A CAUTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 34

A CAUTION.

The Taieri Advocate of July 29 contains a paragraph of interest to collectors and others who may have old stamps' by them. . I give the paragraph as it appeared : — " We have been informed by several resident* that having some months ago forwarded a number of valuable stamps to an Auckland firm who have been advertising in our columns, no reply has as yet been received. As it was promised that the highest value would be sent by returp* and as the fi m in question have failed to make good that promise, we would ad«i>e our readers to make full inquiries before again forwarding stamps. Upon being informed by a gentleman that his daughter had sent 19 stamps nearly two months ago, we wrote to the firm in question asking for an explanation of their dilatoriness. Ample time has elapsed in which a reply could have been forwarded to us, and as no- communication explanatory- of their conduct is to hand, we" thiok it advisable to publish this caution." I have on more than one occasion warned my readers against seeking a distant market for their surplus goods. I repeat again there are good and reliable dealers in this city who, it stands to reason, are quite as willing and able to give full market values for any stamps that are for disposal. Sellers have besides the opportunity of ascertaining the bona fides of these dealers, while by sending them a long distance to unknown advertisers they run a risk of getting far lees value, or of even getting nothing at all. ' Though I am sorry for them I tlo not pity them. Whil-t on this, Bubjcct/ 1 "would also repeat the caution I gave some weeks ago against sending' stamps to distant countries in exchange for various articles, such as musical instruments, microscopes, watches, clooki, and .other goods. To any sensible reader it stands, to reason that the person to whom you send your goods has til the best of it in the way, of exchange- He has your goods ; 1 it is uncertain. whether you will get fours until you actually have- them in^our hands, Ido

not mean' to infer that all or any one of these, , advertisers in jafdistant conntry are not reliablp, - but it is plain you are running a certain amount of risk. If there"' are any other of my. readers who have, forwarded;, stamps and received no,' reply respectieg'them, and -will furnish me with particulars, I will dfo'wy little best to either get the matter rectified. or give the names of the offenders. . £ *-.- The weekly meeting of the Dunedin Philatelic Society -was held'! on Thursday night at. their rootos, Rattray street, Mr B. T. Ringer, . presiding; After, tbe usual routine businesshad been tranß^ctedi several varieties of the' New Columbian stamps that had not been previously Eeen.wer&'Bxhibited, as also several varieties' in colour >;of some New Zealand stamps. A subscription, list in aid' of the. family of a deceased member was opened, and" the substantial sjam of £2 16 j -subscribed. - One new member w<S proposed. Several exchange sheets were pat into" circulation, after which the meeting ended. ( ; ;