A rare unused example of the 3c imperforate playing card issue is valued at $40,000 ahead of a sale at Robert A Siegel in New York on March 24.

The stamp is one of only two known unused examples and features full and well-balanced margins.  

The tax on playing cards was introduced at the beginning of the American civil war

The US Federal tax on playing cards was introduced in 1862 and ended in 1965. The 3c imperforate was one of the earliest stamps used to pay the tax. 

The 3c playing cards were issued between 1862-1871 in a relatively low run of 386,106, of which only 7,000 were imperforate.

A $60 brown/blue 1940 series silver tax stamp is estimated to make $24,000.

The silver tax stamps were issued between 1934 and 1963

The $60 brown features a depiction of Abraham Lincoln and is the rarest of all US silver tax stamps, with only nine examples known to exist. The example offered is one of the two finest known.

The large denomination stamps were used to pay the 50% gains tax on the transfer of silver bullion between 1934 and 1963.

A $500 "Large Persian Rug" stamp is another highlight, with a valuation of $17,500.

The stamp is considered among the most stunning US issues of all time and was used to pay tax on transactions over $5m, resulting in a low production rate of just 210.

The bold colours were introduced as a security measure after the previous issue was blighted by counterfeiting.

It features a Surrogates Office New York handstamp along with a violet manuscript cancel.

We have a range of stamps available.

Click here for our free newsletter.