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stock is the most logical place to locate stamps of poten-tially great value. Every stamp dealer and every collectortakes opportunity to visit the booths of other dealers atstamp exhibitions. Every stamp dealer and collectoralways finds stamps of value on such visits. Finds bigand small are made in this manner with startling regu-larity. What one man holds in little regard another mayrecognize as a bonanza. Witness the true story of the lateJohn Meurer, a postal stationery collector of note. Meurer did not always have the wide knowledge ofUnited States stamped envelopes which he was eventuallyto attain. In fact, this one incident started him off onspecializing in envelopes. As related to me by Meurerhimself, it happened this way. He was browsing throughthe miscellaneous box of covers that almost all dealersleave on their counters for the amusement of clientswaiting for attention. Such boxes never contain anythingrare or valuable — just miscellaneous material priced ata few cents and up. Meurer was doing the usual thing,just idly looking through such a lot, when he came acrossa United States stamped envelope which struck his eye. Itlooked as though it might be one of the rare dies. Meurerwasn't sure so he asked the dealer. The dealer said no.Still intrigued Meurer said he wasn't sure but he wouldbuy it anyway. How much? Five cents! The stamp pannedout. It was indeed the rare die and Meurer sold it for$150. Then he decided to become a specialist in UnitedStates envelopes. Meurer never found another of theseenvelopes; nor has any one else. Research disclosed that noother entire has ever been known in the philatelic world. |
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