![]() "A group of three younger investors – Mystic Stamp Company president Donald Sundman, Dana Oakey, and Mark Morrow – gambled that the stamp would remain rare and desirable and bought fifty of the stamps from Schiff in two lots of twenty-five. Years later, in 1995, The American Philatelist published an article about the CIA Invert and Mystic's role in its story: It was after this that the stamp became known as the "CIA Invert." Discussions had reached a standstill when Don stood with his brown envelope from the BEP, stating "I think I have some new information here." ĭon read the details of the BEP report aloud, revealing the now-famous stamp story to all in attendance, a decision that led to interviews with national television networks ABC, CBS, and NBC. Don Sundman attended with his brother David Sundman. The stamp was the subject of a seminar at the 1987 APS Stamp Show. Sundman did this by filing a request under the United States' Freedom of Information Act in which he requested all information about the stamps' origin from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). In 1987, Mystic's name entered the news when Don Sundman helped break open the story of the famous 1979 invert of the $1 Candlestick stamp. In 2016, Don Sundman and wife Chacea Sundman sold their company stock to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), making Mystic 100% employee-owned. The building was completed in July 1989, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Sundman family as well as original owners Lawrence and Dorothy Shaver. Work began on a new 20,000-square-foot facility (later expanded to 48,000 square feet) at 9700 Mill Street. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Īfter several years under new ownership, Mystic outgrew its old location on Main Street in Camden. Don Sundman began as Mystic's general manager, and was named company president six years later in October 1980. His son, 19-year-old Donald "Don" Sundman, was chosen for the venture. Since Maynard Sundman had Littleton Stamp Company to run already, he needed someone to manage Mystic in his stead. It didn't take long for them to come to an agreement, and the sale to Sundman was completed on April 1. The two men agreed to meet to discuss the idea. Shaver rejected several offers to buy Mystic before he turned to Maynard Sundman in February 1974. The deal with Mystic fell through, and Shaver had to find another buyer. But, the Federal Trade Commission had just filed an anti-trust lawsuit on General Mills for monopolizing the cereal business, and because of this they declined the deal. When it came time for Shaver to sell Mystic in 1973, he first turned to the recent buyers of the H.E. Mystic did business in this former church building from 1949 until 1989. They compared notes on how events like holidays or economic downturns affected their individual businesses, Shaver at Mystic and Sundman at Littleton Stamp Company in New Hampshire. For many years, the two men had a weekly phone call to discuss changing trends in the advertising and sales world. MYSTIC STAMP COMPANY PROFESSIONALAfter World War II ended, the men struck up a professional friendship and rivalry. The two bonded over their love of stamps as well as for business. Harris when he met Maynard Sundman for the first time. In the early 1940s, Lawrence Shaver was on a visit to Boston to meet with H.E. He decided it was time to retire and sell Mystic. In 1973, Shaver was 70 years old and had been in business for 50 years. Harris, Shaver developed his stamp business. Over the years, with professional guidance from H.E. ![]() Harris?" Harris did have a suggestion: "I've always been intrigued by the naming of the Mystic River here." And so Mystic Stamp Company was born. Harris asked him if he had a name for his new company yet, to which Shaver replied "No, I don't. Not long after sending his check, Shaver traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, to meet H.E. Backed by his father, Lawrence "Larry" K. ran an advertisement in Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News inviting potential stamp dealers to invest $25 to $500 in order to make use of Harris' international wholesale supply network. The company began in one room and later expanded to three floors. Mystic's first home over Camden's former Post Office building. ![]()
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