Tuvalu year 1993 stamps – Insects Butterflies Specimen set
That’s an interesting distinction! Focusing on the “Specimen” overprint is key, as it generally indicates a less common collectible.
The stamps are from the 1993 series that commemorates various stamp exhibitions and features a Butterflies/Insects theme.
🇹🇻 Tuvalu 1993 Butterflies “Specimen” Set
The set you likely possess consists of souvenir sheets (Miniature Sheets or MSS) which have been overprinted with the word “SPECIMEN.” These were typically used for postal exhibition displays or distributed to postal union members/dealers to showcase new issues.
The primary souvenir sheets from this period are:
| Scott Catalog No. | Event / Theme | Estimated Retail Price (MNH, Non-Specimen) |
| Scott #637 (SG MS672) | INDOPEX ’93 (Butterfly & Flowers) | $1.95 – $4.90 USD |
| Scott #648 (SG MS683) | BANGKOK ’93 (Butterfly) | $1.89 – $4.00 USD |
💰 Estimated Value for “Specimen”
For modern thematic issues like this, the “SPECIMEN” overprint adds a modest premium because they are scarcer than the regular issues, but they do not achieve the high values associated with classic “Specimen” stamps.
- Single Specimen Souvenir Sheet (e.g., Scott #637 or #648): You can expect a retail price in the range of $5.00 – $10.00 USD per sheet. One seller listed a single sheet for $4.90, but another listed a set of four for $11.85, indicating the premium for the “Specimen” overprint.
- 1993/94 “Insects Butterflies” 4 MSS Specimen Set: A complete set of four different “Specimen” Miniature Sheets from this period is currently listed by some online dealers for around $11.85 to $15.00 USD (Mint Never Hinged).
