STAMPS THAT ARE RARE.

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 10287, 8 January 1917, Page 6

STAMPS THAT ARE RARE.

The value of certain postage stamp* has been greatly enhanced owing to circumstances connected with their issue, or events which occurred after their issue. ' ''V J ••'•'".''■ When, in 1901, King Peter ascended tho throne of Servia, left vacant by the I assassination of King Alexander and Queen Draga, a new stamp was issued to commemorate bis coronation. The central portion of the design consists of two heads, King Peter's, and that of the founder- of the Karageorgevitch •dynasty-; but by some grim coincidence, when tho stamp is reversed only one head, is seen, and it bears an ••unmistakable likeness to the murdered monarch ' whom King Peter succeeded. . - . Ifc so happened that the sovenpenny stamp, bearing tbe head of King Edward VII., should hare been issued on tho very day of his death. The doroisft of tho King a'feo prevented the issue of a twopenny stamp, mauve in cojojar. Thrsn slumps were never put into circulatKin, but King George, who possess** one of the finest collections in the world, has specimens of both of them. In most countries the introduction of postal facilities is regarded as a blessing wholly'unmixed. But this was not the case in Korea. Tlie post-oifiee erected therr> in ICCo had a very short-exis- ::.:;■-:, Cor the :nob, in their blind hatred of all'innovations, rioted and razed it to the ground. In consequence of this, Korea'i stamps of the first issue are now of g'.vr.t vr.l::c.