Proofs & Essays

68P1 Var, SPECIMEN LARGE DIE PROOF UNLISTED & RARE		$699.00	2h 55m
US #112P3-22P3 129P3 1869 Pictorial set complete Proofs		$940.00	3h 11m
129-E4, SOFT PAPER ESSAY BLUE GREEN ON SCARLET		$3,000.00	3h 32m
40TC5, BLOCK OF 15 - LARGEST BLOCK KNOWN! - SHOWPIECE		$3,750.00	3h 33m
U.S. SPECIMENS U216S Mint (ID # 31387		$75.00	3h 38m
US #3P3 5¢ red brown, Proof on India paper, rich color,		$252.00	3h 47m
US #236P4 8¢ Columbian, Plate Proof on card, rich color		$68.25	4h 35m
PR28TC1, LARGE TRIAL COLOR DIE PROOF IN SEPIA - UNIQUE		$850.00	5h 36m
PR30TC1, LARGE TRIAL COLOR DIE PROOF IN BLACK BROWN		$1,200.00	5h 36m
267Pa, XF OG LH BLOCK - Cat $475.00+		$325.00	5h 37m
15L18TC, 4 DIFFERENT COLORS - VERY RARE!		$600.00	5h 37m
12TC5, 5 DIFF TRIAL COLOR PROOFS - XF Cat $1, 500.00 PFC		$1,500.00	5h 37m
42P3 Var, BLOCK OF 8 W TYPE 1 PROJECTIONS WITH PFC		$2,500.00	5h 37m
191TC, XF TRIAL COLOR PROOF - VERY RARE!		$850.00	5h 37m
190TC1, XF TRIAL COLOR PROOF - VERY RARE!		$750.00	5h 37m
12P, TYPE 1 DIE PROOF - SUPERB GEM		$750.00	5h 37m
69-E4b, 12c ESSAY - VF & RARE!		$450.00	5h 37m
332S, "ULTRAMAR" SPECIMEN OVERPRINT WITH PFC		$500.00	5h 37m
68TC1, DIE PROOF ON INDIA - STAMP SIZE Cat $1, 750.00		$500.00	5h 37m
US #O83-93P 1¢ - 90¢ War Dept, Complete set of PROOFS		$100.00	5h 39m
PS4S, RED SPECIMEN OVPT - MINT NH UNLISTED & VERY RARE!		$899.00	5h 41m
US #116E1c 1869 10¢ Lincoln die sunk ESSAY black		$1,100.00	5h 52m
US #116E1d 10¢ Lincoln die ESSAY, dark chocolate		$899.00	5h 52m
US #116E1g 10¢ Lincoln die ESSAY orange on bond paper		$1,000.00	5h 52m
US #116E1i 10¢ Lincoln die ESSAY, blue on bond paper		$1,000.00	5h 52m
OX1P3, OX2P3, EXT RARE BLOCKS One proof with thin		$2,500.00	7h 33m
254a 264a, 4 DIFF IMPERF PAIRS WITH PSE'S - LOW PRICE!		$699.00	7h 33m
TURNER REVENUE ESSAYS - 76-78A, 3 DIFFERENT - RARE!		$450.00	7h 33m
69-E1c, 3 DIFF DIE ESSAYS ON GREEN BOND - BEAUTIES		$750.00	7h 33m
115P4, SUPERB PLATE PROOF RIGHT MGN BLOCK - 1869 ISSUE		$525.00	7h 33m
115P4, SUPERB PLATE PROOF RIGHT MGN BLOCK - 1869 ISSUE		$525.00	7h 33m
115P4, SUPERB PLATE PROOF BOTTOM MGN BLOCK - 1869 ISSUE		$525.00	7h 33m
115P4, SUPERB PLATE PROOF ARROW MGN BLOCK - 1869 ISSUE		$650.00	7h 33m
115P4, SUPERB PLATE PROOF CORNER MGN BLOCK - 1869 ISSUE		$575.00	7h 33m
115P4, XF GEM PLATE PROOF BLOCK - 1869 ISSUE		$450.00	7h 33m
205P4 217P4, BANKNOTE GROUP OF PROOFS VF-XF LOW PRICE		$1,000.00	7h 33m
U.S. R41P4, 1862 20¢ Foreign Exchange Card Proof, Block	1	$138.51	7h 34m
U.S. RS31P4, 1¢ Medicine Plate Proof on Card, XF Block.	-	$144.67	7h 34m

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Stamp News

The best thing about starting a stamp collection is how easy it can be. Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting Stamp Collecting - Beginners Guide to Stamps - About Guide Postage ...Enter the fascinating world of stamp collecting!

Stamp History

The first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued by Britain in 1840. It pictured a young Queen Victoria, was produced without perforations (imperforate), and consequently had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used. While unused examples of the "Penny Black" are quite scarce, used examples are common, and may be purchased for $25 to $150, depending upon its condition. Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit. During the late 1800s many of those collectors, as adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and published research works on their production, plate flaws, etc. Some stamps such as the triangular issues of the Cape of Good Hope became legendary. It was not until the 1920s that publicity about valuable stamps encouraged a large increase in the number of stamp collectors. This rapid increase in postage stamp values was largely because very few of the older stamps were being saved in good condition. Especially difficult to find were pairs, triples, and large blocks of older stamps. Because many U.S. stamp issues of the 1920s rose rapidly in value, during the 1930s many American collectors stockpiled mint U.S. stamps with the hopes of selling them for a sizeable profit in a few years time. This never materialized. Even today, more than 60 years later, one can find many 1930s U.S. issues in mint condition for close to face value, and many stamp dealers and collectors still use stamps issued as far back as the 1930s for postage when mailing letters. Most U.S. postage stamps issued since the 1930s are easy to obtain and have minimal value. Some high face value stamps, such as the $2.60 United States Graf issued in 1930, are worth substantial amounts of money. Other stamps issued since 1930 that are usually worth something are souvenir sheets from popular countries, hard to find plate number coils, and errors in printing.

Stamp Collecting

Collecting is not the same as philately, which is the study of stamps. A philatelist often does, but need not, collect the objects of study, nor is it necessary to closely study what one collects. Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries. Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to philatelic investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store

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Proofs & Essays