A set of stamps featuring Australia's most famous aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith has sold for $6,500 at auction in Melbourne.

In 1931, Sir Charles became the first living Australian to feature on a postage stamp.

The stamps had been presented to him by the postmaster general and were passed on to his widow after his death in 1935.

They had been expected to fetch between $3,000 and $5,000.

Auctioneer Charles Leski says the stamps were bought by an Australian collector.



"While a set of stamps normally are quite common, this was a unique set," he said.

"It was the presentation to the pilot, our estimate was $3,000 and the hammer price was $6,500, so that was a healthy result."