PHILATELY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 59

PHILATELY.

Br Peluhe

It was the original intention of the Brazilian Government to use as design the head of the reigning Emperor, Dom Pedro, but other counsels prevailed. In a letter written by a philatelist of Rio de Janiero as long ago as 1867, I lead: "The first idea was to reproduce, as in England, the sovereign's features; but a respected and zealous director of the Rio de Janiero mint, ftaring the respect due to his Emperor would be wounded were the poatage~stamps bearing the sacred effigy obliterated, made representations to that effect in a letter dated February 13, 1843. The minister yielded to his reasoning."

This is no fantastic s&'.irc. but the actual truth, and it may be pointed out that the same qualms assailed a minister of the Court of King Ferdinand ("Bomba") of Sicily, who, horrified at the idea of the King'o effigy being defaced by an unsightly postmark, devised a form of cancellation which would obliterate the outer edges of the stamp while leaving his Majesty's features untouched. In other countries nearer home the divinity that doth hedge an Emperor or a Czar has had its effect upon postage stamp designs. Neither in Russia nor in Germany has the head of the ruler ever appeared upon the nation's postage stamps, and one cannot resist the conclusion that in both these cases it has been felt that the use of the royal effigy in such a way would be sheer desecration. The German Emperor, in particular — if one may judge him by the popular estimate of his character — would surely have been willing, if not actually anxious, to appear in person pn the postage stamps of the Fatherland, did he not feel that such a step would open the clcor to lese majeste of the grossest description. In the case of the Brazilian stamps the official decision not to adopt the Emperor's head as a design has a curious appearance in the light of later events, for some 50 years later — in 1890 to be exact— the Emperor Pedro was destined to be hustled off hi 3 throne and out of the country by the Republican party, who from that day to thiV. have managed, or mismanaged, the affairs of the United States of Brazil."

From 1843 to June, 1866, the stamps of Brazil were a succession of labels of she plainest possible description, bearing in every ca.e simply the numerals denoting their value in reis. In the latter year (1866) the idea of the inviolate nature of the llmperor's head wa? abandon-ed. aiid beautiful stamps appealed.

Most philatelies are agreed that the Emperor's head issues of Brazil produced in the period of 1666-1881, are among the finest specimens of postage stamps to be found in the whole range of philately. They are of distinguished appearance, well planned and proportioned, and as regards the printing it is only necessary to say that they were produced by the American Bank Note Company of New York.

Why does the non-collector invariably commence a conversation with a collector by saying "Have you the penny black English?" as though that unfortunate stamp were as rare as the egg of the great auk or tho skull of a missing link. For years I have always answered "yes" with a cerraia amount of a superior smile, but I now find that it is much better to look surprised, as though such a thing as a. black English stamp had not been heard of before. The result is much more satisfactory — information is obtained about "a young brother" who had one and sold it to a dealer for £20— all clear profit as he f.oaked it off himself (why do some people wear stamps on their persons?).

Before retiring from office the late Post-lnaster-General of the Commonw.ealth invited designs for a uniform penny postage stamp. In a minute on the matter he said he saw no reason why we should wait for the expiration of the bookkeeping period before making the Innovation, as the name of the Stats could be printed on each stamp, if it were considered uece&sary, for the protection of its postal revenue. It is to be hoped Mr Chapman, his successor, will take the same view. Although not fully in accord with our ideas it is a step in the way of progress, and there is no reason why one design may not be used for all values, or that out of the designs, received sufficient may be adopted to "go round."

A gentleman went to a post-office in a certain town and called for 100 penny stamps, tendering in payment 100 pennies. "Those are not legal tender in any such amounts," growled the clerk. "I refuse to accept them." "You do, eh?" answered the gentleman. "Well, then, give me one stamp," at the same time pushing forward a penny. Tho stamp was forthcoming. "Now give me a stamp."

He sot it. "Another stamp. Now another." "Look here," said the clerk, "iow manjr

stamps do yen want? You are keeping people waiting." "Oh ! 1 always kscp within the law," r' spondee! the gent'oman. "Another stamp please. Pennies arc not legal tender it large amounts. Another stamp."

And he purchased stamps, one at a time till he got his hundred. But the clerk was cured. Pennies are legal tender at his counter now in cartloads.

In all the countries of tlie world there are" few cleaner than those of Europe. For the advanced collector they have the charm of old issues stretching away back into tha earliest days of postal issues, with numberless and gemiine varieties. For the young' collector they present the opportunity oi series after series of used stamps priced at pence, to be had lightly cancelled for th<" trouble of patient searching. For instance take the case of Austria. Nice copies o{ several values of its first issue of 1850 maj still be had at Id each.

Some years ago Mr M. P. Castle, _the eminent philatelist who, like many other English collectors., is very fqnd of Australians, sold a collection of stamps of Australasia for £10,000. Mr Castle admits having made profit of over £4000 on tho transiction. He began again, and a few months ago sold another collection of Australians for £5750 net cash. On this lofc he made a profit of £1000, probably more 1 ." Both these sales were to a firm of dealer who have to soil them again at profit, af feet - paying expenses.

' Mr Phillips, of Messrs Gibbons, writing recently to a Sydney firm, ■said that M* Hausburg's collection, which is valued afc five figure?, is so wonderfully fins that he would, if it were offered to him. buy it al 15 per cent, or 20 per cent, over the price:? paid by Mr Husburg. Perhaps some day, if he gets the chance, he will be glad to pay more.

An envelope containing a business lettei was Tecently sent from Hong-Kong to London for the famous juggler Ohing Ling Foo. The address was, however, printed in Chinese and to 99 Europeans in 100 the hieroglyphics would appear hopelessly undecipnerablo Somebody, however, has a knowledge oi the Celestial languge at the G.P.0.. for without any delay in transit the letter duly reached its destination. This was the Empire Theatre, where Clung Ling Foo was performing a month previously. The juggler was in the south of Spain, and the letter was =enfc on to him carefully redirected, but not in Chinese, for fear the Spanish postal officials did not possess th« polyglot powers of St. Martin's-'e-Grand.

Stamps have never been cheaper than they are at the present day. Stamps have soldi at lower prices, but that was before there was. 'an established market. We have no hesitation in stating that a wisely-selected collection of U.S. and foreign stamps afc; present quotations is a better investment}' than real estate, railroad bonds and stock?, • diamonds, or. any other form of property iv which our citizens invest their surplus -earii- - ings. — The Metropolitan Philatelist. NEW ISSUES. Danish West Indies.— The first stamps to be issued here with values in the new currency are the postage due series. • Tha Deutsche Briefmarken Zeitung (S.OS^i chronicles tho following: — Postage due ad-, hesives. Perf. 13* no wmk: 5 bit, red, centre background grey : 20 bit, red, centre background grey: 30 bit, red. centre background grey; 50 bit, red, centre background grey. We understand from our contemporary that 5 bit equal 4- cents of the old currency, a bit being therefore a little lesa than a halfpenny. Australian Commonwealth.— The editor of the Monthly Journal has been shown an entire sheet of the • watermarked paper which, he understands, is to be used for the future stamps of the Commonwealth. It consists of two full sheets of 240, each composed of four panes of 60 (10 rows of 6). The watermark is a Crown over the letter A, and there is "a separate watermark for each stamp. German Colonies— East Africa.— For some mysterious reason there is a new style of currency adopted here, which is neither German nor Indian. The 2 to 40 pesa. values are now changed to 22 l $ to 60 heller, 100 of which go to this rupee; the colours and ship type, and the simo as issued in 1900. British New Guinea.— l hear that a nevr value of 2s 6d has been issued.