PHILATELY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 67

PHILATELY.

Bt PELXJtn.

Every big .dealer and every big collector who doss not get his knowledge exclusively from philatelic journals, but finds the time to examine the dealers’ stocks, knows that such perfect specimens are becoming scarcer year by year. Superb copies of certain rarities, not to mention the great rarities, are now only obtainable at prices far above those given in the catalogues, and even the lesser rarities are becoming really scarce in fin© condition. Moreover, there are very many cheap stamps of which it is exceedingly hard to secure a. quantity of really fine- copies, as, for example, the Wurtemberg 1 ikreuzev stamps and Finland 1860-75. The inevitable result is that already gaping spaces are found even in biggish collections owned by those who bow to the dictates of the "Purists.” Collectors clench their teeth, and say, “We’ll wait,” and they go on waiting for the famous “bargain,” which mostly docs not come. At length they on stand it no longer, and either dip dteep into their pockets or give up the race. The “Purist” smiles benignly, and says that it, surely does mot matter if there are a few blank spaces in the album. Of course, we all know that no collector feels seriously aggrieved because he does not poceoss si. Post Office Mauritius. But when he finds blank spaces among the older issues on every other page of his alburn, that hurts, and no amount of theory makes the pain easier to bear. Such is the condition of things today. In ten years it will be far worse. The number of superb copies in existence now will have considerably diminished owing to careless handling and damage by fir© and water. At the same time, the number of collectors is, happily, steadily increasing. How, then, shall we find a way out of the dilemma? Is it indeed possible to find it unless the generality of collectors go back a peg' and, somewhat relax the austerity of their requirements?

Although the King of Sweden has signified his approval of the designs for the new postage stamps, no arrangements have yet beau mad© regarding , their _ manufacture. It is stated that the authorities are now engaged in discussing the merits of various engravers, in the endeavour to ascertain, if there is one in Sweden sufficiently skilled to dk> justice to the new designs. But as the stamps at present in use are exceedingly well done—-they were engraved and printed at the State Printing Works in Stockholm — the difficulties on this point would appear to be more apparent than real. Three designs have been cnosen—one hearing a small crest surmounted by a crown for the values below 5 ore; one showing a fullface portrait of h:« Majesty King Gmstaf Y for the values from 5 ore to 5 kr inclusive ; and one bearing the Royal coat-of-arms for the Tjanstefrimarken or official stamps.

The famous Paul collection, one of the largest and most valuable in tiro United! States, was sold on September 15, ISO 9, to the highest bidder. Amongst the bidders were some of the most prominent concerns in the United States and Europe, but the New England Stamp Company bid the highest, and were warded the collection. The sale was for spot cash within five days. The cash was forthcoming and the New England has the goods. With a single exception this was the largest stamp transaction ever taking place in the United States, the one exception being the purchase of the immense Ayer collection, at the time the largest and finest in the United States, and this was also bought by the New England Stamp Company. The third largest United' States deal in stamps wee the purchase of the superb Thorne collection ; for this £II,OOO spot cash was paid A stamp of a new denomination is to be issued by the U.S. Pest Office Department to conform with the recent .increase in the price of registration from 8 to 10 cents. The now issu© is to be a 12-oent stamp, so that on ordinary letters one stamp will suffice to pay for postage and registration and it will no- doubt retire the 13-cent stamp, issued for registered letters goingabroad. It will have portrait of Clay, instead of Washington.

The U.S. A. P.O. Department recently announced ?, new stamp to commemorate the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson in 1609, ’ and of the introduction of s' >am navigation on its waters by Robert Pulton in 1607. The stamp is oblong in shape, about gin by l|in rn size?, and comprises a border .containing at too top the inscription “Hudson-Fulton Celebration,” with the dates 1608 and ISO 9 immediately thereunder on either side, and below this inscription in a curved line are the words “U .8. Postage.” At the bottom on each side is a prominent Arabic numeral 2, with the words “Two Cents” in a panel between the jigrrres. In the centre is .engraved a picture showing the palisades of the Hudson River in the background, with the Half Moon sailing up the river and tho Clermont steaming in the opposite direction. In the foreground; is an Indian in a canoe, and in the .distance, just discernible, is a canco containing four other Indians, the. canoes representing the first means of navigating the river. The stamp will bo printed in tiro same colour as the regular two-cent stamp. The new stamp will not bo issued in book form. There will bo no issue of stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers, or postal cards to commemorate these events. Judging from Messrs IT vert and Tollier’s new- catalogue, .philately is booming m Franco. And it is noteworthy that the French .catalogue is the most simplified of leading catalogues. Moreover simplification does nob mean, incompleteness, as even “perforated officials,” O.S.A.R. stamps and telegraphs are included. Envelope and wrapper stamps arc no*- wnludcd.

NEW ISSUES. Turkey.—As was to be expected, a new issue of stamps is about to take place, owing to the accession to the throne of the new Sultan. In fact, we have just received the 20 paras, and' we are informed that the 1 piastre will be issued in a. few days, the remainder of the set being issued from time to- time as the stamps of the 1908 issue become exhausted. The design of the new stamps is similar* to that of the 1908 issue, except that the Turkish sign on the right of the tougrah (or sign manual) and the inscription below the latter are slightly different. In the former issue the smaller sign reads “Abdul-Hamid,” and in the new issue “Reohad,” the name of the new Sultan. Turks and Caicos Island's. —A new issue of stamps, bearing the portrait of King Edward. has been made here. Adhesives. King’s head. Wrnk. multiple ‘Crown CA, ordinary paper. -£rli green. Id red, 2d grey, 2J,d blue, 3d lilac on yellow, 4d red on yellow, fid purple, Is black on green, 2s brown on blue, 3s black on. red. W&lHiiS Archipelago.—The (fazetta del Filatelieti states that this dependency of the French Colony of New Caledonia is to be supplied 1 with a special set of stamps.