1856 1-Cent Magenta Stamp From British Guiana
Many philatelists consider the British Guiana 1cent magenta to be the world's most famous rare stamp. Only one specimen is known to exist. It was minted in restricted numbers in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1856. It is the only significant postage stamp ever released that is not included in the Royal Philatelic Collection of the United Kingdom.
It's imperforate and printed in black on magenta paper, with a sailing ship in the center and the colony's Latin motto "Damus PetimusQue Vicissim" (We give and expect in return). The ship is framed by four thin lines. In small black upper case letters, the stamp's country of issue and value surround the frame. The 1856 1-cent Stamp beat the world record for a single stamp auction price each of the last four times it was sold, with its US$9,480,000 sale to Stuart Weitzman on June 17, 2014. On June 8, 2021, the stamp was auctioned again, this time for $8,307,000. Individuals can acquire partial ownership of the stamp from Stanley Gibbons beginning November 8, 2021.
Price: $8.3 million
