Most expensive stamps Part IA1: Aden-Ethiopia

1855 Denmark 2s blue Imperf.

Dotting in Spandrels

Big Blue Picture

I'm finished with Part IA1, the 91 countries or blog entities listed alphabetically from Aden to Ethiopia in Big Blue, and again I am presenting the most expensive stamps with a catalogue threshold of $35. This list will constitute the final ranking for the first 25% of Big Blue, Part IA1.

A few comments...

A) The “D” and “E” countries that did not have a required stamp in BB over $35 valuation include:

Dahomey

Dalmatia

Danzig

Diego Suarez

Dominica

Dominican Republic ( Despite 222 stamp entries, most expensive was only $7+)

Dutch Indies ( 174 spaces- had a $25 stamp)

East Africa and Uganda Protectorates

Eastern Rumelia

Eastern Silesia

Egypt ( Had 198 stamp spaces, but most expensive was $14)

Elobey, Annobon and Corisco

Epirus

Estonia ( Highest was $16)

Ethiopia ( The most-$12)

B)  Ecuador, although inexpensive, has, with a blank space, the 1865 Coat of Arms Scott 5 1r green ($50). The design is a nice classic “Coat of Arms”.

C) Denmark has seven! entries, but they are mostly 19^th century classics with great designs. Included are…

1851 Royal Emblems Imperf
Scott 2 4rs brown ($40)

1853-57 (dotting in spandrels) Imperf
Scott 3 2s blue ($60)

1864-65 Royal Emblems Perf 13
Scott 11 2s blue ($35)

1870-79 Numerals
 Scott 32 25o gray & green ($40)
Scott 34 or 34b (inverted frame)  100o gray & orange ($60)

1905-06 King Christian IX
Scott 68 50o dull violet ($100 mint)

Air Post
1925-26 airplane & plowman
Scott C3 25o scarlet (($40)

D) Eritrea 

Some countries will have inexpensive stamps, but still have a few "most expensive" candidates. Other countries ARE expensive, and yield a significant number of "most expensive" stamps. Eritrea is definitely in the latter category.

 Here is the list...

1930  Scott B32 semi-postal is 5 lira + 1.50 lira indigo & green ($85 mint)- overprinted type "f" (on 1929 Italian semi-postal stamp)

1928-29 Scott 106 is 50c bright violet ($55 mint)-overprint type "a" on Italian stamp

1925 Scott 31 is 2 lira dark green & orange ($52.50 mint)- overprint type "a" on Italian stamp

1928 Scott 32 is 2.50 lira dark green & orange ($52.50)-overprint type "a" on Italian stamp
1927 Scott 107A 1.75 lira deep brown ($45)- overprint type "f" on 1927 Italian stamp

1916 Scott  42 is 40c brown ($37.50) -overprint type "a" on Italian stamp

E) Which countries ( and how many stamps) ended up for Part IA1 on the list? For your interest...

Denmark (7)

Eritrea (6)

Belgium (5 stamp set)

Albania (5 stamp set)

China (3); Also MOST expensive @ $250

Confederate States of America (3)

Cape of Good Hope (2)

Cape Judy (2)

Cochin China (2)

Australia (2)

Chad (2)

Canada (1); One token number as there were 29 eligible.

Crete (1)

Austria (1)

Cyrenaica (1)

Andorra (Spanish administration) (1)

Argentina (1)

Austria: Lombardy-Venetia (1)

Ecuador (1)

Bolivia (1)

Alaouites (1)

Canal Zone (1)

Bahrain (1)

Ceylon (1)

Cyprus (1)

Cape Verde (1)

F) Countries with a large number of stamps in BB, and no stamps on the list include Brazil, Bavaria, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Danzig, Dutch Indies, Egypt, Estonia and Ethiopia. Doesn't mean of course that there isn't expensive stamps for these countries; they just didn't have any in Big Blue.

For the “rules” of which stamps are eligible to be put on the list, see the end of this blog.

1865 Ecuador 1r green

Coat of Arms

The List.....

1)China

$250 Scott 78 1c on 3c red
( Up date note: now valued @ $500 in 2014 catalogue!)

In 1897, China surcharged in black some Revenue stamps. One of them, the Scott 78 1c on 3c red, has been in Big Blue since at least 1941. The cost today? $250! Interestingly, the next stamp in the series, the Scott 79 2c on 3c red, was in Scott until 1969 when it was removed by the editors. Now the price for that stamp is way north of $350. Scott still provides a blank space next to the designated 1c on 3c red  under a "1897" age date. Although one could argue that a surcharged Revenue stamp- such as the Scott 79 listed above-is the most appropriate to choose, it is not mandatory. Scott only lists"1897" as the limiting criteria. Fortunately, there were 60! regular issue surcharged stamps issued in 1897. The least expensive are $10+-$20+, and look very good by comparison as a choice for the blank space.

2)Canada

$225 1852-57 Scott 4 Three pence red "Beaver"

Note: This is the most expensive of the Canadian stamps in Big Blue. The Three pence red “beaver” will serve as a marker for all the expensive Canadian stamps that reside in the Volume. I will not include other expensive Canadian stamps on this list, because frankly it would overwhelm the listing.

Scott used a much more liberal criteria for including expensive stamps for Canada, as it had for the United States. There are 29 Canadian stamps in Big Blue that “could” be put on the list, having exceeded the $35 catalogue value ; 13 of those have a value over $100. As compensation, I include in the "Aden-Czechoslovakia Most expensive" blog, a list of all the expensive Canadian stamps.

3)Cape of Good Hope

1853-64 Imperf (Triangulars) "Hope" Seated
One penny (Illustrated)
$210 Mint 1863-64 Scott 12 1p dark carmine

There are really three triangulars that are very close to each other in price that would work well. The Scott 12 ($210 mint) listed above, the 1853 Scott 1 1p brick red/bluish paper ($240 used), or the 1855-58 Scott 3 1p rose/white paper ($240 used). What a great classic stamp!

 4)Crete

1909 (overprinted or surcharged)
$125 mint/$130 used 1909 Scott 97 5l on 20l carmine rose
Note: Scott 97 by default; no other choice for the blank space. Other 1909 stamps do not fit the space.

5)Confederate States of America

1861-62 Imperf

$125 1862 A1 design Scott 4 5c blue "Jefferson Davis"
Note: Other choice for this illustrated space would be 1861 Scott 1 5c green ($170+)

Other Confederate States stamps “on the list” are:
1863 Imperf 
Scott 8 ($70) 1863 A5 design 2c brown red "Andrew Jackson"
Scott 13 ($40) 1863 A9 20c green "George Washington"

Note: I’m “lumping” all the Confederate States stamps into one entry.

Note: I’m keeping the U.S. “proper” off the list, as the entries would overwhelm, but elected to include the Confederate States.

6)Austria

$105 1854 Scott 1d  1kr yellow "Coat of Arms" Imperf
The other choice is 1850 Scott 1 for $115. A nice classic!

7) Denmark

$100 Mint 1905-06 Scott 68 50o dull violet “King Christian IX”

From a nice engraved series.

8)Cape Juby

1935 Overprinted Spanish Morocco 1935

$85 mint/used  Scott 57 25c crimson with black overprint

The1947 catalogue values this @ 75 cents, or ~$7.50 in today's prices. Obviously,a large increase above inflation. But since none of my Big Blue's have Cape Juby stamps, it will be awhile before I need to fill this space. :-)

9) Eritrea

$85 mint 1930  Scott B32 semi-postal is 5 lira + 1.50 lira indigo & green - overprinted type "f" (on 1929 Italian semi-postal stamp)

10)Cyrenaica

1930 (1926 Italian semi-postals overprinted)
$85 mint B28 5L+1.50L indigo & green

11)Cochin China

1886-88
$72+ Scott 5 15c on half of 30c brown/bister
Note: Scott 5 exists mint; was prepared, but never issued. But it is in Scott. !?

Four stamps in Big Blue, and two make the "Most Expensive" list. !

12)Andorra (Spanish administration)

1929

$65 Scott 19a 30c olive brown (a 1933 issue-Perf 11 1/2)
A surprise, as the rest of the 6 stamps in the series are $1-$6. Did Big Blue actually intend to put this expensive stamp in? The alternative,1929 Scott 19 (Perf 14) is $160; and should perhaps actually have preference for inclusion as this is a 1929 series in BB.

1855-58 Cape of Good Hope 4p blue

13)Cape of Good Hope

Four penny "blue" (designated)
$60 1855-58 Scott 4 4p blue
Note: because of designated color, BB's only strictly correct choice; but other 4p issues include the 1863-64 Scott 13 4p dark blue ($60+), and the 1853 Scott 2 4p deep blue/lightly blued paper($120+).

14) Denmark

$60 1853-57 Scott 3 2s blue (dotting in spandrels) Imperf A nice classic!

15) Denmark

1870-79 Numerals
$60 Scott 34 or 34b (inverted frame)  100o gray & orange

( Also on list $40 Scott 32 25o gray & green)

16)Belgium

$57+ Scott B132 semi-postal 5c + 5c dull green "View of Old Abbey"

Intended for the restoration of Orval Abbey, Big Blue includes four more stamps in the set (B133,B134,B135,B136) for $52+ each: $263 total! Of interest is that the '97 Big Blue cut out the 1939 "Restoration of Orval Abbey" semi-postals (B250-B253) priced at only $2+-$3+, but kept this set in.

17)China

1928 Marshal Chang Tso-lin

$55 279 $1 red

1928 -29 Eritrea 50c bright violet

Overprint type "a" on Italian stamp

King Victor Emmanuel III

18) Eritrea

$55 mint 1928-29 Scott 106 is 50c bright violet -overprint type "a" on Italian stamp

19) Eritrea

$52.50 mint 1925 Scott 31 is 2 lira dark green & orange - overprint type "a" on Italian stamp. Also $52.50  1928 Scott 32 is 2.50 lira dark green & orange -overprint type "a" on Italian stamp

19A*) Eriteria
$45 1928-29 Scott 107A is 1.75 lira deep brown- overprint Type "f" on 1927 Italian stamp
*19A; Note-  I neglected to have this stamp (Scott 107A) on the initial checklist, so I am adding it here.

20)Austria: Lombardy-Venetia

$52 1864-65 Scott 21 3s green
A classic issue, the other choice for the space is the 1863 Scott 16 3s green for $125.

21) Ecuador

$50 1865 Scott 5 1r green “Coat of Arms” The design is a nice classic “Coat of Arms”.

22)China

1929 President Chang Kai-shek

$50 283 $1 dark red

23)Alaouites

$50 1929-30 Air Post Scott C21 Syrian stamp 15p on 25p (Bk & R) surcharged and overprinted, with additional overprint of plane.
Actually an attractive collectible stamp with the airplane overprint. Not too surprised, as all nine of the Alaouites Air Post stamps in Big Blue are not cheap.

24)Cape Juby

1934 overprinted Spanish Morocco stamps 

$50 Scott 50 1p yellow green
The Scott 1947 catalogue values Scott 50 @ $1; which is about $10 today based on inflation rates. So clearly, the stamp price has increased much more.
Note: This is a blank space choice; other choices are $100+ and $120.
Note: Blank space requires a horizontal format; there is a Scott 53 @ $2+, but a vertical format stamp, and doesn't fit!

25)Canal Zone

1924-25 Overprinted U.S. Postage Due 
$50 used J14 10c deep claret

 Note: I’m keeping the U.S. “proper” off the list, as the entries would overwhelm, but elected to include the Canal Zone overprinted U.S. postage due.

26)Cochin China

$45 used Scott 4 5c on 25c black/rose with "c" overprint

27)Australia

$44 1913 Scott 7 5p orange brown "Kangaroo"
(Also $35 Australia 1913 Scott 6 4p orange "Kangaroo") The classic first issues of Australia, I love 'em!

28)Ceylon

1857 Queen Victoria (Imperf)
one penny (illustrated)

$42+ Scott 3 1p deep turquoise 

I love this classic stamp - nice!

Note: other choice would be Scott 1p blue ($250+)
Note: A judgement call : I interpret the "1857" date by BB strictly, and do NOT include the less expensive perforated 1861,1863, and 1863-67 one penny issues. If BB wanted us to consider the latter issues, they should have printed "1857-67" for the space. If you wish to put perforated issues into the space, just alter BB's date to "1857-67".

29)Cyprus

1934 King George V/Pictorials
$42+ Scott 134 18 pi olive green & black "Buyuk Khan,Nicosia"

30)Chad

1927-33
$40 Scott 47 1.75fr  olive brown & violet

Note: two expensive stamps for Chad; the 1927-33 Scott 47 1.75fr  olive brown & violet ($40), and the 1930 postage due  J22 3fr deep red & brown ($35 mint). The smaller stamp issuing entities in Big Blue seem to have these surprisingly expensive 1930's era stamps.
Note: The 1933 issue Scott 47 is a higher denomination stamp, and the most expensive of the thirty-two stamps in the issue. Big Blue did not choose to put in Scott 39,43,44,48 of the series: all much cheaper at $1+-$2+.

31)Cape Verde

1926 Ceres A6 design

$40 1926 Scott 182 10e pink
Note: This choice is forced by blank space.
Note: I'm giving the blank space choices for the '26 Ceres issues as that is clearly the intent of BB.  But Scott now lumps all the A6 designed Ceres together under the "1914-26" dates. So if one wants to insert ANY A6 Ceres choice, then (alternative suggested) 165(<$1) and 168($2+) could be put here.

32)Bolivia

$40 1894 "Coat of Arms" Scott 46 100c brown rose "thin paper"
There are plenty of "thick paper" 1894 :Coat of Arms" series stamps fraudulently cancelled in Paris with heavy bars forming an oval. Value of set:$5

33)Bahrain

$40 1933-34 Scott 13 2r brown-orange & carmine-rose
(Stamps of India, 1926-32, overprinted in Black: BAHRAIN)
Note: This is a large blank stamp space in Big Blue, and this is the least expensive choice for the space.

34) Denmark

$40 1851 Scott 2 Royal Emblems Imperf
A true classic!

35) Denmark

Air Post
$40 1925-26 Scott C3 25o scarlet “airplane & plowman”

Interesting design

36) Eritrea

$37.50 1916 Scott  42 is 40c brown  -overprint type "a" on Italian stamp

37)Albania

$37 X 5= $185 1940 Postage Dues Scott J40- J44 (Issued under Italian Dominion)
$37 Scott J40 4q red orange
$37 Scott J41 10q bright violet
$37 Scott J42 20q brown
$37 Scott J43 30q dark blue
$37 Scott J44 50q carmine rose
Note: There are 12 Albanian Postage dues for $1-$4 that are NOT in Big Blue, and Big Blue puts this expensive series in. An odd choice.

Addendum: Bob Skinner of “Filling Spaces” blog fame did an analysis of the 1943 Scott catalogue PD prices, and he found this set was reasonable back then.

38)Argentina

$35 1939 Scott 472  1.50p dark brown  "record and winged letter"
Note: Somehow issuing stamps for the mailing of phonograph records turned out not to be very popular. ;-)  So Argentina has a comparatively "rare" stamp instead.

39)Chad

1930
$35 mint J22 3fr deep red & brown

Note: Big Blue, uncharacteristically complete, includes the entire eleven stamp 1930 postage due series ending with J22.

40) Denmark

$35 1864-65 Scott 11 2s blue Royal Emblems Perf 13

This list ends with a nice classic stamp!

1875-79 Denmark 25o gray & green

The “rules”
A) I'm not going to include the United States (Which is found in Part IA1) , as we all know that Big Blue was more comprehensive with the "home" country, and there are a lot of costly 19th century stamps listed. Certainly, not least would be the Scott 2, the 10c black George Washington valued at $1200. Also some (many?) collectors keep their United States collection in other albums. I will not include Canada either, as again, there is a North American bias for the "home" area. Just to play fair, I will include the Three pence red "Beaver" 1852-57 Scott 4 ($220+) as a marker for Canadian stamps. See the separate “Canada” list in the “Aden- Czechoslovakia – Most Expensive” blog.

B) The Country has to be on the roster of the "97 Big Blue, my reference. There is a “should have/could have” list in the “Aden- Czechoslovakia – Most Expensive” blog for those stamps that missed out.

C) The stamp will need to be actually the least expensive choice that works for the space provided by Big Blue. Yes there are quite expensive stamps that can be put in Big Blue, but if a cheaper stamp definitely works within the "intentions" of the space, the more expensive stamp doesn't count.


Note: For the "most expensive stamp" list in BB, I make exception to the general “binning” price listing policy and include the actual 2011 catalogue price.

If you enjoyed this post, or have some information to share, or have some constructive criticism, please share your thoughts and reactions in the "comment" section. Thanks!