Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue III, 20 July 1901, Page 103

Stamp Collecting.

BY

PHIL ATELIC.

Philately has been designated a fad, but even if that is admitted, it must also be conceded that stamp collecting is a very fascinating form of amusement. As a matter of fact nowadays the number of stamp collectors has increased to an enormous extent, and for that reason it has been decided from time to time to furnish in the columns of the “N.Z. Graphic” information of interest to philatelists. The object aimed at will be to supply news regarding proposed alterations, together with illustrations of new issues. In addition. however, any interesting items regarding stamp collecting will be included. + + + Stamp collecting, like the measles, generally attacks persons in childhood, and like the infantile disease mentioned appears to be infectious. One boy arrives at school with an old copy book plastered over with “Government sticking plasters” in a more or less dilapidated condition, and forthwith half the others are attacked with a violent desire to collect stamps. Of course a number soon get over the attack, but some never do, and they become regular philatelists. Others who recover from the first attack grow up to manhood before the fascination of stamp collecting again gets a grip of them. Such cases are usually hopeless, for there are few adults who give up stamp collecting. Occasionally a determined man sells his collection, and says he has got over that fad at all events. but by and by he may he seen furtively tearing stamps from envelopes, and before long he is at

the dealers trying to buy back the v best stamps from his own collection. S So widely has the desire to collect e stamps extended of late years that a old collectors mournfully declare it a is almost impossible to find any mer- i: chant now who will hand over a r pocketful of old envelopes. In al- <> most every form there are several s collectors eager to secure stamps. but usually the demon office boy gets in first and takes anything of value. Those enterprising little fellows are usually not stamp collectors in the a true sense of the word, but mere tl gatherers of stamps solely for the a purpose of selling them to the deal- w ers at so much per thousand. This v is one of the results of the greatly lt increased number of stamp roller- »; tors, and needless to state it. is one t< that makes the true philatelist sad. n + + + tl Americans are genuine business \ men. and long ago realised that ■■

stamp collectors were a good medium for advertising their great country. Thus we had a special issue of beautiful stamps for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1895, followed by the Missouri Exhibition issue. On May day the Pan American Exhibition was opened at Buffallo, and for this there was another special issue of stamps of beautiful design, as will be seen by the specimens reproduced here. It will be seen that in this issue an effort has been made to commemorate the character of the exhibition, the special feature of which was that nothing but American products and tokens of American industry and enterprise were shown. On the stamps, therefore, are illustrations of more recent American enterprise and accomplishment. For instance, one stamp bears a picture of the great steel arc bridge thrown over the rapids at Niagara and completed just, at the close of the last century. The bridge replaced the old suspension bridge at this point, which was thought to be unable to bear the accumulating weight of railway traffic that was being thrown on it. The new bridge is wider, and. as will be seen, is not a suspension bridge, but is supported on a great steel arc reaching from bank to bank. This arc is the largest in the world. Another circumstance of intereast connected with the bridge lay in its last, stage. It was built side by side with the old suspension bridge, and the task of diverting the railwayline from the old bridge to the new interrupted traffic only for twentyfour hours. The East Express figured on one of the new stamps is a note-

worthy instance of travel in the States at its best. It is sometimes called the Millionaire Express, and as run from Buffalo to New York, a distance ot 500 miles, in time which is a world’s record. Another stamp represent the automobile, and on the others are an East Lake navigation steamer, and one of the ocean-going liners. ♦ + -fr The visit of the Duke of Cornwall ind 5 ork to this colony reminds one that His Royal Highness ranks im< : gst the philatelists. That fact "as not lost sight of while the Royal risiters were in Australia. The Post-innsters-General (both federal ami Stab,) made considerable additions to the collection of His Royal Highness. the presentations from the three States of New South Woles, Victoria, ami Queensland being estimated to be worth about £2OllO.