Posts Tagged ‘Benjamin Franklin’

If you’re a stamp collector, then there may be stamps of different values in your collection. There are probably rare and valuable stamps that you’d like to own. But if you’re new to the world of stamp collecting, you may not be aware of the rarest and most valuable stamps. There are lots of them; however here is a list of some of the best:

Error Stamps: An error stamp is a stamp that has some kind of mistake. This could mean that it is unhinged or a detail on the stamp is incorrect. Stamps that aren’t usually valuable can become very much so if they contain errors.

The Benjamin Franklin 1908 Stamp: This rare one cent stamp, when found unused and hinged in perfect condition, can be worth $100,000!

1868 Canadian Stamp: This two-cent ultra rare stamp features a picture of Queen Victoria. There are only two of these stamps that are known to be in existence today!

Hawaiian Missionary Stamps: These stamps are the state of Hawaii’s very first stamps and are known as Missionary Issue. There were four stamps originally issued, with three values: two cents, five cents, and thirteen cents. It is almost impossible to find these stamps in undamaged condition.

1911 25c Vin Fiz Airpost Stamp: There are only 12 of these stamps recorded to be in existence. The only example shown to go to a foreign destination fetched $88,000!

British Guiana One Cent Magenta Stamp: This amazing rarity is probably the most valuable stamp in the world. It was first discovered in 1873, and auctioned to millionaire John Dupont for over $900,000. There is only one other known copy of this stamp in the world, which is currently undergoing tests for authenticity.

Swedish Three Skilling Banco: These stamps were normally made in green, but in 1885 a yellow stamp was found that was deemed to be a printing error. In 1996, this stamp sold for over two million dollars!

You may never get your hands on one of these rare stamps, but there are many others that are accessible to most every stamp collector. By reading stamp catalogs and magazines, you can learn more about them. Do some research and find out which rarities you’d like to pursue. You never know what you may find!

A large number of stamps of the United States, including popular first stamp issued by USA, bear a likeness of Franklin.

Franklin was one of the most noted careers among all the great careers of Americans.  Born in Boston in 1706, he struggled against adversity and secured an education, taking the trade of printer, in which he became famous in Philadelphia, the city of his adoption.  In science, he was also notable, his electrical researches first proving that lightning and electricity were identical.  Many other scientific discoveries are accredited to him.

Probably he was best known in his role of statesman.  In colonial days he was prominent in affairs of state. During the Revolution he was sent as Ambassador to France to secure the aid of that country in the war for Independence.  He was also Governor of Pennsylvania for several Terms, having been elected unanimously.  He was Postmaster at Philadelphia, was Postmaster General under royal appointment during the colonial days, thus serving Canada as well as what is now the United States. It is probably for this reason that the United States always honors him by using his picture on one of its stamps, the lowest denomination usually bearing his face, except since 1912 when the custom was reversed and all values above the 10c bear his picture.

Some of the stamps on which his face appears cost small fortunes.  His genial and fatherly face is quite familiar to all collectors of the stamps of the United States.  He died at Philadelphia on April 17th, 1790.

The Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill is a 1-cent postage stamp issued by the United States Postal Service in 1868 depicting Benjamin Franklin.

The Benjamin Franlink Z-Grill Stamp has the unique feature that there are tiny squares embossed into the paper in the back of the stamp to absorb the ink. This is to prevent people from cheating the postal system by washing out the cancellation marks. The use of grills was not found to be practical and they were soon discontinued.

There are currently only two known 1-cent 1868 Z-Grills. One is owned by the New York Public Library as part of the Benjamin Miller Collection. And only a single Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill is in private hands.

In 1998, Mr. Robert Zoellner’s complete USA collection was sent to auction, and Donald Sundman, president of the Mystic Stamp Company, acquired The Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill for $935,000.

Later, in late October 2005, Sundman traded this Z Grill to financier Bill Gross for a block of four Inverted Jenny stamps worth nearly $3 million. After completing this trade Gross became the owner of the only complete collection of U.S. 19th century stamps.

Famous Stamps can be found in nearly all of the postage systems in the world, and are often over a century old.  To know more information on any stamp issue, browse our articles.