FindRareCoins.com · Price Guide

Postage Stamp Price Guide

This guide covers U.S. and world postage stamps from the 1847 Benjamin Franklin and Washington issues through modern commemoratives, airmail stamps, revenue stamps, and error varieties. Values are based on Scott Catalogue references and recent realized prices from Siegel, Cherrystone, and Heritage stamp auctions for expertized examples.

Stamp values are determined by condition, centering, gum status, and population. In particular, never-hinged (NH) examples command substantial premiums over hinged copies — often 200% or more for classic issues. Furthermore, inverted centers, color errors, and imperforate varieties represent the most dramatic value multipliers in philately. For example, the 1918 Inverted Jenny remains one of the most famous error stamps ever issued.

Stamp condition is everything in philately. Original gum, fresh color, and well-centered perforations are the three pillars of value. However, a stamp that has been regummed, reperfed, or cleaned is essentially worthless to serious collectors. Consequently, expertization by the Philatelic Foundation or PSE is strongly recommended for any stamp valued over $200. As a result, certified stamps consistently sell for more at auction.

How to use: Locate your stamp by Scott number or description. Values are for Fine-Very Fine (F-VF) never-hinged examples unless noted. Used stamps and hinged copies trade at a fraction of listed values. Always have significant stamps expertized before buying or selling.

Issue Year: Stamp Type:

FindRareCoins.com · 2026 Edition

Stamp Price Guide 2026

Comprehensive stamp price guide for 2026. Values for U.S. classic issues, Inverted Jenny, Graf Zeppelin, Pan-American Inverts, and world rarities including British Guiana 1¢ Magenta in grades Fine through Mint NH.

FineV. FineXFXF-NHVF-NHMint NH

★ Semi-key — scarce but obtainable ★★ Key issue — low print run or rare ★★★ Major rarity — trophy piece

U.S. Classic Issues (1847–1900)

U.S. classic stamps (1847–1900) include the first federal issues and many of philately's most prized rarities. Values are for used examples unless noted; unused (OG/NH) copies carry significant premiums. PSE and PSAG certificates add credibility to high-value stamps.

Stamp / Scott #	Poor	Fine	V. Fine	XF	Superb	XF-NH	VF-NH	Mint NH
★★★ 1918 24¢ Inverted Jenny (Scott C3a)	$75,000	$150,000	$250,000	$400,000	$600,000	—	—	$1,593,000
★★ 1847 5¢ Franklin (Scott 1, used)	$1,200	$2,500	$5,000	$8,500	$16,000	—	—	—
★★ 1847 10¢ Washington (Scott 2, used)	$1,800	$4,000	$8,000	$14,000	$26,000	—	—	—
★★ 1868 1¢ Z-Grill (Scott 85A, used)	$50,000	$100,000	$180,000	$300,000	—	—	—	—
★ 1869 15¢ Landing of Columbus (Scott 118, unused)	$500	$1,000	$2,000	$3,500	$6,500	—	$18,000	—
★ 1869 24¢ Declaration of Independence inverted (Scott 120b)	$40,000	$80,000	$150,000	$250,000	—	—	—	—
★ 1893 $4 Columbian (Scott 244, used)	$500	$1,000	$2,000	$3,500	$6,500	—	—	—
★ 1893 $5 Columbian (Scott 245, used)	$800	$1,600	$3,200	$5,500	$10,000	—	—	—
1893 $1 Columbian (Scott 241, used)	$200	$400	$800	$1,400	$2,600	—	—	—
1893 Columbian common (1¢–30¢, used avg)	$1	$3	$6	$12	$22	—	—	—

★★★ 1918 Inverted Jenny (Scott C3a): Only 100 examples exist in a single block of 100. A mint block of 4 sold at Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries for $2.97 million in 2005. Individual examples in VF-NH consistently exceed $750,000.

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U.S. 20th Century Issues (1901–1970)

20th century U.S. stamps include the sought-after Pan-American Inverts, the famous 1¢ and 2¢ issues of the Rotary Press era, and the rich series of Presidential definitives. Precancels, plate blocks, and coil rarities add specialized collecting dimensions.

Stamp / Scott #	Poor	Fine	V. Fine	XF	Superb	XF-NH	VF-NH	Mint NH
★★ 1901 1¢ Pan-American Invert (Scott 294a)	$15,000	$30,000	$55,000	$90,000	$160,000	—	—	—
★★ 1901 2¢ Pan-American Invert (Scott 295a)	$20,000	$40,000	$75,000	$125,000	$220,000	—	—	—
★ 1909 2¢ Lincoln (bluish paper, Scott 359)	$150	$300	$600	$1,050	$2,000	—	$5,500	—
★ 1914 $1 Franklin (Scott 423, perf 10)	$200	$400	$800	$1,400	$2,600	—	$7,000	—
1918 24¢ Jenny airmail (Scott C3, normal)	$60	$120	$240	$420	$780	—	$2,200	$4,500
★ 1930 $2.60 Graf Zeppelin (Scott C15)	$300	$600	$1,200	$2,100	$4,000	—	$11,000	$22,000
★ 1930 $1.30 Graf Zeppelin (Scott C14)	$250	$500	$1,000	$1,750	$3,300	—	$9,000	$18,000
1944–1961 Presidential definitives (common, NH avg)	$0.05	$0.15	$0.30	$0.60	$1.20	$2.50	$5	$10
★ 1962 4¢ Hammarskjold inverted yellow (Scott 1203a)	$15	$30	$60	$105	$200	—	$550	$1,100

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World & International Stamp Rarities

Classic world stamps include some of the rarest philatelic items known. The British Guiana 1¢ Magenta is the world's most valuable stamp. SG (Stanley Gibbons) and Scott numbers are used interchangeably by dealers worldwide.

Stamp / Scott #	Poor	Fine	V. Fine	XF	Superb	XF-NH	VF-NH	Mint NH
★★★ 1856 British Guiana 1¢ Magenta (SG 23)	$1,000,000	$2,000,000	$4,000,000	$7,000,000	—	—	—	$9,480,000
★★★ 1855 Sweden 3 Skilling Banco (yellow error)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	$2,300,000
★★ 1840 Great Britain 1d Black (SG 1, used)	$200	$400	$750	$1,300	$2,500	—	—	—
★★ 1851 Canada 12d Black (SG 4, used)	$3,000	$6,000	$12,000	$22,000	$40,000	—	—	—
★ 1851 USA 5¢ (used, fine centering)	$150	$300	$600	$1,050	$2,000	—	—	—
★ 1910 Cape of Good Hope Triangular 4d (used)	$30	$65	$130	$230	$420	—	$1,200	—
★★ 1897 Newfoundland "Caribou" $1 (SG 68)	$200	$400	$800	$1,400	$2,600	—	$7,000	—
★ China 1897 "Red Revenue" surcharge $1 (SC 86)	$400	$800	$1,600	$2,800	$5,200	—	—	—
Average classic world stamp (Victoria-era, used)	$1	$3	$7	$14	$26	—	—	—

★★★ 1856 British Guiana 1¢ Magenta is the only known example of its type and the world's most valuable stamp. It sold at Sotheby's in June 2021 for $8.3 million. One stamp; one owner at a time.

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Did You Know?

10 Postage Stamp Facts

The 1856 British Guiana 1-cent Magenta — the world's most famous stamp — sold at Sotheby's in 2021 for $8,307,000, making it the most valuable stamp ever sold at auction. Only one example is known to exist.
The 1918 24-cent Inverted Jenny — an airmail stamp with the biplane printed upside down — is the most famous U.S. stamp error. The full sheet of 100 was purchased by a collector for $24 and individual stamps now sell for over $1,000,000.
The 1847 5-cent Benjamin Franklin was America's first official postage stamp. A used example in fine condition sells for around $1,500 today — but an unused example with original gum can exceed $50,000.
Stamp collectors are called philatelists, from the Greek words meaning "love of tax exemption" — a reference to the prepaid postage concept that stamps represented when introduced in 1840.
The world's first postage stamp, the 1840 British Penny Black, featured Queen Victoria and introduced the concept of prepaid postage to the world. Used examples are surprisingly affordable at around $50–$200 due to the large number printed.
A stamp's gum — the adhesive on the back — is critically important to value. A never-hinged stamp (NH) with full original gum can be worth 3–5 times more than an identical stamp with a hinge mark from a collector's album.
The Swedish Treskilling Yellow — a stamp printed in the wrong color in 1855 — sold for $2,300,000 in 1996. It remains one of only a handful of known color error stamps from the classic era.
During World War II, the U.S. issued Savings Stamps that children could collect in booklets — when filled, the booklet could be exchanged for a War Bond. Complete booklets in fine condition are now collectible in their own right.
A coil waste stamp — produced from leftover perforated coil stock — is one of the most technical rarities in U.S. philately. The 1914 coil waste issues are among the most valuable 20th-century U.S. stamps, with singles selling for over $10,000.
There are an estimated 48 million stamp collectors worldwide, making philately one of the most popular hobbies on earth — and the established global auction market means rare stamps are among the most liquid collectibles available.