Philosateleia
Kevin Blackston
PO Box 217
Floresville TX 78114-0217
United States of America

British Guiana 1-cent Magenta fetches record price

The famous British Guiana 1-cent Magenta is back on top in the world of philately after selling at auction for nearly $9.5 million.

According to Linn’s Stamp News, the unique stamp was sold to an anonymous buyer during a Sotheby’s auction in New York on Tuesday. Its final sale price, which includes buyer’s fees, is roughly four times that of the previous record holder, Sweden’s Treskilling Yellow.

As you may know, the 1-cent Magenta was produced in 1856 as a temporary measure while authorities in British Guiana awaited the arrival of a fresh shipment of stamps from England. It was first recognized as a rarity in the 1870s.

My personal opinion is that the Inverted Jenny, although roughly 100 times more common, is a far more attractive stamp, but the 1-cent Magenta’s sale is getting a lot of press from mainstream media, which can only be good for our hobby.

What do you think of the record-breaking price? What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a stamp?

Published 2014-06-18

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