"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."--

An obsessively readable memoir about the passions-and perils-of collecting, from the New York Times–bestselling author of Just My Type. From the Penny Red to the Blue Mauritius, generations of collectors have been drawn to the mystique of rare stamps. Once a widespread pastime of schoolboys, philately has increasingly become the province of older men obsessed with the shrewd investment, the once-in-a-lifetime find, the one elusive beauty that...

"Every stamp collector benefits from H.E. Harris & Co.'s over 100 years of experience. How to Collect Stamps is a fascinating guide for the beginner and a valuable source of data for the established philatelist. [Includes]: Step-by-step guide to stamp collecting; Philatelic history by country; Worldwide and U.S. stamp identifier; Collector's dictionary; Detailed map with over 400 countries."--