Rare Stamp Belonging to Convicted Murderer Worth $20M
- 10 years ago
A One-Cent Magenta stamp from the country of British Guiana printed in 1856 is estimated to be sold at auction for a record setting ten to twenty million dollars. That’s the most anyone has ever paid for a rare postage stamp, and according to David Redden the vice chairman and director of special projects at Sotheby’s, the stamp will be the most expensive item by weight and size that has ever been sold.
A One-Cent Magenta stamp from the country of British Guiana printed in 1856 is estimated to be sold at auction for a record setting ten to twenty million dollars.
"It measures one and a half by one and a quarter inches, weighs less than a feather and is printed on ordinary paper. For its weight and size, it's the most valuable item in the world. The One-Cent Magenta is the rarest of stamps." [history.com]
The One-Cent Magenta also has historical importance, and an interesting back story to go with it.
The last owner was John DuPont, one of the richest people ever to be tried for murder when he was convicted for the shooting of United States Olympic champion wrestler David Schultz.
Chris Harman, chairman of the Philatelic Society's expert committee, is quoted as saying: “It's one of the first stamps in the world, 1856, British Guiana was one of the first countries in the world to issue their stamps, and this was a locally printed stamp, of which there are very few Four-Cent, and there's only one One-Cent, so it has gained this iconic status.”
It also broke the record for being the most expensive stamp three other times, including when it was sold to DuPont in 1980.
A One-Cent Magenta stamp from the country of British Guiana printed in 1856 is estimated to be sold at auction for a record setting ten to twenty million dollars.
"It measures one and a half by one and a quarter inches, weighs less than a feather and is printed on ordinary paper. For its weight and size, it's the most valuable item in the world. The One-Cent Magenta is the rarest of stamps." [history.com]
The One-Cent Magenta also has historical importance, and an interesting back story to go with it.
The last owner was John DuPont, one of the richest people ever to be tried for murder when he was convicted for the shooting of United States Olympic champion wrestler David Schultz.
Chris Harman, chairman of the Philatelic Society's expert committee, is quoted as saying: “It's one of the first stamps in the world, 1856, British Guiana was one of the first countries in the world to issue their stamps, and this was a locally printed stamp, of which there are very few Four-Cent, and there's only one One-Cent, so it has gained this iconic status.”
It also broke the record for being the most expensive stamp three other times, including when it was sold to DuPont in 1980.