Collector Finds Mislaid Mauritius Stamp

The Monsters and Critics Web site is reporting that 20 years ago German stamp collector Ullrich Schulze hid a 'Post Office' Mauritius One Penny Red, which he had inherited from his father, in an album full of almost worthless German stamps and then forgot where he put it.

But while looking for something completely different, Schulze stumbled on the treasure again.

The stamp being auctioned on May 8 in Germany. Bidding for the Red is to open at 200,000 euros (265,000 dollars).

Some of the world's top collectors are expected to attend the sale, organized by the Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house of Cologne.

The catalogue suggests the next owner can be confident that their name will enter philatelic history, and auctioneer Roland Meiners expects several German business tycoons to attend.

According to reporter Uta Knapp, "There are thought to be only 15 of the stamps in existence and they are only exceeded in value by the legendary matching Two Pence Blue, of which only 12 are believed to survive."

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