A question that repeatedly gets asked is, “what are the ten world’s most expensive stamps?” or to put it another way, “what are the world’s top ten rarities?”. It’s an interesting question which isn’t as straightforward to answer as you might think. Whilst it is probably easy to shoutout two or three which are recognised today as being the most expensive based upon sales data, such as the 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta, the Sweden 1855 Treskilling Yellow, and The 1847 Mauritius Bordeaux Cover, it become more of a challenge to decide what might make-up the full Top Ten. In researching this topic and asking various philatelists what they thought, it became clear that everyone has their own opinion, and in fact it is difficult to disagree with any particular view on exactly which items make it into the prestigious list, but price and rarity tend to dictate, as well as important and to what degree the item is coveted by the world’s top collectors. So, throwing our tweezers and magnifying glass to the wind, here’s our Top Ten world rarities:-
BRITISH GUIANA 1856 One-Cent Magenta a unique stamp and currently the world’s most valuable stamp selling for US $9’480’000 including fees to Stuart Weitzman a shoe designer from the USA. And is due to be auctioned June 8th 2021 with a pre-sales estimate of $10m to $15m. It’s been in the famous collection of Count Ferrary, Arthur Hind, and John E du Pont.
MAURITIUS 1847 ‘The Bordeaux Cover’ POST OFFICE issue both values on a unique cover. Sold in 1993 for CHF 6’123’750 (which was then $5m). This is a jewel in the crown item and has been in the legendary collections of, Arthur Hind, Alfred Lichtenstein, Maurice Burrus and Hiroyuki Kanai. There is little doubt that this cover could exceed all prices ever achieved if it came onto the market today.
SWEDEN 1855 The “Treskilling” Yellow which is a 3s banco error of colour, and held the top spot for many years as the world’s most expensive stamp, breaking three world records between 1984 and 1996 when it sold in auction for CHF 2’875’000 and has since been sold for an undisclosed amount to a Swedish billionaire. Ex Count Ferrary, King Carol II, and René Berlingin.
HAWAII 1851 The Missionary 2c and 5c Cover, sold in 1995 for $2’090’000 and again in 2015 for $1’900’000 and the only cover with both values. The 2c being the rarest of the two, but together a unique item.Has been in the collections of three great US collectors; Alfred Caspary, George H. Worthington and Steven Walske.
States Baden 1851 9kr Error of Colour on cover sold in 1985 for $1’768’130 and again in 2018 EUR 1’524’601. This is a cover that has always been coveted by the world’s top philatelists as demonstrated by it’s rich Provenance; Count Ferrary, Alfred Caspary, John R. Boker and Erivan Haub.
USA 1868 1c Z-Grill Only Known Copy in Private Hands. Sold for $935,000 in 1998 and in 2005 swapped for the Unique 1918 24c Inverted Jenny Plate Block, which had been purchased by philatelist Bill Gross for $2’970’00. In part exchanging Gross became only the third man to ever complete a 19th century USA collection. Which brings us onto the next item.
USA Unique 1918 24c Inverted Jenny Plate Number Block of Four. Sold in 2005 for $2’970’00 and is up for auction in 2021 with a pre-sales estimate of $5m to $7m. Currently in the collection of shoe designer to the stars Stuart Weitzman, who also has the 1856 British Guiana 1c. Weitzman has not put his distinctive stiletto shoe mark on the back of this mint block. Should it realise it’s estimate, it would rise rapidly up the rankings.
MAURITIUS 1847 The Mauritius Ball Invitation envelope, sold for $3’000’000 in 2006 and a cover of great importance as it tells the story behind why Mauritius were so quick to issue their own stamps and as such it has always been desired by the world’s greatest philatelists. Ex. Henry Duveen, King Carol II, René Berlingin, and Hiroyuki Kanai.
MAURITIUS 1850 ‘The Bombay Cover’ with two 1d Deep Orange singles, sold in 2016 for Euro 2’400’000, comes from the collections of Vernon Roberts, George H. Worthington, Dr Chan Chin Cheung, and Alfred Lichtenstein. Similar to the Invitation Ball cover it has always commanded great interest, and is the only cover with two 1d singles from the fame and rare Post Office Issue.
BRAZIL 1843 Interpanneaux The Famous “Pack Strip” Bull’s Eyes issue 30r, 30r and 60r. Unique stamp. Sold in 1993 for CHF 1’150’000, and is an important piece as its discovery thus proved that the 30r, 60r and 90r were all printed on one sheet. Charles Lathrop Pack is the famous philatelist which the strip is named after. It has also been in the collections of two other legendary collectors, Lars T. Amundsen and Dr. Norman S. Hubbard. And more recently was held in the Angelo Lima collection when it was sold in 1993.
Right or wrong, that’s the Top Ten. Now, some food for thought for you because here are the items which in some people’s eyes should have made the list, but have fallen just outside. The first two – Spain and Romania items – because neither have been seen for over half a century and the Bull’s Head which there is some doubt as to its whereabouts and a suspicion that it has been lost forever:-
Just outside the Ten
SPAIN 1851 2r Blue Error of Colour with 6r se-tenant vertical, the only example which has the error and the intended colour in a pair. The last known sales figure is US $21’000 in 1964, and although it has not been seen since, it is believed to be in the possession of the Galvez family. And it has a pedigree Provenance. Count Ferrary, Arthur Hind, King Carol II and René Berlingin.
ROMANIA 1858 The Bull’s Heads Moldavia 27pa Tête-Bêche Pair Unique which hasn’t been seen since 1950 when it was exhibited by the then owner King Carol II, it was also in the collection of Count Ferrary and Arthur Hind. There is a rumour out there in the stamp world that thinks we will never see this stamp again, as it may have been destroyed whilst Carol II was in exile in Mexico, along with several other early Romanian primitives, which were known to be in his collection, but have never become available after his death, or the subsequent auctions.
FRANCE 1849 1fr Vermilion Tête-bêche Mint Block of Four, which sold in 2003 US $1’104’000. The famed “Lafayette sale. An icon of French philately. Both Count Ferrary and Arthur Hind have held this stamp in their collections.
USA 1847 Postmasters’ Provisional issues – The Alexandria “Blue Boy” cover Sold in a David Feldman SA auction for 1’000’000 US$ in 1981. Ex: George H Worthington, Alfred Caspary, John R Boker, and Erivan Haub, and reportedly sold again in 2019 for $1’180’000.
There are also the 1847 Mauritius Post Office issue unused stamps – 1d and 2d value – which have sold in auction for CHF 1’610’000 and CHF 1’725’000 respectively in 1993, and a similar pairing reportedly sold for $3’000’000 in 2016 in a Private Treaty sale. If these were to come onto the market today, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they realised higher prices, in which case they would have to be included in the top ten. Just goes to show how difficult this task is and no doubt there are other items that may well justify a place on this list. If so, we’d love to hear from you.
This is a lovely listing though i would have included the GB Mulready cover (used on first day), which was turned and had penny black used on its first day.
Thank you again.