One of the finest known misprinted stamps, the 1918 24-cent airmail postage stamp with the famous “Inverted Jenny,” is valued today at $1 million and will be displayed for the first time in Southern California at the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo May 31 through June 2. The three-day show will be open to the public at the Long Beach, California Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Ave.
It will be one of the highlights of a multi-million dollar exhibit of historic collectibles including a $3 million 1907 gold coin some researchers believe was owned by President Teddy Roosevelt, and over $300,000 of Babe Ruth memorabilia.
The “Inverted Jenny” is from the original sheet of 100 misprinted stamps purchased for the face value of $24 at a post office in Washington, DC on May 14, 1918. It is the finest known surviving example with the mistakenly upside-down biplane, and will be displayed courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries of New York.
The 1907-dated U.S. $10 denomination gold coin is one of only about 50 known with a “rolled edge,” and this particular coin is the finest known surviving example and valued at $3 million, according to Ronald J. Gillio, Expo General Manager. It will be displayed for the first time in Southern California by Monaco Rare Coins of Newport Beach.
There will be an exhibit by Memory Lane, Inc. of Tustin, California of 18 Babe Ruth items with a combined value of $314,000. The display will include a rare 1915 Sporting News baseball card; vintage photographs; a Ruth-autographed baseball; a paycheck to Ruth; a letter signed twice by Ruth; and a baseball bat signed by Ruth.
The Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo will be open Thursday and Friday, May 31 and June 1, from 10 am to 7 pm, and Saturday, June 2, from 10 am to 5 pm. Public admission is $8 (good for all three days); $6 for members of any coin or stamp club; $4 for seniors 65 and older and for children ages 8 to 16. A discount coupon is available online at www.LongBeachExpo.com.