Most Expensive Stamps Lebanon to Quelimane

1860 Scott 10 12 1/2c blue

"Steam and Sailing Ship"

Big Blue Picture
Another milestone- the end of the Part IB1 "Lebanon-Quelimane" checklist segment for Big Blue, and it is time to summarize the "Most expensive stamps" that cross the $35 threshold in the album.

Some overall perspective- 

Consider there are ~ 7937 spaces in the `69 BB (and later editions) for Part IB1- “Lebanon-Quelimane”.  How many are “Expensive” (CV $10-$34+) or “Most Expensive” (CV >$35)?

“Expensive”: 357 spaces ( 4.5%)

“Most Expensive”: 80 spaces ( 1%)

The corollary is that 94.5% of the stamp spaces in BB for this section are CV <$1- <$10. That should be quite encouraging for WW classical collectors if one’s goal is to fill the album for a not large expense.

Ten most expensive stamps Lebanon - Quelimane

1)      Nepal 1881 Scott 5 2a purple Imperf ($150)

2)      Mauritius 1891 Scott 85 2c on 17c rose ($125!)

3)      Libya 1929 Scott B22 5 l + 1 l purple & black ($125) !

4)      Libya 1934-35 Scott C18 25 l + 3 l orange brown ($125)

5)      Newfoundland 1857 Scott 1 1p brown violet ($120)

6)      Libya 1932 Scott B47 10 l + 2 l brown violet ($105) !

7)      Libya 1932 Scott C7 5 l + 2 l carmine ($105)

8)      Libya 1934-35 Scott C16 5 l + 1 l deep green ($105)

9)      Libya 1934-35 Scott C17 10 l + 2 l dull violet ($105)

10)   Malaya Trengganu 1937 Scott J4 10c light brown ($92+) !

     

Comments-

·          The 1881 Nepel Scott 5 2a purple (Imperf) @ $125 is the most expensive stamp for the Lebanon-Quelimane section. But If one elects to ignore BB's color specification, then Scott 8 violet ($10) & 14 gray violet ($10) & 19 gray violet ($12) are available. If one further ignores date criteria, then four more stamps (1917 Scott 15,16,20,21) are available for $10 or less.

·          Big Blue, as I mentioned before, gives more than generous coverage to Italian colonies, including quite expensive stamps. And Libya has 6 stamps on the top ten list here! Wow!

 Countries that placed NO stamps on the "Most Expensive" list, AND also had no stamps valued between $10-$34+:

Leeward islands

Lourenco Marques

Malta

Mayotte

Memel

Mesopotamia

Moheli

Montenegro

Mozambique

Mozambique Co.

New Hebrides

Niger Coast Protectorate

Nigeria

Northern Nigeria

Nossi Be

Nyassa

Panama

Ponta Delgada

Port. Africa

Port. Congo

Quelimane 

Countries that have stamps valued at $10-$34+, but no stamps placed on the "Most Expensive" list:

Lebanon (1)

Liberia (1)

Liechtenstein (20)

Lithuania (2)

Macao (4)

Madagascar (1)

Madeira (2)

Maldives Is (2)

Mariana islands (3)

Marienwerder (2)

Marshall Islands (1)

Martinique (2)

Mauritania (1)

Middle Congo (2)

Mongolia (5)

Montserrat (1)

Nauru (2)

Netherlands Antilles (2)

Nevis (2)

New Caledonia (2)

New Guinea (6)

Niger (1)

Niue (1)

North Borneo (2)

North Ingermanland (1)

North West Pacific Islands (5)

Northern Rhodesia (2)

Nova Scotia (5)

Nyasaland Protectorate (1)

Obock (3)

Orange R. Colony (1)

Palestine (3)

Papua (5)

Paraguay (5) 

Penrhyn Island (4)

Port. India (1)

Prince Edward Is (3)

Prussia (2)

Queensland (3)

Recall, any stamp valued  >$10 is listed in the individual country posts.

Note that Paraguay, with 357 spaces, only has 5 spaces on the list.

Prussia actually has a $250 stamp space, except the Scott 14a 1865 3p "red violet" color, specified by BB, is now a minor number! We have a general understanding for the checklist that, if BB asks for a minor number in a space, the major number is also permitted: which here is the Scott 14 3pf red lilac ($20+).

Countries with >$35 valuation spaces in BB
(spaces with >$35; spaces with $10-$34+)

Libya (11,32) ($125)

Luxembourg (1,15) ($35)

Malaya (9,12) ($92)

Manchukuo (1,3) ($50+)

Mauritius (1,3) ($125)

Mexico (1,12) ($50)

Monaco (5,14) ($40)

Natal (2,0) ($35)

Nepal (1,1) ($150)

Netherlands (1,21) ($77+)

New Brunswick (4,2) ($77+)

Newfoundland (10,29) ($120)

New South Wales (3,15) ($50)

New Zealand (4,26) ($70)

Nicaragua (1,2) (~$50) 

Norway (6,27) ($85)

Nova Scotia (1,4) ($37+)

Oltre Giuba (3,0) ($80)

Peru (1,0) 314 spaces ($37+)

Philippine Is (3,7) ($40)

Poland (8,3) ($70)

Portugal (3,20) ($52.50)

Puerto Rico (1,1) ($60)

Note the listing here gives the number of "Most Expensive" stamps (>$35), then the number of expensive stamps ($10-$34+) for each country respectively. The highest price stamp space for the country is also listed.

Comments-

·         Libya leads the way with 11 stamps >$35, and 32 more stamps @ $10-$34+. !!!

·         Newfoundland (not surprising, considering the popularity) has 10 “Most Expensive”stamps, with 29 more @ $10-$34+.

·         Perhaps surprising, Mexico only has one stamps valued @ >$35.

·         Luxembourg and the Netherlands likewise have only one stamp @ >$35.

·         Want to fill a lot of spaces inexpensively? Consider Peru with 314 spaces with only one stamp >$35, or Nicaragua with 569 spaces, and just one stamp that is “Most Expensive”. !!

The "Most Expensive (>$35) List

This time, the list is ordered alphabetically by country . For each country, a stamp scan heads the grouping. The stamp scan for a country might be from the "Most Expensive" list, or the "Expensive" list. If I have none of the above, I will simply choose a stamp from my collection. ;-)

Note the listing here gives the number of "Most Expensive" stamps (>$35), then the number of expensive stamps ($10-$34+) for each country respectively. The highest price stamp space for the country is also listed.

1912-22 Scott 3 5c green "Victor Emmanuel III"

Stamps of Italy, Overprinted in black

Libya (11,32) ($125)

1934 Scott 64G 1.25 l blue ($50)

1929 Scott B22 5 l + 1 l purple & black ($125) !

1931 Scott B37 10 l + 2 l brown ($42+)

1932 Scott B47 10 l + 2 l brown violet ($105) !

1933 Scott B52 1.25 l dark blue ($40)

1933 Scott B54 10 l + 2.50 l carmine ($80)

1933 Scott B53 5 l + 1 l olive brown ($80)

1932 Scott C7 5 l + 2 l carmine ($105)

1934-35 Scott C16 5 l + 1 l deep green ($105)

1934-35 Scott C17 10 l + 2 l dull violet ($105)

1934-35 Scott C18 25 l + 3 l orange brown ($125)

1891-93 Scott 63 25c blue 

"Grand Duke Adolphe"

Luxembourg (1,15) ($35)

1875-79 Scott 30 2c black ($35)

1922-32 Scott 73a $1 green & blue green 

"Elephants And Howdah"

Federated Malay States

Malaya (9,12) ($92)

Federated Malay States 1900 Scott 2 2c lilac & brown ($35 mint)

Johore 1938 Scott J2 4c green ($40)

Johore 1938 Scott J3 8c dull yellow ($42+)

Johore 1938 Scott J4 10c bister brown ($42+)

Johore 1938 Scott J5 12c rose violet ($62+)

Kelantan 1911-15 Scott (9) $1 green & emerald ($55)

Selangor 1895-99 Scott (33) 25c green & carmine rose ($60)

Trengganu 1937 Scott J3 8c lemon ($47+)

Trengganu 1937 Scott J4 10c light brown ($92+) !

1933 Scott 21 4f light red

"Flags, Map and Wreath"

Manchukuo (1,3) ($50+)

1933 Scott 22 10f deep blue ($50+)

1863 Scott 33 2p blue "Victoria"

Overprinted "cancelled", sold as remainders

Mauritius (1,3) ($125)

1891 Scott 85 2c on 17c rose ($125!)

1856 Scott 2 1r yellow

"Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla"

Mexico (1,12) ($50)

1872 Scott 98 100c gray lilac ($50)

1885 Scott 3 5c blue "Prince Charles III"

Monaco (5,14) ($40)

1885 (Scott 3) 5c blue ($35)

1919 (Scott B5) 50c + 50c brown/buff ($39)

1920 (Scott B11*) 2c + 3c on B6 ($40)

1920 Scott B9 2c + 3c on B4 ($40)

1920 (Scott B10) 2c on 3c  on B5 ($40)

1864 Scott 16 6p violet "Victoria"

Wmk 1

Natal (2,0) ($35)

1863 Scott 10 1p red ($35)

1864 (Scott 16 6p violet ($35)

1886 Scott 9 4a green

"Sripech and Crossed Khukris"

Nepal (1,1) ($150)

1881 Scott 5 2a purple Imperf ($150)

1852 Scott 1 5c blue "King William III"

Wmk 158 - "Posthorn", Imperforate

Netherlands (1,21) ($77+)

1891 Scott 50 1g gray violet ($77+)

860 Scott 11 17c black

"Edward VII as Prince of Wales"

New Brunswick (4,2) ($77+)

1860 Scott 6 1c red liac ($37+)

1860 Scott 9 10c vermilion ($47+)

1860 Scott 10 12 1/2c blue ($77+)

1860 Scott 11 17c black ($47+)

1861 Scott 19 5p reddish brown

"Crown of Great Britain and Heraldic Flowers of the United Kingdom"

Newfoundland (10,29) ($120)

1857 Scott 1 1p brown violet ($120)

1861 Scott 19 5p reddish brown ($62+)

1860 Scott 11A 3p green ($77+)

1861 Scott 18 4p rose ($35)

1861 Scott 23 1sh rose ($37+)

1873 Scott 34 3c blue ($75)

1879 Scott 38 2c green ($52+)

1887 Scott 59 10c black ($67+)

1894 Scott 29 12c brown/white ($45)

1931 Scott C8 $1 blue ($55)

1882-91 Scott 66 6p lilac

New South Wales (3,15) ($50)

1854 Scott 23 1p orange ($50)

1903 Scott 107 2sh6p blue green ($37+)

1891 Scott J7 8p green ($37+)

1864 Scott 32 2p blue "Victoria"

Perf 12 1/2, Wmk 6 "Large Star"

New Zealand (4,26) ($70)

1874 Scott 53 3p brown ($70)

1882 Scott 66 8p blue ($60)

1902 Scott 119 2sh blue green ($50)

1926 Scott 182 2sh blue ($35)

1894 Scott "65B" 25c yellow green (Type A9)

Nicaragua (1,2) (~$50) 

1894 Scott "65B" 25c yellow green (Type A9) (~ $50)

1856 Scott 5 8s dull lake "King Oscar I"

Norway (6,27) ($85)

1856 Scott 5 8s dull lake ($55)

1868 Scott 11 1s black ($65)

1867 (Scott 15) 8s carmine rose ($60)

1873 (Scott 21) 7s red brown ($50)

1877 Scott 23 3o orange ($35)

1930 Scott B3 30o + 25o ultramarine ($85)

1925 Scott 6 20c brown orange, Overprinted

"Victor Emmanuel III"

Oltre Giuba (3,0) ($80)

1925 Scott 18 75c dark red & rose ($40)

1925 Scott 19 1.25 l blue & ultramarine ($57+)

1925 Scott 20 2.50 l dark green & orange ($80)

1871 Scott 19 5c scarlet 

"Locomotive and Arms"

Peru (1,0) 314 spaces ($37+)

1863 (Scott 13) 1p brown ($37+)

1863 Scott 14 5c vermilion "Queen Isabella II"

Colon after CORREOS

Philippine Is (3,7) ($40)

1890 Scott 173 20c salmon ($40)

1899 Scott 219 50c orange ($37+)

1903 Scott 236 50c orange ($35)

1919 Scott 78 10pf on 7 1/2pf, Green Surcharge

Poland (8,3) ($70)

1919 Scott 2K1....(2K7) - seven stamps, each ( $70) !

1921 Scott B14 20m + 30m gray green ($37+)

1879 Scott 43 50r blue "King Luiz"

Perf 12 1/2; plain paper

Portugal (3,20) ($52.50)

1870 Scott 42 50r pale green ($40)

1925 Scott 372 3e lake/blue ($40)

1931 Scott 539 4.50e chocolate & light green ($52.50)

899 Scott 211 2c reddish carmine Type IV

United States Scott 279Bf overprinted at 36 degree angle

Puerto Rico (1,1) ($60)

1899 Scott J3 10c deep claret ($60)

End of "List".

Appendix

1) “The Rules”

A) The Country has to be on the roster of the "69" or "97 Big Blue. Those countries that are found in the '47/'41 editions, but not in the '69/'97 editions are not included on the list.

B) 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.

C) In some case a "most expensive stamp" choice is forced by a blank space. The "least expensive" one is chosen that fits the criteria of the space.

2) Previous “Most Expensive” lists….

Haiti to Latvia

http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2013/06/most-expensive-stamps-haiti-to-latvia.html

Falkland Islands to Guinea

http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2012/08/most-expensive-stamps-falkland-islands.html

Aden to Ethiopia

http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2011/11/most-expensive-stamps-part-ia1-aden.html

Canada

http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.com/2011/08/most-expensive-stamps-in-big-blue-aden.html

3) Countries found in the 40s BB editions, but dropped in later editions. 

The “Most Expensive” stamps for these countries are not included in the formal list, but are noted here for interest.

(Lubeck) (0,5)

(Meckln. Schwerin) (2,0) ($45)

1856 Scott 2 3s yellow ($45)

1864 Scott 5 Four 1/4s red ($42+)

 (Meckln. Strelitz) (2,1) ($125)

1864 Scott 4 1 sg rose ($125)

1864 Scott 5 2sg ultramarine ($35)

(Modena) (1,3) ($80)

1852 Scott PR2 9c black/violet (Type II) ($80)

(Oldenburg) (0,1)

(Parma) (0,2)

4) Countries not covered here

Pakistan (In Part II BB)

Persia (Covered under “Iran”)

Portuguese Guinea (Covered under “Guinea”)

1887 Scott 59 10c black "Schooner"

Out of the Blue
I'm a bit conflicted about expensive stamps. Of course, I like to have them, but this is a hobby for me, not part of a wealth portfolio.

I know from viewing tens of thousands of classical era stamps, that there is no relationship between value and a stamp's intrinsic beauty.

Readers- what do you think?

Comments always appreciated!