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 21 May 2021
Most valuable Finnish stamps
Finland has been issuing its own stamps since 1856. The philatelic items introduced by this country are characterized by the highest quality and interesting design. They commemorate both international and national themes. Finland’s postal history, particularly in its early years, reflects the country’s complicated relationship with neighbor and occasional occupier, Russia. The stamps produced by this country are very popular among collectors who specialize in Scandinavian philately. Early stamp issues that are both attractive and historically important are of a special interest and a large percentage of them are a good investment for philately enthusiasts.
10k Rose tête-bêche block of four, 1856
1856 10k Rose, tête-bêche block of four, is the renowned and unique mint block that contains two tête-bêche pairs. This item is thought by many philatelists as one of the most recognized classic rarities of the entire world. The experts assert that only three such mint tête-bêche blocks exist today. The finest specimen of this outstanding philatelic item was sold for $170,000 at Spink auction that took place in May, 2008. It was in possession of the respected philatelists like Mertens, Fabergé, Lichtenstein and Amundsen. The lot was described by the auction house as “brilliantly fresh and pristine, with large and wonderfully well balanced margins all around, full original gum, barely perceptible crease in one corner, extremely fine and stunning”.
20 kopek black stamp, 1850
Unique 20 kopek black on stationery envelope 1850 is the only recorded example on private hands. The other one is now in the Finnish Postal Museum. 20 kopek was not issued as postage stamp and it only exists on this stationery. It is very attractive and beautifully cancelled with a boxed postmark "Helsinki 1853" on the front as well as on the back. Widely considered as one of the most famous items in Finnish philately, the stationery was the crown jewel in Christian Sundman’s Finnish postal stationery collection which was twice awarded Large Gold internationally. This fantastic lot was offered with a starting price of 70 000 Euro (or roughly $81,159) at the Postiljonen Jubilee Auction # 200 on 28 April 2012.
5 Kopek blue tete-beche pair, 1856
5k blue tete-beche pair, 1856 is a scarce original-gum tete-bech pair of Finnish 5-kopeck stamps that are thought as one of the world’s most recognizable classic postal items. These stamps are among the first issues by Finland Post printed using the "work and turn" method that consists in the following: after printing the first horizontal row of ten stamps, the paper was turned to produce the second and final row. This magnificent pair that originally formed a block of four in the 1939 Agathon Faberge Collection is considered as one of the finest mint examples with small pearls in existence. Accompanied by 1943 Pelander lot card this interesting lot was auctioned for $42,500 at Siegel`s “Rarities of the World” sale that took place on May 19, 2001.
32p Coat of Arms cover, 1875
32p Coat of Arms cover, 1875 is special as it features a unique strip of 32 penni Coat of Arms stamps with Gutter! The letter was sent by ship from Finland to Sweden. It is the most remarkable cover franked with stamps of the 1875 issue and almost unthinkable that such an item can even exist. It is interesting that the postal clerk who sent this letter managed to take out a full strip from a double sheet and then put it on the envelope without any damage. In its turn the post in Åbo added beautiful cork cancellations to the cover giving it also a wonderful appearance. The Gutter Cover as it is sometimes called has been kept in the same collection for at least 40 years and probably much longer. It first appeared at the Postiljonen Spring Auction in Malmö 18-19 March, 2016 achieving a record price of $28,972.
20k Porto Stempel on envelope, 1845
A rare unused Finnish 1845 20k rose envelope features one of the earliest Finnish stamps at the bottom left that reads 'Porto Stempo'. This famous philatelic item was issued while the country was under the control of the Russian empire and known as the Grand Duchy of Finland. Only two unused envelopes with this unique stamp are known to exist. One of the examples in complete and unused condition described as “being in an excellent state” was sold by Cherrystone auction house in August, 2016, achieving $25,000.
5p carmine-brown tête-bêche pair, 1866
5p carmine-brown tête-bêche pair (positions 21 and 22) with roulette III is a notable Finnish philatelic item that entered postal circle in 1866. This pair is one of the utmost rarity and rank as one of the premier items in Finnish philately. Collectors claim that only 7 examples of famous 5p carmine-brown tête-bêche pair exist today, one of which is on cover. Such an item was offered for $23,207 at David Feldman auction in December, 2017. The lot is without question one of the premier highlights of the 1866-74 Rouletted issues and an absolute must for the most advanced exhibition collection.
10k rose on pale rose stamp, 1860
10k rose on pale rose stamp is the first printed Finnish stamp that appeared in 1860. The design of these items shows the coat of arms and they have a characteristic serpentine roulette perforation. These stamps were issued in Russian currency. The unusual used block of four 1860 10k rose on pale rose, roulette I, featuring wide horizontal spacing and narrow vertical spacing between the stamps, were sold for $8,500 at Spink sale that took place on May 16, 2008. The auction house described the lot as “exceptionally well centered, strong rich color, top and bottom pairs each with a nice strike of a low boxed "Jyväskylä/5 Decem. 1864" postmark, bottom right stamp with one missing tooth, very fine”. Being an important and rare used multiple, this block is thought to be a unique philatelic gem.
10m Zeppelin 1830 error overprint, 1930
10m Zeppelin 1830 error overprint, 1930 is a remarkable error stamp of Finland philatelic history. In 1930 the postal service overprinted 50,000 of its 10m Lake Saima stamps "Zeppelin 1930", thereby creating its first airmail. The items were released to be specifically used on the Graf Zeppelin return flight from Finland to Germany. Only 500 examples were overprinted "Zeppelin 1830" instead of "1930" thus creating this famous philatelic error. The mistake was found rather quickly, but nevertheless more than a half of the stamps were sold to the public. Most of the items with the overprint error are today preserved in mint condition. A cover with two 10m Zeppelin 1830 error stamps was sold by Siegel in June, 2016, achieving $7,500.
10p red brown on lilac error of color, 1866
10p red brown on lilac laid is one of the finest colour error stamps issued by Finland Post in 1866 that is thought as one of the greatest rarities of Finland philately. The mistake occurred when the wrong cliche was inserted into the 5p plate. The philatelists reckon that approximately 20 examples of the 10p red brown exist, unused or used. One of the finest copies of this stunning stamp error was offered by Siegel in May, 2001. The specimen featured the original gum and intact perforations adding to the value of this interesting philatelic item. Accompanied by Pelander lot card from 1944, the lot fetched $5,500 at this sale.
10m brown and rose stamp, 1885
10m brown and rose is one of the greatest definitive stamps issued by Finland Post in 1885. These items feature Finnish coat of arms and only 7,500 of the 10m high value were released. Many were probably used on parcels and then discarded. This is a truly scarce stamp, and its design is distinguishable from the more common 1890 10m brown and rose as it has the number "10" in all four corners. A very handsome mint block of four 10m brown and rose stamps, uncharacteristically well centered and margined, faintly hinged, in a very fine condition was auctioned for $1,450 by Spink on May 16, 2008.
