Persiphila

About the Collection:

PERSIA: The Classic Period, to 1879

When Mr. David Feldman asked me to write an introduction to Mr. Joseph Hackmey’s collection of “Persia: The Classic Period to 1879,” it was not just an honor for me, but also a joy to study the best collection of “Lion” issues ever assembled. It was overwhelming and breath-taking for me.
Before this collection was put together by the great efforts of Mr. Joseph Hackmey, most of the gems included had been spread out among the three most famous collectors of Iran: the late Dr. Mohammad Dadkhah, Mr. Edward Joseph and Mr. Samad Khorshid, who were the most knowledgeable and authoritative philatelists of Iran classic issues. Individually, each had been awarded Grand Prix and Large Gold awards in international exhibitions. and had traveled near and far to find and acquire many of these gems. Now, without any doubt, Mr. Joseph Hackmey’s collection should be and must be considered the Crown Jewels of Iranian Philately.

Although this collection includes many unique and exquisite items, from my personal point of view, I wish to point out some of my favorite ones regardless of their monetary value, although without any doubt they are quite valuable from the viewpoint of collectors and investors alike.

Among the stamps, essays, and proofs, without any doubt the 1865 “Recumbent Lion” essays prepared by A. Martin Riester, which are presented in varieties of color and paper, are absolutely stunning. Assembling these essays in such great variety is not any easy task. Following them, and the specimens prepared by Albert Barre, the only two blocks of four of the One Shahi stamps of the 1870 Baqeri issue (on thick paper and medium paper) are quite exciting, as they are indisputable proof that the Baqeri stamps were printed in blocks of four.

While many complete sheets and covers of 1875 issue are present here, the unique imperforate sheet of the Two Shahis Blue and the two imperforate sheets of the One Shahi Black are simply breathtaking. Without any doubt, we cannot overlook the number of unused and used tête-bêche varieties of the Eight Shahis value, as well as the magnificent parcel post receipt which is franked with a strip of three of the 8sh Green, plus a tête-bêche pair and two copies of the 1876 Two Shahis Blue (page 53). The only known local cover franked with a Two Shahis Blue, addressed to Sepah-Salar and dated 22 August 1876, is another gem in this collection (page 40).

Mention must be made that prior to 1877, when Iran was admitted to the Universal Postal Union, covers addressed abroad could not be delivered without an additional Russian 8 Kopecks franking. Only four such covers are known, and they are not just considered gems of the Iranian philately, but also as great international rarities; all four known covers are in this magnificent collection (pages 34-35, 70 & 74).

We should not overlook the only two known covers franked with all four denominations of 1875 issue, both present in this great collection (pages 56- 57). The cover franked with two sheets of 8sh stamps and a One Shahi stamp with the portrait of Nasser-eddin Shah Qajar is the only complete cover known with 65 Shahis franking (page 63).

Following the numerous gems of 1875 issue, the 1876 issues, printed in vertical sheets of four as well in blocks of four, are presented in this collection with a great wealth of material. Among the most interesting ones without any doubt it is the only known block of four of the One Kran stamp with two tête-bêche pairs (page 88). The cover used during the shortage of One Shahi stamps in 1876 from Rescht (Rasht) to Teheran franked with the only known bisected Two Shahis stamp tied by RESCHT 19/10 postmark (page 80) is among the great rarities of the philatelic world. Without any doubt the 1876 issues section of this collection represents most of the vertical sheets, blocks, covers, and waybills in existence, with many errors, varieties, and unique items.

The 1878 re-engraved issues show the tremendously rare unused copies of One Toman stamps as well as One Kran stamps on yellow paper, and the beautiful unused sheet of Five Krans gold (page 125) followed by unused copies of Five Krans stamps in bronze red and bronze violet, and of course various color varieties and sheets, missing from most collections.

As I have noted in the beginning, this is the best collection of Iran classic “Lion” issues ever assembled, because of the many unique items it includes; it is simply an impossibility to duplicate it. Thanks to Mr. Joseph Hackmey for his great efforts in assembling this wonderful and unique collection. I wish to thank again Mr. David Feldman for immortalizing this collection by publishing this great book, and providing a great service for posterity. I am sure that this work will be treasured and will be a great learning tool for many years to come for serious philatelists all over the world.