- May
- Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells a US 1868 3-cent rose George Washington postage stamp with "B" grill embossing for US$47,500 (US$52,250 with buyer's fee). The stamp is one of four known. [302.24]
1987
- March 14
- The Heinrich Köhler stamp auction firm of Federal Republic of Germany sells a Lübeck 1862 1/2-schilling lilac Arms block on cover for 800,000 marks (US$434,780). [554.21]
1988
- October 18
- Austria issues the first hologram on a postage stamp. [1121.62] [1174.10]
- October 29
- Charles G. Firby Auctions sells an imperforate pair of Canada 12-pence Queen Victoria stamps for US$165,000, a record for a Canadian stamp at auction. [1123.177]
- November 12
- The Heinrich Köhler stamp auction firm of Federal Republic of Germany sells a Wurttemberg 1873 70kr violet Coat of Arms postage stamp on money letter for 1.15 million marks (US$657,140). [554.19]
1989
- May 15
- Kampuchea issues its last postage stamps. [707.11]
- (month unknown)
- Cambodia resumes issuing postage stamps. [707.11]
- September 6
- Burma issues its last postage stamps under that country name. [700.1270]
1990
- January 31
- The newly independent Republic of Poland issues (resumes) its first postage stamps. [278.359]
- February 1
- Last postage stamps are issued for use in South West Africa. [285.89]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- March 21
- Namibia issues its first postage stamps. [1367.1183]
- May 3
- British Indian Ocean Territory resumes issuing postage stamps (previous issues were in March 1976). [964.41]
- May 18
- The United States Postal Service introduces the world's first sheet of postage stamps designed for dispensing by automated bank teller machine. The sheet of twelve peel-and-stick 25-cent stamps is the same thickness and dimensions of paper currency, and sells for $3, the face value of the stamps. [1494.6]
- May 26
- Myanmar issues its first postage stamps. [700.1270]
- (month unknown)
- David Feldman SA in Switzerland sells a Sweden 1855 3-skilling banco stamp, error in yellow, only one known, for 1.9 million Swiss francs (US$1.35 million). [673.10] [815.3]
- July 2
- First postage stamps of re-unified Germany are issued, valid in both parts. [986.436]
- August 4
- The USA declares an embargo on the importation of postage stamps of Iraq. [1215.813]
- September 27
- The last postage stamps are issued for use in the Allied occupied zone of Berlin. [1841.184]
- October 3
- Unified Germany issues its first postage stamps, for use in the entire country. [1841.126]
- October 7
- Lithuania resumes issuing postage stamps. [1138.917] [1367.566]
1991
- March 23
- In Lugano, Switzerland, Harmers Auctions SA sells at auction a Great Britain 1840 1-penny stamp on cover for US$2,415,000, a world record for a postage stamp. [798.3]
- June 23
- Moldova issues its first postage stamps. [1131.96] [1367.986]
- October 1
- Independent Estonia resumes issuing its own postage stamps (last were 1940). [1132.288] [1843.1043]
- October 19
- Latvia resumes issuance of its own postage stamps (ceased in 1940). [1367.411]
- November 21
- Croatia resumes issuance of its own postage stamps. [707.576]
- December 12
- The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics issues its last postage stamps. [278.713]
- December 31
- Last day of validity of postage stamps issued for the German Democratic Republic. [1841.238]
- Last day of validity of postage stamps issued for the Allied-occupied zone of Berlin. [1841.184]
- Last day of validity of Russian postage stamps in Estonia. [1132.288]
1992
- January 10
- Russia issues (resumes) its first postage stamps since the breakup of the USSR. [278.713]
- February 4
- Kyrgyzstan issues its first postage stamps. [1367.373]
- March 1
- Independent Ukraine resumes issuing postage stamps. [285.785]
- March 20
- Belarus issues its first postage stamps. [700.797] [1149.1080]
- March 23
- Kazakhstan issies its first postage stamps. [1367.146]
- March 26
- Azerbaijan issues its first postage stamps since independence from the USSR. [700.709]
- April 6
- Americans are asked to vote on preference of an upcoming postage stamp image: young or old Elvis Presley. [1] [1195.315]
- April 29
- Voting in America ends on choice of Elvis stamps. 75 percent of the 1.2 million votes are for young Elvis Presley. [1] [1195.315]
- May 7
- Uzbekistan issues its first postage stamps. [285.888]
- May 20
- Tajikistan issues its first postage stamps. [285.406]
- August 27
- Turkmenistan issues its first postage stamps. [285.714]
- September 8
- Macedonia issues its first postage stamps. [1367.631]
- October 26
- The first postage stamps for the Serbian administration of Bosnia and Herzegovin are issued, using overprinted stamps of Yugoslavia. [700.1014]
- December 18
- Czechoslovakia issues its last postage stamps. [1843.742]
1993
- January 1
- Aland province of Finland assumes control of its own postal service. Stamps of Finland cease to be valid for postage on Aland. [1377]
- Slovakia resumes issuing its own postage stamps. [278.1165]
- January 11
- The Serbian administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina issues its first postage stamps. [700.1014]
- January 20
- The Czech Republic issues its first postage stamps. [1843.742]
- January 25
- Postage stamps of the Soviet Union are no longer valid in Belarus. [1149.1080]
- March 2
- Australia Post assumes control of postal services for Christmas Island. [1152.1200] [1177.266]
- British Post Office issues the United Kingdom's first 10-pound postage stamp. [654.10]
- March 19
- Christie, Manson & Woods International sell at auction a Canada 1851 12-pence postage stamp on cover for CDN$244,500 (US$196,700). [1176.197]
- May 12
- Croat administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina issues its first postage stamps. [700.1007]
- July 31
- The Republic of Georgia issues its first postage stamps. [1841.76]
- September 28
- Christie, Manson and Woods International auction a Canadian 1851 cover to London via New York with Canada 3-pence stamp and five USA 5-cent stamps, for US$717,000. [1179.464]
- October 27
- Bosnia and Herzegovina resumes issuing its own postage stamps. [700.994]
- November 3
- In Geneva, Switzerland, David Feldman sells at auction:
- Mauritius 1847 1-penny "Post Office" stamp and 1847 2-pence "Post Office" stamp on an 1848 cover for US$3,829,500, a world record for a philatelic item;
- Mauritius 1847 2-pence "Post Office" stamp for US$1,148,850.
[798.3]
- December 31
- Transnistrian Moldovan Republic issues its first postage stamps. [974.926]
1994
- January 1
- UPU Convention amended to allow postage stamp values to be indicated in Roman letters in addition to Arabic numerals (allows a letter to indicate a value that may change over time). [968.31]
- February 2
- At Christie's auction of the Westport collection, USA 1918 24-cent Jenny invert airmail postage stamp, one of five mint never hinged, sells for $173,000 to J.E. Safra. [1220.76]
- August 15
- The Palestinian Authority issues its first postage stamps. [278.58]
1995
- November 7
- In New York City, USA, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells at auction a Hawaii 1851 2-cent stamp and 5-cent stamp, and pair of USA 1851 3-cent Washington stamps on cover for US$2,090,000. [798.3] [1793.14]
1996
- September 26
- Chechenia issues its first postage stamps. [975.68]
- November 8
- In Zurich, Switzerland, David Feldman sells at auction a Sweden 1855 3-skilling banco stamp, error of color, used, for US$2,270,000, a world record auction bid for a postage stamp. [7] [673.10] [798.3] [815.3] [1268.7]
1997
- January 3
- France resumes issuing postage stamps for use on Mayotte. [1367.882]
- June 30
- The British colony of Hong Kong issues its last postage stamp. [1841.719]
- July 1
- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China issues its first postage stamps. [1841.719]
- November 20
- David Feldman Company of Switzerland sells at auction a Mauritius 1847 1-penny "Post Office" stamp on cover for US$1,469,700. [792.1] [798.3]
1998
- June 24
- Stanley Gibbons Auctions sells Great Britain 1840 1-penny postage stamp, block of 10 on wrapper, used on May 6, for 253,000 pounds (US$422,710). [1189.349]
- (month unknown)
- A Sweden 1855 3-skilling banco stamp, error in yellow, only one known, sells for US$1.89 million in a private transaction, making it the world's most valuable postage stamp. [815.3]
- October 8
- In New York City, USA, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells at auction a USA 1868 1-cent Franklin stamp, Z-grill, used, for US$935,000, a record for a USA postage stamp. [798.3] [957]
- October 9
- Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells a US 1868 3-cent rose George Washington postage stamp with "B" grill embossing for US$155,000 (US$170,500 with buyer's fee). The stamp is one of four known. [302.24]
1999
- September 1
- Australia issues the first personalized postage stamps. For a fee, Australia Post would print a supplied photo on a perforation-separated tab next to each stamp. [1124]
2000
- March 14
- The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo issues its first postage stamp. [700.244]
- March 17
- Sweden issues a 50-kronor postage stamp depicting part of the ceiling painting in Drottningholm Palace. The design was engraved by Czeslaw Slania, his 1000th stamp design. This is the largest engraved stamp in the world, 60x81mm. [1122.111]
- November 30
- Barbuda issues its last postage stamps. [700.792]
2001
- April 20
- Gibraltar's postal service prints a 2-pound souvenir sheet for Queen Elizabeth II's 75th birthday 10 hours and 24 minutes after final design approval, and gaining honor of recognition by Guiness World Records for the fastest printing of a postage stamp. [787.22]
- April 23
- Royal Mail issues its first postage stamps for England (since 1840, the issues have been for all of the United Kingdom). [834.18]
- October 13
- Norway 4-skilling blue Coat of Arms stamp, block of 39 cancelled, sells for US$512,460. [778.45]
2002
- May 20
- Timor-Leste issues its first postage stamps. [285.504]
2003
- April 3
- Serbia issues first postage stamps for use in Serbia of Serbia and Montenegro. [278.1077]
- (month unknown)
- Russia produces the world's first postage stamps on flocked paper, a 7-ruble stamp of Santa Claus. [1228.9]
- September 15
- Montenegro issues first stamps as part of Serbia and Montenegro, for use only in Montenegro. [1367.1101]
- November 17
- Spink and Pascal Behr Philatelie sells at auction a block of four France 1849 1-franc Ceres stamps, unused, for $1,068,450, a record for a French philatelic item. [798.3]
2004
- November 8
- Burundi issues its last postage stamps. [700.1286]
2005
- June 2
- The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing makes its last print run of postage stamps. [1219.903] (June 11 [1266.28])
- October 19
- In New York City, USA, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells at auction a plate block of four US 1918 24-cent Jenny invert stamps for US$2,970,000, a record for a US philatelic item at auction. [798.3]
2006
- May 13
- In New York City, USA, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells at auction a strip of six USA 1847 10-cent Washington stamps on 1848 cover for US$1,380,000. [798.3]
2007
- February 28
- The Republic of China issues first stamps with country name "Taiwan". [707.314]
- June 11
- Shreves sells at auction a block of 18 Great Britain 1840 1-penny stamps and a strip of six, unused, for US$1,150,000. [798.3]
- October 4
- David Feldman sells at auction Brazil 1843 30-reis, 60-reis, and 90-reis stamp on cover for US$1,162,000, a record for a Brazilian philatelic item. [798.3]
- October 31
- Swiss Post issues the first postage stamp (1 franc) with direct link to the Internet. Code on stamp can be read by camera cell phones with BeeTagg reader software, which then brings up a web site. [964.10]
- November 14
- In New York City, USA, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells at auction a US 1918 24-cent Jenny invert airmail stamp, unused, for US$977,500, a record for a single US stamp at auction. [280.8] [798.3] [957.4]
- November
- Siegel auctions a US 24-cent airmail with inverted center for US$977,500 (includes buyer's fee). [773.8]
- December
- Heritage Auction Galleries sells a US 24-cent airmail with inverted center, graded 75 NH PSE, for US$825,000 in a private sale. [773.1]
2008
- February 9
- In Oceanside, New York, Philip Weiss Auctions conducts the auction of the Newport Collection of US inverted center error stamps. Some highlights:
- US 1918 24-cent Jenny airmail stamp, inverted center: US$271,200;
- US 1869 15-cent Landing of Columbus stamp, inverted center, unused without gum, one of three known unused: US$757,100;
- US 1869 24-cent Declaration of Independence stamp, inverted center, unused without gum, one of four known unused: US$1.27 million, a new record for a single US stamp;
- US 1869 30-cent Shield, Eagle, and Flags stamp, one of seven known unused: US$248,600.
[280.8] [774.8] [775.1] [798.3]
- March 19
- Kosovo issues its first postage stamps. [777.24]
- April 4
- In Geneva, Switzerland, David Feldman conducts an auction of postage stamps. Some highlights:
- British Guiana 1851 2-cent Cotton Reel stamp, error of pale blue paper, on cover: 597,500 euros (US$937,000), a record for a British Guiana postage stamp;
- Schleswig-Holstein Ploen 1850 1-schilling Coat of Arms stamp: 478,000 (US$750,000);
- Baden 1851 9-kreuzer Numeral stamp, error of blue-green paper, unused, only one known: 1,314,500 euros (US$2 million), a record for a Baden postage stamp;
- Norway 1855 4-skilling Coat of Arms stamp, block of 39 cancelled: 1,434,000 euros (US$2.2 million), a record for a Norwegian philatelic item.
[280.8] [778.1] [798.3]
- May 8
- In New York City, Cherrystone sells at auction a USSR 1935 10-kopek S.A. Levanevsky airmail stamp, inverted overprint error, for US$525,000. [779.2]
- June 5
- In New York City, Siegel Auction Galleries conducts an auction of South American postage stamps. Some highlights:
- Brazil two 1843 30-reis stamps and one 60-reis stamp, unique strip of three, cancelled: US$2,185,000, a record for a Brazilian philatelic item;
- Buenos Aires 1859 1-peso Barquitos stamps, tete-beche pair, probably unique: US$661,250;
- Chile 1854 5-centavo Christopher stamps, horizontal block of 14 on cover: US$632,500.
[780.1] [798.3]
- June 30
- Austria Post sells the first sheet of stamps honoring the final game of the 2008 Union of European Football Associations' soccer championships, 85 minutes after the design was approved, and gaining honor of recognition by Guiness World Records for the fastest printing of a postage stamp. [787.22]
- (month unknown)
- A Baden 1851 9-kreuzer postage stamp, printed on blue-green paper instead of deep rose, unused, one of four known, sells for 1,314,500 euros. [554.19]
- October 5
- In Geneva, Switzerland, David Feldman's Rarities of the World auction. Some highlights:
- Russia 1857 10-kopek stamp and 1858 30-kopek stamp on cover: 1,314,500 euros (US$1,794,818), a record for a Russian philatelic item;
- China 1883 5-candareen stamp, nine on cover: 1,165,125 euros (US$1,590,861), a record for a Chinese philatelic item;
- USA 1847 5-cent and 10-cent, proof panes of 100 stamps each, with specimen overprints: 850,000 euros (US$1,160,590).
[788.1] [798.3]
- October 29
- In New York City, Siegel Auction Galleries sells at auction a US 1868 3-cent George Washington stamp with B grill, one of four known, used, for US$1.035 million. [302.24] [793.1] [798.3]
- October 30
- In New York City, Cherrystone Auctions sells at auction a USSR 1932 All Soviet Philatelic Exhibition souvenir sheet of four stamps, with three-line overprint, only one of three known to survive, for US$776,250, a record for a Soviet philatelic item. [793.26]
2009
- November 19
- Spink Shreves Galleries in New York City sells at auction a Canada 1851 12-pence Queen Victoria stamp for US$299,000, a record for a Canadian postage stamp. [57] [812.1]
- December 5
- Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells at auction a Hawaii 1860/61 $4 Pony Express stamp, on cover, one of two known, for US$632,500. [813.1]
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