PHILATELY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 13

PHILATELY.

Bx Peldsb.

At Bow Street Police Court, London, on Saturday, May 10, and again on Saturday, May 17, Georg© Lowden, alias Ellis, was charged before iSir Henry Curtis Bennett with obtaining the sum of £B3O by false pretences from Air Jonas Lex, a diamond broker, of Holland Park Gardens, it being alleged that the money was paid for a number of King Edward £1 stamps now alleged to bo forgeries. Mr Harry Wilson, appearing for tho prosecution, explained that Mr Lex took an interest in stamp-collecting, and approached the accused with a view to the purchase of stamps. After various transactions the accused ajsked Mr Lex whether he would pay £2O for the option of purchase of over 2000 King Edward £1 stamps at a bargain price. The prosecutor paid this £2O, and on April 29 was told that the stamps had arrived, and was shown a sealed parcel The accused said he had not at that time any authority to open the parcel, and suggested a call in the evening. Tho prosecutor duly called in tho evening and inspected the stamps by artificial light. The accused assured him that tho stamps were genuine and also the postmarks, and after some bargaining tho prosecutor parted with £BIO, which with tho previous deposit of £2O made the £B3O, the subject of the charge. The following morning, however, Mr Lex, on examining tho stamps, became suspicious, and, after taking expert advice, communicated with Scotland Yard, the result being that the accused was arrested. At the second hearing, Mr Alexander Scott Roberts, of Somerset House, deposed that the watermarks on the alleged forged stamps were produced by a totally different process from those on genuine stamps. Respecting the design, the difference between the genuine and the forged was chiefly noticeable in the crown and in the hair on the King’s head. Mr Lex, giving evidence, said be agreed to buy 2683 used £1 stamps at 7s9d cadi. In cross-examination by Mr Myers (for tho defence) he said he was not a stamp dealer, and had never sold any stamps. Ho had been collecting for about 12 months. The accused was remanded on bail. As was anticipated, the will of the Earl of Crawford bequeaths hie famous library of philatelic works to the British Museum, where it will shortly bo available for reference by phlatolic students. This should prove an incalculable boon to the philatelists of Great Britain, as up to the present there has been no really comprehensive philatelic reference library available to the student philatelist. The collection of philatelic works in the" British Museum Library is. now the finest and moat complete in tho world, and a fitting accompaniment to the Tapling collection of postage stamps. Much regret is felt, however, that no effort has been made to secure for the nation the marvellous historical collection of the postage stamps of Great Britain formed by the late president, of tho Royal Philatelic Society, which was without equal. \Ve cull tho following from the American Journal of Philately:—“Wo do not imagine American stamp-collectors will bo widely enthusiastic over tho series of stamps that are alleged to be now in use for postage in that ‘hermit kingdom.’ The stamp classes in appea'.anee with native Indian stamps which are of even loss actual importance than the rural stamps of Russia. Those who have read of Tibet will be inclined to doubt tho great necessity of postage stamps of any kind, and if tire truth were known it would probably transpire that the issue was in some degree ‘inspired.’ Tho stamps are vorv crudely printed in blocks of 12 (throe rows of four) on thin native wove paper, without watermark, and are imperforate, the colours and values being: Kha-kang or 1 anna, green; kar-ma-figa or 2 annas, blue; chi-kye or 3 annas, purple; sho-kang or -4 annas, deep red tarka, or 6 annas, vermilion. They are cancelled with a large double-lined circular postmark in black, inscribed round tho circumference in English and Tibetan, ‘Lhasa P.O.’ Tho dies wore engraved in India bv native workmen during the Dalai Lama's exile in that country.” On the famous Sydney Views wo have a puzzler in tho shape of “Shg Nov. Cainh. Aust..” which is tho abbreviated form of “Sigillum Novae Cambriae Australio,” or. in .good English, “Seal of tiie Australian New Cambria.” The abbreviations on the stamps of Greece are not so easy to decipher. On the older stamps of this country, at the‘top we see the words “Ell Gramm,” which moans “Hellenikon Grarnrnatoemon,” or “Hellenic” (Grecian) Postage Stamp. The Hungarian stamps have the often occurring abbreviation “Magyar Kir”—the latter for “Kiralyi,” the whole meaning “Royal Hungarian.” At Home nine denominations of Georgian stamps have still to Ite issued, including the four high values printed from stool plates by Messrs Watei-low Bros, and Layton, while the Geogian issues of many of tho British colonies have yet to make their debut. These include the now general issue for the Union of (South Africa, the designs for which were recently approved. They show the latest portrait of the King, as personally approved hy his Majesty, within an oval frame surrounded hy a scroll-work border, with the inscriptions on either side, “Union of South Africa” and “Unie van Zuid Afrika.” and figures of value in each of the two lower corners. It is anticipated that the stamps will ho ready for .issue about September this year. NEW ISSUES. Turkey.— Hitherto the Ottoman postal authorities have held sternly aloof from portraits and pictures. They provided reading matter, but no illustrations on their stamina. Towards the end of February, however, a new series of stamps was issued, bearing ft picture of the Central Post Office

building. If it is a faithful copy, the Central Post Oflico represents a gallant attempt to wed the pomp of the East to tho unassuming homeliness of the West. It consists of an edifice reminiscent of the mills of our manufacturing towns. A many-coloured portal gapes wide in tho centre, and the roof is graced by a pair of Oriental cupolas. Hound it runs a filigree work of Turkish script. The printing Is crudely done, probably marks tho lowest point touched by contemporary stamps. United States.—Mr Otto Frank sends us tho following article from a New York paper with regard to tho new parcel post stamps:—“Postmaster-general Burleson has adopted a design for a new parcel post stamp. Numerous complaints have been filed against tho present stamps. The denominations cannot bo readily determined, because all are printed in the same shade of red-bright red, the colour that former Postmaster-general Hitchcock adopted. The new stamps will bo of different colours, according to tho denominations, but of tho same size, and will be ready for distribution within three months. Mr Hitchcock's motto, ‘Paint everything a bright red,’ has been knocked in the head.” Denmark.—Mr W. T. Roycroft sends the following information from tho Evening News:—“A new issue of Danish postage stamps is in preparation {says tho Standard), and will appear at an early date, bearing a portrait of King Christian X in naval uniform. The denominations are 5, 10, 25, 35, 50. and 100 ore, and the colours the same as those of tho existing series.”