Stamps

The 5 Biggest Stamp Sales in Europe

Big sales make for big news in the world of collectibles. As collectibles have also undeniably become an alternative asset class these big sales have also been bringing in investors who may have previously not been traditional collectors or hobbyists.

Some of the largest stamp sales of European stamps over the last decade have come with six-figure sales. Admittedly, there may always be some expensive transactions which are either overlooked or where the prices realized may vary. These will also of course exclude large sales which took place privately and were not recorded in any of the journals and publications.

The Top 5 European stamps to keep in mind are diverse in origin and they are diverse in age. Errors tend to be major points of value in a collectible asset. Stamps were just as susceptible to errors and collectors reap the benefits in value.

Beginning in Italy, The Sicilian Error of Colour printed in 1849 was sold for $2.6 million in a Dreyfus online sale in 2011. The sale makes is the most valuable Italian stamp and one of only two of this blue color error known to exist.

A Swedish example of the biggest stamp sale is the “Treskilling” Yellow, or “three schilling banco error of color” sold for $2.5 million in 2013. Production started in 1855. The error was caught and canceled in 1857 and only one example in known to exist today.

Also an error example is the German Baden 9 Kreuzer stamp from 1851. In June 2019 Heinrich Kohler Auktionshaus sold one of 4 known to exist for $1,433,202. The stamp was supposed to be printed in pink but instead printed in green.

Audrey Hepburn is an American movie icon but a stamp printed in Germany featuring the actress smoking was removed by her son and most of the examples destroyed. A sheet of ten examples sold at a charity auction in Berlin for $606,000 in October 2010. The Christoph Gaertner sale brought $176,000 for one example.

“Kerstfest” error stamp from 2016 is a modern German rarity. What should have read “Kerstfest” instead read “Vrolijk kerstfeest.” A sheet of ten in mint condition sold for $112,394 to a dealer by the Felzmann auction house.

Also worth noting, while the report may say 5 biggest stamp sales there is also a runner-up. Europeans and Brits will now say that the United Kingdom is not in Europe, but many Americans will still keep these together.

An exciting runner up in a philatelic way is worth a notice of sale of an otherwise common stamp. In 2011, a Penny Black stamp from the first registration sheets in 1840 sold for $345,100 according to workandmoney.com in an article highlighting the most valuable stamps in the world. The stamp is most significant as being the first with an adhesive backing.