Connect with us

Business

What Are The World’s Most Valuable Stamps?

Collecting postage stamps is still a popular hobby (or passion) for many people around the world. Commemorative and special edition stamps are still created on regular occasions—a set was released to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics, while Doctor Who and other pop culture icons have recently been honoured with their own sets—and continue to be a huge draw for collectors. However, while some stamps may no longer attract the huge prices they may once have amongst philatelists, there are rare stamps which accrue greater and greater value as time goes on.

The world’s rarest and most valuable stamp is the Treskilling (or “three schilling”) Yellow from 1855 (printed in Sweden), which became famous for its printing error: originally, the set of 3-skilling stamps were printed in green, yet one was accidentally printed in yellow—the colour intended for the 8-skilling stamps. This is the only existing stamp of its kind today, and retains a high value despite reports that it has undergone repairs for slight tears. This was sold to an anonymous collector for $2.3m in 1996, but the 2013 Scott World Stamp catalogue has valued the used Treskilling Yellow at $3m.

What Are The World’s Most Valuable Stamps?

The Post Office Mauritius is another of the world’s most expensive antique stamps, dating back to 1847 when the Governor of Mauritius commissioned the colony’s first postal stamps. Two stamps were created by a local watchmaker from Port Louis: a one-penny stamp and a two-penny stamp. When preparing to print the stamps, the watchmaker engraved “Post Office” instead of “Post Paid”—an error which went undiscovered until more than 200 copies of the stamps had been sold. Experts believe fewer than 30 copies still exist, which are valued at $600,000 and above (depending on condition), yet a cover with two of these stamps fetched $3.8m in 1993.

The U.S. Franklin Z-Grill stamp is believed to be the rarest to originate in the States, with only two copies known to exist. Bearing a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, this also featured a Z-pattern of miniature squares embossed on the stamp, designed to aid absorption of the cancelling ink into the paper (this prevents the cancelling marks being washed out, stopping anyone from using the stamp again). As these Z-Grills were deemed impractical, they were never used again. As a result, these have become incredibly rare—one was sold for $930,000 in 1998.

Stamp auctions are commonplace amongst collectors, with sets and singles up for sale at all prices. A good action site will provide all the information both experienced and novice collectors need, with current guide prices, print-and-issue dates and the stamp’s condition. People collect stamps for various reasons: some prefer to own them for their historical and aesthetic value, whereas others are more interested in their monetary value. Whatever your motivations for collecting, the important thing is to keep them in the best condition you can—as the above illustrates, you never know how valuable they may one day become.

Author bio:

Amanda Evans is a keen hobbyist, collector and writer with a particular interest in stamp collecting. She frequently writes articles for websites specialising in rare stamps, including Sandafayre.

Continue Reading

Recent Posts

Home Improvement1 week ago

Mastering The Maintenance: Breaking Down The Basics Of Your Ducted Heating And Cooling System

Welcome, fellow home enthusiasts! Ever find yourself lost in the labyrinth of your ducted heating and cooling system? Have you...

Business3 weeks ago

The Invisible Hands: Unveiling How Food Distributors Influence the Quality of Our Foods

Ever found yourself wondering why the tomatoes in your salad taste particularly fresh or why your preferred brand of coffee...

Marketing3 weeks ago

Webflow CMS: A Comprehensive Guide

Webflow is a powerful tool that allows you to create and manage dynamic websites without needing to code. It’s a...

Business3 weeks ago

The Three Most Important Benefits You Should Offer To Your Employees

Offering your employees a range of benefits on top of regular salary increases will really help to show that you...

Business1 month ago

Business Tips For Protecting Your Finances During A Recession

In 2024, taking the necessary steps to protect your finances for your business is now more important than ever. The...

Green & Energy2 months ago

Air Conditioning Installation: What You Need to Know

When it comes to getting an air conditioning unit installed, can significantly improve your comfort and home environment, especially during...

Marketing2 months ago

Marketing Tips For A Gym Wear Brand

When starting a gym wear brand, there are a few things you need to do and one of them is...

General2 months ago

Social Media Marketing: What Are All The Types?

Social media marketing is a tool that is a must-have in today’s digital age. it’s very rare that businesses can...

Business3 months ago

How To Become A Property Developer

There are several reasons why an individual will want to become a property developer. One of the main reasons for...

Business3 months ago

Remote Delivery Innovations: Case Studies from Leading E-commerce Brands

People have gone through much change in the past few years when it comes to online shopping. Nowadays, when delivery...

Business3 months ago

Why are Brits turning to online-only banks?

For years, large, conventional banks held all the aces when it comes to citizens’ finances in the UK. HSBC, Lloyds...

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO 5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO
Tech4 months ago

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO

Ever since the birth of search engines, practices in optimising websites for better search rankings have changed considerably. Where it...

SEO4 months ago

The Importance of Local SEO for Small Businesses

There are many different types of businesses and all of them will require online marketing however, with a small business,...

General4 months ago

Understanding The Unsung Heroes: Cool Rooms And The Importance Of Regular Repairs

Everybody loves a breath of fresh air when entering a superstore! But have you ever wondered who’s working backstage to...

Home Improvement8 months ago

How To Add More Value To Your Home

If you have some spare cash in the bank, it is likely you would like to spend it on your...

Categories

Archives

Trending