The
British Guiana 1c magenta is regarded by many philatelists as the world's most famous rare
stamp. It was issued in limited numbers in
British Guiana (now
Guyana) in 1856, and only one specimen is now known to exist. It is the only major postage stamp ever issued that is not represented in Britain's Royal Philatelic Collection. It is
imperforate, printed in black on
magenta paper, and it features a
sailing ship along with the colony's
Latin motto
"Damus Petimus Que Vicissim" (We give and expect in return) in the middle. Four thin lines frame the ship. The stamp's country of issue and value in small black upper case lettering in turn surround the frame. With its $9,480,000 sale on 17 June 2014 to
Stuart Weitzman, this item has broken the world record for a single stamp auction price each of the last four times it has been sold.