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Rare Polish stamps

Rare Polish stamps worth money

The rarest Polish stamps are Poland No. 1 of 1860 in mint condition and in multiples, and the provisional overprints of 1918–1919, when the new Polish post overprinted German and Austrian stamps. Top examples include the Kraków black 10 Kronen postage due, of which fewer than ten can be traced, and the Gniezno inverted '5'. Most later Polish stamps are common.

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Which Polish stamps are rare?

Polish philately has one classic stamp and one explosive period. The classic is Poland No. 1, a 10 kopek stamp issued in 1860 for the Russian-ruled Kingdom of Poland and withdrawn in 1865. The explosive period is 1918–1919, when the reborn Polish state overprinted whatever stamps it had: German stamps in Warsaw and the Poznań region, Austrian stamps in Kraków and Lublin.

Those provisional overprints were often made in small numbers by local printers, which created genuine rarities. It also created a forger's paradise. The Polonus Philatelic Society says excellent counterfeits of the Kraków issue exist, and estimates that 99% of the Gniezno inverts offered on eBay are fakes.

8 notable rare Polish stamps

Listed roughly in date order, not ranked by price. Figures are only given where a named source records them.

  1. Poland No. 1 (10 kopeks)

    1860 · Scott 1

    Why it is rare
    Some three million were printed, and the stamp was valid only within the Kingdom of Poland and to Russia. It was withdrawn on 1 April 1865, when 208,515 remaining stamps were destroyed. Used singles are not rare; mint copies and multiples are.
    What drives the value
    Mint with gum, multiples, covers and scarce numeral cancels from small towns. A unique block of four is recorded on a letter, one unused block of six is known, and two used strips of five are recorded.
    How to recognize it
    Close to Russia's first stamps in design, but with the Polish eagle in the shield and the Polish inscription ZA ŁÓT KOP. 10 below the arms. Printed in blue and rose.
    Documented figures
    Polonus cites Scott at $2,400 for a very fine mint copy and $250 used. The letter bearing the unique block of four last sold in 2010 for approximately $56,000.

    Sources: Wikipedia, Polonus Philatelic Society, Polonus Philatelic Society

  2. First Lublin issue

    1918

    Why it is rare
    Austro-Hungarian military charity stamps overprinted in Lublin. A total of 64,000 copies of each of the three values (10, 20 and 45 hal) were overprinted, and all were sold within ten days of issue on 5 December 1918.
    What drives the value
    Genuine covers, which Polonus says are very hard to find, and certification.
    How to recognize it
    Austro-Hungarian K.u.K. military post welfare fund stamps with a Polish overprint and values in halerzy.

    Sources: Wikipedia, Polonus Philatelic Society, Polonus Philatelic Society

  3. Ciechocinek local overprints

    1918

    Why it is rare
    Six different stamps are known with this local overprint, dated between 13 and 22 December 1918. Only used copies exist, and only two to ten of each are known, per the 2001 Fischer catalogue as cited by Wikipedia.
    What drives the value
    Extreme scarcity, genuine dated cancellations and certification.
    How to recognize it
    The Ciechocinek local overprint with a cancellation dated between 13 and 22 December 1918.

    Source: Wikipedia

  4. Second Warsaw provisional 5/3 fenig, Form II

    1918

    Why it is rare
    German occupation stamps of the General-Gouvernement Warschau were overprinted with obliterating bars and Poczta Polska. Only 5% of the 417,000 5/3 fenig stamps received the Form II overprint, which makes it the rarest basic stamp of the issue.
    What drives the value
    Proving Form II, condition and multiples. The issue has at least 126 varieties, so a specialist catalogue is needed.
    How to recognize it
    Gen.-Gouv. Warschau stamps overprinted with bars, the value in fen at the top and Poczta Polska at the bottom. Form II differs slightly in the spacing of the horizontal lines.
    Documented figures
    Of the 417,000 5/3 fenig stamps overprinted, only 5% received Form II (Polonus).

    Sources: Polonus Philatelic Society, Wikipedia

  5. Kraków issue 10 korona

    1919

    Why it is rare
    In January 1919 Kraków overprinted Austrian stamps with POCZTA POLSKA. Quantities ranged from just 440 of the 10 korona to 100,000 of the 25/80 halerz, according to the Polonus Philatelic Society.
    What drives the value
    Which value and overprint type, and above all a certificate. Excellent counterfeits exist.
    How to recognize it
    Austrian stamps overprinted POCZTA POLSKA in two lines with a diamond or ornament between. On sale from 10 January 1919.
    Documented figures
    Polonus notes that catalogue prices for the Kraków issue range from about $10 to $12,000, depending on the value and overprint.

    Sources: Polonus Philatelic Society, Wikipedia, Polonus Philatelic Society

  6. Kraków black 10 Kronen postage due

    1919

    Why it is rare
    Only fifteen stamps were overprinted in black, and fewer than ten can be accounted for today. Polonus calls it one of the rarest, if not the rarest, of Polish stamps. A red overprint was also applied, to eighty each of the 1 and 5 Kronen and forty of the 10 Kronen.
    What drives the value
    Black or red overprint, certification and provenance.
    How to recognize it
    An Austrian 10 Kronen postage due stamp with the Kraków POCZTA POLSKA overprint in black.
    Documented figures
    In a 2009 auction a black 10 Kronen sold for $41,000 and the three-value red set for $20,700 (Polonus Philatelic Society).

    Source: Polonus Philatelic Society

  7. Kraków 6 heller with inverted overprint

    1919

    Why it is rare
    Polonus describes the 6 heller as the rarest inverted overprint of the Kraków issue. Inverted overprints also exist on the 40, 50, 60 and 80 heller and the 15 heller postage due.
    What drives the value
    Certification, pairs with normal stamps, and varieties such as the 'thin Z' type. Polonus illustrates the only recorded pair that includes a thin Z.
    How to recognize it
    An Austrian 6 heller with the POCZTA POLSKA overprint upside down.

    Source: Polonus Philatelic Society

  8. Gniezno inverted '5'

    1919

    Why it is rare
    Gniezno overprinted a bold red 5 and a green 10 on common German stamps, 20,000 sets in all. In position 21 the 5 was inverted. Only two examples are recorded in a pair with a normal stamp, and Polonus's conservative estimate is five or six in total.
    What drives the value
    Certification above everything. Polonus estimates that 99% of those offered on eBay are fakes, and the inverted 10 exists only as a forgery.
    How to recognize it
    A German stamp with a large red 5 overprinted upside down.
    Documented figures
    The Fischer catalogue values a hinged inverted 5 at 80,000 zł and a never-hinged one at 150,000 zł, as cited by Polonus.

    Source: Polonus Philatelic Society

What are most Polish stamps worth?

Most Polish stamps are common. Scott lists a very fine used Poland No. 1 at $250, and the bulk of the 1918–1919 overprints are inexpensive: Polonus puts Kraków issue catalogue prices as low as $10 for the common values. The 1919 Kraków liquidation commission's 25 halerz was printed in 3,008,550 copies.

Polish stamps after 1945 were printed in large numbers and are usually worth little. The exceptions are specific errors and varieties that a specialist catalogue such as Fischer lists separately.

How to identify Polish stamps

These checks narrow a stamp down to the exact issue. That matters because a rare variety and a common one often share the same design.

1

Kopeks and ZA ŁÓT mean 1860

Poland No. 1 is valued in kopeks and carries the Polish inscription ZA ŁÓT KOP. 10 under the arms.

2

Match the overprint to the base stamp

1918–1919 POCZTA POLSKA overprints on Austrian stamps in halerz and korona come from Kraków and Lublin. Overprints on German stamps come from Warsaw and the Poznań region; the Warsaw provisionals show the value in fen at the top and Poczta Polska at the bottom.

3

Use the currency

The Polish marka, divided into 100 fenigów, was used from 1917 to 1924 and replaced by the złoty at 1,800,000 marek to 1 złoty. Fenig and marka values date from 1917–1924; grosz and złoty values from 1924.

4

Imperforate Kraków stamps are not automatically rare

The 1919 Kraków liquidation commission issue was printed imperforate and without gum, and was valid until 31 May 1919. The 25 halerz alone ran to 3,008,550 copies.

5

PORT GDAŃSK and LEVANT

Polish stamps overprinted PORT GDAŃSK in two lines were used by the Polish post in Danzig from 5 January 1925. LEVANT overprints belong to the Polish postal agency in Constantinople, 1919–1921.

6

Beware of speculative locals

Wikipedia notes that local overprints from Myślenice, Przemyśl, Rozwadów, Świątniki Górne and Tarnów are considered speculative, and the Chęciny overprints are treated as fantasies.

For a broader walkthrough, see the Polish stamp identification guide and the checklist on how to identify rare stamps.

Fakes, reprints and forged overprints

Forgeries of Poland No. 1 abound as prices rise, and Polonus reports a newer forgery that needed high magnification to separate from the genuine stamp.

Kraków overprints were forged from the moment official overprinting began, ranging from primitive to advanced. In Gniezno, a postal clerk named Wilhelm Heinze is reported to have forged overprints, including inverts, after the genuine stock ran out, in colors very close to the originals.

Back-of-stamp marks alone prove little: Polonus notes Gniezno fakes carrying W.H. or Richter marks, some even with Royal Philatelic Society London certificates. For any Polish provisional that looks valuable, get a current certificate from a recognized Polish expert.

Rare Polish stamps FAQ

What is the rarest Polish stamp?

The Kraków 10 Kronen postage due with black overprint is a strong candidate: only fifteen were overprinted and fewer than ten can be traced today. A copy sold for $41,000 in 2009. The Gniezno inverted 5 and the Ciechocinek locals are similarly scarce.

How much is Poland No. 1 worth?

It depends on condition. Polonus cites Scott at $2,400 for a very fine mint copy and $250 used. Multiples and covers are worth far more: the letter with the unique block of four sold for approximately $56,000 in 2010. Forgeries are common, so get valuable copies certified.

Are Polish stamps with POCZTA POLSKA overprints valuable?

Some are, most are not. Kraków issue catalogue prices run from about $10 to $12,000 depending on the value, overprint type and errors. These overprints are also heavily forged, so a certificate matters more than the catalogue value.

What do I need to identify a Polish stamp?

The inscription, the currency (kopeks, halerz, fenig, marka, grosz or złoty) and, for overprints, the base stamp and overprint type. StampSnap can identify the country, year, series and denomination from a photo; overprint types and forgeries still need a specialist catalogue or an expert.

Sources & References

A useful estimate, not a professional appraisal

Stamp values are estimates for general reference. Actual value depends on condition, centering, cancellations, gum, authenticity, provenance and current collector demand. For rare or potentially valuable stamps, consult a qualified philatelic expert or appraiser.

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