Spink Investphila

In 1981, Guido Craveri founded Investphila SA, with a head office in Lugano. In 1987, in partnership with the Harmer family, he opened the Swiss branch of the prestigious English auction house with the name Harmers Auctions SA. In March 1991, the company achieved its first major international success when it sold the famous 2nd May Cover for the record sum of 3.4 million Swiss francs, which for many years was to remain the highest price ever paid at a public auction for a stamp or cover. In the same year, Craveri took over the shares of the English partner and changed the name to Guido Craveri Harmers Auctions SA. After four successful years and thirty auctions involving collections such as Levante, Romagne, Sardegna, Cresta, Liphschutz Russia and Shaida G.B., from 1995 onwards the company concentrated on sales by private treaty. In 1997, the Board of the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, which controls the main US museums, nominated Guido Craveri Chairman of the Council of Philatelists of the National Postal Museum (the largest and most visited postal museum in the world), and he remained in that office up to the expiry of his second and final mandate. By way of acknowledgement and thanks to the work carried out, he was nominated Emeritus Chairman in 2004. At the end of 2002, Guido Craveri Harmers Auctions SA returned to its original name of Investphila SA, and confirmed its place as leader in the international philatelic market. Starting in October 2005, Guido Craveri and his team at Investphila resumed holding public auctions with many notable successes and record prices, as testified by the prices realised published in the "Catalogue" section of this website. On the 27th of May 2006, Guido Craveri was honored with the Philatelic Achievement Award from the Philatelic Council of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. The Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award honors Americans and individuals from around the world for outstanding lifetime accomplishments in the field of philately.