FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 2

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By PiULATEUST.]

Am- news, notes, and items of philatelic interest will always bo appreciated. Address care Editor.

Tiio collection of Australian Commonwealth stamps formed by Mr A. A. Rusenbluin, of Melbourne, is being broken np and disposed of by Messrs Orlo-Smith and Co. This is one of the finest collections of _ Commonwealth stamps known, containing many thousands of choice pieces, many of them unique and of the greatest philatelic interest. It is replete with rare shades, printings, unusual blocks, and controls. With the exception of the .‘3d Sturt, imperforate at to—a unique item of which duly one block of four has been reported—it is complete in all the major varieties. Other varieties are equally complete—for instance, only three known “inverted tfatcrmnrks ” are missing, of two of which only one copy is known, while of the other only two have been reported, both being held by overseas collectors. The collection, which comprises fourteen large volumes, was formed during the past ten years. In a very incomplete state, it was first exhibited at Christchurch in 1924, when ft gained throe first and several other awards. In 1925 the purchase of the Rockliffo collection considerably enriched it, and, with the acquisition about the same time of numcous rarities, induced the owner to exhibit the collection at the New York international Exhibition in 1926, whore it was placed first in its class, being awarded a silver-gold medal. Further additions during 1926-28 resulted in the collection being awarded both gold and silver gilt medals at the Melbourne ihlemational Exhibition in the lattei year. -Since then it has been maintained at-the. same standard-, and it can be safely said to bo now tlie most complete and c omprolionsivc collection of these stamps ever got together. It is a pity to hear of its going, but collectors will have a splendid opportunity of acquiring valuable additions to their own collections. Postage stamps reveal some wonderfully clever work on tho part of the designers. As an example, take the aeroplane which is depicted on the Kingsford Smith commomoratives of Australia. How many collectors know that on the body of the plane are the words “ Southern Cross, ’ and 'below them the letters VH-TJSXJ ? A more wonderful example of the engraver’s art, however, is to be found on the Canadian 20 cents orange, _ issued in 1927 to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of confederation. In the foreground of tho design is a postman riding a horse, and thrown over the front of the saddle is a mail bag. , Take a strong magnifying glass, and look at tho lettering on the bag—viz., V.R. conjoined over Canada oyer P.O. Only' a strong glass will reveal it. It is surprising how few collectors there are who pay much attention to used stamps in blocks and strips. Blocks of varying size, together with vertical and horizontal pairs and strips make very attractive pages when neatly mounted, provided due care is given to arrangement of tho pieces, both with regard to size and colour scheme. For tho housing of such n loose leaf album is, of course, necessary. A good plan to adopt is to set aside a few pages following that on which an issue is moifnted, and thereon mount the pieces comprised of stamps belonging to that issue.

One wonders sometimes how collectors of, say, twenty years hence will 1 view the cancellation of present-day stamps by advertising slogans. As is well known, this method of cancellation is very largely in use throughout the world to-day. Will these stamps in future rank w'ith' the fiscal cancellations of the past? An overseas correspondent always returns to the writer .any stamps sent him that are cancelled with a slogan, evidently viewing them with disfavour. Collectors might ho well advised if they give preference to place and date cancellations when adding stamps to their collections. Albania.—On the occasion of the inaugural flight of a through air mail service connecting Tirana, the Albanian capital, with Rome, a limited number of sets of contemporary air mail stamps (series 1930) was expressly overprinted 1 “ Tirane—Home” m a semi-circle above the date “ 6 Korrik, 1931 ” (July 0), in crude sans serif type. Canada. —The two cents stamp, in the re-engraved King’s head typo is now printed in sepia (instead of green as heretofore) on laid batonne paper, and perforated 11. A Missing. Warship.—Recent pictorials from Paraguay inform the breathless world that the republic sports a' navy! A Paraguayan navy was popularly supposed to he ns scarce ns a Swiss navy. Both countries are inland, surrounded by other nations. It appears that Paraguay, however, has a river outlet to tho sea, thus providing a potential need for armed ships. Turning to the ‘ Statesman’s Year Book,’ wo read: “The navy consists at present of a flotilla of three small converted merchant vessels, river craft armed with modern guns. The largest is about 200 tons gross register.” The- stamps mentioned picture only two —tho Paraguay and the Humaita. Tho foregoing quotation is from tho ‘1928 Year Book.’ Has tho third one since been met and defeated or is a new stamp design to come? Philately is as anxious as it can bo expected to be. Do you recall Pm good old days when tho house that had a steel engraving over tho mantel piece was classed with the elite? Steel engravings wore tho last word, and do you recall that beguiling advertisement “Send 250 for a steel engraving of Franklin or Washington?” You sent your quarter, and in a few days you received a one cent stamp with Franklin’s picture on it, or a two-cent ono with Washington’s. This trick was so clever and so simple that you found it hard to complain, hut you got oven by tolling others about the wonderful “bargain,” and bad a good laugh when they fell f :■ th trick.

THE BASIS OF EXPERT WORK. The general collector derives certain compensations from the work of tlio specialist. His studies add to the sum of our knowledge of tho stamps eoncorned, and although many of his “ finds ” are seemingly insignificant, these 'microscopic details are just tho points that enable dealers' and collectors, and especially tho “ expert,” to cope with the more subtle kinds of forgeries. On a sheet of, say, 100 lithographed sta nips, apparently all identical, the specialist will often discover that each unit on the sheet lias some minor peculiarity which is constant at tho same position on every other shoot. It is sometimes found that a forgery made reproduces the peculiarity of one unit on all the Stamps of a- group—and this, to tho expert, is a clear clue. With rare varieties of overprint or surcharge an error is perhaps known to have occurred, say, on stamp Ro. 17 in the typo setting. Tho counterfeiter will randy have the knowledge or the opportunity of “ faking ” it on tho eor-

recfc seventeenth unit on the sheet, which the specialist’s work has enabled ns to identify. There are, of course, many other points to bo made in favour of this intensive, study of particular stamps, and tho only misfortune for the humbler collector is that the demand of tho specialist and “ plater ” for many copies of a single stamp tends to augment the market price of that stamp out of all proportion to its comparative rarity. But then demand, of course, is an even greater factor in determining value than mere rarity! PHILATELIC TERM!NOLOGY. Re-entry.—A second application of the transfer roller on an engraved plate in any one position. Where the two entries do not exactly coincide the result in the printed stamp is tho duplication of some part or parts of tho Resign. As the variety originates on the plate, and no* in the printing, it is not to bo‘confused with a double impression. Reissue, as flic name suggests,, is a stamp issue which, after having become obsolete, is again brought into use ami rendered once more available for uso in tho post. Remainders. —When a stamp issue is withdrawn from circulation and superseded by another series some Governments sell their remainder stock of tho old issue to the stamp trade. Reprint.—A stamp which has boon reprinted after it lias gone out of use, the reprinting being done either by the Government or by private speculators who have acquired the plates. Strictly speaking, a reprint must lie an impression from an original plato, or at least a plate derived from an original die. Retouch. —Usually implies a retouching by hand engraving of parts of tho design or designs on a plato or stone to improve defective transfers or to remedy defects caused by damage or wear. Revenue.—Where the word is used alone in a stamp inscription or overprint it indicates Unit the stamp is intended for fiscal use. “ Hostage aiid Revenue ” indicates the stamp is, or was, available for either purpose. Roulette, Rouletted.—A means lor separating stamps on a slice,t which .differs from perforating, as it only pierces, bub docs 'not punch out the paper.