Posted on 02/14/2022 11:10:12 AM PST by Red Badger
Stamp collecting is a passion, and rare U.S. stamps are history, art, even antiques. Better yet, they can be worth life-changing amounts of money:
Several factors determine the high value of these small pieces of art. While some could be firsts of their kind, others could be a printing mistake:
And these are the rarest 8 U.S. stamps that collectors covet:
8. 15c Landing of Columbus Stamp
(Photo: Wiki Commons) Columbus’s landing is an important day in America’s history, and in 1869 it was celebrated with a pictorial series of stamps. This landmark occasion is marked by two different variations of the 15c Columbus Stamp.
While the difference between the two stamps is just a line, the earlier stamp is much scarcer than the latter. A block of six 15c stamps was sold for $150,000 in 2018.
CHECK OUT: The 8 Most Rare (And Valuable) Stamps In The World.
7. 1c Benjamin Franklin Vertical Pair
(Photo: Wiki Commons) The first Franklin stamp on the list is the vertical pair of 1908-1909.
During the last few days of December 1908, the Post Office Department created simple and cleaner stamps for the public after receiving severe criticism on their former stamps.
The 1c Franklin vertical pair of stamps make their way on to the list due to their double line paper and watermark from the U.S. Postal Service. Since the watermark would be applied to the entire sheet, each stamp of this type would expect a different valuation.
An unused stamp received $310,000 in 2015.
6. 30c Shield, Eagle, and Flags Stamp
(Photo: Wiki Commons) The 30c Shield, Eagle, and Flags stamp was part of the 1869 series of pictorial stamps. They were the first stamps to feature something other than portraits of famed personalities.
The 30c stamp featured flags painted in blue with the shield in the middle in red. Issues with colors and the placement of denomination made production tricky, so much so, printing stopped after only one year.
Since these stamps were the first ones to be printed in two colors, there were two sets of printing processes that they went through. When an accident would occur, it would give rise to one of the rare inverted 30c stamps, one of which fetched $310,500 at an auction in 2016.
5. 1c Benjamin Franklin Stamp (1851)
(Photo: Wiki Commons) There were eight basic types of these 1851 one-cent stamps, for which printing plates had to be laid by hand. This was then followed by re-cutting adjustments to create the final stamp.
The stamp on this list was one that made the unaltered die impression of the original stamp design. While there were small fluctuations in the others like minor blurring, today, there are only a total of two in mint condition, and only one hundred used samples in existence. One of which was sold for $375,000 in October 2007.
4. 24c Declaration of Independence stamp
(Photo: Wiki Commons) The 24c Declaration is a masterpiece in itself as it commemorates the independence of thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. The 4th of July, 1776, witnessed one of the most historic days in U.S. history by laying down the foundation of global democracy worldwide.
The two-colored independence stamp carries a face value of 24 cents and has three different variations in split, double grill, or G grill.
Like with many incredibly valuable stamps, unique imperfections create extreme value. And there was a unique stamp with an inverted center, which was sold for $625,000 in 2018.
This U.S. independence stamp acted as a stepping stone for the other countries to create their own independence stamps.
3. 1c Benjamin Franklin Stamp (1868)
(Photo: WikiWand) Just like how the US’s first president plays an integral role in the country’s first few stamps, Benjamin Franklin had stamps featuring his portrait issued in 1868.
The rare Z-grill and horizontal ridges add to the uniqueness of the stamp. As only two of these stamps exist, both of them are priced exceptionally high. One of which sold for $850,000 during an auction in 1998.
2. 3c George Washington Stamp
(Photo: Wiki Commons) The year 1847 was significant for stamp collectors as it was the first year in which the public could purchase stamps from the government. When the U.S. got its first president, his portrait became the go-to picture for several posts, paintings, and stamps.
Unlike many valuable stamps, this 3c stamp isn’t valuable because of its unique errors. Its primary value is because of the President, scarcity, and the B grill design.
In 2008, one of these stamps was sold for $900,000. While there were around 1,000 stamps of this kind, only four are known to exist today.
CHECK OUT: The 7 Most Valuable Foreign Coins Collectors Covet.
1. Inverted Jenny Stamp
(Photo: Wiki Commons) The rarest U.S. stamp ever printed is one with an error on it. The Inverted Jenny, which was issued in 1918, had a face value of just 24 cents. However, today the stamp is valued at $1.35 million.
The high value of the stamp is determined by the mistake in printing the airplane upside down. The clerk in Washington DC who sold over 100 of these stamps had never seen a plane and sold these stamps without seeing the error.
With its recent auction in 2016, the Inverted Jenny is one of the most valuable stamps worldwide.
I have #7. But it ain’t worth that much. I think last time I looked, my version was around $800.
Stamp collectors are the ultimate in picky. 99% of people could not tell the difference between my $500 stamp purchase, and a $300,000 stamp.
That’s why you have to get them certified.
Generally speaking…your “grand pa’s” stamp collection isn’t worth much. You aren’t finding these stamps in the attic. Lol.
I have a stamp where I drew lipstick on the president. That’s pretty rare, isn’t it? Must be worth something.
I love the movie “Brewster’s Millions” starring Richard Pryor, where he used a Upside down Jenny stamp to mail a postcard!...............
I know a woman whose husband was an avid stamp collector. He spend ALL of his time with the stamps. Over the decades, she took a second seat to the stamps. Obviously, she hated them.
His collection was worth beaucoup moolah. He was well known in town to the postmaster for his passion.
Upon his passing, wifie used his stamps on envelopes to pay bills, etc. until most of them we used up.
According to this *legend* the postmaster carefully hand cancelled her letters, so no ink or barely any, touched the
stamps.
Supposedly he wrote down the addresses on the envelope and contacted those people for envelope back....this part I don’t believe.
...Thus began *Cancel Culture* Heh.
Inverted Jenny Stamp - I’ve got a canceled block of 4 of the 16c Jenny.
If they ain’t upside down they ain’t worth millions.............
I admit I don’t understand the attraction of US stamps although they are well made and durable, versus say a Queen Victoria Zululand overprint.
"I - I - I hate the way she licks stamps!"
...thank you
...thank you very much.
I started collecting them when I was a little kid. Honestly, as I was growing up I learned more about US people and history from looking up stamps and learning the stories about the people and places.
As I got older I could afford better versions and it just kind of became a hobby.
I understand why a lot of people don’t “get it.” But consider that stamps are also little pieces of art that you can collect. Some of the newer ones are amazing. The printing techniques have changed so much over the decades.
But...to each his own. For example, I like cars. But not to the point where I would work on them much, or collect them...My brother restores old military trucks. Its cool...but not for me.
Everyone has their “thing.”
I did too. My first order was from the Littleton Stamp Co. in Littleton, NH.
I also bought from the company in Milford, NH.
By the time I was done(around 17) I was going down to the post office and buying sheets. I still have the albums in a foot locker. One album is just new sheets.
Plus stamps are a LOT more affordable, eh? Unless you are into buying the stuff listed in this article.
I will say that stampers are the most honest and reliable people I have ever dealt with. I actually had to sue Ebay when I was selling collectible currencies, but for whatever reason, since I got back into stamping to try to teach my son geopolitics, etc., it’s been the perfect old man (or otherwise) hobby online!
The Kenmore Stamp Company
Milford, NH
https://www.kenmorestamp.com/united-states/1847-1869-1-122/1869-world-s-first-pictorials-112-122
If they ain’t upside down they ain’t worth millions.............
—
The 16 c jenny block of four center line canceled is inverted - was worth $400 back in the 80s when I last checked.
Bookmark
Supply vs Demand......................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.