David Feldman (philatelist)
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David Feldman (b. Dublin, 1947) BA, BBS, RDP(I) is a professional philatelist, auctioneer, author, and promoter of valuable art objects. His career began with his first stamp auction in 1967.
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Philately [edit]
He is Honorary Chairman of David Feldman SA, a Geneva based auction company, through which he attained record prices for some of the world's most famous postage stamps. In 1993, Feldman auctioned the "Bordeaux Cover", which comprised the 1847 1d Orange-red and the 2d Deep Blue "Post Office" Mauritius stamps, which brought 6'175'000 Swiss francs [1] including all commissions; the highest price ever paid for any philatelic item. He also sold the 1855 Sweden Treskilling Yellow [2] yellow unique stamp at auction in 1996, which was entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest price ever paid for a single stamp.
Art [edit]
In 1987 Feldman joined together with ex-Christies President, Geza Von Habsburg and others to form Habsburg Feldman SA. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it held major auctions in paintings, watches, jewellery, art-deco, art nouveau and objets d'arts in centers all over the world. Ranked as the world's third biggest auctioneer [by volume of sales],[3] the company established world records selling a Patek Phillippe watch "Le Calibre" at 5 million Swiss francs[4] and "La Rhubarbe",[5] a piece of Galle glass at 1.5 million Swiss francs in 1988. Feldman also established a new record for a painting by Marc Chagall at US$4.62 millions[6] in the same year. In 1990 Feldman left the company over differing views with his associates regarding business strategies.
Ireland [edit]
His early life was in Dublin, Ireland, where he started a stamp exchange scheme with school classmates at eight years of age. By 1958 this had become The Shamrock Stamp Club, a mail order sales business promoted by advertising in Mickey Mouse comics. Irish philately was his speciality; the first specialised stamp catalogue, Stamps of Ireland debuted in 1964 and in 1967 he held his first specialised Irish stamp auction took place on February 10 in Dublin.[7] When the Handbook of Irish Philately was published in 1968, Feldman presented a copy to the President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera.
By the 1970s, a bullish stamp market led to a great increase in stamp prices; so much so, that Feldman states: "You just could not get enough stamps to sell." During this period he started David Feldman Ltd., became an auctioneer and philatelic author, and published the DF Newsletter, an Irish philatelic publication along with other specialised books. He also promoted three public stamp exhibitions in Dublin before becoming chairman of Stampa 1972, the first Irish National Stamp Exhibition.[8] David Feldman was a member of the Irish Minister for Posts and Telegraphs' Philatelic Advisory Committee from 1975–1981 with Robson Lowe and other distinguished philatelists.[8]
Switzerland [edit]
Later, having met a Swiss girl who was on a cycling holiday to Ireland, he moved to Switzerland in 1973 and they were married a year later. He has continued to operate as a stamp auctioneer and publisher since then, starting a new auction business and running his first auction there in 1976.[8] Some of the record prices achieved by David Feldman have been for the Swedish Treskilling Yellow ($2.2 million in 1996), for which his photo appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records, and the Mauritius Two Pence Blue ($1.4 million in 1993) stamps.
From 1987 to 1990 Feldman was CEO of the Habsburg Feldman Group (as referred above).
In 1997, David Feldman was invited to sign the Irish Roll of Distinguished Philatelists for his support and contributions to Irish philately. Feldman auctioned off one of his personal collections in May 2003: The 'Emerald' Collection of Destination Mail of the World contained mail to and from Ireland dating from 1714–1913 accumulated over about forty years.
In 2000, David Feldman S.A. became the first auction company to provide a fast and reliable means for bidders to connect and bid in real time during the auction sessions, from their homes or offices. Today, the software includes the ability to hear live audio from the auction room, to keep a running tally of purchased lots, and many other features. It has been used by hundreds of satisfied bidders and buyers from over 50 countries, and has added a new, transparent dimension to the auction process.
In 2004 Feldman was mandated by Elizabeth Meyer to make research, scientific and physical examinations of her painting which had been known as the Isleworth Mona Lisa.
In 2008 Feldman merged his company with Feldman Frey Philatelic Group, led by Dr. Markus Frey, a Zurich lawyer and banker. By 2012 Feldman had given up relinquished all his financial interest in the company to the Frey Group and to current management, and became Honorary Chairman.
In 2010, he formed, together with Dr. Markus Frey and Dr. Daniel Kohler, The Mona Lisa Foundation, a non-profit organization, which absorbed decades of previous research concerning that painting, and initiated new expertises, scientific tests and physical examinations. The work culminated in the publication of 'Mona Lisa - Leonardo's Earlier Version', a 320-page volume published in 2012.
Family [edit]
David Feldman married Fabienne Marquart of Switzerland in 1974, now separated. They have 6 children, four boys followed by two girls (adopted Thai sisters) Amiel David (b. 1979), Joel (b. 1981), Benjamin Boaz (b. 1984), Ruben Gabriel (b. 1986), Nalis (b. 1987), and Kritiya (b. 1989)
Public Service [edit]
1989 Co-founder World Arts Forum, a sister organization for the arts to The World Economic Forum. In 2004 its statutes were altered and it was integrated into the WEF.
1991 Founder Alpine Chapter: Young President's Organisation
1997 onwards Member Chief Executives Organisation, USA
Member of many international trade organizations related to the arts and collectibles.
Selected publications [edit]
- Feldman, David (1968). Handbook of Irish Philately. Dublin, Ireland: David Feldman Ltd & the Dolman Press Ltd.
- Feldman, David (1970). Stamps of Ireland, Price List. Dublin, Ireland: David Feldman Ltd.
- Feldman, David (1973). Ireland - Railway Letter Stamps - Price List. Dublin, Ireland: David Feldman Ltd.
- Feldman, David (c 1975). The Revenue Stamps of Ireland. Dublin, Ireland: David Feldman Ltd.
- Feldman, David (1974). Stamps of Ireland, Illustrated Catalogue. Dublin, Ireland: David Feldman Ltd.
- Feldman, David; Kane, William (1975). Handbook of Irish Postal History to 1840. David Feldman Ltd, Dublin, Ireland. ISBN 0-9502619-1-2.
- Feldman, David (1976). Stamps of Ireland, Illustrated Catalogue. Dublin, Ireland: David Feldman Ltd.
References [edit]
- ^ Prices Realised: Public Auction November 1–6, November 1993. David Feldman SA
- ^ Sold for $2.3 million in Geneva "Rare stamp sells for record price in Geneva auction". BBC News. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ Annual Report 1988/89 - Habsburg, Feldman Holdings Ltd
- ^ HF Geneva, April 9, 1989 - Lot 301
- ^ HF Geneva, June 27, 1988 - Lot 21
- ^ HF New York, May 8, 1989 - Lot 41
- ^ The Garratt-Adams Philatelic Library Auction: October 23–24, 1994. Liechtenstein: Huys-Berlingin AG. 1994. p. 42. "Lot 7667: Feldman, D. Ltd., Postal Auction No. Dublin 10.2.1967"
- ^ a b c Feldman, David (February 2003). The "Emerald" Collection of Destination Mail of the World. Geneva, Switzerland: David Feldman SA. pp. 10–11.
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