Questions and Answers.
Joseph Cook, 3311 Howell Street, Wissinoming Philadelphia, is engaged in the commendable task of looking up names of his ancestry, and he wants all the Cooks in the country to write him. If all do, his mail will be large. "M. T." is here again for further information. She asks for yells and colors of the following colleges: Pennsylvania State, Grinnell, Stevens Institute, St. Albans Military, Georgetown, Lake Forest, and the State universities of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
Henry B. Foss asks if Chicago is not now the richest of all American colleges. Hardly, we think, but it is among the very wealthiest. The last gift of its chief founder, $3,000,000, was, we believe, contingent upon the people of Chicago, or at least the friends of the university, raising an equal sum. Should they do so, the plant of the university would be worth about $13,000,000—a vast sum, which can make Chicago a great factor in educational matters. "Who writes our puzzles!" asks Victor Landrum. A score or more different persons. Some authors furnish material, and one of the editors puts that material together. Some of our cleverest puzzle work has been done by women—Ellen Douglas Deland, Mrs. Pollie Pemberton Bermann, Mrs. Clara J. Denton, Mrs. H. E. Banning, Miss J. M. Cox, Mrs. M. E. Saffold, and Miss L. E. Johnson.
Fred Hayden asks if we think young men should study politics. We answer, yes. "Is an electric locomotive for heavy traffic doing successful work anywhere?" inquires Emanuel Parrish. Yes, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, hauling freight trains through the tunnel under the city of Baltimore. "Do members of the House of Representatives at Washington get the same salary as United States Senators?" asks J. B. G. Yes, $5000 a year, besides some allowances for stationery and travelling expenses. No, the members of the British Parliament, either Lords or Commons, are not paid. Yes, the young Duke of Marlborough is a full member of the British House of Lords.
This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.
I promised to give illustrations of the Confederate stamps, and I begin with those issued by the authority of the general government. These are all very common in comparison with the "Local stamps," which were issued by postmasters for use at their own post-offices exclusively. These "Local stamps" will be illustrated in a subsequent number of the Round Table.
There are seven dies, from which eleven distinct varieties were printed, and three minor varieties. In addition there is a 1c. yellow stamp which was printed but never used.
Taking the stamps in the order of their issue, we find,
1.
1. The 5c. green. (Illustration No. 1.)
2. The 10c. blue, die A. (Illustration No. 3.)
2.
3. The 2c. green. (Illustration No. 2.)
4. The 5c. blue. (Illustration No. 1.) This is the same stamp as No. 1, except in color.
3.
5. The 10c. red, die A. (Illustration No. 3.)
6. The 10c. blue, die B. (Illustration No. 3.) In die B the letter A in the word STATES has no crossbar; it is simply an inverted V.
4.
7. The 5c. blue. (Illustration No. 6.) This was printed in London, and looks like an engraved stamp.
8. The 5c. blue. (Illustration No. 6.) This is identical with No. 7, except that it was printed in Richmond. It looks like a lithograph.
5.
9. The TEN c. blue. (Illustration No. 7.) Instead of figures 10, the lower label reads TEN.
10. The 10c. blue, die A. (Illustration No. 7.) In this die the scrolls at the four corners are full and clearly printed.
6.
11. The 10c. blue, die B. (Illustration No. 7.) The same as No. 10, except that the scrolls are scanter, and there is a flaw in the beard.
12. The 10c. blue. (Illustration No. 7.) This stamp has a rectangular plain blue line surrounding the entire stamp.
7.
13. The 2c. red-brown. (Illustration No. 4.)
14. The 20c. green. (Illustration No. 5.)
Taking the stamps in the order of scarcity, we find them to be as follows:
1. The 2c. green. (Illustration No. 2.)
2. The 10c. with outer line. (Illustration No. 7.)
3. The TEN c. (Illustration No. 7.)
4. The 2c. red-brown. (Illustration No. 4.) Those four stamps are about equally scarce.
5. The 10c. red. (Illustration No. 3.)
6. The 20c. green. (Illustration No. 5.)
7. The 10c. blue, die A. (Illustration No. 3.)
8. The 10c. blue, die B. (Illustration No. 3.)
9. The 5c. blue. (Illustration No. 1.)
10. The 5c. green. (Illustration No. 1.)
11. The 5c. blue, Richmond print. (Illustration No. 6.)
12. The 5c. blue, London print. (Illustration No. 6.)
13. The 10c. blue, die A. (Illustration No. 7.)
14. The 10c. blue, die B. (Illustration No. 7.)
The last four are extremely common, both used and unused. None of the fourteen stamps are as scarce as any of the "Postmaster's Stamps."
I get so many inquiries concerning half-cents and cents that I purpose in an early issue to give a list of all those which are bought by dealers.
Philatus.