Inverted Jenny Value In 2011?

Hi,

I am new to American stamps but have known about the Inverted Jenny for many years. How much is it worth now in 2011 (single or plate block)?

Do they come up for auction at least once a years or only once every 2 to 3 years?

Thanks.

Welcome matrix980. One inverted Jenny usually comes up once a year and can go for $400,000 to over a million. Jeff

This link may provide you with helpful information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_Jenny

By the way, the 2010 Scott catalog suggests an unused single of the Inverted Jenny (Scott #C3a) is worth $500,000 and a plate block of 4 is worth $3.5 million. However, typically stamps of this rarity means that the catalog is thrown out and the value depends on what the highest bidder is willing to pay, which is often many times above what the catalog value would suggest.

Thanks for the information I need to put my self back up to date.

Final hammer price will also depend on the position/condition of the stamp. There are a few damaged #C3a's (no gum, straight edge...) that often do not fetch the full catalog value when auctioned, although they still sell for a pretty exhorbitant amount and did provide a good rate of return on investment.

This is one of the very very very few stamps that can be truly considered investment stamps, but you have to have the money and you have to hold onto it for quite a few years to overcome 2 very high auction commissions (one when you buy, again when you sell ==> typically will add up to 20-25% combined, no small sum!!). I would say there are easily less than 1000 stamps that can be considered consistent investment stamps, and most of us can't afford any of them.

The great majority of stamps are NOT investment material. The best rate of return is the enjoyment we get from collecting.