BIG STAMP PRICES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 210, 1 June 1926, Page 9

BIG STAMP PRICES

PHILATELIST’S SPECULATION STORY OF AN ERROR The ©rking of Government departments, ike the ways of Providence, are at times inscrutable. For this reason something of a sensation was caused in Johannesburg recently says a Cape Town paper's correspondent, by the announcement made in an advertisement in the press that small supply of 4d. Union stamps in sheets, with white margins between the stamps, was being offered for sale at the rate of 2s. Gd. a pair by a private firm. Newspaper readers shrugged their Moulders. Two snillings and sixpence for two fourpenny stamps! What could it all mean? The correspondent says:— “The facts are that this firm is now selling in Johannesburg as curiosties for keen philatelists uncut sheets of three-cornered 4d. South African stamps which were issued on January 1, W2R. The Department of Posts and Te.cgraphs is unable to say how or when the stamp company came into possession of these uncut sheets. The managing director of the company was able to give an account of how the sheets were obtained. . “Apparently the South African ITigii Commissioner in London was authorised to sell the new stamns at the same time as they were issued in South Africa.. Among the stamps the TTigh Commissioner received were several uncut sheets o the three-cornered issue. This must have been due to some mistake or to some rrffsnnderstanding between the authorities in South Africa and those m England. "The London representative of ’.ne company seized upon the opportunity and bought tip a quantity of these sheets from the TTigh Commissioner and sen' them post haste to the Johannesbuig firm, which is now reaping the reward of enterprise. “Setting the World on Fire.” “This pale blue three-cornered Id. stamp cannot be obtained in sheets at present from the Post Office in Johannesburg. Tt is understood, however, that the Department has decided to issue the stamns in sheets so ’hat inconvience in handling will he obviated, and it is renorted that sheets will be ether perforated or rouletted. Tt is more pro bable that they will be rouletted ba cause by that process the similarity v. the stamp to the old Cape three-cornered would be preserved. Tf this is actjinllv the case, then the value to the philateist of the stamp with the broad white uncut margins which nre being sold hv the Johannesburg firm will a most c tainlv increase.” , ~ , ... it is interesting to record that hi' three-cornered issue nf the Union caused unite a sensation in American sta.mp-eo’Tenting circles. Gue ionrna states: “The new South African , four nennv has set the world vi fire. An other naner reproduces the design in English and Dutch on the title uovc end discusses tbo ttexnp most appreciative J