Inverted Jenny stamp sold for $330,000

Robert A Siegel sold an Inverted Jenny stamp for $330,000 in New York on February 28.

That equates to a rate of return of 7.5% per annum since it last sold for $2,600 in 1950.

Another Jenny realised $299,000 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in February this year.

Inverted Jenny Siegel

The Inverted Jenny is the world's most famous error stamp

The 1918 Inverted Jenny is perhaps the world’s most famous error stamp. 

Only a single sheet of 100 is known to exist.

It was discovered, in the year of its manufacture, in a post office in Washington, DC by collector William T Robey, who instantly recognised its worth and bought it.

Robey sold it on to a dealer named Eugene Klein, whose letter confirming payment for the sheet also featured in the sale.

It reads: “Dear Sir: Confirming our telephone conversation at 4.30 P.M., I will take your sheet of inverted center 24c Airplane stamps for $15,000, which you agreed to deliver at my office tomorrow.

“I am looking forward to your arrival at about noontime to-morrow [in manuscript], as stated.”

The historic note achieved $42,500, almost triple its $15,000 estimate.

It’s a piece with huge appeal to Inverted Jenny collectors, hence the increase in price.

Siegel notes the cover has been ripped “no doubt due to Robey's eagerness to get to the contents”.

Want to get your hands on a stamp of your own? Click here.

Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about art and photography auctions.

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