I figured I would be amiss if I did not write a post about this, the worlds rarest stamp.

The world’s most expensive stamp is the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta. It was printed in 1856 in the British colony of Guiana, which is now the independent country of Guyana.

The stamp was created as a temporary solution when a shipment of official postage stamps failed to arrive from Great Britain. The local postmaster hastily commissioned a batch of one-cent stamps featuring a simple design of a sailing ship and the colony’s motto, “Damus Petimus Que Vicissim,” which means “we give and expect in return.”

Only one example of the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta is known to exist, making it incredibly rare and valuable. The stamp was rediscovered in 1873 by a young collector named L. Vernon Vaughan and it changed hands many times over the years, eventually being bought by wealthy collectors and investors.

In 2014, the stamp was sold at auction for a record-breaking price of $9.5 million, making it the most expensive stamp ever sold. The buyer was an anonymous bidder who was willing to pay an astronomical sum for this rare and historic stamp.

Today, the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta remains one of the most sought-after stamps in the world, with a value that far exceeds its humble origins as a makeshift stamp for a British colony. It is a testament to the enduring fascination and allure of postage stamps, and the passion that collectors have for these small but fascinating pieces of history.