We present you the rarest and most expensive stamps, but this is not an all-encompassing set. Various nuances, such as a secret mark or a curl, not obvious and not evident at first sight, can make an ordinary stamp expensive.
So not every stamp that looks like a stamp that appears on this page can be that expensive. If you want to identify your stamp that looks like one of the stamps on this list, you need to check all of its varieties (this information is available to our subscribers on our website).
This article is updated on 28 December 2023
Most valuable Australian stamps
If you have an interest in collecting stamps, then make sure you are aware of what is on offer from Australia. Although this is a relatively young country (a former British colony), it has produced a lot of philatelic material. Collectible Australian stamps are as rich and diverse as the country itself, presenting something of interest to both beginning and long-time philatelists alike. There are many impressive collectible Australian stamps. Especially popular are those ones depicting the native animals. With much variety and selection, the philatelic issues presented by this country have plenty to maintain a keen stamp collector interest.
Inverted Swan stamp, 1855
The Inverted Swan is a famous Australian error that was created in 1855, and is considered as one of the first world`s invert stamps. Technically, it is the frame that is inverted, not the image of the swan, but this interesting item is commonly known as the Inverted Swan. Before the error was detected, 388 stamps entered the postal circle. Today only 15 of these special philatelic items were preserved and they are very expensive. Inverted Swan stamps are amongst the most valuable in the world, and each of them is currently in the hands of keen collectors.
One of the specimens was sold for £122,400 at Spink`s Lord Vestey sale on May 19, 2015 (it`s around $170,000).
One more rare variety of Inverted Swan (illustrated here), extremely lightly canceled for this rarity, appeared at the Corinphila auction that took place in May 2018. This outstanding collectible fetched 260,000 CHF, or roughly $290,000
10 shilling Kangaroo & Map essay stamp, 1911
10 shilling Kangaroo and Map essay stamps originated from the competition held in 1911 to create Australia's first commonwealth stamp. Until that point, each Australian colony had its Postal Services and issued its own stamps. The competition was won by Hermann Altmann, but his exquisite design was never to be used. In October 1911, Charles Frazer was appointed as postmaster-general and he incorporated elements from a number of designs to create 10 shilling kangaroo and map essay stamp.
The example of this unique item was auctioned for $142,500 at the top of the Morgan Collection of Australian Commonwealth Stamps in November 2012 in London. The sale was conducted by Spink.
2-penny King Edward VIII scarlet unissued stamp, 1936
King Edward VIII two penny scarlet is considered to be one of the most extraordinary valuable Australia's stamps. This brilliant item features an etching of the king in his naval uniform. The King Edward VIII stamp is very expensive because of the fact that it was never officially released. The item was printed to honor a new Australian king in 1936, but urgently withdrawn before the stamp was ever issued. It happened because of the monarch’s abdication and was supposed to be burnt.
In October 2014, Spink auction house sold a lower right corner block of six 2-penny scarlet King Edward VIII stamps for £200,000 (approximately $282,284).
A single stamp (illustrated here) from the unique surviving block of six items achieved $133,226 at Phoenix action in July 2015.
Another specimen of this unique philatelic item appeared at the Mossgreen auction on June 26, 2017. The stamp was sold for $120,000 Australian (roughly US$90,520).
£2 Kangaroo and Map black and rose stamp, 1912
Kangaroo and Map stamp is the very first issue of Australia Postal Service released in 1912. It became a subject of controversy immediately after issuance. The adherents of the monarchy were offended that a cartoon kangaroo had replaced the King's head on a stamp. The others thought that it had a bad design and made Australia look like a country overrun by kangaroos. However, nowadays Kangaroo and Map stamp is considered one of the most valuable Australian philatelic items.
The print run of the first Kangaroo and Map issue included several colors: red, blue, brown, etc. A scarce variety of £2 Black and Rose with the extraordinary JBC monogram single (shown here) was auctioned for $120,000 by Spink Shreves Galleries in February 2007.
Another expensive specimen with lower sheet selvedge that features the "JBC" monogram of the stamp printer, J. B. Cooke, appeared at the Phoenix auction in June 2020. The rare item fetched AU$101,315 or roughly $78,100.
Classic Victoria 3d blue stamp, 1850
Classic Victoria stamps were issued in the 1850s, and as the run didn’t last long, only few examples were preserved. Nowadays, the most valuable are Classic Victoria multiplies, such as strips.
For example, an unused vertical strip of 4 of Victoria 1850 3d bright blue "Half Length" was sold for $94,875 during Millennium Philatelic Auctions in Sydney on October 11, 2006. It was part of Ken Barelli collection of "Classic Victoria" sets that made many new price records at this sale. Although two of the stamps have significant creases on them, the strip succeeded to fetch such an incredible sum. The price of the strip in perfect condition would be much higher.
£1 Kangaroo and Map chestnut & bright blue stamp, 1916
£1 Chestnut & Bright Blue Kangaroo and Map stamp is a unique vintage stamp of Australian philately. A variety of this famous issue with large “OS” (Official stamps) punctures is quite interesting for collectors, especially in an unused condition. Experts assert that only one unused specimen and about a dozen used samples are available on the market today.
A rare variety of £1 Chestnut & Bright Blue Kangaroo and Map stamp with watermark sideways and showing a break in right frame 10mm, in a mint condition, appeared at Spink auction in May 2018. Considered as one of the greatest Australia Commonwealth rarities, this special item from the Cooke printing realized £45,000 or roughly $62,609.
1p King George V red stamp, 1914-1920
6d Queen Victoria green pair of stamps, 1902
1902 6d green Queen Victoria pair is a unique Australian philatelic item. The 6 value of these two stamps is shown in the lower corners only, whereas the regular issues have the value in all 4 corners. This is the only pair ever recorded and about 16 singles are known to exist. The pair was discovered in an old album consigned for auction, but the owner had no idea that this item was so exceptional.
1902 6d green Queen Victoria pair was bought by an English dealer for $44,270 in Melbourne on October 21, 2006.
20 shillings Postage Due stamp, 1908
1908 Australian 20 shillings Postage Due is an extreme Australian philatelic rarity. The stamp was released to replace the previous postage due series, which featured the value in the border. Such a printing caused difficulties in distinguishing shillings from pence. The replacement postage dues featured a stroke after the 20-shilling. They were distributed to some areas of Australia. As the stamps couldn`t be purchased in Post Office, only a few of them were used before the other replacement was introduced.
The example of a used 20 shilling with stroke (shown here) was sold for £25,000 or roughly $34,810 at Robert A Siegel auction in New York in November 2013.
Mossgreen offered another fine example of 20-shilling postage due at its Feb. 27-28 auction, 2017, where it managed to fetch $29,600.
£15 Queen Victoria Postage & Revenue stamp, 1886
£15 Queen Victoria (QV) Postage & Revenue stamp is a valuable vintage stamp of South Australia. This stamp is from the so-called “Long” type and features 11½-12 perforations. Only a few stamps were produced mostly for fiscal use, even as fiscally used it is extremely rare. £15 QV Postage & Revenue stamp is, without doubt, an important unique rarity for everyone who wants to form a complete collection of South Australia.
A fine unused example, of brilliant freshness, well-centered, and in superb condition appeared at the Corinphila auction that took place on May 31, 2018. A truly wonderful example of this expensive collectible managed to fetch $32,767.
Queen Victoria 3d on 4d with surcharge omitted ultramarine, 1872
Queen Victoria 3d on 4d ultramarine issued in 1872 is the premier rarity of South Australian philately. Philatelists assert that only thirteen examples exist nowadays: three unused (one in the Royal collection) and ten used (four owned by institutions). Therefore, the collectors can find only two unused and six used examples on the market.
Queen Victoria 3d on 4d ultramarine, surcharge omitted, was offered by Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions at its sale of “The Jack M. Shartsis Collections” in March 2014.
The specimen offered here was acquired by Mr. Shartis in a Christies Robson Lowe Melbourne auction in May of 1988. This spectacular vintage stamp, extraordinarily bright, fresh, and well centered, in a very fine condition, realized $28,000.
5d King George V block of 4 stamps, 1918
King George V (KGV) 5d stamp block is a rare block of four that is the largest multiple of the Australian King George V 5d from Official stamps series with "OS" punctures. The block is considered to have been printed on paper left over from the 1d 1918 printing, which explains its use of rough bright chestnut paper.
Today George V 5d stamp block is one of the most important multiples of the King George V series. This unique philatelic item highlighted a major stamp auction in Sydney, Australia on May 23, 2012 and fetched $23,490.
2d Postage Due stamp, 1909-1910
The 1909-1910 2d rose and yellow-green is the only unused example of the Postage Due stamp in existence. This unique item was part of John du Pont's legendary stamp collection.
John du Pont is famous as the man who bought the most famous stamp in existence, the British Guiana 1c Magenta, as well as being an eccentric multimillionaire and convicted murderer. After the collector died in 2010, the unique 1909-1910 Australia 2d Postage Due was auctioned in the UK. Struck from Die II, it was offered without gum in fantastic condition. The item was sold by a London auction house for $13,587 on March 6, 2013.
