Stamp collectors know the thrill of the hunt and the triumph of a great find. It’s always exciting to add a valuable stamp to a burgeoning collection, particularly if it’s a long sought-after piece. For collectors in search of something special, the appraisal experts at Hawaiian Islands Stamp & Coin, based in Honolulu, are here to share some of the world’s most rare stamps.

5 Rare & Valuable Stamps Collectors Will Love

1. British Guinea 1-Cent Magenta

Dating from 1856, this collectible is the equivalent of gold in the stamp world! It’s valued at $9.5 million, and was originally printed as newspaper postage. It features a bold magenta backdrop with the image of a ship printed in black ink. The corners of the standard rectangle are trimmed off, resulting in an octagonal silhouette. The stamp was last sold in New York in 2014.

2. Baden 9 Kreuzer Error

With only four of its kind remaining in the world, this stamp from 1851 has an appraisal of $1,545,000. Its rarity is due to its color—the original print was meant to be pink, but several sheets were inadvertently printed in green.

3. Inverted Jenny

This American stamp dates from 1918. Valued at $1,350,000 today, it was originally a 24-cent piece. Its rarity is attributed to a printing error—or more specifically, an upside-down Curtiss JN-4 airplane. One postal worker mistakenly sold a sheet of 100 glitch stamps because they had never seen a plane before! The remaining batches were destroyed, so the 100 in existence are extremely valuable.

4. 10 Rupees Gandhi Stamp

To celebrate the first anniversary of its independence, India created 10-rupee stamps featuring Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. This stamp bears the word “service” in dark lettering over an image of the storied activist, and it was last sold for $205,000 in 2011.

5. Inverted Swan

Printed in 1855, this stamp has a value of $171,543. Like many other valuable and rare stamps, it received that appraisal namely for its errors. Although the name suggests otherwise, the mistake is actually an inverted frame and not the swan itself. It is thought that only 15 of these stamps exist today, all of which belong to collectors.

Offering appraisals for stamps, old coins, and gold, the professionals at Hawaiian Islands Stamp & Coin understand how important it is to know the worth of your collectibles. They carry an extensive selection of stamps and other valuables to build up your collection. The leading authority on all things rare in the community, the store also offers an impressive array of Hawaiian coins. You can visit their website to browse their offerings, or call them at (808) 531-6251 to arrange an appraisal.