$2,006,000
Inverted Jenny stamp, 1918
Inverted Jenny is one of the most famous error stamps. Issued on 10 May 1918, this is the USA stamp that has a face value of 24 cents. The mistake that occurred during the process of printing made this philatelic item so unique. The stamp features the image of the Curtiss JN-4 airplane that was accidentally printed upside-down. A Washington, DC, Post Office clerk — who had never seen an airplane — sold a sheet of 100 stamps mistakenly showing the wrong image of a biplane. Almost all stamps with the error were destroyed; however, it is widely considered that those one hundred items with the error managed to survive.One of the finest examples of Inverted Jenny stamp was sold for slightly more than $1,35 million at Robert A. Siegel auction that took place on May 31, 2016.Unseen for the last 100 years, Jenny Invert Position 49 was rediscovered by the philatelists in September 2018. This lot in pristine condition was sold for $1,350,000 ($1,593,000 with buyer's premium) at Siegel auction on November 15, 2018.In 2019 Spink traded the unique center line block of four Inverted Jenny stamps in sound condition, with the disturbed gum for $ 1,740,000. One of the few Mint Never-Hinged copies of the Inverted Jenny (Position 77) appeared at Siegel auction on March 31, 2021, where it realized $944,000.On 8th November 2023, Robert A Siegel auctioned the Jenny Invert Position 49 stamp (illustrated above) once again. The stamp was knocked down to an anonymous buyer for $2,006,000, including an 18% auction premium.
$1,475,000
2c George Washington carmine vertical coil pair of stamps, 1908
George Washington 2c carmine vertical coil pair is widely regarded as one of the most important rarities of the United States philatelic history. The experts assert that only five pairs exist nowadays. One of the examples is in the Miller Collection that is kept at the New York Public Library). Of the all certified mint pairs, the pair illustrated here and one other are the only ones whose centering grades at least very fine.This example appeared at Cherrystone auction in July 2019. The lot described as “bottom stamp centered to top, pencil signed G.B. Sloane, top stamp well centered, beautiful color, fine-v.f., with 1985 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates” was hammered down at $700,000.Previously this item was auctioned for $325,000 at Spink auction in 2002.In April 2021, one of the known four pairs (illustrated here) and two covers sold for $1,475,000 at the Siegel auction.
$1,400,000
15c Abraham Lincoln stamp, 1867
In the heat of the Civil War, the US government annulled the existing stamps and adopted revamped designs. The ‘60s issue added two new political leaders – Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. These are actually the oldest US stamps that can still be used to send letters.The unique 15¢ Lincoln plate block of 8 was sold by Robert A Siegel in October, 2018. The lot that was a part of the hilarious William Gross’ collection fetched $140,000.In July 2019 Cherrystone auctioned 1867 15c black, Z Grill with geometric cancel (shown here), centered to right, completely sound, at its sale of “The New Amsterdam Collection of United States Rarities”. The lot fetched an incredible price of $1,400,000.
$1,200,000
24c Declaration of Independence stamp with inverted center error, 1869
This impressive stamp commemorates the historic proclamation of independence of the United States. On July 4th, 1776, thirteen American colonies that were involved in a bloody war with Great Britain proclaimed themselves independent states and refused to recognize the rule of the British Empire. Numerous nations all over the world followed the example of the U.S. by creating their own independence declarations, which laid the foundations of global democracy and fair international relationship. Like other stamps of the issue, the Declaration of Independence is printed in two colors, green and violet, and can be rightfully called a miniature masterpiece. Artist John Smillie made an exquisite and highly precise copy of the similarly named painting by John Trumbull, having engraved 42 persons with six principal figures recognizable only through a magnifying glass. The 24 cent stamp uses a G grill and comes with split grill, double grill or basic gum. An unused sample with an inverted center is currently valued at $275,000.1869 24-cent specimen with an inverted center, #120b, unused, no gum, certified fine, was sold for a record $1.2 million at Philip Weiss Auctions on February 9, 2008.Whereas the unique block of 24c Declaration of Independence stamp with the inverted center was offered by Robert A Siegel at its auction of William Gross’ collection in October, 2018. The lot fetched $625,000.The single error stamp in an unused condition (illustrated here) fetched $525,000 at Siegel's sale of “The David Wingate Collection of United States Stamps” collection in April, 2018.
$1,180,000
Alexandria “Blue Boy” stamp, 1947
Alexandria “Blue Boy” is widely regarded as an icon of American philately and one of the most desirable provisional stamps. Experts assert that only seven such stamps were preserved, but almost all of them are “buff” or brownish-yellow. And only one specimen is designed in bright blue. This stamp is attached to a romantic letter sent in 1847 that was meant to be destroyed by the recipient but was not for some reason. The sender was James Hoof, who wrote to Janette Brown against the wishes of her family. But the cover survived and was revealed 50 years later in Janette’s sewing box. It was part of many famous collections and fetched incredible prices every time it appeared at an auction.
A vintage Blue Boy stamp on the envelope was sold for $1,000,000 at David Feldman SA rarity auction in 1981. A cover franked with a unique blue Alexandria stamp was sold for $1.18 million by H.R. Harmer on June 22, 2019.
$1,000,000
10с George Washington green Z-Grill stamp, 1867
3c George Washington stamp, 1867
The first president of the U.S., or rather his portrait, was extensively involved in the history of American postal printing. George Washington is one of the key figures in the history of the United States. He practically carried the nation on his shoulders through the Revolutionary War and oversaw the creation of the first American Constitution. Without him, the U.S. would have never become the strong, prosperous and influential country it is now. His profile crowned the 1867 stamp series and was available in several variations. However, our main interest lies with the three-cent B grill stamp in rose printing.One of the finest specimens of this impressive issue (shown here) was sold for $900,000 by Robert A Siegel in October 2008.In 2016 Siegel offered the example of this rarity centered to the upper left, with fancy cork cancel of Mason Tex. and part of red cancel at the bottom, for $575,000.Cherrystone auctioned 1867 B. Grill1867 3c rose with black grid cancel for $661,250 on July 10, 2019. This was one of the starring lots of “The New Amsterdam Collection of United States Rarities”.
$850,000
1c Benjamin Franklin stamp, 1868
Another popular stamp associated with the Civil War issue is devoted to Benjamin Franklin, a famous political theorist, diplomat, author, scientist, and the president of Pennsylvania. Dubbed “the First American” for his extensive political campaign in support of colonial unity, Franklin played a key part in shaping the American mentality as the union of practical values and social tolerance. The Post Office Department used his profile taken from Houdon’s bust for multiple stamp designs starting from 1847. The 1c Benjamin Franklin stamp issued in 1868 features a rare Z Grill with horizontal ridges, just like two other designs from the series depicting Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. At present, there are only two existing samples that are very high priced.Robert A Siegel Sold the stamp 1c Benjamin Franklin stamp as part of the Robert Zoellner collection at its sale that took place inOctober 1998. The lot fetched $850,000.InOctober 2005, Bill Gross traded his block of four “Inverted Jenny” airmail stamps purchased for $2.97 million for a 1c Z Grill that belonged to Donald Sundman who bought it in 1988 for $930,000. It is the only Z Grill in private hands, and the only other copy is kept in the New York Public Library.
$800,000
15c Landing of Columbus stamp with center inverted error, 1869
Like the Declaration of Independence, the Landing of Columbus is a copy of a famous painting by John Vanderlyn that depicts the historical arrival of the Spanish expedition to the shores of the New World. Columbus and his crew reached the previously unknown land in 1492 and thus put America on the map for the entire Europe. If not for that, the U.S. wouldn’t have existed at all.Designed in blue and brown, 15c Landing of Columbus stamp features an unusual double-printed vignette, with both normal and inverted printing applied. This interesting item has a G grill common for the 1869 pictorial issue and is available with double or split grill. Over a century ago, people could buy it for just 15 cents.Nowadays, an unused inverted sample goes for $275,000. The block of six 15c Landing of Columbus stamps that was part of a famous William Gross collection was sold for $150,000 by Robert A Siegel in October, 2018.The copy of the stamp with the inverted center, in an unused, very fine condition, considered as the only specimen with original gum, was auctioned by Robert A Siegel in October 2013. The lot fetched an incredible price of $800,000.
$600,000
The Shield, Eagle and Flags stamp belongs to the 1869 pictorial issue that included ten items worth between 1 and 90 cents. The series was the first to feature something other than national leader portraits. It also marked the first use of bicolor printing. Spelled out in red letters, the denomination number flows over into the blue-framed flags through the red shield. Due to the oddly placed denomination and the confusing arrangement of colors, the stamp was often criticized as an example of a bad design. The new technique required double-pressing: to print the center design also known as vignette and to print the frame. Negligence in merging the two processes led to the appearance of rare inverts.The 30-cent worth Shield and Flag piece with inverted flags is considered to be the rarest of the 1869 error stamp. Incredibly popular nowadays, the 1869 pictorial series was ignored by the 19th-century public and soon withdrawn from production. Since the stamps were only in use for a year, they are almost impossible to find. The Shield and Flag design features the G grill and is available in several variations, including split grill, double grill, and gum only. While an unused sample with inverted flags is valued at $210,000, a used example costs $65,000. The finest of the unused specimens and the only example known with original gum (illustrated in the article) was sold for $600,000 at Siegel auction in October 2013.In 2014 the same auction house sold the other unused example of the error stamp with deep rich colors and proof-like impressions for $290,000.One more specimen of the 30¢ Shield, Eagle and Flags with flags inverted from the 1869 pictorial series fetched a record price of $310,500 at Siegel auction that took place in April 2016.Whereas Cherrystone offered one of only three known sound copies of this premier rarity for $250,000 at its “The New Amsterdam Collection of United States Rarities” sale on July 10, 2019.
$600,000
Hawaiian Missionaries 2-cent stamp, 1851
The first Hawaiian stamps appeared in 1851. These designs are now referred to as the "Hawaiian Missionaries" because they were frequently used by American missionaries on the islands to send letters back to the continental United States. The new stamps were released in Honolulu in three denominations (2-cent, 5-cent, and 13-cent). Because the first "Hawaiian Missionaries" were crudely engraved and printed on thin and poor quality paper, very few of these items have survived and are considered to be extreme rarities.
The lowest denomination, the 1851 two-cent version, is the most interesting of the set, with only about 16 copies known to exist today. One of the finest copies of Hawaiian Missionaries 2-cent, 1851 was sold for $600,000 at Siegel’s sale of “The Honolulu Advertiser Collection” in November 1995.
The same sample that was part of a famous “United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection” was sold by Siegel in October 2018. Considered as the only unused example and the finest among the recorded specimens, the lot fetched $525,000 (or $619,500 with buyer's premium).
$375,000
1c Benjamin Franklin stamp, 1851
1851 Benjamin Franklin is one of the oldest U.S. stamps. It is designed in blue color and features an imperforate frame. Because the plates were laid by hand, the stamps often required re-cutting to adjust their position, individual designs came with various impressions, which led to the recognition of eight basic types. The item we are talking about relates to the Ib type. Basically, it is the same as the I type that takes advantage of a specially calculated position on the steel plate to achieve the original, unaltered die impression. In the b variation, though, the balls under the bottom label look more blurred.Today, only two mint samples and 100 used Benjamin Franklin stamps are believed to exist. Once denominated in one cent, the design now costs $5,000 to $12,000 apiece, with a huge price of $120,000 offered for used first-day cover examples. A rare sound four-margin example of 1c Benjamin Franklin stamp, position 7R1E, fetched $375,000 at Siegel auction that took place in October, 2007.In 2019 Siegel traded this specimen for $120,000.
$340,000
5c Thomas Jefferson brown A-Grill stamp, 1867
5c Thomas Jefferson Brown A Grill stamp, 1867 is a stunning US item that is widely considered by philatelists as a gem of the United States philatelic history. Experts claim that only four specimens (all of which are cancelled) can be found on the market today. Two are in shades of Brown, and two are in the true Dark Brown shade. The USA was the first country to release grilled stamps and was the only state to so until the mid-1870-s. The letters in the name of the stamp classify different grill types. For example, the “A” grill covers the entire stamp.The example of Thomas Jefferson 5cGrill stamp in a perfect condition, featuring deep rich color, and very fine perforations, appeared at Siegel auction on December 12, 2018. The lot fetched an incredible price of $340,000.
$310,000
