Stamp Collecting

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 26, 23 December 1908, Page 37

Stamp Collecting

One set of stamps is to be issued for the whole of the Spanish West African colonies early in 1909. • • • The Rio de Oro surcharged stamps were, it is now asserted, issued in that Spanish colony, and not mcrly in Madrid for the benefit of philatelists. • • • The 27 paras black on rose stamp of Moldavia, sold by auction in London for £24, the 2 sq. blue stamp of Prussia ( 1857) with solid background, for three guineas, and the 6k. green stamp of W’urte in burg (1858-00). for two guineas. © • o The “Metropolitan Philatelist" thus describes the new stamp of Peru: —lc.. grey (Manco-Capac, founder of the kingdom of the Incas.); 2c.. green (Christopher Columbus); 4c., blight red (Pizarro, conqueror of Peru); 5c., violet (San Marten) ; 10c., dark blue (Bolivar) ; 12c., sky-blue (Gen. Le Mar. first President of the. Republic); 20c., rose (Marshal Castilla, who, after the Revolution of 1844. abolished slavery) ; 50c.. bistre (Admiral Grau), and 1 sol, blue and red (Col. Bolognesi). • • • The possibility of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Austrian Empire, together with the announcement of the Prince of Bulgaria that he aspires to become an independent king, may alter the philatelic history of those countries. Bulgaria, which has now issued stamps for nearly thirty years, may probably have a new series bearing the head of the “Czar of Bulgaria.” The issues of Bosnia and Herzegovina would cease if those States were swallowed up in the Austrian Empire.. The following prices were paid at auction 'in London recently lor New Zealand stamps: —Id. Vermillion, 1860-62, politic paper, perf. 13, with dated postmark, imperf. left side, and a trifle defective, £3; also the 1907 issue, overprinted “Official” vertically, Ad.. Id.. 2d., 3d.. 6d., Is., 25., and 55., all mint, £3 3s. Evidently there is a leakage somewhere as unused officials are not supposed to be for sale. • • • Even stamp collecting is made easy for Royalty. The following appeared recently in the “Western Daily Press”: The two sets of the special Tercentenary stamps for the Prince of Wales are contained in handsome caskets. One set is placed in small gold boxes, enclosed in r large box of morocco leather. The second set is in a large gold box. On the cover of the large box is the Prince's crest and a gold plate inscribed as fol-

lows: —“Set of Canadian postage stamps issued upon the occasion of the Quebec Tercentenary, 1908. Presented to Hi* Royal IlignesK the Prince of Wales by Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, PostmasterGeneral of Canada.” • • • A new set of stamps is threatened from the 1 nited States. The new stam]>s will be oi the following denominations: —One cent. two. three, four, five. six. eight, ten, fifteen, fifty, and one dollar. The two dollar and five dollar denominations now in u>e will not be reprinted. The new issue has been designed with the object of obtaining the greatest simplicity commensurate wiih artistic result*. The profile has been taken in each instance instead of a full view giving a bas-relief effect. All the stamps are of a similar design, containing a head in an ellipse, the only decoration l>eing laurel leaves on cither side of the ellipse. The lettering is in straight lines, at. the top being “United States Postage.” and at the bottom the words “Two Cents." The one cent, stamp bears the head of Franklin, while all the others .will be that of Washington, taken from busts by TFoudon. The colours are the reds and blues of the early stamps.