Proofs & Essays

US stamp:#221 p3 3c 1890-93 Plate Proof India	6	$8.65	13h 52m
US stamp:#222 p3 4c 1890-93 Plate Proof India	3	$5.50	13h 54m
US stamp:#205 p3 5c 1881-82 Plate Proof India	5	$9.08	13h 55m
US stamp:#213 p3 2c 1887-8 American Plate Proof Inida	5	$7.28	13h 57m
US stamp:1c Blue Bank Note Plate Proof Inida	4	$6.38	13h 59m
SCOTT #219 CARD PROOF	1	$0.99	14h 42m
SCOTT #238 COLUMBUS PROOF ON INDIA PAPER	6	$6.49	14h 43m
SCOTT #E1 SPECIAL DELIVERY PROOF ON INDIA PAPER	3	$8.38	14h 44m
SCOTT #E2 SPECIAL DELIVERY PROOF ON INDIA PAPER	3	$6.09	14h 45m
SCOTT #E3 SPECIAL DELIVERY PROOF ON INDIA PAPER	7	$14.16	14h 46m
UNITED STATES 7 STAMPS TESTING COILS	-	$0.99	16h 38m
us#209S vf no gum fresh &brite 10c jefferson 1881-2 $80	-	$24.95	17h 9m
us#223Pb vf-xf nh imperforate pair 5c no triangle $225+	-	$85.00	17h 14m
SC# J1-7 (P4) Set of Card Proofs	1	$25.00	19h 40m
1929 Christmas Seals P-11 Die Proof - MNH	-	$58.00	1d 7h 29m
1929 Christmas Seals Unlisted Die Proof - Special	-	$95.00	1d 7h 29m
1929 Christmas Seals E11.3 Die Proof - Awesome!	-	$125.00	1d 7h 29m
1928 Christmas Seals E8 Die Proof - Rare	-	$48.00	1d 7h 29m
1929 Christmas Seals Yellow Jacket Die Proof	-	$75.00	1d 7h 30m
1928 Christmas Seals E5 & 6 Die Proofs - Rarity	-	$148.00	1d 7h 30m
1928 Christmas Seals Electrotype Die Proof	-	$38.50	1d 7h 30m
1927 Christmas Seals Essay Block E1 - MNH	-	$8.50	1d 7h 31m
1929 Christmas Seals Unlisted Design Essay	-	$175.00	1d 7h 31m
us#RO179P4 xf+ card proof fresh&brite union match $75+	-	$19.95 $24.95	1d 7h 44m
us#031P4 xf card proof 15c justice department 1873	-	$5.95	1d 9h 5m
us#030P4 xf card proof 12c justice department 1873	-	$5.95	1d 9h 6m
us#027P4 xf card proof 3c justice department 1873	-	$5.95	1d 9h 7m
210P4 - Card Proof of 1883 2c Bank Note Stamp - VF	3	$2.25	1d 12h 12m
US stamp:#161p3 10c 1873 Continental Plate Proof India	3	$10.28	1d 13h 16m
US stamp:#162p3 12c 1873 Continental Plate Proof India	5	$6.38	1d 13h 17m
US stamp:#163p3 15c 1873 Continental Plate Proof India	7	$21.00	1d 13h 19m
US stamp:#164p3 24c 1873 Continental Plate Proof India	7	$19.09	1d 13h 21m
US stamp:#165p3 30c 1873 Continental Plate Proof India	3	$7.28	1d 13h 22m
US stamp:#166p3 90c 1873 Continental Plate Proof India	6	$19.06	1d 13h 24m
US stamp:#77 15c Lincoln Die Proof Stamp 1861	11	$104.52	1d 13h 54m
US stamp:#217 30c 1888 American Die Proof Stamp	6	$12.50	1d 13h 56m
US stamp:#213 2c 1887 Issue American Bank Die Proof	8	$8.49	1d 14h
US stamp:#o1 1c 1873 Agriculture Proof on india	2	$3.00	1d 14h 3m

View more items on eBay

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

Site Navigation

Store Navigation

Proofs & Essays