Stamp collecting has become a lucrative investment since people began appreciating philately. The Inverted Jenny (Courtesy of Siegel Auction Gallery) Debatably the rarest. A bullseye or Socked on the Nose (SON) is a circular cancellation mark applied in the stamps center. The problem with buying stamps at an auction is that the price may be significantly high due to competition. You may auction or purchase exceptionally valuable US platforms at auction houses or platforms. This 1904 British stamp is extremely rare because nearly all of the 19 sheets printed were immediately destroyed and the stamps were recalled the same day they were issued. The prominent philatelist and auctioneer David Feldman first sold the Blue Boy to a German collector for $1 million in 1981. By 2019, it was worth $1.18 million. Based on my research, here are 20 of the most Valuable South African Stamps. The newest stamp on this list, an eBay seller recently made $115 by selling one of these 104-year-old Franklin stamps. You can also trade or acquire rare US stamps through direct means. Sometimes, a stamps worth depends on its face value. A pair of these stamps, the One Penny red and the Two Penny blue, on an envelope known as the Bordeaux Cover, sold for $3.83 million in 1993. Original Price 45.32 US stamps in the same condition as when issued by the United States Postal Service, for instance, with the full original gum, are typically worth more than those previously hinged or damaged. This recreational activity prevails primarily due to several US stamps beauty and historical significance. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Named after its city of production and unusual blue color, the Alexandria Blue Boy is a rare stamp and the only Postmasters Provisionals postage printed on blue paper. 10. Since the US began producing stamps in 1847, the Postal Service has used more than 4,000 designs featuring over 800 people. Only one specimen has ever been discovered, hence the word "lost" in its nickname. Similarly, philatelists are particularly interested in stamps with a tidy and well-imprinted cancellation mark, such as a bullseye. It was the first tricolor stamp in the world and had a face value of 2.5 rappen. Most Valuable Stamps - Etsy Find something memorable, join a community doing good. 27. The stamp was supposed to be colored green, but a printer error caused the stamp to be produced in a yellow color, which was the color designated for the eight-skilling stamp. The United States has issued over 5000 stamps since 1847. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. In 1941, on a single sheet of $2 Hong Kong stamps, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's head was printed upside down. As of 2008, three of them were sold in 1993, 1998, and 2008, respectively. Sellers looking to grow their business and reach more interested buyers can use Etsys advertising platform to promote their items. The Kingdom of Hawaii produced the Hawaiian Missionary stamps in 1851 as they established a post office and specified postal rates. The "Error of Color" is a misprinted Sicilian printed blue instead of orange that sold for 1.8 million($2 million) in 2011. Folks in Canada, you might want to check those boxes in the attic extra carefully, before donating your grandpa's old junk. The world first few stamps printed in 1864 from UK are still in abound. The red penny in good centering and lite cancel can be acquired for a couple dollars. After the read, youll appreciate the most sought-after US stamps, why people are interested in them, and where you may find or exhibit them. Regularly check sites like Craigslist and various newspaper advertisements to learn about eager stamp buyers and sellers. Look for 1c, 2c, 3c, and 4c stamps from the 1800s. 10 - no watermark #462-480, 1917-19 Flat Plate Printing - no watermark #498-518, link to USA 1920-1929 #547-681 category, 1929 Commemoratives #651, 654-57, 680-81, 1929 Kansas-Nebraska Overprints #658-679, link to USA 1930-1939 #682-858 category, 1930-1931 Commemoratives #682-83, 688-90, 702-3, 1932 Washington & Garfield - Rotary Press #720-723, 1933-1934 Commems #726-29, 732-34, 736-39, 1933-1934 Imperforate Sheets #730-31, 735, 750-51, 1935 Farley Special Printings #752-55, 766a-771, 1935 Imperforate National Parks #756-765, link to USA 1940-1949 #859-986 category, link to USA 1940 Famous Americans #859-893 category, link to USA 1940 Commemoratives #894-902 category, link to USA 1941-1943 Commems #903-08 category, link to USA 1943-44 Overrun Nations #909-21 category, link to USA 1944 Commemoratives #922-26 category, link to USA 1945 Commemoratives #927-38 category, link to USA 1946-1947 Commems #939-47, 949-52 category, link to USA 1947 CIPEX Sheet (#948) category, link to USA 1948 Commemoratives #953-80 category, link to USA 1949 Commemoratives #981-86 category, link to USA 1950-1959 #987-1138 category, link to USA 1950 Commemoratives #987-97 category, link to USA 1951-1952 Commems #998-1016 category, link to USA 1953-1954 Commems #1017-29, 1060-63 category, link to USA 1954-1961 Liberty Set #1030-1053 category, link to USA 1954-1965 Liberty Coils #1054-59A category, link to USA 1956 FIPEX Sheet #1075 category, link to USA 1955-1956 Commems #1064-74, 1076-85 category, link to USA 1957 Commemoratives #1086-99 category, link to USA 1958 Commemoratives #1100-23 category, link to USA 1959 Commemoratives #1124-38 category, link to USA 1960-1969 #1139-1386 category, 1966-81 Prominent American Coils #1297-1305E, link to USA 1970-1979 #1387-1802 category, 1976 Commemoratives #1629-32, 1683-85, 1690-1703, 1978 Commemoratives #1731-33, 1744-56, 1758-69, link to USA 1980-1989 #1795-2437 category, 1981-1984 Transportation Coils #1897-1908, 1986 Commems #2167, 2198-211, 2220-4, 2235-45, 1987 Commems #2246-51, 2267-75, 2336-8, 2349-68, 1988 Commems #2339-46, 2369-93, 2395-2400, 1989 Commems #2347, 2401-14, 2416-18, 2420-29, 2434-37, link to USA 1990-1999 #2415-3369 category, 1990-1995 Transportation Coils #2451/2468, 1995-97 Flag Over Porch #2897, 2913-21, 3133, 1995-1997 Special Class Rates #2902-2912B, 1998 Special Class Rates #3207-3208A, 3228-3229, link to USA 2000-2009 #3370-4396 category, link to USA 2010-2022 #4303-5698 category, 1927 Lindbergh's Trans-Atlantic Flight #C10, 1930-1934 Winged Globes #C12, C16-17, C19, link to USA Affordable U.S. 400.00. 05.TRANSVAAL WOLMARAN 1900 SG5 Mint 3d purple and green type L3 handstamp . Issued in 1847, only 27 are known to still exist, and they are one of the most famous and sought-after stamps in the world of philately. The early 1900s ushered in an attractive bicolor set of commemoratives showing the latest developments in transportation, a new highly-elaborate definitive series which was replaced by the Washington-Franklin series only 6 years later, and continued experiments in stamp production. Its vital to properly scrutinize a stamp before acquiring or listing it for sale to stave off losses and fraud. This 1968 Chinese stamp from the Cultural Revolution is one of only nine known to exist. (4,734) $4.50. Nothing stood out as special. Du Pont had purchased it for a then-record-setting $935,000 in 1980. It was designed to forestall the fraudulent reuse of stamps, hence its peculiarity. The 1851 stamp was auctioned for $619,500 at Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries to Arthur Przybyl, a pharmaceuticals executive. The worlds first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was sold in Britain in May 1840. Reports claim it was used as a postal stamp for a love letter between two family members. You can join several philatelic organizations to appreciate the windfalls of stamp collecting. Auctioned at about $3 million; most precious grill stamp; unusual 1868 Z-grill stamp; possesses tiny dents; incredibly rare with only 2 existing as of 2022; vital to American history. The unprecedented cost of the Inverted Jenny sold in 2018 was due to its pristine condition, as it had previously been secured in a safe deposit box for 100 years, shielding it from extreme sunlight. The numbers that follow SG mean nothing, however, you can learn something from the letters that follow SG. This red stamp was produced in 1916, and given the catalog number J59. Then, well study six precious US stamps wanted by collectors and offer several useful tips to stamp collectors, buyers, and sellers. Factors likely to make a US stamp stand out in the philatelic market and outlook include the following: As expressed in the 2018 Inverted Jenny auction, stamps appearing unchanged and relatively similar to their original conditions tend to be more valuable. Stamp dealers are a great way to trade valuable US stamps and build a decent collection. There are at least 86 known in existence (only 100 were ever printed), but the one sold in 2018 is the most expensive because it was locked away in a safe deposit box for 100 years, meaning it had little exposure to light and remained in pristine condition. What could be a more befitting pastime for an ace stamp collector like Warren Buffett? Here are the top 3 most prized US stamps by collectors in recent times: Valued at $1.593 million; most expensive philatelic item in modern history; one of the most valuable US stamps of the 1900s (probably the most valuable); most well-known US stamp; with unusual printing error; over 100 years old; historically significant; over 50 but less than 100 left in the world. The Tyrian Plum is one of the most interesting British stamps. 5% late 19c. But then in 2005, the man who purchased the Z Grill traded the stamp for a block of four Inverted Jenny stamps, which were valued at $3 million. The price of this stamp is a bit difficult to pin down. The Inverted Jenny and Inverted Declaration of Independence stamps are significantly worth more than their flawless equivalents. After a long day at work, he returns home and cant help but stare proudly at the impressive stamp collection hes amassed over the years. A stamp with missing parts will be less valuable despite its availability status, i.e., even though its quite rare. Learn more. In the first edition, there were twenty-one stamps with values up to 50 pounds. 12 #319 category, link to USA 1904 Louisiana Purchase Expo #323-327 category, link to USA 1907 Jamestown Exposition #328-330 category, link to USA 1908-1909 Perf & Imperf #331-347 category, link to USA 1908-10 Coils #348-356 category, link to USA 1909 Commemoratives #367-373 category, link to USA 1910-1919 #374-546 category, 1914-1915 Single Line Watermarks #424-440, 1915 Perf. Now, that's a serious collectible. Seven (7) years later, the United States joined the postage stamps bandwagon, with the first US general issue postage stamps going up for sale on July 1, 1847, in New York. People decorate walls with penny stamps because of its abundence. This is the only stamp known to exist. These stamps are over one hundred years old. Depending on the condition and features, some of these 1868 stamps can sell for up to $2,300. The cancellation mark is important because its rather difficult to achieve and bears significant details like the date, time, and cancellation area. In 1856, The British Guiana (now the independent nation of Guyana) post office issued the initial run of 1c magenta stamps for use in newspaper circulation. Classics category, link to USA Commemorative Sheets category, link to USA 1991-1995 World War II Sheets category, link to USA 1997-2001 Looney Tunes category, link to USA 1998-2000 Celebrate the Century category, link to USA Legends of Hollywood (1995-2016) category, link to USA 1938 Prexie Series #803-834 category, link to USA 1939 Prexie Coils #839-851 category, link to USA 1954-1961 Liberty Series #1030-1053 category, link to USA 1954-1965 Liberty Coils category, link to USA 1965-1981 Prominent Americans category, link to USA 1966-1981 Prominent American Coils #1297-1305E category, 1966-1981 Prominent American Coils #1297-1305E, link to USA 1975-1981 Americana Series #1581-1612 category, link to USA 1975-1981 Americana Coils #1613-19, 1811-16 category, 1975-1981 Americana Coils #1613-19, 1811-16, link to USA 1980-1999 Great Americans category, link to USA 1981-1995 Transportation Coils category, link to USA 1934-1949 Ducks #RW1-RW16 category, link to USA 1950-1969 Ducks #RW17-RW36 category, link to USA 1970-1989 Ducks #RW37-RW56 category, link to USA 1990-2013 Ducks #RW57-RW80 category, link to USA Mis-Perforated U.S. Its true value is unknown, as it sold in 2010 for an undisclosed amount. (15% off), Sale Price 6.80 One hundred forty years later, the British Guiana 1 Cent Magenta sold for over 6.4 million times that amount and reached $9.48 million at a Sothebys auction in June 2014. These are the most valuable stamps from around the world. Oklahoma became the 46th state in 1907, and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition stamps also came out in the early 1900s, both being important events in American history. Lot of 1 Cent Postcards Early 1900s Postmarked, Postage Stamped 1908-1927 (most 1909-1910) Some Franklin 1 c Stamps - 13 Star Flag Postmark The first stamp was created in Great Britain on May 1, 1840. Cookies and similar technologies are used to improve your experience, to do things like: Without these technologies, things like personalized recommendations, your account preferences, or localisation may not work correctly. 2023 VIP Art Fair Collectibles - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, The 13 Most Valuable Disney Pins (Rarest Sold For $10,000), Modern War History: The Most Valuable Occupied Japan Figurines, 12 Most Valuable LeBron James Rookie Cards (2003-04 Exquisite Collection Rookie Parallel #78 Sold for $5,200,000), 1944 Half Dollar Value Chart (Ms 68 Is Estimated To Cost Up To $42,000), A Comprehensive Survey of the 1979 Quarter Dollar Value Chart (Auction Record Stands at $1,000+), 10 Most Valuable Rare Royal Doulton Figurines (Most Expensive Royal Doulton Item At $42000 Usd). For over 180 years, weve been collecting stamps, and philatelists have put a high price on the rarest of the rare stamps, from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Considered as one of the most notable stamps of China's Empress Dowager issue, the item is worth much money fetching great prices, every time it appears at the auction. It was known as the most expensive stamp from the British Commonwealth for over 20 years until 2014. Zachary Sundman, the son of the companys president, Donald Sundman, bartered the Z-Grill to stamp investor Bill Gross for a block of four Inverted Jennys worth about $3 million in October 2005. This brilliant item features an etching of the king in his naval uniform. Philatelists claim that only three samples survived with only one unused specimen, which was offered by Spink in January 2019. The early 1900s ushered in an attractive bicolor set of commemoratives showing the latest developments in transportation, a new highly-elaborate definitive series which was replaced by the Washington-Franklin series only 6 years later, and continued experiments in stamp production. Valued at over 100,000, this remarkable philatelic item was released during the reign of Edward VII. The Mauritius Post Office stamps were the first British Empire stamps produced outside of Great Britain. Only five are known to exist today, and they're considered a priceless find among stamp collecting experts. ), The 1982 Penny Value Chart (Most Valuable Penny Sold for $18,800), Most Valuable Antique and Vintage Vases: Identifying, Valuing and Buying (2023 Updated), A Detailed Outlook on the 2000 Sacagawea Dollar Value, Antique Floor Lamp: Identification, Valuation, And Buying Guide (2023 Updated), The stamps highest recorded auction price so far, The reasons and features behind the stamps value, History of past sales, acquisitions, and ownership. The one-cent Benjamin Franklin stamp features a unique variety of grills, the Z-grill, possessing horizontal ridges rather than the usual vertical pattern. Some stamps drive him through the memory lane as he reminisces about several significant moments in American history. The two surviving Z-Grills were exhibited at the National Postal Museum from May 27, 2006, until October 1, 2007. Required fields are marked *. 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Philately has created a special hobby, course, and source of income for a considerable number of individuals. When an expected shipment of the stamps went missing, an emergency run was produced as a stop-gap measure. And didn't have to wait long to find out just how much it's worth now. Early variations of the 1918 stamp had an orange frame, but the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing corrected most versions with a red outline, as seen above. The inverted flags version's rarity elevated its value dramatically, and one specimen sold for over $300,000 at a Robert A. Siegel auction in 2016. #548-550 category, link to USA 1922-1925 Definitives #551-573 category, link to USA 1923-1925 Imperforates #575-577 category, link to USA 1923-1926 Rotary Press #578-595 category, link to USA 1923-1929 Rotary Coils #597-606 category, link to USA 1923 Harding Memorial #610-612 category, link to USA 1924 Huguenot-Walloon #614-616 category, link to USA 1925 Lexington-Concord #617-619 category, link to USA 1925 Norse-American #620-621 category, link to USA 1925-1926 Flat Plate #622-623 category, link to USA 1926 Commemoratives #627-629 category, link to USA 1926 First Commemorative Sheet #630 category, link to USA 1926 Rotary Imperforate #631 category, link to USA 1926-1931 Rotary Press #632-642 category, link to USA 1927 Commemoratives #643-644 category, link to USA 1928 Commemoratives #645-650 category, link to USA 1929 Commemoratives #651, 654-57, 680-81 category, link to USA 1929 Rotary Press Issue #653 category, link to USA 1929 Kansas-Nebraska Overprints #658-679 category, link to USA 1930-1931 Commemoratives #682-83, 688-90, 702-3 category, link to USA 1931 Harding & Taft #684-687 category, link to USA 1931 Rotary Definitives #692-701 category, link to USA 1932 Washington Bicentennial #704-715 category, link to USA 1932 Commems #716-19, 724-25 category, link to USA 1932 Washington & Garfield - Rotary Press #720-723 category, link to USA 1933-1934 Commems #726-29, 732-34, 736-39 category, link to USA 1933-1934 Imperforate Sheets #730-31, 735, 750-51 category, link to USA 1934 National Parks #740-749 category, link to USA 1935 Farley Special Printings #752-55, 766a-771 category, link to USA 1935 Imperforate National Parks #756-765 category, link to USA 1935-1936 Commems #772-784 category, link to USA 1936 TIPEX Sheet #778 category, link to USA 1936-1937 Army Navy #785-94 category, link to USA 1937 Commemoratives #795-802 category, link to USA 1937 Smoky Mountains Sheet #797 category, link to USA 1938 Presidential Series #803-834 category, link to USA 1938-1939 Commems #835/858 category, link to USA 1939 Presidential Coils #839-851 category, link to USA 1960 Commemoratives #1139-73 category, link to USA 1961 Commemoratives #1174-90 category, link to USA 1962 Commems #1191-1207 category, link to USA 1962-1963 Definitives #1208-1229 category, link to USA 1963 Commemoratives #1230-41 category, link to USA 1964 Commemoratives #1242-60 category, link to USA 1965 Commemoratives #1261-76 category, link to USA 1965-1979 Prominent Americans #1278-1295 category, link to USA 1966-81 Prominent American Coils #1297-1305E category, link to USA 1966 Commems #1306-10, 1312-22 category, link to USA 1966 SIPEX Sheet #1311 category, link to USA 1967 Commemoratives #1323-37 category, link to USA 1968-71 Definitives #1338-38G, 1341 category, link to USA 1968 Commems #1339-40, 1342-64 category, link to USA 1969 Commemoratives #1365-86 category, link to USA 1970 Commems #1387-92, 1405-22 category, link to USA 1970-1974 Definitives #1393-1402 category, link to USA 1971 Commemoratives #1423-45 category, link to USA 1972 Commemoratives #1446-74 category, link to USA 1973 Commemoratives #1475-1504, 1507-8 category, link to USA 1973-1974 Definitives #1509-20 category, link to USA 1974 Commemoratives #1505-6, 1525-52 category, link to USA 1975 Commemoratives #1553-80 category, link to USA 1975-1981 Americana #1581-1612 category, link to USA 1975-79 Americana Coils #1613-19 category, link to USA 1975-1981 Definitives #1622-1625 category, link to USA 1976 Commemoratives #1629-32, 1683-85, 1690-1703 category, link to USA 1977 Commemoratives #1704-30 category, link to USA 1978 Commemoratives #1731-33, 1744-56, 1758-69 category, link to USA 1978-1980 Definitives #1734-43 category, link to USA 1979 Commemoratives #1770-94, 1799-1802 category, link to USA 1980 Commems #1795-98, 1803-10, 1821-43 category, link to USA 1980-1981 Definitives #1811-1820 category, link to USA 1980-1985 Great Americans #1844-1869 category, link to USA 1981 Commems #1874-79, 1910-45 category, link to USA 1981 Definitives #1880-1896 category, link to USA 1981-1982 Definitives #1946-1949, 2005 category, link to USA 1981-1984 Transportation Coils #1897-1908 category, link to USA 1983 First Express Mail #1909 category, link to USA 1982 Commems #1950-52, 2003-4, 2006-30 category, link to USA 1983 Commems #2031-65 category, link to USA 1984 Commems #2066-2109 category, link to USA 1985 Commems #2110, 2137-47, 2152-66 category, link to USA 1985 Definitives #2111-21 category, link to USA 1985 Express Mail #2122 category, link to USA 1985-1987 Transportation Coils #2123-36 category, link to USA 1985 Definitives #2149-50 category, link to USA 1986 Commems #2167, 2198-211, 2220-4, 2235-45 category, link to USA 1986-93 Great Americans #2168-97 category, link to USA 1986-1987 Transportation Coils #2225-31 category, link to USA 1987 Commems #2246-51, 2267-75, 2336-8, 2349-68 category, link to USA 1987-1988 Transportation Coils #2252-66 category, link to USA 1987-1988 Definitives #2276-85A category, link to USA 1988 Commems #2339-46, 2369-93, 2395-2400 category, link to USA 1988 Express Mail #2394 category, link to USA 1989 Commems #2347, 2401-14, 2416-18, 2420-29, 2434-37 category, link to USA 1989 Priority Mail #2419 category, link to USA 1989 Definitive #2431 category, link to USA 1990 Commems #2348/2449 category, link to USA 1990 Definitives #2443, 2475 category, link to USA 1990-1995 Transportation Coils #2451/2468 category, link to USA 1990-95 Flora & Fauna #2476-95A category, link to USA 1991 Commems #2532/2585 category, link to USA 1991 Definitives #2517-2531A category, link to USA 1991-95 Definitives #2539-44A category, link to USA 1992-1994 Definitives #2590-2609 category, link to USA 1992 Commems #2611/2720 category, link to USA 1993 Commems #2721/2806a category, link to USA 1994 Commems #2807/2874 category, link to USA 1994 Moon Landing #2841-2842 category, link to USA 1994 Legends of the West #2869 category, link to USA 1994 Recalled Legends Error #2870 category, link to USA 1994-1995 Rate Change #2877-2893 category, link to USA 1995 Commems #2587/3023 category, link to USA 1995-97 Flag Over Porch #2897, 2913-21, 3133 category, link to USA 1995-1997 Special Class Rates #2902-2912B category, link to USA 1995-99 Great Americans #2933-43 category, link to USA 1996 Commems #3024/3118 category, link to USA 1996-2000 Flora & Fauna #3031-55 category, link to USA 1997 Commems #3120/3177 category, link to USA 1997 Definitives #3122/3133 category, link to USA 1998 Commems #3179/3252 category, link to USA 1998 Rate Change Defin #3257-71 category, link to USA 1998 Special Class Rates #3207-3208A, 3228-3229 category, link to USA 1999 Commems #3272/3369 category, link to USA 1999 Flag Issues #3277-3283 category, link to USA 1999-2000 Flora & Fauna #3294/3494 category, link to USA 1999 Uncle Sam #3353 category, link to USA 2000 Commems #3370/3446 category, link to USA 2000-2001 Definitives #3447/3618 category, link to USA 2000-09 Distinguished Americans #3420-36 category, link to USA 2001 Commems #3496/3551 category, link to USA 2001-03 Washington Views #3472/3648 category, link to USA 2001 United We Stand #3549-50A category, link to USA 2002 Commems #3552/3695, B2 category, link to USA 2002 Definitives #3612/3646 category, link to USA 2002-04 American Scenes #3693/3875 category, link to USA 2003 Commems #3746/3824, B3 category, link to USA 2003-08 Design & Culture #3749-70 category, link to USA 2003-04 Eagle Coils #3792/3853 category, link to USA 2003 Definitives #3819/3830 category, link to USA 2004 Commems #3832/3886 category, link to USA 2005 Commems #3896/3964 category, link to USA 2005 Rate Change Defin.