British Guiana Stamps Collecting: More Than a 1¢ Magenta

HomeStampsLatin America stampsGuyana stamps

British Guiana Stamps Collecting
More Than a 1¢ Magenta

FIND BRITISH GUIANA STAMPS AND POSTAL COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE

The modern country of Guyana was called British Guiana until 1966. (Note the spelling difference!) Beginning in 1850, British Guiana was issued its own stamps as a British colony. British Guiana stamps are now collectible for many reasons, and include what is perhaps the world’s rarest postage stamp.

The first British Guiana stamps were octagon-shaped and issued by local postmasters. These 8-sided stamps are rare now. They were superseded by actual, official colonial stamps in 1852. The British-issued stamps were intended for use in the entire British Guiana area. They were inscribed BRITISH GUIANA, or occasionally the shortened B. GUIANA.

The British Guiana 1¢ Magenta Stamps of 1856

In 1856, a series of crude stamps was used in a 1¢ and several 4¢ varieties. (British Guiana’s currency system was 1 dollar = 100 cents.) These makeshift stamps are called “magentas” after their color – black ink on magenta paper, though blue paper copies are known as well. Collecting these presents a teeny challenge to the British Guiana stamps completist: there is only one known copy of the 1¢ magenta.

Federated Malay States stamps for philatelists and other buyers

The one known verified 1¢ magenta of British Guiana was sold in 1980 for nearly $1,000,000, and its current location is not generally known. So while it is going to be difficult for you to fill in this hole in your collection, take heart. Other versions of the 1856 stamps from British Guiana do crop up from time to time on sites like eBay. They can go for thousands of dollars themselves, which is pricey but hey, better than a million bucks.

British Guiana Stamps After 1856: Impressive Variety

In the 1870s and 1880s, another series of crude British Guiana stamps were issued that are now infamous among collectors. Stamps with an OFFICIAL overprint are popular with some collectors, as are the various surcharged INLAND REVENUE stamps issued between about 1889 and 1903.

Browse 276 current British Guiana stamps and postal collectibles for sale offers here

Other special British Guiana stamps, in addition to the sweepingly-designed regular issues that continued, were war tax stamps from 1918 and some postage due stamps that were issued first in 1940.

In 1966, the British Guiana colony became the new and independent country Guyana. It started up its own stamp-issuing program that continues to this day. The philatelic legacy of British Guiana has left not only the above-mentioned items, but large numbers of complete sets, airmail items, errors and misprints, first day covers, covers and postcards, and much more. Concentrating on British Guiana stamps is a particularly varied and enjoyable corner of the hobby, and new sales offers from online vendors came and go daily. 

British Guiana stamps and postal collectibles for sale

Currently showing our top 276 offers from eBay vendors. Click for shipping details and money-back guarantee info. British Guiana stamps and postal collectibles listings are chosen using MegaMinistore's original custom technology. We show you only the latest and best listings from safe, trusted sellers. Listings are updated and refreshed every day.

When you click a link to a merchant and make a purchase, it can result in this website earning a commission. Affiliations include, but are not limited to, eBay Partner Network. 

Showing 161 - 170 of 276

Stamps British Guiana Scott 111 hinged

Seller: reglackerso-0 ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.8% (6,271 ratings)
Location: United States

$90.00

Buy It Now Price

BRITISH GUIANA 1905 $2.40 GREEN & VIOLET MINT SG 251 CAT £190

Seller: grefi-95 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (197 ratings)
Location: United Kingdom

$99.72

Buy It Now Price

British Guiana 1899 Provisional 2C on 10c MOG VF SG. 223,​223b CV L65+

Seller: tbtstamps ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (755 ratings)
Location: United States

$82.00 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

GUYANA -- DEALER'S STAMP STOCK -- (40) DIFFERENT -- 1981-1985 -- MINT

Seller: ubystamps ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (6,775 ratings)
Location: United States

$137.00 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

British Guiana 178-189 MH

Seller: danf4bs71hi ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.9% (11,809 ratings)
Location: United States

$69.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

BRITISH GUIANA MOUNT RORAIMA $2 GEORGE VI RELIANCE RARE AIR MAIL POSTMARKS

Seller: argylletkin ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (6,618 ratings)
Location: United Kingdom

$110.00

Buy It Now Price

British Guiana Scott # 210-222 VF OG NH MNH Colony Stamps Cat $290

Seller: geezerstweezers ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.9% (5,645 ratings)
Location: United States

$115.00

Buy It Now Price

Guyana ERROR #1A (A60) VF MNH - 1966 3c BLOCK OF 10 - OVERPRINTED INDEPENDENCE

Seller: techcitydeals13 ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.6% (3,056 ratings)
Location: United States

$75.00 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

British Guiana COVER to Lynchburg USA 1900

Seller: philomnia961 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (962 ratings)
Location: Slovenia

$120.00

Buy It Now Price

UK GB BRITISH GUIANA 1954 S.G. 331-345 COMPLETE MINT HINGED

Seller: filatcostamps ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (12,436 ratings)
Location: United States

$69.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

Show
161 - 170 of 276

Browse more on MegaMinistore