FORTUNES IN STAMPS.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, 24 August 1923, Page 4

FORTUNES IN STAMPS.

PHILATELISTS AND COLLECTORS

“Tlie good stamp is the most valuable thing in the world to-day for its size and weight. There are numbers of cases Avhere a stamp collection has come as a Godsend to a poor family. These remarks Avere made by Mr E. Philpot CroAvther, an eminent British philatelist, in the course of a most entertaining lecture on “Stamp Collecting,” at the Y.M.C.A., Wellington. Mr CroAVther stated that there were millions of people collecting stamps. This hobby had been commenced in quite a small way by a few boys in England about the year 1865. Nothing else collected to-day gave such a handsome return to the wise man as did the collection of stamps. There were several hundred thousands of different kinds of stamps, so the collector had plenty to Avork upon. Great Britain had led the world in the issue of stamps.

The lecturer gave instances of the great value of stamps. Penny and tAvopenny stamps issued about tAventy years ago now brought hundreds of pounds. The penny red circular Bermuda stamp, issued in 1852, Avas the rarest in the Avorld, and was easily Avorth £IO,OOO. It had been issued by the postmaster at Hamilton, in Bermuda. The United States harboured valuable stamps. Some Avould bring as much as £2OOO.

Mr CroAvther stressed the difference betAveen the stamp collector and the philatelist. The stamp collector simply collected stamps; he might knoAV nothing about them. Philately, however, Avas the study of the art and science of stamps. The philatelist discovered certain peculiarities of the stamp, not noticeable to the ordinary collector. But these little peculiaiities often enhanced the value to a great extent. tVater marks and perforations made the study of the philatelist interesting. Mounting was a very important consideration. A good collection must be mounted well. The lecture was follOAved by some interesting slides of many valuable stamps.