Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIV, 2 April 1904, Page 58

Stamp Collecting.

A four cent, yellow stamp lias been issued for the Argentine Republic, current type. M • • • The 12d black stamp of Canada, issued 18517> lightly cancelled, and on laid paper, realised at auction in London £2B 10/. • • • Three high value stamps are to be issued for Dutch Indies, the 1 guclden violet, 14 gueiden mauve, and 24 guelden steel blue. • • • The New Zealand Government penny blue insurance stamp has been issued on the Cowan paper with the water-mark sideways, and perforated both 11 and 14 by il. • • • Ten years ago the £ 1 stamp of Great Britain, watermark Anchor, was catalogued at £4 unused. Since then these stamps have sold at £5O and even as high as £ 100 each. • • • The new two cent. United States stamp came to band this week in quite a distinct shade, being nearer orange vrcmilion than carmine. • • • The garter watermark was used for 4d and 8d stamps of Great Briatin alone. Specialists assert there are five distinct types of garter. It is somewhat singular that all the garter water marks have been found inverted on most of the stamps bearing them.

A tete-beche pair of the 2d Sydney View has been discovered on an original envelope which had franked a letter 0.H.M.5., and was endorsed “Uol. Treasury,” 30th July, 1850. The post marks are ‘"Sydney,” “New South Wales,” “Melbourne,” “Port Philip.” • • • A pictorial set of stamps has been issued for the French Colony of Madagascar. The values range from 1 centime to 5 francs. The Parisian journals denominate the new stamps as “ridiculously ugly.” • • • In 1841 the 2d stamp of Great Britain was printed in another kind of ink (presumably more sensitive), the object being to prevent the obliterating" mark being easily removed by unscrupulous persons. To distinguish this from the former printing, two heavy white lines were introduced into the design. • • • The half anna stamp of India, with portrait of King Edward, has now been issued in a distinct shade of grey. The 2 rupee has also appeared in yellow', brown, and carmine; the 3 rupees, green and brown; and the 5 rupees, violet and ultramarine, all three denominations carrying a portrait of the King. • • • The Post Office at Long-Tcheow has been closed down, as it was found impossible for Europeans to live in such an unhealthy place. No less than 11 of the employees of the post office died within the year of its establishment by the French Government. The special stamps printed July, 1903, were not even issued. Perhaps they may, however, yet

reach the market for the benefit of collectors. Eight values were printed, totalling 155,000 stamps altogether. • • • The rapid increase in varieties" of stamps during the last year or two is causing collectors to begin to wonder how those necessary to be collected can be reduced in number. One suggestion already made in London is that all stamps over-printed for Departmental accounts should be excluded. It is claimed that surcharges r such as O.H.M.S-, Service 0.5., etc., do not alter the essential nature of a stamp, although it naturally limits its use. At the same time, the postal value of the stamp is spoiled as far as public use is concerned. ’• • • The high price of £ 1420 paid for the 2d Post Office Mauritius has naturally created considerable notice. Of the two very rare Mauritius stamps only fourteen of Id and 12 of the 2d are known to exist, which explains the high prices paid for such undoubted rarities. At the same time, there are several other varieties of which not more than a dozen exist, yet these stamps never realise the high figures that are readily paid for the Mauritius. For instance, the 1/ blue error of Barbadoes, 1861 to ’7O, of which it is believed that only nine copies exist, sold at auction in London in December last for only £ 23, and yet it is scarcer than either of the rare Mauritius stamps. The fact is that there is a fashion in stamps, as in everything else.