Philately. The rarest and most expensive stamps of Russia and the USSR Stamps philately collector

The most expensive stamp was issued in the 19th century and is not only a postal sign that confirms payment for delivery services, but also a collector's item. Since then it has been changed several times appearance, and all brands put into circulation are systematized in catalogues.

The auction valuation and sale of the most expensive brand was carried out in 2008, and the amount was 700 thousand US dollars. Its seal was made in 1857 for the post office of the city of Tiflis. It depicts the city's coat of arms - a double-headed eagle, and the nominal value of the sign was 6 kopecks. It was in circulation for 10 years, but only three copies survived before the First World War.

Stamps began to be used to pay for services for the delivery of postal messages in 1832, and since then they have been a security with the denomination of the cost of postage printed on it. The history of its serial production and use was preceded by several projects. One of them belonged to Lieutenant K. Treffenberg in 1832, and two years later the publisher D. Chalmers printed a trial batch. They began to stick them on an envelope, the cost of sending which depended on the weight, and not the distance of delivery to the addressee.

The idea of ​​affixing a special sign confirming payment for postage belongs to the English postmaster, Sir Rowland Hill. In fact, he developed a sketch of the world's first postage stamp, which was printed in England and went into circulation in May 1840. The details and insignia of the issuing country were established much later by the Universal Postal Union.

According to the standards, letters with the name of the country printing it are written on the stamp in Latin letters. Due to the fact that Great Britain is the first in issuing postage marks, it was exempted from applying a distinctive sign to the document.

Stamps are not only an indispensable attribute of sending messages, but also a collectible, and the science of studying the history of postal circulation, communications, and payment marks for forwarding services is called philately. Its history begins with the “black penny” stamp, with a face value of 1 penny with the image of Queen Victoria. It is made in black, which determined the name.

The first postage stamps of Tsarist Russia

Following Great Britain, postal signs began to be used in other countries. The first postage stamp with a face value of 10 kopecks. with smooth edges was printed in Russia at the end of 1857. It came into use early next year. It depicted the state emblem and mantle. The price of a canceled stamp today is 275-700 US dollars, and a clean one - 12.5-20 thousand dollars.

The first stamps of the USSR

The first postage stamp of the Soviet state was printed in November 1918. Its name was determined by the image “Hand with a sword cutting a chain.” The author of the sketch belongs to R. G. Zarins. The stamp was in circulation for 4 years. The auction price for perforated samples with denominations of 1 and 2 kopecks was 71,875 US dollars.

The souvenir block with 4 stamps printed on it was published in a limited edition on a sheet of thick paper. Hence the name "Cardboard". It was dedicated to the opening of the first philatelist exhibition in Moscow, which took place in 1932. They were printed in only 525 copies, 25 of which contained the inscription “To the best drummer of the All-Union Society of Philatelists.” The only surviving copy with a personal overprint was sold at the Cherystone auction for $776,250. The cost of the stamp without overprint is 35 thousand dollars.

Rare USSR postage stamps are of great interest to collectors. On the specialized market, their number is limited and is replenished in most cases from private collections. As a result, the price of rare specimens increases. Collectible stamps are a means of reliable investment. Rare stamps of the USSR are no exception to obtaining financial benefits.

Stamp Blue Gymnast

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Union Circus, a stamp called “Blue Gymnast” was issued. Uncertainty regarding the date led to the cancellation of its release. Many years later, in 1979, the stamp was printed for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the circus. The unissued “Blue Gymnast” stamp is a philatelic rarity. It was sold under the hammer in 2008 at auction for 13.8 thousand US dollars.

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Mark Limonka

"Limonka" is the most valuable stamp of the USSR. It belongs to the “Gold Standard” series. She was released in 1925. In its unextinguished form it is the rarest. As a result technical malfunction The 15-kopeck stamp was not finished printing on the perforation machine. The insufficient circulation determined its modern value, which ranges from 15 to 20 thousand dollars.

Unissued rare stamps

Due to political considerations, in 1959 a stamp was not released into circulation for the 250th anniversary of the historical Poltava victory of 1709. The circulation was completely withdrawn from circulation and destroyed. The cost of the preserved 40 stamps ranges from 10-20 thousand dollars per copy. For the same reason, the “Flight of Peace and Friendship” stamp was not released, the auction price of which is 28,750 thousand dollars.

Each USSR stamp is included in a special catalog, which contains them detailed description, history and photographs.

Overprinted stamps

Among them are valuable specimens with a story that makes them special. The “Levanevsky with overprint” stamp belongs to the “Salvation of Chelyuskinites” series. Issued in 1935, copies contain a portrait of the pilot S. A. Levanevsky and the overprint “Flight Moscow - San Francisco via North. pole 1935". Typographical errors on the stamp in the form of an inverted overprint and a small “f” determined their super value as a rarity on two stamp sheets (50 pieces each).

The “Consular Fifty Kopeck” stamps were intended for sending official mail by order of the RSFSR Embassy in Germany. The stamp has a red text overprint - “R.S.F.S.R. Air Mail.” Due to disagreement with management, it was withdrawn from circulation. In this series, the most expensive stamp is the one with a face value of 50 kopecks and the overprint “1200 Herm. stamps." Consular stamps of the RSFSR 1922 are rare due to an error in the inscription. One of the sheets contains the inscription “24 German. marks" instead of "brand", which determines the high value.

For air mail in 1923, the first series of 4 multi-colored stamps was produced, which depicted the Fokker F-111 aircraft. The value of these stamps lies in the “thick” number “5” printed on one sheet from the total circulation. It sold in September 2008 for $86,250. A USSR stamp entitled "2nd International Polar Year" was printed in 1932. They were intended to send airmail from Franz Josef Land to Arkhangelsk. The difference in perforation of a small part of the circulation from the main issue determines high cost brands.

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

A postage stamp is...

A postage stamp is special sign, which serves as confirmation of the fact of payment for the postal service 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 contain the number and name of a specific postal administration. Any stamp, as a rule, has a certain design, inscription and decor.

All postage stamps are divided into several types:

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

In Soviet times, many people were fond of collecting stamps. Even today, postal stamps remain a central object of interest for a number of philatelists. For many, this activity is a great way to feel nostalgic about the Soviet past.

Philately as a way of life

Many philatelists begin to get involved in this activity as early as 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 substantial collection of various postage stamps.

The term “philately” itself comes from two Greek words: “philos” - “love” and “ately” - “collection, duty”.

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

Postage stamps of the USSR and their cost

The most expensive postage stamp in the world is considered to be the so-called Mauritius stamp of 1847. The price of one such thing at auction reaches up to 20 million dollars! In total, 28 of its copies are known.

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

On the Internet you can find many offers for the sale of entire sets of Soviet stamps. So, for example, a complete annual set of “USSR postage stamps of 1974”, including 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. Thus, sets of stamps from the 40s and 50s are much more expensive.

Five most expensive postage stamps of the USSR

Which USSR postage stamps are the most expensive today. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the list of five such items.

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

In conclusion...

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 all their free time to this and is ready to pay a lot of money for a rare copy.

Instructions

First of all, it is necessary to understand that a brand itself has no value. It's just a small piece of paper with a picture of something on it. What makes it valuable is only the desire and desire of another person to purchase this item for their collection, paying a certain amount of money. Obviously, the value of brands is not related to the economy and global trends.

To determine the value of stamps in their circles, philatelists created catalogs. The most current ones are the Scott catalogs (), the Michaels catalog (very detailed,). You can also find Russian catalogs in specialized stores, but they have not received such fame.

Prices in catalogs appear after a thorough study of the postage stamp market. They are advisory in nature and do not serve as a guarantee that the brand will actually be purchased at such a high price, for example. The cheapest brands, mostly multi-circulation ones, are sold by the kilogram or pound.

Stamps in perfect condition, in the truest sense of the word, are most valued. They must be uncanceled (not have a postal stamp), with intact teeth, with fully preserved glue on back side, without scratches and wrinkles. Cancelled stamps have value only if they were issued in small quantities and were almost never used for postal purposes. The date stamp is important here, and it’s best to even save the envelope.

The cost of stamps depends on general trends in the world of philately. For example, now stamps of the USSR, the Vatican, and Africa are sold at prices much lower than those indicated in catalogs, since these countries are not yet “in fashion.” However, everything can change at any moment.

Other ways to determine the value of stamps include auction houses and some online resources. However, when turning to such sources, it is necessary to first make inquiries about their reputation in order to avoid unpleasant situations in the future.

Stamp collecting can be not only fun, but also financially rewarding. If you own a stamp collection, you may one day find yourself sitting on the “golden mound.” If you decide to sell a brand or an entire collection, study the prices on the market and learn how to negotiate.

Instructions

Check yours carefully to find out which brands you have. Collect detailed information about brands - this will help establish their approximate value. The corresponding brand catalogs can be of great help. You should do an analysis before you decide to look for a potential buyer for this exotic product.

Consult with a specialist in the field to determine the most accurate price and check copies. Today you can find professional experts and appraisers on some websites. Contacting a specialist will help you make an informed decision about selling your brand. Keep in mind that the cost of a particular specimen is largely determined by its safety. Crumpled or damaged, it is inferior in price to other copies.

Having established a circle of potential buyers, analyze, if possible, their past purchases, find out their tastes and preferences. Pay attention to average price, which they paid for their past purchases. This information is usually found on auction sites that have profile pages for potential buyers. It is possible that these people will be interested in exactly the brands that you are ready to put up for sale.

The stage of negotiations with a potential buyer begins. In negotiations, use the information that you were able to glean from open sources about your brands and the buyer. Refer to expert assessment. Be prepared to have to bargain. If a buyer offers a obviously unacceptable price for your product, do not be afraid to refuse him. Often, when faced with your refusal, a true connoisseur of stamps will still prefer to make a concession and accept the terms you offer.

Sources:

• How to Sell Your Antique Postage Stamps
• where to sell postage stamps

People began collecting stamps back in the 19th century. Modern philatelists collect thematic and chronological collections, hunt for canceled and uncanceled stamps. Stamp collecting can be called a way of life rather than just a hobby.

Instructions

When starting to build your own collection, you need to decide on a few things. Firstly - will you be collecting canceled or uncanceled stamps? Several decades ago, canceled stamps were very popular among philatelists. Uncanceled stamps were not recognized at all. Indeed, each brand that has made a long journey from the sender of a letter to the recipient has its own unique story. There is a story according to which on December 12, 1912, all post offices in France were filled with philatelists who wanted to receive a postmark with the cancellation date “12/12/1912”. Modern collectors also collect uncanceled stamps - they can also be unique in their own way.

During Soviet times, it was fashionable and popular to collect rare and valuable stamps. After all, there were about twenty factories in the country that regularly produced not only a variety of stamps, but also medals, orders, coins and other cultural property. In this regard, you can now find a large number of valuable items from that era.

But what is “philately”? Philately is a hobby for versatile people who always strive for something new and unusual. As a rule, philatelists collect rare postage stamps because it is profitable and interesting.

True connoisseurs will always be able to appreciate Soviet stamps, since in those years a large number of different and rare copies were produced. Creating the design and image on a stamp requires the use of miniature graphics skills. And this is not as easy to do as it seems. Today, many people around the world are interested in philately and appreciate the history of postal services. Postage stamps from different countries provide an opportunity to learn about world civilization as a whole. Philately catalog of stamps prices are available online for each user.

People have been collecting stamps for over 170 years. For many philatelists, this hobby has become the real meaning of life. Each stamp has its own design, decor, inscription - all elements serve as confirmation of payment for postal services. If the products are rare or rare, then you can get a huge amount of money for them on the market. There is an opportunity and philately catalog of stamps and prices to sell.

Reasons to become a professional philatelist

Collecting interesting and colorful stamps attracts many people and here's why:

1. Collecting stamps is an interesting pastime.
2. Stamps by their appearance tell about the achievements or historical aspects of certain states. They expand their range of interests.
3. A variety of products will never let you get bored. The images on the stamps represent the history, culture, traditions and customs of the peoples of the world.
4. Your own stamp collection is a profitable investment. There are examples when people became millionaires overnight by collecting a complete collection of stamps.
5. Business skills are developing.
6. Collecting fills ordinary life new and bright emotions.
7. Brands can reflect a person's deep inner world.
8. Today, over 200 million people are engaged in this business.
9. A unique collection of stamps can provide an opportunity to become a member of the Philatelist Society.
10. You can always find new and rare specimens.
11. Today, anyone can collect stamps, since the cost of USSR products does not exceed 100 rubles. But valuable exhibits cost much more. For example, philately catalog of stamps prices space can be classified as this type.

Successful collecting

To achieve excellence in stamp collecting, you need to understand the intricacies. The stamps are divided into topics and time periods:

1. Postage stamps are defined by time and country. Knowing all the information about brands, you can sell the collection at auction for a lot of money. For example, there are stamps that are dedicated to certain themes: “Space”, “Third Reich”, “Fauna” and much more.
2. Of course, preference should be given to those brands that are more valued by collectors.
3. The rarest brands should be included in a separate group.
4. By parting with rare specimens, the possibilities for collecting expand.
5. Collecting must be thorough in all aspects.
6. To find out the real cost, you should always use the philately catalog of stamps of the USSR. The publication demonstrates all brands with photographs and information about them.
7. It is not recommended to sell counterfeit brands at auctions or in stores, otherwise you can instantly lose authority and trust.

The cost of stamps depends on the following factors:

1. Rarity, rarity, small circulation.
2. Year of release.
3. Typos, manufacturing defects, shifts, omissions and other errors.
4. Current trends.

For now, the value of stamps is also determined by the curiosity and passion of collectors. As long as there is a high demand for stamps, copies will be in price. It is worth noting that prestigious brands were previously produced in Europe and the USA. So there are a lot of unique brands.

Sales of brands

As a rule, brands are assessed by an expert who can give a detailed and high-quality answer on a particular product. In most cases, the assessment is carried out free of charge, but when a specialist visits the site, you will need to pay for his time. This need arises when the assessment concerns a huge collection of cultural property.

But now, modern technology makes it possible to conduct assessments remotely or remotely. In this case, the appraiser should be interested in a qualitative analysis of brands.

1. Additionally, it is worth conducting an alternative assessment so as not to find yourself in a difficult situation.
2. You definitely need to use a specialized catalog.
3. The assessment must be carried out by an expert.

In order to profitably sell a collection of rare stamps, you need to know how to bargain. During the transaction, you must keep in front of you the philately catalog of stamps, prices of the cube to sell. It is worth determining in advance which brands are most interesting to customers. And this is the only way to implement instances correctly.

Don’t be disappointed if experts give a very low price for stamps. You can always keep them as a souvenir or give them to your family. Many people collect stamps not for sale or profit, but for their own satisfaction.

But if you decide to buy or sell philately, stamp catalog prices, you need to carefully prepare for the transaction. Now there are a large number of different forums where professional philatelists advise novice collectors. You can also find out from them a list of the best online stores that have managed to establish themselves in the brand market. In any case, each collector of valuables decides for himself what to do with stamps and how much to sell them for at auctions.

Buy your first few stamps. You can start a collection with stamps purchased from other collectors or in specialized stores; look for options on the Internet. At this stage of collecting, the number and variety of stamps is important. Don't get stuck on one type of stamp, buy different ones. You can buy not individual brands, but small selections at once - this is, of course, cheaper (most often they are even sold by weight), but, most likely, the brands there will be of the same type.

Buy stamp crimpers. Stamp pliers are often called tweezers - in fact, these two tools are very similar to each other, but there are also significant differences between them. Tongs, unlike tweezers, grip paper more carefully, and due to the absence of sharp ends, they practically do not injure it. The pliers are so thin that they can grab a stamp even from a flat surface. Stamp pliers can vary in length and weight, so choose ones that will fit most comfortably in your hand. Some models have curved ends, some have pointed tips. Don't buy pliers with too sharp ends: when you work with stamps (especially wet ones), you risk damaging the paper.

The use of stamp pliers is mandatory: In this way, you will protect your collection not only from physical damage, but also from moisture contained on the surface of the skin.

Sort through the brands you have. Decide for yourself on what basis it is best for you to sort your brands. Most often, collectors group stamps by the countries in which they were made. In addition, it is necessary to know the home country of the brand so that it will be easier to find information about the brand later. Another equally popular way of sorting stamps is to separate the stamps by the objects depicted on them. This is the so-called thematic collecting (thematic philately). The images on the stamps are dedicated to a variety of topics: butterflies, famous people, airplanes, various types sports In many countries, this fact is taken into account when developing new brands. Stamps can also be sorted by color or shape. Show your imagination and make an exclusive sorting of your exhibits!

Consider where you will store the stamps. It is unlikely that your household will like it if you want to store your treasure on the common dining table. Therefore, you must take care of proper shelter for your “wards”. So, for example, you can buy several envelopes, where you put the sorted stamps; the envelopes should be signed. This storage method has a significant drawback: every time you need to find one stamp, you will have to empty the entire contents of the envelope onto the table. If you have already accumulated a sufficient number of exhibits, this is the time to buy album for stamps".

Stamp albums can have either stapled or inserted sheets. Albums also differ in size. It is easiest to work with albums that have inserted sheets. When you buy such an album for yourself, give preference to albums with three mounts - they are easiest to find on sale.

• The sheets in stamp albums are made of soft cardboard; the top of the page is covered with a transparent film. The film is attached to the sides and glued to the bottom. This creates a wide pocket where it is convenient to insert stamps. Cardboard acts as a background and is black or white. Black cardboard sheets are generally of higher quality, but they are also more expensive. And stamps (since they are most often printed on white paper) look better on a black background.
• Albums whose pages are made of Manila cardboard (similar to that from which paper folders are made) are also widely popular among philatelists. The pages in such an album have separate pockets for stamps, but the disadvantage of such storage is that the bottom of the stamp is not visible. Although such albums are durable and inexpensive. It is convenient to store repeating stamps in such albums.