Rare Octagonal stamp with Queen Victoria's head upside-down expected to fetch £70,000

Good news for stamp collectors!!

A rare 159-year-old octagonal stamp that has an image of the head of Queen Victoria on upside down due to a printing mistake is to go on for auction. Auctioneers Spink of London has put an estimate of between 50,000 to 70,000 pounds.

The auction takes place on January 23.

The postage stamp is said to be one of the most sought-after items in the world of philately. During the first printing of the four annas stamp in the survey office in Calcutta in 1854, the Queen's head was accidentally printed upside down on the stamp.

Only about 20 or 30 of the stamps remain in existence today and the one that is to be auctioned is said to be completely free of faults or blemishes.

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It was in the collection of renowned US philatelist Robert Cunliffe for many years and is now being sold by another private collector.

The mistake went unnoticed and dozens of the stamps were sold in India, which was the jewel in the crown of the British Empire at the time.

via Mail Online
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