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 Portuguese stamps
The first postage stamps of Portugal appeared in 1853. Their design featured the head of the monarch that was simply embossed on a coloured background. The first pictorial issue came out in 1894 for commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Henry the Navigator. Also, in 1898, the anniversary of Vasco da Gama voyage to India was celebrated by another spectacular stamp release. The amazing history of Portugal and of the Portuguese Empire has often been documented on commemorative issues, making these items very popular with worldwide stamp collectors, thematic stamp collectors, and philatelic specialists.
Don Carlos I bisect surcharge 5a on 10a, 1911
Don Carlos I bisect surcharge 5a on 10a, 1911 is one of the brightest stamps issued by Portuguese Macao that was established as one of Portuguese settlement in mid-16th century. The item shows a portrait of Don Carlos I who served as the King of Portugal from 1861 to 1889. In the wake of the revolution of 1910, the government overprinted a great number of the Carlos stamps with "REPUBLICA" and shipped those out to Macau. Such a complicated situation demanded some creativity from postal workers. Thus they decided to produce 2a and 5a values by overprinting the new value diagonally in upper right and lower left corners of 4a and 10a stamps, then bisecting them on the diagonal. In such a way Don Carlos I bisect surcharge 5a on 10a stamp was created. The unused example of this impressive philatelic item in a very fine condition was sold for $7,632 at Interasia auction that took place in December, 2018.
10r yellow "King Luiz" overprint, 1868
1868 10r yellow "King Luiz" stamp with Type A overprint was issued by the Azores – one of Portugal’s colonies. It features Luís I of Portugal who was a member of the House of Braganza, and King of Portugal from 1861 to 1889. The second son of Maria II and Ferdinand II, he acceded to the throne upon the death of his brother Pedro V. Nowadays this stamp is considered as the key rarity of the Azores and one of the most interesting issues of all the Portuguese colonies. 1868 10r yellow "King Luiz" stamp in a superb condition was offered by Cherrystone at its sale that took place in December, 2011. The unused example with large part of original gum, margins all around, was sold for $6,250.
Queen Maria II 100r lilac stamp, 1853
The first Portugal stamps, for the prepayment of postage on letter mail, were released during 1853. This issue features the profile of Queen Maria II who reigned as Queen of Portugal from 1826 to 1828, and again from 1834 to 1853. She first became the ruler at just seven years old. Deposed two years later, she returned to the throne at age 15 and reigned until her death. One of the rarest denominations within this issue is 100 Reis stamp. As philatelists assert there are fewer than a dozen genuine specimens of this scarce philatelic item that have survived. A very fine example of Queen Maria II 100r lilac stamp, featuring large part of original gum, was offered by Daniel F Kelleher Auctions in February, 2013. Described by the auction house as “one of the great European rarities”, the lot fetched $5,000 at this sale.
King Pedro V (straight hair) 5r red-brown stamp, 1855
King Pedro V (straight hair) 5r red-brown is an attractive Portuguese stamp issued in 1855. Its design has the embossed profile of King Pedro V who was the son of queen regnant Dona Maria II of the House of Braganza. He ascended to the Portuguese throne in 1853 and ruled until his death in 1861. Pedro V was an intelligent and hard-working monarch that was highly regarded by the Portuguese people. King Pedro V (straight hair) 5r red-brown stamp, 1855 type II, unused, without gum, was offered at David Feldman’s auction that took place in September, 2013. The lot in a very fine condition, the rarest of the seven types, was sold for $2,280.
NATO 3rd Anniversary stamp, 1952
NATO 3rd Anniversary stamp is a commemorative stamp issued by Portugal in 1952, for the Alliance’s third anniversary. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. NATO 3rd Anniversary stamp is one of the first philatelic items devoted to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The blocks of 4 NATO stamps, with original gum, never hinged, was offered by Shuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auction in December, 2004. The lot in a fresh, very fine condition, fetched $1,100.
Queen Maria II 50r green stamp, 1853
Queen Maria II 50r green stamp, released in 1853, is one of the first Portuguese stamps. This imperforate item features the embossed profile of Queen Maria II. She reigned as Queen of Portugal from 1826 to 1828, and again from 1834 to 1853. Maria was nicknamed "the Good Mother" for her kindness and child bearing prowess. The authentic examples of this impressive issue are very desirable in philatelic circle. One of the finest specimens of Queen Maria II 50r green stamp appeared at Postiljonen’s Jubilee Auction that took place in April, 2012. The lot was realized for $967.
Portuguese India 900r violet stamp, 1876
Portuguese India 900r Violet stamp is one of the most interesting philatelic items presented by Portuguese India, which was a state of the Portuguese Overseas Empire, founded six years after the discovery of a sea route between Portugal and the Indian Subcontinent. The design of Portuguese India 900r Violet stamp simply consists of a denomination in the center, with an oval band containing the inscriptions "SERVIÇO POSTAL" and "INDIA PORT". The dies were recut several times and printed on several kinds of paper, resulting in a highly collectible philatelic item. Very fine and rarely offered sample of Portuguese India 900r Violet stamp was sold for $750 at Siegel auction that took place in June, 2013.
St. Anthony 1000r stamp, 1895
St. Anthony 1000r stamp was issued in 1895 and is now one of the most desirable philatelic items. The stamp designed in blue colour features Saint Anthony of Padua, also known as Anthony of Lisbon. He was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. St. Anthony was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church history. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 16 January 1946. He is also the patron saint of lost things. St. Anthony 1000r stamp in a very fine condition was sold at Cherrystone auction in September, 2004. The lot with occasional short perfs, mostly fresh, fetched $725.
Portuguese Guinea 5r black stamp, 1881
Portuguese Guinea 5r black stamp is one of the most attractive stamps issued by Portuguese Guinea. It was a West African colony of Portugal from the late 15th century until 10 September 1974, when it gained independence as Guinea-Bissau. This is one of the first stamps of Portuguese Guinea that were released 1881, overprinting stamps of Cape Verde. Very fine, an incredible scarce example of Portuguese Guinea 5r black stamp appeared at Siegel auction that took place in June, 2013. Signed Bloch and with clear 1975 Friedl certificate, the lot featuring wonderful centering was sold for $500.
Queen Maria 5r orange brown stamp, 1853
Queen Maria 5r orange brown stamp, 1853 is one of the first Portuguese issues. It bore a portrait of Queen Maria II, but the stamp did not say “Portugal” until 1866. The item only contained the word correio, Portuguese for “mail,” is a hint of the country of origin on the earlier stamps. A magnificent used example of Queen Maria 5r orange brown appeared at Corinphila’s auction that took place in September, 2013. The item featured good colour with large margins on all sides, merest trace of hinge thin in margin only at top. Described by the auction house as “a very fine stamp”, the lot was sold for $343.
