Stamp Collecting.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 6, 12 August 1905, Page 50

Stamp Collecting.

The remainders of the Prussian official stamps of 1903 arc stated to lidve been bold to a German dealer. • • • • The I Jul ch colony of Curacoa has advertised for sale by auction lite remainders of the old issues of stamps. • • • Denmark has followed the lead of other countries in allowing stamps cut from stationery to be used for franking both inland and foreign correspondence. • • • Ihe ten dollar stamp of Hongkong, King's head type, Iras appeared on the new multiple watermark paper. • • • It is reported that the colour of the 25 reis stamp of Portugal is to be changed to yellow, with the value printed in red. • • • Apparently the Don Quixote issue of Spanish stamps will never be rare, as, according to “Lu Revue Philatelique Francaise.” the quantities printed are as follows: 5c., 300,000; 10c., 400.000; 15c.. 2.000,000; 25c.. 200,000; 30c.. 50.000; 40c.. 25.000; 50c.. 50,000; Ip., 25.0)0; 4p., 20.000; and lOp. 10,000. • • • Jamaica has had a further printing of its 3d value on multiple paper, Queen's head type. ‘‘Queen multiples” are likely to have shorter lives and become rarer than even -King singles,’’ states E.W.S.M. • • • The practice of stamp collecting appears to he put to many uses. In an English "Girls' Friendly Society Paper" appears the following: “Those associates and members (G.F.S.) who have helped the Diocesan Sick Fund by collecting stamps, both English and foreign, will be glad to hear that twelve sick members have been sent to G.F.S. lodges al the seaside with the money brought in by the stamps this year. Three went to Ramsgate, two to St. Leonard’s, live to Brighton, and two to Shanklin.” • • • A ease is cited of one lady who did collect a million stamps, French and English, which she sold for £l2O. With this sum she bought the use of a bed in a hospital for* six months of every year. Tilt* lady also collected a second million, for which she was offered £2O. This sum she refused, not considering the amount enough, and the stamps were unsold at the time of her death in 1892. • • ® The British Vice-Consul al Rio. in reply lo an inquiry as to the existence of this supposed Republic of Connani, stales: -'l’he Independent State of Counani never had an existence. Its introduction to 1 he world was the consequence of the exploits of an adventurer named Galvez, who had a certain amount of success. I believe, in exploits directed chitdly. if noi solely, against the Peruvians. 'I he country. I understand, forms part of the Acre territory now in the exclusive* possession of Brazil, by virtue of the Brazilian-Peruvian Iroaly, rec mtly concluded at Petropolis.” • • • 'i’he “Church Family Newspaper" cites several instances of uses to which stamp collecting was put. In 1848 at. Dr. Johnson’s Hydropathic* Establishment. Humhorsladc Hall. Yorkshire, was a young lady who was helping to collect a mil lion used penny stamps, and gathering litem from all the company daily. Iler story was that two young peapie of her aetpiainlance wished lo get married. The lady's father doubled tin* constunev of I heir attachment, and as there wa < no hick of means or other natural obstacle io tin l "smooth running" of their love, he devised an artificial one, the dillieulty of w hit'll would test their a Heel ion, and if it were genuine would strengthen it into “true hive." He required as the price of his consent Unit they should col led him a million used penny damps. A <-orr< -poiident of the same paper adds lhal early in 185(1 he bailed for India as a cadet, and previously, during his schuuldajs, had assisted in collecting

stamps “to provide the dowry of a lovely girj. whose hard-hearted parent would not allow her to marry the man of her choice until she had collected a million stamps.” it is possible, of coms*, that the “lovely gill” was the'identic al young lady previoii-ly referred to.