Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXVI, 28 June 1902, Page 1366

Stamp Collecting.

The Russian 7 kopecks hae appeared bright instead of dark blue.

The words, “Federated Mala; States” are being surcharged on the issues of the various countries incorporated in the Federation.

At a recent sale in London, 60 Orange River Colony fid. rose stamps surcharged V.R.I. realised £2s—a substantial profit on an original investment of 30s.

The Baltimore 10 cent stamp is one of the dearest of United States issues. A very fine copy recently realised 4,000,000 dollars.

A 24-cent green and purple United States stamp, with inverted centre (1869), realised £2l at auction in London.

Straits Settlements stamps reached Auckland this week, bearing the head of King Edward VII. The 3 cent is purple, brown, and orange, and 8 cents blue. The King’s head is the usual type in an oval in the centre.

The Netherland 25 cent, rose and blue stamp has been surcharged Curacaa below the portrait of the Queen, and above is the figure 25 at the left corner, and a big C at the top right hand corner.

The design for the new Orange River Colony 2jd. stamp is as follows. It bears the King’s head on a very small oval, value at top 2Jd., and a picture below of a springbok and a wildebeeste, with typical veldt scenery in the background. The whole is in blue, and is quite neat.

Speculators at Seychelles held considerable stocks of recent surcharges, but if collectors hold off the stamps will boon be on the market at a shade over face value. The following are the values and qualities priirted: 3c. on 36e. 66,000, 3c. on 16c.. 31.200. 3c. on 10c.. 42,000, and 6c. on Bc. 40,000.

E.W.S.N. states that the Spanish Possessions on the West Coast of Africa, notably the “Establishment” of “Rio-Muni, are to have a set of stamps to themselves. Hitherto they have been able to manage with those of Fernando Poo. A set of stamps, inscribed Guinea Espanola will . appear very shortly. The proposed values, colours, etc., are as 5 centimes, green, 20,000; 10c. blue, 20,000; 25c. carmine, 20,000 : 50c. black-brown, 20.000; 75c. lilac, 10.000; 1 peseta, rose. 10,000 ; 2 pesetas bronze-green. 2,500; and 5 pesetas, vermilion, 1,500.

A few prices quoted as cheap by London dealers indicate the high rates ruling for some stamps. The following are examples: Ceylon, 8p„ 260/; 9p., 75/; Ish. 9p., 70/, all 1857 issue; 2r. 50c. (1872) 110/; British Hast Africa, 1897, 1 anna blue with red surcharge, 200/; pair Zululand id. green, double surcharge, 63/; Great Britain. 2/ orange, 105/; Gibraltar 1/, first issue 60/; Spanish 3 cuartos, 350/: British Guiana, 1 cent vermilion. 1853. 45/: and do. 4 cent, 1862, 185/. ♦ ♦ + The following official stamps have been issued: Id. carmine, surcharged RH above the word official, in black, for us e in the Royal households; id. green, Id. earmine, 2id. ultramarine. 1/ green and carmine (with Queen’s head), all surcharged TR Official; id. green, Id. carmine, surcharged Army Official; id. green, Id. carmine, surcharged OW Official : id. green. Id. carmine. 2Jd. blue, sd. and 1/ (Queen’s head), surcharged Board of Education: Also for use in the Levant, 40 paras on 2id. blue. ♦ + + The addition of the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony to the British Empire will naturally form an epoch in

stamp collecting. Following close upon the proclamation of peace, letters arrived from the Transvaal Colony with the new issue of stamps, bearing the portrait of King Edward VII. The half penny stamp has a green border with the figure | at each of the four corners. Tn an oval in the centre is the head of the King, above is a small crown, and beneath the word Transvaal. The penny stamp is the same design, only the border is bright earmine. The oval with the portrait is a dark brown. One letter arrived here with the new penny stamp on it, and also two Transvaal Republie stamps surcharged E.R.I. A small boy being asked what the letters meant, promptly replied, Edward Rules It.”

The two wars with the Transvaal Republic resulted in great additions to stamp collections. During the temporary occupation of the Transvaal in 1877-78, the British Government seized the Boer stamps and over-printed them with the surcharge “V.R. Transvaal.” This surcharge was made, no doubt, very roughly, and on the sheet of the Id. stamps, red on blue, an error appeared in which “Transvaal” as spelt “Transvral.” This error occurred only onee in 80 stamps. The normal stamp is worth about £2. while the error is worth now £l3O. To come to the present war. When our troops occupied Bloemfontein in March. 1900, the military authorities seized the stamps of the Orange Free State, and over-printed them “V.R.1." with a new value in English currency. In the unavoidable hurry of the moment many errors crept in; thus, the full-stops, figures of value, and even in the Id. purple, and the 6d. blue, the “V.R.1.” were omitted. Collectors got at once on the track of these errors, the prices of which are often so many pounds instead of pence. The result is that a complete collection of South African stamps would be very valuable, but it Is doubtful whether one exists. The new catalogues devote pages to surcharges and minor varieties of Transvaal and Orange River stamps. * * * A "FEMINIST” STAMP. Herewith is a reproduction of an adhesive stamp now being freely used by advocates of women’s rights in

France When the present French postage stamp came into use the “new women*’ objected Co the design because it. represented a female ure holding an open volume on which were Che words “Droits de ITiomme,” (Rights of man), without any reference to those of the other sex.

They accordingly caused a stamp of their own, with “Droits de la

femme” (Women’s rights) prominently displayed on it, to be designed by a woman, printed, and placed on sale. Supporters of the cause are expected to affix one of these bits of paper to every letter they send out, side by side with the ordinary postage stamp. These “feminist” stamops are sold at fivepenee per hundred. They are pale blue in colour and slightly larger than the official article.