The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World

by James Barron

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.
 
Recommended for fans of Nicholas A. Basbanes, Susan Orlean, and Simon Winchester, The One-Cent Magenta explores the intersection of obsessive pursuits and great affluence and asks why we want most what is most rare.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Historical, Journalism, Microhistory

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2017

Reviews

[kris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thinking this was going to be an interesting, high-level introduction to the nuances of stamp collecting was my first mistake, because this was not that. Instead, The One-Cent Magenta focuses on the handful of people who have owned the world's rarest stamp: old rich dudes (and one old rich dude's widow), almost all of whom don't care about stamp collecting, really, but care only about owning something that no one else in the world can.

Which is...not a compelling story, nor one I suspect many people care about. Old rich dudes have been fucking over the world for decades now and delving into their silly hobbies and ability to squander wealth on status pieces isn't fun or intriguing or exciting: it's grotesque, and sickening, and ridiculous.

Furthermore, wrapping up this navel-gazing romp with "stamp collecting doesn't intrigue the youths of today: must be those darn video games" is fucking HILARIOUS. You literally just spent 200 pages showing us how stamp collecting is a rich man's game—don't insult us by refusing to actually name the goddamned elephant in the room.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into "Stamp World", the world of philately. We are given a short history of this unique stamp--the 1856 one-cent "provisional" magenta stamp from British Guinea [now Guyana]. A provisional stamp means it is a substitute for the real thing, printed by, say, a newspaper, because the postmaster was afraid a shipment of genuine stamps would not arrive from the mother country. We follow the trail of the eccentrics who owned the stamp through the years to today. It is worth now nearly $10 million. Obsessive collectors were willing to pay high prices for something absolutely unique, that no one else had, to give themselves a psychological "high". We view the post through the ages, from Cyrus of Persia and its subsequent development, the invention of the stamp, the rise of philately, with a peek into an auction house and how bidding proceeds.

This could have been a magazine article, but I feel it was padded to make it book-length, no matter how fascinating the details were. Style was casual and breezy, what you'd expect from a journalist. I thank Goodreads for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for something different? Need a break from those mysteries, that bloody book filled to the brim with body parts? Tired of formula romances in which you can predict the next page, the next kiss, the next stray partner? Sometimes I get bogged down, deep in my own groovy preferences. I need to shake it off.

Here's the book for that!!! The protagonist is the world's most valuable stamp. I almost said rarest, but I'm sure there is someone out there ready to write that book next (if it isn't already out there) as rarest doesn't necessarily equal the most valuable. . .

James Barron took me on a fantastic tour of the 9 (so far) owners of the 1 cent Magenta since she popped into the world. All different, all just a little weird, one dangerous, and one the maker of my favorite shoes!!! How many pairs did I have of those beauties. . .oh for those days (and those feet!). . ah well. . .some collect stamps some collect shoes, and some just read the best books when you need something completely different . . . .I recommend this read for that, my Friends. This for That. Indeed. Bumping it up a star just because.

26|52:6c

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This could have easily been an article or article series, rather than a full book. The author is a journalist by trade and you can tell by the writing style of this book. It's not bad, but it doesn't have the flow and feel of a typical non-fiction book.

The subject matter isn't in my particular wheel-house. I don't collect anything, let alone stamps and I have no desire to do so. Mostly because if I did, I would go OCD on it to the exclusion of all else, including a life. Knowing how I can obsess, I have chosen to avoid that particular path. Which is why I wanted to read this book. It is about the most rare stamp in the world and how it went from owner to owner. I had never heard about this stamp before, nor did I know anything about stamp collecting as such. I was hoping to learn something about both topics.

I feel that I did, but it wasn't a riveting or enthralling read for me. Not sure what didn't work, though if I had to say something, I would say the voice of the book just irked me slightly. Not enough to not want to read the book, but enough to not fully enjoy it.

Obviously, this is completely subjective and how I experienced this book. There was nothing glaringly wrong with it and it was full of information, some of which I shared with others as I came upon those tidbits. It just left me rather blah when I finished it.

I highly suspect this would resonate with those who are stamp collectors, or collectors in general. Also, one of the owners of the stamp was DuPont, who went to prison for murder, so this might appeal somewhat to true crime fans who would like to add some information about DuPont to what they know. Not a bad book and I don't regret reading it. I did learn from it, so that is a positive to me.

3, it didn't do much for me, but it might work very well for you, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Beth Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of those many kids who started collecting stamps, and while I have not pursued collecting any further, it still fascinates me. I actually had not heard of the one cent magenta (although I knew about the inverted jenny), but the book cover indicated that this stamp is the most valuable one in the world, so I had to read about it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had no idea that the world of high dollar stamp collecting was so involved. While I enjoyed reading about the one cent magenta, I like the way the author provided more information about stamp collecting in general and gave information on other rare, valuable stamps. I like a book that inspires me to learn more, and this book did just that, giving me a glimpse of a world ("Stamp World") that I didn't know existed. The only thing I struggled with was the chronology. I felt that there was a good bit of jumping around, time-wise, with the narrative. I thought I would be at one point in the narrative only to find that I had actually gone back several decades in my reading. The book is interesting and informative.

I received a free copy of this book through the Early Reviewers program at libraything.com, in exchange for an honest review.

[Yibbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining book. He managed to keep what easily could have been a very dry arcane topic quite interesting. He kept it light and humorous while introducing us to some really random trivia-type information about “Stamp World”. For example, do you know what the very first British postage stamp looked like? Well, maybe I should have mentioned the first tidbit I learned: there is a stamp worth almost $10 million. Oh, and it wasn’t even supposed to exist. Do you know who is responsible for the current organizational structure of the British post office? Oh, and who owns the first book printed in the USA? Yes, that does have a tie-in with The Stamp.
For someone who is a serious philatelist, I’m sure this book is rather aggravatingly unfocused. For someone who probably couldn’t have told you what philately meant before I read this book, it was wonderfully untechnical and delightfully full of human interest.
There were a couple of curse words.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the head world of philately told in Barron’s conversational style. [Insert joke in the vein of, “Who knew stamps could be so interesting?”] But really, this is a quick and fun examination of an uber rare stamp and the collectors with too much cash who chase it.

It’s breezy, obviously well-researched, and never dull, if a bit jumpy.


Note: I received a free ARC from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began this book with a fair bit of anticipation. Like many people I collected stamps when I was younger, and like many people you never quite get over those early loves of life. Stamps interest me. This book, unfortunately, came with a rough start; The author's style of telling the story in his imaginary "Stamp World" put me off from the first page - perseverance will reward the reader with some interesting history if you don't get too bothered by the odd writing quirks which mostly recede after the start. The story at times really isn't so much about the stamp but more about the history of postal systems, stamps in general and about stamp collectors - although we get some interesting looks into the Royals as well as how stamps are expertised - it is also about the world of the very rich and/or odd who must have something no one else has, as well as the auctioneer who promotes these things. In this case it is a stamp - it could be the rarest book, painting, diamond, comic book or even Pokemon I suppose.

I learned a lot of interesting history and trivia reading this and overall was glad to have read this. However I was baffled by the complete lack of photographs or illustrations in the book. To me as a reader this was a rather glaring omission. I read an advance review copy, but noted no placeholders. Perhaps photos will be included in the published edition.

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing early reviewers program in exchange for a review. 2 1/2 - 3 stars

[Derek Emerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barron's book is based around the world's most valuable stamp, but talking about an admittedly ugly stamp makes for a dull book! Instead, Barron focuses on the owners of the stamp since its discovery and he does unveil a interesting range of characters. Some loved stamps, some loved investments, and some just like collecting anything. Clearly, collectors as a general category are an interesting set since it includes just about everyone.

We all collect -- it may be books, clothes, record albums, coins, sports cards, mugs, or salt and pepper shakers from every U.S. state. What bothered me about Barron's tone is his clear disdain for the stamp collecting community, of which I fully admit to belonging. He calls it the "Stamp World" and quietly laughs at just about everyone in it. He also makes grand stereotypes of stamp collectors which maybe hit the a small percentage of our world. And, yes, we are a bit weird.

However, many of us are fairly normal people who collect for fun, don't worry about the 5 types of paper a certain stamp is printed on, and don't even really want to own the world's most valuable stamp (okay, I would like to, but only because it would mean I'm a millionaire). We are just having fun without it being a fetish of some sort. I don't like it when a writer considers himself above his subject matter and Barron obviously does. I would rather hang out with some weird stamp collector than someone who thinks I'm only to be tolerated.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, breezy, and well - researched account of the remarkable story of the most valuable stamp in the world: a dingy, somewhat beat up and corner-clipped reddish bit of paper printed in British Guiana in 1856. New York Times reporter James Barron has turned this into quite a romp, immersing us into the eccentric characters of the "Stamp World." He traces the various owners of the stamp, which initially sold for 6 shillings in 1873, and at last sale in 2014 went for $9.5 million, sold to an anonymous buyer who turned out to be wealthy American shoe designer. Its priciness comes from the fact that it is deemed to be the only one of its kind in existence. One of the most interesting owners was John E. DuPont, of the film Foxcatcher fame, who died in prison for the murder of a resident wrestler. The Magenta became part of his estate. One takeaway from this fun read is the information that the second syllable of philatelist rhymes with cat, not cate. Who knew.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The One-Cent Magenta" - written by James Barron and published in 2017 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. "Stamp World, an arcane parallel universe peopled by collectors who are crazed and crazy, obsessed and obsessive." Barron, through plenty of thorough research, has pieced together an interesting story tracing the journey of a single stamp from its printing in 1856 in British Guiana through to the present, soon after it is sold to settle the estate of John Du Pont who died in prison in 2010. I really enjoyed this glimpse into how these little pieces of paper can give hours of pleasure to both the young and old, and how the need to possess causes collectors to shell out enormous amounts of money to own them. The British monarchy comes and goes in the story, but mostly the players are reclusive, not wanting publicity. A fascinating story and I relate to having "that childhood album that had stuck with him for sixty years."

[Steve Garriott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did a little philateling in my younger days and I'm always looking for off-beat books to read (as you can tell, I'm more of a fan of fiction). I'd never heard of the one-cent magenta and so I scooped it up. A quick read with enough background information on the whole subject of Stamp World to bring me up to speed without bogging the story down. Because to me, even with non-fiction, it's all about the story. Barron traces the life cycle of the most valuable stamp in the world from its beginnings in British Guiana, through its past owners, to its current caretaker. I enjoyed it.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Philatelist" - a stamp collector. Learn a new word and delve into the intriguing micro-world of stamps.

This endeavor by James Barron, a New York Times reporter, is the biography of a stamp, the "One -Cent Magenta", which was issued in British Guiana in 1856. It is the rarest stamp in the world, as there is known to be only one. We learn about the owners, about some of the great stamp collections of the world, and about Sotheby's where this single stamp sold to Stuart Weitzman (and yes it is the wonderful woman's shoe designer Weitzman) for $9.5 MILLION dollars in 2014.

At only 241 pages this physically small book is beautifully written and a fascinating history.

[Tory Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World by James Barron is a peek inside the world of stamp collecting more formally known as philately. The one-cent magenta was produced in the British Guiana and by 1873 only one stamp remained. Barron shares its journey from one collector to the next until 2014 when that one cent stamp was sold at Sotheby's for almost 9.5 million! Like many, I collected stamps as a child and found this book brought back many memories.

[Katharine Coggeshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book! This is an excellent non-fiction selection that weaves a tale of philately about the most famous and most expensive stamp in the world. The author uses such intelligent research along with expert story-telling to keep the reader engaged throughout. I learned, laughed, and shook my head in agreement along the way. I plan to give this as a gift to my father for his birthday, and I highly recommend it for all.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this easily accessible entry to 'Stamp World'. Really want to go to Washington to see this stamp. Stamps are mini works of art!

[January Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everyone's cup of tea, I am sure, but I really enjoyed it. I collect stamps so I found this story very interesting.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitely agree with other comments saying this could've been a longish article rather than a book- several points where it repeats itself or gets bogged down in minutiae that truly don't matter but not uninteresting considering it's not even a book about stamps but a book about one stamp in particular

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

This work of non-fiction gives an inside look at stamp-collecting through the lens of the history of the world's most valuable stamp. The only known existing copy of the one-cent magenta was issued in 1856 in then British Guiana as a provisional measure; a shipment of official stamps from London did not arrive. Not a particularly well produced or attractive specimen, most copies of the stamp seem to have been thrown out except for one that was discovered by a 12 year old boy in 1873. Barron tracks the stamp's history, including its series of owners, one of which includes John E. DuPont, heir to the chemical fortune and known for murdering Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz and portrayed in the movie Foxcatcher. In 2014, the stamp, which originally only cost one penny, sold for almost $9.5 million at auction, the most ever paid for a postage stamp. It's amazing that such a miniscule, unsightly stamp has garnered renown as one of the most famous in the world. In 2015, it was described as "a bit like looking at a red-wine stain or a receipt that's been through the wash a few times" (9).

In the process of telling the story of the one-cent magenta, Barron also provides a history of postage and stamp collecting through the ages. It wasn't until the 1860s, after postage became widespread in the United States, that the term "philately" was concocted to describe stamp collecting. Early collector Herpin composed this word from the Greek words 'philo' denoting love and 'ateleia' meaning free of all charges. Meant to denote a stamp that has been prepaid (compared to the historical practice of the sender paying the postage), the term would have "been Greek to the Greeks" (79). The book also describes some of the most prodigious collectors of all time, which include British royalty and wealthy Americans. For example, well-known collector and one-cent magenta owner Ferrary had reportedly spent "as much as $1.2 million on stamps (equivalent to $34.9 million today)" by the early twentieth century (113).

Although a fast read about a popular hobby through the ages, I was frustrated by the seemingly haphazard organization of the book. It seems to jump around a good deal in time and subject before finally settling down into a series of chapters centered around each subsequent owner of the one-cent magenta. The book also covers accounts about stamp collectors disparaging the lack of professional treatment provided by some owners of the famous stamp. For instance, Hind "glued many of his stamps in stamp albums, all but ruining them forever." The author then goes on to assert that "A deep student of philately would have known better than to risk damage to the stamps" (126). This raised interesting questions about ownership to me, as this assessment implies that the owners of famous and rare stamps have an obligation to preserve stamps for their future owners rather than do to them what they will. It was also an interesting insight into the snarky world of stamp collecting and resident 'experts' who disdain the 'amateur' efforts of some.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

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.

[J.P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has taken on a Herculean task in trying to make a book about a postage stamp interesting. After all, philatelists are not known for being wild and crazy guys. Perhaps a bit off their rocker as we shall see but not exactly party animals. After the background on the stamp has been covered the titles of the chapters are the amounts the stamp has sold for and each gives background on the buyer so essentially 8 of the 11 chapters are as captivating as the owner.

The portrayed stamp was created by a local postmaster fearing that a shipment of stamps would not arrive in time from England. As any stamp dealer will tell you, the odds of finding a rarity in a bunch of loose stamps is a million to one shot. But that's where the stamp was originally found by a newbie 12-year-old collector who sold it for the kingly sum of 6 shillings or the inflation adjusted value of $17. Early on the stamp passed through the hands of collectors but as the value continued to skyrocket it became the property of people who were rich enough to the extent that they didn't know what on earth to do with their money. Since only one copy exists it became an ego trip for some Daddy Warbucks to say he owned the rarest stamp in the world. One of the owners after a while to say in nautical terms didn't have both oars in the water and became convinced somebody was moving the trees around in his yard. Another had the nasty habit of smoking a cigar while taking a look at his prized possession introducing the possibility that a bit of stray ash might make it cease to exist.

If you know what philately is you'll enjoy this better than most. Otherwise you will most likely not have your socks knocked off by excitement. 3 1/2 stars.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World by James Barron in a non-fiction book which takes a look at the world most valuable stamp and the obsessive world of stamp collecting. Mr. Barron is a reporter for the New York Times.

The title references the provisional stamp printed in British Guiana when a shipment of stamps from Great Britain was delayed. Supposedly there is only one of those stamps in the world, and despite the one cent cover price it recently sold at auction for $9.5 million.

As a former stamp collector, even though never to the levels the people in the book are depicted, I was looking forward to read this book. The author writes about the history of the stamp and the nine people who owned it over the last 165 years.

The book reads like a long magazine article, not that it’s bad, it’s just that nothing really happens. After all, the value in this quite ugly stamp is in what it brings to the collection and, of course, the fact that no one else in the world has it so only very few collectors can even dream of affording to buy it.

The collectors in the book range from true stamp lovers (philatelies) , to selfish bored millionaires, to those who bet on the value of the stamp like they are betting on stocks.

The book was informative, funny and fascinating. The quirky personalities and wonderful little facts make it worth reading and enjoyable.

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

[adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stamp’s journey, but not its adventure

Can a little half-inch-square piece of scrap paper give our lives meaning and value?

This is the biography of a throw-away stamp that has been become gram-for-gram one of the most expensive objects in the world. Who are the people and the institutions that made it that way? The kings, billionaires, investors, and people who made an everyday postage stamp into the extraordinary. This is a compelling and fascinating story.

I think the author could have elevated this story. He is keen to remain an outsider to the world of stamp collecting, and he never fully conveys the excitement elicited from this little stamp. As a journalist, he often sticks to the academic, dry facts. This could have been a great book, if the author had been more colorful in his narrative and sought to capture the adventure of the stamp’s and its many owners.

My favorite part was when the psychology of philately was described in chapter 4: “‘Collecting fills a hole in life and it gives it a semblance of meaning. When men get together to talk about their passions, we don’t just talk about what we love—our cars, our sports, our romantic yearnings—but also how these desires have cost us, and what we have lost. We try to regain what we cannot. We talk about the one that got away—the prized possessions—as if that would have made everything right.’ That’s Stamp World for you.”

[Carla JFCL · Rating 5 out of 5]

My secret is out......

Yes, I’m a lifelong stamp collecting nerd; I also love history. With that combination there’s really no way I could NOT love this book. Because I - like probably like most even half-serious stamp collectors - seem to have always had an “awareness” of the one-cent magenta, I was at least passingly familiar with the subject of this book going in. But, the book is about so much more: travel; youth; royalty; competition; history.....it’s not “just a stamp” here.

I doubt it’s necessary to have even heard of the one-cent magenta to enjoy reading this tale. It’s fast-paced, intriguing, and just plain fun. As a bonus, it’s well written. I think it would hold the interest of anyone who enjoys good non-fiction.

My only criticism of this book is a minor one: there are no pictures, and it seems like there are so many pictures that would have made the reading even more interesting....pictures of some of the key people and places, and maybe of the stamp on display (it is shown on the book’s cover.) Maybe the physical book includes pictures (I read the Kindle version) or maybe there were copyright issues or something that precluded using photos. This is a minor thing, but it would have been nice.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although at first glance the topic of this book may appear to be arcane and dry, the author has succeeded admirably in making the story entertaining, informative, and eminently readable.

The book may have resonated more with me than it would with many readers, because (1) I was a childhood stamp collector who still has my collection, (2) I worked for a short time as a mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office, just before it was transformed into the United States Postal Service, and (3) I currently volunteer at the information desk at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum — just steps away from where the One-Cent Magenta is displayed. But I think that anyone interested in history, especially cultural history, would enjoy this story of a rare artifact and some of the often eccentric characters who acquired it or sought to acquire it over the years.

As other reviewers have suggested, the book would have been improved by photographs. A concise timeline of the stamp's history would also have been helpful. Interested readers can find both on the Smithsonian National Postal Museum website. Aside from those qualifications, I very much enjoyed the book and I recommend it.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook 2 star, may have been a 3 star if I’d read the print copy, maybe.
NF book group, stamps theme.

So glad I’m done. I’m not sure if it was the annoying intonation of the reader, the relatively uninteresting topic/writing, or the generally horrible people that this book documented that made this such a slog for me. I wanted to like it but if I hear the words “one cent magenta” or “in today’s dollars” again today I’m going to scream.
Maybe I just don’t get collecting (or at least this kind of “collecting”) or maybe I’m more interested in mysteries and the search - this book was very unsatisfying because so little is known about the stamp so most of the books is about the greedy, rich, horrible people who have bought it over the years.
The book jumped around all over the place. Too many names of people I don’t know or care about. Then lots of details of what became of people only tangentially related to the story of the stamp. Very confusing at times.
The reader’s various accents just pissed me off, especially given that he could pretend to be a snooty aristocrat one minute but still said the -Ham in Buckingham Palace (although that was always in his normal voice). I just hated his way of speaking.

Learned one interesting thing but I’ve forgotten what it was.

[Ginni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stamp collecting--or philately, as this book taught me it is properly called--isn't on the same level as a woman compulsively drinking paint on a TLC reality show, but the spectator appeal is similar. You can't exactly relate to the behavior you're watching, but it's a strange rabbit-hole that becomes increasingly sympathetic the longer that you observe it, and it makes you feel better about your own choices. The One-Cent Magenta, a breezy, pleasantly readable micro-history, introduces us to a lot of people who spent bizarre amounts of money and went to crazy lengths to own the world's most valuable stamp. Why? What drives this kind of obsession?

The One-Cent Magenta brought back fond memories of my own childhood stamp albums and the hours I spent re-arranging my collection, ordering stamps from catalogues, and trading with my friends. Ultimately, though, you need not be a philatelist to enjoy this book. It's vigorously researched and sourced, surprisingly educational, and much better for your image than My Strange Addiction.

(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I care next to nothing about stamp collecting, but there are few things I enjoy more than a good microhistory, and this exploration of the provenance of the most valuable stamp in the world succeeds on every level. Or at least it does in the audio version read by Jonathan Yen. He clearly loves his narrative assignment and makes the most of the quirky characters and all the humor Barron supplies in this fascinating tale of the single 1856 one-cent stamp printed in British Guiana that has survived into the 21st Century. (Stamps for British colonies were actually printed in England and shipped back, but the postmaster feared new stamps would not arrive in time.) So, it's the history of this particular stamp (which sold in auction for $9.5 million in 2014!), biographical bits about its various owners, the history of stamp collecting, and bios of some of the most famous collectors. An entertaining and quirky tale of an arcane passion and obsession. Biographical, historical, and hobby details frame the book; tone is light-hearted, even playful; well-researched history smartly told.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. I am by no means a serious collector of anything but the synopsis of this book sounded intriguing and it was far better than I was even expecting! It is rich with history, not only about the one-cent magenta, but quite an array of history stemming from the topics surrounding, which came up in the tale and journey of this stamp. I found myself reading outloud several segments to my fiance who also found the excerpts just as interesting and informative. Typically this isn't one of my go to genres for reading. The author laid out the whole story, with the information and humanistic aspects interlaced so eloquently it was a fun read though. He found a way to make it compellingly relatable, even to people who aren't philatelist. I'll probably end up reading it again!

[Nann · Rating 5 out of 5]

British Guiana, 1856: the shipment of postage stamps was late but the newspapers needed to be sent. The local postmaster printed up a temporary stamp. Most likely he printed several, but very soon there was just one. James Barron tells us the story of that stamp and its subsequent owners wh0 paid 6 shillings in 1873; 120 pounds in 1878; $32,500 in 1932; $286,000 in 1970; $935,000 in 1980; and $9.5m in 2014.

Many kids had stamp collections but few became caught up in Stamp World, the 150-year-old realm of philately. Barron takes the reader behind the scenes of Stamp World, where microscopic and chemical analysis is used to verify the age and origin of stamps; where DNA testing identifies who licked a stamp (at least, the country of origin).

This is narrative nonfiction at its most enjoyable!