Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 5, 5 August 1905, Page 53

Stamp Collecting.

Revenue stamps cannot now be used for postage in Western Australia. • • • A 5c purple and blue stamp, on blue paper, was issued in British Guinea on the Ist of May. • • • Tasmania has dropped the letter “T” and adopted “0 S’” perforated, for official purposes. • • • British New Guinea has issued a 2/6 stamp, current type, colour black and brown. • • • A variety of the 40 p.f. German stamp, overprinted for use in Morocco, is reported as having the letter “c” in “centimos” inverted. • • • Victoria and Queensland are at present the only States in the Australian Coinmon wealth which do not possess stamps of the 8d value. • • • The "Metropolitan Philatelist” states: A large quantity of the old issue of the following values have been cancelled -to order and put on the market 1,2, 2J, 4, 6, 6 pence, and I and 5 shillings. • • • The new Republic of Panama stamps have rapidly appreciated in value, judging by a quotation in a London paper. A very fine collection (November, 1903, to March, 1904), mostly in entire sheets of the various settings, all printings being represented, is offered at £2OO as the lowest nett price. The estimated catalogue of this lot is £5OO.

The “Philatelic Record” chronicles the following stamps for Siberia: Designs of 1902, perf. 15. Ic. bright green, 2c. rose and black, and sc. bright ultramarine and black. Official Adhesives: le. bright green, overprinted “0.5.” in red; 2c. rose and blaek, “0.5.” in black; sc. bright ultramarine and black, with “0.5.” in red. • • • The “Berliner Briefmarken Zeitung” states that the Berlin Philatelic Museum has recently received an almost complete set of all the English official surcharged stamps presented by the British Government, including many of the now extremely rare varieties. • • • It is interesting to note that the 25c. on 40e. red on yellow stamp of Tahiti, imperforated, which was struck out of the catalogues for want of sufficient evidence of its legitimate origin, may now be restored to the list, as a copy of the Decree authorising it has been found, and also a specimen of the stamp, used on a letter dated “12 Aout, 83.” • • • The“ Madrid Eilatelico"lists the following fresh values of current type of Gambia: 5d grey and blaek, 7Ad green and earmine, lOd olive-brown and carmine multiple watermark), 1/6 green ami earmine on yellow, 2/6 purple and brown, on yellow, and 3/ carmine and green on yellow (single watermark). The new stamps of Belgium have as a central figure a most venerable-looking portrait of the King, with a long white beard. The portrait is almost a profile one, and is upon a solid background. Each value of stamp has a different patterned frame, containing the name in both French and Dutch, also figures denoting the value. The values so far are: 20c., olive-green; 25c., blue; and 35c., chocolate. All are perforated 14.

It is requisite for collectors to complete as speedily as possible their vacant spaces in the stamps of the Australian Common wealth, as the paper has already been prepared for use in future by all the States. Tile watermark is a crown over the letter “A,” and there is a separate watermark for each stamp. On the margin are the words ••Commonwealth of Australia.*’ In the centre, also at the top. bottom and sides, there is a watermarked cross. • • • The following prices were, obtained at auction in London for stamps: Orange River Colony. 1882. 3d on 4d, ultramarine. the set of five types in mint horizontal pairs. £8; set of five, single specimens of each. £3 15/; ISBB provisional. Id on 4d, ultamarine, a mint horizontal strip of three showing the Komin •*[” variety, £4 15/; half-sheet of 120 in mint state, includhig the Roman “I,” dropped “d” (2), and other varieties, £34; another half-sheet (lower half) in mint state, including the Roman “1” variety, etc., £3O.