The next lecture of the Maynard Sundman series will take place later this month at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, which established the lecture series in 2002.
On Sept. 21, the 14th Maynard Sundman lecture will welcome author James Barron, who recently published a book titled The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World. The lecture will be held in the Postal Museum Historic Lobby from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Admission is free but registration is required.
“Through the stories of those who have bought, owned, and sold the One-Cent Magenta, James Barron delivers a fascinating tale of global history and immense wealth, and of the human desire to collect,” reads the museum website.
A book signing will follow Barron’s remarks, and his new book will be available for purchase at the museum’s store. The world’s most famous stamp, the one-cent magenta, will also be on display after the lecture.
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Born in Washington, D.C., Barron joined the New York Times in June 1977 after graduating from Princeton University, where he had been the paper’s correspondent during his junior and senior years.
Past Maynard Sundman Lecture Series speakers include esteemed Canadian philatelist Charles Verge, who spoke about the first Canada-U.S. joint issue, the 1959 St. Lawrence Seaway commemorative (Scott #387), and its famous invert error (SC #387a).
A Fellow of both The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) and Royal Philatelic Society of London (RPSL), Verge is an international and national judge of more than two decades and a past president of both The RPSC and the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE). From 2006-11, he also served as treasurer, executive committee member and Canadian delegate for the Federación Inter-Americana de Filatelia (FIAF). He received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for his philatelic achievements in 2002.