Leo T. reviewed The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World on + 1775 more book reviews
The author is a journalist (NYTimes) who became interested when assigned to do a story on this stamp. He differentiates the real world from the Stamp World and the book is aimed at a general audience with some interest in a unique item, rather than at philatelists. Mr. Barron writes in a breezy manner and offers some long asides, some of which I found especially interesting and some not so much (Mr. DuPont especially, some of the recent interviews).
As he offers unusual details, he seems to have been diligent in his research, probably in the Collectors Club of NYC and the British Library. I was sad to see that the lad that found it in British Guiana threw away the money on packets or approvals (as I did when a kid), but glad that he had a long life, as did the post office clerk whose initials are on the stamp. Irwin Weinberg is well introduced to those of us who knew him only through ads.
I wish there was a little more information about the utility of the test equipment used before the latest sale. The author could have cited Herman Herst when he mentioned Nassau Street. There are no illustrations in the book, although the dust cover is well done.
Looking up ten of the books cited by Mr. Barron in the LAPL and LACounty library systems and thereafter in Worldcat, I find almost no local holdings and this is in LA County, with numerous college libraries available. It is amazing to me that Alvin Harlow's Paper Chase has vanished as almost every branch library had a copy (rebound) in the late 1950s. (I obtained Barron's book from the LA County library, noticing it when I noted that Scott's Standard Catalogue was now gone from the shelves of the East LA regional library--I only consult it once a year or so, it is very expensive given the several volumes, stamp collecting is long out of style, but why didn't they keep their existing volumes a few more years?)
This book has no index and thus I lowered my rating for it.
As he offers unusual details, he seems to have been diligent in his research, probably in the Collectors Club of NYC and the British Library. I was sad to see that the lad that found it in British Guiana threw away the money on packets or approvals (as I did when a kid), but glad that he had a long life, as did the post office clerk whose initials are on the stamp. Irwin Weinberg is well introduced to those of us who knew him only through ads.
I wish there was a little more information about the utility of the test equipment used before the latest sale. The author could have cited Herman Herst when he mentioned Nassau Street. There are no illustrations in the book, although the dust cover is well done.
Looking up ten of the books cited by Mr. Barron in the LAPL and LACounty library systems and thereafter in Worldcat, I find almost no local holdings and this is in LA County, with numerous college libraries available. It is amazing to me that Alvin Harlow's Paper Chase has vanished as almost every branch library had a copy (rebound) in the late 1950s. (I obtained Barron's book from the LA County library, noticing it when I noted that Scott's Standard Catalogue was now gone from the shelves of the East LA regional library--I only consult it once a year or so, it is very expensive given the several volumes, stamp collecting is long out of style, but why didn't they keep their existing volumes a few more years?)
This book has no index and thus I lowered my rating for it.
Nada A. reviewed The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World on + 1397 more book reviews
What is it about a not-very-pretty-looking piece of paper not even an inch in size that could make it worth almost $9.5 million? I know very little about the hobby or business of stamp collecting, but even I recognize some of the names who have played a role in the history of The One-Cent Magenta. The book by journalist James Barron tells the journey of this stamp and the story of each of its owners in a light, easy to read narrative, that is almost gossipy in tone.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/03/the-one-cent-magenta.html
Reviewed for NetGalley
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/03/the-one-cent-magenta.html
Reviewed for NetGalley
