Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue IV, 23 January 1904, Page 54

Stamp Collecting.

1>.singular how many old turn U|» *l odd limes. <>nly reven<l> in Auckland a number of early A ictorian and New Zealand stamps were discovered by Ivly who was going through a number of letters that -u«d been saved in the envelopes by her mot her. The 2- nits Mite «tamp <*f ll.r-'-i'i i* prolwby the raresi in the world, .is only five copies ar** known to e,i... while of the first issue of Briii-t t.uims. the 2 cents pink, th -r? are on’.;' eight copies. • • • ■ ... .. ... .. . »2 a she -t of par*-el pOSt SUllip* ol }s?*gilllU. dark blue .ith figures in black an! with the value d on the back, was issued !*» th" i\»st Office at b.wd -sud. About V’-n had been i-sued before th-* error was noii.ed. and the rem -under were thereupon returned to headquarand destroyed. • • • The e.irii-' pictorial <ge < a raps of i;:e i*riiis-! Empire are douh:les- the hi .i-uc of Xe .v 'OUU Wales. n» v fatuous as Sydney Views. The stamps were, how? ver. crude in execution and in marked contrast t • the beautif.i’ specimens of the engraver- art that ure now produced. i- is o l»e feared, with the object of catering for stamp sulkct•»!•■>’ albums. • • • The cause *f so many issues of stamps h»r certain >outh Ameri -an KeiHildics is stated t*» be that a cert aril dealer arranged t.* supply the stamps re : »ired fte *, pr niding there was a ue;v is»ue' each year, the remainder-. >f course, In-iug his property. f r th? ben : - tit of future collectors. • • • The -map*’ < imp of ( anada appears in S-.era! shades. Al Christmas. iSps. whvii the siamp iir-t appeared, we -.verc Kurtled to see a lavender sea: a pale green sea followed: and a deep green Final y Canada give p th« attempt t « print la - ever-changing colour of the wean. • • • \mongs <• ■ ■ > ■ si • st am - ’ ■ Xi inritius is best kn »v n »n a« c mnt oi Ihe high pri -*- pa : I for them, but there wre many ot hers that realise nnU':jng prh *a>. 1 e I nite I States 1 >ca! is st a - ted to have fet ■<- d o\er £ 1000 s • s ago. The • ' s ir I :• • • set clamps of 1 >•’»*-* ‘*‘»r British <-uia-i.i are worth fix n £3O t • £7O used. '• hil their value in what i< known as •mint state At the sane time people who do not <■.»}'<. t -' imp- are apt to fall into th - * error that ail early i.--;;c- must n<*<c" sarily In' valuable. This is particularly the id-a wiih respect to the old Engl -h p -any h’ack.

Il is gi itifying to find that New Zealand is not nine in being underlined by philatelic papers on account of frequent issues of stamps. Commenting on the recent issues for New Caledonia, one journal states: — "lie do not think v\» should be far wrong in characterising the al-ove as some of the worst rubbish, which it ha- ever been sought to foist on collectors. At the same time, we must not l*e understood to say that it in.iv not become t tillable. When tho St. Anthony of Padua i- tie was i-siled )■■ Portugal in 1885, everyone said it was such rubbish they would not buy it. Nowadays. when collectors ate beginning to regret their decision t • leave a blank page in their albums, they can’t get the set unused even at ten times face value. It pay- a stamp collector to l«? tolerant!" liven so. the high prices asked for the first i--ue of Niue Island shows that it does not do for V •cd led or to ignore any stamp if lie wishes to fill up his album.

Some time ago the fact was mentioned that the penny orange and twopence blue stamp of Mauritius, issued in 1547, were sold on one envelope for £ 192 ft. The reason of their scarcity is explained by the following story: The stamps arrived from England, and as a ball at ttovernment House was being arranged, it was desired that the first stamps should frank she invitations. This was accordingly done. Meanwhile the discovery was made that the inscription, which should have been "Post Paid." read "i’ost Office." An idea prevailed for a long time that none of the stamps were sold to the public, bat ia point of fact, the s amps were engraved and printed locally. Only 1000 in all faftft of each value; were made, and al! were -old for legitimate postal purposes. They' were printed one at a time, and consequently -o slowly th.it a new issue was prepared in one plate of twelve s'amps. The inscription was then altered to "Post Paid.”