THE DISADVANTAGES OF PLAGIARISM.
A rather amusing story is told of a certain so-called "popular preacher," the Rev. Dr. D——, whose marvellous powers of eloquence invariably gathered him large audiences. People wondered at his sermons, and proclaimed him an intellectual genius. Now the doctor was a plagiarist who patched up his own exceedingly poor sermons by introducing here and there passages from the sermons of celebrated divines, but the ingenuous way in which he accomplished this prevented discovery. Then, too, his audiences, he calculated, were not students of theology, and therefore not likely to detect his appropriations. But in this he made his mistake, and his exposure took place as follows:
One day an elderly gentleman entered the church and took a seat in the first row. As the doctor proceeded with his sermon the gentleman broke in now and then with such remarks as, "That's Sherlock." "Ah, from Tillotson." "Now it's Blair," etc.
The doctor stood it for a little while, but at last, full of wrath, he said:
"My dear sir, if you do not restrain your impertinent remarks and hold your tongue, I'll have you ejected."
The elderly gentleman, looking the doctor calmly in the face, said, "That's his own."
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.
Practically all the 1897 catalogues are now on the market. The best catalogue, containing a list of all varieties of stamps, envelopes, postal cards, etc., can be had for 58c., postage prepaid, of any dealer; but there are a number of smaller catalogues, adapted to the wants of all except specialists and advanced collectors, which can be bought for 10c. each. These smaller catalogues are having a great sale, as the new albums omit the scarce varieties in perforations, water-marks, etc., which appeal to those specialists who are able to invest large sums in stamps, all of whom keep their treasures in blank albums. The catalogues and the albums conform to each other.
C. E. Steele.—The rare 6c. Proprietary is the orange. The 1823 dime is worth 25c.
S. G. Rippey.—You can buy a dime of 1837 for 35c.
H. C. Z.—Tokens have no value. The coins can be bought for 5c. or 10c.
Beverley S. King, 31 New York Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., and W. E. Shreve, Ridley Park, Pa., wish to exchange stamps.
O. H. Purcell.—The $1 Columbian is worth $5. The others may be worth more in a few years than at present.
A. Kellogg.—The U. S. Revenues most in demand are the general issues. As yet the private proprietary match and medicine stamps can be bought, as a rule, as cheaply to-day as five years ago. Probably their turn will come in a year or two. If they should become fashionable, there will be some remarkable changes in prices.
F. X. Schmidt.—Die A, 1887, usually called the "rejected die," can be easily identified. The bust points to the space between the third and fourth teeth of the inside row. In the regular issue, Die B, the bust points to space between the second and third teeth.
R. Bulkley.—You probably have the regular rose 1861 stamp, of which there are many shades. The pink is excessively rare. A very few copies are known.
W. Leveridge.—None of the coins are scarce, and several of them are now uncurrent, and therefore worth bullion only, but they are interesting aside from intrinsic value.
Thomas Laurie.—Many pen and ink cancellations have been removed from stamps, but the stamps present a "cleaned" appearance quite different from the real unused. Most postage-stamps have been printed in oil colors; and most cancellations have been made with oily inks. Where this has been the case it is impossible to remove cancellation without taking out the ink of the stamp itself. No premium on the 1894 dollar. There were few made, but still plenty to go around and leave some in dealers' hands.
M. A. T.—The portraits used in the present U. S. stamps are as follows: 1c., Franklin; 2c., Washington; 3c., Jackson; 4c., Lincoln; 5c., Grant; 6c., Garfield; 8c., Sherman; 10c., Webster; 15c., Taylor; 30c., Jefferson; 90c., Perry.
C. Rawson.—I cannot give you values on long lists of common stamps. You can get this and much other information from a 10c. catalogue. If the catalogue fails, I am glad to do what I can in justice to all the readers of the stamp column.
A. T. G.—Yes! Join the A.P.A. if you want to buy the new issues. It will cost $1.80 per year for membership fees.
James Mellen.—It is extremely difficult to distinguish originals from reprints of the first Samoa issues. Counterfeits also abound, but these can be distinguished. The early Heligoland stamps are also difficult to identify. The government sold the original dies and plates to a German dealer, who reprinted the stamps in the correct colors.
J. P. Nelker.—The early stamps of Lagos and Labnan are very scarce, used or unused, although many thousands of the lower values were used in making up packets in the '80s. It would not be worth your while collecting them unless you are prepared to spend much money.
Albert Green.—Your plan of collecting one at least of all the stamp-issuing countries is very good, as far as it goes, but you will make it much better by collecting one stamp of each set where the design is different or the color changed. Usually there are several cheap stamps in every issue, and they illustrate the set quite as well as if they were rare varieties or high values.
Philatus.
The price of good things oft is high,
But wise housekeepers tell
That Ivory Soap is cheap to buy
And best to use, as well.