Stamp collecting feels like something your grandpa would wax poetic about, but it's cooler than you think. While the odds that you'll come across one of these record-breakingly rare and valuable stamps aren't fantastic, they're not zero!
American Stamps That Are Worth a Fortune
Stamps feel almost novel today, but they aren't that old of an invention. The first American stamps weren't issued until 1847, but it wasn't long before people grew fascinated by the different colors and pictures appearing on their envelopes.
In a period when a neighboring county felt far away, stamps connected you to the world, and they became a highly popular collectible. While most old stamps bring in a modest sum, these American stamps regularly sell for millions of dollars.
| Most Valuable American Stamps | Record Sales Price |
| 1868 Benjamin Franklin Z Grill | $4.3 million |
| 1918 Inverted Jenny | $2 million |
| 1867 Abraham Lincoln Z Grill | $1.6 million |
| 1947 Blue Boy | $1.18 million |
| 1851 Hawaii Missionary Stamps | $660,000 |
Benjamin Franklin Z Grill (1868): $4.3 million
The original uploader was Premkudva at English Wikipedia.Later versions were uploaded by Ww2censor at en.wikipedia., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Under fair use Benjamin Franklin Z Grill - 1868
While the United States printed stamps with Benjamin Franklin's face on them throughout the 19th century, the real Benny Frank gems are the 'Z Grills.' Created with a 'z' punch that left indentations meant to help ink seep into the stamp and make it impossible to reuse, these stamps weren't very effective and were recalled in 1870.
Very few survive today - an astounding two, to be exact. One is in a permanent collection at the New York City Public Library, and the other recently sold for $4.3 million at auction.
Inverted Jenny (1918): $2 million
Blank Archives / Contributor / Archive Photos / Getty Images - Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use 1918 Inverted Jenny stamp - Getty Editorial Use
The 'Inverted Jenny' is an infamous stamp that even many non-stamp collectors know about, which was released on May 10, 1918. It's known as the Inverted Jenny because of the immediately recognizable upside-down Curtiss JN-4 biplane printed on the stamp.
It's believed that most of these stamps were destroyed, except for a single mythic sheet of 100 stamps sold by a postal clerk in Washington, DC. In 2023, one Inverted Jenny sold for $2 million at auction.
Related: 7 Valuable & Rare German Stamps That Made Their Mark
Abraham Lincoln Z Grill (1867): $1.6 million
Issued just two years after Lincoln's assassination, this 15-cent stamp bears a portrait of the 16th President of the United States. Created as one of the first new designs for a post-Civil War America, these Abraham Lincoln stamps are important for what they meant to the country as a whole.
It's one of the highest valued American stamps, with one selling in a 2019 auction for an impressive $1.6 million.
Curious about an old stamp in your possession? The American Philatelic Society has their own stamp identifier for sale on their website. You can also borrow or buy a copy of the Scott Postage Stamp Catalogue since it's the definitive catalogue that collectors use today.
Blue Boy (1947): $1.18 million
Anonymouse, 1847, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Under fair use Blue Boy - 1947
Just seven of these Alexandria provisional stamps have surfaced, with only one being a delightful blue color. In 1847, this "Blue Boy" stamp was sent along with a romantic letter that was meant to be destroyed after being opened. This stamp and envelope combination sold in 2019 for $1.18 million.
Hawaii Missionary Stamps (1851):
Long before Hawaii became an American state, missionaries found their way to the islands. A collection of stamps was created specifically for them so they could send letters home. Fewer than 20 examples of these stamps are known to exist today, with one selling for $660,000 in 1995.
Most Valuable Stamps From Around the World
If you're American, you may be partial to stamps featuring historical motifs like Ben Franklin and George Washington. But if you're interested in making the most money, turn your eyes to the rest of the world.
When it comes to stamp collecting, the global market is where you'll find some of the most valuable stamps.
| Most Valuable International Stamps | Record Sales Price |
|---|---|
| 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta | $9.5 million |
| 1859 Sicilian Error of Color | $2.5 million |
| 1855 Swedish Treskilling Yellow | $2.3 million |
| 1968 The Whole Country is Red | $2 million |
| 1840 Two Penny Blue | $1.7 million |
| 1847 Mauritius Post Office | $1.67 million |
| 1851 Baden 9 Kreuzer Error | $1.5 million |
| 1941 Inverted Pair Dr. Sun Yat Sen | $707,000 |
British Guiana One-Cent Magenta (1856): $9.5 million
Joseph Baum and William Dallas printers for local postmaster, E.T.E. Dalton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Under fair use British Guiana One-Cent Magenta - 1856
The British Guiana 1c Magenta stamp is well known among stamp collectors as the rarest stamp in the world. Only one has ever been found, printed with black ink on a striking magenta colored paper. Despite selling for a little over $8 million in 2021, it broke records in a previous 2014 sale when it sold for almost $9.5 million.
Sicilian Error of Color (1859): $2.5 million
Sicilians are proud of many things, and having one of the most famous stamps in the world is one of them. One Sicilian stamp created in 1859 was originally intended to come in a lovely orange shade. But a few turned up in blue instead.
Nowadays, only two of these blue stamps are known to exist, making them incredibly rare. The most recent one to be put to auction was in a Dreyfuss sale in 2011 and sold for about $2.5 million.
Swedish Treskilling Yellow (1855): $2.3 million
sv:P.A. Sparre (1828-1921), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Under fair use Swedish Treskilling Yellow - 1855
One of the first Swedish stamps ever made, the Swedish Treskilling was supposed to be printed in green, but a collection of them ended up yellow instead. Known as the Swedish Treskilling Yellow stamp, it's a pretty rare find for the central European region. One sold in a private auction to Count Gustaf Douglas for an undisclosed amount of money, but the previous sale from 1993 made it worth $2.3 million.
Related: 9 Most Valuable VHS Tapes You Should Have Treated Better
The Whole Country Is Red (1968): $2 million
MIKE CLARKE / Contributor / AFP / Getty Images - Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use 1968 Whole Country is Red stamp - Getty Editorial Use
The effects of Mao's Communist revolution in China are still felt over half a century later, least of all with an original 1968 stamp that makes stamp collectors go weak in the knees. The stamp represents Mao's political revolution and features a color misprint, with Taiwan mistakenly colored in white instead of red, like everything else in the image.
Although the stamps were recalled, a few have survived. One sold for $2 million in 2018.
Two Penny Blue (1840): $1.7 million
UK GPO, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Under fair use Two Penny Blue - 1840
Before the USPS released the standard forever stamp, stamps came with different face values. Heavier items required either a ton of cheap stamps or a few expensive ones.
The UK's Two Penny Blue stamp was intended for heavier items. Because it wasn't needed as often as cheaper stamps, far fewer survive today. The most recent to sell was featured in a 1992 Swiss auction, and it sold for $1.7 million.
Mauritius Post Office (1847): $1.67 million
LUTZCHRI, CC BY-SA 4.0
A tweet with a spelling mistake isn't something people try to buy for thousands of dollars, but in the stamp collecting world, a minute spelling error can mean the difference between a crisp $1 bill and a briefcase full of cash.
The Mauritius Post Office stamp from 1847 is one of these misprints that's worth a fortune today. Originally meant to be printed "Post Paid", some were printed with "post office" instead. The misprinted stamps came in both blue and orange varieties, and only 26 have been recovered so far. One sold in 2011 for $1.67 million.
Baden 9 Kreuzer Error (1851): $1.5 million
Processed by Andrei Sdobnikov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Under fair use Baden 9 Kreuzer Error - 1851
You can't leave Germany off the list of most valuable stamps from around the world, and they certainly bring it with their 1851 Baden 9 Kreuzer Error stamp.
Originally meant to be printed in pink, a small batch was misprinted in green. For decades, people believed only four had survived, but a miraculous fifth stamp appeared in 2019. Thus far, the highest amount of money one of these stamps has sold for was $1.5 million in 2008.
Inverted Pair Dr. Sun Yat Sen (1941): $707,000
The People's Republic of China's President, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, is the subject of another incredibly valuable stamp. Created in 1941, only one 50-stamp sheet was printed with an upside-down presidential portrait.
Stamp collectors salivate over the odds of ending up with one of these stamps. Thus far, only two pairs have surfaced, with one of these pairs selling in 2018 for $707,000.
Don't Count These Stamps Out Just Yet
While stamp collecting may not be the coolest hobby, it can be a lucrative one. Hunt down the right find, and you'll be staring down the barrel of a record-breaking figure!
