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 17 August 2021
Most valuable Russian and Soviet stamps
Russian stamps are quite popular among collectors nowadays. Under “Russian stamps” we understand those philatelic items that were issued in time of the Russian Empire, USSR and the Russian Federation. The immense amount of Russian stamps offers a wonderful opportunity for a philatelic study! Aside from the general issues, which are quite manageable, there are many watermark, paper, and perforation varieties. Collecting Russian stamps has a worldwide interest, and as a result, some of the philatelic items issued by this country are very rare and valuable. Here is the list of the top ten rarest Russian stamps that fetch thousands of dollars when they appear at auctions.
All-Union Philatelic Exhibition souvenir sheet, 1932
One of the most expensive Russian philatelic items is 1932 All-Union Philatelic Exhibition souvenir sheet, on carton paper that is world famous as “Kartonka”. It is one of the gems of Soviet philately, given as a souvenir to invited guests of the exhibition. The souvenir sheet consists of four stamps on thick card, with the unique three line personalized overprint “To the best shock worker of the All Russian Philatelic Society – President of the Moscow Philatelic Organization E.M. Nurkas”, issued without gum. The “Kartonka” souvenir sheet (illustrated here) was sold for $776,250 at Cherrystone auction in 2008. One more copy of this rare collectible appeared at Cherrystone auction that took place in September 2010. This expensive philatelic item, remarkably fresh and free of the usual toning, minor corner crease at upper right, achieved $100,000. Another specimen of the ''Kartonka'' souvenir sheet, pre-printed at the top with text: ''Obrazets k Dokladu V C I K No. 16832'', officially signed, in a very fine condition, was sold at Raritan Stamps in April 2017. The lot was sold for $100,000.
Tiflis stamp, 1857
Tiflis Unique is a rare stamp with great value that was released on the territory of the Russian Empire (nowadays this is a territory of the Georgia Republic). Produced in 1857, the item is regarded as the first stamp issued by the Russian Postal Service. Experts assert that only five copies of this vintage stamp survived and are available to collectors. A fine specimen of Tiflis Unique (shown here) was auctioned by David Feldman in 2008. The lot managed to fetch €480,000 (or above $700,000) at this sale. The copy of this unique collectible that was newly discovered in an old Oppens album in New Zealand in 2016, appeared at Spink auction in October 2017. The unused specimen with no gum was expected to fetch £70,000-£100,000 but was sold for a much higher price of £165,000, or roughly $228,761 (in 2021).
Levanevsky stamp with an overprint, 1935
The Sigizmund Levanevsky stamp with commemorative red overprint “Moscow – San Francisco flight via the North Pole” was issued in 1935. Only two sheets (50 stamps) of the inverted surcharge were printed (40 with the regular overprinted, 10 with small “f”). There is a legend according to which this was not an error of the typographers, but the result of a special instruction of Henry Yagoda. He was fond of philately and wanted to have a real collection of rare philatelic items, including some error stamps. One of "Levanevsky with an overprint" stamps was sold for $625,000 at the Cherrystone auction in 2008.
“Consular Poltinnik” stamp, 1922
“Consular poltinnik” is a rare 50-kopeck Russian consular tax stamp with an overprint "Air Post 1,200 germ.(an) marks ". This is one of the most expensive postage stamps of Russian philately. The series was produced by order of the embassy of the USSR in Germany and was intended for franking service correspondence sent by air mail to Moscow. As the release of these stamps was not coordinated with the People's Commissar of the USSR, the stamps were withdrawn. Philatelists assert that no more than 50-75 copies of “Consular poltinnik” stamps were preserved. One of the specimens of this unique philatelic item was sold for $63,250 at the Cherrystone auction in January 2008. At the sale conducted by the same auction house in September 2008, another impressive specimen of this rare collectible (shown here) realized $190,000 or $218,500 with buyer’s premium. In June 2012, Robert A Siegel sold a very fine and choice rare 1200 on 50-kopek Air Post Official issue for $37,500. David Feldman traded an unused example of this vintage stamp, described as “fresh and very fine,” with a hinge remnant, for $36,600. The auction took place in June 2017.
20k black & red-brown Telegraph stamp, 1866
1866 20k black, red-brown perforated 12 is well known as the first Russian telegraph stamp. This vintage item features the coat of arms of St. Petersburg and was issued in sheets of 35 (5 rows of 7). All these telegraph stamps were typographed, and printed on white wove paper without a watermark. Only a few of the unsurcharged stamps came into people’s hands and they are amongst the rarest of telegraph stamps. 1866 20k black, red-brown, perforated 12, unused with full original gum, well centered, was sold at Cherrystone auction in November 2019. The lot, absolutely sound, unusually fresh, with intact perforations on all sides, achieved an incredible price of $20,500. Besides, this particular example of the rare collectible was also sold in a 2009 Cherrystone Auction for $46,000 (including buyer's premium).
World Peace Cruise stamp, 1964
1964 World Peace Cruise stamp was to be issued in honor of the forthcoming diplomatic visit of Nikita Khrushchev to Sweden. However the trip of the first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee never took place, as Khrushchev was removed from power. Therefore the stamp was withdrawn and never issued. Only a few copies of this legendary Russian philatelic item exist today. A very fine example of 1964 World Peace Cruise stamp was sold $28,750 at Cherrystone auction in 2008.
Reunification of Carpatho-Ukraine and Ukraine stamp, 1965
Reunification of Carpatho-Ukraine and Ukraine, 1965 is one of the most prominent Russian philatelic items. The release of this special stamp celebrated the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Transcarpathian Ukraine with Soviet Ukraine. This eminent stamp was prepared but not issued for political reasons. One of the unreleased specimens of Reunification of Carpatho-Ukraine and Ukraine stamp was sold at Cherrystone auction in 2008. Perforated 12 ½ the item, printed on special ungummed Goznak security paper, fetched $26,000.
5r deep green Air Mail stamp, 1923
5r deep green is an impressive Soviet Union collectible that is thought of as a real philatelic rarity. This is a pictorial airmail USSR stamp that was prepared in August 1923 but never placed into use. The common design of this valuable issue features a Fokker F-111 in flight. Philatelists assert that only 25 specimens were printed therefore 5r deep green is probably one of the most sought-after stamps of the Soviet Union period. An extremely rare copy of this vintage philatelic item, printed on white paper, never hinged and post office fresh, in a very fine condition was offered by Cherrystone in July 2018. The lot without usual creases achieved $23,000. In April 2021, Raritan Stamps auctioned a 5r green, wide ''5'' variety of this expensive stamp (shown here), printed on ordinary paper, in an exceptional condition without gum creases, for $25,000.
250 years of historical victory in Poltava stamp, 1959
250 years of historical victory in Poltava, 1959 is an unissued USSR postage stamp. The stamp with the face value of 40 kopecks features Swedish troops led by Prime Minister Karl Piper and field marshals who put up flags before Peter I. The stamps were not released due to the fact that diplomatic relations between Sweden and USSR intensified. During one of the meetings, the leaders of both countries decided to destroy the whole series so as not to offend Swedish people by focusing on such an unpleasant event for them as defeat in the Battle of Poltava. A fresh and very fine example of 250 years of historical victory in Poltava stamp (illustrated in the article) was sold for $22,000 at Cherrystone in October 2008. A unique pair of this impressive collectible, never hinged, in a very fine condition, was offered by David Feldman in December 2016. The lot, which is considered as one of the greatest rarities of the modern USSR, fetched $17,735.
Study of the Polar Auroras stamp, 1957
The International Geophysical Year, held from July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958, provoked a certain philatelic interest in the world. Over one hundred scientific postage stamps were published. The USSR Post celebrated the IGY, releasing two interesting stamps. This was a pair of 40-penny postage stamps dedicated to the study of the polar auroras from the series "International Geophysical Year". A pair of these highly collectible philatelic items (a rare variety with linear perforations) was auctioned for $14,500 at Cherrystone auction in 2017.
The Blue Gymnast stamp, 1959
The stamp, known as the "Blue Gymnast", was released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Soviet circus. However, it was never put into circulation because of disagreements, what year to consider as the year of the circus creation: 1920-1921 or 1934. Many years later the date was set (1919), and the stamp was issued to mark the 60th anniversary of the circus in 1979. A copy of an unused but collectible stamp was sold for $13,800 at the Cherrystone auction in 2008.
“Limonka” stamp, 1925
"Limonka" is one of the most famous Russian postage stamps. Such a name the stamp has got due to its bright yellow color. It was issued in 1925. No more than hundreds of copies exist today. Almost all specimens of “Limonka” stamps are used, but the most precious specimens are in a mint condition. There is a history behind this unique philatelic item: when printing the stamps, the perforating machine was broken, while the other denominations were printed without problems. In order not to disrupt the supply of postage stamps, Goznak management decided to send this part of the stamps on time. One of the finest examples of the "Limonka" stamp (shown here) was auctioned by David Feldman in September 2012. It managed to fetch $13,100. 1924 “Limonka” typographed, in a mint condition, well centered and extremely rare, appeared at David Feldman auction in June 2021. This valuable collectible achieved EUR 8’500, or roughly $10,050.
