New-York tribune., 1922-04-30


the cars. Never In tie seventy year. Of the
history Of stamp collecting had any such fan
t&stic value been dreamed Of before. Just
who sc. the precious bit of paper at this new
record price has not been disclosed for the
actual buycr. Hugo Grebert, admitted at the
sale that he vas only al agent for some ore
higher up. The first speculation in Paris col
,ecting circles was that an American had
acquired this rarity, perhaps Colonel L. II.
r. Green, son os "Ifetty" Green-hut. in view
Of the fac that Cricbert is Briton and has
long acted as agent fer leading London co..
lectors, the BELIEF prevails in New York stamp
circles that the real purchaser Of the Guiana
rarity was King George Of England
The Guiana stamp is rare because, SIS far
ss IS known, there is only one copy in cx-
iste1ce ard that is this one which, for the past
thirty gears, has been owned by the same
man. Philippe Ferrari. or, to give him the
name he bore az his death in Switzerland on
May 20, 1917 Philippe Kregsfcldt dc la Rene
cere Ferrari, recluse, sickly and little
mad, lad only one ambition in his life-to
collect stamps. he had millions to spend and
Re spent them. He bought every treasure Of
the phlatelic world on which he could lay
hands. He sent agents TO all parts Of the
world to attend private and public stamp
auctions and buy up the gems Of other co.
lections. Ha hired two secretaries who knew
al! about rare stamps that was worth know
ing, and there were several dozen assistant
secretaries. Price vas 10 consideration With
terrari. Ec wanted rare stamps and If any
body had anything to sell he wanted, even
il it was duplicate Of some gem he had
already obtained for ks collection elsewhere
Ferrsri would buy a. the sellers price. Lead
ing stamp dealers Tie world over had stand
ing orders to be on the lockout for anything
urusrs}. "Send it to FeIrari' became almost
a byWord among dealers In rarities
As q result Of this reckless collecting, Fer
-arl accumulated a mass Of stamps FOR which
he originally psid probably close to 5,o0o,00
francs and which at the time Of his death
~ss estimated to be worth not less than 40
o0o,o00 francs. 1t was by ell odds the great
est collection OF stamps ever made and it
contained many Of the choicest specimens in
the world. In value it far exceeded the
famous collection oe King George Of England.
Ierrari vas an Austrian subject when he
died. Ills mother was the Duchess of Ga!iera
ard his father Marquis Of Ferrari, afterwards
created Prince Of Lucedio by King Victor En-
manuel and Duke Of Galiera by the Pope Tie
marquis was fnancier OF enormous wealis?
and Director Of four leading French railroads.
When he died in 1876 he left q fortune Of
more than 300, ,o00,00 fYancs to his wife and
son. Beth tho latter deplored the ways ths
marquis had made his money md they pro
eeeded 20 give most oS il away. 90 that when
the duchess died In 1853 sho had disposed
OF al her share except about 100000 francs.
This she bequeathed to the Enpra.s Victoria.
mother Of one-time Kaiser Wilhelm II Of
Germany.
Quite unsuspcctinely the duchess be
oueathed some trouble 70 her son ard his
atanp collection. although Ferrari never lived
70 ace how 1t woulc turn cut. The duchess's
nome IN Paris IN The Rue de Narenue she laft
IN her wiiI to the Austrian government for use
as an emosssy orc wing Of the building was
10 De retained by her SON, and there he con-
eshued 70 i've very secludeG life, his actions
shrouGed III mystery. only to be Illuminated
now aEd t1en by some startling manifestation
or the workings Of g Ierrari brain. On one
occarion he advertised for a wife on condition
that aef wedding present 10 him should be
psrfecs cory ot The one-pen9y Maoritius
stamp Of the lS47 i2sue. Sercra! wears he
fore his death ,hs mad recluse went to
Laussrac after having decided to cut himself
of from az past life sns associations ard
declare himself the adopted son of an Aus
trian ARMY officer, Count Kriegsfeld de Ia
kenot'ere. lie lett most OF his stamps in
Ire Austrian embassy building il Paris. and
"hea tat structure Vas secuestered by the
french 0aFiy " the "ar the stamps became
the property of the French government. Ter.
al Nil showed tiat he wanted the col!ec
Ion &c 20 intact to The Berlin postal museum,
oGt when he w~otc that coG:cil he had no.
:ount1d on the Alice reparations policY, The
rcas!. GO e~nneat announced soon after the
conclusion q aesce tina. The collection would
DC ofoaen up and sold 1t auction and ihat
hv proceeds would be credited on the Ger
nan "a- bill.
Inc Britsh-.;uiana stamp Just sold IN Paris
sas houc'. by Fcrtar of London stamp
'ss!ec for $500. Fcrrayi held IL 'h;rtv years
nd II brought price of s%2.0,'.to. 1t was
he sen e the collection and was included IN
h thirc: :cctjon to be auctioncd Some high
r'ces were accorded IN the frs. two auctions
ssr ys&r. but nothing to compare with this
ew mark.
The s:amo was rot the first issue ever
U out r., British Guiana. That colory had