One of the most interesting parts of stamp collecting is keeping an eye on how much rare stamps are worth throughout the years. Here is a list of the 5 most valuable Canada stamps and what they have recently been sold for at auction. I researched extensively to get the most recent sale prices and as far as I know, all prices are in Canadian dollars.
Stamp News
Discover some news about stamps or learn more about recently discovered stamps and how they were found.
Inverted Jenny Plate Block breaks US Record!
Last month one of the very few infamous inverted Jenny plate block (#Scott C3a) was sold and it set a new US philatelic record. The block sold for more than $4.8 million, becoming the second most expensive stamp in the world, just after the 1856 1¢ Magenta British Guiana who sold for $9.48 million this summer (see our article on this subject).
The sale was conducted by Mr. Sundman of Mystic Stamp and was a complete shot out of the dark. In fact he was planning to exhibit the stamp when he received an unexpected offer that he could not refuse. The phone call took place in late september and the buyer requested anonymity.
Third known 2¢ Large Queen on laid paper sold at auction
The third known example of the green 2¢ Large Queen on laid paper (Scott #32) discovered on July 16th, 2013 (see our previous article) just sold at Eastern Auctions this past weekend. The winning bid for this rare Canada stamp was $215,000 + 15% buyer’s premium ($247,450)! Even though it brought in less than the last Large Queen sold by Brigham Auctions for $475,000 (see this article about the Brigham auction), you’ll remember that this is the stamp that a collector found in a sales circuit book not too long ago. Some estimate he paid around $5 for it, others say $60; no matter what, that’s a pretty good return on his investment!
Canada 1851-12d Black stamp sold at auction
Over this past weekend, Eastern Auctions sold a mint copy of the 1851 12d black Queen Victoria (Scott #2). Though in mint condition, the stamp was quite off-center and had a mark on the gum side. It sold for $70,000 + the 15% seller’s fee ($80,500)! However, the stamp sold a bit below expectations. Eastern Auctions themselves gave the stamp a catalogue value of $160 000, so the sale price is well below that. On the other hand, who would say no to an extra $80,500 in their pocket?
Canada 1851 12d black mint stamp for sale!
An example of one of the most valuable Canada stamps will be going on the block on October 16th with Eastern Auctions as lot #60.
The 1851 12d black Queen Victoria could soon become Canada’s most valuable stamp ever–even more valuable than the green 2¢ large queen which recently sold for $475 000. The attraction of the 2¢ large queen is understandable–it is thought that only 3 exist in the whole world. But, they are all used specimens.
1856 British Guiana 1¢ Magenta fun facts!
- No member of the public has seen the stamp since it was last exhibited in 1986 at the Ameripex International Stamp Show in Chicago, Illinois.
- The stamp has set a new world record in sales every time (3 times) it has been auctioned.
- It will probably beat the world record of sales that currently belongs to the Treskilling Yellow, which was sold for $2.3 million in 1996.
1856 British Guiana Magenta to be sold!
One of the world’s most famous and valuable stamps will soon be up for sale. Sotheby’s New York recently announced that it will be auctioning off the 1856 British Guiana Magenta to the highest bidder on June 17th, 2014. This «Holy Grail» of philately is expected to go for an estimated $10-20 million USD! Why, you may say, would anyone pay so much for an itty, bitty piece of paper?
Brigham Auctions just sold the rarest stamp of Canada!
Last february 22nd Brigham sold their Large Queens collection, which was in all likelihood the most complete collection of its kind. In it was the infamous Scott #32, the green 2¢ Large Queen on laid paper. There is only 3 known copies of this stamp (the third copy was discovered last year) and the one in question is so far the finest known. The 2014 Unitrade catalogue estimated this Used Fine copy at $250,000, Brigham Auctions were estimating that the copy would sell for $900,000. The winning bid was finally $475,000, not so bad for a single stamp!
New rare Canada stamp discovered!
Image courtesy of Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation
On July 16th, 2013, the Vincent Graves Greene Foundation announced that it had issued a certificate of authenticity for a newly discovered 2¢ Large Queen on Laid Paper (Scott #32). Previously, it was thought that only two examples of this rare Canada stamp existed.
According to the VGG Foundation: “The submitted stamp was purchased by the collector early in 2013. It came from a sales circuit book (a book containing stamps for sale which is passed among prospective buyers in a geographical circuit). “The cost was very modest” (thought to be $5).
World’s most expensive stamp up for sale!
In May 2010, the world’s most expensive single stamp, the Swedish Treskilling Yellow (see article: What are the most famous rare and valuable stamps? ), will go on the auction block at a private auction held by David Feldman SA, at his galleries in Geneva, Switzerland. What makes this stamp so special? Why has it captivated people for over a century?