The one cent magenta inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world by james barron 276 pp algonquin books of chapel hill 2395 if its a small marvel that a stamp a spot of . The one cent magenta inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world by james barron is a peek inside the world of stamp collecting more formally known as philately the one cent magenta was produced in the british guiana and by 1873 only one stamp remained. The one cent magenta inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world 2999 an inside look at the obsessive secretive and often bizarre world of high profile stamp collecting told through the journey of the worlds most sought after stamp. The one cent magenta inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world james barron when it was issued in 1856 it cost a penny in 2014 this tiny square of faded red paper sold at sothebys for nearly 95 million the largest amount ever paid for a postage stamp at auction . Inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world told through the journey of the worlds most sought after stamp the one cent magenta explores the intersection of obsessive pursuits and great affluence and asks why we want most what is most rare