| In the fascinating world of stamp collecting, the | | | | 2. Post Office Mauritius, 1847. Published by the |
| collectible status of a particular postage stamp is | | | | British colony of Mauritius as the very first stamp |
| determined by its value, and value is determined | | | | it has ever issued, this piece of collectible fetches |
| by rarity. | | | | an average of $600,000 not because of its |
| The rarer the postage stamp is, the higher the | | | | historic significance, but because of another |
| price it will command. | | | | printing error. There are 2 types of this stamp, |
| Hence, stamp collectors from all over the world | | | | one is a 1 penny stamp, and the other is a 2 |
| are on a constant crusade to find and acquire the | | | | pennies stamp. It is said that 200 copies of both |
| rarest stamps of today. Not only will such | | | | stamps bear the words "Post Office" instead of |
| postage stamps become the crowning glory of | | | | the mark "Post Paid." Though 200 copies were |
| their collection, not only will the possession of the | | | | erroneously distributed, only a handful ever saw |
| same provide a very rewarding experience, but | | | | light in the stamp collecting world. In 1993, these 2 |
| the fact that such rare stamps will only fetch | | | | stamps bearing the same error were sold for a |
| higher values as the years go by could only mean | | | | whopping $3.8 million. |
| promising things for enterprising hobbyists. | | | | 3. U.S. Franklin Z-Grill, 1867. In 1867, a new |
| So, which of the hundreds of thousands of | | | | technology was introduced to stamp publishing: |
| stamps that have been published in the past 4 | | | | the Z-grill. It was discovered that during such |
| centuries can be considered as the rarest of the | | | | period, many people actually cheated the |
| rare in the stamp collecting industry? | | | | requirement of paying for postage stamps by |
| Here's a list of the 3 rarest and most valuable | | | | using old ones and erasing the ink mark. The Z-grill |
| postage stamps of today straight from prominent | | | | was supposed to make the stamp absorb the ink |
| stamp collecting databases. | | | | in a more effective way that will render its |
| 1. Sweden Three Skilling Banco, Yellow, 1855. | | | | cancellation impossible. The cost of production for |
| Published 15 years after the very first postal | | | | canvasses with Z-grills, however, was deemed |
| stamp was introduced to the world, the Sweden | | | | impractical as it will cause a significant increase in |
| Three Skilling Banco, though commanding a fair | | | | postal fees. However, several copies of the U.S. |
| price in today's market, isn't really what we can | | | | Franklin stamp, which used the Z-grill canvasses, |
| consider as a "big game." Rather, it's its yellow | | | | were released. Only 2, however, are known to |
| counterpart - a printing error - that stamp | | | | the stamp collecting community, both of which |
| collecting hobbyists are going ga-ga about. Fetching | | | | fetched an average of @ 930,000. |
| the highest price for a stamp at $2.3 million, one | | | | The stamp collecting values of these rarities are |
| thing is certain about this particular stamp: only | | | | sure to rise even further in the coming years. |
| one person can ever own it. All indications point to | | | | This is testament to the established nature of the |
| the conclusion that this stamp is unique, and there | | | | postage stamp collecting industry and the timeless |
| is exists nothing like it in every nook and cranny | | | | appeal and significant postal history of these |
| of stamp collecting. | | | | collectibles. |