147-year-old stamp exceeds all expectations, sells for 600 per cent above estimate

An 1869 “Shield, Eagle and Flags” 30-cent pictorial stamp (US Scott #121) realized nearly $45,000 ($35,000 USD) at a Robert A. Siegel sale earlier this month, exceeding pre-auction estimates of $6,500 by about 600 per cent.

The sale, which took place April 7 in New York City, saw the first part of the Hanover Collection of “superb-quality” U.S. stamps auctioned off to bidders, of which there were many with deep pockets. Among the highlights was the Shield, Eagle and Flags stamp, which is graded XF-Superb 95, making it one of the three finest known examples to exist.

The stamp was likely issued in April 1869, during the administration of former U.S. President Ulysses S Grant, and was the first official U.S. series to portray something other than former politicians. Its earliest known use was on a cover dated May 22, 1869 and sent from New York to Hong Kong. To date, there are about 60 known covers sent with the 30-cent stamp affixed to it.

Leave a Reply

Canadian Stamp News

Canada

Canadian Stamp News is Canada's premier source of information about stamp collecting and related fields.

Although we cover the entire world of philatelics, the majority of our readers are Canadian, and we concentrate on the unique circumstances surrounding collecting in our native land.

Send Us Your Event

Running an event? Send it to us and we will display it on Canadian Stamp News!

Submit Event →

Subscribe To 26 Issues For Just $59.99/year

Subscribe today to receive Canada's premier stamp publication. Canadian Stamp News is available in both paper and digital forms.

Subscribe Now