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 21.05 2021
Los sellos turcos más valiosos
20pa vertical tête-bêche block of six, 1863
1863 20pa stamps are the first stamps issued by the Ottoman Empire. They were imperforate and printed head-to-tail, and a red anti-forgery control strip was run down the middle between the rows of stamps. These items were not used for a long period of time as Ottoman authorities were not satisfied with the first issue and commissioned French firms to print stamps for the Ottoman post. Nowadays, 1863 20pa stamps are pretty expensive. One of the brightest philatelic items that were born due to the issuance of 1863 20pa stamps is a vertical tete-beche block of six from 1863-5 showing the red control band in the middle and at the foot, used on a cover from Samakov (Bulgaria) to Istanbul. Called by Spink auction house as “the most important item of Turkish Philately”, this lot was offered for $70,800 at the sale that took place in August, 2010.
5pi ultramarine stamp, 1920
In 1920 outside of a small area surrounding Constantinople, the Nationalist Government controlled what is referred to philatelically as "Turkey in Asia" or "Anatolia". At that time some small stocks of old postage stamps, as well large Revenue Stamps with intricate designs were issued and handstamped for validation as postage. One of such stamps is 1920 5pi ultramarine with "Osmanli Postalar, 1336" handstamp in black. It is one of only two recorded unused copies with such an overprint that is really impressive. A fresh and well centered specimen of this philatelic item was sold for $21,000 at Cherrystone auction that took place in July, 2009.
Duloz Takse stamp, 1867
Duloz Takse stamp, 1867 is a handmade Ottoman era stamp that is considered as one of the most expensive Turkish philatelic items. It is believed that only nine specimens exist today. The stamps were designed by a Frenchman Mr. Duloz and printed in Paris. They were named after the skilled technical engraver who created many French revenue issues. The government wasn’t happy with the first edition of the country's first stamps and Duloz was hired to come up with better designs. The word "Takse" comes from taxation and means that it is a postage due stamp. The handmade printed postage stamp, which cost 25 kuruş ($0.06 with today's exchange rate) when it was printed, is considered as one of the most expensive in the country. Nowadays it is worth 80,000 Turkish liras ($20,570).
5pi pale violet stamp, 1892
5pi pale violet stamp released in 1892 by Turkey features an intricate design that is known among philatelists as the "Arms and Tughra" issue. The center of the stamps bears the Ottoman coat of arms surrounding the tughra of Abdul Hamid II. These items were issued for regular postage and for postage due; overprinted for use as newspaper stamps and for other purposes. The unique block of four 5pi pale violet newspaper stamps with black "Imprime" overprint fetched $14,000 at Cherrystone auction in July, 2009. This is a major Turkish rarity as only two such blocks have survived. The singular items are not so high-priced.
2 Piastres Laborer's Passport Tax stamp, 1921
2 Piastres Laborer's Passport Tax stamp issued in 1921 is one of the notable Turkish philatelic items. It was used in passports of expatriate workers who came to work on the Hejaz Railroad. As philatelists assert, a total of 182 stamps were overprinted, however the greater number of them was destroyed during the fire in the Bozuyuk post office. Nowadays, collectors can only find used copies of these items (less than 20) that are cancelled either at Bozuyuk or Inonu. One of the most prominent examples of 2 Piastres Laborer's Passport Tax stamps was offered by Cherrystone auction in January 2014. The item, featuring minor thinning and stain at top, signed Herbert Bloch, managed to fetch $5,750. As auction house commented “only four to five copies of this type are recorded; this is the single most valuable stamp of both Turkey and the Liberation War”.
2p Asia Minor Steam Ship Co. black on green stamp, 1868
1868 2p Asia Minor Steam Ship Co. Black on green is an impressive Maritime Post stamp that is extremely popular in the philatelic circle. Captain Bell's Asia Minor Screw Steamship Company operated from Smyrna. This was a British enterprise that carried letters to different seaports in the Levant. That is why the company provided its own adhesive stamp that was designed in green colour with a black inscription on it. A wonderful example of 1868 2p Asia Minor Steam Ship Co. Black on green was sold for $2,429 at Corinphila auction in March, 2013. The item featured a superb huge margins and a part of blue 'Joly' handstamp cancellation (Mr. Joly presided over the Company).
25pi orange stamp, 1867
1867 25pi orange is one of the oldest and most famousTurkish stamps. It was prepared for release but was never issued. The pattern for this stamp was created by a crafter called “Mr. Duloz”. Hence, this issue was called after the crafter’s name “Duloz”. The design of the item is made in orange color and consists of a central oval enclosing a crescent and star with radiating lines. That is why this philatelic issue is also known as "Crescent and Star Stamp". Value of each stamp is located on four corners. Turkish writing in Arabic script is overprinted on the oval in black, stating “Postai devleti Osmaniye” or "Post of the Ottoman Empire". One of the finest specimens of 1867 25pi orange, featuring fresh colour and large part of the original gum, was sold for $2,200 at Siegel auction that took place on June 14-15, 2016.
5L green & yellow stamp, 1830
5L green & yellow stamp issued in 1830 is one of the brightest air post postal tax stamps released by Turkey. Altogether, there were 30 philatelic items produced for postal tax air post during this era. An unusually well-centered 5L green & yellow stamp overprinted "Bes Lira" in red was offered by Robert A Siegel during its “Rarities of the World” sale that took place on June 26, 2014. As most examples of this stamp are centered to the top, the specimen offered by Siegel is really exceptional. Featuring rich and bright colours, it was sold for $1,700. 5L green & yellow is definitely one of the key rarities to completing a collection of Turkey.
200pi green & black stamp, 1914
The 200pi green & black is one of the most interesting Turkish stamps. This is the highest denomination for the 1914 issue that features Sultan Mohammed V who was the 27th Caliph of the Ottoman Caliphate, and the 35th Ottoman Sultan. His reign was from April 27, 1909 to July 3, 1918 (death) at age 73. However, he had no real political power, because the Young Turk Revolution (1908) brought back the Constitution and the Parliament, and, as a result of the 1913 Ottoman coup d'etat, the Three Pashas ruled. The specimen of 200pi green & black stamp “with slightly disturbed gum, generally fresh and fine” was sold by Cherrystone auction house in July 2008 fetching $1,400.
4pa dark brown Column of Constantine stamp, 1914
4pa dark brown Column of Constantine stamp is a beautiful Turkish issue that has a vertical design. It is one of four lithographed low denominations in the Views of Constantinople issue. The other vertical stamps in the set are the 2pa red-lilac Obelisk of Theodosius in the Hippodrome and the 6pa stamp showing the Castle of the Seven Towers. 4pa dark brown stamp features a photochrom color print made circa 1890-1900 from the book Views of People and Sites in Turkey, advertised in the 1905 catalog of the Detroit Publishing Co. Collectors prefer to buy these stamps in blocks and strips as they are much rarer. E.g. the block of four 4pa dark brown Column of Constantine stamps fetched $1,156 at Christoph Gärtner auction in June 2014, whereas the single item only achieved $173.
