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new world record has been set for sale of postage stamp. Not just any old stamp, but one-of--kind. The 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta was sold at auction in New York for $9.48 million. The auction house, Sotheby's, said it was fourth time stamp has broken record. Sotheby's vice chairman David Redden said the record would never be broken again, unless same stamp came up for auction again. He told reporters: "That price will be hard to beat, and likely won't be exceeded unless British Guiana itself comes up for sale again in future." David Beech, a former curator of stamps at British Library, compared sale to buying the artwork 'Mona Lisa'.

stamp was bought by anonymous buyer. It was previously owned by John E. du Pont, heir to du Pont chemical fortune. He is currently in prison for fatally shooting Olympic champion wrestler. It was first discovered in 1873 by 12-year-old stamp collector. He sold it few years later for six shillings - about $50 in today's money and tidy sum back then. It has since had dozen owners, including French government. Mr Redden marvelled at how sought after stamp has become. He said: "This is most valuable item in the world by weight. It's just tiny piece of paper." He added he was happy that the stamp had been bought by collector who would cherish it, and not by investor.