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# Rare stamp found in Lichfield to be sold at auction
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/rare-stamp-found-in-lichfield-to-be-sold-at-auction/
- Published: 2020-01-09T11:02:35.000Z
- Updated: 2020-01-09T11:03:57.000Z
- Description: A rare stamp worth thousands of pounds has been unearthed in Lichfield.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Heritage, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:18, News

A rare stamp worth thousands of pounds has been unearthed in Lichfield.

The iconic 1882 £5 Orange has been described as potentially the “culmination of a collecting career” and is regarded by many philatelists as the holy grail of British stamps.

It is also the highest value pre-decimal stamp ever to be issued. In the 1880s, £5 represented approximately one month’s average salary – £2,000 in today’s money.

Richard Winterton Auctioneers will sell the item as part of a collection on 24th and 25th March.

![Richard Winterton with the stamp collection](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/dsc_1320.jpg)

Richard Winterton with the stamp collection

Auctioneer Richard Winterton said the stamp was expected to be a popular lot.

> “Isn’t it crazy to think that this little bit of paper could be worth so much? It goes to show that you never know what might be out there.  
>  
> “Curiously enough, it is most unlikely that these large stamps were ever used for postage in the regular sense.  
>  
> “The Inland Revenue act of 1881 cleaned up the system used for collecting duties and introduced new duties. Part of the act made the use of postage stamps a method of paying duties, so a new high value stamp was required at fairly short notice.  
>  
> “It is a very large, attractive stamp and highly desirable to collectors, especially those who specialise in Great Britain stamps.  
>  
> Auctioneer Richard Winterton

The collection of stamps have a guide rice of £4,500, but Mr Winterton says bidders could push the price far higher.

> “It is in a beautifully compiled album which also features an 1840 Penny Black and Two Penny Blue, a Two Shilling Brown and an 1867 Five Shillings.  
>  
> “The album as a whole is guided at £4,500 but could fetch far more, especially considering that the £5 Orange alone is worth thousands of pounds.”  
>  
> Auctioneer Richard Winterton

People can have their own stamps appraised by specialist Stuart Billington ahead of the sale. For details call 01543 251081 or email [office@richardwinterton.co.uk](mailto:office@richardwinterton.co.uk) before 31st January.