8. 1856 1-Cent Magenta Stamp from British Guyana Stamp 8. 1856 1-Cent Magenta Stamp from British Guyana Stamp
Creator: British Guiana
Original Price: 1c*
Current value: US$ 9.5 million*
Discovered in a basement in 1873 by a Scottish schoolboy amongst his uncle's stamp collection, it made its way through several hands before reaching Arthur Hind in 1922 who reportedly outbid three kings for the price of $36,000. It has since increased in value substantially, causing stamp collectors across the globe to dust off their old stamps and have them approved.
The incredibly rare 1c stamp of British Guiana (now Guyana) was issued in 1856 and is the only one known today. Each of the four times it was sold broke the record for the highest price paid for a single stamp. The last sale was for a staggering $ 9.5 million to footwear designer Stuart Weizman.
It may be difficult for some of us to understand why we collect stamps, but it has been one of the biggest specialties in the industry for decades. Stamp collectors are willing to pay through the nose to get something rare and unique.
