Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIII, 28 September 1901, Page 584

Stamp Collecting.

BY

PHIL ATELIC.

The current English green Id stamp has been surcharged “Bechuanaland Protectorate.” Nyassa (Portuguese Colony) has issued a new set of 13 stamps, ranging from 2) to 300 reis. 4 + 4Curaeoa has issued II guelden on 21 guelden. + + + It will be welcome news to philatelists that on April 24th, in Paris, a dealer in postage stamps was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, and ordered to pay a fine of 50 francs, for selling false and faked stamps. + + + Some sheets of Congo (French Colon v) 2 cent, stamps were by mistake printed in red, but not being issued have no philatelic value, although they may ultimately find their way to the market, as too many of these "mistakes” do. + + + Five millions of the remainder of Philippine Island stamps are stated to have been destroyed by a fire in the Customs House, Antwerp. The 30c. rose Chili of the type just obsolete is likely to become rare. Two million were printed. and of these 1,750,000 have been surcharged "5,” most of the remaining 250,000 being used on official forms which are periodically destroyed. Comparatively few. either used or unused, are likely to come into the hands of collectors.”—“Ewen’s Stamp News.” + + + The new Greek issue are on paper water-marked E T and a crown. + +■ + In the “Questions Competition,” "Ewen's Weekly Stamp News,” the following received the most votes as the seven most valuable kinds, with their present values: (1) British Guiana, 1856. lc., £5OO to £1500; (2) Mauritius, 2d “Post Office,” £960 to £ 1250; (3) Mauritius, Id “Post Office," £750 to £1250; (4) Hawaii, 2c., 1851, £3OO to £800; (5) British Guiana, 2c., 1850, £250 to £800; (6) Roumania, 81 paras, £75 to £300; (7) British Guiana. 4e., 1856, £BO to £l5O. The Curator of the Sydney Technological Museum has set an example that might wisely be copied by the Auckland Museum, viz., the formation of a national postage stamp collection. He wrote to the various Postal Departments in Australia, and received satisfactory replies in the shape of stamps. Some of the State issues were marked reprints, others were lightly cancelled, while our own

Government forward unused originals. Auckland from its position

might try and secure for its Museum a South Sea collection, so as to include Cook Island Federation, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga. New Caledonia, New Hebrides. German New Guinea, and Hawaii. No doubt by writing to the postmasters of the various places named, ami also the States of the Australian Commonwealth the starting of a valuable collection would result. which might be added to from

time to time as new issues appeared. Such a collection would be a boon to philatelists, and an added attraction to the Museum. The British

Museum secured the Tapling stamp collection some years ago at a considerable cost, but our Museum might by taking prompt action gather together a collection for the South

Seas with comparatively little expen-

diture. The work requires to be undertaken promptly, as no doubt in a short while the distinctive State

stamps in Australia will be replaced bv one for the Commonwealth. Then too the Cook Islands may in time be using the N.Z. issues, and United States labels replace those of Hawaii. ♦ * * America is pre-eminently' the land of "trusts.” Even the stamp trade has been organised into a big trust, some of the most prominent stamp dealing firms in the United States having combined and formed a company. with a capital of £90,000. The new company has purchased the Scott Stamp and Coin Company and the New England Stamp Company for £BO,OOO. paid as to £60,000 in six per cent, preference stock, and as to £20.000 in common stock (otherwise shares of $1 (4/) each). The vendors, having sold their businesses and taken stock in payment, are now desirous of selling the latter, and in fact have already disposed of nearly half. About £36.000 preferred and £7OOO common stock remains for public subscription, the former being offered at S 3 per eent., with a bonus of 20 ordinary shares thrown in. ♦ ♦ ♦ The "Dundee Weekly News” recently had an interesting article headed "How Stamps are Made Adhesive.” from which the following is culled: — "When the stamps are gummed they are tested to establish if the coating

varies on sheerts one seven-thous-andth of a pound. The stamps after being printed go to the gummingroom. Pipes convey the gum in a heated and melted state to small vats, into which it is slowly dropped as needed. From these vats it is allowed to ooze slowly’ on to rollers. The sheets of stamps pass under the rollers. receiving a thin coating of gum. ami then drop on to a continuous chain or belt. The belt carries them into vats which contain coils of steam pipe 50 feet long. The slow’ passage of the freshly gummed stamp sheets through the vats dries them. When they reach the other end of the vats they are dry enough to be piled one u|s>n another, counted. .tested, and packed ready for shipment.