FindRareCoins.com · 2026 Edition
Postage Stamp Price Guide
Comprehensive stamp values for 2026. 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.
About This 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. Never-hinged (NH) examples command substantial premiums over hinged copies — often 200% or more for classic issues. Inverted centers, color errors, and imperforate varieties represent the most dramatic value multipliers in philately. The 1918 Inverted Jenny remains one of the most famous error stamps ever issued.
Original gum, fresh color, and well-centered perforations are the three pillars of value. A stamp that has been regummed, reperfed, or cleaned is essentially worthless to serious collectors. Expertization by the Philatelic Foundation or PSE is strongly recommended for any stamp valued over $200. For related collectibles research, see our coin price guide and paper money values guide.
Most Valuable Stamps in Philately
These three stamps represent the pinnacle of philatelic rarity — trophy pieces that define the hobby and set auction records decade after decade.
1918 Inverted Jenny
Only 100 examples known — a complete sheet purchased for $24 in 1918. The biplane printed upside down makes this the most famous U.S. stamp error ever discovered. Individual VF-NH examples now exceed $1,000,000.
$150,000 – $1,593,000Find on eBayMoney Back Guarantee
British Guiana 1¢ Magenta
The only known example of its type — the world's most valuable stamp. Sold at Sotheby's in June 2021 for $8.3 million. One stamp; one owner at a time. A crudely printed local provisional that became a philatelic legend.
$8,307,000 (2021 sale)Find on eBayMoney Back Guarantee
Graf Zeppelin Stamps
The 1930 Graf Zeppelin set — 65¢, $1.30, and $2.60 denominations — issued for the historic transatlantic airmail service. The $2.60 value in Mint NH condition commands $22,000+. Complete NH sets bring $45,000 or more.
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Looking for a Specific Stamp?
Browse millions of U.S. and world stamp listings on eBay — filter by sold prices to see what collectors are actually paying. PSE and PSAG certified examples are the safest purchases for high-value stamps.
Find These Stamps on eBayMoney Back GuaranteeU.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.
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 |
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.
Where to Buy & Sell Stamps
Trusted Auction Houses • Certified Dealers • eBay EPN
For stamps valued over $200, always buy certified examples from PSE or PSAG-certificated dealers. Major auction houses like Robert A. Siegel and Heritage Auctions are the gold standard. For more accessible buying, eBay's stamp category has millions of listings with buyer protection. Related resources: our coin price guide and vinyl record price guide.
eBay Stamps
Best for Volume & Variety
Millions of U.S. and world stamp listings. Filter by sold prices to see what collectors actually paid — the most powerful real-time price discovery tool available.
- Millions of U.S. and world stamp listings
- Filter by "Sold" for real price data
- PSE/PSAG certified lots available
- eBay Money Back Guarantee on all purchases
Robert A. Siegel
Best for Trophy & Rare Stamps
America's premier philatelic auction house, handling the most important U.S. rarities including Inverted Jenny sales, Pan-American Inverts, and major collections.
- Premier U.S. philatelic auction house
- Handled Inverted Jenny block sales
- Expertization services available
- Free catalog subscriptions for serious buyers
Heritage Auctions
Best for World Stamps & Collections
Heritage Auctions is one of the world's largest auction houses with a strong philatelic department covering U.S. and international rarities, covers, and complete collections.
- Strong world and U.S. stamp coverage
- Online bidding with live floor auctions
- Complete estate collections handled
- Free auction archives for price research
Philatelic Foundation
Best for Expertization
The Philatelic Foundation (PF) is the gold standard for U.S. stamp expertization. A PF certificate is essential for any U.S. stamp valued above $200 — it confirms genuineness, condition, and grade.
- Gold standard for U.S. stamp authenticity
- Certificates confirm grade and genuineness
- Required for major auction consignments
- Certificate adds significant resale value
Cherrystone Auctions
Best for World Rarities
Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers specializes in rare world stamps and postal history. One of the top sources for British Commonwealth, European classics, and international rarities.
- Specializes in rare world stamps
- Strong British Commonwealth coverage
- European and Asian philatelic rarities
- Postal history and covers
PSE Graded Stamps
Best for Graded & Certified
Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) graded stamps offer the highest confidence for buyers. Like PCGS for coins, PSE grades add transparency to the market and command premiums at auction.
- Numeric grading on a 100-point scale
- Tamper-evident holders for storage
- PSE graded stamps command auction premiums
- Population report available for rarity research
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 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. 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.
- 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, they 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.
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