Greg Manning Auctions' H.R. Harmer Subsidiary Completes Groundbreaking Richard Baron Cohen Auction; First Major Auction of Numer
July 05 2005 - 6:00PM
Business Wire
Greg Manning Auctions Inc. (Nasdaq: GMAI) announced today the
successful results of its June 24, 2005 auction of the Richard
Baron Cohen collection conducted by H.R. Harmer of New York, a GMAI
wholly owned subsidiary. The first major auction sale containing
only numerically third-party graded stamps realized a total of
$1,035,000 (all prices include the 15% buyer's premium), well over
the presale estimate of $700,000, with 96% of the lots sold by
value. The auction sale was comprised of the United States stamp
collection formed by Richard Baron Cohen of exceptionally high
quality issues. Recently, Professional Stamp Experts (PSE), a
subsidiary of Collectors Universe (Nasdaq: CLCT), began issuing
numerically graded on a scale of 1 to 100 certificates of
authenticity for United States stamps. Numerical third party
grading in coins has been a staple since its introduction in 1986
by another Collectors Universe subsidiary, Professional Coin
Grading Service. Third party grading and a cash guarantee of up to
$10,000 that the Scott catalogue number attribution by PSE is
correct for every PSE graded United States stamp, had a significant
impact on the strong realizations of the single owner Cohen
collection auction. Greg Manning, First Vice Chairman, CEO and
President of GMAI, stated, "In my nearly 40 years of conducting
philatelic auctions, I have never witnessed such a wide discrepancy
between price realizations to the Scott catalogue valuations as in
this auction. Realizations of 5, 10, 20 and even 30 times catalogue
were commonplace as bidders contested virtually every lot. The new
PSE grading and cash guarantee attracted a plethora of new
aggressive buyers, led by both astute coin collectors and dealers
who have long recognized the value of the highest quality
numerically graded coins and, for the first time, numerically
graded stamps. The exceptional quality of the Cohen collection drew
telephone, fax, Internet, email, postal and floor bidders from
across the United States to participate in this prestigious auction
held in our Manhattan gallery. A number of records were set by the
high realizations at this auction, including a $5 Columbian stamp
that sold for $77,625." The Scott catalogue editors who price the
respected guide for United States stamps will note that the Scott
catalogue value of all of the stamps contained in the Cohen
collection of $339,000 was eclipsed by more than 300% with the
auction's realization of $1,035,000. Highlights of the auction
included: -- 15 cent Lincoln issue of 1861, graded 75, Scott
catalogue $3,500, sold for $29,900 -- 90 cent 1869 Pictorial issue,
graded 90, Scott catalogue $4,750, sold for $37, 375 -- 50 cent
1893 Columbian issue, graded 95J, Scott catalogue $1,700, sold for
$23,000 -- $5.00 1893 Columbian issue, graded 95, Scott catalogue
$9,000, sold for $77,625 -- 15 cent 1895 Watermarked issue, graded
100, Scott catalogue $625, sold for $10,925 -- 2 cent 1904 Pan
American issue, graded 95J, Scott catalogue $40, sold for $1,207 --
10 cent 1894 Special Delivery issue, graded 95J, Scott catalogue
$1,900, sold for $29,900 -- 5 cent 1891 Postage Due issue, graded
98J, Scott catalogue $100, sold for $3,450 Manning concluded, "I
believe the advent of PSE's grading and guarantee will continue to
have a positive impact on the market for United States stamps. It
was apparent that both veteran stamp collectors and dealers, as
well as buyers directly attracted by numerical grading, recognized
the added confidence and liquidity created by PSE's grading
imprimatur." About Greg Manning Auctions, Inc. Greg Manning
Auctions, Inc. is a global collectibles merchant and auction house
network, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia and on
the Internet. This network was created in September 2003 when GMAI
and Auctentia, S.L. effectively integrated their auction
businesses, creating a GMAI-AUCTENTIA global collectibles auction
network. In North America, GMAI is a leading traditional and
e-commerce - Internet, interactive telephone, and Internet and live
simulcast - auctioneer and merchant/dealer of collectibles. Coins,
stamps and sports cards are offered at www.gregmanning.com and
www.teletrade.com. Its operations include the Greg Manning Auctions
division, Ivy & Manning Philatelic Auctions, H.R. Harmer of New
York, Greg Manning Galleries, Spectrum Numismatics, Teletrade,
Nutmeg Stamp Sales, John Bull Auctions in Hong Kong, Superior
Sports Auctions, Bowers & Merena Galleries and Kingswood Coin
Auctions. In Europe, the leading auction houses affiliated with the
network are Auctentia Subastas of Madrid, Spain (operating under
the name "Afinsa Auctions"); Corinphila Auktionen of Zurich,
Switzerland (65% owned by GMAI); and the Koehler group of auction
companies of Berlin (66.67% owned by GMAI) and Wiesbaden, Germany.
GMAI also owns GMAI Auctentia Central de Compras (CdC) of Madrid,
Spain, which is engaged in the sale, marketing and production of
owned and third-party collectibles, with an emphasis on specialized
philatelic material. Both GMAI and CdC currently act as exclusive
supplier of collectibles - primarily stamps and coins - on a
worldwide basis to Afinsa Bienes Tangible, S.A. of Madrid, Spain,
one of the world leaders in marketing tangible investment products,
and GMAI's majority shareholder. Statements in this press release
that relate to future plans, objectives, expectations, performance,
events and the like are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Future events, risks and
uncertainties, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in
these statements. Factors that may cause such differences include
changes in market conditions, changes in economic environment,
competitive factors and the other factors discussed in the
"forward-looking information" or "risk factors" sections included
in GMAI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including GMAI's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q, prospectuses and other documents that GMAI has filed
with the Commission. In particular, any statement related to GMAI's
expected revenues or earnings or GMAI's being well positioned for
future profitability and growth are forward-looking statements. The
words "should," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend,"
"anticipate," "foresee," "plan" and similar expressions and
variations thereof identify certain of such forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they were
made. Additionally, any statements related to future improved
performance and estimates of revenues and earnings per share are
forward-looking statements. GMAI undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements.
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