1860 Connell Stamp (New Brunswick, Recalled) Value & Price Guide

In 1860, Charles Connell was the Postmaster General of New Brunswick, a British colony that would later become part of Canada. When the province decided to issue its own postage stamps, Connell made a fateful decision: he put his own portrait on the 5-cent value. The public was outraged. The Queen's portrait belonged on the stamps, not some colonial bureaucrat. Connell was forced to resign, and the stamps were recalled and ordered destroyed. He reportedly burned most of the stock himself. The few that survived became one of the most fascinating philatelic rarities in North American collecting.

Quick Value Summary

Detail	Info
Item	1860 New Brunswick 5-Cent Connell Stamp
Year	1860
Denomination	5 cents
Colony	New Brunswick (now part of Canada)
Category	Stamps
Used (genuine)	Extremely rare; unclear if genuine used examples exist
Unused (no gum)	$20,000 - $40,000
Unused (original gum)	$40,000 - $75,000+
Proof	$5,000 - $15,000
Estimated Survivors	Fewer than 20 unused stamps; proofs are more common

The Story

New Brunswick in 1860 was a self-governing British colony with a population of about 250,000. Like other British North American colonies, it operated its own postal system. When the decision was made to issue new stamps, Postmaster General Charles Connell oversaw the design and production.

The stamp series featured Queen Victoria on the 1-cent, 10-cent, 12.5-cent, and 17-cent values. A locomotive appeared on the 1-cent, the Prince of Wales on the 17-cent. For the 5-cent denomination, the most commonly used value for domestic letters, Connell authorized a stamp bearing his own likeness.

Connell apparently saw nothing wrong with this. He may have been influenced by the fact that the United States routinely featured its postmasters general on stamps (Benjamin Franklin appeared on the first US stamp). But New Brunswick was a British colony, and placing one's own image on a postage stamp was seen as an act of extraordinary vanity, especially when the Queen was available.

When the stamps were delivered in May 1860, the reaction was swift and negative. The provincial legislature criticized Connell publicly. He resigned from office on May 31, 1860. The 5-cent Connell stamps were withdrawn before they could be sold to the public. Connell reportedly took many of the stamps home and burned them in his fireplace. A replacement 5-cent stamp featuring Queen Victoria was quickly produced.

Despite the burning, some Connell stamps survived. A small number were apparently saved by Connell family members, postal officials, or others with access to the stock before destruction. Proofs (trial impressions) also survive in somewhat larger numbers. The total number of surviving unused stamps is estimated at fewer than 20, making the Connell stamp one of the rarest North American issues.

How to Identify It

• Design: Portrait of Charles Connell facing left. "NEW BRUNSWICK" at top. "FIVE CENTS" at bottom. "POSTAGE" on left, "STAMP" on right.

• Color: Brown (sometimes described as dark brown or chocolate)

• Perforation: The stamps were issued imperforated (no perforations); they were intended to be cut from sheets.

• Paper: White wove paper

• Size: Approximately 20mm x 25mm

• Printing: Engraved by the American Bank Note Company of New York

Proofs vs. Issued Stamps

• Proofs: Printed on different paper (india paper, card stock, or various colored papers). Proofs are more common than issued stamps and sell for $5,000 to $15,000.

• Issued stamps: Printed on the standard white wove paper intended for postal use. These are the rare ones.

Value by Condition

Proofs

Trial impressions on various papers. Die proofs (from the original die) are the scarcest. Plate proofs (from printing plates) are somewhat more available. Values range from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on paper type and condition.

Unused (No Gum)

An unused stamp that has lost its original gum. Values range from $20,000 to $40,000. The stamp should show clear impressions and strong color.

Unused (Original Gum)

An unused stamp retaining its original adhesive. These command $40,000 to $75,000 or more. The combination of rarity and condition makes original-gum examples the most desirable.

Used

It is unclear whether any Connell stamps were actually used for postage before the recall. If a genuinely used example exists (with a legitimate New Brunswick cancellation from May 1860), it would be priceless as a philatelic artifact. Most experts believe no genuinely used examples survive.

Historical Context

The Connell affair is unique in philatelic history. While other stamps have been recalled for design errors or political reasons, the Connell stamp is the only major North American stamp recalled specifically because the person pictured was not entitled to be there.

Event	Date
Stamps printed by American Bank Note Co.	Early 1860
Stamps delivered to New Brunswick	May 1860
Public outcry begins	Late May 1860
Connell resigns as Postmaster General	May 31, 1860
Stamps recalled and ordered destroyed	June 1860
Replacement stamp (Queen Victoria) issued	1860
New Brunswick joins Canadian Confederation	1867

Authentication

Given the extreme rarity and value, authentication is critical:

• Expert certificates: The Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation in Toronto is the primary authority for British North American stamps. The Philatelic Foundation in New York also handles authentication.

• Paper analysis: The specific paper stock used for the issued stamps differs from proof papers.

• Printing quality: Genuine examples show the precise engraving quality of the American Bank Note Company.

• Provenance: Most surviving examples have documented ownership histories. An undocumented example would require extraordinary scrutiny.

Where to Sell

• Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries: Premier North American stamp auctions.

• Eastern Auctions (Bathurst, NB): Canadian stamp specialists who understand the regional significance.

• Heritage Auctions: Strong philatelic department.

• Sparks Auctions (Ottawa): Another Canadian specialist.

Have what might be a Connell stamp? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for initial assessment.

Explore More

The Connell stamp is a reminder that vanity has consequences, and that those consequences can create legendary rarities.

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