THE STAMP COLLECTOR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 42

THE STAMP COLLECTOR.

Edited by "Philatelist." The Editor of this column will bo glad to receive stamps from collectors who may he in doubt as to authenticity, values, &c., and give an opinion on the same. All letters must be addressed plainly—" Editor, The Stamp Collector, New Zealand Mail, Wellington," and must enclose stamps for return postage. Tho greatest possible care will be taken that tho specimens forwarded are not lost, but no responsibility will be assumed The Editor will bo glad to receive correspondence of interest to stamp collectors, and also marked papers or cuttings relative to Philately. All such papers or cuttings to be addressed as above.

ODDS AND ENDS.

THE STAMPS OE GREAT BRITAIN. Two, anil even three years ago, we used to bo heaiing occasionally that a great altoratio.i and improvement in the design and manufacture of these stamps would take place at the expiration of the Government contract with Messrs Dc la Rue and Co., the present printers, and that such contract would expire at the end of 1890. It was reported that other great firms, such as Messrs Watcrlow and Co., Perkins, Bacon and Co., &c, were even then preparing themselves for what was understood would be a grand competition, and now nearly half of 189(1 has passed and nothing as yet is heard about it. Almost without exception, English and English-Colonial stamps rank lowest in the list from an art point of view. Certainly the ,; new collector" will have the advantage of the old ones, in that point, as also in many othcis.

VICTORIA. We think that few general collectors are aware of the almost innumerable shades that are to he had of tho current penny stamp. There is no stamp known to the writer which yields such a rich and distinct variety. We remember hearing a year or two ago, of a collector in London happenir.r--to mention this fact to a friend who was a collector of British colonials, but the friend had not noticed it—the collector learned shortly afterwards that his astute friend hud

just overhauled the stock of a large fir-n of dealers in the Strand, and hail enriched his collection with no less than thirty distinct shades. Exchange and approval sheets should be well watched for varieties, and a good look out he kept for a shade in yellow, which is possible if not probable. s.s.s.s. Which, being interpreted, means the Society for the Suppression of Speculative Stamps, is, or at least some of its dealer advocates arc, sometimes a little too ready to condemn without knowledge. A case has lately been pointed out to us, wherein a dealer having publicly black-marked some stamps of the Kingdom of Abyssinia, and having almost disputed their existence, has afterwards had occasion tc say. upon being informed of the facts of the case, "that letters had been forwarded via Djibouti, and bore stamps of that French colony in addition, as the dominion of the Negus had not yet been admitted to the Postal Union. We must, therefore, remove the embargo recently imposed, fand admit these stamps to full philatelic fellowship." "We" may be the 5.5.8.5., or the usual editorial, or collectors generally.

BRITISH WEST INDIES. Tho demand for theso stamps is stated to be greater than ever, both in England and Franco; in fact, the city of Paris is likely to resume its former position as leader of tho philatelic world. Here are a few of the latest London auction prices:—

Tho impetus given to trade by tho goldfields in tho Auckland district is shown by the fact that tho Northern Steamship Company have added two steamers to their fleet, and are talking of a third one. ENO'S " ERUPT SALT."—In pimples and blotches on the face, sallovvness of the skin, and depression of spirits, it is most useful, for not the least of its recommendations is its resemblance to fruit in the natural way in which it relieves tho system of effete or poisonous matter, wdiieh, if retained, poisons the blood; and its advantages over fruit aro that it can be always at hand when required. Its preparation ha» been truly styled one of the triumphs of modern chemistry. In hot or foreign climates it is invaluable. It allays nervous excitement, and restores the nervous system to its proper condition (by natural moans). In tho nursery it is beyond praise. Sold by all Chemists and Stores,;

St. Vincent —Won Is £1 1 0 Virgin Islands —CJ rose, pcrf. 15, unused, but no gum 5 15 (J St. Lucia Is, orange, unused 5 0 0 H. Vincent — Wmk Star, -id, dark blue, unused 5 0 0 St. Vincent—Wmk Star, 4d, dark blue, unused C 5 0 St. Vincent—Is, rose, large porf., unused, no gum 7 5 0 St. Vincent—Id on Is, probably very fine ... 11 5 0 Neirs—la, yellow-green, unused, no gum 15 10 0 Neirs—C.A., fid, green 10 10 0 St. Christopher—C.A., 4d, Mao, unused ... ... 8 0 0 St. Lucia—1st issue, blue, unused 3 fi 0 St. Lucia—Is, black and orange, unused 4 10 0 St. Lucia—Is, orange, unusod 7 0 0 St. Vincent—Star, Id on half fid green (blue), unused 4 0 0 Tobago—CO., fid, ochre, unused ... 3 10 0 Tobago—C.A., fid, ochre, unusod ... 12 0 0