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diff --git a/18204.txt b/18204.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae16f2f --- /dev/null +++ b/18204.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3820 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Stamp Collecting as a Pastime, by Edward J. Nankivell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stamp Collecting as a Pastime + +Author: Edward J. Nankivell + +Release Date: April 18, 2006 [EBook #18204] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STAMP COLLECTING AS A PASTIME *** + + + + +Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE + + Stanley Gibbons Philatelic Handbooks. + + + + STAMP COLLECTING + AS A PASTIME + + + + BY + + EDWARD J. NANKIVELL + MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS + MEMBER OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON + + + + + London + STANLEY GIBBONS, LTD., 391, STRAND, W.C. + New York + 167, BROADWAY + 1902 + + + + +PREFACE + + +Many people are at a loss to understand the fascination that surrounds +the pursuit of stamp collecting. They are surprised at the +clannishness of stamp collectors, and their lifelong devotion to their +hobby. They are thunderstruck at the enormous prices paid for rare +stamps, and at the fortunes that are spent and made in stamp +collecting. + +The following pages will afford a peep behind the scenes, and explain +how it is that, after nearly half a century of existence, stamp +collecting has never been more popular than it is to-day. + +And perchance many a tired worker in search of a hobby may be +persuaded that of all the relaxations that are open to him none is +more attractive or more satisfying than stamp collecting. + +Its literature is more abundant than that devoted to any other hobby. +Its votaries are to be found in every city and town of the civilised +world. Governments and statesmen recognise, unsolicited, the claims of +stamp collecting--the power, the influence, and the wealth that it +commands. From a mere schoolboy pastime it has steadily developed into +an engrossing hobby for the leisured and the busy of all classes and +all ranks of life, from the monarch on his throne to the errand boy in +the merchant's office. + +In the competition of modern life it is recognised that those who +must work must also play. The physician assures us that the man who +allows himself no relaxation, no recreation, loses his energy, and +ages earlier than the man who judiciously alternates work and play. + +As stamp collecting may be indulged in by all ages, and at all +seasons, it is becoming more and more the favourite indoor relaxation +with brain-workers. It may be taken up or laid down at any time, and +at any stage. Its cost may be limited to shillings or pounds, and it +may be made a pleasant pursuit or an engrossing study, or it may even +be diverted into money-making purposes. + +So absorbing is the hobby that in stamp circles there is a saying, +"Once a stamp collector, always a stamp collector." + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. STAMP COLLECTING AS A PASTIME + +II. THE CHARM OF STAMP COLLECTING + +III. ITS PERMANENCE + +IV. ITS INTERNATIONALITY + +V. ITS GEOGRAPHICAL INTEREST + +VI. ITS HISTORICAL FINGER POSTS + +VII. STAMPS WITH A HISTORY + +VIII. GREAT RARITIES + +IX. THE ROMANCE OF STAMP COLLECTING + +X. PHILATELIC SOCIETIES AND THEIR WORK + +XI. THE LITERATURE OF STAMPS + +XII. STAMPS AS WORKS OF ART + +XIII. STAMP COLLECTING AS AN INVESTMENT + +XIV. WHAT TO COLLECT AND HOW TO COLLECT + +XV. GREAT COLLECTIONS + + + + +[Illustration:] + +I. + +As a Pastime. + + +According to the authorities, the central idea of a pastime is "that +it is so positively agreeable that it lets time slip by unnoticed; as, +to turn work into pastime." And recreation is described as "that sort +of play or agreeable occupation which refreshes the tired person, +making him as good as new." + +Stamp collectors may fairly claim that their hobby serves the double +purpose of a pastime and a recreation. As a pastime, it certainly +makes time pass most agreeably; for the true student of the postal +issues of the world, it turns work into a pastime. As a recreation, it +is of such an engrossing character that it may be relied upon to +afford the pleasant diversion from business worries that so many tired +mental workers need nowadays. + +For nearly half a century it has maintained unbroken its hold as one +of the most popular of all forms of relaxation, and its popularity +extends to all classes and to all countries. + +But this very devotion of stamp collectors to their hobby has puzzled +and excited the uninitiated. The ordinary individual, especially the +man who has no soul for a hobby of any kind, regards it as a passing +fancy, a harmless craze, a fashion that must have its day and +disappear, sooner or later. But the passing fancy has endured for +nearly half a century, the harmless craze still serves its useful +purpose, and the fashion has acquired such a permanence as to convince +most people that it has come to stay. + +Of all pastimes, and of all the forms of recreation, not one can claim +more lifelong devotees than this same stamp collecting. And where is +another pastime with such international ramifications? In every +civilised country, in every city, and in every town of any importance, +the wide world over, thoughtful men and women are to be found formed +into sociable groups, or societies, quietly and pleasantly enjoying +themselves in the harmless and enduring pursuit of stamp collecting. + +There must be some reason for this popularity, this devotion of all +classes to a pursuit, this unbroken record of progress. It cannot be +satisfactorily accounted for as a passing fancy or fashion. It has too +long stood the test of years to be so easily explained away. Fancies +and fashions come and go, but stamp collecting flourishes from decade +to decade. Princes and peers, merchants and members of Parliament, +solicitors and barristers, schoolboys and octogenarians, all follow +this postal Pied Piper of Hamelin, + + "Grave old plodders, gay young friskers, Fathers, mothers, uncles, + cousins," + +all bent upon the pursuit of this pleasure-yielding hobby. + +Why is it? Whence comes the fascination? + +To the unprejudiced inquirer the reply is simple. To the leisured man +it affords a stimulating occupation, with a spice of competition; to +the busy professional man it yields the delight of a recreative +change; to the studious, an inexhaustible scope for profitable +research; to the old, the sociability of a pursuit popular with old +and young alike; to the young, a hobby prolific of novelty, and one, +moreover, that harmonises with school studies in historical and +geographical directions; to the money maker, an opening for occasional +speculation; and to all, a satisfying combination of a safe investment +and a pleasure-yielding study. + +Old postage stamps--bits of paper, as they are contemptuously called +by some people--may have no intrinsic value, but they are, +nevertheless, rich in memories of history and of art; they link the +past with the present; they mark the march of empires and the +federation of states, the rise and fall of dynasties, and the peaceful +extension of postal communication between the peoples of the world; +and, some day in the distant future, they may celebrate even yet more +important victories of peace. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +II. + +The Charm of Stamp Collecting. + + +His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in a letter to a +correspondent, referring to stamp collecting, wrote: "It is one of the +greatest pleasures of my life"; and the testimony of the Prince of +Wales is the testimony of thousands who have taken up this engrossing +hobby. + +The pursuit of a hobby is very often a question of expense. Many +interesting lines of collecting are practically closed to all but the +wealthy. But stamp collecting is open to all, for the expenditure may +in its case be limited at the will of the collector to shillings or +pounds. Indeed, the adaptability of this hobby is one of its chiefest +charms. The rich collector may make his choice amongst the most +expensive countries, whilst the man of moderate means will wisely +confine himself to equally interesting countries whose stamps have not +gone beyond the reach of the man who does not wish to make his hobby +an expensive one. The schoolboy may get together a very respectable +little collection by the judicious expenditure of small savings from +his pocket money, and the millionaire will find ample scope for his +surplus wealth in the fine range of varieties that gem the issues of +many of the oldest stamp-issuing countries, and which only the +fortunate few can hope to possess. + +In all there are over three hundred countries from which to make a +selection. In the early days collectors took all countries, but as +country after country followed the lead of England in issuing adhesive +stamps for the prepayment of postage, and as series followed series of +new designs in each country, the task of covering the whole ground +became more and more hopeless, and collector after collector began +first to restrict his lines to continents, and then to groups or +countries, till now only the wealthy and leisured few attempt to make +a collection of the world's postal issues. + +This necessary restriction of collecting to groups and individual +countries has led to specialism. The specialist concentrates his +attention upon the issues of a group or country, and he prosecutes the +study of the stamps of his chosen country with all the thoroughness of +the modern specialist. He unearths from forgotten State documents and +dusty files of official gazettes the official announcements +authorising each issue. He inquires into questions surrounding the +choice of designs, the why and wherefore of the chosen design, the +name of the engraver, the materials and processes used in the +production of the plates, the size of the plates, and the varying +qualities of the paper and ink used for printing the stamps--in fact, +nothing that can complete the history of an issue, from its inception +to its use by the public, escapes his attention. He constitutes +himself, in truth, the historian of postal issues. The scope for +interesting study thus opened up is almost boundless. It includes +inquiries into questions of heraldry in designs, of currency in the +denominations used, of methods of engraving dies, of the transference +of the die to plates, of printing from steel plates and from +lithographic stones, of the progress of those arts in various +countries, of the manufacture, the variety, and the quality of the +paper used--from the excellent hand-made papers of early days to the +commonest printing papers of the present day--of postal revenues and +postal developments, of the crude postal issues of earliest times, and +the exquisite machine engraving of many current issues. + +He who fails to see any justification for money spent and time given +up to the collecting of postage stamps will scarcely deny that these +lines of study, which by no means exhaust the list, can scarcely fail +to be both fascinating and profitable, even when regarded from a +purely educational standpoint. It is true it may be contended that all +collectors do not go thus deeply into stamp collecting as a study; +nevertheless the tendency sets so strongly in the direction of +combining study with the pleasure of collecting, that the man who +nowadays neglects to study his stamps is apt to fall markedly behind +in the competition that is ever stimulating the stamp collector in his +pleasant and friendly rivalry with his fellows. + +Then, again, an ever-increasing supply of new issues from one or other +of the many groups of stamp-issuing countries periodically revives the +interest of the flagging collector, and binds him afresh to the hobby +of his choice. Old, seasoned collectors, whose interest once set never +flags from youth to age, relegate new issues to a back seat. They find +more than enough to engage their lifelong devotion in the grand old +issues of the early settlements. But the collector of modern issues +who cannot afford to indulge in the great rarities, finds new issues a +source of perpetual enjoyment. They follow one another month after +month, and infuse into the collector's life the irresistible charm of +novelty, and every now and again an emergency issue comes as a +surprise. There is a scramble for possession, and a spice of +speculation in the possibility, never absent from a makeshift and +emergency issue, that the copies may be scarce, and may some day ripen +into rarity. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +III. + +Its Permanence. + + +Ever since the collection of postage stamps was first started it has +been sneered at as a passing craze, and it has been going to die a +natural death for the past forty years. But it is not dead yet. +Indeed, it is very much more alive than it has ever been. Still the +sneerers sneer on, and the false prophets continue to prophesy its +certain end. + +To the unsympathetic, the ignoramus, the lethargic, the brainless, +everything that savours of enthusiasm is a craze. The politician who +throws himself heart and soul into a political contest is "off his +head," is seized with a craze. The philanthropist who builds and +endows hospitals and churches is "a crank," following a mere craze. +The earnest student of social problems is "off the track," on a craze. +The man who seeks relaxation by any change of employment is certain to +be classed by some idiot as one who goes off on a craze. You cannot, +in fact, step off the beaten track tramped by the common herd without +exciting some remark, some sneer, perchance, at your singularity. + +The most ignorant are the most positive that stamp collecting is only +a passing fancy of which its votaries will tire, sooner or later; and +yet for the last forty years, with a brief exception, due to an +abnormal depression in trade, it has always been on the increase. +Indeed, it has never in all those years been more popular with the +cultured classes than it is to-day. The Philatelic Society of London +has an unbroken record of regular meetings of its members extending +over a quarter of a century. The literature devoted to stamp +collecting is more abundant than that of any other hobby. Its votaries +are to be found in every city and town of the habitable globe. + +"All very fine," say our bogey men, our prophets of impending evil; +"but blue china has gone to the wall, autographs are losing caste, old +books and first editions are on the downgrade, pipes are relegated to +the lumber-room, metallurgical cabinets are coated with dust, and even +walking-sticks survive only at Sandringham!" Just so. We are +all--Governments, people, and weather--going to the bad as fast as we +can go, according to the croakers, the wiseacres, and the +self-appointed prophets. Nevertheless, stamp collecting has survived +the sneers and the evil prophecies of forty years, and so far as human +foresight can penetrate the future, it seems likely to survive for +many a generation yet. + +And why not? In the busy, contentious bustle of the competition of the +day, the brain, strained too often to its utmost tension, demands the +relaxation of some absorbing, pleasure-yielding hobby. Those who have +tried it attest the fact that few things more completely wean the +attention, for the time being, from the vexations and worries of the +day than the collection and arrangement of postage stamps. In fact, +stamp collecting has an ever-recurring freshness all its own, a scope +for research that is never likely to be exhausted, a literature varied +and abundant, and a close and interesting relation to the history and +progress of nations and peoples that insensibly widens the trend of +human sympathies and human knowledge. + +What more do we want of a hobby? We cannot ensure, even for the +British Empire, an eternity of durability: nations decay and fashions +change. Some day even stamp collecting may be superseded by a more +engrossing hobby. The indications, however, are all in favour of its +growing hold upon its universal public. The wealth invested in it is +immense, its trading interests are prosperous and international, and +no fear of changing fashion disturbs either dealer or collector. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +IV. + +Its Internationality. + + +Wherever you go you find the stamp collector in evidence. The hobby +has its devotees in every civilised country. Its hold is, in fact, +international. In Dresden there is a society with over two thousand +members upon its books; in out-of-the-way countries like Finland there +are ardent collectors and flourishing philatelic societies. The Prince +of Siam has been an enthusiastic collector for many years, and even in +Korea there are followers of the hobby. Australia numbers its +collectors by the thousand, and many of its cities have their +philatelic societies, all keen searchers for the much-prized rarities +of the various States of the Commonwealth. In India, despite the +difficulty of preserving stamps from injury by moisture, there are +numbers of collectors; one of the best-known rajahs is collecting +stamps for a museum, recently founded in his State, and the Parsees +are keen dealers. There are collectors throughout South Africa, in +Rhodesia, and even in Uganda. Wherever a postage stamp is issued there +may be found a collector waiting for a copy for his album. In no part +of the world can an issue of stamps be made that is not at once +partially bought up for collectors. If any one of the Antarctic +expeditions were to reach the goal of its ambition, and were to +celebrate the event there and then by an issue of postage stamps, a +collector would be certain to be in attendance, and would probably +endeavour to buy up the whole issue on the spot. The United States +teems with collectors, and they have their philatelic societies in the +principal cities and their Annual Congress. From Texas to Niagara, and +from New York to San Francisco, the millionaire and the more humble +citizen vie with each other in friendly rivalry as stamp collectors. + +Many countries are now making an Official Collection, and there is +every probability that some day in the near future most Governments +will keep a stamp collection of some sort for reference and +exhibition. Under the rules of the Postal Union, every state that +enters the Union is entitled to receive, for reference purposes, a +copy of every stamp issued by each country in the Postal Union. Hence +every Government receives valuable contributions, which should be +utilised in the formation of a National or Official Collection. And +some day stamp collectors will be numerous and influential enough to +demand that such contributions shall not be buried in useless and +forgotten heaps in official drawers, but shall be systematically +arranged for public reference and general study. + +Not a few countries are every year rescued from absolute bankruptcy by +the generosity with which collectors buy up their postal issues; and +many other countries would have to levy a very much heavier burden of +taxation from their peoples if stamp collecting were to go out of +fashion. + +So widespread indeed is our hobby that a well-known collector might +travel round the world and rely upon a cordial welcome at the hands of +fellow-collectors at every stopping-place en route. + +International jealousies are forgotten, and even the barriers of race, +and creed, and politics, in the pleasant freemasonry of philatelic +friendships. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +V. + +Its Geographical Interest. + + +A few years ago many heads of colleges prohibited stamp collecting +amongst their boys. They found they were carrying it too far, and were +being made the easy prey of a certain class of rapacious dealers. Now +the pendulum is swinging in a more rational direction, and many +masters themselves having become enthusiastic collectors, judiciously +encourage the boys under their care to collect and study stamps as +interesting aids to their general studies. They watch over their +collecting, and protect them from wasteful buying. In some schools the +masters have given or arranged lectures on stamps and stamp +collecting, and the boys have voted such entertainments as ranking +next to a jolly holiday. + +The up-to-date master, who can associate work and play, study and +entertainment, is much more likely to register successes than the +frigid dominie who will hear of nothing but a rigid attention to the +tasks of the day. In the one case the lessons are presented in their +most repellent form, in the other they are made part and parcel of +each day's pleasant round of interesting study. + +The genuine success of the Kindergarten system in captivating the +little ones lies in its association of play with work. The same +principle holds good even to a much later age. The more pleasant the +task can be made, the more ready will be the obedience with which the +task will be performed. The openings for the judicious and helpful +admixture of study and entertainment are so few, that one wonders that +such a helpful form of play as stamp collecting has not become more +popular than it has in our colleges. + +Take, for example, the study of geography, so important to the boys of +a great commercial nation. The boy who collects stamps will readily +separate the great colonising powers, and group and locate their +separate colonies. How many other boys, even after they have passed +through the last stage of their school life, could do this? +Little-known countries and states are too often a puzzle to the +ordinary schoolboy, which are familiar places to the stamp collecting +youth. Ask the ordinary schoolboy in which continents are such places +as Angola, Annam, Curacao, Funchal, Holkar, Ivory Coast, Liberia, +Nepaul, Reunion, St. Lucia, San Marino, Sarawak, Seychelles, Sirmoor, +Somali Coast, Surinam, Tahiti, Tobago, or Tonga, and how many of all +these places, so familiar to the young stamp collector, will he +properly place? Not many; and the same question might probably be +asked of many an adult with even less satisfaction. + +The average series of used stamps are now so cheap that a lad may get +together a fairly representative collection for what he ordinarily +spends at the tuck shop. Some educationists have advocated the making +and exhibiting of school collections of stamps as aids to study. Such +collections would certainly be much more profitably studied than most +of the maps and diagrams that nowadays cover the walls. + +With few exceptions, every stamp has the name of the country, or +colony, of its issue on its face; and most colonial stamps bear some +family likeness to the stamps of the mother country. Our British +colonial stamps are distinguished by their Queen's heads; the stamps +of Portugal and its colonies by the portraits of the rulers of +Portugal; those of Germany by the German currency; those of France +mostly by French heraldic designs; those of Spain by the portraits of +the kings and queens of Spain. So that the postage stamp is a key to +much definite, valuable, and practical information. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +VI. + +Its Historical Finger Posts. + + +When considered from the historical point of view, postage stamps +attain their highest level of educational value. They are finger posts +to most of the great events that have made the history of nations +during the last fifty years. Here are a few out of many examples which +might be quoted. + +The introduction of adhesive stamps for the prepayment of postage +found France a Republic. A provisional government had just been +established on the ruins of the monarchy which had been swept out of +existence in the revolution of 1848. As a consequence, the first +postage stamp issued by France, on New Year's Day of 1849, bore the +head of Ceres, emblematic of Liberty. Three years later Louis Napoleon +seized the post of power, and, as President of the Republic, his head +figures on a stamp issued in 1851, under the inscription "REPUB. +FRANC." Two years later the Empire was re-established, and the words +"REPUB. FRANC." were changed to "EMPIRE FRANC." over the same head. In +1863 the customary laurel wreath, to indicate the first victories of +the reign, won in the war with Austria, was added to the Emperor's +head. In 1870 the Franco-German War resulted in the downfall of the +monarchy, and the head of Liberty reappears on a series of postage +stamps issued in Paris during its investment by the German army. The +issue of the stamps of Alsace and Lorraine in 1870 marks the +annexation of the conquered territory. + +Italy in 1850 was a land of many petty states, each more or less a law +unto itself, and each, in the fifties, issuing its own separate series +of postage stamps. The stamps of the Pontifical States are made +familiar by their typical design of a tiara and keys, and pompous King +Bomba ordered the best engraver to be found to immortalise him in a +portrait for a series of stamps. The other states had each its own +heraldic design till the foundations of the Kingdom of Italy were +laid, in 1859-60, by the union of the Lombardo-Venetian States, the +Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchies +of Parma and Modena, the Romagna and the Roman (or Pontifical) States +with Piedmont. The first issue of stamps of the newly formed kingdom +bore a portrait of King Victor Emmanuel II. with profile turned to the +right. In 1863, after the Kingdom of Sardinia had been merged in the +Kingdom of Italy, a new series was issued for united Italy. The same +king's portrait appears, but turned to the left. In 1879 King Humbert +succeeded Victor Emmanuel, and his portrait appeared on an issue in +the year of his accession. The assassination of King Humbert and the +accession of his son as Victor Emmanuel III. are followed by the new +portrait of the new king on the current series of the stamps of Italy. + +The stamps of Germany tell a somewhat similar story. They mark the +stages of gradual absorption into a confederation of states, and the +ultimate creation of a German Empire. The postal issues of Baden +ceased in 1871, when the Grand Duchy was incorporated in the Empire. +Bavaria, though also incorporated, holds out in postal matters, and +still issues its separate series. Bergedorf was in 1867 placed under +the control of the free city of Hamburg, and thereupon ceased issuing +stamps. Bremen, Brunswick, Hamburg, Lubeck, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, +Oldenburg, Prussia, Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein formed the North +German Confederation, and closed their postal accounts with collectors +in 1868. Hanover became a province of Prussia after the war of 1866, +and thereupon ceased its separate issue of postage stamps; and Thurn +and Taxis followed suit in 1867. In 1870 the North German +Confederation was merged in the German Empire, which issued its first +postage stamp with the Imperial eagle in 1872. But the Empire is not +yet sufficiently united to place a portrait of the Emperor upon its +Imperial postal series. + +Indian postage stamps, overprinted with the initials "C.E.F.", for the +China Expeditionary Force, _i.e._ the Indian troops sent to China in +1901 to relieve the besieged Embassies, mark an historical event of no +small import. + +The early provisional issues of Crete of 1898 indicate the joint +interference of the Great Powers in its affairs, and the later issues, +in 1900, bear the portrait of Prince George of Greece as High +Commissioner of Crete. + +The Confederate locals of America, issued, in 1861-3, by the +postmasters of the Southern States when they were cut off by the war +from the capital and its supplies of postage stamps, and each town was +thrown upon its own resources, proclaim the period of the great +American Civil War. + +Collectors are all familiar with the long series of portraits of past +Presidents of the United States, from Washington to Garfield. + +The stamps of Don Carlos mark the Carlist rising in Spain in 1873. + +But amongst the most interesting of all stamps that may be classed as +historical finger posts, none equal in present-day interest the stamps +of the Transvaal, for they tell of the struggle for supremacy in South +Africa. In 1870 the Boers issued their first postage stamp, and a +crude piece of workmanship it was, designed and engraved in Germany. +Till 1877 they printed their supplies of postage stamps in their own +crude way from the same crude plates. Then came the first British +Occupation, when the remainders of the stamps of the first South +African Republic were overprinted "V.R. TRANSVAAL," to indicate +British government. Then, in 1878, the stamps of the Republic were +replaced by our Queen's Head. In 1881 the country was given back to +the Boers, when they in turn overprinted our Queen's Head series in +Boer currency, to indicate the restoration of Boer domination. And +now, finally, in 1900 we have the second British Occupation, and a +second overprinting of South African Republic stamps "V.R.I.", to +signalise once more, and finally, the supremacy of British rule in +South Africa. The Mafeking stamps are also interesting souvenirs of a +gallant stand in the same historical struggle. + +The war which Chili some years ago carried into Bolivia and Peru has +been marked in a special manner upon the postage stamps of Chili. As +in the case of our own troops in South Africa, so the Chilian troops +in Bolivia and Peru were allowed to frank their letters home with the +stamps of their own country. So also the Chilians further overprinted +the stamps of Peru with the Chilian arms during their occupation of +the conquered country in the years 1881-2. Chilian stamps used along +the route of the conquering army, and postmarked with the names of the +towns occupied, are much sought after by specialists. These postmarks +include Arica, Callao, Iquique, Lima, Paita, Pisagua, Pisco, Tacna, +Yca, etc. + +And so the stamp collector may turn over the pages of his stamp album, +and point to stamp after stamp that marks, for him, some development +of art, some crisis in a country's progress, some struggle to be free, +or some great upheaval amongst rival powers. In fact, every stamp +issued by a country is, more or less, a page of its history. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +VII. + +Stamps with a History. + + +There are numbers of stamps that have an interesting history of their +own. They mark some official experiment, some curious blunder or +accident, some little conceit, some historical event, or some crude +and early efforts at stamp production. + +What is known as the V.R. Penny black, English stamp, is said to have +been designed as an experiment in providing a special stamp for +official use, its official character being denoted by the initials +V.R. in the upper corners; but the proposal was dropped, and the V.R. +Penny black was never issued. For a long time it was treasured up as a +rarity by collectors, but now that its real claims to be regarded as +an issued stamp have been finally settled, it is no longer included in +our stamp catalogues. In the days of its popularity it fetched as much +as L14 at auction. It is now relegated to the rank of an interesting +souvenir of the experimental stage in the introduction of Penny +Postage. + +Of curious blunders, the Cape of Good Hope errors of colours are +amongst the most notable. In 1861 the 1d. and 4d. triangular stamps, +then current, were suddenly exhausted, and before a stock could be +obtained from the printers in England, a temporary supply had to be +provided locally. This was done by engraving imitations of the +originals. Stereos were then taken, and made up into plates for +printing. By an oversight a stereo of the penny value was dropped into +the fourpenny plate and a fourpenny into the penny plate. +Consequently, each sheet printed in the required red ink from the +penny plate yielded a fourpenny wrongly printed in red instead of +blue, its proper colour; and every sheet of the fourpenny likewise +yielded a penny stamp printed in blue instead of red. These errors are +highly prized by collectors, and are now extremely scarce, even poor +specimens fetching from L50 to L60. At the time, copies were sold by +dealers for a few shillings each. Similar errors are known in the +stamps of other countries. + +Now and again the sheets of a particular value have, by some +extraordinary oversight, been printed and issued in the wrong colour. +In 1869 copies of the 1s. of Western Australia were printed in bistre +instead of in green, and a few years later the twopence was discovered +in lilac instead of yellow. In 1863 a supply of shilling stamps was +sent out to Barbados printed in blue instead of black; but this latter +error was, according to Messrs. Hardy and Bacon, so promptly +discovered, that it is doubtful if any of the wrong colour were issued +for postal use. In 1896 the fastidiously careful firm of De la Rue and +Co. printed off and despatched to Tobago a supply of 6,000 one +shilling stamps in the colour of the sixpenny, _i.e._ in orange-brown +instead of olive-yellow. Several are said to have been issued to the +public before the error had been noticed. Indeed, the firm at home is +credited with having first discovered the mistake, and is said to +have telegraphed to the colony in time to prevent their issue in any +quantity. + +Another and much more common error in the early days of stamp +production was the careless placing of one stamp on a plate upside +down. Stamps so placed are termed _tete-beche_. They have to be +collected in pairs to show the error. The early stamps of France +furnish many examples of this class of error. They are also to be +found on the 6d. and 1s. values of the first design of the stamps of +the Transvaal, on the early issues of Roumania, on some of the stamps +of the Colombian Republic, and other countries. + +Stamps requiring two separate printings--_i.e._ stamps printed in two +colours--have given rise to many curious errors in printing. A sheet +passed through the press upside down after one colour has been printed +results in one portion of the design being inverted. In the 1869 issue +of the stamps of the United States no less than three of the values +had the central portions of their designs printed upside down. The +4d., blue, of the first issue of Western Australia is known with the +Swan on its head. Even the recently issued Pan-American stamps, +printed in the most watchful manner by the United States official +Bureau of Engraving and Printing, are known with the central portions +of the design inverted, and these errors, despite the most searching +examination to which each sheet is several times subjected, escaped +detection, and were sold to the public. When, however, it is +remembered that stamps are now printed by the million, it will be +wondered that so few mistakes escape into the hands of collectors. + +As a bit of conceit, the issue of what is known as the Connell stamp +is probably unequalled. In loyal Canada, in 1860, Mr. Charles Connell +was Postmaster-General of the little colony of New Brunswick, which in +those days had its own government and its own separate issue of +stamps. A change of currency from "pence" to "cents" necessitated new +postage stamps. It was decided to give the new issue as much variety +as possible by having a separate design for each stamp. Two of the +series presented the crowned portrait of the Queen, and one that of +the Prince of Wales as a lad in Scotch dress. Connell, apparently +ambitious to figure in the royal gallery, gave instructions to the +engravers to place his own portrait upon the 5 cents stamp. His +instructions were carried out, and in due time a supply of the 5 cents +bearing his portrait was delivered. But before many were issued the +news spread like wildfire that Connell had outraged the issue by +placing his own portrait upon one of the stamps. Political opponents +are said to have taken up the hue and cry. The matter was immediately +brought before the higher authorities, and the unfortunate stamp was +promptly suppressed. Half a million had been printed off and delivered +for sale, but very few seem to have escaped the outcry that was raised +against them, and to-day copies are extremely scarce. Poor Connell +took the matter very much to heart, threw up his appointment, and +forthwith retired into private life. But the portrait of the bluff +mechanic type of countenance will be handed down from generation to +generation in stamp catalogues and costly stamp collections long after +the authorities that suppressed him are forgotten. + +Some folks question the appearance of the Baden-Powell portrait upon +the Mafeking stamps as a similar bit of conceit; but whatever may be +said in criticism of Baden-Powell's stamp, most people will be +inclined to accept it as a pleasant souvenir of an historic siege and +a determined and gallant stand against great odds. + +But of all the portraits that have appeared upon postal issues, none +probably occasioned so much trouble and fuss as that of the notorious +King Bomba of Sicily. The most eminent engraver of his day--Aloisio--was +commissioned to prepare an exact likeness of His Sacred Majesty. After +much ministerial tribulation the portrait was approved and engraved, and +to this day it is regarded as a superb piece of work. A special +cancelling stamp had to be designed and put into use which defaced only +the border of the stamp and left the sacred portrait untouched. During +the preliminaries necessary to the production of the sacred effigy the +fate of ministers and officials hung in the balance. One official was +actually marked for degradation for having submitted a disfigurement +which turned out to be a carelessly printed, or rough, proof impression. + +Numerous stamps have been designed, especially of late years, to +represent some historical event in connection with the country of +issue. The United States, in 1869, in the confined space of an +unusually small stamp, endeavoured to represent the landing of +Columbus, and in another stamp the Declaration of Independence. In a +much more recent series, stamps of an exceptionally large size were +adopted to give scope for a Columbus celebration set of historical +paintings, including Columbus soliciting aid of Isabella, Columbus +welcomed at Barcelona, Columbus restored to favour, Columbus +presenting natives, Columbus announcing his discovery, the recall of +Columbus, Isabella pledging her jewels, Columbus in chains, and +Columbus describing his third voyage. Greece has given us a set of +stamps illustrating the Olympian Games. But collectors look with +considerable suspicion upon stamps of this showy class, for too many +of them have been produced with the sole object of making a profit out +of their sale to collectors, and not to meet any postal requirement. + +Crude productions of peculiar interest belong more to the earlier +stages of the introduction of postage stamps. Local attempts at +engraving in some of our own early colonial settlements were of the +crudest possible description, and yet they are, because of their very +crudeness, far more interesting than the finished product supplied by +firms at home, for the local effort truly represented the country of +its issue in the art of stamp production. The amusingly crude attempts +which the engravers of Victoria have made from time to time, during +the last fifty years, to give us a passable portrait of Her late +Majesty Queen Victoria, have no equal for variety. The stamps of the +first South African Republic, made in Germany, are very appropriate in +their roughness of design and execution. For oddity of appearance the +palm must be awarded to those of Asiatic origin, such, for instance, +as the stamps of Afghanistan, of Kashmir, and most of the local +productions of the Native States of India, marking as they do their +own independent attempts to work up to European methods of +intercommunication. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +VIII. + +Great Rarities. + + +Of the many stamps that are set apart, for one cause or another, from +the ordinary run, as having a history of their own, those that by the +common consent of collector and dealer are ranked as great rarities +are the most fruitful source of astonishment to the non-collector. +They are the gems of the most costly collections, the possession of +the few, and the envy of the multitude. In a round dozen that will +fetch over L100 apiece there are not more than one or two that can lay +any claim to be considered works of art; indeed, they are mostly +distinguished by their surpassing ugliness. Nevertheless, they are the +gems that give tone and rank to the finest collections. Some of them +are even priceless. + +To the average man it is astonishing that anyone in his senses can be +so foolish as to give L1,000 for an ugly little picture that has +merely done duty as a postage stamp. He contends there can be no +intrinsic value in such scraps of paper, and that settles the matter, +in his opinion. But is it not so with precious stones and pearls? They +are of value merely because they are the fashion. There is no +intrinsic value in them. If they were not fashionable they would be +of little or no value. Long-standing fashion, and fashion alone, has +given them their value. So it is with stamps; fashion has given them +their value, and every decade of continued popularity adds to that +value as it has added to the value of precious stones and pearls. +There is no sign that precious stones are likely to become worthless +by the withdrawal of popular favour. Fashion changes from one stone to +another without affecting the popularity of precious stones in +general. So it is with stamps. Fashions change from one line of +collecting to another without in the slightest degree affecting the +stability or popularity of collecting as a whole. Precious stones and +pearls minister to the pride of the individual, and stamps to his +pleasure; and each has its own strong and unshakable hold upon the +devotees of fashion and pleasure. There is a fluctuating market in the +case of each of these favourites, but I venture to think that there +is, and has been for the past forty years, a steadier rise in the +value of stamps than in the value of precious stones. + +[Illustration:] + +British Guiana, 1856, 1 c.--In 1856 this colony was awaiting a supply +of stamps from England, and pending its arrival two provisional stamps +were issued, a 1 c. and a 4 c. These were set up from type in the +office of the _Official Gazette_. A small illustration of a ship, used +for heading the shipping advertisements in the daily papers, was +utilised for the central portion of the design. Of the 1 c. value only +one specimen is known to-day, and that is in the collection of M. +Philipp la Renotiere (Herr von Ferrary). Doubts have been expressed as +to the genuineness of the copy, but Mr. Bacon, who has had an +opportunity of inspecting it, says: "After a most careful inspection I +have no hesitation whatever in pronouncing it a thoroughly genuine one +cent specimen. The copy is a poor one, dark magenta in colour, and +somewhat rubbed. It is initialled 'E. D. W.', and dated April 1st, the +year not being distinct enough to be read." + +This stamp may safely be placed at the head of great rarities. Of its +value it is impossible to form any opinion. If a dealer had the +disposal of the copy in question, he would probably want between +L1,000 and L2,000 for it, with a decided preference for the larger +sum. + +[Illustration:] + +Mauritius, "Post Office," 1d. and 2d.--The best known, the most +quoted, and probably the most popular of all the great rarities is the +"Post Office" Mauritius, so called because the words "Post Office" +were inscribed on one side of the stamp instead of the words "Post +Paid." There were two values, 1d. and 2d. They were designed and +engraved by a local watchmaker, and were printed from single dies, and +issued in 1847. The tedious process of printing numbers of stamps from +single dies was soon abandoned, and only 500 copies of each value were +struck. Of those 1,000 stamps only twenty-two copies are known to +exist to-day. There are in the hands of leading collectors two copies +of the 1d. unused, and three copies of the 2d. unused, twelve copies +of the 1d. used, and five copies of the 2d. used. These rarities were +only in use for a few days, and were mostly used in sending out +invitations to a ball at Government House. + +The value, according to condition, is from L800 upwards for each +value, but unused they are of course worth a great deal more. + +[Illustration:] + +Hawaii, 1851, 2 cents, blue.--Like so many rare stamps, this first +issue of Hawaii was designed and set up from type in a printer's +office. About twelve copies are known to exist. The stamp was in use +but a very short time, as the Post Office of Honolulu was burnt down, +and the stock of stamps of this first issue was completely destroyed. + +This 2 cents stamp is worth about L750. + +[Illustration:] + +British Guiana, 1850, 2 cents.--This is popularly known as the 2 cents +circular Guiana, because of its shape. A notice in the local Official +Gazette, dated February, 1851, announced that "by order of His +Excellency the Governor, and upon the request of several of the +merchants of Georgetown, it is proposed to establish a delivery of +letters twice each day through the principal streets of this city." +Certain gentlemen were named as having consented to receive letters +for delivery at their respective stores, and it was further announced +that "each letter must bear a stamp, for which 2 c. will be charged, +or it will not be delivered, and when called for will be subject to +the usual postage of 8 c." A supply of the required 2 c. stamps was +provided by a locally type-set design enclosed in a ring. It is said +that this delivery of letters was discontinued soon after it was +started, hence rarity of the stamp. + +Only eleven copies of this quaint postage stamp are known, and its +market value is probably somewhere about L600. + +[Illustration:] + +Moldavia, 1858, 81 paras.--This rare stamp formed one of a set of four +of the first postage stamps issued in Roumania. The values were 27 +paras for single letters travelling, and not carried more than about +seventy miles, 54 paras for double that distance, 81 paras for heavier +letters, and 108 paras for registered letters, all within the limits +of Moldavia. The 81 paras is the rarest of the series, as will be seen +from the following inventory taken in February, 1859, of the then +unsold stock:-- + + 27 paras, printed 6,000, sold 3,675. + 54 " " 10,000 " 4,756. + 81 " " 2,000 " 693. +108 " " 6,000 " 2,568. + +All these stamps were printed by hand on coloured paper in sheets of +thirty-two impressions in four rows of eight stamps. An unused copy of +the 81 paras has fetched as much as L350. + +[Illustration:] + +United States, Millbury, 1847, 5 c.--In the United States the general +adoption of postage stamps was preceded by what may be termed +preliminary issues, of a more or less local character, and known as +"Postmaster stamps." These "Postmaster stamps" were issued by various +country postmasters by way of experiment. The Providence stamp is the +commonest example. One of the rarest is the 5 c. stamp, with a +portrait of Washington, issued by the postmaster of Millbury, in +Massachusetts, in 1847. This stamp is said to be worth about L300. +There are others reputed to be equally rare. Among the local stamps +issued by various unofficial carriers and express agencies, there are +many of which very few copies are known, and as they are practically +all held by enthusiastic collectors, and never come into the market, +there are no data as to their current value. + +[Illustration:] + +Cape of Good Hope, 1861. _Errors of Colour_.--In making up the plate +of a provisional issue of triangular stamps, pending the arrival of +supplies from England, a stereo of the 1d. got inserted by mistake in +the 4d. plate, and a 4d. in the 1d. plate. Consequently each sheet of +the 1d. contained a 4d. printed in red, the colour of the 1d., instead +of blue. And the sheets of the 4d., in like manner, each contained a +1d, which, when the 4d. was printed in its proper colour of blue, was +also printed in blue instead of red, the proper colour. These errors +are very scarce, especially in an unused condition. The 1d., blue, is +the rarer of the two, and is worth about L70 used; it is not known +unused. + +[Illustration:] + +Tuscany, 1860, 3 lire.--In the early days of stamp production high +values, such as we are now accustomed to get from most countries, were +very rarely issued. For nearly thirty years Great Britain was content +with a shilling stamp as its highest value. In 1860 the Provisional +Government of Tuscany issued a stamp of 3 lire, for which there seems +to have been very little use. It represented but two shillings and +sixpence of English money, but it is nevertheless one of the great +rarities to-day, especially in an unused condition. Used copies are +worth about L65, and unused about L120. + +[Illustration:] + +Transvaal, 1878. _Error_ "Transvral."--This error occurred once in +each sheet of eighty of the 1d., red on blue, of the first British +Occupation. It was evidently discovered before a second lot was +required, as it does not recur in the next printing of 1d., red on +orange. It is a very rare stamp. Used it is worth about L50, but +unused it is one of the great rarities, and has changed hands at about +L150. + +[Illustration:] + +Ceylon, 1859, 4d. and 8d., imperforate.--Several of the first issues +of this colony, designed and engraved by Messrs. Perkins Bacon and +Co., and issued in 1857-9, are esteemed as great rarities in an +imperforate and unused condition. The 4d., 8d., 9d., 1s., and 2s. are +the rarest. The 4d., so long ago as 1894, fetched L130 at auction. +These stamps are amongst the few great rarities that may be entitled +to rank as works of art, and every year they are more sought after and +more difficult to get in fine condition. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +IX. + +The Romance of Stamp Collecting. + + +The story of the development of stamp collecting, and of the trade +that has sprung up with it, is full of romance. + +Our publishers' business, with its world-wide ramifications, was begun +by young Gibbons putting a few sheets of stamps in his father's shop +window. The father was a chemist, and it was intended that the lad +should follow in his father's footsteps; but the stamps elbowed the +drugs aside, and eventually yielded a fortune which enabled this +pioneer of the stamp trade to retire and indulge his globe-trotting +propensities to the full. He sold his business for L25,000, and, still +in the prime of life, retired to a snug little villa on the banks of +the Thames. The business was converted into a Limited Liability +Company, and the Managing Director may be said to be a product of the +original business, for it was a present of a guinea packet of Stanley +Gibbons's stamps that first whetted his appetite for stamp collecting, +and eventually for stamp dealing. Mr. Gibbons had for a great many +years conducted his business from his private house. The new broom +changed all that, and opened out in fine premises in the Strand, +W.C., where the Company now occupy the whole of one house and the +greater part of the adjoining premises. In every room busy hands are +at work all the day long endeavouring to keep pace with a world-wide +business which began with a few sheets in the corner of a chemist's +shop window in the town of Plymouth. + +And now, looking back on the humdrum days of the beginnings of the +stamp trade, what opportunities do they not seem to have missed! Could +they but have foreseen the present-day developments, a few +unconsidered trifles, valued at a few pence in those days, put away in +a bottom drawer, would to-day net a fortune. Young Gibbons, amongst +his early purchases, bought from a couple of sailors at Plymouth for +L5 a sackful of triangular Cape of Good Hope stamps, a large +proportion being the rare so-called Woodblocks, with many of the +Errors described in the list of great rarities in another chapter. +Those Errors he disposed of at 2s. 6d. each. They are now worth from +L60 to L75 each. And the ordinary Woodblocks, which were so +plentifully represented in that sackful, are now catalogued at from +50s. to L9 apiece. Strange as it may seem, those were the common +stamps of those days, and they are the rarities of to-day. + +A well-known collection, full of rare stamps of the value of from L5 +to L50, has been largely formed by the fortunate possessor out of +stamps for which he paid 2s. per dozen just a little over twenty years +ago. + +A leading collector once conceived the idea of scouring the +little-visited country towns of Spain for rare old Spanish stamps, and +a most successful hunt he made of it. He secured most valuable and +unsuspected hauls of unused and used blocks and pairs of rare +Portuguese; but before returning home he decided to treat himself to a +trip to Morocco, and during that ill-fated extension of his tour he +lost nearly the whole of his patient garnerings of rare Spanish +stamps, for during an inland trip some very unphilatelic Bedouins +swooped down on his escort in the desert and carried off the whole of +his baggage. He, being some distance ahead of his escort, escaped, and +brought home only a few samples of the grand things he had found and +lost. + +In all forms of collecting the hunt for bargains adds zest to the +game, and probably more so in stamps than in any other hobby, not even +excepting old china; and, as in other lines of collecting, the bargain +hunter must be equipped with the expert knowledge of the specialist if +he would sweep into his net at bargain prices the unsuspected gems to +be found now and again in the philatelic mart. Many a keen stamp +collector turns his years of wide experience to good account as a +bargain hunter, and at least one innocent amateur is credited with +netting a revenue which would make many a flourishing merchant green +with envy. + +Many a match has probably been due to stamp collecting. Not long ago +we were told of a young lady who wrote to an official in a distant +colony for a few of the current stamps issued from his office. The +stamps were forwarded and a correspondence ensued. There was +eventually an exchange of photographs, and finally the official +applied for leave, returned home, and married his stamp collecting +correspondent. + +Truly the scope of the stamp collector for pleasure, for profit, and +for romance is as wide as the most imaginative could desire. + + + + +[Illustration:] + +X. + +Philatelic Societies and their Work. + + +Most of the great cities of Europe, the British Colonies, and the +United States have their Philatelic Societies. They are associations +of stamp collectors for the study of postage stamps, their history, +engraving, and printing; the detection and prevention of forgeries and +frauds; the preparation and publication of papers and works bearing +upon postal issues; the display and exhibition of stamps, and the +exchange of duplicates. + +The premier society is the Philatelic Society of London, which was +founded so long ago as 1869, and has as its acting President H.R.H. +the Prince of Wales. For over thirty years, without a break, this +Society has held regular meetings during the winter months. Its +membership comprises most of the leading collectors in Great Britain +and her Colonies and many of the best-known foreign collectors. On the +membership roll are three princes, several earls, baronets, judges, +barristers, medical men, officers in the Army and Navy, and many +well-known merchants. This society has published costly works on the +stamps of Great Britain, of the Australian Colonies, of the British +Colonies of North America, of the West Indies, of India and Ceylon, +and of Africa. It publishes an excellently-got-up monthly journal of +its own, which now claims shelf-room in the philatelic library for ten +stately annual volumes. It has held two very successful International +Philatelic Exhibitions, one opened by the late Duke of Edinburgh and +the other by the Prince of Wales, then Duke of York. At its +fortnightly meetings, papers are read and discussed on various matters +relating to the hobby. Other meetings are held for the friendly +exchange of duplicates. + +In the provinces, the principal societies are those of Manchester and +Birmingham. The Birmingham Society possesses a collection of its own, +which it keeps up to date, as a work of reference for its members. +Several of the societies hold periodical exhibitions, in which members +compete for medals, and in many other ways they lay themselves out to +encourage and promote the collection of postage stamps as a popular +pastime. + +The names of the various societies and the addresses of the +secretaries are published at the commencement of each winter season in +Stanley Gibbons' _Monthly Journal_. + +Apart from their pleasant sociability, these societies are of immense +help to the collector, especially to the beginner. At each meeting +papers are read and discussed, in which the most experienced +collectors retail, for the benefit of the less experienced, the result +of their latest researches, and eminent specialists display their +splendid and carefully-arranged collections for the inspection, +edification, and enjoyment of their fellow-members. This continual +meeting and comparing of notes, this concentration of study upon the +issues of a particular country, gradually ripens even the veriest tyro +into an advanced and experienced collector. + +Under such conditions difficulties are cleared up, and the way made +plain for wise and safe collecting. In too many lines of collecting +the specialist carefully guards his knowledge for his own ultimate +personal profit. The Philatelist, on the other hand, is more +frequently than not generously and candidly helpful to his less +advanced fellow-collector, especially if he happens to be a +fellow-member of the same philatelic society. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +[Illustration:] + +XI. + +The Literature of Stamps. + + +Few hobbies, if any, can boast of such a varied and extensive +literature as stamp collecting. Expensive works have been published on +the postal issues of most countries. They have been published in +English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, and Swedish. +Those published in English alone would make a library of some hundreds +of volumes. + +From its foundation, in 1869, the Philatelic Society of London has set +itself the task of studying and writing up the postal history of Great +Britain and her Colonies. Towards the accomplishment of this great +task, it has already presented its members with splendid monographs on +the Australian Colonies, the Colonies of North America, of the West +Indies, of India and Ceylon, two volumes on the British Colonies of +Africa, a separate monograph on Tasmania, and last, and most ambitious +of all, a massive and comprehensive history of the postal issues of +Great Britain. All these works are expensively illustrated with a +profusion of full-page plates and other illustrations, and they +represent years of patient toil, far-reaching investigation, and +untiring research. The _History of the Adhesive Postage Stamps of +Europe_ has been written in two volumes by Mr. W. A. S. Westoby, and +the same author, in collaboration with Judge Philbrick, some twenty +years ago published a work on _The Postal and Telegraph Stamps of +Great Britain_. Messrs. W. J. Hardy and E. D. Bacon, in a work +entitled _The Stamp Collector_, have sketched the general history of +postage stamps. Other works too numerous to mention here have been +written from time to time for the edification of the stamp collector, +and the list is continually being increased by the addition of even +more important works. + +One of the most interesting and comprehensive series of philatelic +works, still in course of publication, was commenced by Messrs. +Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., in 1893, in the form of philatelic handbooks. +These handbooks are written by leading philatelic authorities. Each +important country, _i.e._ important from the stamp collector's point +of view, has a separate volume devoted to it, and into each handy +volume is condensed as much as may be necessary to guide the advanced +collector in specialising the postal issues of the country which he +favours. There have already been published:--_Portuguese India_, by +Mr. Gilbert Harrison and Lieut. F. H. Napier, R.N.; _South Australia_, +by Lieut. F. H. Napier and Mr. Gordon Smith; _St. Vincent_, by Lieut. +F. H. Napier and Mr. E. D. Bacon; _Shanghai_, by Mr. W. B. Thornhill; +_Barbados_, by Mr. E. D. Bacon and Lieut. F. H. Napier; _Reprints and +their Characteristics_, by Mr. E.D. Bacon; and _Grenada_, by Mr. E. D. +Bacon and Lieut. F. H. Napier. + +For the instruction of the beginner, Major Evans, R.A., has compiled +an excellent glossary of philatelic terms, under the title of _Stamps +and Stamp Collecting_; and there is, further, _A Colour Dictionary_, +by Mr. B. W. Warhurst, designed to simplify the recognition and +determination of the colours and shades of stamps--a by no means +unimportant matter when the value of a stamp depends upon its shade. + +But the most popular of all the philatelic publications are, of +course, the monthly periodicals. The first stamp journal is said to +have been _The Monthly Intelligence_, published at Manchester in 1862. +It had but a short life of ten numbers out of the twelve required to +complete Vol. I. But other journals followed in rapid succession, with +more or less success, from year to year, till in 1893 a list of the +various ventures in this line totalled up to nearly a couple of +hundred. _The Stamp Collectors' Magazine_, started in 1863, may be +said to survive in Alfred Smith and Son's _Monthly Circular; The +Philatelic Record_, established in 1879, is now in its twenty-fourth +yearly volume; Gibbons' _Monthly Journal_ is in its twelfth yearly +volume; and _The London Philatelist_ is in its eleventh yearly volume; +and all may be said to be going strong. How many ordinary periodicals +can boast of equally robust lives? And yet some people are still to be +found who speak in all seriousness of stamp collecting as only a +passing craze. + +Properly speaking, tradesmen's catalogues can scarcely be regarded as +literature, and yet it would be very remiss on my part to close this +chapter without a reference to the excellent catalogues with which +stamp collectors are provided. What other hobby can boast of such +comprehensive and detailed catalogues, giving the actual selling price +of almost every item, and regularly revised and brought up to date +from year to year? Messrs. Stanley Gibbons' Priced Catalogue is +comprised in four volumes:--Part I., The British Empire, 244 pages; +Part II., Foreign Countries, 458 pages; Part III., Local Postage +Stamps, 122 pages; Part IV., Envelopes, Post Cards, and Wrappers, 317 +pages; in all, 1,141 closely printed double-column pages of small +type, with thousands of illustrations. This excellent catalogue is at +once guide, philosopher, and friend to the stamp collector. Some +people irreverently style it "the Philatelist's Bible." It does not +profess to be anything more or less than a mere catalogue of goods for +sale, but it is an open secret that it represents the combined work +and the combined knowledge of the best Philatelists of the day, and +that neither trouble nor expense is spared to include within its pages +everything that a collector needs to know to enable him to gather his +treasures together, and to arrange them in the best possible and most +authoritative order. + +Much the same story might be told of the literature of stamp +collecting in other countries. In the United States, in France, and in +Germany there are numbers of robust periodicals, some stretching back +into the early days, and there are scores of volumes of philatelic +lore, many of which find a well-deserved place on the shelves of +English collectors. + +As an indication of the value attached to philatelic literature, I may +mention the fact that an English collector recently paid over L2,000 +for a by no means complete collection of works relating to stamp +collecting. + + + + +[Illustration:] + +XII. + +Stamps as Works of Art. + + +Some artists scout the idea of attempting anything that may be +considered a work of art in the ridiculously limited space of a +postage stamp. The restriction of a postage stamp when viewed +alongside a canvas measuring several yards in length and height is +probably hopeless enough. Nevertheless, many a stamp collector who is +not devoid of art can find stamps which seem to him to be entitled to +rank high even in the art world. In beauty of design, in the exquisite +workmanship of the best modern steel engraving, aided by the most +delicate machinery, and in unequalled printing, there are many gems +within the very limited space of a postage stamp that excite and +deserve, and not unfrequently win, the admiration of the most exacting +critics. There are scores of little medallions, mostly on the postage +stamps of foreign states, that surely would pass muster with an +impartial judge of art. They are not the rarities of the stamp album. +Some are even regarded as weeds in the philatelic garden. They are too +often made to serve the revenue-producing necessities of the issuing +state, and for that reason probably, more than for any other, they +are made as attractive as modern art applied to stamp production can +make them. + +Great commercial countries, producing their postage stamps by hundreds +of millions, are as contemptuous in their consideration of the art +possibilities of a postage stamp as the cynical artist whose days and +years are devoted to the disfigurement of wall space. This country has +no cause to be proud of the designs or the printing of its postage +stamps. The chief consideration seems to be a low contract price for +the production of recognisable labels for the indication of the +prepayment of postage. That is the commercial view. And yet there are +some foolish people who believe that an artist who could design an +effective and acceptable postage stamp for the British Empire would +add materially to his own fame and to the art standard of the Empire +itself. + +Brother Jonathan across the sea is not unmindful of art in the +production of his postage stamps, despite his commercial inclinations +and training. From the first he has put his patriotism into his +postage stamps. The portraits of the Presidents, from George +Washington to Lincoln, and from Lincoln to McKinley, who have ruled, +wisely and well, the destinies of the great Republic, Jonathan +engraves in his best style, in his own official engraving +establishment, and proudly places upon his postage stamps for the +admiration of all good citizens and the edification and envy of the +effete old countries beyond the seas. + +We, with our richer memories and our stately galleries of great men +who have ruled or governed or fought through the centuries, must be +content with an Empire postage stamp that is little better, from an +art point of view, than an ordinary beer label, and we must be +content to be told that it is the penalty of success, of the dire +necessity of long numbers, and of a needy Treasury that sorely hungers +for still greater profits from the Post Office. + +Meanwhile, small struggling states revel in beautiful stamps. The +latest trend is in the direction of miniature portraiture. The +Argentine Republic and Bolivia have in recent years issued some very +fine examples in this direction. A very useful innovation is the +addition of the name under the portrait. In this way thousands have +been familiarised with the names and faces of men who before were +almost unknown beyond their own country. Historic features, such as +those of Columbus and Pizarro, have occasionally been added to the +growingly interesting gallery of stamp portraits. + +The recently issued New Zealand picture series, illustrating most +effectively some of the choicest bits of colonial scenery, and some of +the rarest birds of the colony, engraved by Messrs. Waterlow and Sons, +afforded an interesting and successful experiment in an art direction. +As a result it is said that a strong demand has been generated in +other colonies for similarly beautiful and localised designs in +preference to the stereotyped mediocrity supplied by the ordinary +label process. + + + + +[Illustration] + +XIII. + +Stamp Collecting as an Investment. + + +When a stamp collector is charged with being extravagant, with +spending money lavishly and foolishly on a mere hobby, he may very +justifiably reply that even his most extravagant spendings may be +regarded as an investment. + +The ordinary investor in, say, industrial securities is fairly content +if he can, with a little risk, secure a steady six or seven per cent. +If he launches out into more speculative shares, yielding higher rates +of interest, he must be content to face a much greater risk of the +capital invested. Now, the severest test of an investment is the yield +of interest over a series of years covering periods of depression as +well as periods of prosperity. The stamp collector who has used +ordinary discretion in his purchases may confidently submit his +investment to this test. + +Some years ago, when I was writing in defence of stamp collecting as +an investment, I received a very indignant letter from a collector who +had made a large collection, complaining that he had then recently +endeavoured to sell, but could get only a very small percentage of his +outlay back, and that the very firms from whom he had bought most of +his stamps scouted the idea of paying him anything like what they had +cost him. He therefore ridiculed the idea that stamp collecting could +be regarded as a safe investment, as in his case it had been a +delusion and a snare. He was quite right, and it is still possible to +make big collections--of, say, five thousand, ten thousand, and even +larger--of stamps that are never likely to appreciate, and it is +possible to buy those stamps at such a price that any attempt to +realise even a small percentage of the original outlay must result in +a woeful eye-opener. + +Let me explain. In the stamp business, as in all other branches of +commerce, there are wholesale and retail dealers. The wholesaler buys +by the thousand stamps that are printed by the million. I refer, of +course, to used stamps. In some cases the price paid per thousand is +only a few pence for large quantities that run into millions. The +wholesaler sells to the retail dealer at a small advance per thousand. +Those stamps the ordinary dealer makes up into packets at a further +profit, but still at a comparatively low price. Good copies he picks +out for sale in sets and separately. Those have to be catalogued. +Therefore, the catalogue price of common stamps bought and sold by the +million eventually comes before the general collector at "one penny +each," and the man who makes a collection of common stamps of the "one +penny each" class can scarcely be expected to realise a fortune out of +his stamp collecting. When he offers his gatherings of years to the +self-same dealer, and asks, say, only the half of what he paid, he is +astounded when the dealer has the audacity to tell him frankly, "I can +buy most of those stamps at a few shillings per thousand, and you want +an average of a halfpenny each for them!" "But," retorts the +collector, "I paid you one penny each for them years ago, and now you +won't give me half that amount. A pretty thing investing money in +stamps!" The reply of the dealer will be, "My dear fellow, you have +put your money into the wrong stamps. I bought, and can still buy, +those stamps wholesale at a few shillings per thousand, some of them +at a few pence per thousand; but I have to pay clerks for handling +them and sorting them out, other assistants for cataloguing them, and +the printers for printing the catalogue, so that in the end I cannot +afford to sell them _separately_ for less than about one penny each, +but if you want a few thousand of any value I can sell them to you at +a price enormously below what you ask for your collection." The +collector's eyes are opened. + +It is impossible to get away from the necessity of regarding stamps as +an investment. Even the schoolboy cannot afford to put his shilling +into stamps unless he can be fairly assured that he may get his money +back at critical periods, which will crop up even in school life. +Indeed, it may be said that there are few, if any, stamp collectors +nowadays who do not put more money into stamps than they could afford +to do if there were not some element of investment in view. In some +instances large fortunes are actually invested in stamps, and I was +only recently told of a collector who had taken his money out of a +very profitable business and put it into stamps, and had netted very +much larger profits than he ever realised in his regular business. But +to do that sort of thing requires a profound knowledge of stamps and a +ready command of a very large banking account. + +Generally speaking, the best countries from an investment point of +view are British Colonials, especially those of the small colonies +that have small populations, and therefore very small printings of +stamps. Obviously, countries that put stamps into circulation by the +million can never be a very good investment, so far as their common +values are concerned. Those who buy with a keen eye on the investment +purpose, always buy unused copies of uncommon values. Unused are not +likely to depreciate, and they may appreciate. + +In fact, it may be safely said that, all round, the thing to do in +stamps is to buy _unused_ for investment. When stamps are printed by +the million, _used_ supplies will be available for no one knows how +long; but in the case of unused, when a new issue is made, the +obsolete stamp is on the road to an advance in value. It is true +dealers stock large quantities of all stamps, but there are so many +countries to be stocked now that no dealer can afford to hoard unused +to any great extent, and even if he did, the dead capital would be an +item which would compel him to advance the price of unused to protect +himself from loss. Let us say a stamp becomes obsolete this year, and +a dealer buys L100 worth. It would be a moderate estimate to place the +earning power of stamps at 10 per cent. In seven years that L100 hoard +would, reckoning compound interest, represent L200, or double face. Of +course, no dealer would hoard up L100 worth of a common stamp, but +from the day that it becomes obsolete it must be hoarded up by +someone, and interest must be accruing on the investment which will +have to be added to the value of the stamp, unless someone is to stand +the loss. It will, therefore, be obvious that unused stamps must +appreciate while used may remain stationary, for the simple reason +that the limit of supply has been reached in one case but not in the +other. + +Taking almost haphazard a few stamps, most of which have been within +the reach of all collectors during the last fifteen years, the +following table will give some idea of the appreciation in prices +which has been steadily going on in good stamps:-- + + |1875 |1880 |1886 |1890 |1893 |1897 |1902 | + |s. d. |s. d. |s. d. |s. d. |s. d. |s. d. |s. d. | +Bremen, 1867, 5 sgr., green, | | | | | | | | +_unused_ |1 0 |1 6 |2 6 |4 0 |5 0 |25 0 |17 6 | +Bechuanaland, 1886, 1s., | | | | | | | | +_used_. |-- |-- |-- |2 6 |2 6 |6 6 |30 0 | +" 1888-9, 4d., | | | | | | | | +_unused_ |-- |-- |-- |1 0 |2 0 |2 0 |3 0 | +British Guiana, 1860, 1 c, | | | | | | | | +brown. perf., _used_ |3 6 |4 0 |12 6 |30 0 |32 6 |80 0 |80 0 | +Cape of Good Hope, 1d., | | | | | | | | + [triangle]_unused_ |0 4 |0 6 |1 6 |2 0 |4 0 |8 0 |15 0 | +Cape of Good Hope, 1d., | | | | | | | | + [triangle] Woodblock, | | | | | | | | +_used_ |2 6 |3 6 |15 0 |25 0 |45 0 |90 0 |95 0 | +Cyprus, 1880, 6d., _unused_ |-- |-- |1 6 |7 6 |12 0 |30 0 |25 0 | + " " 1s., _unused_ |-- |-- |2 6 |10 0 |15 0 |40 0 |55 0 | +Danish West Indies, 1872, | | | | | | | | +4 c., blue, _unused_. |0 6 |0 6 |1 6 |3 6 |5 0 |17 6 |25 0 | +Danish West Indies, 1873, | | | | | | | | +14 c., _unused_ |1 0 |1 0 |2 6 |3 6 |5 6 |24 0 |32 0 | +Egypt, 1866, 5 piastres, | | | | | | | | +_unused_ |2 0 |2 0 |5 0 |8 6 |16 0 |22 6 |25 0 | + " " 10 " |2 6 |1 6 |6 0 |12 0 |20 0 |26 0 |27 6 | +Gambia, 4d., imperf., | | | | | | | | +_unused_ |0 8 |0 8 |2 6 |5 0 |6 0 |20 0 |32 0 | +Gibraltar, 1886, 1s. |-- |-- |1 9 |3 6 |7 6 |70 0 |75 0 | +Hayti, 1881, 20 c., _unused_ |-- |-- |2 0 |2 0 |2 6 |7 6 |20 0 | +Hungary, 1871, 3 k., litho., | | | | | | | | +_used_ |0 2 |0 2 |1 6 |3 6 |6 6 |30 0 |40 0 | +Newfoundland, 1866, 5 c., | | | | | | | | +brown, _used_. |1 0 |2 6 |3 6 |7 6 |12 6 |28 0 |25 0 | +New South Wales, 1d., Sydney | | | | | | | | +Views, _used_. |2 6 |4 0 |17 6 |30 0 |35 0 |40 0 |40 0 | +Orange River Colony, 1877, 4 | | | | | | | | +on 6d., _unused_ |-- |1 0 |1 0 |3 0 |3 0 |5 0 |30 0 | +Tonga, 1892, 8d. |-- |-- |-- |-- |2 0 |5 0 |10 0 | + " " 1s. |-- |-- |-- |-- |3 0 |4 0 |15 0 | +Transvaal, 1878-9, 4d., | | | | | | | | +_unused_ |-- |0 8 |1 0 |1 0 |0 9 |1 6 |20 0 | + " " 1s. " |-- |1 9 |2 0 |2 0 |4 6 |15 0 |40 0 | +Trinidad, 1896, 10s. |-- |-- |-- |-- |-- |14 0 |70 0 | +Turks Islands, 1879, 1s., | | | | | | | | +blue, _unused_ |-- |1 9 |2 6 |3 0 |5 0 |20 0 |25 0 | +Zululand, 1888, 9d. |-- |-- |-- |1 6 |1 6 |12 0 |17 6 | + +Of foolish investors there will always be a generous supply, who will +ever be ready to offer themselves as evidence of the worthlessness of +any and every form of investment, forgetful of the fact that the shoe +is more often on the other foot. In stamps, as in every other class of +investment, the foolish may buy what is worthless instead of what is +valuable. There are stamps specially manufactured and issued to catch +such flats, and they are easily hooked by the thousand every year, +despite the continual warnings of experienced collectors. + +But if we turn to the result of experienced collecting we find +abundant evidence of the fact that the stamp collector may enjoy his +stamps and, when the force of circumstances compels him to abandon +them, he may retire without regret for having put so much money into a +mere hobby. + +Mr. W. Hughes Hughes, B.L., started his collection in 1859, and kept a +strict account of all his expenditure on his hobby, and in 1896 he +sold to our publishers for close on L3,000 what had cost him only L69. + +In 1870 a stamp dealer in London, as a novelty and an advertisement, +papered his shop windows, walls, and ceiling with unused Ionian +Islands stamps, which were then a drug in the market. The same stamps +would now readily sell at 10s. per set of three; in other words, the +materials of that wall-paper would now be worth at least L5,000. + +The late Mr. Pauwels, of Torquay, made a collection which cost him +L360 up to 1871, when it was put on one side and left untouched until +1898. It was then purchased by our publishers for the sum of L4,000, +and yielded them a very fair return on their investment. + +In the International Philatelic Exhibition, held in the Galleries of +the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in Piccadilly, +London, in 1897, one collector marked over each stamp of his exhibit +the price which he had paid for it, and the market price of the day. +The collection had been got together during the previous fifteen +years, and had cost its owner L25 2s., while by the then latest +catalogue value it totalled up to L368 1s. 3d. + +Shrewd business men are those who frequently invest large sums in +stamps. The amounts spent annually by some wealthy collectors range +from L1,000 to L10,000. One well-known Parisian collector, whose life +has been largely devoted to his philatelic treasures, and who employs +two secretaries to look after his collection, has, it is estimated, +spent at least L200,000 on his stamps since 1870. + +If investment were the Alpha and Omega of stamp collecting, every +collector of standing would bemoan lost opportunities. Many a great +rarity of to-day could have been had for a few shillings a few years +ago. The Cape errors were sold by Stanley Gibbons at 2s. 6d. each. The +"Transvral" error was sold by the same generous firm at 4s., and +others in similar proportion in the day of opportunity. + +To-day it is the fashion to look back with regret on those lost +opportunities, and to nurse the belief that such opportunities are +never likely to return. But experience shows that in every decade of +stamp collecting the common stamp of to-day may be the rarity of +to-morrow. In many a series of stamps some one of the lot from some +cause or another gets scarce, and the price appreciates from year to +year till the original price paid for the stamp in pence is +represented by pounds. + + + + +[Illustration] + +XIV. + +What to Collect and How to Collect. + + +The questions, "What to collect?" and "How to collect?" are much more +easily asked than answered. Each individual will differ in taste, in +inclination, in method, in time at his disposal, and last, but not +least, in the depth of his pocket. The most that can be done is to +outline a general plan, founded upon general experience. + +Collectors are divided into two classes--the general collector and the +specialist. The general collector takes everything that comes in his +way, and knows no limitations, no exclusions of this country or that. +The specialist, on the other hand, confines his attention to the +stamps of one or more particular groups or divisions, or even to one +particular country. + +The most experienced collectors, whether general or specialist, almost +invariably advise the beginner to start as a general collector. As a +beginner he will have no experience to guide him in the choice of a +particular group or division; and until he has travelled over the +ground as a general collector it will be difficult for him to make a +choice which he may not have cause to regret. As a general collector +he will gather together a general knowledge of stamps in all their +peculiar varieties, which can scarcely fail to be immensely useful to +him even should he subsequently drift into specialism. Indeed, it is +an accepted truism that the man who starts as a general collector +invariably makes the best specialist in the end. + +Starting, then, as a general collector, the beginner purchases an +album--for choice say the "Imperial," published by Stanley Gibbons, +Ltd., which on one page has a printed and illustrated list of the +stamps of a country, and on the opposite page ruled and numbered +spaces for every stamp mentioned in the printed list. A catalogue, +setting forth the prices at which stamps may be purchased, should also +be obtained. + +One of the very first questions to be settled at the start will be the +choice that must be made between the collection of used and of unused. +The general collector who wishes to collect economically should +certainly start with what is cheapest; and as the common stamps are +cheapest in the used condition, used should be selected. When a +collector can afford to spend his money liberally, the best and +safest, and cheapest in the long run, will be stamps unused and in the +pink of condition. Such stamps generally turn out to be a safe and not +unfrequently a splendid investment. + +The beginner will find that he can fill up a large proportion of the +spaces in his album with comparatively common stamps, and these are +much more economically purchased in the form of cheap packets. The +blanks that remain will then represent stamps worth searching for +separately, and buying singly as good opportunities occur. Many may be +obtained in exchanging duplicates with other collectors. + +After some experience as a general collector, preferences will +gradually materialise, and the utter hopelessness of making a thorough +collection of the postal issues of the world will be apparent. At this +stage the collector generally sells the bulk of his collection, +reserving only a few countries to be followed up in future on +specialist lines. The remedy and the change are drastic, and, like +most drastic remedies, are much too sweeping. Wiser and keener +Philatelists nowadays retain their general collections, so far as they +have gone with them, and upon their basis give play to their +specialist inclinations. That is to say, they single out a country, +and work at that exclusively on specialist lines; and when they tire +of that country, or exhaust it so far as their means allow, they have +in their general collection the nucleus of another country with which +to build up another specialist collection. On this plan a collector +can always be working in sympathy and on the lines of the fashionable +country of the day. He can take up and open out whatever country +happens to be the vogue. In this way a neglected country every now and +again comes to the front, and the nucleus of that country which may be +found in the general collection may suddenly acquire an interest and a +value never dreamt of. A recent case in point is that of the Orange +Free State. Its stamps went a-begging for purchasers. Then trouble, +and unrest, and war brought them into notice, and now the almost +worthless have become valuable, and the pence have run into shillings, +and the shillings into pounds. + +For many persons, however, limitations and exclusions are necessary +from the start. In their case a choice must be made, and the safest +choice will be that of the British Colonies, or, if a still more +restricted line must be drawn, one of the Continental groups of +Colonies. A glance at a priced catalogue will be the best guide for +selection. If it must be an economical selection, the catalogue will +speak for itself. There is abundant choice in every direction. There +are colonies with few and simple and inexpensive issues, and there are +others that require ample means and patient research. But the cheapest +countries, from an expenditure point of view, are foreign +countries--such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, German Empire, Italy, +Chili, China, and so on. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +XV. + +Great Collections. + + +Great collections of postage stamps, like great collections of +pictures, in these days acquire an international rank and reputation. +The great stamp collections of to-day are in a few hands, and have +been built up by lavish wealth and lavish industry. Wealth alone will +not suffice to gather together a really great philatelic collection. +There must be patient research, and there can be no research apart +from that full knowledge which comes only to the industrious and +painstaking Philatelist. The gem that is wanted to complete the finest +page in the rich man's collection has not unfrequently to be +personally sought for in the byways, the alleys, and lanes of stamp +collecting; and despite the keenest search of the wealthy, it +sometimes, after all, falls by grim mischance into the laboriously +gathered collection of the man of very limited means. + +The Prince of Wales is known to be an enthusiastic and keen stamp +collector. He is the acting President of the Philatelic Society of +London. During his recent tour round the world he displayed his great +interest in the postal issues of the colonies which he visited, and +brought home much valuable philatelic information and a number of +proofs of sheets of old colonial stamps which will help to clear up +many doubtful points. H.R.H. collects only the stamps of Great Britain +and her colonies, and he possesses many specimens that are absolutely +unique. + +The collection which was made by the late Mr. T. K. Tapling, M.P., is +now in the keeping of the British Museum, having been bequeathed to +the nation by its possessor, who was one of the most cultured and +shrewdest collectors of his day. His collection was his +life-work--from boyhood till his early death in 1891. It was largely +made up of the amalgamation of great collections. In his day Tapling +had the first pick in every direction, and, as a result, his +collection is to-day one of the grandest and richest and most +scientific general collections extant. Great rarities may be said to +be conspicuous by their prominence and by their matchless condition. + +But the greatest collection of all is that of M. Philipp la Renotiere, +of Paris, known to most collectors as Herr von Ferrary. In the course +of the last thirty years he has purchased many well-known old +collections, amongst which may be mentioned that of Judge Philbrick +for L7,000, Sir Daniel Cooper's for L3,000, W. B. Thornhill's +Australians, etc. M. la Renotiere has been a large buyer in the +leading capitals of Europe for a great many years. His expenditure +with our own publishers is said to average from L3,000 to L4,000 a +year. He employs two secretaries who are paid large salaries, one to +look after the postage stamps and the other the post cards, envelopes, +and wrappers. + +Mr. F. Breitfuss, of St. Petersburg, who has been collecting since +1860, is credited with the third finest collection in the world. He +is an omnivorous, but scientific general collector. + +Mr. H. J. Duveen, the well-known art connoisseur of London and New +York, although he did not take to stamp collecting till 1892, has +already got together the finest collection, outside the British +Museum, in this country. It is celebrated not only for the beauty of +its specimens, but also for its completeness, neatness, and scientific +arrangement. The value of the collection is probably close on L80,000. +It is enclosed in seventy handsome Oriel albums. + +Mr. W. B. Avery, head of the well-known firm of scale-makers of +Birmingham, has one of the finest general collections. It is justly +celebrated for the large number of great rarities that it contains, +amongst which are the two rare "Post Office" Mauritius in superb +unused condition. The collection cannot be worth at present far short +of L50,000. + +Mr. M. P. Castle, the Vice-President of the Philatelic Society of +London, who succeeded the late Mr. Tapling in office, is one of the +keenest of keen collectors. His general collection became so large +that he parted with it in 1877, and then specialised in Australians. +This latter collection he sold, in 1894, to our publishers for +L10,000, at that time the largest sum ever paid for a single +collection. He subsequently made a grand specialised collection of +Europeans. This, arranged in sixty-seven volumes, he sold, in 1900, +for nearly L30,000, and he has now returned to his love for +Australians. + +The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres is a collector of only recent date, +but he has already formed a really magnificent collection based on +broad historical lines. He confines himself mostly to the stamps of +the British Empire, the United States, and the Italian States. His +lordship is a member of the Council of the Philatelic Society of +London, and, when in England, a regular attendant at its meetings. + +The Earl of Kintore is also the possessor of a very fine collection of +English Colonials, etc.; among his greater rarities being the "Post +Office" Mauritius, the complete set of Hawaiian Islands (first issue), +the 2 cents, rose, British Guiana, and many other gems. He also is a +member of the London Philatelic Society. + +In France the place of honour, after M. la Renotiere, is deservedly +taken by M. Paul Mirabaud, the well-known banker of Paris, whose +magnificent collection of Switzerland was shown in the last Paris +Exhibition. It forms, however, only a small portion of his fine +collection. + +In Italy probably the most famous collection is that of Prince Doria +Pamphilj, which is exceptionally rich in the interesting issues of the +Italian States. + +In the United States of America there are many notable collections, +several of them being worth from L30,000 to L50,000, amongst which may +be mentioned the Crockers', of San Francisco, Mr. F. W. Ayer's, of +Bangor, Maine, and Mr. Paul's, of Philadelphia. + +In Germany the greatest collection is doubtless that of Mr. Martin +Schroeder, the well known merchant of Leipzig. + +[Illustration:] + + + + +Stanley Gibbons, Ltd. + +_CAPITAL, L75,000. ESTABLISHED 1856._ + +HIGHEST POSSIBLE AWARDS. + +_GOLD MEDAL, Paris, 1892._ + +_GOLD MEDAL, Chicago, 1893._ + +FIVE MEDALS +(_Highest in each Class_), +GENEVA, 1896. + +FOUR MEDALS +(_Highest in each Class_), +LONDON, 1897. + +The above-mentioned high rewards gained by the Firm have been awarded +for the perfect condition and completeness of Stamp Collections, and +for general excellence in Stamp Albums, Catalogues, and Handbooks. + + * * * * * + +Rare +Stamps +Bought, Sold, or Exchanged. + + * * * * * + +_LARGE NEW PROSPECTUS_ +(_Seventy-six Pages_), + +With full details of all +STAMP ALBUMS, +CATALOGUES, HANDBOOKS, +and List of nearly +2,000 SETS and PACKETS +at Bargain Prices, + +_sent post-free on application_. + + * * * * * + + + + +STANLEY GIBBONS, + +LIMITED, + +New Announcements. + +_ANNUAL SALE OVER THIRTY THOUSAND PACKETS._ + +NOW READY, the following Popular Series of + +PACKETS OF FOREIGN POSTAGE STAMPS + +_All the Stamps contained in the following Packets are warranted +absolutely genuine, free from reprints. They are also in good +condition and perfect._ + +These Packets cannot be sent by book post to Postal Union Countries. +The cost by letter rate is 2-1/2d. for every 100 Stamps. The amount +required for postage can therefore be reckoned, and should be added +when remitting. + + * * * * * + +_New and Improved Packets of Used and Unused Stamps._ + +No. 1.--The Sixpenny Packet of Mixed Continental Stamps contains 100, +including many obsolete and rare. (This packet contains duplicates.) +Post-free, 7d. + +No. 2.--The Sixpenny Packet of Used Foreign Stamps contains 50 +varieties, all different, including Egypt, Spain, Chili, New South +Wales, Transvaal, Roumania, Porto Rico, Argentine, Sweden, Brazil, +Turkey, &c. Post-free, 7d. + +No. 3.--The Sixpenny Packet of Used Colonial Stamps contains 12 +varieties, including Natal, Ceylon, India H.M.S., Cape of Good Hope, +British Guiana, Mauritius, Tasmania, New South Wales Service, +Victoria, Jamaica, South Australia O.S., &c. All different. Post-free, +7d. + +No. 4.--The Shilling Packet of Used and Unused Foreign Stamps contains +50 varieties, including French Soudan, Spain, Bulgaria, Portugal, +Sandwich Isles (head of King), Italy, Turkey, Finland, Brazil, +Roumania, Portugal, Argentine Republic, Ecuador, Salvador, Greece, +Mexico, Shanghai, Philippine Isles, Japan, and others rare. All +different and warranted genuine. Post-free, 1/1. + +No. 5.--The Shilling Packet of Colonial Stamps contains 25 varieties, +including Cyprus, Natal, Jamaica, provisional South Australia, +Victoria 1/2d. rose, surcharged Ceylon, Straits Settlements, India +Service, Queensland, Hong Kong, Barbados, Swan River, South Australia, +Centennial New South Wales, Mauritius, Malta, and others rare. All +different and warranted genuine. Post-free, 1/1. + +No. 6.--The Eighteenpenny Packet of Used Foreign Stamps contains 100 +varieties, including Mauritius, Hong Kong, Finland, Japan 15 and 25 +sen, Barbados, Chili, Brazil, Greece, Russia, Porto Rico, India +envelope, Jamaica, Belgium, Spain, Canada, &c. All different and +warranted genuine. Post-free, 1/7. + +No. 7.--The Two Shilling Packet of Rare Used and Unused Foreign Stamps +contains 100 varieties, including Porto Rico, Colombia, New Zealand, +registered Canada, rare Turkish, Dutch Indies, Ceylon, Mozambique, +Mauritius, Portugal, French Colonies, O. F. State, Cyprus, Norway, +Sardinia, Belgium, West Australia, Chili, Egypt, Bavaria, and others +rare. All different and warranted genuine. Post-free, 2/1. + + + + +Approval Sheets and Collections of Stamps. + +NEW SHEETS OF STAMPS FOR BEGINNERS AND MEDIUM COLLECTORS. + + +We have just been arranging our Approval Sheets of Stamps on an +entirely new and much simpler plan than formerly. The Stamps are +mounted on Sheets, containing an average of 100 Stamps per Sheet. They +are all arranged in the order of our New Catalogue. First, Great +Britain and the Colonies, then all Foreign Countries. These Sheets +contain about 5,000 different Stamps, and a Sheet of any particular +country will be sent on demand. The Sheets arranged to date are over +forty in number, and contain all Great Britain and the Colonies, and +all Foreign Countries. + +TO ADVANCED COLLECTORS.--For Collectors more advanced we have an +assortment of many hundreds of small books of Choice picked Stamps of +every Country or District in the World. Most of these special books +contain twenty pages (5x3-1/2 inches), and can be sent by post in an +ordinary registered envelope to all parts of the world. These books, +as a rule, include Used and Unused Stamps, but Special Approval Books +will be made up to suit individual requirements. Collectors writing +for such should state if they wish for Used or Unused Stamps; if +singles, pairs, or blocks of 4 are required; also, in Used Stamps, if +special Postmarks are sought for. In all cases, in these books, we +shall lay ourselves out to meet the special requirements of each +individual client, whether the amount required be large or small. + +Great Rarities are our Speciality. We have a large number of Stamps on +hand from L100 to L750 each, and shall be pleased to give prices and +particulars to advanced Philatelists. + +We purchase really Rare Stamps at a much higher Cash Price than that +paid by any other Stamp Merchant. + + + + +Grand Collection Packets. + +NEW AND GREATLY REDUCED PRICES FOR 1902. + + +No. 64 CONTAINS 100 VARIETIES, + +Including used and unused. Price 6d.; post-free, 7d. + +No. 65 CONTAINS 250 DIFFERENT VARIETIES, + +Both used and unused Stamps, Envelopes [box] and Post Cards [box] and is +well recommended as a capital start for a collector. Price 3/-; +post-free, 3/1. + +No. 66, 500 VARIETIES, + +And is strongly recommended as the cheapest collection of 500 +different Stamps ever offered--the Stamps could not be bought +separately for three times the marvellously low price at which it is +now offered. The Stamps, &c., are clean, picked specimens fit for any +collection. The best 500 varieties in the trade. + +Price 6/-; post-free, 6/1. + +No. 67, 1,000 VARIETIES. + +This packet contains 1,000 different Stamps (and no Envelopes, Bands, +and Cards), and is the cheapest packet ever offered by S. G., Ltd., +satisfaction being absolutely guaranteed. The price it is offered at +is the lowest ever quoted for such a collection, embracing as it does +scores of scarce varieties, provisionals, new issues, and many very +fine and obsolete varieties. + +Price L1, post-free and registered. + +No. 68, 1,500 VARIETIES. + +Each specimen is in perfect condition, and the 1,500 different Stamps +form a noble start for anyone. A large number of really rare and +valuable Stamps are contained in this collection; but it is impossible +to enumerate them, as we are constantly adding New Issues and Older +Stamps when we purchase such. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Price L2 +10s., post-free and registered. + +No. 69, 2,000 VARIETIES. + +A grand packet for a dealer or collector, every Stamp being different +and genuine, and thus forming a choice collection in itself or a stock +to make up sheets or for exchange purposes. Price L4 10s., post-free +and registered. + +No. 69A, 3,000 VARIETIES. + +A very fine packet, containing many rare stamps, all arranged in +order, and mounted ready to price or remove to a collection. + +Price L11 10s., post-free and registered. + +No. 69B, 4,000 VARIETIES. + +A valuable collection, all mounted on sheets in order. Really good +value; being sold by us to collectors at less than the price usually +charged in the trade. + +Price L18, post-free and registered. + + + + +Grand New Variety Packets. + + +In order to meet the wishes of a great number of our customers, we +have prepared a series of packets, as under, entirely different from +one another, no stamp in any one packet being in any of the rest of +the series; and the purchaser of the series of eight packets will have +1,305 extra good varieties, and no duplicates. + +These packets do NOT contain any Post Cards, cut Envelopes, Fiscals, +or Reprints, and are well recommended as good value, and are only a +small proportion of the Catalogue value of the single stamps contained +in them. + +No. 70 contains 500 Stamps of Europe, all different. Price 7/6; post-free, 7/8. + " 71 " 125 Stamps of Asia " 7/6 " 7/7. + " 72 " 125 Stamps of Africa " 7/6 " 7/7. + " 73 " 105 Stamps of Australia " 7/6 " 7/7. + " 74 " 125 Stamps of West Indies " 7/6 " 7/7. + " 75 " 125 Stamps of South America, all different. 7/6 " 7/7. + " 76 " 100 Stamps of North America " 7/6 " 7/7. + " 77 " 100 Stamps of Central America " 7/6 " 7/7. + +The set of eight packets, containing 1,305 varieties, if all bought at +one time, will be supplied at the special reduced price of 55/-. +Postage abroad 2-1/2d. extra for each 125 stamps. + + * * * * * + +_THE JUBILEE EXHIBITION PACKETS._ + +No. 78.--The "Queen's Portrait" Packet. 100 Stamps. Price 10s. + +The Ten Shilling Packet contains 100 Unused Postage Stamps, each one +bearing a likeness of HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA. This packet contains +perfect specimens only, nearly all with original gum. This is a real +bargain, but as an extra inducement to purchasers we present a +specimen of a Diamond Jubilee Stamp with each packet; thus each buyer +becomes a subscriber to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales' Hospital Fund. + +No. 79.--The "Queen's Portrait" Packet. 100 Rare Colonials. Price L1 +10s. + +The Thirty Shilling Packet contains 100 rare unused Postage Stamps, +each one bearing a likeness of HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA. The stamps +in this packet are entirely different from those in No. 78, and +purchasers of both will thus possess two hundred distinct varieties. +Most of the English Colonies are represented by carefully-selected +specimens of the higher value stamps. With this packet we present the +Half-crown Diamond Jubilee Stamp; thus each purchaser subscribes that +sum to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales' Hospital Fund. + +No. 80.--The "Picturesque" Packet. 100 Pictures. Price 12s. 6d. + +Contains 100 Unused Stamps in perfect condition, each one being +especially selected for beauty, quaintness, or originality of design. +Among others, we mention: + +Natives Paddling on the Congo River. +Native Village and Scenery in the Congo District. +A Native Village in Djibouti. The Bridge of Sighs in Kewkiang. + +ZOOLOGY IS REPRESENTED BY--The Elephant, the Hippopotamus, the Bird of +Paradise, the Stag, the Codfish. + +Three of the exquisite Portraits of Her Majesty, as depicted on the +Canadian Jubilee Stamps, showing the Vignettes of the Queen in 1837 +and 1897, form an appropriate addition to this choice and remarkable +packet. + + + + +GREATER BRITAIN PACKETS + +OF + +_British Colonial Stamps_. + +NO DUPLICATES. + + +EVERY Packet of this series contains different varieties, no Stamp +being included in two Packets, and purchasers will by this novel +method be saved the inconvenience of acquiring duplicates, which is as +a rule the bane of most packet buying. + + |Price. |Post-free. | + |s. _d._ |s. _d_. | + +No. 111| contains |20 varieties of Stamps of ASIA| 0 6 | 0 7 | + + 112| " |25 " " " | 2 0 | 2 1 | + | | | | | + 113| " |40 " " " | 3 6 | 3 7 | + | | | | | + 114| " |40 " " " | 6 6 | 6 7 | + | | | | | + 115| " |50 " " " |16 6 |16 7 | + | | | | | + 116| " |45 " " " |12 0 |12 1 | + | | | | | + 117| " |30 " " " | 4 0 | 4 1 | + | | | | | + 118| " |40 " " " |21 0 |21 1 | + | | | | | + 121| " |20 " " " AFRICA| 0 6 | 0 7 | + | | | | | + 122| " |25 " " " | 2 6 | 2 7 | + | | | | | + 141| " |20 " " WEST INDIES| 0 9 | 0 10 | + | | | | | + 142| " |20 " " " | 2 0 | 2 1 | + | | | | | + 151| " |25 " " AUSTRALASIA| 0 6 | 0 7 | + | | | | | + 152| " |30 " " " | 1 6 | 1 7 | + | | | | | + 153| " |30 " " " | 4 6 | 4 7 | + +FOREIGN COUNTRIES PACKETS + +OF + +_European Stamps_. + +EVERY Packet in this series contains different varieties, no +particular stamp being included in two Packets, and purchasers will by +this method be saved the inconvenience of acquiring duplicates. + + |Price. |Post-free.| + |s. _d._ |s. _d_. | + +No. 201 contains| 50 varieties of Stamps of Europe|0 9 |0 10 | + +202 " |40 " " " " " |1 0 |1 1 | + | | | | +203 " |50 " " " " " |2 0 |2 1 | + | | | | +204 " |30 " " " " " |2 6 |2 7 | + | | | | +205 " |50 " " " " " |3 6 |3 7 | + | | | | +206 " |60 " " " " " |7 6 |7 7 | + + + + +THE 20th CENTURY PACKETS + +Of Envelopes, Registered Envelopes, Wrappers, and Letter Sheets, + +ALL UNUSED, ENTIRE, AND GUARANTEED GENUINE ORIGINALS. + +NO DUPLICATES. + +Every Packet of this series contains different Envelopes, etc., no +piece being included in two Packets, and purchasers will by this novel +method be saved the inconvenience of acquiring duplicates, which is as +a rule the bane of most packet buying. + +The prices of these new Packets are wonderfully cheap, as we are +clearing off our stock of entires. + +_These Packets cannot be sent by book post abroad. The average rate +abroad by letter post or parcel post varies so much that sufficient +should be remitted, and balance, if any, will be credited or returned. +The prices quoted "post-free" are for Great Britain only._ + + * * * * * + +ENVELOPE PACKETS. + +_Section I.--GREAT BRITAIN & COLONIES._ + +No. 601.--Contains 29 common varieties, including Bechuanaland, +Chamba, Cochin, Leeward Isles, etc. Price 2/-; post-free, 2/1. + +No. 602.--Contains 36 scarce varieties, including Great Britain +compound, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Cape, Ceylon, Gibraltar, Grenada, +Heligoland, etc. Price 8/6; post-free, 8/7. + +No. 603.--Contains 36 scarce varieties, including Newfoundland, New +South Wales, St. Vincent, South Australia, Trinidad, and a really +grand lot of Victorian. Price 10/-; post-free, 10/1. + +No. 604.--Contains 47 varieties of Great Britain only, including a +superb lot of the rarer compound Envelopes, old dates and high values; +also scarce Registered Envelopes, Wrappers, etc. A very fine packet +and good value. Price 40/-; post-free, 40/2. + +No. 605.--Contains 50 _rare_ varieties of Bahamas, Barbados, British +Bechuanaland, British Central and East and South Africa, British +Guiana, Canada, Cape, and Ceylon. Price 25/-; post-free, 25/3. + +No. 606.--Contains 45 _rare_ varieties, including some very scarce +Ceylon registered, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Gold Coast, Grenada, Heligoland, +and India. Price 27/6; post-free, 27/9. + +No. 607.--Contains 34 varieties of the Indian States, including +Chamba, Gwalior, Jhind, Nabha, Puttialla, Bamra, Charkhari, Cochin, +Duttia, Holkar, Hyderabad, and Travancore. Price 10/-; post-free, +10/1. + +No. 608.--Contains 29 scarce varieties of Leeward Isles, Malta, +Mauritius, Newfoundland, New South Wales, New Zealand, and Niger +Coast. Price 12/-; post-free, 12/2. + +No. 609.--Contains 29 scarce varieties of Queensland, St. Lucia, St. +Vincent, Sierra Leone, South Australia, Straits Settlements, Tasmania, +Tobago, Trinidad, and Victoria. Price 12/6; post-free, 12/8. + +SPECIAL OFFER. + +Packets 601 to 609 inclusive, containing 335 different varieties of +Envelopes, Wrappers, etc., of Great Britain and her Colonies. Price L6 +10s. Postage extra. + + + + +ENVELOPES. + +_Section II.--FOREIGN COUNTRIES._ + +No. 610.--Contains 20 common varieties. Price 1/-; post-free, 1/1. + +No. 611.--Contains 21 scarcer varieties. Price 2/6; post-free, 2/7. + +No. 612.--Contains 21 varieties, including Argentine, Brazil, Ecuador, +Guatemala, etc. Price 4/6; post-free, 4/7. + +No. 613.--Contains 24 varieties, including Persia, Russia, Shanghai, +Uruguay, etc. Price 6/6; post-free, 6/7. + +No. 614.--Contains 41 scarce varieties of Argentine, Austria, Austrian +Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, and Costa Rica. Price +16/6; post-free, 16/8. + +No. 615.--Contains 62 varieties of Danish West Indies, Ecuador, Egypt, +France, and Envelopes of _twenty_ different French Colonies. Price +12/6; post-free, 12/8. + +No. 616.--Contains 43 _rare_ varieties of the German States, including +very scarce Lubeck, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, +Prussian, Saxony, Thurn and Taxis, Wurtemberg, etc. A really good +packet and exceptional value. Price 50/-; post-free, 50/3. + +No. 617.--Contains 40 varieties of Guatemala, Hawaiian Isles, Holland, +Dutch Indies, and Honduras. Price 12/6; post-free, 12/8. + +No. 618.--Contains 35 scarce varieties of Japan, including rare plate +numbers, Liberia, Mexico, Monaco, and Montenegro. Price 20/-; +post-free, 20/3. + +No. 619.--Contains 30 varieties of Nicaragua, especially strong in the +older issues. Price 6/-; post-free, 6/1. + +No. 620.--Contains 38 scarce varieties of Paraguay, Persia, Peru, +Portugal, Roumania, Russia, etc. Price 18/6; post-free, 18/9. + +No. 621.--Contains 39 scarce varieties of Finland, Russian Local +Envelopes, Shanghai, Transvaal, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, +and Uruguay. Price 17/6; post-free, 17/9. + +No. 622.--Contains 77 varieties of Salvador, including many really +rare and provisional issues. A very fine and interesting set. Price +25/-; post-free, 25/3. + +No. 623.--Contains 32 old varieties of the United States of America, +including scarce dies and papers of the Reay and Plimpton issues, and +the old 3 cent letter sheet on blue paper. Price 15/-; post-free, +15/3. + +SPECIAL OFFER. + +PACKETS 610 to 623 inclusive, containing 527 varieties of Envelopes, +Wrappers, etc., of Foreign Countries. Price L9 5s. Postage extra. + + + + +THE 20th CENTURY PACKETS + +Of Post Cards and Letter Cards. + +_ALL UNUSED, ENTIRE, AND GUARANTEED GENUINE ORIGINALS._ + +NO DUPLICATES. + +POST CARD PACKETS. + +_Section I.--GREAT BRITAIN & COLONIES._ + +No. 650.--Contains 13 common varieties. Price 1/-; post-free, 1/1. + +No. 651.--Contains 13 common varieties, different from the last. Price +1/-; post-free, 1/1. + +No. 652.--Contains 16 common varieties, all different from those in +the other packets. Price 1/3; post-free, 1/4. + +No. 653.--Contains 24 scarce varieties of Cards, including Bangkok, +Barbados, British Central Africa, etc. Price 4/6; post-free, 4/7. + +No. 654.--Contains 26 scarce varieties, including Falkland, Gibraltar, +Heligoland, Hong Kong, etc. Price 4/6; post-free, 4/7. + +No. 655.--Contains 23 scarce varieties, including Nevis, Newfoundland, +North Borneo, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, etc. Price 4/-; post-free, 4/1. + +No. 656.--Contains 24 scarce varieties, including Tasmania, Tobago, +Trinidad, Turks Islands, Virgin Isles, Zululand, etc. Price 4/-; +post-free, 4/1. + +No. 657.--Contains 38 rare varieties, including scarce Cards from +Great Britain, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, etc. Price 10/-; +post-free, 10/2. + +No. 658.--Contains 47 rare varieties from British Central, East, and +South Africa, Canada, Ceylon, Cape of Good Hope, Cyprus, Gambia, etc. +Price 10/6; post-free, 10/8. + +No. 659.--Contains 47 rare varieties from Gibraltar, Gold Coast, +Grenada, Heligoland, Hong Kong, India, Chamba, Gwalior, Puttialla, +etc. Price 12/6; post-free, 12/8. + +No. 660.--Contains 39 rare varieties from Sirmoor, Cashmere, Jamaica, +Labuan, Montserrat, Natal, Nevis, etc. Price 12/6; post-free, 12/8. + +No. 661.--Contains 41 rare varieties, including New South Wales, New +Zealand, Niger Coast, North Borneo, Queensland, St. Lucia, Seychelles, +Sierra Leone, etc. Price 9/6; post-free, 9/8. + +No. 662.--Contains 41 rare varieties from South Australia, Straits, +Tasmania, Tobago, Trinidad, Turks Islands, Victoria, Western +Australia, etc. Price 10/-; post-free, 10/2. + +SPECIAL OFFER. + +Packets 650 to 662 inclusive, containing a really grand collection of +392 varieties of Post Cards of Great Britain and Colonies. Price L4. +Postage extra. + + + + +Section II.--FOREIGN COUNTRIES. + +No. 670.--Contains 20 common varieties. Price 1/6; post-free, 1/7. + +No. 671.--Contains 27 other common varieties. Price 2/6; post-free, +2/7. + +No. 672.--Contains 38 varieties, including some scarce. Price 3/-; +post-free, 3/1. + +No. 673.--Contains 35 varieties, including some scarce ones. Price +3/6; post-free, 3/7. + +No. 674.--Contains 31 scarcer varieties, including Austrian Italy, +Hungary, Belgium, Congo, and Brazil. Price 6/-; post-free, 6/1. + +No. 675.--Contains 31 scarce varieties, including Bulgaria, Chili, +Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Morocco, Tunis, etc. Price 4/-; +post-free, 4/1. + +No. 676.--Contains 36 scarce varieties, including German East Africa, +Greece, Guatemala, Hawaiian Islands, Holland, Curacao, Dutch Indies, +Surinam, etc. Price 6/-; post-free, 6/2. + +No. 677.--Contains 45 scarce varieties, including Italy, Eritrea, San +Marino, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, etc. Price 8/-; post-free, 8/2. + +No. 678.--Contains 48 scarce varieties, including Monaco, Montenegro, +Nicaragua, Orange Free State, Paraguay, Persia, Peru, Azores, Madeira, +etc. Price 10/-; post-free, 10/2. + +No. 679.--Contains 39 scarce varieties from Roumania, Russia, Finland, +Servia, Shanghai, Siam, South African Republic, Spain, etc. Price 7/-; +post-free, 7/2. + +No. 680.--Contains 45 scarce varieties from Cuba, Norway, Sweden, +Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, etc. Price 9/6; post-free, 9/8. + +No. 681.--Contains 39 rare varieties from Argentine, Austrian Italy, +Hungary, etc. Price 6/6; post-free, 6/7. + +No. 682.--Contains 51 rare varieties from Belgium, Congo, Bolivia, +Brazil, etc. Price 15/-; post-free, 15/2. + +No. 683.--Contains 54 rare varieties from Bulgaria, Chili, Colombia, +Costa Rica, Denmark, Iceland, etc. Price 10/-; post-free, 10/2. + +No. 684.--Contains 54 rare varieties from Ecuador, Egypt, France, +Tunis, Baden, Bavaria, etc. Price 10/-; post-free, 10/2. + +No. 685.--Contains 72 rare varieties from Wurtemberg, Greece, +Guatemala, Hawaiian Islands, Hayti, Holland and Colonies. Price 15/-; +post-free, 15/3. + +No. 686.--Contains 62 rare varieties from Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, +Mexico, etc. Price 14/-; post-free, 14/3. + +No. 687.--Contains 50 rare varieties from Monaco, Montenegro, +Nicaragua, Paraguay, Persia, etc. Price 10/-; post-free, 10/2. + +No. 688.--Contains 59 rare varieties from Peru, Portugal and Colonies, +Roumania, etc. Price 15/-; post-free, 15/3. + +No. 689.--Contains 78 rare varieties from Russia, Finland, Salvador, +etc. Price 15/-; post-free, 15/3. + +No. 690.--Contains 48 rare varieties from Shanghai, Siam, Spain and +Colonies, Sweden, etc. Price 16/6; post-free, 16/8. + +No. 691.--Contains 43 rare varieties from Switzerland, Turkey, United +States, Uruguay, Venezuela, etc. Price 9/6; post-free, 9/8. + +SPECIAL OFFER. + +Packets 670 to 691 inclusive, containing a superb collection of 1,005 +varieties of _Post Cards_ of Foreign Countries; a bargain. Price L8 +10s. Postage extra. + + + + +SIXTIETH THOUSAND. + +_1/- each_. + +THE SEVENTH EDITION OF + +The Improved Postage Stamp Album, + +No. 0. + +THE BEST AND LARGEST SHILLING ALBUM EVER PUBLISHED. + +176 large pages. Spaces for 4,700 Stamps. + +48 extra pages added in this Edition without extra charge. + +_This Album is now selling at the rate of over 1,000 copies a month_. + +The demand for this Album has simply been phenomenal, and it gives +universal satisfaction--not a single complaint has been received. The +last Edition had nearly 20 extra pages added, and now another 48 pages +have been added, and all the Geographical and Historical Notes brought +up fully to date. All the newest Stamp-issuing countries, such as +Ichang, Las Bela, Tientsin, Bundi, Dhar, etc. etc., have been added. +At the top of each page there is the name of the country, and a mass +of valuable information, including date when Stamps were issued, +population, area, reigning sovereign, capital, etc. Spaces of proper +sizes are provided for all Stamps, and the book is bound in a superior +manner in gilt cloth. The Album contains a pocket to hold duplicate +Stamps, and fifty Stamps will be presented _gratis_ with each Album. +There is also an Illustrated Frontispiece of the Rarest Stamps, with +prices attached that we pay for each. + +Price, bound in handsome gilt cloth, 1/-, or post-free 1/3. + + E. S. says: "I asked a friend where the best place was to buy a + Stamp Album cheap. He referred me to you, saying that he had bought + one and sold it next day for 1/6, after keeping the stamps." + + A. A. writes: "I received your Stamp Album on Thursday, and I + wonder how you can sell it so cheap; for as soon as a friend saw it + he offered me 2/- for it. Please send me another." + + C. A. W. writes: "Please send me one of your marvellous 1/- Albums, + with packet of stamps, in order that I may convince my incredulous + friends that such a thing is possible." + + Miss M. R. writes from Piccadilly: "I was greatly pleased with the + Album I received this morning, which all my friends admired, and + thought it very cheap." + + + + +THE + +Improved Postage Stamp Album. + +_FOURTEENTH EDITION_. + +GREATLY ENLARGED AND RE-WRITTEN. + +Size of Page, 10 by 7-3/4 ins. + +_One Hundred Stamps, all different, are presented with each Album +sold_. + +[Illustration: COVER OF NO. 3.] + +This new Edition is printed on a _superior_ quality paper, especially +made for it. The shape is oblong, and spaces are provided according to +the different requirements of the various countries. + +A large number of guards have been provided so that the Album shall +not bulge when full. + +The Album is divided into Continents, and the name of the country only +is given at the head of each page. + +Fifty-seven different watermarks are illustrated in actual size, and +lists are given of the various watermarks of the different countries. + +Two pages of illustrations of _rare stamps_ are given, with the price +under each stamp that we will pay for it. + +Special attention has been paid to the binding, which is exceptionally +strong, and the covers are artistically designed. + + * * * * * + +_PRICES (all well Packed)._ + +No. 2.--Strongly and neatly bound in Plain Cloth, gilt lettered back +and sides, 304 pages. Price 3/6; post-free, 3/11; abroad, 4/6. + +No. 3.--Well bound in Art Vellum, as illustration, blocked in gold and +colours, 304 pages. Price 5/-; post-free, 5/6; abroad, 6/2. + +No. 4.--Handsomely half-bound, Art Vellum sides, gold lines and gilt +letters on back, gilt edges, with extra leaves after each continent +for new issues, making in, all 368 pages. Price 7/6; post-free, 8/-; +abroad, 8/9. + + * * * * * + +EXTRA LEAVES + +_Can be supplied to this and the older small sizes, as under._ + +14th (New) Edition. + Plain edges, for Nos. 2 or 3 ... 9d. per doz.; 5/- per 100. + Gilt " " No. 4 ... 1/3 " 8/6 " + +12th or 13th Edition (smaller size)-- + Plain edges, for Nos. 2 or 3 ... 6d. " 3/9 " + Gilt " " No. 4 ... 1/- " 7/- " + + + + +NEW EDITION. + +_100 POSTAGE STAMPS, all genuine and +different, and of a catalogue value of over 8/-, are presented with +each STRAND ALBUM_. + +THE STRAND POSTAGE STAMP ALBUM. + +Well arranged, reliable, and thoroughly correct. + + * * * * * + +The book, which is printed on an unusually good quality paper, is +bound in a new and specially designed cover. The shape is as +illustrated, and the size a new and convenient one, viz. 9-1/2 in. by +7-1/2 inches. Sufficient guards have been inserted so that when the +Album is full the covers shall be level with each other, and not +bulged, as is often the case in imperfectly constructed books. + +Nos. 15 and 16 include a series of Six Maps, specially engraved for +this Publication, and beautifully printed in Colours. + +No. 14. 320 pages. Spaces for 8,000 Stamps. + +Nos. 15 and 16. 400 pages. Spaces for 11,000 Stamps. + +Concise Geographical and other particulars with Illustrations are +given at the head of each country, the pages being divided into +rectangles, as is usual, with this most important innovation, that +they vary in size so as to conveniently accommodate the Stamps desired +to be placed in position. This is an advantageous improvement that +will commend itself to every collector. Post Cards are not provided +for, as all Philatelists of experience know it is best to collect them +separately. + +A new and very important departure has been made in Nos. 15 and 16, in +including for the first time in any Philatelic Album a series of Six +specially drawn Maps, printed in colours, and giving the names of all +Stamp-issuing Countries. They are of course fully brought up to date, +and are not needlessly encumbered with unnecessary names, so as to +increase their usefulness for easy and instant reference. + +Each Album now has four full-page Illustrations of the Watermarks +found on all Stamps. + + * * * * * + +PRICES. + +No. 14.--Strongly and neatly bound in plain cloth, gilt lettered, 320 +pages, 2/6; post-free, 2/11; abroad, 3/4. + +No. 15.--Strongly and handsomely bound in plain cloth, with gilt edges +and lettering, and 6 Maps, and 80 extra leaves, 5/-; post-free, 5/5; +abroad, 6/-. + +No. 16.--Handsomely bound in half morocco, lettered on back, plain +cloth sides, with 6 Maps, gilt edges, 400 pages, 8/6; post-free, 9/-; +abroad, 9/6. + +BLANK LEAVES. For No. 14.--9d. per dozen; 5/- per 100, post-free. For +No. 15 or 16, gilt edges.--1/3 per dozen; 9/- per 100, post-free. + + + + +THE CENTURY ALBUM. + +[Illustration: ALL THE WORLD IN ONE VOLUME.] + +_NOW READY. In One Volume, 580 pages. Size of each page 10 by 13 +inches._ + +The CENTURY ALBUM + +OF THE + +Postage Stamps of the World. + +_Including a full Descriptive Catalogue, and Illustrated with several +thousand full-sized reproductions of the Stamps_. + + * * * * * + +This Album is produced in a very large edition at a cost of between +L2,000 and L3,000, and will be found to fulfil a long-felt want for an +Album in One Volume, of high-class style, and on thoroughly good and +highly surfaced paper, well and strongly bound. + +The Century Album is printed on one side of the paper only, catalogue +and illustrations on the left, and numbered spaces to correspond on +the right-hand pages. + +All minor varieties of perforation, watermark, and type are omitted, +and only such varieties are included as can be distinguished by the +young Philatelist. + +Space has been provided for some 18,000 stamps, and provision made for +new issues by the insertion of numerous blank pages. + +IN TWO QUALITIES. + +No. 21.--On extra stout highly glazed paper, strongly bound in cloth, +gilt lettered and artistically designed cover, coloured edges. + +Price 12/6; post-free in Great Britain, 13/4. + +No. 22.--As last, but half bound in morocco, plain sides, raised +bands, and gilt lettering on back, gilt edges; supplied in strong box. + +Price 25/-; post-free in Great Britain, 26/-. + +Extra Blank Leaves for this Album, 8d. per dozen, plain; or 1/- per +dozen with gilt edges. + + + + +THE IMPERIAL ALBUM + +(OPEN), SHOWING GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS. + +[Illustration:] + +The Sale of these Albums averages over 6,500 per annum. + +IMPERIAL ALBUM. + +_NOW READY. NINTH EDITION_, 1902. + +Great Britain and Colonies. + +504 pages. Size of pages, 8-3/4 by 11-1/2 inches. About 1,800 +Illustrations. + +Since the publication of the previous edition of this Album, we have +published the "Century" Album, designed for those who desire to +collect in the simplest form, without regard to perforations or +watermarks, and who desire a complete Album in one volume. + +In order, however, to further the wishes of those who collect on more +elaborate methods, the present edition has been prepared and very +considerably enlarged, and for all practical purposes runs parallel +with our current Postage Stamp Catalogue. + +The close of the century marks an epoch in the history of postage +stamps, and the present edition may be considered as + +A PERMANENT ALBUM + +_Of the Postage Stamps issued during_ + +THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. + +New issues appearing after the date of this edition are best collated +and arranged in blank albums, preferably with movable leaves, such as +our ORIEL or PHILATELIC ALBUMS. + + * * * * * + +_This Album is issued in FOUR qualities only (No. 6 has been +discontinued) of paper, binding, &c._ + +No. 5.--On extra stout paper, bound in embossed cloth, gilt lettering, +sprinkled edges. _Marone-colour covers_. + +Price without postage, 10/-; post-free in Great Britain, 11/-. + +No. 7.--On extra stout paper, handsomely bound, extra gilt, bevelled +boards, gilt edges, and patent expanding clasp. _Dark green covers_. + +Price without postage, 15/-; post-free in Great Britain, 16/-. + +No. 8.--On highly rolled plate paper, extra strongly bound in half +green morocco, lettered on back, cloth sides, gilt edges, no locks or +clasps. + +Price without postage, 25/-; post-free in Great Britain, 26/-. + +No. 9.--On highly rolled plate paper, magnificently bound in finest +green Levant morocco, rounded corners, with gold line round the +bevelled edges, lettered on back, gilt edges, patent expanding lock. + +Price without postage, 50/-; post-free in Great Britain, 51/-. + + * * * * * + + + + +IMPERIAL ALBUM. + +_NOW READY. NINTH EDITION, 1902._. + +Foreign Countries. + +870 pages, measuring 8-3/4 x 11-1/2 inches. About 2,400 Illustrations. + + * * * * * + +_This Album is issued in FOUR qualities only of paper, binding, &c. +(No. 66 has been discontinued.)_ + +No. 65.--On extra stout paper, bound in embossed cloth, gilt +lettering, sprinkled edges. _Marone-colour covers_. + +Price without postage, 15/-; post-free in Great Britain, 16/-. + +No. 67.--On extra stout paper, handsomely bound, extra gilt, bevelled +boards, gilt edges, and patent expanding clasp. _Dark green covers_. + +Price without postage, 21/-; post-free in Great Britain, 22/-. + +No. 68.--On highly rolled plate paper, extra strongly bound in half +green morocco, lettered on back, cloth sides, gilt edges, no locks or +clasps. + +Price without postage, 30/-; post-free in Great Britain, 31/-. + +No. 69.--On highly rolled plate paper, magnificently bound in finest +green Levant morocco, rounded corners, with gold line round the +bevelled edges, lettered on back, gilt edges, patent expanding lock. + +Price without postage, 60/-; post-free in Great Britain, 61/-. + + * * * * * + +These Albums are too heavy for book post abroad, but can be sent by +parcel post where same is in operation; the weight is about 8 to 10 +lbs., and cost can be calculated for each country. + + + + +The PHILATELIC ALBUMS A to E. + +_As described on page_ 20. + +[Illustration] + +The "ORIEL" Albums are of a similar style, but more portable and in a +superior binding. _See page_ 21. + +The leaves in this Album are retained in their places by an original +and newly patented plan, entirely doing away with the unsightly screws +hitherto necessary on the outside of books of this class. + +Pronounced by all who have seen it an ingenious and admirable +arrangement, pre-eminently adapted for the purpose, and completely +solving a difficulty experienced by collectors in general. + + * * * * * + +THE FIFTH EDITION OF + +THE PHILATELIC ALBUM. + +The most suitable Album published for Advanced Collectors. + + * * * * * + +Several important improvements have been introduced into this New +Edition, suggested by increased experience, and greatly enhancing the +use of this Work. Especially produced in answer to numerous inquiries +for a really permanent blank Album. It will be found suitable for the +reception of the most extensive and complete collection possible. It +is also adaptable for Post Cards, Revenue Stamps, or entire Envelopes. +Collectors using Albums of this class frequently resort to books not +specially manufactured for the purpose, and hence unsuitable, or the +more expensive and very often unsatisfactory mode of having them +expressly made; it is to meet this want that this Album is published, +and all that experience can suggest has been carried out to make it +worthy the use of even the most advanced collectors, and adaptable to +any arrangement that may be desirable. + +It is likewise especially applicable for the use of those Philatelists +who arrange their collections by the Catalogue published by ourselves +or any other standard list. This Album is also peculiarly suitable for +those who collect special countries only, taking as their guide the +various lists published by the London Philatelic Society, etc. Each +leaf has a double linen joint on an entirely new plan, allowing the +leaves to set properly when the book is opened, and giving strength at +the same time. A narrow marginal border embellishes each page, with a +semi-visible network of quadrille dotted lines, designed to assist the +correct insertion of the specimens to be mounted. The leaves are 100 +in number, and printed on one side only, on a very fine quality white +card paper. They are movable, allowing rearrangement or extension into +two or more volumes, as may be desired at any future time. It is +hardly necessary to point out the advantage of this; moreover, if a +page becomes spoilt, it can be at once replaced. A handsomely arranged +title is included. An inspection is desired where possible. + +PRICES. + +A.--Strongly bound in half morocco, gilt ornaments and lettering; +packed in a box, 30/-; carriage extra. Under 11 lbs., can be sent by +parcel post for 31/-. + +B.--Handsomely bound in full Persian morocco, bevelled boards, gilt +edges, double-action expanding lock and key; packed in a box, 50/-; +carriage paid, 51/-. + +Spare blank linen-jointed leaves can be had, 1/9 per dozen, or 2/3 per +dozen if with gilt edges, post-free; abroad extra. A sample leaf sent +for 2-1/2d., post-free. + + * * * * * + +At the request of several London collectors we have prepared an Album +of portable size, and convenient for taking to meetings of the +Philatelic Society, etc. Our large blank Albums, as described above, +are found to be too heavy and cumbersome for such purposes, and our +new book will be found a very suitable one. + +The size of the pages in E is 11 x 9-1/2. Weight, 7 lbs. 100 leaves. + +E.--Strongly bound in half morocco, gilt ornaments and lettering; +packed in a box, 25/-, or 25/9 by parcel post. + + + + +THE ORIEL + +Postage Stamp Album. + +This new album has been based on a special order from Mr. M. P. +CASTLE, Vice-President of the Philatelic Society of London, to whom we +have supplied 60 of these books, and to whom reference is kindly +permitted. It has met with such an unusually favourable reception from +those Collectors who have already used it that, on account of its +general adaptability, it must undoubtedly quickly take a front rank in +this class of publication. Amongst its numerous advantages, one +especially may be named, and that is, its convenient size, rendering +it extremely portable, and suitable for attending philatelic meetings, +etc. + +To those Philatelists who are unable to personally inspect same at our +Establishment, a brief description will be acceptable:-- + +Each Album contains 50 leaves of the best hand-made paper, faced with +Japanese tissue paper, so as to prevent all friction, and is bound in +half red morocco, with cloth sides finished in gold. A space on the +back of the cover is left plain, so that a Collector can have his +books lettered or numbered to show the contents. Each Album is +contained in a cloth drop-in case lined with lamb's wool. The leaves, +unless specially ordered, are supplied perfectly blank, without any +lined border or background, but if desired special leaves can be +supplied with a fine quadrille background, as supplied to the other +Philatelic Albums of this form. Exact size of leaves from the outside +edges, 10 inches by 10-1/4; available for mounting stamps, 8-3/4 +inches by 10-1/4. + +The price of the Album is 30/-; post-free, 30/7 (too heavy for post +abroad, so will be sent carriage forward). + +The Leaves, either plain or with quadrille background, can be supplied +at the price of 4/6 per dozen, or 32/6 per 100. + + + + +THE PHILATELIST'S COLLECTING BOOK. + +FOR THE COAT POCKET. + +With Patent Fastening to Flap. + +_Size, 6-1/2 by 4-1/4 inches. Handsomely bound in Art Cloth._ + +Each book contains 12 pages, having four strips of linen, 3/4-inch +wide, arranged horizontally, glued at the bottom edge and with the +upper one open, for the safe retention and preservation of recent +purchases or duplicates. A large pocket is also provided at the back +for Envelopes or Stamps in bulk. In daily use by leading London +Collectors. + +No. 17.--As illustrated. Price 2/6; post-free, 2/7. + +No. 18.--Oblong, twenty-four pages, six strips on each page, +interleaved with strong glazed paper to prevent rubbing. Price 5/-; +post-free, 5/3. + + * * * * * + +THE MONTHLY JOURNAL. + +_Edited by MAJOR E. B. EVANS._ + +Published on the 1st of each month, and chiefly noted for:-- + +1st.--Verbatim Reports of all Law Cases of Interest to Philatelists. + +2nd.--Earliest Information on New Issues. + +3rd.--Largest Stamp Journal Published: recent numbers containing from +50 to 72 pages. + +4th.--Quality of its Articles; with MAJOR EVANS as Editor this can be +taken for granted. + +5th.--Entirely Original Articles by the leading Philatelic Writers of +the day. + +SUBSCRIPTION--2/- per annum, or 5/- for three years. + +_Sample Copy sent gratis and post-free on application._ + +All Subscriptions must be prepaid, and commence with the JULY Number. +The Prices for Back Numbers will be found in the current number of the +_Journal_. There is no discount to the Trade. + +_The Monthly Journal_ now includes the Addenda to our Current Priced +Catalogue. The old method of publishing addenda quarterly has been +discontinued; and in the months of March, June, September, and +December a Special Number of the Journal is sent to all Subscribers, +containing lists of all Stamps, etc., that have appeared since the +publication of the Catalogue. In the other months there will be quoted +Special Bargains, Rarities, and prominent Alterations in Prices. + +_We therefore_ STRONGLY RECOMMEND _all purchasers of the Catalogue to_ +SUBSCRIBE TO "THE MONTHLY JOURNAL"--_forming, as it does, a complete +continuation of the Catalogue up to date._ + + + + +The Stamp King. + +A PHILATELIC NOVEL. + +BY MESSRS. BEAUREGARD AND GORSSE. + +_Translated from the French by_ EDITH C. PHILLIPS. + + * * * * * + +_The story commences at the New York Philatelic Club, and traces out +in a most amusing manner the struggles of the two leading members to +secure the rarest stamp in the world. The chase leads these collectors +to London, Paris, and Naples, and ends, after many curious adventures, +in New York._ + + * * * * * + +EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS. + +The Daily News says: "A delightful addition to modern books of +adventure.... Incidentally, there is a marvellous revelation of the +inner affairs and methods of the stamp-collecting world; but the main +interest of the book, to our mind, is its remarkable story, and it can +and will be read with pleasure by many who care nothing whatever about +the philatelic mania.... It would be spoiling a very good thing to +tell the rest of the story of the adventures of these two, ... and we +shall be much mistaken if this book, in popular form, does not meet +with phenomenal favour." + +The Spectator says: "A most diverting extravaganza, rather in the +style of Jules Verne.... The apology of the translator for the lack of +verisimilitude in the last scene is entirely unnecessary; otherwise +she has done her work with credit, while M. Veilliemin's spirited +illustrations heighten the attractions of a most entertaining and +ingenious story." + +The People: "A novel that will certainly interest the ordinary reader +and doubly interest the Philatelist. It is profusely illustrated, and +with a class of illustration that puts to shame much of the rubbish +that we find in English novels." + +The London Philatelist says: "It may at once be said that it is +amusing in the extreme, and cannot fail to entertain all its readers. +We have to heartily congratulate the translator upon the accuracy and +excellence of her handiwork. _The Stamp King_, we should add, is both +superbly illustrated and beautifully printed, and will assuredly +command a wide circle of readers." + +Vanity Fair: "This very sprightly novel on the stamp-collecting mania +is most amusing, and might be just the thing for a present to young +folks who are ardent collectors and readers of cheery, harmless +fiction. It is excellently 'got up,' the illustrations are very good, +and the story itself is quite exciting. All people who love (or +loathe) stamp collecting are honestly advised to read the racy story +of Miss Betty Scott." + +The Liverpool Mercury: "The enthusiasm of Philatelists in their +favourite pursuit is well illustrated in this capital story. It +possesses many merits, the interest being sustained throughout. The +translation is admirable, scarcely a trace is to be seen of French +idiom, while the rendering into American vernacular is particularly +clever and satisfactory." + +The Court Circular: "A very great amount of interest is taken in stamp +collecting, and a book pleasantly dealing with the stamp hobby, such +as the one before us, will be sure to find a wide circle of readers." + +The Lady's Pictorial: "This curious story is unique, for never before +or since its publication has the stamp-collecting hobby been turned to +account as the central idea of a really interesting romance and love +story." + +Gentlewoman: "The story is full of exciting incidents." + +_Half bound in Art Buckram, cloth sides, gilt lettering, plain edges, +200 pages, 80 fine illustrations. Price 6/-; post-free, 6/4; abroad, +6/8._ + + + + +The Stamp Collector. + +By HARDY and BACON. + +This well-known and most interesting handbook was published in 1898 by +Mr. George Redway in his _Collector Series_. On the failure of this +publisher lately, we purchased the balance of the edition--about 1,200 +copies--and are now able to offer the work at a great reduction on its +original price. + +_The chief contents are as follows:_ + +The Issue of Postage Stamps. Collecting--Its Origin and Development. +Stamps made for Collectors. Art in Postage Stamps. Stamps with +Stories. History in Postage Stamps. Local Stamps. The Stamp Market. +Post Cards. Famous Collections. List of Philatelic Societies. + + * * * * * + +Well bound in art cloth, gilt lettered, 247 illustrations, 294 pages. +Price 4/6; post-free, 4/10; abroad, 5/1. + + * * * * * + +The Mulready Envelope and its Caricatures. + +This Work is a reprint in book-form, with a few alterations and +additions, of a series of papers that have appeared in "The Monthly +Journal." The book consists of 240 pages and some 45 full-page +Illustrations of the most curious varieties of these interesting +Caricatures. This New Work will be of interest, not only to Stamp +Collectors, but also to those interested in Engravings--especially in +the works of LEECH, MULREADY, CRUIKSHANK, DOYLE, PHIZ (H. K. BROWNE), +THEO. HOOK, etc. etc. The Work has been produced in a very superior +manner, and is printed on special paper with extra large margins; and +by the kind permission of the Board of Inland Revenue an Illustration +of the original Mulready is also included. + + * * * * * + +No. 1.--Strongly bound in extra cloth, gilt lettering, marbled +burnished edges, &c., 6/-; post-free, 6/4; abroad, 6/8. + +No. 2.--_Edition de Luxe_, handsomely bound, extra gilt, hand-made +paper, with uncut edges, 10/-; post-free, 10/4; abroad, 10/8. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +The "Philatelists' Vade Mecum." +_(SECURED BY LETTERS PATENT.)_ + +Is an entirely New and Original Invention for enabling Collectors to +Mount Stamps without handling them, and is a _multum in parvo_ of +Philatelic requisites. + +It consists of a pair of broad-headed flat metal tongs, one of which +is fitted with a solid wedge. The object of this is to permit the free +end of a mount held by the tong to be bent over, moistened, applied to +the back of the stamp, and pressed down, and the mount can then be +released, the stamp lifted, the other end of the mount moistened, and +the stamp fastened thereby on the page. In the handle is inserted a +glass of high magnifying power. On one side of the middle part is a +millimetre scale (divided to half millimetres), and on the other a +two-inch scale (divided to sixteenths), both accurately marked off. +The stamp can be firmly held along either scale by the tongs. The +tongs are made of solid nickel, polished, and fit into a handsome +velvet-lined case, the size of which, when closed, is slightly less +than 6 inches long, 1-3/4 inches wide, and only 1/2 inch thick. + +_PRICE, with case complete, 2/6; post-free, 2/7; abroad, 3/9._ + + + + +SECOND EDITION. REVISED TO DATE. + +A GLOSSARY FOR PHILATELISTS, + +ENTITLED + +Stamps and Stamp Collecting. + +BY MAJOR E. B. EVANS. + + +This Work is intended to fill a void which has hitherto existed in the +Philatelist's Library. It will be found invaluable as a most useful +and indeed a standard book to refer to in all cases of doubt or +obscurity appertaining to Postage Stamps and their surroundings. + +The Collector is not infrequently perplexed by the various terms +employed, and the fullest explanations are here given of such. + +Much interesting information is also included as to the various +classes of and the manufacture of the paper employed, the typography, +the embossing, the perforating or rouletting, together with many +instructive and interesting details connected with the fascinating +science of Stamp collecting. + +_Price 2/- in strong Paper Cover, 4/- in Gilt Cloth; post-free, 3d. +extra._ + + * * * * * + +A COLOUR DICTIONARY, + +GIVING OVER + +_Two Hundred Names of Colours used in Printing, &c._ + +Specially prepared for Stamp Collectors by B. W. WARHURST. + +Useful for many businesses in which coloured articles are bought and +sold, and to give a more definite idea of the colours represented by +certain names in common use, which are very frequently misunderstood. + +SUITABLE FOR USE IN SCHOOLS. + +Printed in TEN differently coloured inks on as many different papers, +and further explained by diagram and ILLUSTRATED IN FIFTY-EIGHT +COLOURS. + +_Price 2/6 in strong Paper Cover, 4/6 in Gilt Cloth; postage 3d. +extra._ + + * * * * * + +POCKET MAGNIFYING GLASSES. + +After examining some scores of different sorts, we have been able to +get one combining the greatest power with the largest field obtainable +for pocket use. These glasses are mounted in handsome vulcanite +frames, and are very compact. There are two lenses in each, which may +be used singly, or if a very strong power is desired, may be combined. + +_Price 7/6; post-free, 7/7; abroad, 8/4._ + + * * * * * + +SURCHARGE MEASURER. + +[Illustration:] + +The accompanying illustration will give the best idea of what this is. +It consists of a pair of needle-pointed spring compasses, capable, by +means of an adjusting screw, of measuring with the greatest accuracy +all surcharges up to 40 millimetres in length. In addition to the +measure a millimetre gauge is obtained by running the head of the +screw along a piece of paper, a series of lines exactly a millimetre +apart being thus indented in the paper. For measuring surcharges on +such stamps as Natal, Straits Settlements, &c., this will be found +invaluable, and also in the detection of forgeries--a forgery or +forged surcharge very seldom being _exactly_ the same size as the +original. + +_Price 7/6; post-free, 7/7; abroad, 7/11._ + + * * * * * + + + + +Prepared Stamp Mounts. + +ACTUAL SIZE AND SHAPE. + +[Illustration: No. 1. No. 2. No. 3.] + + +For affixing Stamps in Collections neatly and expeditiously. Far +superior to the old plan of gumming the Stamps, and inserting them so +that it is only with great difficulty they can be withdrawn. These +Mounts are made of a thin strong white paper, and are ready gummed. By +their use, Stamps can be removed at any time without injuring them, or +in any way disfiguring the Collection. They are invaluable to those +who collect watermarks. They should be used on the hinge system; thus, +Moisten the Stamp, attaching the back of it to one half of the mount, +the other half being fastened to the Album. The Stamp will then be +facing the page; but do not turn it over until perfectly dry. A +Collection with the Stamps mounted in this manner is far more +valuable, if at any time a sale is desired. Three sizes are kept in +stock: No. 2, medium size, suitable for ordinary-sized adhesives; No. +1, smaller size; No. 3, large size--for such Stamps as old Portuguese, +or for cut Envelopes. This size may also be used for Cards by using +two mounts for each card. + +PRICES: + +_No. 1, 2, or 3 size, 3d. per 100; 1/6 per 1,000, post-free; 5,000, +6/6; 10,000, 12/-._ + +_The Prepared Paper can be supplied in Large Sheets, ready Gummed, at +3d. per Sheet, post-free_. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: No. 4. No. 5. No. 6.] + +NEW CHEAP MOUNTS. At the request of many clients we have prepared a +New Cheap Mount, made from a thicker paper; a gum is employed that +permits the Mount to be removed from a book or sheet without damage to +the paper, or tearing the Mount, which can thus be used several times +over, such Mounts being particularly serviceable for exchange clubs, +or for use in dealers' stock books, &c. The Mounts are put up in neat +glazed card boxes, 1,000 of a size in a box, and are sold in sets of +three sizes, viz., three boxes and 3,000 Mounts for 2/6; 9,000, price +6/6; or _separately, any size_, at 1/- per 1,000 post-free. + + * * * * * + + + + +NEW SPECIALITY. + +FOR STAMP COLLECTORS. + +_SPECIAL POCKET BOOKS, PURSES,_ + +AND + +CARD CASES. + +Each of the following New and Useful Specialities has separate +compartments provided for Postage Stamps, consisting of strips of thin +celluloid protecting the stamps, and enabling them to be seen at once, +and arranged so that the stamps can be put in or withdrawn in an +instant without damage. + +70.--TUCK CASE FOR THE WAISTCOAT. Pocket size. _s. d._ +3-1/2 x 2-3/8. Very thin, made in morocco leather, lined +leather of a neutral colour, with transparent pockets through +which stamps can be seen. + Price 2/6; post-free, 2 7 + +71.--BEST MOROCCO GENTLEMAN'S CARD CASE, with usual pockets for +visiting cards, and special compartments for stamps secured by a +tuck flap fastening. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.) + Price 4/6; post-free, 4 7 + +72.--BEST MOROCCO WALLET. 5-3/4 x 3-1/2 inches. Lined leather +throughout, flap and nickel lock fastening, gusset and tight +pockets for letters; special provision for stamps under +transparent pockets secured by an inner flap, and tuck fastening; +leather covered notebook. (Highly Recommended.) + Price 10/-; post-free, 10 2 + +73.--LIMP MOROCCO LETTER CASE. Size, 6-1/4 x 4 inches. With +gusset pocket for private letters, tight pocket for foreign post +cards, and an array of transparent pockets for stamps. + Price 3/6; post-free, 3 7 + +74.--Ditto, ditto, with a gilt-edged ruled book under an elastic. + Price 4/-; post-free, 4 1 + +75.--BEST MOROCCO LETTER CASE, lined leather throughout, with +gusset pocket for private letters, and special pocket containing +an ingenious receptacle to hold a large assortment of stamps. +Being detachable, it can be used either with or without the outer +case. + Price 5/6; post-free, 5 8 + +76.--BEST MOROCCO PURSE. 4 x 2-1/2 inches. Flap and nickel lock +fastening, stitched expanding pockets. The front to open out, +displaying transparent pocket for stamps, with a separate flap to +fasten. The purse can be used independently of the stamp +compartment. + Price 6/6; post-free, 6 7 + + + + +STANLEY GIBBONS' + +New Stamp Catalogue. + +_5,000 NEW AND ENLARGED ILLUSTRATIONS._ + +POCKET SIZE, IN TWO VOLUMES. + +VOL. I. contains all + +ADHESIVE STAMPS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE BRITISH COLONIES. + +New and Enlarged Edition. Price 2/-; post-free, 2/3. + + * * * * * + +VOL. II. contains the + +POSTAGE STAMPS OF THE REST OF THE WORLD. + +Price 2/-; post-free, 2/3. + + * * * * * + +Orange River Colony, Transvaal, and Mafeking Siege Stamps are +transferred to Part I., being now English Colonies. + +Particular attention has--in both volumes--been given to the +production of enlarged illustrations of many minor varieties, which +can easily be distinguished from a large print, but which are +difficult to describe. + +Many important countries have been thoroughly revised and re-written. +_One hundred extra pages_ have been added to the two volumes without +any extra charge. + + * * * * * + +REAL MARKET PRICES. + +It is, above all things, highly important that Collectors and Dealers +should know the exact and real market values of all Stamps. This Firm +has taken the greatest pains to arrive at these prices, and the prices +quoted in these Catalogues are those at which STANLEY GIBBONS will +supply the Stamps if unsold at the time of the order. + +To facilitate business in all parts of the world, an Introduction, +Details as to Approval Selections, Glossaries of Philatelic Terms, +etc., are given in English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. + + * * * * * + +STANLEY GIBBONS, LTD., 391, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stamp Collecting as a Pastime, by +Edward J. 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