Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XII, 21 September 1901, Page 536

Stamp Collecting.

BY

PHIL ATELIC.

The Greek combination term philately, applied to stamps, is, as representing- a tax for work done by the State, and therefore some collectors claim that fiscals and telegraph stamps are equally collectable. The modern tendency is, however, to specialise. as it is impossible to keep pace with all kinds of stamps. Therefore it is that there are Australasian. African and British Empire collections. as separated from universal ones. Eiscal collections are now growing in favour. What is now wanted is a Victorian album, with spaces for all the stamps issued bearing representation of the late Queen. 4- + + The Uruguay new issue have been surcharged diagonally, with the word “official,'’ to the number of 445.000. ♦ ♦ * The "Post Office" Mauritius Id and 2d stamps are estimated to be worth from £2OOO to £2500 the pair, at present. + + + While unused postage stamps look well in the album, still nicely postmarked ones are really of greater interest to the man or woman who collects not merely for money-making purposes. There is something pleasant re reading names of well-known cities on the stamps in an album, but these remarks do not in any way apply to the three-ring dinner plate device that usually obliterates all the beauty from stamps passing through New Zealand central post offices. Samoa. on the other hand, has a neat obliterating stamp, showing the word “Apia” clearly. Occasionally German postage stamps may be obtained with Apia on them, owing to their being used by the Consul in bygone days. + + + It having been definitely decided not to surcharge any more United States stamps for use in Guam, the following list of the quantities of each value printed, given on the authority of “Mekeel's Weekly,” may be of interest: 1 cent, 35,000; 2 cent. 105,000; 3 cent, 5000; 4 cent, 5000; 5 cent, 20,000; 6 cent, 5000; 8 cent, 5000; 10 cent, 10,000; 15 cent, 5000; 50 cent, 4000; 1 dollar, 3000; and special delivery, 5000; making a grand total of 207,000 stamps. Dealers will no doubt be able to supply Guam stamps at reasonable rates for some time to come. + + ♦ For the benefit of young collectors it may be explained what is meant by collecting “entries.” That is the term used by philatelists to denominate envelopes, wrappers, letter and post cards, and telegraph forms, with stamps officially impressed thereon, as sold to the public at the post offices of the country, each being entire or complete In itself, as well as in an uncut condition, and of course either unused or postally used. Some fine specimens of entire envelopes with interesting post marks have been obtained during the South African war.

India is to shortly issue stamps, it is stated, in which King Edward Vll.’s features will replace those of Queen Victoria. Otherwise, it is understood the general design will not be much changed. + + + Belgium has issued the 10 cent unpaid letter stamp in a new colour. + + + On the 2nd of July the new Italian stamps bearing a portrait of the head of the present King were issued. ♦ + + A 50-cent unpaid letter stamp has been issued by the Netherlands Government in the later type. + + -F The 50-cent or 20-cent Fernando Po is surcharged in blue as well as black. The Sultan of Turkey has ordered that henceforth stamps on letters leaving Jerusalem are to be cancelled in Hebrew characters. 4> + + At recent auction sales in London an English 2d blue stamp of the year IS4O. with no lines, realised £4 5/. and a South Australian local print 6d blue of the year 1855, imperforate with large margin, sold for £l4 10/. An Orange Biver Colony mint frame of 1860, surcharged V.R.I. on 2Jd blue, with Id variety also realised £23. + •*• + The greyish green 50-pfennig German stamp of the year 1880 has been found to have a variety in which the outer frame design on the right-hand side shows a large V-shape notch in the centre, where there should be a small double notch like a W. Only one stamp in each sheet has this variation. + + + Occasionally good stories are told of bargains obtained by stamp collectors from dealers, but the “Australian Philatelist” recently published the following excellent account of how a customer missed his opportunity: “Amongst some good Australians. our publisher purchased a pair of New South Wales 3d Laureates; these were a few hours later offered to a customer for 9/. He, however, refused them. When the salesman turning them over saw they were water-marked “2,” the price was then £5O, about the quickest advance in price on record, we think, and the esteemed customer for several days was like Bachel mourning for her children.”