Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7, 18 February 1905, Page 49

Stamp Collecting.

No Portuguese stamps existed before 1886 perforated 1 Hd. • • • The first consignment of Id stamps were sent to Antigua in 1859. These stamps are rarer used, than unused. • • • The Falkland Islands were the first of the King’s head type of stamps to be engraved, apart from those of Canada, which were done by a private company. • • • In the light of recent events in Russia it is interesting to remember that the knight displayed upon the eagle’s breast on the stamps of that country, represents the Czar as the propagator of Christianity in the Far East. • • • Mr Tl. E. Deats of Flemington. N.J., President of the Amesrican Philatelic Association, possesses a collection of stamps of the Confederate States valued at 35.0D0 dollars. It is supposed to be the best collection in existence. This collection was exhibited at the Chicago World’- Fair. • • • Tn 1886 clerk- in the Portuguese Post Office noticed that 2£ ries stamps were being used with very uneven perforations. Enquiry into the matter showed that the perforations were made by a sewing machine, and led to the discovery that the -tamps themselves were forgeries. Finally the forger served a term in gaol. • • • Last week reference was made to the fact that from the Ist of January, in Great Britain, embossed or impressed stamps cut out or otherwise detached from an envelope cover, post card, or other form of postal cover may be used in payment of postage. One great result of this innovation is that envelope stamps cut square will be more than ever collectable, as this order makes them legally postage stamps available for use as adhesives. Another effect will be that cutting the stamps out will not destroy their facial, or postal value. • • • The authorities of the British Museum are not. particularly eager about having a National Stamp Collection. It was hoped by philatelists that after getting the Tapling collection the good work would bp continued, but evidently such is not the case. The Philatelic Society of India (Calcutta) offered to present to the British Museum unused stamps in order to complete the Indian section in the Tapling collection. This generous offer, instead of being accepted, was declined with thanks on the ground that there is no space remaining in the cases containing the Tapling collection in which to display any more* stamps. Thus an excellent opportunity of completing the Indian section has been lost. • • • Perhaps now that a museum is being started at Wellington under Government patronage it will be possible to have therein a collection, at all events, of the stamps of New Zealand. Of course, it would cost a little money to get the back numbers, but such a collect ion would be of great interest and value also as the years roll by. Such a collection could have added to it easily complete sheets of all new stamps issued by the Postal Department, which would be of great value for reference in i he future. The various issues of the Island dependencies would, of course, be included in such a collection, and of these the first issues could easily be acquired before advancing much in value. As this colony is closely identified with the South Sea Island trade, it would bp well if such a collection was extended to include the stamps used in the various Islands,

which would make it of still greater interest to future collectors. Germany has a vast collection of stamps in connection with its Postal Department. and these are now of great value. The Postal Museum at Berlin is unequalled anywhere in the world. Why should not this colony try to build up a collection at the Government Museum? (bice it was started, very probably other countries would as a matter of courtv<y forward new issues, and thus gradually a line collection would be sp.-ured. if m»t that way, at any rate by exchanging sets. O course such a work could only be satisfactorily undertaken by a real enthusiastic philatelist, and surely that could be found amongst the Government officials ’