When I was a kid in the 1970s, I had book of wonderful/magical tales – the one short story that I loved (and have been looking for) is about a boy who finds these old, strange postage stamps in some box in his house – they have pictures on them that depict beautiful, exotic places that he’s never heard of.
He puts one on an envelope and it gets whisked away through the air, only to return a little while later, roughed up and postmarked. He puts a stamp on a package and it too gets whisked off – only to return, appearing well-travelled and postmarked. Then he puts his old pet cat in a box and puts stamps on it – the box is whisked away to this magical land, only to return with the cat seemingly younger and rejuvenated. I think it may have ended when he sent himself off on the same journey.
I don’t recall the name of the book or this particular story – but I suspect it had “stamps” in it.
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
I remember that story too, it’s “The Marvelous Stamps From El Dorado” by Robert Arthur, best found in his 1963 book “Ghosts and More Ghosts”. The narrator’s grandfather had been an avid stamp collector, and now he and a friend are examining some strange old stamps in the collection. There were five stamps in all, with colorful, exotic designs; when placed on a letter or package they would transport it immediately to its destination. You’re right about the cat, he sends it to the island, where it does became healthy and rejuvenated. It’s not the narrator himself but his best friend who flies off to the mysterious El Dorado, never to return, of course, leaving the man to wonder where the stamps came from in the first place. It’s a wonderfully exotic tale, as are the other stories in the book, it’s worth looking for.
You made my day ! That’s exactly the story and the book I remember ! Now I just have to find it on Amazon – and I’ll be able to re-live my childhood.
Thanks so much !
Douglas, Just a reminder that we can locate the book for you and ship it to you. You even get a $4 credit towards purchase of this title for using the Stump the Bookseller service. – Ami
Sounds a bit like a Canadian movie from the 80s–Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller. I think it was based on a book, but I don’t know if it has the same title.
That’s the title I kept finding when I searched (for “magical stamps”) on the internet – a different story but I’ll have to read that one too.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Dr. Beard interested in hearing from those who enjoyed the Marvelous Stamps From El Dorado story.