They didn't just win the World Cup... Russian $40,000 stamp stars at auction

Days after its winning World Cup bid, Raritan's New Jersey stamps sale also spelled victory for Russia

A Russian Telegraph Stamp was the $40,000 winner in Raritan's New Jersey based philatelic auction, selling alongside the collections of 24 individuals and 1,523 lots of rare Worldwide Stamps and Postal History.

And while countries like China and Russia are asserting themselves in today's global economy, it was historic specimens from both nations which turned heads at Raritan's sale.

In the end, one of the auction's major highlights was a 20k black and brown Imperial Russia Telegraph Stamp, Yvert #1, dating all the way back to 1866.

The 20k black and brown Imperial Russia Telegraph Stamp

Especially rare in this flawless condition, the 20k stamp boasts its full original gum, is previously unhinged and was classed as "very fine" according to Raritan's notes.

Auctioned with a verifying E Diena certificate, the stamp eventually sold for $40,000.

Elsewhere, other star lots in Raritan's sale included a 1976 numismatic rarity from the People's Republic of China: a 4^th Five-Year-Plan complete set in sheets of 40.

Like the Russian specimen, the stamps bear their original gum, are never hinged and "very fine" - and now have a proven market value of $8,500.