Rarest Belgian stamps auctioned by chess legend

Anatoly Karpov – one of the greatest chess players of all time – is also an expert in art appreciation and philately, the Paul Fraser Collectibles website reports. His collection of Belgian stamps has gained fame not only due to the importance and quality of the items (many of them date back to the 19th century), but also for its vastness; he has made studies of Belgian stamps almost from the beginning to the present day. His collection is estimated to be worth as much as $15 million, or about €11.7 million. The fact that Karpov once owned them makes them even more attractive to many collectors. Leading stamp auctioneer David Feldman says it is “a great honour and privilege to bring the collection to the market”. One of the highlights is the 10 franc green with inverted centre from the then-Belgian Congo. Considered the finest of just five known examples, it is in beautiful condition with rich colour and its original gum. It is expected to sell for almost €45,000 at the auction, which takes place in Geneva on December 8.