1969 Commemoratives

How to Determine Stamp Values

1. Identify the stamp.
2. Find out when was the stamp issued.
3. Know the stamp’s age and material used.
4. Determine the centering of the design.
5. Check the stamp’s gum.
6. Determine the condition of the perforations.
7. See if the stamp has been cancelled or not.
8. Find out the rarity of the stamp.

Part of an ‘instant’ or manufactured collection: Sheets of stamps which are themed or marked with a commemorative inscription, marking an anniversary or event, are sold in their thousands. They are hardly ever worth anything significant unless, of course, they contain a rare stamp error.

Most 1¢ green Benjamin Franklin stamps are common and valued at less than $1, but two rotary press varieties that look almost the same as common flat-plate issues are scarce and worth thousands.

Mavin found 256 sold results for “george washington 1 cent stamp”. Prices range from $0.01 to $2,430.00. The estimated market value is $24.92.

The 10 Most Valuable U.S. Stamps

• The Inverted Jenny. (Courtesy of Siegel Auction Gallery)
• 1847 Issue Block of 16 of Ben Franklin.
• Almanac Stamp of 1765 or 1766.
• ‘Blue Boy’ Alexandria Postmaster’s Provisional.
• 1869 Pictorials—Inverted Center Errors.
• Two-Cent Blue Hawaiian Missionary.
• 1860 Stolen Pony Cover.
• Pan American Inverts.

8 Rare U.S. Stamps That Are Worth Serious Money

1. Inverted Jenny Stamp.
2. 3c George Washington Stamp.
3. 1c Benjamin Franklin Stamp (1868)
4. 24c Declaration of Independence stamp.
5. 1c Benjamin Franklin Stamp (1851)
6. 30c Shield, Eagle, and Flags Stamp.
7. 1c Benjamin Franklin Vertical Pair.
8. 15c Landing of Columbus Stamp.

• British Guiana 1c Magenta, 1856. Price: $9.48 Million.
• Treskilling Yellow, 1855. Price: $2.6 Million.
• The Sicilian Error of Color, 1859. Price: $2.6 Million.
• Baden 9 Kreuzer Error, 1851. Price: €1.31 Million.
• The Inverted Jenny, 1918.
• 1c Benjamin Franklin Z Grill, 1868.
• Tiflis Stamp, 1857.
• Hawaiian Missionaries, 1851.

If you know you have rare stamps, you can sell them through several means:

1. Local Dealer: Dealers handle both collections and individual stamps.
2. Mail Order Dealer: If you’re not going local, consider working with a mail order dealer.
3. American Philatelic Society Circuit Sales:
4. Auction House:

You might find that the stamps in your collection of significant catalog value are worth much less than you believed. “Buy the best you can afford,” isn’t just a casually tossed-off phrase, but words to live by in stamp collecting. Inferior quality stamps are, in fact, nearly worthless.

In the 21st century, the British Guiana one-cent Black on Magenta postage stamp is known by many stamp collectors and philatelists as the world’s rarest, most famous and most valuable stamp. It is considered a rare stamp that was issued in British Guiana (known today as Guyana) during 1856 in very limited numbers.

British Guiana One-Cent Magenta

The Penny Black

The 1868 Benjamin Franklin Z Grill is the rarest and most valuable of all US postage stamps. This example, which belongs to storied collector William H. Gross and is listed in the Scott Catalogue for $3 million (£2.3m), is only one of two in existence.

However, in 2019, a Penny Black can cost as little as £15 to £30 if it’s in poor to reasonable condition. You might have to pay between £40 to £150 for a specimen of better quality, whereas a fine used example could fetch around £250 to £400.