Turning one cent into $4.4 million

Top of the morning, Collectors.

Any collectors in your life not on Mantel? Good news, because this week we launched the Mantel Referral Program, where you can earn gear from our Merchandise Shop when new members join using your unique referral link. We’ll be dropping new merch and other rewards often to make sure our community is always properly kitted out in Mantel colors.

Now let’s get into this week’s collectibles news.

“America’s Rarest Stamp” Nets $4.4M

An 1868 “Z” grill stamp sold on Tuesday with Siegel Auction Galleries, and the final bid was a whole lot more than its original value of one cent. The $4.4M price tag was far from a surprise due to its rarity – although this is a one-of-two stamp, the other is housed safely in the New York Public Library. The “Z” term comes from its noteworthy zigzag pattern, a rare variety that was used only briefly in the 1860s. According to Charles Shreve, the director of the auction, “it’s the holy grail of collecting United States stamps”.

The Beatles Still Own The Headlines

A signed Ringo Starr letter — discussing his plans to join the Beatles — is headed to auction, and the final price could hit $50,000. In the three-page letter, Sir Richard Starkey (AKA, Ringo) writes to a friend that he “got a phone call asking me would I join the Beatles and I said yes.” He then goes on to list upcoming Beatles tour dates. Imagine the cost of those ticket stubs today.

In other Beatles news, the New Yorker dug up some facts on John Lennon’s notorious “missing” Patek Philippe, a fortieth birthday present Yoko Ono gifted him two months before his death. The Patek 2499 sat in Yoko Ono’s drawers until 2006, when it was allegedly stolen by Ono’s chauffeur, Koral Karsan. Otherwise, almost nothing has been known about it – until now. Apparently, the watch theft was part of a string of extortions Karsan executed against Ono and Sean Lennon. Ultimately, the watch ended up in Christie’s hands, and the Swiss Supreme Court will determine whether the auction house will be able to sell it, or if it’s considered stolen property. This watch could carry an open-market estimate of up to $40M, smashing the record for the most expensive watch ever sold (that is … if it’s ever sold).

Twice Stolen, This Painting is Worth $32M

A sixteenth-century painting previously owned (er, stolen) by Napoleon is headed under the hammer with Christie’s, and estimates predict the final bid could hit $32M. It’s the first time the painting – an early work by Titian – has hit the market in 145 years, and Napoleon’s theft wasn’t the only time this work went “missing”. In the mid-1990s, it was stolen from an English estate, and a $125,000 bounty was placed for its retrieval. It was recovered years later at a London bus stop, without a frame. Yet the years have been kind to its condition, and similar to Lennon’s Patek, the lore involved makes this painting a one-of-a-kind gem with a price tag to boot.

Rick Harrison Shows Mantel His Personal Favorites

Yesterday, the latest installment of Mantel Quality Stories hit the site, and this time we get a perspective from the other side of the glass. Rick Harrison of hit TV series Pawn Stars showed us why his passion for collectibles is anything but an act. Trust us, this episode is a must-watch.

If you’re not caught up on the full series, we’ve posted interviews with Steve Aoki, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Alexis Ohanian. One common thread through the episodes is clear: If you want to know someone, ask them about their favorite collectibles and you’ll see a whole new side.

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