What Is the Most Extraordinary Item Known to the Philatelic World?
How would you answer this question? It is an interesting subject.
I would name the small original copper plate from which the
extremely rare "Post Office" Mauritius stamps, the 1p orange and
2p blue of 1847, were printed. These two stamps, unused,
catalog $37,000.
The plate was engraved by J. Barnard, a watchmaker, of Port Louis,
Mauritius, for the first stamps issued on the Island. The one-penny
design was in one corner, and the two-pence in the opposite corner,
and only a small number of stamps were printed, one at a time.
The plate was found in 1912 after remaining undiscovered for 65
years among the effects of the long-deceased Governor of the Island
who was in office when the stamps were current. It was acquired
by Neville L. Stocken, of London and subsequently sold to (?) Loder,
an English collector.
If you have any other ideas or suggestions on this subject, write the
Editor, who will be glad to publish your letters in the "Open Forum."
George B. Sloane
Sloane's Column
Stamps
July 13, 1935
Posted 05/02/2010 08:43 am
