STAMPS

Southland Times, Issue 21732, 18 June 1932, Page 10

STAMPS

THE COLLECTOR’S COLUMN.

(By

“Star,” N.Z.)

This week’s notes will comprise mainly a few words of advice to young collectors.

The first essential of philately is the careful handling of stamps, no matter how common they may be. Condition, in stamps, is everything. Many a rare stamp is ruined by want of care. Stamps should really not be handled with the finders at all, but with tweezers. If, however, fingers are used, don’t forget the maxim that cleanliness is next to godliness. The slightest blemish in a stamp always means that a big discount has to be made in the price, and if a stamp is heavily postmarked it also deteriorates in value, unless it is a “dated” copy, which often adds to the value. A very safe rule for all collectors is never to part with a stamp of which you have not a duplicate. The chances are, if you do, that you may have difficulty in replacing it later on.

There is perhaps no necessity for me to stress the need of very . careful inspection of all stamps passing through one’s hands. The successful collector must be a close observer of colour, watermarks and perforations. Without laying down any definite rule, I should be inclined to advise a young collector not to make the scope of his collection too wide. It is better to have good collections of the stamps of two or three countries, than a “world” collection with only two or three representatives of each country. The choice of a stamp book and the layout of a collection are important. The old style of stamp album with set spaces for particular stamps has gone out of fashion, and the loose-leaf album is rapidly taking its place. The latter type gives plenty of opportunity to the . collector to display his individuality, and resourcefulness in the arrangement and annotation of his collection.

It is advisable that the young collector, in fact every collector, should avail himself of the chance of seeing any really good collections that cross his path. These are always an education not only as regards the stamps themselves but also as to the method of display. Many young collectors are discouraged by the fact that it seems hard to get a collection together without the expenditure of a good deal of money. The specialist and the advanced collector will probably find that they cannot get along without the expenditure of cash. But the exchange method of acquiring stamps is quite effectual, and tends to develop the enterprise, and business ability of the collector. I know of a young collector in one of the Australian States who advertised for correspondents in Canada, New Zealand, the West Indiesand Dutch Indies, and who has got together a very fair collection of the stamps of these countries, besides establishing a chain of very interesting correspondents. Another “word to the wise” is to be sure and make use of your friends. Many fine stamps find their way to the waste-paper basket simply because the recipient of the letter has no interest in them. Every youth has some friend who receives letters from overseas, who would only be too delighted to be of service in this way, if only the request were made to them. You could probably acquire new stamps for your collection in this way, but if not, you could at least add to your stock of exchanges. Previously in these notes, the usefulness of a good stamp catalogue has been stressed. There is no doubt that without a catalogue, the task of the philatelist is much harder. Tire Invercargil 1 Public Library has a splendid stock of Stanley Gibbons’ catalogues, so that no one need to be without the aid of this useful adjunct. It has occurred to me that some readers of these notes may have points of difficulty that they wish solved. If these are sent to me, care of the Editor, I shall do my best to clear them up.