A simple mistake makes an ordinary stamp extraordinary. That means tiny errors can result in big earning potential.
We all want to hold something unique. Recently, we offered you a stamp originally worth 13p for £85,000 and sold it that day to a wise investor who not only recognised the powerful emotional value of owning such an item (there are only 5 in the world and the other four are in the Queen’s personal collection) but also its investment potential.
Today, you have the opportunity of owning another very special item.
The Great British Classic
GREAT BRITAIN 1935 SG: 456a--StockCode--P10100124
1935 2½d Prussian blue.
This is one of our favourite errors as we had a direct involvement in its evolution. You see, this stamp that never should have existed was discovered by a local businessman in 1935. Knowing Stanley Gibbons Ltd to be the authority on all things philatelic, he called our office, explaining that he had seen some stamps in a post office that were a different shade than the rest of the stock and he asked our advice.
What was our advice? “Get back to the post office and buy as many as you can!”.
And thus, the 2½d Prussian Blue was born. To this day it remains one of the rarest and most prized Great Britain stamps. These stamps are rarely on offer anywhere...
They were made for the King, by his special instructions. The printers, Harrison & Son, inadvertently printed some sheets in the ‘prussian blue’ colour. Quickly realising their mistake they destroyed the sheets...
Unfortunately for them, 6 sheets had managed to escape them and were placed with the ‘good’ stock by a busy worker.
The Post Office was quickly informed of the colour mistake and destroyed any remaining stock. However, 480 got out.
This stamp is available to you today for £14,750. Considering the rarity, this price seems like a bargain to us. We know there can only possibly be 480 examples... Not only that, but in the 2010 Great Britain Concise catalogue (the authoritative guide to stamp prices), which is about to be published, it’s value is listed at £15,000, so you will already have made a net gain.
And one more for you – more modern, slightly quirky, but a very different error that we particularly like:
The Invisible Golf Club
AUSTRALIA 1974 SG: 573a--StockCode--P09013048
1974 7c Golf, marginal horizontal strip of 4
I don’t know about you, but I find golf hard enough at the best of times, let alone without a club to swing…
This comical error, shows a golfer in full swing with one vital ingredient missing – the golf club.
Only 25 are known to exist. This is 4 of them. One stamp on its own is quoted at £1,500 in the latest edition of the Pierron’s GB & Commonwealth Missing Colour Errors catalogue.
This multiple of 4 is available for just £3,000.
How potentially to make a fortune from someone else’s misfortune? - Call one of our Investment Advisers today on (UK) 0845 026 7170 (International) +44 (0)1481 708 277 or email investment@stanleygibbons.co.uk.
Please be aware that, due to their very nature, these stamps are offered on a strict first come, first served basis. Do call the investment team or respond to this e-mail straight away.