THE

LondonPhilatelist. W3
THE MONTHLY JOURNAL OF

THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

VOL. X. JULY, 1901. No. 115.

ottth ^frkan (Stamp €xhibition.

READERS of this journal will doubtless share our satisfaction

at the announcement of the proposed Exhibition of South
African stamps to be held at Effingham House during the
early part of next season. It is now a considerable time
since the last one was held at the Society's rooms; but the
success that has always attended these " side shows," and
which was renewed at the Exhibition recently promoted by
the International Philatelic Union, clearly demonstrates their
popularity. The holding of big exhibitions, such as those
of London and Manchester, entails much labour and weari-
ness of the flesh, leaving behind a strong natural tendency,
after putting forth such Titanic efforts, to rest upon one's
laurels for a few years. These smaller shows, however, only involve a fraction
of the labour or responsibilities of an "Exhibition"; and given, as seems
happily to be the case in the present instance, an energetic and practical
committee, the work is greatly minimised.
Of the educational advantages of these " displays " there can be no doubt,
while their value as a recruiting ground may be deemed almost on the same
footing. The dimensions of the Society's rooms unfortunately do not admit
of the display of huge specialised collections in extenso; but when, as now
proposed, carefully selected exhibits are made up by their respective owners,
there is still ample room to show a large number of interesting and valuable
specimens. We believe that the showing capacity of the rooms at Effingham
House is equal to eight or nine thousand stamps ; and by the time that the
visitor has fully " taken in " all these he should be able to retire, content that
he had at least inspected enough stamps to give him food for philatelic
thought—not to say envy !
This Exhibition was to have taken place during the past spring, but there
were several reasons for its postponement, the most important one being that
the issues especially caused by the war were in full flood, and that if post-
poned it could be rendered more inclusive and complete. It was also hoped,
170 FORTHCOMING EXHIBITION OF SOUTH AFRICAN STAMPS.

in philatelic as in other circles, that the war would have been soon over, and
that its close would be the fitting time for such an exhibition. We may still
trust that by November this sad and wanton waste of life may have closed,
and that the "stamps descriptive of the late war" may yet be the proper
designation.
This Exhibition will be one that appeals to countless thousands outside
the pale of Philately. Hence we rather fear that if too liberal a recourse
is had to the daily Press, the Strand will be blocked by the queue of would-be
visitors. In any case, it is sure to attract considerable outside attention, and
we are assuredly safe in holding the opinion that it will be of distinct service
in tending to still further popularise the study of stamp collecting.

Forthcoming Exhibition of South African Stamps.

THE Philatelic Society of London, having decided to hold an

Exhibition of the South African stamps during the ensuing
autumn, has appointed a committee to carry out the arrange-
ments in connection therewith. The first meeting of this
committee was held on the nth of this month, and all
preliminary steps were then taken.
The Exhibition will be held in the Society's rooms at Effingham House,
on Saturday, the i6th of November, between the hours of eleven and six.
The stamps to be exhibited will be those of the South African Colonies
and Republics affected by the present war, and will include the following:—
Natal. Griqualand.
Cape Colony. New Republic.
(Mafeking). British South Africa.
Orange Free State. Zululand.
Orange River Colony. Swazieland.
Transvaal. Stellaland.
British Bechuanaland.
Cards for mounting the stamps will be supplied on application free of
charge; and Hon. Secretaries of other Societies can also be furnished with
same if so desired. Application should be made to the Hon. Secretary
of the Exhibition Committee, H. R. Oldfield, 13, Walbrook, E.G.
Further arrangements as soon as made will be notified in the London
Philatelist, and meantime Mr. Oldfield will be pleased to afford information
to any applicant.
 The Visit of H.R.H the Duke of York to
Australia.

IT is with great satisfaction that we reproduce the following

account from the Australian Philatelist of May 3ist, of the
presentation of an address and souvenir to H.R.H. the Duke
of York, President of the London Philatelic Society. We are
confident that the Duke will especially appreciate a philatelic
present made under such pleasant auspices, and that the
kindly gift of our Australian cousins will form yet another happy souvenir
of the loyal and cordial relations that exist between His Royal Highness and
all sections of Philately.
"The presentation of the address of welcome to the Duke of York,
Patron of the Sydney Philatelic Club, was made by the members selected
for the purpose, Mr. S. H. Lambton (President), Mr. van Weenan (Vice-
President), Mr. Basset Hull (Hon. Secretary), and Mr. R. Maney Lake, on
Wednesday, 29th May, at Government House.
" The Hon. Secretary had previously received a letter from the Private
Secretary, suggesting that the souvenir proposed to be given to His Royal
Highness might be presented at the same time as the address. Arrange-
ments were therefore made to combine the address and souvenir in the
form of an album.. This was specially made for the purpose, a number
of sunk - mount leaves being bound in maroon morocco, simply but
chastely ornamented. The first page contained the address, engrossed in Old
English characters and embellished in colours. The following is the text:—
' To His Royal Highness George Frederick Ernest Albert, Duke of Cornwall, Duke
of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney, Knight of the Most Noble
Order of the Garter, etc.
' May it please Your Royal Highness,—We, the members of the Sydney Philatelic
Club, approach Your Royal Highness with the assurance of our loyalty and devotion
to the Throne and person of His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward VII., and offer
you our most cordial and affectionate welcome.
'We respectfully express our appreciation of the high honour you have been
graciously pleased to confer upon our Club by becoming its Patron, and we recognise
that your Presidency of the Philatelic Society of London, the premier Society of the
world, and the personal interest taken by Your Royal Highness in the objects of our
Club greatly enhance the honour thus conferred upon it.
1
We ask your acceptance of the accompanying selection of the stamps of this the
Mother State of Australia, and trust that they may find a position amongst your
philatelic treasures.
' On behalf of the officers and members of the Sydney Philatelic Club,
'S. H. LAMBTON, President.
' E. D. E. VAN WEENAN, Vice-President.
' A. F. BASSET HULL, Hon. Secretary.
' R. MANEY LAKE.'
172 THE VISIT OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK TO AUSTRALIA.

" Following the address came the names of the thirty-six members con-
tributing stamps to the souvenir, arranged alphabetically. Then came the
ten pages of the stamps of New South Wales, mounted in the order of issue.
Amongst them may be mentioned :—
" Views—id., Plate II., pair and single, on blue wove paper ; 2d., Plate II.,
on yellowish wove; 3d., on blue wove. Laureates—id., on blue wove,
unused; 2d., Stars; 2d., Plate II., no wmk.; 2d., Plate II., wmk. 2, recon-
structed plate of fifty types, and a pair; 6d., coarse background; 8d., deep
orange. Large Square—5d., wmk. 5, unused ; 5d., sage-green, imperf, pair,
used; is., rose, perf., unused. Diadems—3d., pair, imperf., wmk. 3; 3d.,
wmk. 10, block of four unused ; 3d., wmk. N S W and Crown, pair, imperf.,
unused, and block of four, imperf. vertically, both unused. De la Rue Series—
gd., double surcharge, unused, and an unused pair without any surcharge
(I od., red-brown). Centennial—is., pair, imperf., unused; 55., wmk. 5/-(old
paper), unused. There were also blocks of the Record Reign series, of the
first dies, unused, the Hospital stamps, 6d., green, block of four, unused; the first
post card, both types of ' To,' unused, several official and private envelopes
on coloured paper, all unused and entire.
" The presentation was made at the same time as the addresses from other
public bodies. The President handed the album to the Duke, who placed it
on a chair at his side. The addresses were all taken as read, and a general
reply was read by His Royal Highness. The members of the deputation
were permitted to remain and witness the investiture of Sir Frederick
Darley, G.C.M.G., and Sir James Graham, K.B., an imposing and deeply
interesting ceremony.
" The same afternoon the Hon. Secretary received the following gratifying
acknowledgment of the souvenir :—•
' COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA,
' GOVERNOR-GENERAL,
' 2<)th May, 1901.
' DEAR SIR,—His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York desires me to
tell you how extremely grateful he is for the beautiful and valuable collection of
New South Wales stamps contained in the Address which was presented to H.R.H.
this morning by the Sydney Philatelic Club, which Club he is so proud to be
associated with as Patron.
' I am, Sir, yours very faithfully,
' B. GODFREY-FAUSSETT,
' Commander R.N., A.D.C.
'To A. F. BASSET HULL, Esq.,
'Hon. Secretary Sydney Philatelic Club.''

" The result of the movement can only be regarded as eminently satis-
factory to those members of the Club who contributed some of their cherished
possessions, and they may be congratulated both upon the success of the
presentation and the manner of its reception. Regret, however, may be
expressed that more members did not participate, as a little further effort
would have resulted in rendering the collection almost complete in the type
varieties of New South Wales issues."
 I 173 ]

Notes on the Stamps of Portugal.

A PAPER READ BEFORE THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON, ON MAY 2$TH, 1900,
BY M. P. CASTLE.

EACH succeeding year increases the difficulties of the Phila-

telist desiring to place new facts or fresh phases of interest
before his fellow-students. At the same time, there are in
many instances notes and information that have remained
buried, and that by their disinterment afford practically a
sufficient groundwork for the presentation of a paper to
a Philatelic Society. A happy blending of-old and partially forgotten data
with only a moderate amount of fresh information—derived from an appre-
ciative study of the stamps themselves—should, however, as I fondly hope in
the present instance, present points of interest to the general body of
Philatelists that will repay their careful attention to the reading of a
paper.*
I think I am on safe ground in asserting that the stamps of Portugal
have had less attention paid to them by members of this Society, and of most
other kindred bodies, than those of any other country of Europe. That this
apparent neglect is in no way due to want of intrinsic merit or philatelic
interest in the issues themselves, it will be a pleasing part of my task to
demonstrate. I can at least claim that it is one of the portions of my
European collection that have had especial charms for me, and that I have
been in that little heaven of the Philatelist which consists in the discovery
of minor deviations of type and uncatalogued varieties. These facts I have
been collating and endeavouring to assimilate for a considerable time, but
I had hesitated to give them publicity for the reason following. Mr. J. N.
Marsden, an old and esteemed member of this Society, had long since
promised me a work upon the Portuguese issues, which, from his long
residence in Lisbon and his philatelic ability, I have every reason to antici-
pate, would have been the last word to be said on these stamps. I have,
however, during the past year been in correspondence with Mr. O, Wasserman,
of the Berlin Philatelic Club, who is a very keen student of the Portuguese
stamps, and I note with pleasure that he has now embodied the result of his
observations in a paper which has been read before his Society in Berlin, and
since published in the Deutsche Briefmarken Zeitung. Under these circum-
* Owing to various causes the publication of this paper has been considerably delayed. Some
of the information herein has, since the reading of the paper, been carried considerably further by
students of the Portuguese stamps, and in certain instances some of the theories advanced have been
weakened by facts that have now come to light. I have, however, thought it better to publish the'
notes "with all their imperfections on their heads," in the hope that it may lead to a fuller and more
precise knowledge on the subject. The 1900 Edition of Messrs. Stanley Gibbons' Catalogue will be
found to include some of the points mentioned in the article, and which were communicated by me at
the time of writing this paper.—M. P. C.
174 NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL.

stances, and as the salient points of his article were common ground of
discovery and discussion between us, I have thought it only fair that the
English collecting world should be placed on an equality with its Continental
friends. It may, perhaps, also be of a little advantage to Mr. Marsden to be
able to incorporate any fresh points that I have elucidated or to reject any
theories now advanced. When later on we have the privilege of reading his
articles, I am sure he and you will acquit me of any desire to forestall in any
way the result of his labours.
In order to appreciate the relative value and importance of the issues of
a country it is well—nor is the subject devoid of interest—to briefly glance
at the geographical and national status of the issuing country. In doing this
some measure of the stability and proportions of its postal issues, weighed in
the philatelic scales, may be usefully gathered.
The kingdom of Portugal, with its extensive seaboard on three sides,
placed at the extreme edge of the Iberian Peninsula and isolated from the
rest of Europe by its neighbour, Spain, occupies a favourable and a protected
position that should always preserve it from the danger of being swallowed
by any ambitious Power. The kingdom of Portugal, of which Azores and
Madeira form an integral part, contains an area of 34,606 square miles, and
has at the present day a population of about five and a quarter millions of
people. The Portuguese colonial empire has an area of nearly twenty-six
times the extent of the mother country, many of the colonies being re-
minders of Portugal's ancient splendour, and still forming very important
factors in the wealth and commerce of the nation. Their names are known
but too well to collectors, the multiplicity of needless speculative or com-
memorative issues having rendered them a veritable byword in philatelic
circles. The relations of Great Britain have been uniformly friendly with
Portugal, and we are entitled to remember with national pride the great feats
of Wellington in the Peninsular War. The colossal lines at Torres-Vedras,
crossing the peninsula on which Lisbon is placed, and its defiance of the
united attacks of all the French marshals, will always remain as a sublime
instance of the great Duke's military genius and a reminder" of the bond of
amity that should unite the British and Portuguese nations. In these latter
days in South Africa our friends have had a difficult part to pJay, but there
are happy indications that they are not unmindful of their obligations to
Great Britain.
The royal history of Portugal is of considerable interest, no less than
four monarchs having occupied the throne of Braganza since the introduction
of postage stamps in the kingdom in 1853—to wit—
Dona Maria, 1853 ; died November, 1853.
Dom Pedro V., 1853 ; died November, 1861.
Dom Luis, 1861 ; died October, 1889.
Dom Carlos, 1889.
The present King is still a young man, having been born in 1863, and the
Heir-Apparent, Prince Luis Filippe (named after his royal mother's French
family traditions), is now a youth of fourteen years of age.
The currency of Portugal has remained unchanged in reis and milreis,
 NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL. 175

the latter being practically equivalent to 45. 46. A rei is therefore about
the twentieth part of a penny, while the lowest denomination of a stamp for
newspapers is 2\ reis, about half a farthing. Our Government is not so
enlightened, alas! and a halfpenny still seems our irreducible minimum, in
view of the demands for Post Office financial support by the National
Exchequer. It is fortunate for us collectors that the rei has reigned so
securely, or we might have been inundated with surcharges, and the charm
of this country's stamps destroyed.
For nearly forty years Portugal remained innocent of surcharges, and
even those created in 1892 are neither difficult, expensive, nor alarming.
The only blots on the Portuguese stamps are the commemorative issues of
1894 (Dom Henry), 1895 (S. Antonio), and the Vasco da Gama Unpaids, etc.
(1898). These three series, however, in no way superseded the regular issues ;
they were purely speculative and unnecessary, and may be safely banished
from the Philatelist's album " unwept, unhonoured, and unsung."
I have mentioned what I consider the only blots on Portugal's escutcheon,
and I contend that they are of the smallest importance compared with the
great variety, interest, and beauty of the permanent issues. I am well aware
that this is an opinion not generally shared, and even the late Mr. W. A. S.
Westoby (to whose excellent book I am indebted for several items of
information) calls the stamps " complicated, difficult," and " embracing a mass
of provisionals." The stamps of Portugal are not without points of difficulty
and interest to the more advanced student, as I shall endeavour to show, but
to the average collector they can be marshalled in straightforward and
simple groups that present nothing in any way formidable. In Stanley
Gibbons' Catalogue, which includes types, varieties of perforation, and many
small differences, there are only 260 stamps (excluding the three speculative
issues), and this, spread over nearly half a century, is by no means excessive.
In Whitfield King's Catalogue, 1900, which includes only important varieties,
126 is the number of stamps.
It is futile to deny that the collector of this year of grace 1900 is in-
sensible to the charms of beauty—in stamps—the familiarity with new issues
and up-to-date post-official catering for Philately in the guise of miniature
scene painting having awakened a general appreciation of character, art, or
design as applied to the postage stamp. To my mind there is an especial
charm—coupled perhaps with the enhanced difficulty of its acquisition—in
the contemplation of an embossed stamp. In addition to the Philatelist's
ordinary ideas of perfection there is in this class of stamp the relief or
sharpness of the embossing to be studied. The attainment of specimens
showing a cameo-like head with all the raised details in sharpest outline is
like a will-o'-the-wisp chase—elusive and delightful. It practically places
stamps of this category in a line with coins where sharpness of outline is the
great desideratum. The octagonals of Great Britain and the Gambias are
familiar instances of the appreciation of fine relief printing, while in Switzer-
land, Austria, and several of the extinct German States almost the same
features are presented. I do not think there is, however, any parallel
instance of the consecutive issue of embossed stamps for thirty-four years
as in the case of Portugal, and in my judgment this fact entitles the Portuguese
176 NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL.

stamps to a high place in the estimation of the Philatelist. With these few
general remarks, which I trust have not been found pointless, I now proceed
to consider the respective issues, incorporating with each any information
that I consider either entirely fresh or not generally known.

Issue I. Dona Maria. July ist, 1853.

The four values of this issue, bearing the well-known effigy of the Queen,
were ordered by a decree of the 27th of October, 1852, and their use in the
first instance was not obligatory with regard to classes of postal matter. The
5 reis was intended for newspaper franking, the 25 and 50 for ordinary
postage of one and two ounces, and the 100 for postage and registration
within the kingdom and adjacent islands. I should here mention that I
am indebted for this and other information on this issue to M. Henrique
Anachoreta, of Lisbon, contained in an excellent article on the first issue
of Portugal, written in 1895 and published in the official bulletin of the
Lausanne Philatelic Society in June, 1896. The preparation of the dies was
entrusted by the administration of the Hotel de la Monnaie at Lisbon to
M. Francisco Borja Freire (who placed his initials on the stamps at the
base of the bust), and M. Freire was subsequently despatched to England to
study the designs then in use. That the engraver faithfully followed out
his instructions is palpable, as the Portuguese stamps closely resemble the
octagonals then in issue in Great Britain both in size and general details.
The designs submitted having been approved, it is interesting to learn that
the machine for making the impression was likewise despatched from this
country. M. Anachoreta also explains that the machine was worked by
a hand-wheel " driven" by four men. The sheets consisted apparently of
ninety-six stamps divided, as I am inclined to believe, into four panes of
twenty-four each in six horizontal rows of four stamps. The paper employed
was machine-made wove, varying in texture, notably in the case of the
25 reis, which was used in very large numbers, and the issue may be divided,
as are my stamps, into thick and thin paper. I have, however, never found
the 50 reis on other than the thick paper, and M. Anachoreta confirms this,
as he states that " the second delivery of paper received at the Hotel de
la Monnaie consisted of twenty-six reams of 500 sheets of the same quality
—of a thick nature—as that employed in the first impressions. That
received on the 23rd August, 1853—thirty reams—was of quite another and
thinner quality than the antecedent supply. The stamps of 5, 25, and 100
reis were then printed upon this paper, of which hence two distinct qualities
exist of these three values, the first thick and the second thin and transparent,
being similar to that subsequently employed for the straight-hair issue
Pedro V. The 50 reis exists, therefore, only on the first (thick) paper, not
having been printed after the reception of the second delivery of paper."
This is an interesting statement, and being compiled from official records
fully confirms and sets at rest the question of the paper, and relieves the
collector from the hunt after the 50 reis on thin paper. My own experience
is that the thin papers are very much rarer than the others, especially as
regards the 5 reis.
With regard to the gum, it is generally described as brown, and is really
 NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL. 177

frequently very brown, but it will be found to vary between this and the
ordinary yellowish. Towards the later printings it really assumes an almost
normal tone, especially on those stamps printed on the thin paper just
referred to. M. Anachoreta says, however, that the gum employed on the
earliest printings of the 5, 25, and 100 reis was found to be weak and
deficient in adhesive properties, frequently necessitating the use of sealing-
wax for fastening the stamps on letters, and that it was (according to an
official document) subsequently modified and made thicker.
Although the Queen Maria died four months after the introduction of
these stamps in July, 1853, their printing and issue were continued until
May, 1855, being used simultaneously after February, 1855, with the next
Dom Pedro issue. The table following, which I have borrowed from
M. Anachoreta's excellent article, is of interest as not only exemplifying this,
but showing the quantities of each value used and giving a fair clue to their
relative rarity.
NOTE OF STAMPS DELIVERED TO THE POST DURING THE YEARS
1853-54 AND 1854-55.
Value.
5 Reis. 25 Reis. 50 Reis. 100 Reis.
1853. June . . 128,400 ... 243,600 ... — ... —
„ July . . 183,600 ... 394,800 ... 26,400 ... 49,200
„ August . — ... 204,000 ... 150,000 ... —
„ September . 122,400 ... 459,600 ... — ... —
,, October . — ... 540,000 ... — ... —
,, November . 144,000 ... 228,000 ... — ... —
December . 143.495 ••• 3 l r >73 6 ••• 34i ••• 125
1854. January . — ... — ... — ... —
2 6 r 6
„ February . 182,400 ... 3°9.793 ••• > 57 ••• > 75
„ March . . 118,800 ... 48,000 ... — ... 20,370
,, April . . 165,600 ... 158,400 ... — ... —
,, May . . 212,400 ... 271,200 ... — ... —
„ June . . — ... '438,000 ... — ... —
„ July . . 192,000 ... 210,000 ... — ... —
„ August . 108,000 ... 348,000 ... — ... 16,783
„ September . 192,000 ... 72,000 ... — ... —
,, October . 72,000 ... 576,000 ... — ... —
,, November . 277,200 ... — ... — ... —
,, December . 309,000 ... 779,400 ... — ... —
1855. January . 246,000 ... 388,800 ... — ... —
;, February . 216,000 ... 192,000 ... — ... —
,, March . . 216,000 ... 360,000 ... — ... —
„ April . . 120,000 ... 240,000 ... — ... —
„ May . . 168,000 ... 552,000 ... — ... 16,636
3»S r 7,29S ••• 7,3 2 5,3 2 9 ••• !79,398 ••• 104,789
Burnt, December, 1853. 1,895 ••• 8,136 ... 341 ... 125
Issued . . . 3,515,400 ... 7,3 I 7, I 93 ••• i79>°57 ••• 104,664

The question of variation of the dies employed will be found throughout

the Portuguese issues to be replete with " points "—and frequently novel ones
—but in the case of the Dona.Maria stamp there is only one variety that
i?8 NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL.

calls for comment, the so-called Die II. of the 5 reis. M. Anachoreta says,
however, hereon: "Two varieties have been assumed to have been found of
the Dona Maria issues. The one in the 5 reis wanting the pendent curl
arises from use of the die, which was hence retouched for the reprints. The
other, with a little dot of colour in the ear, also arises from the state of the
die and the amount of pressure employed in printing. I consider these two
pretended varieties as simple curiosities." These four stamps were reprinted
in 1864 and 1866 (on chalky paper), and Mr. E. D. Bacon states, in his book
on Reprints, that " the 5 reis was printed from a retouched die, and the
pendent curl of hair behind the Queen's head has entirely disappeared, as
has also the so-called ' Adam's apple' in the throat." The " pretended " Die
II. of the 5 reis has always been a difficult insect to catch, especially in a
state of pristine beauty—the few used specimens that I have seen having
generally been so blotted out by redundant printer's ink as to defy any
accurate diagnosis of the points of difference. I have always had some
searchings of heart as to what really constituted the difference between these
two varieties of the 5 reis, and I was at one time inclined (as have other
students hereof) to support M. Anachoreta's thesis. Messrs. Stanley Gibbons
have, however, come to the rescue, having received from a correspondent in
Portugal a considerable number of stamps of this value which had been
affixed to documents and have escaped obliteration. It would appear that
these stamps just escaped with their lives, having been rescued from a paper
mill, but that their limbs have been most cruelly treated, nearly all having
been damaged in removing them from the original papers. Messrs. Gibbons
have kindly placed the whole of these stamps at my disposal, and I have
been able to solve—to my own satisfaction at least—the question of these
two die varieties.
I will take the points of divergence,* assumed or ascertained, in order,
commencing with the former, that I may the better clear the way and simplify
the rather minute and apparently involved points of differentiation.
1. The points or dots of colour in the ear (referred to by M. Anachoreta)
and in the coil of hair. This I consider entirely due to either presence of
extra ink on the die, undue pressure, or extra absorption through the use of
inferior paper. The latter point, which is of interest, I will touch on later.
2. The apparent formation of an " Adam's apple " in the throat, especially
noticeable in the reprints of 1864, and attributable to one or more of the
three preceding causes, probably the latter.
3. The apparently different shape of the back of the neck, especially
between the pendent curl and the nape—likewise caused in my opinion.
4. The distance between the outer circle of pearls and the topmost portion
of the crown, due most probably to excessive inking.
5. The generally blurred, woolly, or indistinct appearance of the im-
pression.
The last is, I believe, due to the nature of the paper employed. I
have mentioned the use of two papers, for which M. Anachoreta has given
chapter and verse, but until the arrival of Messrs. Stanley Gibbons' lot I had

* See illustrations
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 NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL. i?9

never come across any 5 reis Dona Maria on thin paper except those of Die
II. I did not think the latter existed on any paper but this, but among the
stamps now forthcoming I have found several Die I. on the same papen
and have therefore added this stamp to the list that I had already drawn up
from the study of my own collection. The examination of these two dies on
the same thin paper will show how important a factor it is in the resultant
appearance. In both cases we get the same blurred and indistinct impression,
creating great difficulty in diagnosing the respective dies. This paper, which
is of indifferent machine-made texture, is totally deficient in the quality of
toughness that is generally associated with a thin hand-made paper, and
was therefore especially ill-fitted to receive an embossed die. As a con-
sequence the paper yielded too much to the embraces of the impressing
machine, was flattened out, and thus allowed the ink to spread so much as to
practically obliterate some of the smaller ornamentations in the borders, and
even, as I have noted, to impinge to a considerable extent upon the outlines
of the head and neck. If the reprints of 1864 are very closely examined, it
will be seen that there is a strong encroachment of colour overprinting the
back of the neck from the pendent curl, which gives quite another shape to
the back of the bust; but beneath the colour the neck is there, as in Die I., but
the curl itself modified for Die II., as I will proceed to explain.
I have intimated that I have long had some doubts as to the real existence
of these two dies, and it may be of interest to state the cause of my con-
version to the double die theory, i.e. the examination of the two reprints
of this stamp. In the case of the 1864 reprint, as I have pointed out, de-
fective impression has made the identification more difficult; but when we
come to that of 1886, which was printed on a suitable fine, thick, well-surfaced
paper—known as chalky—which receives the impression with most minute
details, all doubts and difficulties vanish. I submit the finest impression
I can muster of Die I. side by side with Die II., 1886 reprint, and I think
you will be able to see that the differences—to use a well-known colloquialism
—" stand out and hit you." I think that this assistance rendered by Govern-
ment reprints is a striking argument in favour of the retention of all official
reprints in a specialised collection—a contention that I have long held and
which I venture to think is of assured adoption in the near future.
I now describe the only reliable
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO DIES.
The pendent curl. Die I. This curls outwards, away from the neck, and
points directly towards the right centre of the pearl frame.
Die II. The curl is cut where it projected beyond the contour of the
back of the head. Owing to excessive ink on the neck on the thin paper
stamps, it apparently sometimes still protrudes to a certain extent.
The ornamentations, i.e. the two lines above most nearly approaching
" CORREIO " to left and right and, below, pointing to centre of " 5 " on left
and to upper part of " s " on right.
Die I. These four lines, which are almost vertical, are short and are
broken in the centre at almost an angle of 45°.
Die II. These ornamentation lines are considerably longer, thinner, and
are straightened so as to appear practically curved instead of angled.
i8o NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL.

After eye-aching examination I have in some stamps found other apparent

deviations, but they are too small—in relief printing—to be reliable; and
I venture to think the two forenamed tests will suffice to differentiate the
two types. This retouch is obviously not of magnitude or first-class im-
portance to the generalist. The specialist is, however, bound to take cog-
nisance of it, even if it be less prominent than the re-engraved dies of Sicily
or New South Wales.
The explanation of the alteration presents more difficulty. The 5 reis
was not used to half the extent of the 25 reis, and I have never—though
I have repeatedly searched—found any Die II. in that value. M. Freire,
however, doubtless thought the die wanted slightly touching up, and hence
removed the obnoxious curl and straightened out the four strokes. The
5 reis, Die I., is a fairly abundant stamp used, but Die II. is only rarely met
with, even used, and I am inclined to believe was in use for a very limited
period. The present find is "a bolt out of the blue," on which Messrs.
Stanley Gibbons are to be congratulated.
I append a synopsis of the shades, and in doing so I may say that, as also
in the cases of all subsequent issues, I have only included such marked
definitions of colour as constitute, in my view, different printings, all depths
of impression and minor variations being included under the expression
" shades."
SYNOPSIS.
Issue I. July ist, 1853.
Thick Paper. Thin Paper.
5 reis, red-brown ; Die I. 5 reis, red-brown ; Die I.
„ brown. Die II.
25 reis, pale milky blue. 25 reis, blue.
„ turquoise-blue. „ dark blue.
„ blue. 100 reis, lilac.
„ greenish blue.
„ dark blue.
50 reis, yellow-green.
„ dark green.
100 reis, lilac.
„ dark lilac; slight shades
of all.

Issue II. February ist, 1855. Dom Pedro V.

This issue, which, as first printed, is generally known as the " straight-
hair," consists, like that preceding, of four values—5, 25, 50, and 100 reis—
and was also engraved by Mr. Borga Freire, and manufactured at the Mint in
Lisbon. The gum is uniformly of a rather yellowish tint, but the paper
varies, as in the precedent issue, though perhaps not quite so markedly,
notably in the 50 and too reis. The 5 reis is of course well known to exist
in types, of which five have long been accepted ; but for some time I held the
opinion that there was a sixth, and after discussion with other collectors,
notably in the Berlin Society, I have arrived at the conclusion that the
differences apparent in the "sixth type" were simply due to variations in the
 NOTES ON THE STAMPS OF PORTUGAL. 181

amount of ink used or the pressure applied in printing. I may here say
that in the cases of embossed stamps apparent deviations that might
readily be accepted in the case of line-engraved stamps must be carefully
and even doubtingly examined, as the amount of ink cum pressure ap-
plied will frequently very much increase or decrease the breadth of the
white relief portions of the die, and present the appearance of die variations.
The most salient feature to be regarded is the relative direction of any two
given lines or points taken in conjunction, and not on their individual record
alone. The differences in these five types are well known, and need no
description here; but I may say that, as in all subsequent cases, I have never
found two die varieties se tenant. It would therefore seem that in all cases
no frame was set up that did not consist of reduplications of the same
matrix. A quondam pair of these stamps (5 reis) is shown in my collection,
and my remarks hereon are borne out by the fact that this pair, and a
limited number of unused specimens that were recently unearthed, are
all of the same die variety, and I have every reason to believe emanated
from the same fragment of a sheet.
Turning to the 25 reis, the two varieties have become now generally
known, but the differences are pointed out as being due to the pearls or size
of the lettering only. These two stamps are, in effect, made from entirely
different dies, head and all. On close examination, frame, network, pearls,
lettering, size, and position of the head (noting relative propinquity to the
pearls), will all be found to be entirely different, and it is clear that these two
were created as entirely separate dies. I cannot say as yet which came first, or
whether they were in simultaneous use. The variety with the larger lettering,
which I call Die I., is found on thick and thin paper, while Die II. (in my
experience) occurs only on the latter, and I have the former stamp used in
conjunction with a Dona Maria—100 reis ; but, as I have previously shown,
the extended concurrent use of these two issues renders them a testimony
of but slender import. The reprint is from Die I., which also may mean
little. Die II. unused had always been in my experience a scarce stamp until
I found a little nest, and I believe it is practically as rare as the 5 reis. The
alignment of the stamps on the sheet, as will be seen, is very irregular; but
as regards the ink employed, the impressions are more even, varying far
less in shade than in the case of the Queen Maria issue.

SYNOPSIS.
Issue II. February ist, 1855. Dom Pedro V.
Thin Paper. Thick Paper.
5 reis, dark reddish brown; five types. 5 reis, dark reddish brown; Types
25 reis, blue; Type I. I 25 „ blue; Type I.
„ dark blue; Type I. \ 50 „ yellow-green shades.
Type II. 100 lilac.
50 reis, yellow-green shades.
„ blue-green „
100 reis, lilac „
(To be concluded.)
115 *
 [ 182 ]

PhilatelicNotes.
THE LONGEST LIVED STAMP.
MR.A. F. BASSET HULL'S recent article on the 5d, large square, New
South Wales, which, owing to its forty-six years of existence, he has
felicitously christened the " Grand Old Stamp," has been extensively reproduced
and commented on in philatelic circles. Nor do we think that its position
as the doyen of stamps has been shaken by any other known variety. The
nearest in point of longevity, curiously enough, also hails from New South
Wales—the 3d., green, Diadem of 1857—also a beautiful and a very interesting
stamp. In point of rarity of some of its varieties it beats the 5d., the
imperforate stamp being of great rarity unused, and that with the error of
watermark double-lined "2," while an extremely rare stamp used, is unknown
—as far as we are aware—in unpostmarked condition. Ewen's Weekly
quotes hereon some other stamps which have rendered long service, and which
still survive.
1860. Jamaica, 4d., red-brown; is., brown. Watermarks vary.
1860. New South Wales, 53., coin type. Issue was interrupted from 1888 to
1890.
1862. South Australia, is., brown. Perforations vary. Still on Star paper.
1862. The 12 c., blue, Hong Kong, was first issued on unwatermarked paper in
this year. In 1865 it appeared on Crown CC paper, and has never
since been changed.
1863. Hong Kong, 4 c., grey. Varieties occur.
1864. Cape of Good Hope, 6d., violet. Watermark varies.
1864. Newfoundland, 24 c., blue.
1865. The current 6d. Bermuda was first issued in this year, and has never
been changed in any way.
1865. Bermuda, id., rose. Varieties occur.
1868. St. Helena, 53., orange, absolutely without change.
1868. Orange Free State, 6d., rose.
There is, however, one other and very important stamp which seems to
have escaped the notice of our contemporaries. The id. of Great Britain,
with the exception that it had a short life in mourning garb, remained un-
changed for forty years, and doubtless holds the record of the greatest number
printed of any stamp ever issued. The two dies practically represent an un-
changed design, and as the father of all adhesives, this stamp, in our opinion,
is the only one that might challenge Mr. Basset Hull's champion!

Occasional Notes.
NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.
THE Society's Rooms at Effingham House will, by order of the House
Committee, be CLOSED from July 3ist to August 2ist inclusive.
Communications by letter may, however, be made as usual.
 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 183

THE WORK OF THE LONDON PHILATELIC SOCIETY.

WEare glad to notify that, already, the new Council has taken the
question of the Society's work seriously to heart, and as will be seen
by the letter following, which has been sent to all the members resident in
Great Britain, has lost no time in making a start. We sincerely trust that
a loyal and ungrudging support will be given to this appeal.
" EFFINGHAM HOUSE,
" ARUNDEL STREET, STRAND,
"LONDON, W.C., \2thJuly, 1901.
"THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.
" DEAR SIR,—The arrangements for the work of the Society during the ensuing
season, 1901-2, have been placed in our hands by the Council of the London Phila-
telic Society, and we are anxious to be able to announce, during the summer vacation,
the full programme for the next season.
" Several members of the Council have already promised their assistance, but we
especially invite and desire the co-operation of the members generally.
" We shall therefore feel much obliged if you will fill in and return the accompany-
ing post card not later than August isth.
" We are, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
" M. P. CASTLE, Vice-President.
" R. EHRENBACH, 1 Members of
" L. L. R. HAUSBURG, ) the Council."

FIRE AT MESSRS. BRIGHT AND SON'S PREMISES.

wEmuch regret to announce the fact of a serious fire having taken place
at Messrs. Bright and Son's premises, 164, Strand, but are glad that
the disaster has its limits, as intimated in the letter following, which we have
received from that firm. A personal inspection of the premises, however,
presents a painfully vivid view of the damage that can be effected upon
philatelic stock by the combined efforts of fire and water. Our sincere
sympathies are tendered to Messrs. Bright and Son, who are, of course, pro-
tected by insurance, and we can but hope that they will phcenix-like rise up
in renewed and extended vigour.
" We shall feel greatly obliged if you will kindly note in the columns of your
valuable paper that, notwithstanding the disastrous fire which broke out on our
premises on Sunday morning, the 3oth ult., we are still able to carry on our business
at 164, Strand.
"Although a large quantity of our stock has been burnt (our immense stock
of accessories and albums have been entirely destroyed), we have made arrangements
for further immediate supplies, and trust to execute all orders with but little delay.
" We also wish to express our gratitude for the many kind condolences we have
received from both collectors and dealers, and also for offers of accommodation and
assistance, notably from Messrs. Stanley Gibbons and Wm. Hadlow."
Since the foregoing was written, we learn from Messrs. Bright and Son
that the total loss, both as regards stamps and publications, has been
assessed at £1,700.
184 OCCASIONAL NOTES.

"A TALE OF STAMPS."

UNDER the above heading, with a sub-title, " The War Written on our
Stamps," the Western Mail of the 22nd June had a long and able
article by Mr. Walter Scott, of Cardiff. The information therein, though
familiar to Philatelists, is conveyed in a concise and interesting form that
at once enlists the sympathies of the ordinary reader, the appearance of such
articles having a distinct value in the enlistment of recruits for stamp collect-
ing. The final paragraph of Mr. Scott's article will show how such an article
appeals to the uninitiated public.
" The manner in which the history of our own time can to a large extent be learnt
from the study of postage stamps is well evidenced by the stamps of the Transvaal.
The first were issued in 1869 by the then newly formed Republic. Then, in 1877,
the British occupation is shown by the stamps being surcharged ' V. R. Transvaal.'
In 1878 a new set appeared, bearing our late Queen's head, and this again was
superseded in 1882 by a reappearance of the 1869 design, showing that the Transvaal
was again an independent Republic. Now, in 1900, 'V. R.' has again appeared as
a surcharge on the Republic stamps; and doubtless a new issue with the head of our
present Sovereign will soon appear to denote the permanent restoration of British rule."

STATEN ISLAND PHILATELISTS.

To quite a number of collectors and dealers in this country New York
and its vicinity are almost as familiar as London and Paris, and there
must be many who, like ourselves, have made the short steamer journey
to the pleasant shades of Staten Island, and have passed most enjoyable
hours with the members of the Philatelic Society of that pretty little island.
The ordinarily uneventful traverse of a few minutes required for the ferry
service was rudely broken by the accident recently reported in the daily Press.
The M.P. has now given us fuller particulars, and it is pleasant to read that
the members of the " S. I. P. S." gave so good an account of themselves.
"That portion of the Metropolitan readers who reside in or near the metropolis
were thrilled by the accounts of the wreck of the Northfield soon after she had started
out on her six o'clock trip to Staten Island, the home of so many of our most
enthusiastic Philatelists of German birth or parentage. Later report has reduced the
number of deaths to four, and while the daily press has given many details of the
disaster, many deeds of heroism have passed unnoticed. It is not our province
to note the doings of ordinary mortals. When a stamp collector goes wrong we make
it a point to hold him up to scorn, and when some act of bravery is performed by a
Philatelist we are delighted to chronicle the fact. On the eventful evening of June
joth three members of the Staten Island Philatelic Society were on board the
Northfield. Standing on the lower deck they saw the onward rush of the Mauch
Chunk towards the ill-fated boat crowded with its human freight. No thought of self-
preservation entered their minds, but with one accord they divested themselves
of their umbrellas and parcels, which all suburbanites carry to distinguish them from
their fellow-citizens, and dashed to the points where their knowledge and services
would be most valuable. The rapidly sinking boat was soon surrounded by tugs and
the various craft with which the harbour is crowded, but many women and children
owe their lives to the assistance rendered by the heroic members of the Staten Island
Philatelic Society."
 [ 185 1

NEw Issues.
NOTES OF N K W , AND V A R I A T I O N S OF C T J R R K N T , ISSUKS.
(Varieties of Obsolete Stamps, and Discoveries, -will be found under "Philatelic Notes.")
We do not profess to chronicle everything, but, with the kind help of correspondents, are desirous that
all the important novelties may be included. Speculative stamps—i. e. those not really required for
postal purposes—will be considered on their merits, and Jubilee issues will not be chronicled.
Members of the London Philatelic Society, and other readers generally, are invited to co-operate with us
tn making the columns as interesting as possible. Our foreign readers can especially help us in
this direction, by sending copies of any official documents relative to changes in the current issues,
or early intimation of any new issue, accompanied, when possible, by a specimen ; such information
•will be duly credited to the correspondent, and, if desired, the specimen promptly returned.
Address: EDITOR "LONDON PHILATELIST," EFFINGHAM HOUSE, ARUNDEL STREET, STRAND,
LONDON, W.C.

BRITISH EMPIRE. It is now quite a common occurrence for

BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE. — Le information of new issues to reach the
Philateliste Fran^ais is the first journal we philatelic journals long before the stamps
have seen to announce the ^d., green, are really put into circulation.
English stamp surcharged " Bechuanaland The 5 cents, orange-yellow, of Hong
Protectorate" in two lines, in black. Kong, we announced in January, and the
Adhesive. Jd., green. supply has only lately come to hand.
BRITISH GUIANA.—The M. J. has re- Our contemporary further writes—
ceived notice from the Postmaster-General "A correspondent tells us that he possesses
that on and after July ist the provisional the 'Two' on 4 c., rose, with Type 29 of
issue of 1888-9—3> 4> 6, 8, 10, 20, 40, and 72 the surcharge double; it would come between
No. 179 and 180."
cents, mauve and black—will no longer be
available for postage. GREAT BRITAIN.—Ewen's Weekly reports
We notice that the i cent and 2 cents (both the current is., green and carmine, stamp,
varieties) and the $i, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are not overprinted " Govt. Parcels," and issued on
included in the list. May 21st. If it be true that only about a
The 5 cents envelope on thin white paper dozen of these stamps are used daily, it will
can no longer be used. probably turn out to be a scarce stamp as
anticipated.
BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA.—"Our Colonial We understand the small size |d. enve-
Market has shown us the new 53. and £i
lope is now issued in green.
stamps, the former being printed in orange- Envelope. £d., green ; small size.
brown and the latter in dull lilac. The type Goyt. Parcels, is., green and carmine.
is exactly similar to the current is. stamp, INDIA.—Hyderabad.—Messrs. A. Smith
though in size the £i is much larger. Two and Son have shown the M. J. a vertical
other high values—,£5 and ,£10—of similar pair of the 4 a. imperforate horizontally.
type have also been issued, colours dark This pair was cut from a b\ock of twenty
blue and blue-lilac respectively. The stamps found in this condition.
are produced by Messrs. Waterlow and
Travancore.—There appears to be a fresh
Sons."—Ewen's Weekly.
printing of the stamps of this State, and the
Adkesives. 53., orange-brown ; current type.
£i, dull lilac M. J. gives the following information :—
^5, dark blue ,,
£10, blue-lilac ,, " All the values appear now to be in sheets
formed of six horizontal rows of fourteen,
CEYLON.—On page 46 we chronicled the and all except the i ch. have a frame line to
4 cents, yellow, and 12 cents, green and the sheet. The \ ch. is in a fresh shade of
carmine, overprinted " On Service." mauve, but not one to be catalogued ; the
Our authority was the Metropolitan Phila- new | ch. varies from black to grey-Hack,
according to the amount of ink on the plate;
telist. A correspondent of the M.J. writes the i ch. is in a violet-blue shade which is
to say that these stamps are not known in quite new to us ; the 2 ch. in rose, as before;
Ceylon, and must be "bogus." and the 4 ch. in a bn^h.^. yellow-green."
i86 NEW ISSUES.

M. Questiaux has received a band of a | "The stamps were printed in four rows
new type with value expressed in "cash." of six stamps each, then cut in half and
The stamp is rectangular, with shell in a issued in sheets of twelve. The first two
rows (twelve stamps) have 'POSTZEGEL'
double circle, and inscription " TRAVANCORE and ' 1901,' both in large type ; the third
ANCHEL CASH SIX." There is a variety of row has ' POSTZEGEL' large and '1901'
this band in which the inner circle is lined small, and the fourth and last row has
horizontally instead of being plain, and 'POSTZEGEL' and '1901' both in small
type. We thus have three types, and I
the outer circle touches the label. Size have sent you the correct proportions.
300 x 128 mm.—Monthly Circular. Types 2 and 3 are fifty per cent, scarcer
Adhesives. I ch., violet-blue. than Type i. There is a special sale here
4 ,, yellow-green.
Neiusbands. 6 cash, pale green on buff; Type I. of Type 2. Why, I fail to see. I prefer
6 „ dark „ „ Type II. Type 3, as being a more distinct variety
MAURITIUS.—Some varieties have been from Type i. The officers are buying
largely, and everybody seems to be a
brought to the notice of the M.J. collector. The idea was to perforate all,
"They are No. 118, 2 c. on 17 c., with but the printer never got so far, having to
double surcharge, and similar errors of No. wait too long for the Comptroller; thus all
119, the 2 c. on 38 c., No. 89, all of which values exist imperforate and perforated on
are stated to have come from spoiled sheets, three sides. Any stamp not initialed is a
not issued for use. The 4 c. on 36 c. en- proof, and of no postal value, except three
velope also exists with double surcharge, one sheets of |d., green, which stuck to initialed
impression below the stamp." sheets and were issued by mistake.
NORTH BORNEO.—Varieties in the late "The issue consists approximately of the
following quantities :—
issues of this country would not be of much 4,000
4 P.
philatelic interest, but as the notice of the i p. 15,000
. 2 p. 4,000
M.J. has been called to one of the earlier 4P- 1,000
issues, the 2 c., brown, of 1886, a horizontal 6p 1,000
i sh. 1,000
pair, perf. 14 all round, but imperf. vertically but not all were issued, a part having been
between the two stamps, we put the discovery burnt.
on record. " There are a number of errors, such as
TRANSVAAL. — Pieiersburg. — The Phila- letter ' B ' for ' R,' ' j ' for ' L,' no stop be-
tween ' AFR ' and ' REP.' "
telic Record publishes, on the authority of
Mr. E. Tamsen, considerable additional I go I. April.
information about the Boer stamps referred Adhesives.
to on page 134. i. Large "P" in " POSTZEGEL" and large date.
Iinferf.
We copy our contemporary's report in full. ^d., black, on green paper.
"The Boer Government issued only one id. ,, rose ,,
set of stamps throughout the whole war, zd. ,, orange ,,
4d. ,, blue ,,
and now the English troops having cleared 6d. ,, green ,,
them out of their last towns, they have no is. „ yellow ,,
longer any printing materials or paper. The Perf. ni.
Comptroller of the State Printing Office at s|d., black, on green paper.
id. „ rose
Pietersburg, who watched the printing of 2d. orange
the Government paper currency, had also to 4d. blue
superintend the printing of stamps, and then 6d. green
yellow
to initial every one of them. He received
2. Large "P" in "POSTZEGEL" and small date.
no salary, and, in fact, had received none Imperf.
for nine months, and so you can fancy he sd., black, on green paper,
blessed the stamp business. It is his fault id. , rose ,,
that these stamps did not appear in Feb- 2d. , orange ,,
4d. , blue ,,
ruary, 1901, as was ordered. The i p. came 6d. , green ,,
out first in March, and the others in the is. , yellow ,,
first days of April, the total issue being t>erf. iij.
valued at about ,£500, less about one-third 1 , black, on green paper,
id.' rose ,,
destroyed. Before the arrival of troops the 2d. orange ,,
blocks were broken up, and since then the 4d. blue • „
printing office has been burnt, with the type 6d. green ,,
is. ,, yellow ,,
and all other paraphernalia, so that no re- Small "P" in "POSTZEGEL" and small date.
prints can be made. I am collecting official Imperf.
notices and am interviewing officials and L, black, on green paper.
the public of Pietersburg, who are all here id.' rose ,,
now, and I expect to be able to publish an 2d. orange .,
4d. blue
interesting article on the last stamps issued 6d. green ,,
by the Boers. is. yellow ,,
 NEW ISSUES. 187

Per/, ni. enclosed letter card, which was originally

^d., black, on green paper, issued for use outside Victoria has been sur-
id. ,, rose ,,
2<3. ,, orange ,, charged '• One Penny," etc., owing to the
4d. „ blue „ instructions at the back being incorrect. It
6d.
is:
,,
,,
green ,,
yellow ,,
states that "if anything be enclosed in this
ERROR : Comptroller's initials omitted. These sheets
letter card it will be treated as an insuffi-
were issued in error, three sheets having stuck together. ciently paid letter." This is not right, as the
1. Large "P" in " POSTZEGEL " and large date. rate for sealed letters is the same as that
Per/, nj. charged for these cards, and one has as
sd., black, on green paper, much right to enclose matter in these cards
id.
2d.
,,
„
rose ,,
orange ,,
as in a sealed letter, provided, of course,
2. Large " P " in "POSTZEGEL" and small date.
that the regulation weight of 5 oz. is adhered
Per/, nj. to. This has recently been pointed out to
£d., black, on green paper, the P.M.G., and this surcharged issue is the
id. ,, rose ,, result, it being done, I understand, to use up
2d. ,, orange ,, the stock. A new 2d. card with fresh in-
3. Small < ( p " in "POSTZEGEL" and small date. structions is now in course of preparation.'
Per/, i if "The Rev. H. W. Lane writes: 'This
£d., black, on green paper,
id. ,, rose ,, letter card is one of 40,000 which will only
2d. ,, orange ,, be in issue a short time. The surcharge
The M. J., we notice, states— would provide more varieties of level, raised,
" The initials are in red on the id. and in and wandering dots than all the V.R.I.'s put
black on the other values. The |d., id., and together. Out of two dozen I can find at
2d. exist both imperf. and perf. ; none of least eighteen varieties. They were officially
the higher values were perforated. The id. issued on May ist.'"
Letter Card.
also exists imperf. one way and perf. the "One Penny" on ad., with cancelled instructions.
other," but was expecting further information Messrs. Smyth and Nicolle send us the id.,
from its correspondent. type of 1887, reissued in olive-green.
The Transvaal 4d. Registration envelope This stamp, as well as all those having on
is reported by E-iverts Weekly surcharged them the words "Stamp Duty," are available
'E.R.I." with type similar to that used for for postal use until the 3oth June, after which
date, according to the decision of the Federal
the adhesives. Postmaster-General, they will be available for
Registered Envelope. 4d., olive-green; "E.R.I."
revenue purposes only.
We are shown part of the envelope of Adhesive, id., olive-green; type of 1887.
a letter, posted at Rustenburg, June 3oth,
1900, and bearing two id. Revenue stamps, EUROPE.
surcharged " V. R. I." in the usual type. The AUSTRIA.—It is stated that .the 6 heller
stamps are of the large upright design, with letter card, orange on yellow, is now issued
"ZEGELEEGT" at the top and value in large with interior in blue.
figures in the centre.
The envelope also bears part of a large BOSNIA.—Another value, 5 kronen, blue-
pink label, inscribed "OPENED UNDER green, must be added to the current set, but
MARTIAL LAW." the perforations are not reported.
Fiscal Postal, id., pale blue. Adhesive. 5 kronen, blue-green ; perf. ?
The is., ochre, has, we understand, been CRETE.— It would appear from the A. J. P.
found with the "V.R.I." surcharge inverted. that the stamps of the postal types printed
—M.J.
in olive-yellow were issued for Revenue
Messrs. Whitfield King and Co. inform us purposes.
that they have received the Jd., green, Trans-
vaal stamp, overprinted "E.R.I." It is stated that the I drachma, red,
Adhesi id., green, surcharged "E.R.I." Unpaid Letter stamp is to be surcharged
to distinguish it from the I lepton.
VICTORIA.—A provisional letter card has
It is fortunate there are no 2 lepta stamps
been produced here.
but perhaps this value will be found neces-
This consists of the 2d. card with the
sary, and a further surcharge created by
stamp surcharged " One Penny," in blue.
overprinting the two drachmae to distinguish
Ewen's Weekly states as follows :—
this value also. How nicely it all seems to
" On the face of the card, too, the follow-
ing is printed in blue: ' FOR USE WITHIN be arranged !
VICTORIA. An additional penny stamp must FRANCE.—The new type of the adhesives
be affixed if addressed to New South Wales, has now been issued on the 10 c. post card,
Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, 15 c. letter card, and 10 c. envelope.
West Australia, New Zealand, or Fiji.' The Letter Card. 15 c., orange.
original inscriptions at the back of the card Envelope. 10 c., carmine on pale green.
are struck out by three blue lines. Regard- PostCard. ioc., ,,
ing this card Mr. Horwood writes : ' The Mekeefs informs us that a series of postal
188 NEW ISSUES.

packet stamps, similar to the Belgian labels, scrolls and fancy ornamentation. All the
has recently been placed in circulation, a inscriptions on the "interior ' or local cards
locomotive being the main feature of the are in Turkish characters, the others having
design. Postal Packet Stamps. both Turkish and French.
5 centimes, grey.
10 ,, yellow-green. The M. J. has been shown a curious
20
50
,,
„
rose.
blue.
specimen of the 5 piastres Unpaid Letter
1 franc, brown. stamp of 1863, with an impression of the
2 francs, brown-red.
blue border inscription across the centre
ITALY.—Dr. Emilio Diena has kindly in addition to the usual impression at foot. .
sent us specimens of six new stamps issued Post Cards. 20 paras, carmine on rose, exterior.
on July 1st. 20+20 ,, ,, ,,
20 ,, lilac on rose, interior.
The values are i, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 25 20+20 ,, ,, ,,
centesimi, and higher denominations are to WURTEMBERG.—There appears to be a
follow later on. 3 pf. official card, and the M. C. thinks it
We do not think very highly of the de- has probably existed for a considerable
signs of the i, 2, and 5 c., and prefer the time and been overlooked.
appearance of the three higher values. Official Card. 3 pfennig, brown on buff.
The Imperial Eagle and Savoy Cross
appear in a diamond on the i c., in a
wreath on the 2 c., and in fancy scrolls on AMERICA.
the 5 c., and a three-quarter-face portrait CHILI.—The i, 2, and 5 centavos have
of the King adorns the 10 c., 20 c., and 25 c. been retouched. The lines of the back-
values. ground above the cap of Columbus have
The King's picture reminds us of the been deepened, so that the shading under
Emperor William of Germany, but the the label bearing the word "CHILE" has
nationality of the stamps cannot be in almost disappeared.
doubt, as each bears the inscription " POSTE- M. Questiaux states that the 5 centavos
ITALTANE " and figures of value. envelope exists in two sizes as follows :—
Crown watermark and perf. 14. Envelopes.
5 centavos, pale or Prussian blue (158 X 96 mm.).
The 25 centesimi value will also be sur- 5 ,, ultramarine or sky-blue (144 X 124 mm.).
charged "La Canea: i Piastra i" and "Ben- Another letter sheet has been issued with
gasi : i Piastra i," for use in the Italian P.O. stamp of the same type as the 5 centavos
at these two places. letter sheet. It is inscribed " Destinado a
Adkesives. circular dentro de un mismo departamento."
1 centesimi, brown ; Crown wmk.; perf. 14.
2 brick-red , , Size when open, 242 x 264 mm. Thin white
5 emerald-green , ,
10 claret , , paper.—Monthly Circular.
20 orange , , Letter Sheet. 2 centavos, sienna-red.
25 blue , ,
25 c., blue ; surcharged " La Canea i Piastra i." COSTA RICA.—The rest of the new set
25 c. ,, ,, " Bengasi i Piastra i."
MONACO.—The M. C. has been officially have been surcharged "OFICIAL," in black,
and we have therefore to add—
informed that the 5 and 10 c. fiscal stamps Officials. 50 centimes, blue and lilac.
never were allowed to be used postally. 1 colon, black and olive.
2 colones ,, carmine.
It would appear that some were placed on 5 », ,, brown.
envelopes with sufficient postals to frank the 10 ,, brown-red and pale green.
letters, and of course the fiscals were ob- GUATEMALA. — The demand here for i
literated like the rest. centavo stamps being abnormal, another
There is nothing new in this ; it is a very provisional has had to be created.
old dodge. We ought to have seen through It appears to have been the turn for the
t. The 10 c. post card now appears in red. engraved 25 c., orange-red, to be surcharged
Post Card. 10 centimes, red on green. to meet the emergency.
NORWAY.—Some colour changes are The overprint is "UN—I—CENTAVO—
noted in the M. C. 1901," in four lines, in black, and specimens
Postage Due. 10 ore, claret. with inverted surcharges and other varieties
Post Card. 10 ore, vermilion on white.
are known to exist.
TURKEY.—To complete the Turkish Mekeel's anticipates a new issue in fresh
postal outfit, writes MekeeFs Weekly* the designs, similar to the new Costa Rican
promised postal cards have made their
Stamps. Adhesive.
appearance. They are almost covered with i centavo on 25 c., orange (engraved), of 1891.
 NEW ISSUES.

MEXICO.—Information reaches the M. C. steel plate ; the 2 c., carmine-red, is printed

that two other values of the current set now by the "TALLERES NACIONALES DE H.
bear the "OFICIAL" overprint. KRAUS," of Asuncion, and seems to be
Officials, i peso, blue and black. lithographed. The 5 c., brown, and 40 c.,
5 pesos, carmine and black.
blue, which have also recently arrived, are
NICARAGUA.—Referring to page 161, it printed by the same process, and no doubt
would appear that a new issue may shortly by the same firm. The design is the same
be expected here, and the opportunity of in both cases, but the execution of the new
creating a host of provisionals is not to be arrivals is very inferior to that of the earlier,
lost. especially in the rayed ground of the oval
The A. J. P. publishes the following and the upper spandrels.
decree, issued on March 9th by the Secre- Adhesives. 2 c., carmine-red ; perf. iig.
40 c., blue „
tary of the Treasury :—
" I desire to communicate to you the The Metropolitan Philatelist mentions
following :— some new cards to commemorate the begin-
The President of the Republic, taking ning of the twentieth century. We chronicled
note of the fact that the supply of postage some cards on page 106, but as the colours
and telegraph stamps is too small, and that do not agree, there may possibly be two sets
while a new issue is soon to appear, it will lately issued.
be necessary to alter some of the values in Post Cards. 2 centavos, carmine and blue-black.
order to supply the current demands, 4 ,, blue-green and brown.
Decrees— Each value on cream, yellow, and buff, or
That the following postage stamps, un- six varieties-in all.
paid letter stamps, postal cards, and tele-
graph stamps be restamped or surcharged:— PERU.—The 10 centavos, black, has now
POSTAGE STAMPS. received the " Gobierno " overprint.
7,000 5 pesos, to be altered to 10 centavos. A wrapper with the stamp of the new
4,000 2 ,, ,, ,, 20 ,, type, and some post cards, are reported by
20,000 I peso ,, ,, 2 ,,
UNPAID LETTER STAMPS.
the Metropolitan Philatelist.
Adhesive. TO centavos, black ; surcharged "Gobierno."
To be surcharged for regular postal use, Post Cards, i centavo, blue-black and green-black.
5,000 i centavo.
4 centavos „ ,, yellow-brown.
5,000 2 cen avos. Wrapper, i centavo, green and black.
8,700 5 UNITED STATES.—MekeePs reports that
5,000 10
5,000 20 the 5 c. Buffalo with inverted centre should
7,620 30
7,700 50 be added to the list, and that it has in-
POSTAL CARDS. formation that one sheet of this denomina-
11,000 of the local cards shall be divided tion was received with the second lot of
and used as single cards of 2 centavos each. stamps ordered by the Canton Post Office,
Those of 6 and 12 centavos, for foreign about May 2Oth. It is strange to hear
postage, shall be surcharged respectively further that the clerks at Canton, Ohio,
with the values of 5 and 10 centavos.
are not versed in a philatelic way, and so
TELEGRAPH STAMPS.
the stamps were all sold (presumably over
Those of 50 centavos shall be surcharged the counter) in the usual way.
10 centavos, and those of <3>i, 20 centavos.
The Treasurer-General shall carry out Our contemporary also has heard a report
this decree. that one man in New York has thirteen
Dated Managua, March 5th, 1901. sheets of each of the i c., 2 c., and 4 c.
The Secretary-Treasurer, Zelaya, R. inverts. We hope this is not true for the
Zelaya."
Some stationery is chronicled by the sake of Philately.
M. C. VENEZUELA.—The 10 c. value of 1899
Envelopes. 30 centavos, greenish black. has been met by the M. J. with " Resellada
50 ,, carmine.
Nevisbands. 2 ,, red. R. F. M." surcharge upside down.
3 „ brown.
PARAGUAY.—A change has also been OTHER COUNTRIES.
made in the colour of the 2 centavos, and CHINA.—To those who are interested in
a 40 centavos added to the new issue. Railway Letter Fee stamps, the following,
The M. J. informs us that the 2 c., dull taken from the M. J., may be of interest:—
grey, is printed by the "COMPANIA SUD- "A correspondent sends us a description
AMERICANA DE BILLETES DE BANCO, of a stamp which he tells us is used on one
BUENOS AIRES," and apparently from a of the railways in China in a similar manner
i go PHILATELIC SOCIETIES' MEETINGS.

to that in which the Railway Letter Fee mine, a variety which does not appear to
stamps are used at home. It is the current have been recorded.—P. J. G. B.
J c., drown, surcharged in three lines Adhesive. 25 c., black on rose ; vermilion surcharge.
'B. R. A.—5—Five Cents,' the initials
standing for British Railway Administration. NYASSA (PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS).—
The specimen received by our informant A new set of thirteen bicoloured stamps
bears a circular cancellation, lettered ' RAIL- has been issued here, and Messrs. Bright
WAY POST OFFICE—TONGSHAN,' and he and Son have submitted specimens.
believes that the stamps are only issued
at that office. It was affixed to one of the The design for the seven lower values
| a. Indian envelopes surcharged ' C. E. consists F.', of palm trees and a giraffe in the
which had been sent through the Railway centre, a small portrait of the King in the
and Field Post Offices to its destination." left top corner, and a coat-of-arms in the
Kail-way Letter Fee Stamp ('?). 5 c. on \ c., brown.
right top corner. At the top of the stamp
CURASAO.—Messrs. Whitfield King and there is the word " REIS," and at the foot
Co. send us the i g. 50 c. on 2 gl. 50 c., "NYASSA." At the left side "CORREOS"
chronicled with the set last year, and re- appears, and on the right side, "PoRTU-
mark that it is the only value yet issued. r* A T "
GAL.
DANISH WEST INDIES.—To the set of Figures of value are also shown at each
stamps perf. 12 J the 10 cents, blue and lower side. Shape large upright rect-
brown, must be added. This information angular. The six higher values differ only
is supplied by Mekeels. in the shape, being oblong, and for central
Adhesive. design they have a pair of camels. The
10 cents, blue and brown ; current type, perf. I2j.
frames are in black, and centre coloured,
DUTCH INDIES.—The I. B.J. states that the whole having a pleasing appearance.
a specimen of the i cent of the figure type
=1 r is, black, with brown centre.
has been seen in the red-brown colour of the 5 violet „
10 green ,,
2 cents. >5 orange-brown centre.
20 vermilion
FERNANDO Poo.—On page 232, vol. ix., 2
5 orange
5° blue
we listed a 50 c.-pta., on 20 c., carmine, 75 lake
of 1899 (Gibbons' Type 3), surcharged in 80 mauve
100 bistre-brown
black. 15° brick-red
200 blue-green
This surcharge is also known to exist in 300 green
blue. ST. THOMAS AND PRINCE ISLANDS.—
MADAGASCAR.—We have seen the 25 c. We are shown a copy of the 5 reis on 20 r.
overprinted stamp of France, issued in 1895, of 1889 (No. 63 in the Catalogue) with the
with surcharge in vermilion instead of car- overprint upside down.—M. J.

Philatelic Societies' Meetings.

:
Philatelic Society, London. Chambers, L. L. R. Hausburg, C. J. Daun,
I Thos. Wm. Hall, T. Maycock, T. Wickham
Council for the Year 1901-1902. ' Jones, L. W. Fulcher, J. E Joselin, Douglas
President — i Ellis, A. B. Creeke, jun., W. Schwabacher,
H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CORNWALL AND YORK, K.G., ETC. : Edward J. Nankivell, C. Neville Biggs, W. R.
Vice-President— M. P. CASTLE. Lane Joynt, and J. A. Tilleard.
Hon. Secretary—}. A. TILLEARD. .
Hon. Treasurer — C. N. BIGGS. The chair was taken by the Vice-President,
Hon. Assistant Secretary— H. R. OLDFIELD. and the minutes of the meeting held on the loth
Hon. Librarian — T. MAYCOCK. May were read and confirmed.
W. B. AVERY. C. J. DAUN.
E. D. BACON. R. EHRENBACH. A letter was read from Mr. McNaughtan, one
W. D. BECKTON. T. W. HAI.L. of the members of the retiring Council, intimat-
THE EARL OF CRAWFORD, K.T. L. L. R. HAUSBURG. ing his desire not to seek re-election.
» R. MEYER.
A very complete and interesting report on the
THE fifteenth meeting of the season 1900-1901, work of the Society and the events of the past
being the Annual General Meeting, was held at season was read by the Hon. Secretary.
Effingham House on Friday, the 7th June, 1901, Mr. Ehrenbach moved that the report be re-
at 7.45 p.m. ceived and adopted, and be subsequently pub-
Members present: Mr. M. P. Castle, the Right lished in the London P/iilateli;t, and that the
Hon. the Earl of Crawford, Messrs. Herbert R. thanks of the Society be given to the Hon. Secre-
Oldfield, R. Ehrenbach, Rudolph Meyer, Franz tary for the able manner in which the report had
Reichenheim, Rudolph Frentzei, Arthur W. been prepared.
 THE MARKET. 191

This resolution was seconded by Mr. Hall, and The members then proceeded to the election of
after some words in support by Mr. Wickham Officers and Council for the ensuing season, with
Jones, was carried unanimously. the result that the following members were de-
The accounts, together with the Auditors' re- clared elected :—
port thereon, were then submitted to the members President— H.R.H. the Duke of Cornwall and York, K.G.
by Mr. Chambers, on behalf of himself and Vice-President— M. P. Castle, j. r.
Mr. Maycock. Hot:. Secretary—J. A. Tilleard.
Mr. Oldfield then moved that the accounts be Hon. Assistant Secretary-M. R. Oldfield.
Hon. Treasurer—C. N. Biggs. fc
received and adopted, and that a summary should Hon. Librarian—T. Maycock.
be published ; that the report of the Auditors
should be received ; and that it be a recommenda- The following members were elected to serve
tion that the new Council, when elected, should on the Council :—
consider the suggestions made by the Auditors, Messrs. W. B. Avery, E. D. Bacon, W. Doming
confer with them thereon, and report upon such Beckton, the Right Hon. the Earl of Crawford, K.T.,
suggestions to a future meeting of the members ; R. Ehrtnbach, T. W. Hall, L. L. K. Hausbmg, Rudolph
Meyer, and C. J. Daun.
and that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to
the Auditors for their services in the matter. Votes of thanks were accorded to the scru-
This resolution was seconded by Mr. Wickham tineers for their services, to the members of the
Jones, supported by Messrs. Nankivell and Castle, Council for the past season, and to the Chairman,
and carried unanimously. and the proceedings then terminated.

The Market.
NOTE.—Under this title will be inserted all the information that may refer in any way
to the financial aspects of Philately, e.g. the sales or values of stamps, the state
of the Market, Trade publications, etc.

THE auction sales for the season 1900-1 have Sandwich Islands, 1853, 13 c . thin i. d.
closed, and we give final reports in this number. paper . . • • 3 o o
Some excellent sales have been held during the Saxony, 1851, imperf, 2 g. , black, on
season, and prices have, taken on the whole, been dark blue,* no gum . . . I 7 °
maintained. The new season 1901-2 will start South Australia, is., brown, imperf. . 3 15 o
late in September, and, early as it is, some Ditto, 1867-70, perf. I i j all round,
especially fine catalogues are, we understand, in 2d., vermilion (S. G. No. 44) . 9
course of preparation. Ditto, 4d., purple, perf. and roulette. 2 10 O
* * # Ditto, 1870, 2s., printed both sides . 3 IO O
Messrs. PLUMRIDGE AND Co. Transvaal, 1870, fine roulettes, is.,
Sale of June i8th and igth. dark green * . . . 2 8 o
* Unused. £ s. d. Ditto, 1874, perf. I2£, id., red,*
Bahamas, 4d., dull rose, variety of per- mint . . 2 o o
foration,* mint . . 2 10 o Ditto, wide roulettes, pelure paper,
British Honduras, CA, 14, 6d., yellow, Id., r e d * . . . . 3 o o
slightly skinned at back * . I 10 o Ditto, wide roulettes, pelure paper,
Ceylon, 9d., brown, imperf. . - 3 5 ° 6d., dark blue* . . . 2 o o
Ditto,tod., vermilion, imperf., minute Ditto, fine roulettes, 6d. , ultramarine I 10 O
tear * . . . . 2 2 0 Ditto, 1877, surcharged "V.R. TRANS-
Fiji, Times Express, is., on quadrille VAAL," roulettes wide at side and
paper . . . . 2 8 0 fine at bottom, id., red, mint * . 2 10 o
Great Britain, 2os., brown-lilac, Maltese Ditto, fine roulettes, is., green, fine 17 6
Cross,* mint . . . 20 o o Ditto, 1874, is., green, the variety
Ditto, "Inland Revenue," in green with stop after "R" and surcharge
on is., embossed (S. G. No. 429), inverted . . . . 4 0 0
vertical tele-beche pair, full gum * . 7 o o Ditto, ditto, fine roulettes, 6d., blue
Grenada, id. on ijd., orange (S. G. on rose (S. G. No. 81) . . I 10 o
No. 35), with surcharge inverted* Ditto, surcharged " V . R . TRANS-
mint . . . . 3 0 0 VAAL," imperf., 6d., blue on blue* 1 3 0
Heligoland, f sch., used . . . 2 1 5 0 Ditto, ditto, ditto, 6d. , indigo* . 1 6 0
India, 4 anna, red * . . . 6 0 0 Ditto, ditto, 36., lilac on buff, a
Monaco, 1st issue, 5 fr., * mint . . I 16 o vertical pair in mint state, rouletted
N e w Brunswick, 6d., yellow . . 2 0 0 vertically and imperf. horizontally 7 5 °
Ditto, is., mauve . . . 12 o o Ditto, fine roulettes, 6d., blue on
Newfoundland, is., orange, no margins 4 12 6 green, mint* . . . 2 0 0
New South Wales, 1855, is., imperf., Ditto, slanting " V. A'." wide roulettes,
block o f eight . . . 3 0 0 3d., lilac on buff, slightly defective 3 10 o
New Zealand, 1855, is., green, blue Ditto, 1879, small lettering, fine
paper, very f i n e . . . 3 1 5 0 roulettes, 3d., blue on blue . . 5 0 0
Niger Coast, Is., in violet, on 2d. (S. G. Trinidad, no wmk. , rough perf., 4d.,
No. 28), a mint * copy with vertical brown-lilac, horizontal pair * . 2 8 0
surcharge . . . . 4 4 0 Victoria, registered stamp, rouletted . 5 0 0
Ditto, IDS., in vermilion, on 5d., with Collections—625, £10 155. od. ; 1,072,
diagonal surcharge . . . 14 o o 916, ^15; and 3,244, £36.
192 THE MARKET.

Mr. W. HADLOW. MR. A. H. DINGWALL'S PRICE LIST. —

Sale of June 25th. Similar to the catalogues recently referred to in
* Unused. f , s. d. these columns is the Price List issued by Mr.
Ceylon, 2s., blue, perf. . . 1 2 0 A. H. Dingwall, of Ambawella, Weston-super-
Ditto, 56., red-brown, C C . . 1 2 0 Mare. A large number of stamps are quoted,
Ditto, 5 c. on 32 c., 14 x I2j * . j 10 o such being those that Mr. Dingwall is prepared
Natal, no wmk., clean cut 14 to 16, to supply, and in fine condition. The catalogue
3d., blue * . . . I I o is a neatly printed little work, that would not
Trinidad, id., blue, litho, early state . 2 4 0 bulge the collector's pocket, and has the saving
U.S.A., 1855, 90 c., blue, thinned . I lo o merit of cheapness—its purchase piice being re-
Victoria, "Too Late" . . . 1 0 0 turnable if a sale therefrom is made,
* * * * * *
Messrs. PUTTICK AND SIMPSON. SWEET are the uses of advertising, as exem-
Sale of June nth and I2th. plified by a recent effort of Messrs. Hamilton-
Great Britain, id., deep black, block of Smith and Co. This enterprising firm has pro-
six,* mint . . . . 6 0 0 duced three "stamps" bearing their image and
Ditto, 6d., octagonal,* mint . . 2 5 0 superscription, that are at least as ornamental as
Ditto, iod., ditto, Die IV.,* ditto . 3 3 0 many of those of North Borneo, Liberia, or the
Ditto, ditto, ditto, D i e II.* . . 2 0 0 South American States, and have practically the
Ditto, 2d., blue, perf. 16, block of same "philatelic" interest. Both classes are
six, * mint. . . . 9 9 0 eminently pretty, and are issued for the sole
Ditto, ijd., lilac rose, vertical strip of benefit of those who produce them, and therefore
three . . . . 3 7 6 we hope they may be all alike cordially welcomed
Oldenburg, 1859, jgro., green,* no gum 3 10 o by the kindly and discerning Philatelist! The
Tuscany, 3 lire, slightly cut into at left 34 o o three stamps in question are bicoloured, and bear
Ceylon, 8d., brown, imperf., used with superbly engraved representations respectively of
a is. and id., on piece . . 12 12 o the General Post Office, Somerset House, and the
Ditto, is. gd., green . . . 2 6 0 Houses of Parliament. The preparation of the
Philippine Islands, 1863, I r., violet,* plates must alone have cost a considerable sum
n og u m . . . . 2 2 0 of money, and they are really gems of engraving.
Straits Settlements, 1883, 2 cents on The stamps are charmingly perforated and im-
12 c., blue . . . i 10 o maculately gummed, and there is but one blot on
Cape, Woodblock, 4d., dark blue . 4 0 0 their escutcheon, the omission of values; but a
Ditto, C C, "One Half-penny" on well-disposed Government might surely allow this
3d., claret . . . I 17 o issue to have a franking power, in view of the en-
Gold Coast, perf. I2j, id., 4d., and6d.* 4 0 0 couragement afforded to the fine arts by Messrs.
Ditto, 205 , green and carmine,* part Hamilton-Smith and Co. It is possible that this
gum . . - . 5 7 6 firm's example will be followed, and to be abreast
Mauritius, 1848, id., orange, medium of the times we hope to make a collection of all
early . . . . 3 1 7 6 the dealers' stamps, in blocks of four !
Ditto, ditto, ditto, worn impressions, * * *
reconstructed sheet of twelve . 615 o THE "Premier" collecting album, with mov-
Orange River Colony, id., violet, the able leaves, is a new form of collecting book pub-
error " V. R." used with a 2 Jd., blue, lished by Bright and Son, 164, Strand, London,
and two others, on entire original. 2 18 o W.C. Each book consists of twenty leaves of
Ditto, 2d., blue, a fine block of eleven, fine quality paper, faintly ruled in quadrille, and
one being the variety 2\ no bar,* contained in a stout manilla cover. The leaves
mint . . . . 5 15 o are threaded on to two metal spikes, which are
Ditto, 6d., carmine, first printing, a folded down, holding the leaves securely. Any
f i n e block o f four,* mint . . 4 2 6 leaf may be changed or removed, and other leaves
Ditto, a pair, ditto . . . 2 0 0 can be added. Each album may, if necessary,
Ditto, another, ditto . .* . 2 2 o contain about forty leaves. The albums can be
Transvaal, 6d., blue on blue, with in- supplied in six different colours, thus enabling the
verted surcharge . . . 11 o o collector to have a distinct colour for different
Canada, 7^, green,* n o g u m . . 3 2 6 groups, issues, or continents. The albums are
N e w Brunswick, is., small tear . . 6 7 6 suitable for either a permanent collection or for
St. Vincent, "ONE PENNY" on 6d., temporary use before final arrangement in an ex-
yellow-green * . . - 3 3 ° pensive album, and are supplied in two sizes.
Ditto, 4d. on is. . . . 9 10 o Separate leaves can be supplied.
Trinidad, perf. 14, MS. surcharge, id., * * *
in black, on 6d., green, a pair and AN AMERICAN PHILATELIC "COMBINE."—
a bisected copy used together as For several months past there has been much dis-
2^d.,on small piece of original . 5 !5 ° cussion as to what disposition would be made
Ditto, 1896, 55. and ios.,* mint . 3 3 o of the affairs of the Scott Stamp and Coin Com-
Virgin Islands, perf. 15, 6d., rose,* no pany. Certain persons secured an option on the
gum . . . 2 12 6 purchase of the company, and have been quietly
Ditto, is., single-lined border,* mint 2 0 0 securing subscriptions to underwrite the stock of
British Guiana, 1853, 4c., strip of three 2 12 6 a company to complete the transaction. We have
Queensland, id., carmine, imperf.,* known confidentially of these operations. To-day
no gum . . . . 3 3 0 we were shown a circular issued by the American
Victoria, 1852, 2d., grey-lilac, litho,* Collectors' Company, calling a meeting of this
part g u m . . . . 3 0 0 company to increase its capital stock to $450,000
Collections: 7,880, ,£110; and 4,218, ^37. to be used for the purchase of the Scott Stamp
The Bulk of this sale was made up of " re- and Coin Company and the New England Stamp
mainders " of countries. Company of Boston.—MekeeFsJournal, June 27th.