A few weeks ago I happened to mention the world’s rarest and most desirable stamp, the 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta, which was coming up for auction, estimated at $10 million to $15 million.
In the end it made $7.9 million hammer – still a substantial sum – with the buyer revealed as Stanley Gibbons, the world-renowned stamp specialists.
Now I learn that Gibbons has unique plans for the stamp, planning to treat it rather as others have been handling the new craze of Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) by selling shares in it.
To that end, the company has launched a new website called 1c-magenta.com via which it plans to “democratise” the stamp. “For the first time ever, you will be able to own your very own piece of the British Guiana 1c Magenta,” the website promises.
At this stage, the website simply allows you to register your interest in becoming a part-owner. Presumably, Gibbons needs to gauge the level of interest to see how viable this approach is to capitalising on its acquisition.
It’s a canny approach, and if it works could provide a template for future business when it comes to the best of the best.
This sort of arrangement is almost purely for the investment collector rather than the fan, although serious philatelists may well jump at the opportunity to own a share in the world’s rarest stamp, however small that share may be.
Similar in that it creates an otherwise inaccessible opportunity is the trend in recent years to raffle houses. However small the chance, the purchaser of a £5 or £25 ticket might – just might – be the one who name comes out of the hat for the £1 million prize home. As they say with the National Lottery: You’ve got to be in it to win it.
