German Audrey Hepburn Stamps Fetch $606,000

Just saw this article on Yahoo. I really don't know anything about German stamp issues. The reason why the stamps are so valuable actually seems a bit complicated.

Just thought I would pass the link on to those who might have missed. it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101016...burn_auction

It's simple, It is the ONLY sheet available to the public until at least 2040.

Hepburn is on other stamps in case you're collecting those worth less than the German one.

Canada had her a stamp out in '08 as part of a three-stamp SS which also featured Churchill and Yousuf Karsh, who photographed Audrey and Winston.

The US put her on a 50-stamp sheet in 03.

Guinea had her on all three stamps issued in 09 as a three-stamp SS.

And, Congo put her on a stamp in 55.

You have to wonder what young movie stars of today will be on stamps of the future.

I have to agree with Hepburn's son on why he didn't want that image of his mom sold. IMHO, it seems to me that the image of Hepburn with the ciggie stick is not what you would want the children of today seeing because of the danger of smoking. The money was going to two charities that both are to the welfare of the children of third world countries.

It's like his mother said, "I didn't make a perfume or go sell toilet paper. I did something good with my name."

Donna

Well said Donna.

I'm here at work listening to the radio. It was important enough that CBS radio announced the $600,000 sale and gave no details except that she was smoking a cigarette. They didn't even mention that the money was going to Charity.

I know supply and demand is at work, but what happens in another 30 years (2040) when the contract expires and the right to sell the other two sheets is allowed? Although still rare, I assume that will devalue the outrageous price of the stamp referred to above.

I guess I just can't see anyone "investing" that kind of money into a potentially depreciating asset when others could hit the market in years to come. (Personally, I can't see anyone "investing" that kind of money into a stamp, period.)

Well it's not like you don't know they exist, it's just you can't buy them...there's still the same amount of stamps. And who says they're gonna be sold in 2040. The contract says they can't be sold befoire, but maybe they won't be sold for another 30 years after that.