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The Field Guide

Rare and valuable stamps of the world

A quick-guide reference to valuable versions of everyday stamps you might run into, and the most valuable stamps from around the world- complete with pictures, approximate values, and how to determine if you have the valuable variety shown. If you identify one of these stamps; keep it safe and then contact Big Sky Stamps for next steps you can take to transform your valuable piece of art, into money in the bank.

26 entries

  • Mauritius post Office- Extremely rare post-blue and orange s

    ~$12M

    Mauritius post Office- Extremely rare post-blue and orange stamps are highly sought after.

    1847

  • Japan- 500 Mon Dragon inverted center

    ~$6M

    Japan- 500 Mon Dragon inverted center

    1871

  • 1861 1c Franklin Z Grill/points down/measures 11x14mm Perf 1

    ~$3M

    1861 1c Franklin Z Grill/points down/measures 11x14mm Perf 12

    1861

  • Italy- 1859 Sicilian color error- Most rare and valuable Ita

    ~$3M

    Italy- 1859 Sicilian color error- Most rare and valuable Italian stamp ever produced. The valuable color is Blue

    1859

  • Sweden "Treskilling Yellow" Error of color- Yellow is the ra

    ~$2.5M

    Sweden "Treskilling Yellow" Error of color- Yellow is the rare stamp.

    1855

  • China- "The Whole Country is Red" Stamp design included mist

    ~$2.2M

    China- "The Whole Country is Red" Stamp design included mistakes. The rare stamp is pictured

    1968

  • Germany- 1851 Green Baden Kruzer 9. Error of color, should b

    ~$1.5M

    Germany- 1851 Green Baden Kruzer 9. Error of color, should be pink

    1851

  • 1869 Pictorial Issue 24c invert. Center inverted

    ~$1.5M

    1869 Pictorial Issue 24c invert. Center inverted

    1869

  • 1908-Horizontal perf pair of coil stamps. Distinguishable fo

    ~$1.5M

    1908-Horizontal perf pair of coil stamps. Distinguishable for having perforations on only 2 sides. The Real Value is in the pair.

    1908

  • 1867 15c Z grill. The grill measuring 11x14mm is the disting

    ~$1.4M

    1867 15c Z grill. The grill measuring 11x14mm is the distinguishing factor of this rare stamp

  • Chinese Dowager with inverted surcharge

    ~$1M

    Chinese Dowager with inverted surcharge

    1897

  • 1851-52 2c Hawaiian Missionary 5c

    ~$850K

    1851-52 2c Hawaiian Missionary 5c

    1851

  • Great Britian, "Penny Red" plate 77
You can see the plate nu

    ~$750K

    Great Britian, "Penny Red" plate 77 You can see the plate number "77" located in the design along the long edge

    1841

  • Britian "IR Official" This overprint in pale dull purple col

    ~$500K

    Britian "IR Official" This overprint in pale dull purple color

    1904

  • United States 1918 24-cent airmail stamp depicting the Curti

    ~$450K

    United States 1918 24-cent airmail stamp depicting the Curtiss JN-4 'Jenny' biplane with the famous inverted center error (Scott #C3a). Carmine rose frame with blue inverted vignette. Perf 11

    1918

  • 1923-1c Franklin This is a "coil waste" stamp. The valuable

    ~$250K

    1923-1c Franklin This is a "coil waste" stamp. The valuable version will be perf 11 (not 10.5 like a typical coil stamp) and the face will measure 19 1/4 x 22 1/2mm.

  • 1911 3-cent deep violet Washington coil stamp, Perf 12 Verti

    ~$125K

    1911 3-cent deep violet Washington coil stamp, Perf 12 Vertically

    1911

  • Field guide stamp

    ~$50K

    1901

  • 1923 Coil Waste Stamp. Perf 11. Face of the stamp measures 1

    ~$45K

    1923 Coil Waste Stamp. Perf 11. Face of the stamp measures 19.25x22.5mm

    1923

  • Scott # 539 2c Carmine rose (Type II) Perf 11x10 Rotary Pres

    ~$22K

    Scott # 539 2c Carmine rose (Type II) Perf 11x10 Rotary Press, face measures 19.25x22.5

    1919

  • Field guide stamp

    ~$20K

    1901

  • Scott #544. Perf 11, but with rotary coil measurements. Face

    ~$20K

    Scott #544. Perf 11, but with rotary coil measurements. Face measures 19 x 22.5mm

    1922

  • Scott #1610C, the $1.00 Americas Light definitive with the c

    ~$15K

    Scott #1610C, the $1.00 Americas Light definitive with the candle flame printed inverted relative to the rushlight holder design. This example appears mint, never hinged, with clear perforations on all sides and good centering. The inverted candle error (flame appearing upright while the stamp vignette is inverted) is the key distinguishing feature of this variety. A desirable error stamp from the Americana series.

    1979

  • 10-cent yellow Washington coil stamp, Scott #356, Vertical p

    ~$4K

    10-cent yellow Washington coil stamp, Scott #356, Vertical perforation 12 makes this stamp rare and valuable.

    1909

  • Field guide stamp

    ~$25

  • United States 1890 Bureau Issue, 3-cent purple featuring And

    ~$4

    United States 1890 Bureau Issue, 3-cent purple featuring Andrew Jackson. Used example with a heavy black cancel across the upper portion of the stamp. Perforations are intact all around, centering is fine to very fine. The cancel is heavy and obscures part of the design, but the stamp is fully identifiable.

    1890