A murder mystery. In 1892, Gaston Leroux, a well-known Parisian collector at the time, was found murdered. It took detectives months to solve the case, but they did. The culprit was Hector Giroux. The motive? The 2-cent Hawaiian Missionary stamp. Today, 15 known on and off cover; off $250K and up, on $2.25M.
The 1892 “Philatelic Murder”
Gaston Leroux was a well‑off Parisian philatelist living in a comfortable apartment in the French capital in the early 1890s. He had built a high‑value stamp collection, notable enough to be recognized by fellow collectors and dealers. His name pops up in philatelic folklore because he became the victim in one of the most famous stamp‑related murders in history.
Leroux’s collection included one of the rarest stamps in the world at the time: the 2‑cent Hawaiian Missionary of 1851, of which only about 15 copies are believed to exist today.
In 1892, Paris police were called to Leroux’s apartment, where he was found murdered. At first, investigators believed it was a burglary, yet money, gold coins, jewelry, and most of his stamps were untouched.
A detective who happened to be a philatelist noticed something subtle: Leroux’s prized 2¢ Hawaiian Missionary (see featured image) was missing.
This led police to Hector Giroux, a fellow collector. When confronted, Giroux was found to possess the missing stamp and eventually confessed to murdering Leroux because he coveted the stamp so intensely. He was later convicted and hanged.
Leroux’s murder became a legend in philatelic circles, often cited as the most dramatic example of “stamp fever” turning deadly. This story illustrates the intense passion and obsession that a rare stamp can inspire.
Victim: Gaston Leroux, a well‑off Parisian stamp collector. He is NOT the novelist Gaston Leroux of Phantom of the Opera fame, just an unfortunate contemporary who shared the name.
Killer: Hector Giroux, a fellow collector and acquaintance
Object of desire: A 2¢ Hawaiian Missionary (1851), one of the rarest stamps in the world
Crime: Leroux was found murdered in his Paris apartment. Nothing appeared stolen until a detective who was also a philatelist noticed the 2-cent missionary was missing.
Outcome: Giroux was found with the stamp, confessed, and was executed.
Rarity: Only 15 examples of the 2¢ Missionary are believed to exist.
Other Crimes Fueled by Stamps
- The Mauritius Heist (1903): Rare “Post Office” Mauritius stamps stolen from a London album; recovered when the thief tried to sell them.
- The Inverted Jenny Theft (1955 & 1986): A position from the famous U.S. error block stolen at a convention; resurfaced 61 years later.
- Stamp Investment Fraud (China, 2010): A massive Ponzi scheme built on “rare stamp portfolios,” costing investors millions.
Why Stamps Inspire Crime
Rarity, beauty, and history combine to create objects of intense desire. For some, that passion turns into obsession and occasionally, into crime.