In 1948, Matthew Bennett, the company founder and father of current President, Harvey Bennett, opened a retail mail order business and by 1952, began conducting philatelic auctions in the Midwest.

Harvey Bennett joined the firm in 1969, became full-time CEO in 1975, and took the helm as sole proprietor of the family operation in 1993. At that point, the timing seemed propitious to expand the firm into a national auction house of serious United States and worldwide philately. In 2003, looking to increase our international visibility, we welcomed the addition of HA Harmers SA of Switzerland and Zurich Asia of Hong Kong to the Matthew Bennett group. HA Harmers SA, a Swiss offshoot of the internationally-renowned philatelic house established by H.R. Harmer is best known for British and continental European stamps and postal history including recent auctions for the award winning collections of Alan Steinhart and Gavin Fryer. The Hong Kong-based Zurich Asia is a leading auction house of stamps and postal history of China, Hong Kong and Asian countries. Zurich Asia has auctioned notable collections from throughout that continent, including the M.F. Huang collection as well as the Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman collection. In this way, Matthew Bennett fulfills its philosophy, to provide consignors the most extensive audience to bid on their material, and to provide collectors with the widest range of stamps and postal history possible, “Three Continents, One Philosophy: To serve collectors and consignors worldwide.”

In the intervening decade and a half, Matthew Bennett International has experienced enormous growth. Sales increased in 1993 from just over $1,000,000, to sales of over $24 million in 2006-a factor of 2400%-from auction realizations in its three divisions in the United States, Switzerland and Hong Kong.

In response to the expanding philatelic market, Matthew Bennett International developed a unique multi-tiered system to ensure maximum auction realizations for every stamp or cover in the collection. Our Exhibition Collection Sale series of auctions showcases specialized collections of stamps, postal history and historical documents. In this series, extensive research and commentary serves to provide education to the collecting public, and also enhances the desirability factor of the many individual items. But the vision of Harvey Bennett for serving the philatelic community did not stop at the exclusive and rare. We know that every collector cherishes each and every item in his holding. Thus, in addition to the “Exhibition Collection” auctions, Matthew Bennett International became the only leading auction house to develop two additional venues for its consignors-the general Public Auction for each of its divisions, and in the United States, the Harbour Auction, a third level of auction that serves as its wholesale division for large and small dealers as well as collectors looking for hard to find, but less expensive individual stamps, coins, covers and autographs. No other auction house can offer such a customized approach for every item in a collection. And no other auction house offers such a wide array of items to the collecting public.

One area that receives major effort is our catalogues. We maintain one of the largest, most experienced full-time philatelic staffs in the auction industry, guaranteeing the consignor meticulous lotting and detailed, accurate and thoroughly researched lot descriptions. Our state-of-the art color photography is the most accurate in the industry. Matthew Bennett International also has been the recipient of numerous awards for philatelic literature for these exceptional catalogues, including the prestigious Diane D. Boehret Award for Excellence in Philatelic Literature. We are the only professional house to receive this award. Our full-color catalogues are then widely distributed to thousands of collectors throughout the world. Auctions are held in prestigious locations on three different continents-the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City, the Steigenberger Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland and the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. Recently, we have added the option of real-time bidding via the Internet where the entire live auction can be followed and heard from home.

15¢ 1869 inverted center The only original gum example recorded Realized $412,500	5¢ 1847 block of four on cover One of the greatest First Issue covers in all philately Realized $242,000	5¢ 1856 block of four The only recorded mint block Realized $467,500

Matthew Bennett Exhibition
Collections and Single Owner Sales
We have had the honor to bring to auction many important U.S. and worldwide collections including:

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