ODDS AND ENDS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 19

ODDS AND ENDS.

FORTY THOUSAND POUNDS. The London Philutdid of February last contains the following modest advertisement (half page), displayed : " For Sale—A large collection containing about 100.000 stamps in 80 volumes—value, about £40,000. The collection contains only adhesive stamps, unused and used, single and in blocks and sheets, each arranged separately. Address, ,kc., &e.” This should give over-“cautious colonials" larger ideas of the art of stamp collecting. What must bo the value of some of them when the average price of each stamp is 8r ? In another a 1 vortisement of Queensland stamps only, the average pr.ee of a collection of 500 is 10s each. QUEENSLAND. A short time ago reference was made in this column to an advertisement in a London Magazine of 500 stamps of Queensland announced for sale at £231), and it rather seemed to be doubted, but the vendor was a member of the London Society, and therefore, his status wouid be unquestionable. Moreover, it was said to be ulmns c mlplet-: in nil w/’.'i/<.■., used and unused, and comprised all the rarities, including first issue in pairs ; the error A provisional, &c., Ac. The .42 imperforate varieties alone cost the owner £135, and 40 of the stamps were unused. Therefore, it is no great wonder that tho average price should be 10s each, and, in fact, it was just half of catalogue value. On January 20th, 1890, a first issue 2d deep blus was sold by auction by Mr. W. Hadlow for £8 ss. HALFPENNY ROGUES. It may be interesting to note that in the first week of March last ihe postal authorities throughout England made a raid on halfpenny letters. Everybody knows by this time that circulars and kindred communications may be sent unsealed with a halfpenny stamp. Latterly this privilege has been grossly abused. Numberless things that should have been conveyed at the ordinary rates have been “risked" with halfpenny stamps. It is almost inconceivable, yet none the less a fact, that bank-notes have been posted in this way to save a half-

penny. To check this fraud on the revenue, the authorities ordered the opening of all enclosures bearing only the halfpem y stamp that passed through the post office in that week, and the usual penalties were exacted when the regulations were found to have been broken.

A well known and very old established firm of stamp dealers in England, who have an agent in this Colony, are now giving this advice to their clients : —“The safest investment is to make a collection of modern stumps which cannot fall in price, are cheap now, but are likely to become ‘rare in a few years.’" Exactly so, and this is where judgment comes in.

In connection with a recent trial an important decision was rendered with reference to approval sheets. It was held that the recipient of stamps was responsible for their return. The excuse that they were returned and lost in the mail was decided not to be a legal one, unless tho letter was registered. There is an insurance company in London, called the Security Company, that insures stamp collections against loss or damage by fire, and also insures against theft.

The stamp rarity is determined by the number in philatelic hands, 'This mini ber varies directly with the number in existence. Upon iliese proportions we base the claim that our catalogues, one and all, erred in establishing the price they have on many stamp?.