- 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]
- October 1
- Estonia resumes issuing its own postage stamps. [1132.288]
- 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 31
- Last day of validity of Russian postage stamps in Estonia. [1132.288]
1992
- February 4
- Kyrgyzstan issues its first postage stamps. [1367.373]
- March 20
- Belarus issues its first postage stamps. [1149.1080]
- Belarus issues its first postage stamps. [700.797]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- 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]
- 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]
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]
- January 11
- The Serbian administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina issues its first postage stamps. [700.1014]
- 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- Postage stamps of the Soviet Union are no longer valid in Belarus.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]
- 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]
- September 29
- Christies Auctions sells a US 1868 3-cent rose George Washington postage stamp with "B" grill embossing for US$96,000 (including buyer's fee). The stamp is one of four known. [302.24]
- 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]
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]
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
- 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 U$512,460. [778.45]
2003
-
- Russia produces the world's first postage stamps on flocked paper, a 7-ruble stamp of Santa Claus. [1228.9]
- 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
- The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints the last postage stamp for the USA. [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 3
- In Dallas, Texas, Spink Shreves Galleries auctions the William H. Gross collection of stamps. A Mauritius 2-penny deep blue Queen Victoria stamp (Scott #4) sells for US$97,750. [282.39]
- 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]
2010
- January 30
- (to January 31) In Hong Kong, InterAsia Auctions conducts an auction of Asian postage stamps. Some highlights:
- China 8-fen Great Victory of Cultural Revolution stamp, unique mint bottom block of four, unissued: HK$6,670,000 (US$858,429), a record for a People's Republic of China philatelic item;
- China 8-fen Large Whole Country is Red stamp, Taiwan in white, mint, unissued: HK$3,450,000 (US$444,015);
- China 1897 $1 on 3-cent red revenue surcharge stamp, small figures, unused with original gum, one of 32 known: HK$5,520,000 (US$710,424).
[814.18]
- May 22
- Sweden 1855 3-skilling banco postage stamp, error of color, unique, sells at private auction in Geneva, Switzerland. [829.1]
- October 10
- Curacao issues its first postage stamps as a country of the kingdom of the Netherlands. [1112.8]
- Sint Maarten issues its first postage stamps as a country of the kingdom of the Netherlands. [1112.8]
- Caribbean Netherlands issues its first postage stamps as a special municipality of the kingdom of the Netherlands. [1112.8]
- October 27
- (to October 31) The Joburg 2010 stamp show is held in South Africa. Included is a 90-feet wide by 20-feet high stamp mosaic created from 201,000 cancelled South Africa stamps. The mosaic established a new record with the Guiness World Records. [1482.19]
- November
- In Germany, Christoph Gaertner sells at auction an 1872 Syke provisional bisection cover of North German Confederation 1-groschen Numeral stamp, finest of 3 known, for 260,000 euros (US$340,000). [613.32]
- November 29
- (to December 3) In Zurich, Switzerland, Corinphila Auktionen sells a cover with pair of 1847 Zurich 4-rappen Numeral cantonal stamps for 260,000 francs (US$270,000). [613.32]
- December 16
- Cherrystone Auctions conducts an auction of postage stamps in New York City. Some highlights:
- USA 24-cent Jenny airmail stamp, inverted center: $345,000;
- China 1925 3-cent on 4-cent Chinese junk stamp, inverted surcharge: $240,000.
[610.29] [613.30]
2011
- January 1
- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain all end their postal monopolies as European Union members. [631.13]
- January 23
- In Hong Kong, Spink auctions the Meiso Mizuhara collection of postage stamps. Some highlights:
- 1878 cover from Mongolia to Beijing of 3 pen-cancelled Russian stamps: HK$2.3 million (US$295,297);
- 1911 official cover from Mongolia to Tibet: HK$3.565 million (US$457,700).
[631.26]
- January 27
- In New York City, Spink Shreves Galleries auctions a Canada Victoria 12-pence stamp, mint no-hinge, Superb 98, finest existant, for $488,850. [622.20]
- February 26
- (to February 28) Interasia Auction conducts a postage stamp auction in Hong Kong. Some highlights:
- People's Republic of China 1968 8-fen, unissued, corner block of four, "Mao's Insctiption to Japanese Worker Friends": HK$8.97 million (US$1.15 million);
- People's Republic of China 1968 8-fen, unissued, "Victory of the Cultural Revolution": HK$2.2 million (US$325,000);
- China 1897 $5 on 3-cent red revenue stamp, inverted surchagre, strip of three: HK$4.8 million (US$708,000);
- China 1897 $5 on 3-cent red revenue stamp, left margin pair: HK$3 million (US$443,000).
[647.32] [673.9] [674]
- June 7
- (to June 10) In Basel, Switzerland, Galerie Dreyfus auctions an 1859 Kingdom of the Two Sicilies 1/2-grana blue (error or proof) King Ferdinand II postage stamp on partial cover for 1.8 million euros (US$2.6 million). [715.1]
- June 18
- In New York City, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells a 1851 Hawaii 2-cent used postage stamp for US$195,500. [715.40]
- June 20
- In New York City, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sells a 1918 USA 24-cent Jenny invert (error) airmail postage stamp for US$402,500. [715.42]
- June 28
- In London, England, Spink conducts an auction of the Chartwell collection of stamps. Mauritius 1847 2-pence Blue Post Office, one of 12 known: 900,000 pounds (1,053,090 pounds with buyer's premium and value-added tax, about US$1.69 million). [1576.1]
- August 29
- (to September 2) At the Christoph Gartner stamp auction, an India 1854 4-anna stamp with inverted head sells for 185,000 euros (plus 19 percent buyer's premium), a world record for an Indian stamp. [729.30]
- September
- Interasia Auctions conducts a 4-day postage stamp sale in Hong Kong. Some highlights:
- China 1897 $5 on 3-cent, red revenue, large figures, used margin pair: 236,000 pounds;
- China 1915 $1 Sinkiang overprint with transposed characters, strip of three: 245,000 pounds.
[730.9]
- October 4
- The Universal Postal Union officially welcomes the Republic of South Sudan as its 192nd member. [1578.3]
2012
- May 21
- In Beijing, China, China Guardian auctions a People's Republic of China 1968 8-fen "Long Live Complete Victory of the Great Cultural Revolution" postage stamp, with Taiwan in white, unused, for 7.3 million yuan (US$1.15 million). [1023.28]
- August 16
- Liechtenstein Post AG, at the LIBA 2012 Stamp Exhibition, produces a postage stamp in record time of 57 minutes and 50 seconds, verified by Guiness World Records. [1001.10]
- November 28
- China Guardian in Beijing auctions a block of four People's Republic of China 1968 "The Entire Nation is Red" 8-fen stamps, with Taiwan in white, for 4.6 million yuan (US$740 million). [1025.34]
- December
- In Hong Kong, InterAsia Auctions conducts an auction of Asian postage stamps. A block of four People's Republic of China 1968 8-fen "Whole Country is Red" stamp, Taiwan in white, mint, never hinged, sells for HK$6,325,000 (US$820,000). [1016.7] [1025.34]
2013
- May 9
- Phoenix Auctions of Melbourne, Australia, auctions a unique mint Australia 1-pound official use postage stamp of 1915-1928, with sideways watermark, for A$233,000 (US$237,438), world record for a single Australian stamp. [1099.16] [1117.28]
- May
- Count Gustaf Douglas of Sweden acquires the unique Sweden 1855 3 skilling postage stamps, error of color (yellow). [1226.7]
- June 29
- (to July 1) Interasia Auctions in Hong Kong sells China 1897 $1 on 3-cent revenue stamp, small figures, one of 32 known, for 583,000 pounds (US$884,000). [1115.14,29]
- (month unknown)
- Siegel sells Dawson Cover of Hawai'i 1851 2-cent and 5-cent stamps, with two USA 1851 3-cent stamps, for 1,275,000 pounds (US$2 million). [1115.14]
- The UK's Royal Mail receives 239,374 entries in a children's design competition for Christmas stamps. This breaks the Guiness world record for largest postage stamp design competition. [1484.16]
- October
- At a Robert A. Siegel auction of the Beverly Hills Collection, a USA 1918 24-cent Jenny invert airmail postage stamp, mint never hinged VF-80, sells for $500,000. [1220.76]
2014
- January 11
- (to January 14) Interasia Auctions in Hong Kong sells a People's Republic of China 1968 unissued 8-yen Taiwan not red postage stamp for US$652,000. [1132.233] [1227.26]
- February 21
- (to February 22) Brigham Auctions conducts the auction of the first part of the Brigham Collection of Canada. A Canada 1868 2-cent "large Queen" in green on laid paper sells for CDN$475,000 plus buyer's premium, record for a Canadian stamp at auction. [1227.26] [1268.7]
- March 20
- Austria releases a 590-cent postage stamp of a silk-screened design of a rose on porcelain tile. World's first porcelain stamp. [1222.72] [1268.100]
- May
- At a Spink's auction, a USA 1918 24-cent Jenny invert airmail postage stamp, VF-XF 85, sells for US$575,100. [1220.76]
- June 17
- In New York City, New York, USA, Sotheby's auctions a unique British Guiana 1856 1-cent black on magenta postage stamp for US$9.48 million. [1156.8] [1221.1] [1268.7]
- June 19
- Pascal Behr mail auction sells Straits Settlements 1908 $500 stamp, unused: US$292,400. [1222]
- June 24
- (to June 26) Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries auction highlights:
- USA 1918 24-cent airmail stamp, Jenny invert: US$241,500;
- USA 1869 30-cent stamp, inverted flags: US$333,500;
- USA 1875 $24 newspaper stamp, reprint, may be unique: US$494,500.
[1222.24]
- September 10
- Gibraltar issues a postage stamp with world record 2183 legible words on 40x32mm area. Text describes reasons and implementation of World War II evacuation campaign. [1158.12]
- October 16
- Spink's in London, England, auction of Vestey collection: Australia unique block of 6 unissued 2-pence King Edward VIII stamps: US$387,000, record for an Australian philatelic item. [1223.24]
- November 1
- (to November 4) In Hong Kong, Interasia sells at auction a Jiongxi China local post stamp of 1931, 1 cent, one known, for about US$415,000. [1147.12]
2015
- February 14
- Netherlands postal service allows a kiss with lipstick in place of posatge stamp for mailing Valentine cards. [1228.9]
- February 15
- Canada Post issues a $5 postage stamp printed on rayon fabric, for the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag. [1230.63]
- (month unknown)
- Jersey releases the world's first embossed hologram, a 5-pound stamp. [1228.9]
2021
- May 28
- In the United Kingdom, the Royal Mail receives the final design entries for a proposed set of postage stamps designed by children, to honor COVID workers. The stamp designs were submitted in a design contest by UK children ages 4 through 14. The Royal Mail received 606,049 entries, breaking the Guiness world record for largest postage stamp design competition. (The set of eight first-class rate stamps are issued March 23, 2022.) [1484.1]
- November
- United Kingdom firm Staley Gibbons begins selling shares in ownership of the British Guiana 1856 1-cent magenta postage stamp, for 100 pounds (CDN$165) per share, with total 80,000 shares made available. [1438.6]
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