CIA Invert

Overview

The 'CIA Invert' is one of the most famous modern philatelic errors in American history and gets its name from an intriguing espionage connection. In 1979, the US Postal Service issued a $1.00 regular postage stamp as part of the Americana Series, featuring a colonial-era rush lamp and candle stand. Because the flames and the stand were printed in separate passes, a single sheet of 100 stamps was accidentally printed with the brown engraved candle stand upside down in relation to the orange and yellow flames. What makes this error legendary is its discovery. A duty officer purchased the sheet of 100 stamps at a local post office in McLean, Virginia, on behalf of a group of nine employees from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who had pooled their money to buy stamps for office mail. Upon noticing the error, the nine CIA employees quietly kept 95 copies, replaced the 5 used on official mail with normal stamps, and sold their find to a stamp dealer for $10,000 per person. When the story broke, it triggered a massive scandal because the employees used government time and funds to initially purchase them.

Design & Technical Details

An image of a colonial rush lamp and candle holder, bordered by the text 'AMERICA'S LIGHT FUELED BY TRUTH AND REASON'. On the error version, the brown lamp stand is completely inverted, so the flames appear to float beneath the base while the holder hangs upside down from the top.

Historical Facts

• Only one inverted sheet of 100 was ever found.
• The CIA demanded the employees hand over the stamps to the government; when they refused, they faced disciplinary actions and several lost their jobs or resigned.
• The USPS attempted to find more sheets in the distribution pipeline but came up entirely empty.
• It remains one of the most culturally significant and controversial errors of the late 20th century.

How to Identify This Stamp

If you believe you may have found a CIA Invert, here are key identification characteristics to check:

• The text and the glowing halation are printed right-side-up, but the distinct brown candle holder is completely inverted.
• Forgers occasionally cut out the center of a normal stamp and glue it back upside down; inspect the paper for any physical seams or disturbances.

Frequently Asked Questions