Sale of Rare Stamp Could Set New World Record

Sale of Rare Stamp Could Set New World Record

One of the world’s rarest stamps, a one-of-a-kind 1856 British Guiana one-cent Magenta, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in June. The stamp is expected to fetch more than $10 million which would set a new world record and make it the world’s most valuable stamp.

The current world record holder is the 1855 Swedish Treskilling Yellow which sold for $2.3 million in 1996. The only one of its type, the stamp was supposed to be green but a printing error rendered it yellow.

Printing or perforation errors account for most philatelic rarities, including the two most valuable U.S. stamps:

  • Perhaps the most famous American philatelic mistake occurred during the 1918 printing of a 24-cent stamp celebrating inauguration of U.S. airmail service. During the rush to produce the stamp, the biplane on the stamp’s face was printed upside down, creating the now famous Inverted Jenny. A set of four sold for $3 million in 2005.
  • The Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill, while not as coveted as the Inverted Jenny, is rarer. Only two copies of the 1866 one-cent stamp are known to exist. One of the two sold for nearly $1 million in 1998.
    • Just because a stamp is rare or has a printing or perforation error doesn’t necessarily mean it is valuable. Stamp values depend on numerous factors, including authentication, condition and market demand. For more information about rare and valuable stamps, read our FAQ section. County Stamp Center buys collections but does not evaluate or appraise individual stamps.
    Mar 14th 2014 Alex Birman

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