Rarest and Most Valuable Stamps of India

 

The rarest and most valuable Indian stamps that have realized very high prices at International Philately auctions across the world.                                     

10 Rupees Gandhi Stamp 1948 with SERVICE overprinted. In August 1948, India celebrated the first anniversary of its independence. To commemorate this historical event, the Indian Postal Service launched a special 10 rupees stamp depicting Mahatma Gandhi. Only 200 specimens of 10 Rupee Gandhi stamps were overprinted with ''SERVICE'' and issued for the use of Governor-General of India, making it the world's least printed philatelic issue. Only 18 examples are known in existence today.                                       

  

In September 2013 unmounted mint example of this collectible fetched a price of 168,000 EUR or roughly $200,689 at David Feldman auction.                                     

A strip of four rare 10 rupees Gandhi stamps was sold for 500,000 UK Pounds at Stanley Gibbons auction in April 2017.

                                       

Inverted Head 4 Annas stamp, 1854. It was one of the first multicoloured varieties in the world issued in 1854. The stamp is  special because of the error, the head of Queen Victoria was printed upside down on exactly 206,040 copies. The mistake was discovered in 1890 and only 28 examples are known to exist today. This stamp is regarded as the legendary and greatest of Indian classic rarities                                   

A specimen of this item was sold for $170,500 at Spink in October 2010 from the Medina Collections. 

                                    

Duttia 1/2 a black on blue green stamp, 1896. This is one of the most interesting stamp of Duttia's first issue. The stamp is imperforate, without gum, and hand-stamped with a circular, control in blue. Philatelists estimate that only five specimens of this rare collectible, of which one is affixed to piece and cut into, and another defective, are available today. The finest of these samples appeared at the Stanley Gibbons auction in May 2021 and was sold for 58,000 UK Pounds or roughly $80,701.

                                      

Four Annas Second Printing Stamp, 1854. This is one of the country's first issues, with a simple design showing the bust of Queen Victoria, the country's name ''India'' and the denomination in words ''four annas''. The stamps were printed locally and issued imperforate. While all these stamps are not rare, some specifications such as different dies and printing methods make some unique. One particular stamp showing blue dividing lines with a part of the bottom margin imprint of the office in Calcutta, coming from the second of three dies used, and the frame from the first was sold for $51,200 at Spink auction in September, 2016 in Singapore.                                      

A rare pair from the fourth printing, with considerable original gum sold for $44,100. 

                                       

1/2a Blue Scinde Dawk stamp, 1852.  Issued on July 1, 1852, these stamps were so fragile that they easily cracked and disintegrated. As they were often used as a seal, many were destroyed after the letters were opened. The red stamps were issued first, the blue later. These stamps are found in several shades of blue. Shortly after their release, the Scinde Dawks were withdrawn from use. A very rare unused example was sold for $28,342 by David Feldman on May 19, 2011. Another stamp without gum realized $16,057 at Siegel auction in December 2018.

                                       

1/2a Scarlet Scinde Dawk stamp, 1852. The first stamp to be issued in Asia. Because it was embossed on the wafer, the stamp was very fragile and had a tendency to crack. Although these stamps were quite common and widely used at that time, less than 100 are now known to exist, giving it a status of exceedingly rare . This stamp was sold for $27,000 at HR Harmer auction in June 2016. Another stamp on the part cover, with usual cracks and minor marginal chippings, was sold for $18,520 at Christoph Gartner auction in June 2016.

                                       

2a Violet Official Provisional stamp, 1866. These improvised stamps were made by taking ''Foreign Bill'' revenues, cutting off to the top and bottom inscriptions, and overprinting the stamps ''Service Postage''. The design consisted of the usual Victoria profile. The used example of the 2a with inscription was sold for $19,000 at Spink auction in October 2010.

                                      

                                   

King George V, One and a half annas definitive with a watermark, 1929. This stamp with a sideways watermark is a unique variety of India's definitive stamp. One of the assumption says that the stamps may have been produced when a corner of the sheet was accidentally folded over at exactly 45 degree angle during printing. The other reason could be that a hole in the unprinted sheet could have been patched with a slip of stamp paper rotated 90 degrees. A definitive with a sideways watermark was auctioned for $16,750 by Christoph Gaertner in October 2016.

                                         

 

                                       

King George V, 1R error stamp, 1926. This stamp with an error does not show the profile of King George. Only 8 possible samples from a single sheet were discovered without the chocolate printing (four of which had only partial head omitted). One of the greatest rarity of the century, the stamp appeared at Christoph Gartner sale that took place in March 2011. This lot was sold for $25,088.

                                       

India Birds of Prey error stamp, 1992. This modern rarity that displays 1 Rupee instead of 2 Rupees. This mistake was discovered shortly after printing, with most specimens destroyed. The stamp was supposed to have a 2 Rupees value. The Hindi name of the bird was also incorrect. There were three errors discovered by 1988. One of such stamps was sold for $16,172 at Stanley Gibbons auction in June 2011.A strip of three 1992 Indian Birds of Prey 2r error realized 15,000 UK Pounds, roughly $23,772 at Spink's Philatelic Collectors Series sale in London in November 2014.

                                        

Duttia's 1/2 a black on orange paper, 1893. A prominent India State stamp has very few examples left today. A fine example was sold for $13,800 at the Cherrystone auction in July, 2017. As it was part of the Beville collections, the lot had a blue hand stamped control mark and unused gum, as well as the certificate of authenticity. About a dozen such stamps have been recorded .

                                       

Triennale Art Exhibition error stamp, 1968. This stamp was released to mark the First Triennale, an event of major significance to artists in India and abroad. One of the finest example of this 1968 stamp with orange omitted error was offered for $10,000 by Siegel on 15 November, 2017. A vertical row of five 1968 Triennale Art Exhibition stamps with two error stamps achieved $9,074 at Stanley Gibbons auction in November, 2017. This is a rare stamp as only the lower two rows of one sheet were affected. This is a philatelic error that lacks orange colour. Only 14 examples of this stamp have been recorded.