Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VIII, 23 August 1902, Page 502

Stamp Collecting.

The Empire of Brazil was the second country in the world to put in practice the postal system adopted by Howland Hill in England. • • • The £2 King Edward postage stamp has been issued in Victoria. Probably Queen’s heads will gradually disappear as values run out. • • • King Edward stamps are expected to be issued at Cape of Good Hope early in 1903 • • • An unused copy of a Danish West Indian stamp, 3 cents, perf. 13J, 1872-3, has been found on very thick paper; in fact, almost thin cardboard, and full crimson colour. • • • The 2 leva Bulgarian stamp is now black and carmine, instead ot black and red. • • • The Cuban Republic proposes issuing a new set of stamps, probably early in 1903. The idee, is that stamps shall bear the likenesses of Cuban statesmen. The values are to range from 1 centavo to 10 centavos. • • • The 3-cent lilac Netherland Indies stamp has been surcharged 2 J in large thick type. • • • Further sets of “provisionals” are being issued by Portuguese Congo, Guinea, and India. • • • Owing to a considerable theft of stamps in Persia, of the 1899 issue, the remainders are to be surcharged “Provisire 1319.” • • • The fact was notified in London stamp journals that the Queensland current Id red had appeared perf. 9J by 12. A correspondent, writing to a London philatelic paper, states this was not an official issue. The 9J machine was sent to New Guinea for commercial puuposes. Some of the perf. 12 “spot” Id of 1882 were passed through the machine unofficially ere it left for New Guinea; also that careful examination will.show traces of the original perforation in the fakes. • • • Malta has issued a new provisional Id surcharged on the 2Jd blue. An error occurs in the sheet, the words appearing “one pnney.” • • • Five new provisional* have been issued at Seychelles—2 cents on 4 cents, 60-on 75, 30 cents on Ir, 45 on Ir, and 45 on 2r 25 cents. • • • Rare stamps still continue to turn up unexpectedly. A correspondent in E.W.S.N. writes: “A schoolboy friend told me how a few years ago he was given a stamp collection by an elder brother, who in his turn obtained it from his uncle, a member of a mercantile firm in the Canary Isles, and who was a collect oi as far back as 1850. In the book was found a 2d blue ‘post paid’ Mauritius, unused .with the original gum. whi 'll was sold for the lucky youngster in 1896 by Messrs. Ventinn. Bull A Co., and fetched £140.” Vet another Guinea is to exist to both school children, to say nothing of philatelists. Fernando Poo has issued a new set of stamps. The design is stated to be that of 1899, with the date changed, and the series is a comparatively small one. According to “lx» C. de T.-P.,” three stamps are shortly to be replaced by others inscribed “Guinea Espanola,” the island of Fernando Poo being united with Spanish territory on the neighbouring coast to form a colony with the new name.