Anatoly Karpov: The Owner of the Unique Stamp Collection
Anatoly Karpov does not need any introduction as he has gained a world-wide reputation as the former world champion in chess history. During his unequalled career, Karpov got as many as 149 match and tournament victories. The FIDE world champion managed almost to double the record of his compatriot Alexander Alekhine, who reached a total of 78 wins. Collecting stamps as well as taking part in charity activities is two of the hobbies he is equally passionate about. Karpov's stamp collection is considered to be one of the worlds most precious.
The Beginning of the Collection
The future champion was born in Zlataoust in South Ural on May 23, 1951.
He spent there the first 14 years of his life. The majority of his classmates and other schoolboys enjoyed collecting pins. Anatoly also engaged himself into the same hobby of collecting pins and his huge collection featuring about 30,000 sport, Olympic and chess pins has existed up to now. The boys at that time were dreaming of pilots or officers careers, so the first stamp in Anatoly's collection happened to be the U.S.S.R. stamp which celebrated 40 years of the Red Army in 1958 with a pilot, a tank commander, and an officer of the foot depicted together.
At first, Anatoly Karpov was not really interested in collecting stamps of the U.S.S.R., old Russia or European countries. His attention was drawn by colonies of the British Empire. Anatoly is still fond of nicely executed, good designed stamps of these countries issued until 1955-56. Stamps of fauna that presented such unusual for Russia animals as crocodiles, monkeys, snakes, kangaroos or zebras were also appreciated by the young philatelist. He was excited by the geographical adventures of small pieces of paper that traveled from America or Africa all the way to Russia. Stamps with strange-sounding names such as Rio Muni or Fernando Po coming from Spanish colonies were considered to be the most rare and interesting.
Nowadays, the world-champion prefers chess and Olympic Games stamps from the first Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896 to the Amsterdam games of 1928. He is also interested in the wide range of countries: Russian Empire, the U.S.S.R., France, Monaco, and the Netherlands.
Collections of Belgium, Belgian Congo and the Olympic Games
Anatoly Karpov is proud of the largest existing collections of Belgium and Belgian Congo. The first Belgian stamps released from 1840 to 1869 are special for their nice designs and printing. Even a small number of stamps became charming for Mr. Karpov, so he has been eager to collect material from Russia, the U.S.S.R., Belgium and for Belgian Congo to gather the entire period before 1937. An unmatched stamp in his collection, featuring Termonde, Belgium, demonstrates one of the buildings upside down. There are only 14 such stamps in the world, and this one is worth $100,000.
Proofs, later documents and letters are also very interesting. His collection is embellished by postal history of the Olympic Games and unusual stamps like the first Olympic issue of Greece 1896 mint in blocks of four, and some valuable proofs and covers of the same issue and followings.
The collector made his collection really unique and rare by comprising a nice color handmade drawing of 1906, and interesting Olympic collections of 1920 (Antwerpen), 1924 (Paris), 1928 (Amsterdam). Karpov's chess collection includes numerous varieties, proofs, high-quality covers and cancellations.
Creating a Book
Anatoly Karpov has currently worked on a book in an ambitious attempt to share all of the known information considering chess stamps, chess cancellations, first day covers, varieties, proofs, chess coins and the official gold medals of world champions.
Another book will be devoted to the Belgian collection presented in four volumes. In Anatoly Karpov's nice home in central Moscow there are 9,000 chess books.
The stamps have been given for storage in bank safes in different countries providing Karpov with the constant access to different parts of his collection while traveling around the world. He has been invited to take part in an exposition held in Monte Carlo exclusively for only 100 collectors in the world.
In respect to updating the collection, Karpov may rely on his knowledge, experience and the advice of international friends in different. The ability to understand several European languages and excellent English helps the collector to keep in contact with other collectors around the world. Corneille Soeteman in Brussels was of great assistance in composing and mounting the major part of his Belgian collection. Karpov has established solid relationship with many large auction houses in Europe and in the USA.
Anatoly Karpov regards the philately not as an individual hobby but as the chance to communicate with a lot of interesting people, representatives out of the chess world. This aspect adds a lot of pleasure and satisfaction to the champion's life.
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