A Stamp in the Fiber

I noticed an unusual patch of texture nestled right against the dark wooden base of the armchair. Stepping down from the floorboard onto the thick wool weave of the rug, I leaned forward to inspect it closely. It turned out to be a discarded postage stamp, canceled with a faint postmark swirl and illustrated with a vintage comic-strip panel. Holding my miniature box securely tucked against my hip, I used my free fingertips to gently slide the stamp free from the woven pile. The corners were intact, and the faint print of an ink circle across the illustration gave it a remarkably authentic archival value. I laid it flat across a nearby coaster to flatten the crease.