Stamp rarities in Postmuseum, Stockholm

Finland - 5 kopek 1856, unused block of four

Finland used postal stationery - "frankokuvert" - as early as 1845 but the first stamps were issued much later, in March 1856. The early Finnish stamps were hand-stamped one by one in a lever press. They were manufactured in small sheets with two horizontal rows in tête-bêche and 9-11 stamps in each row.

This unused block of four of the 1856 5 kopek value (small pearls) is a great rarity and one of a handful still in existence.

Donated by Hans Lagerlöf, 1924

Norway - Coat-of-Arms 1863, 98 skilling on a letter to USA

This letter was sent from Levanger on December 11, 1864 to Wisconsin, USA. It is franked with twelve copies of 8 skilling Coat-of-Arms stamps and one copy of 2 skilling Oscar I. The double rate from Norway to USA was 106 skilling, so the letter was insufficently paid, as 8 skilling is missing.

Donated by Hans Lagerlöf, 1930

Bulgaria - 5 stotinki 1882, colour error



The Principality of Bulgaria got its first stamps in 1879. These and the following issues were printed in St. Petersburg, Russia.

This registered letter was sent from Varna to Hanover in Germany in 1888. Among the four stamps is a sample of the colour error 5 stotinki in rose instead of green - as well as this value in the correct colour.

Donated by Hans Lagerlöf, 1946

Great Britain - 1 penny black 1840 on domestic letter

The first stamp in the world, the British one penny black on a letter cancelled on the day of issue, May 6, 1840.

Donated by Friends of Postmuseum, 1963

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