two known $4 Black Pony covers, and the rare $1 Garter stamp tied on cover."

Twigg-Smith was the publisher of the Honolulu Advertiser from 1961 to 1993 and is well known for his Hawaiian collection which he sold in 1995 for a reported $10 million.

"But soon after selling his first collection, Twigg-Smith found he missed collecting. Starting from scratch, he built a new assortment that now consists of stamps worth from a few dollars to $250,000," according an 2006 article that appears on the Pacific Business News website.

The article also reported, "Twigg-Smith, 85, the founder and former chairman of Honolulu-based Persis Corp.,said he is selling his second collection because of a degenerative condition that is slowly claiming the sight in his left eye."

Twigg- Smith is quoted in the piece as saying, "I realized that collecting stamps is one thing where you've got to be able to see, so I thought I'd auction it off while I was still around."

Siegel Auction Galleries will be selling a hardbound catalog of the collection at some future date.

For more information on the Siegel Auction, click here.