THE LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION.

On July 22 was- opened in London the very finest exhibition of stamps that has' over been got together. Leading stamp journals say the total value could nott-have been less than £200,000. Here were gathered together the very pick of the world's collectors, all the leading ones vying with each "other to produce the bast. In only a few instances were whole collections shown, end where they were they were bruly beautiful. The most of the prizes offered were for sect-ions or separate conntriec. The prizes consisted of 13 gold medals, 48 silver, and 60 bronze. At the appointed time H.R.H. the Duke of York, with his wife, attended for Ihe purpose of officially opening the exhibition, which he did in a neat speech, and as an example of brevity it is perhaps unique. Afc tbe risk of tiring my readeis I give the full text of it. Here it is :—: — •• I bave much pleasure in declaring this exhibition open." The Duke (who, by the way, is president of the London Philatelic Society), with bis good lady, then made a long inspection of the exhibits, and though a far-advanced collector bimselF, had the plt-asure of seeing much that he had nob seeu before. What was perhaps the feature of the exhibition was the collection of unused stamps of Great Britain shown- and owned by Mr H. J. White. It is said to bavebeea absolutely perfect, containing every variety known to exist, and was rightly awarded a special gold medal, being tbe grand pr>ze of the exhibition. Ib is unnecessary that I should give the names of all the other prizetakers, but one and all who visited the exhibition expressed wonderment at the truly magnifier, nb collection gathered together. The exhibition continued open .fur Dearly three weeks, and judging by. ihe Attendances the frffnir should prove no lots to the guarantors. The promoters luckily picked on dates fcbat no doubt largely msßis'.Rd towards its success. It was in Septem-->ser Ja*t year that tbe committee was first appointed to curry 'out the scheme, and wiihoafc knowing that any Jubilee celebrations were bo be held in London they by luck picked tbe day mentioned, and thus secured' the attendance cf many coutincntaJ, American, and colonial visitors and collectors, who contributed largely to its success. It was not sought by the promoters to make proiil/ out of it, and its objects were stated in the catalogue to he :— Eirst— rTo afford access to and inspection of some of the choicest collections of the world to thousands of those who would not otherwise have such an .opportunity. The philatelist who, either by reaaoo of his living- at a distance from centres of philatelic activity, or irotn want of knowledge or experience, or other rn atonal reasons, ban bad no personal acquaintance with tbe finest and rarest stamps extstiijg has in such an exhibition unique facilities for the examination cf all the choicest varieties. Secondly, to offer to those who are outside tbe pale of philately a mean) of apprecintiog the interest attaching to the pursuit, an idea of the labour involved in forming a collection, and an indication of the artistic jmerib aud great variety to be noted in the designs of the postage stamps oE tbe world. It is confidently hoped that among the thousands of visitors there may be many who, although net already collectors, will be imbued with a sense of the great attractions, of philately, and will themselves become collectors. To such ib can .truthfully be Bfcid that phil&ttly will on further acquaintance be found to have an enduring and peonli&r f&tcin&biou, which baa hitherto* proved to be unaffected alike by time or any of tbe vicissitudes of life. Ab once an intellectual and absorbing recreation, ib may be paid to offer, in almost every condition of life, one of the most pleasurable forms of indoor occupation. The acquisition ?f, a really choice collection can only bo attained by an expenditure of time, 'labour, and money ; hot ib will be found that, with an intelligent grasp of the subject, the ultimate reward will hardly be surpassed by any form of collecting that has appealed to the tastes or fancies of mankind.

' . * Another important function was taken parb in by the Duke and Duchess of York on July 9, when they, in company with several celebrities and officials, visited tho Bank of Krjgland to witness the destruction of the plates from which the Prince of Wales' Hospital fund stamps were printed. This was done and a certificate given to that effect by all those who took part in their destruction. The object in thus destroying all the plates and appurtenances thereto is to guarantee to the present and future generations that no more of these original stamps can be produced. Facsimiles may be made, possibly, but experts will be able to immediately detect them. Ib is, at any rate, unlikely such an attempt will be made.

• . * Newfoundland has gone in for anew issue of stamps, and from an illustration given of them in the Weekly Stamp News they are a very handsome set, and evidently designed to advertise the colony. I understand the series is intended to be a permanent one. The values are— l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, -8, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, 35, 60 cents. On the obher hand, I see in a late, number of a St. John's paper & statement that the 14 steel plates from which the above stamps were printed have been destroyed, together with other articles used in their printing. A certificate to this effect is also given. Ab the rabe these stamps are said to be selling, and with the demand constantly increasing, the question comes : "What will happen then ? "

•.• Tha Australian Philatelist for ' August gives » truly excellent and artistic tinted engraving of Mr A. F. Basiet Hull. He w»s born near Hobwb in 1862. Mr Hull has been long known as tha author of many interesting and instructive articles on the stamps of several of the colonies, and is pronounced to be one of the, if not the, best experts of Australasian stamps in tha colonies. He is at preaeub editing the

Australian Philatelist, and is compiling a history of the stamps of New South Wales.