New record: Mauritius

I have not yet recovered from the somewhat disappointing result of the 1ct magenta Guyana. But already there has been a new record set! At the end of June a record price of 8.1 million euros for an envelope with a "red Mauritius", was set at a German auction. Also called the "1847 Mauritius 1d Ball Cover". 

The stamps, 1 pence orange and 2 pence blue, were issued in 1847. Only 500 of these were printed. Stamps were a novelty at the time and Mauritius was the first colony and fifth "country" in the world to issue stamps. So five years before the Netherlands did the same! 

The letter that was now up for auction has an interesting history. In colonial Mauritius, Lady Elizabeth Gomm, the governor's wife, was admired for her lavish balls. Lady Gomm was an enthusiastic participant in life in the colony. To give her invitations something special, she provided them with one of those brand new stamps. 

In 1847 a young man, Henry Adam, was lucky enough to be invited to one of Lady Gomm's Balls. That invitation proved even happier for him fifty years later. In those fifty years, or actually much earlier, stamp collecting quickly became a serious hobby. In 1899 Henry Adam sold this envelope to a merchant Theophile Lemaire for an astronomical sum of £680 at the time. 

And now, after more than 100 years, that has become 8.1 million euros. Including commission that is 10 million euros for an envelope and is therefore now the most expensive philatelic item ever. Whatever you may think of the price paid, it is in any case a much nicer item than the 1ct magenta Guyana. ... 

Incidentally, the then Dutch Postal (PTT) Museum, bought a blue Mauritius in 1994, for the now modest (...) amount of 1.1 million euros. In 1995 the PTT also issued a special stamp to commemorate this.

 

 

No record prices, but my for sale at Delcampe, Ebay, Marketplace