Swaziland 15/45c overprinted butterfly stamp
One of the smallest nations of Africa is Swaziland. Since it’s independence (from the British) in 1968, the country has issued about only about 700 stamps to match postal needs. Most of these are of very modest catalog value, but there are few exceptions like the 15/45c overprinted butterfly definitive stamp.
1990 Swaziland - 15/45c overprinted definitive postage stamp - Large striped swordtail (Graphium Antheus). Michel #580, cat. value 100€.
I must confess I have no clue why this particular overprint has so high catalog value (nor why it has doubled in about a decade). As both mint and used stamp have equal catalog prices, I’d assume it’s simply because of very low print run…But anyway, this stamp is definitely one of my most precious findings ever from kiloware. And like most butterfly stamps it is definitely very attractive 
Below are few more overprinted stamps I have from the same set:
1990 Swaziland - few more overprinted butterfly stamps, but with very modest catalog values.
I don’t know the recent Scott, SG or Yvert catalog value for the 15/45c stamp, but I’m hoping some of You could assist me with these.
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The 15c on 45c is catalogued in 2009 Scotts as 575A priced at $50 mint and $30 used.
Thanks Francis… That is one huge drop compared to Michel.
I checked Gibbons allworldstamps.com, and it catalogs the stamp at 15£ (roughly 22US$/17€).
Just a note on your query about the value of the 15/45 cent Swaziland butterfly. It was a mistaken print, your used picture shows what the overprinted 15c should have been, only a few got into circulation.
Re values of Swazi stamps, generally you are correct about the low valuations, but GV and before (if genuine) fetch high prices.
Regards
Hi R Smith,
do you have any knowledge of print runs / usage amounts of the 15/45c overprinted stamp? The reason I’m asking that I recently found another used copy of the this stamp.
So either it’s more common than catalog values indicate; or then I’m just incredibly lucky.
In the 2011 Scott catalog, the price for mint or used is US$75. However, the catalog price is italicized.
Wow… Even for “inconclusive” (=italic) catalog value, that is pretty steep rise in just few years time. I wonder if the global economics play a part in this…