What are postage stamps for? The six most famous brands

Pay attention to the age of the stamp. Unlike coins on stamps, most often, the date of manufacture is not indicated, so it is much more difficult to find out their age.

• In some cases, the age of a stamp can be determined based on the design and pattern depicted on it. For example, if the stamp was issued in honor of some historical event.
• Older stamps are made from different grades of paper than modern ones.
• The stamps were used for various purposes. For example, sea mail stamps have their own history, which means that it will be easier to track their age (knowing the history).

Find out the city where the stamp was issued. The history of a country and its place in the world can influence the value of a brand. Each country issues stamps in its own language. It might just be foreign language, or even not Latin alphabet. If you come across a stamp in an unfamiliar language, you can use online translator and thus determine the country where it was released.

Pay attention to how well the design on the stamp aligns to the center. It is not the drawing itself that is important, but its position on the canvas of the stamp. You can determine how well an image is centered by turning the stamp upside down and looking at it that way.

Pay attention to the brand sticker. Older postage stamps are likely to be missing if the stamp was stuck to an envelope or postcard. The stamp sticker itself is a thin strip of gummed paper, with which the stamp was glued to the surface of the envelope, or pasted into the album. The condition of this sticker also has an impact on the quality of the brand.

• Philatelists appreciate the mint gummed sticker the most (even more than mint gum smokers).
• The most valued is the uniform distribution of the adhesive over the entire surface of the mark.
• Old albums with looped pages also reduce the value of stamps.

Museums section publications

Small Form Graphics, or Postal Miniature

The most replicated works of art that fly around the world along with the envelope. The postage stamp was invented by the British in 1840. The Russian post offices received a new sign of payment for correspondence in artistic performance in 1857 and became a new type of creativity for Russian painters. More about miniaturists and their creations - Natalia Letnikova.

Philatelists or art historians?

"Inverted Jenny". 1918 U.S. airmail stamp with Curtiss JN-4 reversed

"Tiflis Unique" ("Tiflis Mark"). Very rare postage stamp issued in Russian Empire(on the territory of modern Georgia) for the post of Tiflis (Tbilisi) and Kojori in 1857

"Fast Jenny". 1918 U.S. airmail stamp showing a Curtiss JN-4 aircraft shifted to the left side, overlaying the frame of the stamp

Artists who create images for stamps balance between the laws of art and the criteria of philately. Initially, the evaluation of a postage stamp is the business of the mail itself. Philatelists, on the other hand, appreciate stamps that are rare, issued in small numbers and non-standard: with typos and errors, like “Inverted Jenny”. An image of an airplane printed upside down costs about three million dollars.

"Tiflis Unique", issued in 1857 for the city post of Tiflis, is considered by specialists to be one of the most expensive domestic brands. Initially, it cost 6 kopecks - at an auction in 2008, one of the three surviving copies was valued at 700 thousand dollars.

For the benefit of society

One of the first postage stamps in Russia "In favor of the orphans of soldiers active army". 1904

Postage stamp from the series dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Peter I (from a portrait by Godfrey Neller, 1698). 1913

Postage stamp from the series dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Alexander II (based on an engraving by academician Lavrenty Seryakov from a portrait of Georg Botman, 1873). 1913

Postage stamp from the series dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Nicholas II (from engraving by Fyodor Lundin, artist Richard Zarinsh). 1913

To carry ideas to the masses, to be the mouthpiece of bright and significant events. Almost immediately after their appearance, the brands "stepped in" at the service of the public interest. In 1904 during Russo-Japanese War By order of the Imperial Women's Patriotic Society, a series of stamps was issued with a surcharge of 3 kopecks for the needs of orphans in the army. With the help of stamps, they raised funds for the First World War - for the wounded and the families of the dead. These stamps depicted recognizable views and monuments of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

A special issue marked the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The first and only series of commemorative stamps of the Russian Empire was issued in 1913. More often than others in this series there is a portrait of the then ruling Nicholas II - on stamps in denominations of 7, 10 kopecks and 5 rubles. Sketches for stamps from famous royal portraits were made by the artists Ivan Bilibin, Evgeny Lansere and Richard Zarinsh.

New power - new brands

"Hand with a sword that cuts the chain." The first postage stamp of Soviet Russia, designed by Richard Zarins. 1918

"Aspidka" ("Aspid-blue airship"). Rare postage stamp of the USSR from the Airship Building series. 1931

USSR stamp from the series "Fifth Anniversary October revolution". Artist Ivan Dubasov. 1922

Four years later, it was the artist Zarinsh who became the first author of stamps in Soviet Russia. A hand with a sword cutting a chain. Such a picture began to be printed almost immediately after February Revolution. Since then, every event has been a new illustration in philately.

In the Soviet Union, images on stamps became a kind of chronicle political life in the country. For example, a stamp for the fifth anniversary of the October Revolution - work famous artist Ivan Dubasov. A worker carves the dates of the first revolutionary five-year plan on a stone slab. Of particular importance is the color scheme, accents, font - even more catchy and readable than on the poster, because the brand is many times smaller.

Industrialization and airships, portraits of leaders and milestones in the development of statehood - like the adoption of the Constitution of the country. Artists often work on common theme entire creative teams. The philatelic series gained particular popularity: “Airshipbuilding”, “Philately for Children”, “Peoples of the USSR” ... During the war years, stamps were dedicated to military units and to the heroes of war, to peaceful ones - themes sounded very different: from skiing to the flavored series "Gifts of Nature".

The art of graphic miniature

Postage stamp from the series "History of the Russian Navy". Battleship Potemkin. 1972

Postage stamp "10 years of MOPR", created according to the sketch of Fyodor Fedorovsky. 1932

Postage stamp dedicated to the birthday of composer Dmitri Shostakovich. 1976

"History of the Russian Fleet" is one of the most famous series in a postal miniature. The author Vasily Zavyalov made his first drawing for the stamp at the age of 19, in 1925. In total, the artist became the author of more than 600 postage signs. The famous graphic artist believed that “a steady hand, a sharp eye and fidelity to nature” are necessary for creative success. The qualities are especially relevant when working on such a small picture.

Created postage stamps and Fedor Fedorovsky. One of the miniature works of the chief artist of the Bolshoi Theater and the author of the project of ruby ​​stars on the Kremlin towers is the project of the postage stamp "10 years of MOPR" ( international organization aid to the fighters of the revolution).

Creating a brand is like a kind of test for professionalism. Graphic artist Vladislav Koval, while studying at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute, decided to write home in Dhaudjikau and send a letter ... with a self-portrait stamp drawn with his own hand. The mail missed the envelope, and two years later the enterprising artist was drawing a jubilee stamp for his birthday

What people don't collect modern world! One of the most popular areas of such activities - Many believe that this is the most harmless and cheapest hobby. However, some are willing to pay a fortune for one or another rare brand. What are the features of this type of collecting? What is the most expensive postage stamp of the USSR? All this is in our article.

A postage stamp is...

A postage stamp is a special sign that confirms the fact of payment for postal services and has its own. This tiny piece of paper with ribbed edges has become almost the meaning of life for many collectors.

In addition to the denomination, postage stamps often bear the number and name of a particular postal administration. On any stamp, as a rule, a certain drawing, inscription and decor is applied.

All postage stamps are divided into several types:

• official (state standard);
• informal;
• stamps produced by private mail.

AT Soviet time A lot of people were fond of collecting stamps. Even today, postage remains the central object of interest for a number of philatelists. For many, this activity is a great way to nostalgic about the Soviet past.

Philately as a way of life

Many philatelists begin to get involved in this activity since early childhood. First, they collect the most common postage stamps of the USSR, and then they begin to hunt for rarer specimens. Over time, in adulthood, such people already have at their disposal a solid collection of various postage stamps.

The term "philately" itself comes from two Greek words: "philos" - "love" and "atelia" - "collection, duty".

It is worth noting that philatelists collect not only the stamps themselves, but also envelopes, postcards with postage stamps pasted on them. The first philatelic catalogs appeared in the middle of the 19th century in England. AT modern Russia there is a so-called Union of philatelists. The country also regularly publishes a thematic magazine under the laconic name "Philately".

Postage stamps of the USSR and their value

The most expensive postage stamp in the world is the so-called "Mauritius" stamp from 1847. The price of one such little thing comes at auctions up to 20 million dollars! A total of 28 specimens are known.

Postage stamps of the USSR vary greatly in value. For example, the collection price of many Soviet postage stamps of the later years of issue does not exceed 50 rubles. However, some of them cost several thousand dollars. And what is most surprising, there are many willing to give such huge money for a small piece of paper.

On the Internet you can find many offers for the sale of entire sets. Soviet stamps. So, for example, a complete annual set of "postage stamps of the USSR in 1974", which includes 109 stamps and 8 blocks, can be purchased for 1,700 rubles. The price of such sets is largely determined by the year the stamps were issued. So, sets of stamps of the 40-50s are much more expensive.

Five most expensive postage stamps of the USSR

What postage stamps of the USSR are the most expensive today. We suggest you familiarize yourself with the list, consisting of five such positions.

1. 1959 Blue Gymnastics stamp. Was sold a few years ago for $13,800. The history of this brand is very interesting, the circulation of which was never released. The fact is that the brand was dedicated to the 40th anniversary. However, it was not possible to establish in which year it was founded.
2. Stamp "250 years Poltava victory"1959. There is only one copy of this amazing stamp in the world, which was sold in 2013 for $ 28,750. The circulation of this stamp was not issued due to the planned visit of N. Khrushchev to Sweden.
3. Stamp "Transcarpathian Ukraine" 1965. There are only a few of its copies, its price reaches 30,000 dollars.
4. Stamp "Consular fifty kopecks". Despite the circulation of about 70 copies, the collection value of this stamp is $65,000.
5. Stamp "The First All-Union Philatelic Exhibition", 1932. Only one extant specimen is known. And it was sold to one collector for 776 thousand dollars.

Finally...

Postage stamps of the USSR are an object of interest for many modern philatelists. For some, collecting these stamps is nothing more than a harmless hobby. And someone devotes everything to this free time and is ready to give a lot of money for a rare copy.

Such an amazing and entertaining hobby as philately is becoming more and more popular every year. With the breakup Soviet Union collectors have more opportunity market their brands. However, even in Soviet times, many began to collect rare specimens from childhood, as they could be easily obtained. Most of the young collectors exchanged them for meals or bought them at Soyuzpechat. Either way, it was fun and entertaining. Now the cost of stamps of the USSR 1961 1991 has increased, experienced philatelists tend to acquire rare exhibits in order to collect unique collections.

Historical aspect

To find out the most expensive brand, the experts conducted an auction evaluation. According to the results of the study, it turned out that the most expensive copy is a stamp issued in 1857. Only a few exhibits have survived to this day, which are estimated at 800,000 US dollars.

It is worth noting that the images on the stamps changed constantly, but over time they began to be considered security. The first copies appeared in the UK and only then they began to be made in other European powers. Thus, information about the products also reached Imperial Russia. The first stamp in the country was printed in the late 1850s with the coat of arms and mantle. You can find out the exact cost of this instance in the catalog.

Already at the beginning of the 1860s, the first printed catalog appeared, in which it was possible to find all the popular exhibits of that time. A little later in the country, postage stamps began to be used in the transportation of goods. In particular, these exhibits have become an excellent option for the postal service. After all, each brand was worth a certain amount of money. Typically, the cost is front side products. To date, there are special publications, where there is not only information, but also the prices of brands.

After the revolution, the first Soviet stamp was printed, which had a specific image. The famous artist Zarinsh Richard Germanovich worked on the drawing. This stamp was in circulation for only 3-4 years, so collectors at the auction are ready to pay a significant amount of money for it.

There is no doubt that philatelists are attracted by rare exhibits, since the number of such stamps on the market is limited. Private collectors create supply and demand by exhibiting valuable art. In this regard, rare items cost a lot of money. However, some collectors consider philately as part of a sound investment.

According to most experts, the Soviet stamp called "Limonka" is considered the most valuable copy. This stamp was released in the mid-1920s, but due to a technical malfunction, the circulation had to be reduced to a minimum. In this regard, the stamp is highly valued by professional collectors at auction.

Valuation and value of stamps

As a rule, a specialist or an experienced philatelist is engaged in evaluating a collection. Each collector is interested in how much this or that copy costs, since the result of a good deal depends on it.

The first thing the expert pays attention to is the safety of products. The fact is that the quality of stamps greatly affects the final cost. Expensive stamps of the USSR 1961 should be without defects, then there is an opportunity to sell them at an affordable price. In this case, marriage includes the following elements:

1. Torn off part of the stamp.
2. Fungus.
3. Severe surface contamination.
4. Bends.
5. No teeth.
6. Punctures.
7. Tears.

All these elements of marriage can devalue the collection. Ultimately, you will have to throw the products in the trash can. To get acquainted with the types of marriages, you can study the special literature, where there are photographs for a detailed study.

Experts tend to believe that postage stamps should have only one state of preservation, which is close to ideal. In this case, we are talking not only about clean, but also canceled copies. However, everywhere there are exceptions. For example, there was a case when a philatelist put up for auction a half of an exhibit for $500,000. It happened in China, which has its own rules and conditions for participating in auctions.

It is important to remember that only rare and original things are valued on the market, to which there is a lively interest from the collectors of the world. If the stamps are rare and valuable, then even defects cannot reduce the interest of market participants. Moreover, not everyone can afford to pay fabulous money for products, so you have to pay attention to lower-quality exhibits. In this regard, collectors buy rare stamps with defects.

However, most online auctions try to list stamps in good condition on their portals. Sometimes even rarities come across, but they come at a high price and are in a special section. The catalog of stamps 1961 1991 will help you figure it out.

If there are doubts about the degree of preservation of the collection, then it can be photographed and posted on a resource or forum to see the reaction of collectors. Professional philatelists often communicate with each other on specialized forums, so they can evaluate the stamp for free and indicate the real price. Valuable stamps of the USSR 1961 1991 price photo will always be appreciated by experts.

Almost every philatelist has postage stamps of the USSR 1961 1991, since their government used to issue huge batches. At auctions, similar products can be purchased for relatively a small amount. However, unused stamps can cost much less, depending on market trends and the state of preservation.

As for rare exhibits, in this case it is worth mentioning the following stamps: “To the Stars”, “25 Years of Station SP-1”, “Green Block”, “Philatelic Exhibition”. Here specifically for these products you can get significantly more money. Certainly for given period time in circulation, stamps with defects also fell into circulation. In the "Dear brands" section, you can examine all copies with defects. Finding them is very difficult, but possible. Most likely, the seller will sell them on the market for a lot of money.

The earlier stamps are made, the more expensive they will cost at auction. Stamps of the USSR 1961 1991 on the market are inferior in price range to copies of the 30s or 50s of the XX century. For example, stamps released in the mid-1930s are rapidly gaining popularity, the price tag on the market is constantly growing. Although it is not worth selling or buying these brands without prior consultation.

Postage stamps 1961 were issued in honor of the socialist countries. Concerning communist party I tried to publish as many of these copies as possible in order to distribute not only in the USSR, but also in other states. Thus, the authorities conveyed to the masses the ideology of the party. Getting rich just on the stamps of this subject will not work.

According to experts, a large number of collectors are now in China, as communism has settled in the minds of the people there for a long time. Therefore, Chinese philatelists are striving to get rare specimens. Soviet period for little money. Before conducting transactions with Chinese citizens, it is better to consult a specialist to find out the real value of the brand.

If we consider the products of other countries, then on the market they are more expensive than Soviet brands. It was customary to produce foreign stamps in small print runs, so the price is always high.

To independently find out the current price for today, you can use a specialized catalog. As a rule, publications are published and regularly updated on Internet resources. To become a bidder, you must first register on the site, providing personal data.

With the expansion of the market for postage stamps, a large number of scammers have appeared on the network who are trying to buy cheaper and then sell goods at a higher price. They also often sell fakes and marriages at auction, relying on the ignorance of market participants. You can find a list of the best Internet resources on a specialized forum. Usually there experienced philatelists advise absolutely free of charge on many issues.

(based on materials from the site http://www.wonderslist.com)

Postage stamps are a repository of the past. They give unique opportunity look at the history of the country and era. Philately is known as the "Mother of Hobbies". Thanks to some bugs or other "features", some brands have received the status of superstars in their own way. These stamps are highly sought after by collectors and are worth millions of dollars. Here is a list of the 10 most valuable and rare postage stamps in history.

10 Basel Dove

The Dove of Basel is a stamp issued by the canton of Basel in Switzerland on 1 July 1845. It was the first tricolor stamp in the world, with a face value of 2.5 rappen. Basel was one of three Swiss cantons that printed postage stamps. The Basel Dove depicts a white dove carrying a letter in its beak. The image was created by the architect Melchior Berry. Used black, magenta and blue colors. In total, about 42,000 stamps were printed in the series until it was withdrawn in 1854. The Basel dove is worth at least $20,000.

9. Penny Black

"Black Penny" - the first self-adhesive postage stamp in the world, was issued in the UK. The man behind the idea, Rowland Hill, is known as the "Father of Postage Stamps". The "black penny" depicts the profile of the British Queen Victoria. The brand got its name due to its color and value. First issued in 1840, it was withdrawn a year later, as the redemption on a black background was almost unreadable. The stamps in this series are hard to find and are estimated to cost around $3,000. Several outstanding sheets of these stamps are kept in the British Postal Museum.

8. The whole country is red.

This Chinese stamp was issued in 1968 during the Cultural Revolution. With a face value of 8 fen, it went down in history due to a printing error. This stamp was conceived as a symbol of the spread of communism in China. Designed by Wang Weisheng, it showed a map of China in red and a photograph of a worker, farmer and soldier holding a book of Selected Works of Chairman Mao (Red Book). However, the map of Taiwan, which was controlled by China, was not red, but white. An editor at SinoMaps Press noticed the error on the afternoon of the release date and the stamps were immediately withdrawn, although some did end up in the hands of collectors. Now they are one of the rarest postage stamps.

(In 2013, at one of the auctions, the price of the stamp was $ 77,350, translator's note).

7 Hawaiian Missionaries

Issued by the then Kingdom of Hawaii in 1851, they are among the rarest postage stamps in the world. The stamps were printed in three denominations: 2 cents, 5 cents and 13 cents. They became known as "missionaries" because most of them were used in correspondence between missionaries working in Hawaii. All stamps were made on cheap quality blue paper. The design consisted of the denomination numeral in the center and the denomination in words at the bottom. The phrase "Hawaiian/Postal" was written on the 2 and 5 cent stamps, and "H.I. &U.S/Postage was printed on 13 cent stamps. The 2-cent version is the rarest of the three, with only 15 left now.

(In the 2000s, the Scott catalog valued an outstanding 2-cent "missionary" at $600,000, translator's note).

6. Edward VII, who became posthumous

The posthumous Edward VII stamp is one of the rarest postage stamps in the UK. It was issued in 1910 to replace the existing two-pence double-coloured King Edward VII stamp. The new stamp with the same denomination also had the image of the king. A total of 24 million stamps were printed, but after the unexpected death of the king in May of that year, almost all the stamps were destroyed. To date, there are several copies of this stamp, although their actual number is unknown. The only known copy is in the Royal Philatelic Collection.

(Its approximate cost is $130,000, translator's note)

5. 12p "Black Queen of Canada"

The Black Queen of Canada was issued in 1851 and is one of the rarest at present. The stamp depicts the profile of Queen Victoria. Based on the portrait of the Queen, painted by Alfred Edward Chalon. This design is called Chalon Head. Despite the fact that more than fifty thousand copies were printed, very few were sold. In 1857, the remaining stamps were withdrawn and destroyed. It is believed that only a little over 100 stamps of this kind currently exist. The cost of one copy is estimated at about $500,000.

4. "Inverted Jenny"

Also known as the Upside Down Jenny, the Upside Down Jenny is a United States postage stamp with a face value of 24 cents. It was first issued on May 10, 1918. This printing error has made it one of the rarest postage stamps in the world. It depicts a Curtiss JN-4 upside down. It is believed that only 100 misspelled stamps now exist. Although at least three more sheets were printed in error, they were all found and destroyed. One inverted "Jenny" stamp sold for $977,500 at auction in 2007.

3. Blue Mauritius

These stamps were issued in Mauritius in September 1847 when the island was a British colony. The stamps were of two denominations: one penny in orange-red and two pence in dark blue. The stamp depicted Queen Victoria. Thanks to the erroneous inscription "Post Office", this stamp became a rarity.

The caption was changed to "Post Paid" in the next episode. There is a legend that the wording was erroneous, but philatelists claim that this is not so. The stamp attracted the attention of collectors for the first time in 1864. Currently, there are only 26 copies of the brand. Their cost is estimated at about $4 million.

2. Triskilling Yellow

The second place in the list of the rarest postage stamps is taken by the Swedish stamp Treskilling Yellow, issued in 1855. This stamp once held the world record for the highest price for a single postage stamp at auction. She was sold at a 1996 auction for $2.3 million. And in 2010 it was resold, but the exact price did not become publicly available. The brand is one of a kind. Its fame is due to a printing error. Three-skilling stamps were printed in blue-green, and eight-skilling stamps were printed in yellow. By mistake, several three-skilling stamps were printed in yellow. The only known surviving specimen was discovered by a schoolboy and philatelist named Georg Wilhelm Bachmann in 1886 while surveying his grandparents' attic.

1. British pink Guiana denomination of 1 cent

A stamp that was sold at a 2014 auction for $9.5 million. USA, British Guiana in pink, is considered the most valuable and rarest stamp in the world. Now there is only one copy of it, carved in the shape of an octagon. The stamp was issued in limited numbers in 1856 by the former British Guiana. It depicts a sailing ship along with the colony's motto "Damus Petimus Que Vicissim" (We give and expect in return). It was discovered in 1873 by a Scottish schoolboy named Louis Vernon Vaughan among his uncle's letters. The brand has been repeatedly mentioned in various films and books as "special value".