REVIEW: THE IBRAHIM SALEM COLLECTION OF SYRIA AND LEBANON: 12 FEBRUARY

The Ibrahim Salem Collection more than rose to the occasion as highlights proved when they went as high as six times the estimate during this auction.

Leading the way was a Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban, Syria, 50 Livres. Dated 1 January 1939, and with the Berard and Laferriere signatures, the reverse depicted an image of the Al Baddawi Mosque in Tripoli and the surrounding gardens. A very fine, extremely rare and a wonderful example of a very rare overprinted type, it had been estimated at £4,000-5,000, but soared to £24,000.

A Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban, Syria, 5 Livres, dated 1 November 1930, and also with the Berard and Laferriere signatures, showed a view of the majestic Krak de Chevaliers on reverse. Repaired in a minor way, but with original paper, this is a note of the utmost rarity in any form, and one of only three examples graded by PMG. With no public sales of this note on record for several decades, interest was guaranteed, and it duly rose from its £5,000-7,000 guide to take £20,000.

Dating to 1947, a Banque de Syrie et du Liban, Syria, 25 Livres, with Bulsson and Souayal signatures, had an image of the entrance to the Citadel of Aleppo to the reverse. A very fine and an exceptionally rare note, especially since only the first two of 29 series were issued without the hand stamps, it left a £7,000-9,000 behind to sell at £17,000.

Bearing an image of the Baddawi Mosque and the surrounding gardens in northern Tripoli to its reverse, a Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban, Syria, 50 Livres, dated 15 April 1925, and with the Vernes and Laferriere signatures, was pitched at £1,500-2,000, but achieved a hammer price of £10,000.