Are postal commemorative stamps worth anything?
Sophia Hammond
Updated on March 05, 2026
Are postal commemorative stamps worth anything?
Part of an ‘instant’ or manufactured collection: Sheets of stamps which are themed or marked with a commemorative inscription, marking an anniversary or event, are sold in their thousands. They are hardly ever worth anything significant unless, of course, they contain a rare stamp error.
What are the 20 most valuable stamps?
The Four Main Elements of a Stamp
| Stamp | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Inverted Jenny | 1918 | $1.35 Million |
| 1c Benjamin Franklin Z Grill | 1868 | $935,000 |
| 3c George Washington w/ B Grill | 1867 | $900,000 |
| Tiflis Stamp | 1857 | $700,000 |
How do you find out what stamps are worth?
Auction sites, stamp dealer sites, stamp forum sites, and stamp sites put up by stamp collectors and enthusiasts can easily be found online and these can give you an idea of the current market price of a particular stamp. You can easily and quickly find stamp values at StampWorld.com.
What old stamps are worth money?
The 10 Most Valuable U.S. Stamps
- The Inverted Jenny. (Courtesy of Siegel Auction Gallery)
- 1847 Issue Block of 16 of Ben Franklin.
- Almanac Stamp of 1765 or 1766.
- ‘Blue Boy’ Alexandria Postmaster’s Provisional.
- 1869 Pictorials—Inverted Center Errors.
- Two-Cent Blue Hawaiian Missionary.
- 1860 Stolen Pony Cover.
- Pan American Inverts.
Is there an app to identify stamps?
The free “Stamp Manager” app takes the stamp collectors’ world into the digital age with a mobile desktop platform. The app is available for both iOS and android free of charge in the respective app store.
What should I do with old stamps?
Recycle your postage stamps Postage stamps are recyclable and you don’t even need to remove them from the envelope they’re on — just throw the whole envelope in the recycling bin and you’re done!
Are stamps from the 1960s worth anything?
Stamps may also have value if they were issued no later than about 1960, though this doesn’t mean the older the stamp, the more valuable they are. Interestingly, stamps with genuine errors of production (for example missing colours) are often worth considerably more than ‘normal’ issues.
How much is a 1 cent George Washington stamp worth?
1912-14 Washington-Franklin Single Line Watermark Perforated 12
| Denom. | Description | Mint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cent | Washington green | $9.50 |
| 2 cent | Carmine | $9.50 |
| 7 cent | Black | $120.00 |
Are stamps worth collecting?
Stamp collections only rarely contain extremely rare and valuable stamps. In the real world, modern mint stamps are not worth their face value when sold at auction or to dealers unless there was a low print run or a printing error. The classic stamps of some countries continue to increase in value.
Is a Penny Red stamp worth anything?
With more than 21 billion Penny Reds produced and used, the truth is that they are NOT rare – and usually NOT very valuable. If you own an imperforate Penny Red stamp in good condition, expect it to be worth between 50p to £5. Perhaps slightly more if it has four fine margins, but much less if they’re poor.
How do you see a watermark on a stamp?
Many watermarks that have been firmly impressed into the stamp paper can be viewed by simply turning the stamp face down and placing it on a dark background, such as the watermark tray, without any fluid on the stamp. This is the fastest way to find a watermark, and it should be the first method you try.
Are old unused stamps still valid?
Hayley Fowell of Royal Mail replies: The answer is yes. Stamps without a specified monetary value are described as Non Value Indicator (NVI) and are typically first and second-class stamps. These do not have an expiry date, therefore can be used regardless of the length of time you’ve had them.
