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 Danish stamps
Denmark is widely considered as one of the richest and most livable states in Europe. The national postal service in this prosperous country was founded in 1624 by King Christian IV. The first postage stamps were introduced on 1 April 1851. They were printed in brown and featured a square design with a crown, sword, and sceptre in the center. Since then the postal service has introduced a range of interesting philatelic items that are popular among philately enthusiasts today. For the stamp collector that takes the approach of collecting major stamps of Denmark, this can be a worthwhile adventure. Danish philately offers a number of fields for study, including plate and shade varieties on the earliest issues, the inverted frames on the later 19th Century issues, and the early vending booklets and booklet panes. Add on postal history and postmarks and collecting the stamps from Denmark could develop into a lifetime project.
2rs blue block of four, 1851
2rs blue is the second Danish stamp, which first appeared on April 28, 1851. Printed by the Royal printers, H.H. Thiele & Company, and designed by M. Ferslew, it is thought as quite scarce. But actually the multiplies of 2rs Blue stamps are even more interesting for philatelists. One of the two intact mint blocks 2rs Blue stamp s that were in private hands, was offered by David Feldman at its December 2011 Geneva Auction. This is the finer of two blocks that was owned by Ferrary, Lichtenstein, Engellau and Christian Andersen. At the auction it was sold to Per Lorentzen, who paid over $250,000 (in competition with Dr. Gene Scott), and it was one of the top four “gems” of his Grand Prix exhibit of Denmark. The other privately-owned block is believed to be held by the heirs of the late philatelic expert and connoisseur Walter Engel.
2rs blue Thiele printing pair, 1852
1852 2rs blue Thiele printing pair is a stunning and unique exhibition piece for the finest collection of Denmark or simply for the connoisseur of gem quality classics of the world. It was once the part of Maurice Burrus’ collection. Afterwards the pair was bought by William Gross who offered it as a part of his Scandinavia Collection at Spink auction that took place on May 16, 2008. The lot in a condition that is unimaginable for a stamp from the classic period of philately fetched $75,000. Besides being in optimal condition, any mint multiple of this stamp is an immense rarity as only two blocks of four and two mint pairs exist in private hands. This is also the only multiple with a sheet margin.
2-rigsbank-skilling blue stamp, 1851
As mentioned above 2rs blue is the second Danish stamp that is even rarer than the first one. However, there is some even more interesting examples that can be found among 2rs blue stamp series like an item that possess a unique colour shade that is called Prussian blue. Such a stamp appeared at the Postiljonen auction that took place in October, 2015. This spectacular mint example of 1851 2-rigsbank-skilling blue, wonderfully centered within full margins, was offered with a starting price of $17,000. Accompanied by a Carl Aage Moller certificate that stamp was described as follows: “by quality the finest existing of the few known unused copies of 2 Rigsbankskilling Ferslew print; an outstanding copy in flawless condition.” Its provenance includes the grand prix national collection of Stig Andersen and the grand prix international collection of Peer Lorentzen.
4 FIRE RBS block of six, 1851
4 FIRE RBS stamp is Denmark’s first issue. Denominated “FIRE RBS” (4 Rigsbankskillings) the stamp was designed and engraved by M.W.Ferslew, court engraver, who worked for the royal printers, H.H. Thiele & Co. Ferslew made the design and first printings but following his death, Thiele took over the task of printing the stamps. This interesting item has a square design made in brown colour; it also displays a crown, sword, and scepter in the center.
4 FIRE RBS block of six is the largest multiple recorded of Denmark`s first stamp. Featuring light mute cancelation and good - wide margins all around the block was offered by Positijonen auction house at its sale that took place in September, 2018. This superb exhibition item fetched $11,530.
Inverted frame "4 ORE" surcharge, 1912
Inverted frame "4 ORE" surcharge on 8o slate and carmine is one of the gems of Danish philately. This is enormously rare inverted frame variety of which very few exist today. Only 20 used examples and one mint were recorded by philatelists. The unused stamp has the "deformed 4" variety which occurred only on position B59 (therefore this can be the only example of the inverted frame with this plate variety). Wonderfully well centered and featuring strong rich colors inverted frame "4 ORE" surcharge in an unused very fine condition was sold by Spink on September 14, 2002. This stamp is widely considered as one of the most impressive philatelic items of 20th century Denmark. It was part of “The Peter Balner Collection of Inverted Centers” and fetched $7,250 at this sale.
8s green horizontal pair, 1858
1858 8s Green pair is one of the most interesting philatelic items from Denmark. The stamps in this pair are typographed, imperforate, and have wavy lines in the spandrels around the wreath. A faint yellowish brown burelage was also applied over the top of the stamps. The pair in an exceptional quality, mint condition was offered by Spink during the sale of “William H. Gross Collection of Scandinavia” that took place on May 16, 2008. The lot featuring “large margins all around, bright fresh color, large part of original gum, in an extremely fine condition” fetched $2,100. This handsome pair is the largest recorded unused multiple of this scarce stamp that was included in the handbook The Classic Stamps of Denmark, published in 1992.
4s chestnut brown stamp, 1854
1854 4s chestnut brown is one of the most distinctive Denmark’s stamps with an interesting shade. The item features a crown and a wreath around which there is dotting in the spandrels. A single mint example of this great philatelic item that was a part of the renowned “William H. Gross Collection of Scandinavia” was sold by Spink on May 16, 2008. The stamp features a distinctive shade, being one of the most elusive of the many shades found on this item. This spectacular lot was described by the auction house as having “deep luxuriant color and a crisp impression, four full to mostly large margins, large part o.g., very fine”. Being accompanied with 1980 Kaiser and 1998 Paaskesen certificates, 1854 4s chestnut brown fetched $1,900.
38o orange newspaper stamp, 1914
38o orange newspaper stamp, 1914 is one of the most notable newspaper stamps issued by Denmark Post. It was used to pay the cost of mailing newspapers and other periodicals. A select quality example of this interesting stamp appeared at Siegel auction in June, 2015. The lot in a very fine condition, brilliantly fresh and well-centered, was offered for $3,250, but only managed to fetch $1,600. The stamp accompanied with owner’s handstamp and 2015 Sismondo certificate was once a part of the World Traveler Collection.
90 Ø King Christian X stamp, 1920
90 Ø King Christian X stamp, 1920 is a one of the rarest Danish stamps. It features the right-facing portrait of was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only king of Iceland, between 1918 and 1944. By the time his portrait first appeared on Danish stamps, Christian was already 85 years old. He died of natural causes on January 29, 1906, barely two years after the postal items with his portrait were issued. The stamp is printed in two colours – brown and red. It is interesting that there are not that many denominations in this series. Due to the fact that this series was issued over such a long period of time, there was a need for occasional color changes, but not the denominations. The block of four 90 Ø King Christian X stamps in a generally fresh condition, featuring sheet corner margin with imprints, was offered for $1,500 by Cherrystone in October, 2018.
5ore green Aalborg Kiosk Company stamp, 1900
The “Locals” of Denmark, known commonly as the “Byposts”, which translated simply means “Town Posts”, “By” in Danish meaning “town” or “village” are quite important branch of Danish philately. It is considered that Denmark issued around 1100 “local” stamps. In the second part of the 19th Century, stamps of the local and private posts were looked upon by almost every collector as an essential part of their collection. The philatelic press of the world gave as much prominence to their new issues as to those of the Government posts. One of such bright stamps is 5ore green Aalborg (Kiosk Company stamp) that was offered for $1,369 by Grosvenor at one of its historic sales that took place in February, 2016. Being in a fine, but used condition, this stamp is the only recorded example in Denmark's philately.
