HISTORY OF A STAMP.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 209, 29 May 1902, Page 4

HISTORY OF A STAMP.

HOW IT WENT UP IN VALUE

In the year 1851 a twelve-penny black Canadian postage-stamp was printed by the Government at Ottawa. The public did not regard this sombre issue with, favour, so few were issued. One of these sfamps was sent to the Hamilton, post-office, where it was sold to an old gentleman, who said it was a shame to print the Queen’s picture on a stamp that might be handled by profane hands. Tenderly the gentleman put it on a parcel, sending it to a friend in the United States. Here, in the wastebasket, it lay for many a day, till an errand boy found it, and quickly transferred it to his album. Despairing of a good collection, and having his fever for stamps somewhat abating, he sold them to a dealer.

The new owner, on looking at the catalogue, found that what he had paid £1 for was worth £5. Accidentally this stamp was slipped.into a shilling packet and sent to a dealer residing in Hamilton. When the latter opened the packet he was astonished to find such a valuable stamp, and, being honest, wrote his friend to inform him of what had happened, offering him £240 for it. The offer was accepted, and the stamp again changed hands. By this time the stamp had increased in value, and not a few came from a distance to look at the treasure.

One day an English nobleman, who, through a Canadian friend, had heard of the stamp, offered £300; which offer was accepted. The English lord, falling in love with an American heiress, and wishing to gain the favour of her brother, presented him with the stamp as a token of his esteem, Here, in its new and luxurious American home, it came to a sad end; for one day the maid, by mistake, swept the stamp, wh;ch had accidentally fallen out of the album, into the fire. In an instant the stamp, which thousands had heard of and longed for, went up in smoke to the broad blue sky, leaving not a trace behind.