Product Description

Follow the adventures of the world's most sought-after postage stamps - from a tropical Indian Ocean island to the hushed atmosphere of the modern auction room - in this dramatic and passionate tale of the first stamp hunters.In September 1847 colored squares of paper were stuck to envelopes and used to send out admission cards to a fancy-dress ball on the tropical island of Mauritius. No-one at the party would have guessed that the envelopes bearing these stamps would one day be worth more than a million dollars.When a two pence 'Blue Mauritius' surfaced on the fledgling French stamp-collecting market in 1865 it gained instant celebrity. Then in 1903, when a perfect specimen, discovered in a childhood album, was bought at auction by the Prince of Wales, the Blue Mauritius gained super-star status.Even now, the stamps of 'Post Office Mauritius' remain synonymous with fame, wealth and mystery. Helen Morgan tells the fascinating story of the most coveted scraps of paper in existence, from Amuritius' Port Louis to Bordeaux, India and Great Britain, Switzerland and Japan, into the fantasies and imagination of stamp collectors everywhere.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #143988 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Review
"* 'Will strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt the thrill of buying a little glassine packet of stamps, tipping them out, finding the longed-for Missing One and making the proud, complete set... the stories of these stamps are often extraordinary.' - Ann Wroe, Daily Telegraph * 'Fascinating... not just an entertaining and meticulously researched history of Mauritius and its stamps, but also an absorbing look at the early development of one of the world's most widespread hobbies.' - Kieron Wood, Sunday Business Post * 'Fascinating... A very well and extensively researched book, not only of the stamps, but also of the various personalities, dealers, collectors and others who have discovered, handled or possessed them... Mauritius in 1847 is brought vividly to life.' - Philatelic Explorer"

About the Author
Helen Morgan trained as an art historian and archivist. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her Mauritian husband. This is her first book.

Customer Reviews

Interesting read for philatelists and history buffs alike
This is an excellent book for readers that are interested in history and "treasure hunting" stories. It is not only a highly readable piece of well-documented research into the history of the famous "Post Office" stamps, but also a fascinating collection of stories that even those that are not already enamoured with philately would find interesting. The book follows each of the known examples in detail, covering discovery and changes of ownership as the stamps passed from dealers to famous collections, but the writing is well-structured so casual readers can probably skim any parts they find a little too detailed without feeling that they are missing much, but this is a minor quibble. It is a well-written historical study, and that it is approachable and enjoyable for casual readers, with no previous knowledge of Mauritius or the "Post Office" stamps, at all is admirable.