One of the rarest and most sought after stamps ever produced is up for sale and expected to fetch over half a million pounds. The plate 77 Penny Red has been dubbed the ‘Holy Grail of philately’ and is one of just nine examples of the stamp ever recorded.
Although millions of Penny Reds were printed between 1841 and 1879, a number of plates were never used due to technical faults. Flaws in plate number 77 meant the stamp’s perforations were lined up incorrectly, so all of the test sheets were destroyed. But at least one sheet was released into circulation by mistake - making the 77 every stamp collector’s dream.
Dealer Stanley Gibbons heralds it as the ‘most valuable single stamp’ the company has ever had for sale in their 156 year history, with a value of around £550,000. (…) Spokesman Vince Cordell said: ‘This example has graced some of the finest stamp collections ever formed and is not only a magnificent exhibition piece but one of the great rarities of Great Britain and world philately.
(Source: Daily Mail)
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