A selection of our finest items at special "one-off" prices...

- All Offers expire today at 6pm

Dear Reader,

On the 31st December last year, I offered you some of our finest stock items at special "one-off" prices. I was not surprised when many of these items sold. They were genuinely great deals after all.

As Chief Executive of Stanley Gibbons, I am the boss...

That means I am able to make offers to you that no one else in our company can.

Again, I have hand selected a few items which I am happy to personally recommend to you for their unique investment qualities at a genuine discount to market value.

The prices I offer them at here today are truly exceptional.

My phone is on all day until 6pm. This is the absolute deadline for these offers.

At 6pm today ALL offers expire and revert back to full price.

So why have I decided to do this?

These are investments. Why would I sell an investment which will go up in value in the future at a discount to today's market price?
It quite simply doesn't make sense. I have to justify myself to our external shareholders so how can I do this?

Last week, our Investment Director, Adrian Roose asked me whether I would repeat my e-mail of 31st December with some special offers to celebrate the end of our half year on 30th of June.

My initial answer was: "No!" It is an illogical thing to do when we can easily sell these items at full price.

But then he said:

"Sometimes you need to give your customers an incredibly good deal. That way we can get new customers and make existing customers happy. Those happy customers are more likely to go on and invest more in the future."

He is a persuasive guy our Adrian.

Somewhat reluctantly I decided to agree, but only if I could limit it to a very small selection.

Feel free NOT to take me up on these offers. At these prices, I am reluctant to let some of our prize possessions go.

The Offers

I personally recommend all of the items selected below for their investment merits. At the prices I am offering this represents a unique opportunity to get into the collectibles market or top up your investment at a discount to market value. Read on...

Rare Signatures

Apollo 11

Silk American flag carried to the moon during the Apollo 11 mission, 5.5 x 4, affixed at the corners to a printed colour presentation mount and original mat measuring 12.5 x 14.5 overall, inscribed in a secretarial hand and signed in black felt tip on the mount: 'Neil Armstrong', 'Michael Collins' and 'Buzz Aldrin'.

The inscribee (Al Bishop) was an Apollo-era public relations director for an aerospace company that produced the insurance covers for the Apollo program, as well as the gold and silver matchbook covers used by the Apollo crews.

Bishop is also mentioned in astronaut Walt Cunningham's memoir The All-American Boys. In very good condition, with small adhesive stains to corners of flag, adhesive residue to mission logo at centre, light toning to mount and mat (a few tiny marginal spots), and signatures slightly faded but clear and distinct. An iconic relic from this most historic and avidly collected of Apollo missions.

Price: £29,500
Special Offer Price: £25,000 (Saving £4,500)

Investment potential: Armstrong stopped signing autographs for the general public in 1994. Demand for Apollo 11 autographs continue to outweigh supply and this item, with all crew items signing together, is the type of rare iconic relic which could attract a premium price at auction.

The index value of a standard Apollo 11 signed photograph has shown growth in value between 1997 and 2008 of 469% (compound average return of 17% per annum over 11 years).

Nelson: Battle of Trafalgar

Greatest hero in British naval history. One of the most important flag relics extant, exceptionally rare blue & red fragments of Union flag flown from HMS Victory at Battle of Trafalgar, accompanied by documentation from University Archives.

Of historical note Oct 21 1805 Nelson on board Victory fought & defeated the French, but was killed by a sharpshooter. Naval chronicle of 1806 reported: "...into the grave, in which all the flags of the Victory, fuelled by the sailors were deposited - These brave fellows, however desirous of retaining some memorials of their great and favourite commander, had torn off a considerable part of the largest flag, of which most of them obtained a portion..."

Included are dozens of pages of provenance, tracking the history of this existing relic. A piece of the same flag was sold at Christie's in 2005 for approx. $240,000. This is a fantastic opportunity to own one of the most important flag relics.

Price: £9,950
Special Offer Price: £8,500 (Saving £1,450)

Investment potential: An opportunity to own an important piece of our history. The long-term "romantic" appeal of items like this assures high levels of demand prevail.

The index value of a standard Nelson signature has shown growth in value between 1997 and 2008 of 497% (compound average return of 18% per annum over 11 years).

Pablo Picasso

Spanish painter and engraver.

Wonderful sketch by Picasso of a bull and bullfighter, in the arena, surrounded by spectators, Signed and dated by Picasso, January 14, 1957. In blue ballpoint pen, on the title page of a booklet of his works by Jean Cassou, 4 3/4 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches high.

Picasso's fascination with bulls and bullfighting began when he was eight-years-old and continued throughout his long artistic career. In his masterpiece, "Guernica," the head of a bull occupies the upper left hand corner, and other references to the corrida can be seen.

For many years, his work reflected the violence of the combat but gradually his approach softened with the conflict between man and beast less brutally portrayed.

Jean Cassou was deeply involved in the avant-garde literary and artistic movements of the 20's and 30's, and was the Director of the Museum of Modern Art in Paris in the 40's.

Framed (with five matching prints of his works, all the same size as Picasso's sketch) dimensions: 24 inches wide by 21 inches high.

Price: £29,950
Special Offer Price: £27,500 (Saving £2,450)

Investment potential: An opportunity to own a Picasso work of art for a fraction of the price of one of his paintings.

With auction prices for Picasso art starting at $10m this is your chance to hang a genuine Picasso on your wall at a fraction of the cost.

The interest this item would inspire from art collectors as well as autograph collectors assures its long-term appreciation in value.

Rare Stamps from Great Britain

Great Britain SG O26 Unused

1902 10s Ultramarine (I.R. Official). Very fine and fresh unused original gum example of this rare departmental issue and one of the great rarities of GB Philately accompanied by certificates from Nissen, Harmer Rooke (1951), Royal Philatelic Society (1951) and the BPA (2007). Ex. H. M. King Carol II of Romania.

Price: £85,000
Special Offer Price: £75,000 (Saving £10,000)

Investment potential: Historic investment return between 1998 and 2008 of 467% (compound average return of 19% per annum over 10 years).

The market for rare stamps from Great Britain is strong and rarities such as this consistently set new levels when they appear at auction.

Great Britain SG 1113ac Unused

1980 12p 150th Anniversary of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. The superb unmounted original gum corner marginal se-tenant strip of five with lemon omitted affecting all five stamps. A spectacular and major missing colour rarity with only two strips recorded. 1996 Brandon Certificate.

Price: £45,000
Special Offer Price: £40,000 (Saving £5,000)

Investment potential: Historic investment return between 1998 and 2008 of 500% (compound average return of 20% per annum over 10 years).

The emergence of new "big" collectors in varieties and errors in recent years together with a very limited supply sets the scene for strong potential future returns.

Great Britain SG 2 Plate 6 Unused

1840 1d Black Plate 6. Very fine and fresh unused original gum. large to huge four margin example lettered RL, accompanied by a 2006 BPA Certificate.

Price: £10,000
Special Offer Price: £9,000 (Saving £1,000)

Investment potential: A high quality example of the first postage stamp ever issued and the most popularly collected stamp in the world. Rarely seen in such quality condition, consistent demand together with increasing scarcity makes this the perfect "safe" investment in stamps.

Historic investment return between 1998 and 2008 of 217% (compound average return of 13% per annum over 10 years).

Rare Stamps from British Commonwealth

Trinidad SG 25/59 Specimen

1861 set of four values with Perkins Bacon 'CANCELLED' obliterator, presented to Ormond Hill (orignally in blocks of six (3x2), comprising 1859 imperf 4d grey-lilac (pos. 1,ex Latto and Hurlock), 1859 imperf 6d deep green, RECONSTRUCTED HORIZONTAL STRIP OF 3 (POS4, 5, 6, the first ex Latto and Hurlock), 1861 rough perf(1d) rose-red, RECONSTRUCTED VERTICAL PAIR (pos. 1/4, the second ex Latto and Hurlock), and 1861 rough perf 1s deep bluish purple (pos. 2 ex Dale-Lichtenstein and Charlton Henry). The (1d) pair with slight faults, the lower stamp having natural paper creasing and small abrasions, otherwise very fine. A phenomenal assembly, being seven of the 18 examples surviving in private hands (plus a set in the Royal Collection) and including the only strip of 3 that has ever been reconstructed, of ANY of the 75 stamps recorded with this special handstamp. Fully documented in the book by P. Jaffe, and an unparalleled opportunity. (cat £56,000+)

Price: £37,500
Special Offer Price: £32,500 (Saving £5,000)

Investment potential: With a catalogue value of £56,000+, I believe the current market's discount based on slight condition issues to be excessive.

Australia SG 138 Unused

1931-36 £2 black and rose, wmk 15, interpane block of 4 with 'JOHN ASH' imprint, fresh unmounted original gum with lovely colours. Light gutterfold as always and one shortish perf. mentional for accuracy, but a superb piece of the highest rarity showing variety 'open-mouthed kangaroo' on lower right stamp (=R55). Only about half-a-dozen such imprint blocks of four have survived, and fewer unmounted !

Price: £35,000
Special Offer Price: £32,000 (Saving £3,000)

Investment potential: This is a classic example of the type of item, by virtue of its premium condition and rarity, which any collector looking to build an award winning collection in stamps from Australia must acquire. The essential coveted nature of this item gives, in my opinion, real scope for long term above average investment performance.

All of the items selected above provide the perfect combination of rarity and desirability to ensure long-term price growth.

In the current economic climate, the argument for diversifying your wealth has never been stronger. If you are looking to make a serious investment in collectibles, the above selection would make an excellent portfolio...

With a total market value of £281,900, I am giving you the opportunity to buy in at £249,500. This represents a discount of £32,400. In other words, you start your investment with a 13% gain!

Alternatively, if there is one particular item that catches your eye, then don't delay. You can invest in any item safe in the knowledge that you are receiving a fantastic deal on a truly special item.

Now what to do...

Call me today on:

+44 (0) 1481 708 273

This is a one-off opportunity at these prices.

I look forward to speaking to you soon...

First come, first served - I apologise in advance for those of you who will miss out.

If you can't get through first time, please keep trying or leave me a message. I promise to get back to you as soon as I can.

Call me on +44 (0)1481 708 277

Or email mhall@stanleygibbons.co.uk

TOLL FREE from the USA 1 866 644 6146

Sincerely,

Mike Hall
Chief Executive
The Stanley Gibbons Group

PS. As always all items offered come with a lifetime guarantee of authenticity. If you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, I will give you your money back, no questions asked.