For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
July 10-11, 1999:


Real or fake?


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.


Earlier this year, it was reported that one of the world's 
rarest stamps had a twin:  The 1856 Penny Magenta from 
British Guiana (ghee-AN-ah).  There's only one known for 
sure, and now experts are casting doubt on that supposed 
second copy.


The last time the original was sold, in 1980, the price 
was close to a million dollars.  It's possible the second 
copy is an altered version of another 140-year-old stamp, 
itself worth quite a bit.


What's also interesting is how the two major stamp 
newspapers in this country are taking sides.  
STAMP COLLECTOR broke the story, while LINN'S STAMP NEWS 
scoffed at it, pointing out that the owner of the second 
stamp is an admitted forger.  When British experts refused 
to certify the second copy as genuine, LINN'S jumped on 
that story, while STAMP COLLECTOR said the experts weren't 
certain.


Here's one other interesting fact about the Penny Magenta:  
That one known genuine copy is owned by chemical fortune 
heir John du Pont -- now in prison for murder.

And that's stamp collecting this week.  

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News 

----------------------------------------------------------
Go to Previous Report
Go to Next Report 

Go to Report Index
 
Return to Virtual Stamp Club Home Page