Today’s Nonfiction post is on The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp
in the World by James T. Barron. It is 276 pages long and is published by Algonquin
Books. The cover has in the center a blank white sheet cut out like a stamp
with picture behind like, scenes from the life of the stamp. The intended
reader is someone who is interested in stamp history. There is no foul
language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- An inside look at the
obsessive, secretive, and often bizarre world of high-profile stamp collecting,
told through the journey of the world’s most sought-after stamp.
When it was issued in 1856, it cost a penny. In 2014, this tiny square of faded red paper sold at Sotheby’s for nearly $9.5 million, the largest amount ever paid for a postage stamp at auction. Through the stories of the eccentric characters who have bought, owned, and sold the one-cent magenta in the years in between, James Barron delivers a fascinating tale of global history and immense wealth, and of the human desire to collect.
One-cent magentas were provisional stamps, printed quickly in what was then British Guiana when a shipment of official stamps from London did not arrive. They were intended for periodicals, and most were thrown out with the newspapers. But one stamp survived. The singular one-cent magenta has had only nine owners since a twelve-year-old boy discovered it in 1873 as he sorted through papers in his uncle’s house. He soon sold it for what would be $17 today. (That’s been called the worst stamp deal in history.) Among later owners was a fabulously wealthy Frenchman who hid the stamp from almost everyone (even King George V of England couldn’t get a peek); a businessman who traveled with the stamp in a briefcase he handcuffed to his wrist; and John E. du Pont, an heir to the chemical fortune, who died while serving a thirty-year sentence for the murder of Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz.
When it was issued in 1856, it cost a penny. In 2014, this tiny square of faded red paper sold at Sotheby’s for nearly $9.5 million, the largest amount ever paid for a postage stamp at auction. Through the stories of the eccentric characters who have bought, owned, and sold the one-cent magenta in the years in between, James Barron delivers a fascinating tale of global history and immense wealth, and of the human desire to collect.
One-cent magentas were provisional stamps, printed quickly in what was then British Guiana when a shipment of official stamps from London did not arrive. They were intended for periodicals, and most were thrown out with the newspapers. But one stamp survived. The singular one-cent magenta has had only nine owners since a twelve-year-old boy discovered it in 1873 as he sorted through papers in his uncle’s house. He soon sold it for what would be $17 today. (That’s been called the worst stamp deal in history.) Among later owners was a fabulously wealthy Frenchman who hid the stamp from almost everyone (even King George V of England couldn’t get a peek); a businessman who traveled with the stamp in a briefcase he handcuffed to his wrist; and John E. du Pont, an heir to the chemical fortune, who died while serving a thirty-year sentence for the murder of Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz.
Review- An interesting look into the Stamp World and
the history of one incredible little stamp. Barron starts when he discovered
that the philatelic world existed and what people in it
were willing to pay to own something so small. The stamp itself is really very
small, only 29 x 26 mm, but it is the only known copy of this printing so Stamp
World is crazy for it. Barron follows the history of this stamp from when it is
believed it was printed to the current owner and all the drama in between. At
times the story drags a little with all the details but in general it a quick read
about a particular stamp. Barron introduces the reader to some very interesting
characters not just the buyers but in the people in Stamp World like the man
who works for Queen Elizabeth II caring for the Royal family’s stamp
collection. The interviews with
different stamp people were the best parts of the book. If you like stamps or
are interesting in their history, you need to give this book a try.
I give this book a Four out of Five
stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local
library.
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