Inverted jenny rare

The Inverted Jenny is one of the world's most famous stamp errors, with only one known pane and an estimated value of millions of dollars.

About this subject

The Inverted Jenny stamp is a philatelic rarity from the United States, issued in 1918 to commemorate the airmail service. The image depicts a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aircraft, but due to a printing error, the airplane appears upside down. Only one sheet of 100 stamps was issued with this defect, and today each specimen can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The error occurred during printing at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing when a sheet was fed incorrectly. The original buyer, William T. Robey, discovered the error and sold the sheet for US$ 15,000 at the time. Since then, the stamps have been broken up and sold individually. In recent auctions, a single Inverted Jenny can fetch between US$ 500,000 and US$ 1.5 million depending on condition. The rarity is so iconic that replicas and commemorative stamps have been issued, but the original remains one of the greatest treasures in worldwide philately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Inverted Jenny stamps exist?

Only one sheet of 100 stamps was sold, but many were used or damaged. Fewer than 50 intact specimens are estimated to exist today.

Why is the stamp called Inverted Jenny?

Because the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny airplane appears printed upside down, a printing error that made the stamp famous.

What is the current value of the Inverted Jenny stamp?

A well-preserved stamp can be worth between US$ 500,000 and US$ 1.5 million. In 2021, one specimen sold for US$ 1.35 million.