Rare stamps
Discover rare stamps from around the world with our rare stamp guides
Rare stamps can command huge prices at auction and often grab news headlines. Discover more about these philatelic treasures with our growing library of stamp guides. You never know, perhaps you have a rare stamp in your album!
Rare stamps: the 1935 Silver Jubilee Prussian Blue stamp
The rare 1935 Silver Jubilee 'Prussian Blue' stamp is one of the most desirable stamps issued during the reign of King…
05 December 2022
10 facts about the 1840 Penny Black stamp
The Penny Black became valid for postage on 6 May 1840. The simple stamp revolutionised how the nation communicated,…
06 May 2021
The British Central Africa 'Cheque' Stamp Issue
When a case of stamps went missing on its long journey to British Central Africa, only arriving a year later, the…
19 April 2021
The 'new-look' British Guiana One Cent Magenta
It was found by a 12-year-old collector, was owned by a convicted murderer, and now sports a rather fetching high-heeled…
30 March 2021
France's Ceres Stamps
The first stamps of France followed the earlier British example, showing a simple left-facing portrait of Ceres, with…
04 January 2021
British Guiana 1c Black on Magenta: 10 little known facts about the world's most…
The famous British Guiana 1c Black on Magenta is the world's most expensive stamp, and over its 170-year life it has…
01 November 2020
Discover the rare Fiji Times Express stamps
Mike Jackson describes a reconstructed sheet of the rare Fiji Times Express stamps, which formed part of the King George…
21 October 2020
Rare Stamps - Kirkcudbright Penny Black first day cover
Discover the most treasured 'first day cover' in the world, known as the Kirkcudbright Penny Black first day cover, in…
14 October 2020
The Hawaiian 'Missionaries' stamps
The famous Hawaiian 'Missionaries' got their name because they were used by American missionaries writing home from the…
01 October 2020