British Guiana 1c Magenta sets $9.5m auction record

The British Guiana 1c Magenta has set a new world record for a stamp at auction, achieving $9.48m in a single lot sale at Sotheby's New York on June 18.

This equates to a return of 7.94% pa since 1980, when it sold for $935,000.


The 1c Magenta has set a new world record for a stamp at auction

David Redden, director of special projects and worldwide chairman of Sotheby's books department, commented: "I have been with Sotheby's all my working life, but before I knew about the world's greatest works of art, before I knew about the Mona Lisa or Chartres Cathedral I knew about the British Guiana"

"For me, as a schoolboy stamp collector, it was a magical object, the very definition of rarity and value, unobtainable rarity and extraordinary value...

"I have to say I'm a little sad to see it go - when I was eight years old this was the most precious object in the entire world, and I never dreamed I would have it in my hands."

It spectacularly eclipsed the previous record, set at $2.3m for the 1855 Tresklilling Yellow in 1996.

While the 1c Magenta is far from the only one of a kind stamp in the world, it carries a mythical status, having passed through some of the world's greatest collections.

You can read more about its extraordinary history here.

Click here to check out our incredible range of stamps.  

Want to learn more about collecting? Sign up here for our free newsletter.

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock