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Bezig met laden... The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the Worlddoor James Barron
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Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. The One-Cent Magenta by James Barron is not just the story of the people who have coveted and owned the most rare and expensive stamp in the world; it is also a story about world of stamp collecting and collectors (philatelists). In fact, I think this is a book more about the history, albeit abbreviated, of stamp collecting and collectors using the One-Cent Magenta as a thread to tie it all together. ( ) I have always thought postage stamps were neat. I admit I'm the ass in the post office line asking if I can see all the current stamps when I get to the counter, so I can pick out the coolest ones. (This, by the way, is unheard of in Australia; I've only found one post office where the lady is nice enough to let me pick my own stamps.) But I have never collected stamps. The hobby holds no appeal for me and never has. What I am hooked on, is rarity. The idea that there are only x number of something in the world sucks me in, no matter what x is. I understand the collectors that want to own what no one else owns; I don't have the ego for it, but the idea of owning something that is completely unique is a seductive one. That's why I bought this book on a whim. That and the cover. James Barron is a New York Times journalist, who stumbled on the story of the one-cent magenta stamp at a cocktail party; the article he wrote about it led to this book, where he chronicles the path this odd-looking stamp took on it's way to becoming the world's most valuable stamp, selling at auction in 2014 for 9.5 million USD, to Stuart Weitzman, he of the red-soled shoe empire. This is where journalists who write books shine, especially for someone like me, who knows almost nothing about stamps or philately. Let's face it, stamps do not lend themselves to page-turning drama, and philately needs all the help it can get if it's to appeal to those outside the bubble. Barron succeeded beyond my expectations. I completely enjoyed this book and spent all day reading it. His journalistic style brought the stamp's history to life, and even though he has a bit of fun with the eccentricities of "Stamp World" as he calls it, I thought he did a brilliant job describing the passion and dedication of the hobby in a sympathetic way. I'm thoroughly surprised and delighted at how much I enjoyed this book. The "one-cent magenta" is a tiny, pinkish "provisional" stamp that was printed in British Guiana and used for postage on a newspaper. Despite these humble beginnings, this stamp has developed quite a mystique, especially since it is believed that there is only one specimen left in the world. The "magenta" has changed hands several times since its printing in 1856. The last time it was sold, it brought in $9.5 million at auction. This book tells what is known of the history of this stamp and its various wealthy owners, including John du Pont of Foxcatcher fame. I found this digressive account hard to follow and the stamp-collecting characters were not as much fun to read about as I had hoped. For hardcore philatelists only. geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
"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"-- Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
Deelnemer aan LibraryThing Vroege RecensentenJames Barron's boek The One-Cent Magenta was beschikbaar via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Actuele discussiesGeenPopulaire omslagen
Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)769.569881The arts Printmaking and prints Prints Forms of printsLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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