Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 1, 8 July 1905, Page 53

Stamp Collecting.

The 10c. violet of the 1902 issue of Nicaraguan stamps has been surcharged “Vale e. 15’’ in deep bronze blue. • • • High value stamps seem, on the average, to appreciate very much in value. I 1 or instance, the Tasmanian £1 green and yellow of 1892, unused, sold for £5 15/ in London. the lheef ’ error 1/ New Zealand stamp, surcharged for Niue Island, is apparently falling in value, as it sold for £2 4/ at auction in London. Even at that figure there is a good margin of profit. • • • An imperforated pair of New Zealand stamps, 2d., blue on N.Z. watermark, paper, sold for £3; the hi. and 2d. on same paper, but rouletted, for £7 10/; the 1/ green of 1850. on thick paper, also rouletted, £9; the 1/ blue green, with serrated perforation, £5; ami 2d. blue on imperforated paper, £3 7/6. • • • The 2 dollar and 5 dollar stamps, North Borneo design, are reported to have been overprinted “Labuan.” The colours are olive green and violet respectively. It is also reported that the 2 dollar olive green has also been overprinted “British Protectorate.” • • • Half of a penny blue Barbadoes stamp of the issue of 1852, used as a J<l. on an entire envelope, sold by auction in London for &3 15/, and a Id. on half a 5/ stamp for £4, while a pair of Barbadoes hl stamp on half of (id., with different numerals, sold for £l7, and a single copy for £3 17/6. • • • A new. set of official stamps are reported for Ecuador, the. issue of 1904 being overprinted “Official” in r<d in a rectangular frame. The issue is as follows: —lc., r<d and black; 2c., blue and black; 5c.. yellow and black: 10c.. red and black: 20c., blue; and ,50c.. yellow. • • • The Spanish colonies appear to be catering for stamp collectors. Issues are reported for Fernando Po, Spanish Guana. Bio de Oro, Elobey. Annohau, and Corisco. The values in each case range from lc. rose to I Op. carmine, but the colours are changed in each set. there being sixteen stamps in the i-sue for each colony. 0 O • The following high prices were real ised for Victorian stamps at auction in London:—2d. lilac of 1850. tine background and border, £3; ditto, perforated, 3d., on piece, £1 5/; orange Cd. of 1857, with serrated perforations, £3; pair imperforated 4d rose of 1803, £3 15/; ditto, rouletted. 4d.. on piece, £5; ditto. I/, “stamp duty,” in blue. 1885, £4; and registered, rouletted. on piece, £3 10/. • • • It may serve to give some idea of the Value of a set of stamps of Great Britain if the following London auction prices are carefully considered: -Unused Great Britain. 1841. large crown, perforated 14. 2d., blue, block of six, £6; ditto. 1847-54. 10d., brown, plate 4, £3 10/; ditto, 1867-83, wink. Malt t se (Toss. 10s., grey-green. £l4 10/; ditto, £l. brown-lilac, £10; ditto, wink. Anchor, 5/., rose cm blued paper, £11; ditto, wmk. Anchor. 10s., grey-green on blued paper, £49; ditto, w ink. Anchor. £l, brown-lilac on blued paper, creased. £33; ditto, £5, orange, with full corner margins, £6; ditto, 1884, £l, brown lilac, wmk. 3 Crowns, £8; ditto, £l. brownlilac, wmk. 3 Orbs, mint, £l2: ditto, “Admiralty,” type 2,2 d., mint. £0 5/. o • • The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce has made a suggestion of great importance to commercial men generally, namely, that the various Governments forming the International Postal Union should agree upon and issue a series of international stamps good for foreign postage in any country belonging to the

Union. The suggestion is one worthy the favourable attention of postal authorities and business men the wor’d over. The practical difficulties in the way of carrying out such a plan do nut appear to eh serious, nor is it probable that ad ion by congresses, parliament*, or other legislative bodies will he required to put it into operation. A mutual agreement between the different p »>t

office drpat titicnG shvukl to give stu-h a plan a trial. The advantages of an international stamp to business men engaged in foreign trade are so nunicr oils and so great as hardly to rrqu’.rc enumeration. As far as collectors are eonerriied. it might haw the effect of minimising the numbers of new issic s. which would be a Im on to all but the dealers.