The Christoph Gärtner auction house offered a life's work and a true eye-catcher in many respects: a mint-condition special collection of the definitive stamp series "Views of the Saarland," also known as "SAAR V." Based on Günter Ricke's Saarland collection, it comprised all denominations from one franc to 500 francs from the years 1952 to 1955, with a focus on stamps with blank spaces, corner pieces with complete printing dates, and especially printing proofs, so-called 'Épreuves de couleur' (color proofs or sample blocks) and ministerial blocks ('Feuilles de luxe', ministerial or deluxe printings), each bearing the inscription 'Atelier de Fabrication des Timbres-Poste PARIS'.
This also included several 'Épreuves d'artiste' (artist's blocks), each signed by the respective engraver. In total, 41 different examples of these, by definition, very rare individual prints in block form were represented.
Particularly attractive was the comprehensive set of the highest value stamps, 500 francs, featuring the motif "Reconstruction of the Ludwigskirche Saarbrücken." This set included the 'Épreuve d'artiste' signed by Charles-Paul Dufresne (1885-1956), two 'Épreuves de couleur', and the 'Feuille de luxe'. Of particular note were two units with the previously uncatalogued printing date "11.5.53" (instead of the usual following day, "12.5.53"), consisting of a corner piece and a complete sheet of 5x5 stamps at 500 francs each.
It appears that the date of Monday, May 11, 1953, occurs significantly less frequently for the highest value stamp, MiNr. 337. On the same day, printing also began on the 6-franc stamp in a similar color scheme, MiNr. 324. Both varieties had their first day of issue on August 1, 1953.
Michael Burzan, AIJP
