Mowbray Collectables reports that the unique 4 d Lake Taupo stamp with inverted centre sold for NZ$263,250 at its 20 September 2025 public auction. The auction house describes the price as a record for a New Zealand stamp and says the successful bidder was in the United States.

Its historical account states that the stamp was used in 1904 on a letter sent from Picton, surfaced in London in 1930 and sold at auction the following year for£61. After decades in a French collection, it reappeared in New Zealand at Palmpex in 1982. John Mowbray acquired it for NZ$125,000 on behalf of NZ Post in 1998.

The report records its display in Te Papa’s 2005 Stamped exhibition and expert certificates from 1931,1980 and 1990. It also says the Ministry for Culture and Heritage agreed to its export. The reported buyer intended to exhibit it in courts of honour.