Rare Stamps - Top 7 Rare U.S. Stamps
Rare stamps are usually valuable stamps! Some U.S. stamps are so rare and valuable, they’re widely admired and searched for by stamp collectors! Famous examples include the Inverted Jenny, the 1868 1¢ Z Grill, the Alexandria ‘Blue Boy,’ the 1869 Pictorial Inverts, the 3¢ Pigeon Blood Pink, a full block of 16 Ben Franklin stamps from 1847, and the Stolen Pony Cover from 1860. Collectors chase these treasures for their printing quirks, tiny print runs, and rich history."
Here is a list of my top 7 stamps considered among the rarest and most valuable stamps in the U.S.:
1. Inverted Jenny (1918)
Inverted Jenny (1918): Oops! One sheet of these Inverted Jenny airmail stamps came out with the biplane flying upside-down, and that happy accident made it one of the most famous error stamps ever.
2. 1868 1¢ Z Grill (1868)
1868 1¢ Z Grill: Talk about rare - only two of these 1868 1 cent Z Grill stamps exist today! They were made with a special grill pattern to stop people from reusing the stamps.
3. Alexandria “Blue Boy” (1847)
Alexandria "Blue Boy": A bright blue beauty! Only seven of these exist today to still show off their original bold color, making this postmaster’s provisional a true collector’s gem, according to Mesa Stamps.
4. 1869 Pictorial Inverts (1869)
1869 Pictorial Inverts: Another printing mix-up - this time, entire designs got flipped upside-down, turning these 1869 rare stamps into quirky treasures.
5. 1861 3¢ Pigeon Blood Pink (1861)
1861 3¢ Pigeon Blood Pink: Not your average pink - this striking and rare color variety of the 3¢ Washington stamp from 1861 is rare, rich, and seriously collectible.
6. 1847 Issue Block of 16 of Ben Franklin (1847)
1847 Issue Block of 16 of Ben Franklin: A mega-block of 16 original Franklin stamps from America’s first stamp issue - pure philatelic history in one piece!
7. 1860 Stolen Pony Cover (1860)
1860 Stolen Pony Cover: Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like—an envelope tied to a pony theft back in 1860. Its wild backstory makes it a one-of-a-kind prize. This one is highly prized by revenue stamp or value stamp collectors.