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 26 December 2023
Most valuable Great Britain stamps
The material produced by Great Britain is the Royalty of philately. British issues are the most well-known and popular stamps collected worldwide. These philatelic items are an important part even of the most sophisticated collections. The UK has an attractive and extensive selection of highly desirable stamps, proofs, trials, essays, errors, and postal history. Postal services have been around for over 2000 years, but postage stamps were first introduced in the year 1840 in Great Britain. The first ever stamp released was the Penny Black, which was engraved with the profile of Queen Victoria. After this grandiose event each stamp had to be cut out of a big sheet with scissors, and it was only in 1854 that perforated stamps, which could be easily detached from one another, were introduced. As Great Britain was the pioneer in creating stamps, there are many British philatelic items that are scarce and very expensive today. In such a way they present a great investment opportunity for collectors. The stamps are even accepted as donations by UK charities.
British Guiana 1-cent Magenta, 1856
Penny Red stamp, 1841
Penny Red is considered to be Great Britain's longest running stamp. It succeeded Penny Black and was issued in 1841. The color of Penny Black was changed because of difficulty in seeing a cancellation mark on the item. The black cancelation was better discerned on the red background of Penny Red. The rarest and most valuable variation of Penny Red is a plate of 77 Penny Reds, which date from 1863. This Plate of 77 items is very interesting because it was not meant to exist. The stamps were created but never sold by post offices after they were not considered to be of good enough quality. An incredibly rare Penny Red has become the UK’s second most valuable stamp after being sold to a private client in Australasia for £550,000. The auction was conducted by Stanley Gibbons in 2012. This record was broken by the other specimen of Penny Red Plate 77 (illustrated in the article) that was sold to the anonymous collector by Stanley Gibbons in March, 2016. This example has become the UK’s second most valuable stamp after being sold for £495,000, or roughly $716,000.
6d pale dull purple Edward VII stamp, 1904
The 1904 Edward VII 6d Pale Dull Purple (aka the IR Official) was withdrawn almost immediately after it was issued on March 14, 1904. It is often described as "Britain's rarest stamp". This philatelic item is so special because it was issued on the same day that an official order withdrawing all official stamps from use. Philatelists assert that only 19 sheets of 6d pale dull purple Edward VII were ever issued, and that all the sheets were destroyed when the official overprints were ceased. This impressive philatelic item (shown here) was sold for £400 000 by Stanley Gibbons in 2010. The other valuable copy of 1904 Edward VII 6d Pale Dull Purple (aka the IR Official), well centered, deep rich color, in a very fine condition, achieved $350,000 at Spink auction that took place in June, 2007. In October 2016 another example of the stamp in a very fine condition, featuring good color and light c.d.s cancellation was offered at Zanaria sale. The rarity was hammered down at €125.000, or roughly $145,165.
Penny Black stamp, 1840
Penny Black is one of the most collectible UK stamps, notable for being the first in the world to use an adhesive backing. This unique philatelic item was created in 1840. The stamp had one cent value and depicted the profile of Queen Victoria against a black background. Penny Black stamps have an interesting feature: each pane was cut by hand, resulting in great variance in consistency. As the items were issued in a great quantity, many Penny Blacks do still exist today, making them an excellent first purchase for anyone interested in beginning a collection of British stamps. Although the "Black Penny" is not so scarce, many philatelists want to have it in their collection because of its historical significance. However, the items from the early issue are regarded as real treasures. In June 2007, Spink auctioned one of the finest of the very few recorded registered covers bearing a Penny Black for $200,000. The lot was part of the remarkable collection of Great Britain postage stamps formed by William H. Gross. Penny Black 'earliest registration' stamp (Illustrated here) brought $345,100 in Chartwell sale organized by Spink in June, 2011. Another first day cover with Penny Black affixed, featuring a red May 6 London “6Ev” paid handstamp, realized $70,000 at Spink auction that took place in July, 2017.
2d Tyrian Plum stamp, 1910
The Tyrian Plum is one of the most interesting British stamps. Valued at over £100,000, this remarkable philatelic item was released during the reign of Edward VII. The stamp was produced to replace the two-colour two-penny issue that had the profile of King Edward VII. The majority of stamps were destroyed and immediately withdrawn because of the sudden death of the King that year in May. Only a tiny handful got into the market and only 12 known examples left undestroyed. That is the reason why the Tyrian Plum stamps are sought after today. A fine copy of this item (presented here) was sold from the Chartwell Collection for $159,500 at Spink auction that took place in 2011. The other specimen in great condition was sold for £48,300 ($77,826) at the Commander HM Simpson sale of Great Britain stamps, just below its £50,000-60,000 estimate. The auction took place in October, 2012. Whereas at Zanaria sale, which was conducted in October 2016, the unissued Edward VII violet 2½d was sold for € 65.000, or roughly $78,631.
£1 brown-lilac stamp, 1884
1884 £1 brown-lilac stamp is the brightest Victorian issues, ensuring plenty of interest among stamp collectors. The peculiarity of this particular item is that it features its original gum - a key factor in determining value. A specimen of the rare watermarked 1884 £1 stamp is worth over £25,000 in mint condition. These stamps were expensive even when they were first printed, with one costing more than the weekly pay of many workers. An outstanding example of 1884 £1 brown-lilac stamp was sold for $130,000 at Spink auction that took place in June, 2017. The item was a part of incomparable William H. Gross Collection of Great Britain.
The Roses Error stamp, 1978
The Roses Error stamp with the face value of 13p was released in 1978. The peculiarity of this issue is that its face value (13p) was not printed on three specimens. The reason of such an error is not known. So, there are only three Roses Error stamps left in the world. Two of them are owned by the Queen and the third item is possessed by the anonymous stamp collector. One of the examples of this great philatelic item was auctioned for £85,000 by dealers Stanley Gibbons in 2010. Misprinted stamps are in enormous demand among collectors as they are quite scarce and valuable.
£1 Brown Lilac on Blued Paper, 1882
£1 Brown Lilac on Blued Paper is an extremely fine gem of British philately. The rarity of this stamp is explained by several reasons: the large denominations were used only in major cities; the hobby of stamp collecting just began to gain popularity, and only a few enthusiasts could afford to spend a sterling pound on one stamp. In total, it is estimated that no more than 20-30 examples exist in original-gum condition. An impressive sound original-gum copy of the stamp from the Dimitris Bertsimas Collection of Great Britain appeared at Siegel auction in March 2019. The lot “perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, incredibly rich color on slightly blued paper” achieved $75,000. The specimen sold here is considered to be the finest one.
10sh Grey Green on Blued Paper, 1883
10sh Grey Green on Blued Paper is one of the rarest regularly issued unused stamps of Great Britain that is missing from even the most sophisticated collections. At the time of the release, there was no regular postal need for stamps of high denomination. They served as postage due stamps on the letter bill dockets and were used for bulk mailing in 1883. Reports also show that high denominations circulated in major cities. Therefore very few unused examples are available for stamp collectors nowadays. An incredible well-centered example of 10sh Grey Green on Blued Paper featuring “deep rich color on lightly blued paper, small inclusion on gum mentioned for complete accuracy only” appeared at Siegel auction in March 2019. The lot was hammered down at $40,000.
Two Penny Blue stamp, 1840
The 1840 "two penny blue" stamp is a remarkable British stamp that was issued after Penny Black. It is considered to be the world's second official postage stamp. The item was released in May 1840 and looked the same as the Penny Black stamp, but is blue instead of black. The peculiarity of this philatelic item is that it lacks the country’s name –it makes a stamp more interesting and valuable. One of the most eye-appealing of the few existing marginal Two Pence mint multiples (the block of six) was auctioned for $210,000 at Spink sale that took place in June, 2007. A rare example of the world's second official postage stamp, the two penny blue, starred in a US philatelic auction on August 24-25, 2012. The example at auction (illustrated here) was one of the earliest two penny blues issued, having been printed from plate 1 in position T-B. With wide margins except at the upper left, it was sold for $14,105. Whereas the block of four Penny Blue stamps in a rare deep shade in a remarkable condition was offered by Spink at its sale in May, 2020. The lot was hammered down at $48,557.
Prince Consort essay, 1850
The 1850 Prince Consort essays are amongst the most sought-after and costly British philatelic items. This puts them out of reach of ordinary collectors. The stamps were issued in 1851. They were designed by the artist Robert Edward Branston, who used an engraving executed by Samuel William Reynolds. The twelve positions of Prince Consort Essay have unique characteristics. They were printed in red, red-brown, black and blue. The 25 stamps perforated 16 by Archer are very costly. The majority is imperforate, and there is one rouletted example in the Royal Philatelic Collection. 1850 1d Black Prince Consort essay (shown here) was sold for $2,700 at Spink auction that took place in December, 2010. An unused specimen of 1840 Prince Consort Essay with full original gum, with margins all around, in a very fine condition, was sold for $2,500 at Cherrystone auction in February, 2018.
£1 Postal Union Congress stamp, 1929
£1 Postal Union Congress stamp is considered to be the most beautiful British stamps ever issued. It was released in 1929. This was only the second British commemorative stamp to be issued. The first were the British Empire Exhibition postage stamps of 1924-25. This particular item was released to mark the 1929 Postal Union Congress in London. Designed by Harold Nelson, the £1 features an intricate design of Saint George and the Dragon accompanied by a portrait of King George V. A fine example of this great philatelic item fetched $950 at Spink auction that took place in June, 2007.
