Dr. Arthur K. M. Woo, well-known collector of 19th c. stamps, is now the proud owner of the rare envelope with the $0.90 Lincoln stamp of 1869, paying $375,000 (Baker estate), plus $55,000 in auction fees to Siegel Auctioneers.
The stamp itself is not all that rare, but only this one is on the envelope on which it was posted. It is a wonder that it was preserved, since it had been sent to Calcutta, India.

The Star Press, Indianapolis, has the full story, June 14, 2009.
http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20090614/NEWS06/90614003/1002/NEWS01/140-year-old-Lincoln-stamp-sold-for--375-000

Note- If the item had been stolen in Quebec, which has remnants of the napoleonic Civil Code, an innocent purchaser at auction or other sale, must be compensated. This has been a problem in Canada; cars stolen in other provinces and sold to a buyer in Quebec came under this statute. The provinces were working toward a common ruling, but I don't know what the current situation is. The computer age, with full details of serial numbers, etc., known across the country, probably has cured the car situation, but many saleable items have scant records.