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Stamp Identifier

Stamp values

British stamp values: what your UK stamps are worth

Great Britain issued the world’s first postage stamp in 1840, and Victorian stamps still turn up in family albums. Many of them are affordable because millions were printed. Small details, such as the plate number hidden in the design, decide whether a stamp is worth pennies or thousands.

Short answer

Most UK stamps from the 20th century, and almost all Machin definitives issued since 1967, are worth a few pence each. A used Penny Black is typically worth $80 to $1,500 depending on margins and condition. Penny Reds are common, except for rare plate numbers such as Plate 77.

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What most British stamps are worth

Machin definitives, Wilding definitives and most modern commemoratives survive in very large numbers. Unused modern stamps are often sold below face value. Victorian stamps are where value starts to appear, and even then most used copies are worth a few pounds unless the plate, the margins or the postmark is special.

Valuable stamps to look for

  • Penny Black stamp — world's first postage stamp, Great Britain 1840

    Penny Black (1840)

    The world’s first adhesive postage stamp. Four clear margins add a lot to the price.

    Read the profile
  • Penny Red Plate 77 rare British stamp

    Penny Red, Plate 77 (1864)

    Plate 77 was rejected, but a handful of stamps escaped. It looks like any other Penny Red.

    Read the profile
  • Edward VII 2d Tyrian Plum rare UK stamp 1910

    2d Tyrian Plum (1910)

    Prepared for Edward VII but never issued after his death. Very few exist.

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What to check before you price a stamp

  1. 1

    Find the plate number on Victorian Penny Reds: it is engraved in the side borders. A few plates are rare.

  2. 2

    Read the corner letters (check letters). They identify the stamp’s position on the sheet and help spot forgeries.

  3. 3

    Count the margins on imperforate stamps such as the Penny Black. Four full margins are worth far more than cut-into ones.

  4. 4

    Look at the postmark. Maltese Cross cancels on 1840s stamps and rare town postmarks add value.

Questions about United Kingdom stamps

How much is a Penny Black worth?

A used Penny Black is usually worth about $80 to $1,500, depending on the margins, the cancellation and any faults. Unused copies are much rarer.

Are Machin stamps worth anything?

Almost always only face value or less. Specialists do pay for rare printings and errors, so unusual-looking Machins are worth a closer look.

How do I find the plate number on a Penny Red?

Look closely at the vertical side panels of the stamp. The plate number is engraved in tiny figures there. A magnifier or a sharp phone photo helps.

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