The One-cent Magenta Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World

"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 $US9.5 million, making it the world's most valuable object by weight and 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"-- Provided by publisher.