British Guiana One-Cent magenta stamp sells for record amount

The world’s most valuable stamp, the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta Stamp, sold at Sotheby’s on June 17.

The British Guiana One-Cent Magenta was considered the world’s “most valuable and famous stamp.” The stamp was not seen in public since 1986.

It was thought that the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta Stamp could bring in $20 million at auction, according to The Guardian. The one cent stamp eventually sold for $9.5 million, according to the Associated Press.

The stamp is quite something for collectors. It belonged to the late eccentric heir and famous murderer John du Pont. The 1865 stamp is the only one of its kind known to exist. This is the fourth time the stamp broke the auction record for a single stamp. The buyer this year chose to remain anonymous.

The stamp when developed when an emergency contingency supply for a shipment of stamps in British Guiana was delayed. The delay would have disrupted the postal service, according to the BBC.

Sotheby’s is one of the largest auction houses in the world.