Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXI, 21 May 1904, Page 55

Stamp Collecting.

fSey<h<?ll,>s *>* tnireharging various values of utampe for use as 3 tents. The 5 eent stamp of Hongkong, King's head issue, has appeared printed in yellow instead of either orange or salmon. • • • 'l’he present set of stamps of Kishengarh has nothing between the 4d and 1/4 values. An 8 anna stamp has jiist been issued. • • • The seven values of Abyssinian stamps have been surcharged in blue with the wort! “Elbiope,” in narrow heavy type, <un the top. • • • The 10c on 30e provisional stamp of Chili, witli inverted surcharge, is now offered at 30/, which seems a very fair price to expect for a printer’s error. • • • The following surcharges are reported on the stamps of Ivory Coast French 1892 issue: 0.05 on 3c brown, 0.10 on 75c violet on orange, and 0.15 on 1 franc orange. • • • The new 2/6 stamp issued in the state Of New South M ales bears in the centre a picture of the beautiful lyre bird of Australia, which first appeared on the 86 of the Centennial issue. • • • According to latest accounts the supposed forgeries of the stamps of Brazil, 200, 300, and 500 reis, are really' genuine, the dies having been merely retouched, ■which led to the mistake. • • • Brevity in names is not understood apparently in the Hawaiian Islands, as a gentleman called David Kaphokohoakimokeweonah has been appointed postmaster at Koekea. He is a lineal descendant "of King Kalitapokanrikokiwealoho.

The report of Southern Nigeria for 1902 afford* food for reflection on the part of stamp collectors. It states: “The stamp sales to deniers amounted to £lBlO in 1901, and £2819 in 1902.” Also: “If the sales to stamp collectors continue at a greatly reduced rate of £5OO a year only, in future years the Postal Department will pay its way.” • • • The death in Suffolk of Mr. W. E. Image at the advanced age of 96 years recalls to mind the fact that 41 years ago that gentleman sold his collection of stamps to Mr. Tapling for .£3OOO, consequently some of the rarefies disposed of then are now in the Tapling collection in the British Museum. • • • China has not yet learned how tc make its postal system pay. The postage paid on a letter delivered within a town in which it is posted is one-tenth of a penny', and only two-fifths of a penny to be delivered in any fown in China. • • • The new issue of Sierra Leone stamps with the King’s portrait range in value from Jd to 5/. all in two colours. Up to sixpence'value, purple is used on each stamp, and another colour according to the different values. Above sixpence, dark green is the colour on each stamp, the 1/ being green and blaek, 2/ ultramarine, ami 5/ earmine, while the 20/ stamp is purple on red. • • • The Indian native State of Jbalawar has only a population of 2722, and has never issued a postage, stamp of higher value than a quarter anna, and during the 14 years its stamps were in circulation only one change took place. In 1900 the stamps ceased to be used, as the State post office was taken over by the Imperial Government.

The growth of the postal system in the United States may be estimated from the fact that in 1847 the first general issue was 1,000,000. Last year the issue totalled 4,330,000. In 1789 the total expenditure on the postal department was £1520. In 1903 the figures totted up to .£ 24,000,000. and showed a deficit of £720,000. Evidently the United States post office is not a money-making concern. • • • A man who cleared out with the mail cart and letter bags in Russia on the road from Gostonielya to Kieff evidently was not well acquainted with the speed at, which the mail is carried there, because he was stopped by some peasants, and ultimately handed over to the police, because they were certain something was wrong when they saw the mail van travelling so quickly. Another instance of the advisability of “making haste slowly.”

French varieties of stamps for urc In consular odices in Inde-China grow apace. .At Shanghai recently 9UOO of the Ift centimes of the latest type were surcharged with a large figure 5 in black. If collectors v* ill continue to buy such things probably the emoluments of French consuls will increase, as it. is a very simple process to surcharge stamps, buy the whole lot. and sell al a good protit. A series of French stamps has also been issued for Long-Tcheoux. These should take well with any collector (bat chews.