Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1899 — A POSTAGE STAMP. [ARTICLE]

A POSTAGE STAMP.

It Might Have Become the Most Valuable in the World. In the year 1851 a 12-penny black Canadian postage stamp was printed by the Government of Ottawa, says the Outlook. The pubUc did not regard this somber issue with favor, so few were isued. One of these stamps was sent to the Hamilton postoffice, 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, to the wastebasket, it lay for many a day, till an errand boy found it, and quickly transferred it to his album. Despairing of getting a good collection, and bis fever somewhat abating, be sold them to &4ealer. The new owner, on looking at the catalogue, found that what he had paid $5 for wa* worth $25. Acidentally this stamp was slipped into a 25-cent 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 wbat had happened, offering him $1,200 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 beard of the stamp, offered $1,500, which offer was accepted. The English lord, falling in love with an Americad heiress, and wishing to gain the favor of her brother, presented him with the stamp as a token of bis esteem. Here, in its new and luxurious American home, it came to a sad end, for one day the maid, by a mistake, swept the stamp, which bad acidentally fallen ont of the album, into the fire. In an instant the stamp, which thousand* had heard of and longed for, went op to smoke to the broad bine sky, leaving not a trace behind.