Our Auction History
since 1913

The Beginnings: Berlin

1913

1st Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

The first Heinrich Köhler auction takes place in Berlin on April 23.

1918

16th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

At the 16th auction on January 21, the fantastic “Reitmeister” Old German States collection is sold.

1923

30th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Brno

The difficult economic situation in Germany leads Heinrich Köhler to the decision to auction in Brno instead of Berlin – the 30th auction on August 7, 1923 is followed by four more auctions in Czechoslovakia until mid-1924.

1927

50th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

On November 21, 1927, the incredible “Heinola” Finland collection is auctioned – a well-deserved “title of nobility” for the Heinrich Köhler auction house at its jubilee auction.

1928

54th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

The philatelic event of the year: the unique “Reitmeister” Baden collection comes under the hammer at Heinrich Köhler on May 18, 1928.

1929

62nd Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

On October 7, the magnificent “Gaston-Nehrlich” Old German States collection is sold in Berlin.

1940

105th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

On March 27, 1940 – overshadowed by the Second World War – the Heinrich Köhler auction house offers the beautiful “Kanzleirat-Metzger” collection in Berlin, including a unique Baden section.

Relocation to Wiesbaden

1949

124th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

On May 19, 1949, the 124th Heinrich Köhler auction takes place at the new company headquarters in Wiesbaden.

1983

239th Heinrich Köhler Auction

The “Max-Schaller” (Berlin) collection of Prussia postal stationery is auctioned on June 8.

1984

243rd Heinrich Köhler Auction

On October 10, the “Herbert J. Bloch” (New York) collection of Prussia postal stationery is offered.

1985

245th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

The first of the legendary “Boker” auctions – the beginning of 18 further special auctions in the following years, devoted exclusively to the unique “Old German States” collection. Already the first part set an impressive benchmark on March 16: the cover bearing the legendary Baden error of colour “9 Kreuzer black on green” achieved a hammer price of 2.3 million DM (€1,176,000) – a world record.

2000

308th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

In January, the 18th and final auction of the “Boker” Old German States collection takes place.

310th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

On September 29, the remarkable “Patentanwalt Emil Hoffmann” Hanover collection is auctioned.

After 2000

2001

311th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

The “Kampen” collection of the North German Confederation and the “Zeppelin Mail” collection are offered on February 3.

2002

315th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

On May 25, Heinrich Köhler auctions the “Rapkin” collection (Breast Shield issues) as well as “Olympic Games 1936”.

2003

317th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

The magnificent “Rolf P. Salinger” Switzerland 1843–1852 collection comes under the hammer on February 1.

2004

322nd Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

On September 25, Heinrich Köhler offers the uniquely beautiful “Gabor Kekkö” collection “Across the Seas of the World”.

2005

324th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

On June 1, the “Oranien” collection “Germany from A to Z” is auctioned.

2006

328th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

On September 27, the remarkable “Simon Wiesenthal” collection is sold – an honor and distinction for the Heinrich Köhler auction house.

2007

330th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

Auction at Berlin’s luxury Hotel Adlon: Berlin postal history 1596–1945 and the special “GDR” collection.

2008

334th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

On September 27, the auction of the ALGOVIUS collection – Old German States and German Empire – begins, along with the ASTRUL collection – rarities of the Old German States.

2009

337th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

Offering of the postal history collections “The Post in Mainz” and “German Hyperinflation 1923”.

336th/338th/340th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

The magnificent Fritz Kirchner collection “Germany 1849–1980”, with major rarities of all German areas, is auctioned in three parts at the “Nassauer Hof” in Wiesbaden. Many items achieve new record prices. It is also the first consignment to be marketed jointly across countries with Corinphila Auctions in Zurich/Switzerland.

2010/11

341st/343rd Heinrich Köhler Auction / Berlin

The “Berlin Postal History” collection of Peter Koegel is sold in two auctions in Berlin. This brings one of the most important collections of German post-war philately under the hammer.

2010

343rd Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

With the collections “German Occupation of Estonia in WWII” (Dr. med. Eino Kooba) and the “Württenberger Find” – significant overseas parcel cards from the early German Empire from the Rolf Rohlfs collection – essential auction events are established for lovers of small collecting areas. Prices reach partly new record heights.

2010/11

342nd/344th/346th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

In three spectacular auctions, Heinrich Köhler disperses the multi-generational “Kingdom of Saxony” collection of Horst and Arnim Knapp – likely the largest collection of any Old German State ever formed.

2011

343rd Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

The internationally awarded collection “Foreign Mail of the South German States” by Dr. Karl Zangerle, also a highly respected author, is auctioned. Numerous covers unseen on the market for decades find new homes.

345th/346th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

Once again, first-class material is offered: the “Thurn & Taxis in Baden” collection of Han Vermeulen, and Part III of the Horst & Arnim Knapp collection “Kingdom of Saxony” (as the 346th auction).

2012

347th/348th/349th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

Various top collections are offered: the Friedrich Spalink collection “North German Confederation” | 348th auction: the ASTRUL collection “Duchy of Brunswick” (Part I) | 349th auction: the Rainer Bender collection “Occupation Issues 1939–1945”. These special collections are presented in dedicated special catalogues – a hallmark of top-level holdings at Heinrich Köhler auctions!

350th/351st Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

Outstanding material, accompanied by the special offering “Russian Heritage”, and as the 351st auction, Part II of the ASTRUL collection “Duchy of Brunswick”.

2012

352nd Heinrich Köhler Auction / IPHL@2012 Mainz

As the official IPHL@ auctioneer, Heinrich Köhler sells a very special literature offering: several libraries, most notably the library of Norbert Röhm, who developed a deep passion for early philatelic literature and assembled one of the largest privately held libraries during his lifetime.

2013

353rd/354th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

Once again an offering with several special catalogues: The drs. Avo Kaplanian Collection “Palestine Mandate 1917–1948” | The “Robert Schuman” collection “EUROPA CEPT” | The Dr. Heinz Jaeger collection “My Most Beautiful Dolls – Classic Stamps with Perfect Cancellations” | and as the 354th auction, Part I of the Silvain Wyler collection “German Stamped Letters Abroad until 1875”.

2013

355th/356th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

For this auction, Heinrich Köhler celebrates a very special anniversary – 100 years of world-class stamp auctions 1913–2013! The main catalogue alone is impressive, surpassed only by the outstanding top collections: The J.J. Hollenkamp Collection “International Airmail” | The “Niederrhein” Collection – “Prussia Numeral and Town Cancellations” | From the Dr. Heinz Jaeger Collection “Outsiders – Front-Runners” (Part I) | The Gerschau Collection “Bavaria – The Black One” | The Walter Hussnätter Collection “Bavaria – Square Issues in Postal Use” | and concluding in the 356th auction, Part II of the Silvain Wyler collection “German Stamped Letters Abroad until 1875”.

2014

357th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

Among the offerings are a special selection “The Mauritania UPU Specimen Archive”, the “Charles World Collection” with worldwide material, Part II of the “Niederrhein” collection – “Prussia Numeral and Town Cancellations”, and additionally the “Waldersee” collection – “German Post in China and Kiautschou”.

2014

358th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

Sadly, this year we had to bid farewell far too early to a treasured colleague, friend of the Köhler house, and outstanding professional philatelist. It was therefore a special honor to auction the Klaus-Peter Rühl collection “Germany – Proofs and Essays from 1755 onwards”. Also presented in a special catalogue was the John Simon collection “Old German States and German Empire 1849–1874”.

2015

359th Heinrich Köhler Auction / Wiesbaden

A truly exceptional auction! The offering of top collections—once again highlighted through luxurious special catalogues—reads almost like a “who’s who” of high-end philately: The Harry von Hofmann collections “Estonia and Latvia” | The Tony Zonneveld Collection “Persia (Iran)” | The “Hardtwald” Collection – “Zeppelin Issues Worldwide and Luxembourg Connecting Mail” | The Volker Adler Collection “Samoa from 1840 onwards” | The Dr. Hanns-Georg Friedrich Collection “Lübeck, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg and Prussia”. Rounding off this remarkable offering was the Dr. Leo Wojnke Collection “Thurn and Taxis Frankings Abroad”.