G. H. W. Bates, Boston, Mass.
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 as far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.
Collectors are warned against so-called Cuban Republic stamps. They are fraudulent in every respect, even to the inscription which the makers supposed to be in the Spanish language.
The Indian government is about to issue 2, 3, and 5 rupee stamps in two colors. They will bear Queen Victoria's portrait painted lately by Angeli.
Some time ago I warned my readers that the $1 stamp would probably be withdrawn. Not only the $1, but the $2 and $5 have been withdrawn and the new printing is on water-marked paper. Some of these stamps are still to be found at some post-offices, and advanced philatelists are buying up all they can find on unwater-marked paper.
The auction season is about to be opened by J. W. Scott, whose catalogues are now out for a sale late in October, at the rooms of the Philatelic Society, New York. Albrecht & Co. have a sale at the same place October 29th and 30th.
Beware of so-called Korean stamps. A firm in Washington is putting them on the market for credulous collectors. Stanley Gibbons catalogues and presumably sells a number of the Chinese locals which are not collected by wise philatelists.
W. T. Putnam.—Dealers offer the 1828 half-cent at 10 cents.
M. Wister.—The half-dollars can be bought of a dealer at 75c. each. The five-cent nickel without value does not command a premium. The Dresden stamp is a local. The complete Columbian set can be bought from $25 to $30.
M. Cram.—The following are not collected by wise philatelists—All the China locals (except Shanghai); "San Antonio" of Portugal and Azores; 4c., 10c., 20c., 30c. and 40c. surcharges on North Borneo; British Mail of Madagascar; Brunei; Clipperton; Bussahir.
J. C. Weiland.—The coins mentioned can be bought of dealers at a fair advance on face. I cannot give names of dealers. See advertising columns.
Philatus.
[THE FAIRY'S FLORAL ZOO.]
BY JOHN KENDRICK BANGS.
There was a little fairy in the moon,
Came down to earth one lovely afternoon,
To wander
And to ponder
On the mountains and the lakes,
On the meadows and the brakes,
And to see what he could find
To sort of occupy his mind.
And as he wandered,
As he pondered,
This little fairy heard a roar
Like none he'd ever heard before;
And there, on either side, right by the shore,
Two lilies stood:
Great Tiger lilies thirsting for his blood!
And did he run? Indeed not he!
He simply stood likewise and smiled with glee,
And after much ado
He captured them—the two!
"I'll take 'em home," said he, "and put 'em in my Zoo."
And with them soon.
In fact that very afternoon,
Back to the moon
He flew,
And now he's rich, for all the moon-boys 'twixt us two
Just throng about the cages of that Fairy's Floral Zoo!
Fond Mother. "And was my little boy smart at school to-day?"
Little Boy (sadly). "My teacher didn't say I was, mamma, but he took pains to make me smart later."
Mother. "I wonder if my little boy is so afraid of work that he does not study his lessons?"
Little Boy. "Me afraid of work! not much. Why, mamma, I can fall asleep alongside of it."
Bobby. "What's the matter with your brother, Jack?"
Jack. "I guess he smelt of ma's new bottle of ammonia, 'cause now he's got the pneumonia."
First Boy. "I's smaller than you."
Second Boy. "No, you're not."
Third Boy. "What's the matter with you fellows; I's smaller than both of you put together."
Howard. "Papa, I think baby plays with a knife."
Papa. "I hope not, Howard."
Howard. "Well, when he was crying so this morning nurse said he was cutting his teeth."
Teddy. "Papa, that's what you call a fruit-knife for fruit, isn't it?"
Papa. "Yes, Teddy, that's right."
Teddy. "Well, the gardener has what he calls a pruning-knife. Does he use that for prunes?"