Le presentamos los sellos más raros y caros, pero no es su conjunto exhaustivo. Diversas nimiedades, como una marca secreta o un rizo, que no son evidentes y no se notan a primera vista, pueden hacer que un sello ordinario sea más caro.
Por lo tanto, no todos los sellos que se parecen al sello en esta página pueden ser tan caras. Si desea identificar su sello, similar a uno de los sellos de esta lista, debe comprobar todas sus variaciones (en nuestro sitio esta información está disponible para nuestros suscriptores).
Este artículo se actualiza el 20.05 2021
Los sellos italianos más valiosos
Sello Siciliano con error de color de 1859
El sello con error de color siciliano emitido en 1859 es el sello más notable de la historia filatélica italiana. El sello es tan caro debido a un error de color: debería estar impreso en amarillo, pero por razones desconocidas se produjo en azul. Los expertos afirman que sólo han sobrevivido dos ejemplares de este sello de época. Ambos fueron presentados durante la Exposición Filatélica de Manchester de 1899. Posteriormente, estas piezas únicas de colección se separaron y se ofrecieron en la subasta como parte de una famosa colección de Ferrary. El gran valor del sello se explica también por su impresionante antigüedad. A pesar de ser tan antiguo, el error de color siciliano se ha conservado en muy buen estado. Este sello de época tan deseable apareció en la subasta de Dreyfus que tuvo lugar en junio de 2011. El sello se remató en 1,8 millones de euros (aproximadamente 2,6 millones de dólares). El lote fue adquirido por un postor en línea de los Estados Unidos.
Tuscany 4 Crazie stamp with inverted value tablet, 1857
The Tuscany 4 Crazie with inverted value tablet is seldom traded and seldom exhibited, and it is largely unknown to collectors of World Classics. There is no question of its absolute uniqueness, its authenticity or its importance to Italian and to world-wide philately. The 1857 issue of Tuscany was typographed using common frame and vignette elements, with only the value tablets changing to create different denominations. For a small part of one printing of the 4 Crazie value, the value tablet for one position, was inverted. The unique feature of this stamp is that it is completely sound. No other stamp of Tuscany is known with a similar error. It was auctioned for $184,612 by David Feldman on May 22, 2010.
Lombardy & Venetia 5c yellow ochre, 1850
1850 5c yellow-ochre stamp is often described as "the ultimate rarity of Lombardy & Venetia". There are only two known examples where the reverse shows parts of two further stamp impressions, inverted in relation to the original. This unique philatelic item was issued in the time of Lombardy-Venetia that once was a kingdom in the north of Italy. Although Lombardy-Venetia was a part of Austrian Empire at the time, the stamp is denominated in centesimi. A fresh example of 1850 5c yellow-ochre stamp was sold for $78,099 at Universal Philatelic Auctions sale that took place on Dec. 22, 2014.
Italian Levant airmail, 1922
Italian Levant airmail is regarded as a considerable rarity by many, with only five examples known. The stamp was issued in Constantinople for a planned flight from Bucharest to Paris. Because of the closure of all Foreign Post Offices within Turkey, the issue was aborted and nearly all examples of this stamp were destroyed and burnt. Italian Levant airmail was offered for $70,000 by Cherrystone at its auction that took place on March 20-21, 2018. This example with special “Servizio Postale Aereo” overprint featured a “large part original gum, excellent color, typical slight ageing”.
Balbo Triptychs, 1933
1933 Balbo Triptychs is one of the most extraordinary sets of Italian airmail stamps. This philatelic item was issued in 1933 by Italy to commemorate a special Trans-Atlantic flight that was led by General Italo Balbo. He flew from Rome to Chicago where the World's Fair was being held. The triptych consisted of a registered air express label, a regular postage stamp and an airmail stamp. Because of their high price, these stamps were not very popular among philatelists as a complete set had to include 20 sets of the two triptychs. Nowadays 1933 Balbo Triptychs is much sought after, perhaps for the same reason. A pair of two 1933 Balbo Triptychs was sold for $55,000 at Cherrystone auction in September, 2013.
2/DOLLARI/Pechino surcharge on 5L Ultramarine and rose, 1919
2/DOLLARI/Pechino surcharge on 5L Ultramarine and rose is a phenomenal stamp of the Offices in Peking with this extremely rare type of surcharge with all capital letters in "DOLLARI”. The most common type of Peking was made by adding a surcharge with "dollari" in lower case to an already overprinted stamp for Peking from the previous issue. In the same year of 1919 this unique type with "DOLLARI" in all capital letters was produced. The final type was produced in 1920 being similar to the first type with all letters lower case, but in this instance both the surcharge and the Peking overprint were all one handstamp which made "Pechino" shorter. The lowercase types of the Two Dollar value are important philatelic issues of the Italian Offices, but the type with all capital letters in "DOLLARI" is a major rarity without equal. Only fifteen stamps are known, both in mint and used condition. One of the finest specimens was sold for $40,000 at Spink auction on January 29, 2008.
Gronchi Rosa stamp, 1961
The Gronchi Rosa or Lilac is an iconic modern day philatelic error, highly sought after by collectors of the Italian area. The stamp was called after Giovanni Gronchi, who was elected President of the Republic in 1955. He was the first Catholic politician to become Head of the Italian State. The stamp was a part of 1961 issue for the voyage of President Giovanni Gronchi to three South American countries. Gronchi was scheduled to stop by Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, and the stamps dedicated to each destination were valued at 170, 185 and 205 lire respectively. The stamps became legendary because of Peru’s boundaries. The designer mis-drew the borders of Peru on the 205L stamp and as a result the item was withdrawn the day after issue. The replacement with the correct borders was printed in grey and issued on the 6th of April. Peru’s boundaries make the “Gronchi Rosa” stamp a valuable collector’s item that is now worth around $31,171.
1c Olive green without "Estero" overprint, 1874
Italy did something with the general issues for the Offices in Levant that is quite unique. It was usual for other countries to apply the overprint to regular stamps, but Italy decided first to alter the designs of the stamps in small ways, print new items and only then apply the overprints. In such a way 1c Olive green stamp appeared. It featured little white squares with a dot in them. The rarity of this stamp is explained by the fact that its design was altered, but for some reason the item failed to receive an overprint. 1874 1c Olive green, without "Estero" overprint is a fantastically rare mint example of this very extraordinary Italian stamp issue. The item features an excellent centering with perforations well clear of the design all around, bright fresh color and in very fine condition. Very few examples of any of these are known. The specimen of this impressive philatelic issue was sold for $16,000 at Spink on January 29, 2008.
10L blue and brown, inverted numeral, 1870
1870 10L blue and brown, inverted numeral is a rare unused example of the inverted numeral error of the Ten Lira 1870 Postage Due issue. There are a great number of the used examples, which are common and not very expensive. The unused stamps are more interesting and valuable. According to the Sassone Catalog only three examples survived; and all of them are without gum. An incomparably scarce unused specimen of the inverted numeral error of the Ten Lira 1870 Postage Due issue was sold for $15,000 at Spink auction on January 29, 2008. The lot featuring attractive, gorgeous rich colors is an astounding inverted center rarity of Italy that rarely appears on the market.
50c ocher and carmine, inverted numeral, 1870
1870 50c ocher and carmine, inverted numeral is the phenomenally rare error of the early postage due printing. Collectors should pay attention to the fact that 50c Orange and carmine with inverted numeral issued in 1890 is relatively common and not as sought after as its predecessor. There are many differences between these issues: the shades vary enough to make the distinction easy, the numerals are different on the high values between the two printings etc. It is not known how many 1870 50c Ocher and carmine inverted numerals survived, but this stamp is definitely a great postage due rarity of Italy and of the entire world. One of the specimens of this impressive philatelic item featuring attractive colour, fine centering and exceptional original gum quality, was auctioned for $9,500 at Spink on January 29, 2008.
