The “king of hobbies” is changing. Once the domain of hobbyists trying to complete their collections, stamp collecting has shifted to investors seeking individual collectible stamps worth money.
With that in mind, this article examines several notable collectible stamps worth money.
15 Best Collectible Stamps Worth Money
Most stamp collectors buy, sell and trade postage stamps for fun and have seen the value of their stamp collections drop in recent years. At the same time, the value of individual rare stamps has climbed and the search for collectible stamps as an alternative investment has intensified.
Here are 15 of the best collectible stamps worth money.
1. Inverted Jenny, 24-Cents, United States, 1918
Just one sheet of 100 stamps was printed with an upside-down Curtis JN-4 airplane, used for the first airmail delivery in the U.S. An “Inverted Jenny” sold for $2 million in November 2023. Mystic Stamps values one that survived the London Blitz in 1940 at $280,000.
2. Benjamin Franklin, Perf 15, One-Cent, United States, 1857–1861
Just 300,000 of this series were produced, introducing perforations to the American public. It is #19 in the Scott catalog and is valued between $6,295 and $27,500, depending on condition.
3. Declaration of Independence Without Grill, 24-Cent, United States, 1869
This 1869 pictorial series was the first time postage stamps featured something other than portraits of national leaders. The stamps were taken out of circulation after a year. Today, a single specimen is valued at $11,000.
4. George Washington, Green, One-Cent, United States, 1922
Created in secrecy in late 1922 after a scandal at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the #544 was the first perforated 11-sheet stamp printed on a rotary press. One is selling for $15,900 in mint condition.
5. Black St. Louis Bear on Gray Lilac Wove Paper, 10-Cent, United States, 1846
The St. Louis Bears are postmaster provisionals, one of which is selling for $7,920. St. Louis Postmaster John M. Wimer ordered the creation of the stamp to help customers pay ahead and avoid long lines at the post office.
6. British Guiana Magenta, One-Cent, British Guiana, 1856
Unable to wait for a shipment of stamps from London, the postmaster in British Guiana solicited a local newspaper to print one- and four-cent stamps. Just one of these is known to exist. It sold for $9.4 million in 2014, then again for $8.3 million in 2021.
7. Benjamin Franklin, Z Grill, One-Cent, United States, 1868
A stamp grill absorbs the ink from canceling a stamp. The Z Grill is the rarest. Only two of these stamps remain, including one that completed the William H. Gross Collection. Bill Gross’s Benjamin Franklin Z Grill sold for $4.4 million in June 2024.
8. Mauritius Post Office Stamps, Mauritius, 1847
The orange-red one-penny and deep blue two-pence Mauritius stamps were the first printed by a colony outside Great Britain. In 1993, a pair sold at a Swiss auction for $6.1 million. Today, they’re valued at $4.4 million.
9. The Whole Country Is Red, China, 1968
This stamp derives its value from an error: the overall design of the stamp is red, except for the island of Taiwan, which appears in white. The stamp was taken off the market, leading to its rarity. It last sold for $2 million at an auction in Beijing.
10. George Washington, Carmine Vertical Coil Pair, Two-Cent, United States, 1908
This storied pair, considered a major rarity in U.S. philatelic history, recently sold for $1.1 million. Stamp experts believe just five pairs exist, including one in the Miller Collection.
11. The Tiflis Stamp, Tiflis, 1857
The Tiflis stamp is highly valued because of its history. Created in Tiflis, now part of Georgia, it’s thought to be the first stamp produced by the Russian Empire. It’s valued at $700,000.
12. Inverted Rush Lamp, Americana Series, One-Dollar, United States, 1979
The value of this stamp lies in its upside-down lamp and the fact that the error was discovered by a member of the CIA, who concealed it. Mystic Stamps has appraised it at $27,995 and claims it’s the same one kept by Stephen Lambert, the CIA agent in question.
13. Inverted Pan-American Exposition: Fast Lake Navigation, One-Cent, United States, 1901
Six stamps were issued for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. The steamer City of Alpena was inverted on a set of these first stamps of the 20th century. At #294a in the Scott catalog, this stamp is valued at $9,500.
14. Swedish Treskilling Yellow, Sweden, 1855
Swedish postal officials intended to print one of their first green stamps. However, it was mistakenly printed in yellow, giving the world the Swedish Treskilling Yellow, which is estimated to be worth more than $3.14 million.
15. Thomas Jefferson, Brown, A Grill, Five-Cent, United States, 1867
Only four of these stamps are known to exist, making them among the rarest U.S. stamps. A single piece has a market value of $260,000. One sold at auction for $340,000 in December 2018.
What to Look for in Collectible Stamps
Thinking about investing in collectible stamps? Here are some key attributes to keep an eye out for:
Condition
Stamps in mint condition are typically more valuable. The colors are bold and bright and the stamps don’t show signs of use, like being hinged where the gum has been disturbed.
Rarity
Stamps with errors, limited releases or interesting back stories can be limited in availability, driving collector demand. Some of the rarest stamps were in the U.S. National Album, completed by William H. Gross, who sold the collection as individual stamps in 2024.
Historical Significance
One of the big draws for stamp collectors is the historical significance of their finds. Stamps are art, history and culture captured on a small piece of paper. The announcement of the sale of the Gross collection set the philatelic community abuzz over the opportunity to acquire some of the world’s rarest stamps.
Authentication
Authenticating stamps can mean the difference between a good investment and a fraud. Seek to have the value and rarity of your stamps appraised and certified by an auction house. Always get several opinions to protect yourself from being fleeced.
Market Demand
Demand drives the value of stamps in your collection. Interest in completing collections is waning and the price of collections has followed suit. However, investor interest in rare stamps and prices is rising.
Consider Investing in Collectible Stamps Worth Money
Stamps are an alternative asset with almost no correlation to other investments, making them a solid choice to diversify your portfolio. As you search for collectible stamps worth money, you might just find you enjoy the art, history and culture that has long made stamp collecting such a popular pursuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my stamps are valuable?
The value of a stamp is influenced by its condition, rarity, errors, historical significance and demand. An appraiser, auction house or online search can give you an idea of a given stamp’s value.
Is there an app to identify valuable stamps?
You can use numerous apps to identify stamps, including Stamp ID Pro, Stamp Identifier and StampSnap.
Is there a market for collectible stamps?
There is indeed a market for buying and selling collectible stamps. However, the availability of rare stamps, access to research and depreciation have devalued stamps as a whole.