5. 1856 1-Cent Magenta Stamp from British Guiana Stamp
Maker: British Guiana
Original Price: 1c*
Worth Today: $9.5 Million*
Discovered in a basement in 1873 by a Scottish schoolboy amongst his uncle’s stamp collection, it made its way through several hands before reaching Arthur Hind in 1922 who reportedly outbid three kings for the price of $36,000. It has since increased in value substantially, causing stamp collectors across the globe to dust off their old stamps and have them appraised.
The incredibly rare 1c stamp from British Guiana (now Guyana) was issued in 1856 and is the only one known to exist today. Each of the four times it sold, it broke the record for the highest amount paid for a single stamp. The last sale was for a staggering $9.5 million to shoe designer Stuart Weizman.
It may be difficult for some of us to fathom why stamps are so highly collected, but it’s been one of the biggest niches in the market for decades. Stamp collectors are willing to pay through the nose to get their hands on something rare and unique.
