Impressive Rewards for Stolen Collectibles

Peter Rexford
Wed, 15 Jul 2015 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

Understanding why someone steals a famous object is quandary. After all, what are they going to do with it? Take the Mona Lisa, literally. Steal it and where could you possibly sell or display it? Perhaps in a private collection somewhere in the Middle East. Even there, you can't let anyone know you have it because of an assured reward.

That's the case for a pair of the ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in the "The Wizard of Oz." One of the four known pairs is on display in the Smithsonian. Another had been exhibited in the small town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. That pair was stolen 10 years ago. Again, whoever has them can now only do one thing with them — return them. A one million dollar reward is being offered for them with the stipulation that the identity of the thief is revealed.

So, too, with two small postage stamps. Back in 1955, a block of four of the famous 1918 24-cent inverted Jenny Air Mail stamps were stolen from an exhibit in Norfolk, Virginia. The block was separated and two of the stamps eventually recovered. The other two remain missing.
Updated: Thu Jul 16, 2015

Understanding why someone steals a famous object is quandary. After all, what are they going to do with it? Take the Mona Lisa, literally. Steal it and where could you possibly sell or display it? Perhaps in a private collection somewhere in the Middle East. Even there, you can't let anyone know you have it because of an assured reward.

That's the case for a pair of the ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in the "The Wizard of Oz." One of the four known pairs is on display in the Smithsonian. Another had been exhibited in the small town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. That pair was stolen 10 years ago. Again, whoever has them can now only do one thing with them — return them. A one million dollar reward is being offered for them with the stipulation that the identity of the thief is revealed.

So, too, with two small postage stamps. Back in 1955, a block of four of the famous 1918 24-cent inverted Jenny Air Mail stamps were stolen from an exhibit in Norfolk, Virginia. The block was separated and two of the stamps eventually recovered. The other two remain missing.

Donald Sundman, head of Mystic Stamp Company, is offering a $100,000 reward for the return of the two rare stamps. Because they are probably no longer together he's also offering $50,000 for just one. The American Philatelic Research Library is kicking in another $10,000. The stamps are the No. 65 and No. 75 positions on the sheet. Those numbers are written in pencil on the reverse. The perforations on the stamps and other indicators make each unique and easily identifiable. This reward is pretty much "no questions asked."

The bottom line ... there is big money in collectibles, whether you own them or not. Just being in the know about stolen items will mean a nice payday for some.

As summer flies by, those lucky enough to be near the coasts, in a harbor, or on any of the Great Lakes, know a familiar sight is the U.S. Coast Guard. Too often left off the list of the military (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines get that spotlight) the public understandably has far more interaction with the Coast Guard than any other branch.

Anyone who has been in distress in a watercraft — or near the water for that matter — knows how reassuring it is to see a Coast Guard ship, plane or helicopter with the familiar orange color or stripe. Conversely, for drug or human smugglers and those with any offshore terrorist intentions those are the last ships or aircraft they want to encounter. The firepower and response ability of the Coast Guard is reassuringly daunting.

In the 1940s, a stamp was issued commemorating the Coast Guard. It wasn't overly impressive. In just two weeks, a new Forever U.S. Coast Guard stamp will make a midsummer appearance with impressive images of a rescue helicopter and classic three-masted tall ship "The Eagle."

The sailing ship is reminiscent of the Revenue Cutter Service — the precursor to the Coast Guard established by George Washington in 1790. Fast forward to 1915, when it received its current name. In 1967, it was made a part of the Department of Transportation but after terrorism increased, in 2003, it appropriately became a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

In 2012, the Coast Guard was credited with saving over 3,800 lives, stopped 2,500 immigrants from entering the country illegally, conducted 46,000 recreational boating stops and confiscated 166,000 pounds of cocaine bound for the U.S. The Coast Guard also participated in 3,000 incidents involving marine pollution.

The new stamp will officially be issued on Aug. 10 and will be in post offices nationwide.

Collectors, boating enthusiasts, Coast Guard veterans or anyone who has been helped by the service can get special First Day of Issue cancels on the stamp. To do so, purchase one at a local post office, affix it to a self-addressed envelope and send inside of a larger mailing envelope to: United States Coast Guard Stamp, Special Events, PO Box 92282, Washington, DC 20090-2282.

There is no charge for the cancel but all order must be received NO LATER than Oct. 3, 2015.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the new US Coast Guard "Forever" stamp has been sent with this column.