Exploring the Wonderful World of Foreign Collectibles: Precious Treasures Transcending Time and Space

Collectibles are like keys that unlock the doors to different eras and cultures. Overseas, a rich variety of collectibles carry profound historical heritage, unique artistic charm, and endless emotional value. From ancient stamps to rare vintage cars, every collection has a story worth exploring behind it. Today, let us embark on this wonderful journey into the world of foreign collectibles together.

Stamps, these small pieces of paper, are known as the “business cards of a country”. The world’s first stamp, the “Penny Black”, was born in the United Kingdom in 1840, and its appearance marked the beginning of the modern postal era. The “Penny Black” featured a portrait of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom at the age of 18, with a face value of 1 penny and printed in black. Due to the small number of early stamp collectors, the number of stamps sold in advance and passed down to later generations is extremely rare. It is said that only two such stamps have been found worldwide, so they are regarded as treasures in the collection circle. A few years ago, a “Penny Black” was bought by a wealthy businessman at an American auction house for a high price of 5 million US dollars (equivalent to approximately 31.49 million RMB), which fully demonstrates its preciousness.

There is also the “Yellow Three Shilling” stamp from Switzerland. It is a misprinted three-shilling stamp printed in 1855; it should have been green but was mistakenly printed in the yellow color used for eight-shilling stamps. In May 2010, at an auction house in Geneva, Switzerland, this stamp retained its title of the world’s most expensive single stamp. Although the auctioneer did not disclose the latest transaction price, it had previously been sold at a high price of 2.875 million Swiss francs (equivalent to approximately 19.43 million RMB) in 1996. These rare stamps are not only milestones in the history of postal services but also witnesses to historical changes. Each stamp contains political, economic, and cultural information of a specific era, attracting countless philatelists around the world to compete for them.

In the history of Western art, the works of many painting masters have become treasures that collectors dream of. Take Picasso as an example; his works are characterized by ever-changing styles, full of innovation and breakthroughs. On March 12, 2024, the Picasso Museum in Paris launched the large-scale exhibition “Rediscovering Picasso”, displaying a total of 400 permanent collections in 22 exhibition halls on the 3rd floor of the affiliated art gallery Hôtel Salé. The exhibits cover various forms such as oil paintings, sculptures, collages, sketches, ceramics, and prints. Picasso’s paintings, such as Les Demoiselles d’Avignon and Guernica, showcase the conflicts of the era and the struggles of human nature through unique perspectives and expressive techniques, and they hold extremely high artistic and market value. In the auction market, Picasso’s works often fetch sky-high prices, making them the focus of the art collection field.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau is famous for his flawless painting techniques. His work La Fleur Préférée (also known as L’Odorat), created in 1895, recently sold at a final auction price of 596,900 US dollars (equivalent to approximately 4.295232 million RMB). Bouguereau’s paintings mostly take mythological themes, peasant girls, Cupid, and nude portraits as subjects; the images are delicate and beautiful, and are deeply loved by collectors. These Western famous paintings are not only a feast for the visual arts but also the crystallization of artists’ understanding of the world and expression of emotions, occupying a pivotal position in the collection circle.

Vintage classic cars are like mobile works of art, carrying the glorious history of the development of the automobile industry. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, produced in 1907, is known as the “Ghost Car” due to its unique design, silver-plated aluminum accessories, and excellent quietness. It is the 12th vehicle in the 40/50HP series at that time. A Silver Ghost that was about to participate in the 15,000-mile reliability test in Scotland once became the focus with an estimated value of 876 million RMB. It not only represents the top automobile manufacturing technology of that era but also is a symbol of luxury and quality.

The Ferrari 250 GTO is also a legend. As an important model in Ferrari’s history, only 36 units were produced. Among them, the 1962 model was sold at a price of 334 million RMB, becoming the most expensive car in auction history. Its brilliant achievements in the field of racing have made it a dream car in the hearts of countless car fans and collectors. There is also the 1936 Bugatti TYPE 57SC Atlantic. Due to its extremely high rarity and aesthetic value, only three units were produced, and it is now worth 207 million RMB, which can be called a priceless treasure in the vintage car industry. Each of these vintage classic cars has a unique story and exquisite craftsmanship; they are legends of the mechanical age and also bright pearls in the collection circle.