The handy manual: A veritable mine of useful and interesting statistics, information, etc.

by Anonymous

Values of Old Coins, Stamps, Etc.

Are you aware that there are in circulation hundreds of dates and varieties of coins which could be sold to coin brokers at rates in excess of their par value? These brokers purchase the coins to sell to coin collectors (numismatists) most of whom are wealthy, and when anxious for certain dates or kinds to complete their sets, they sometimes pay enormous prices, even offering as high as $5,000 for a certain U. S. coin of 1848. It often happens that coins which seem to be very common are wanted by the brokers, and if the ones who handle such only had a reliable list, they could ascertain their real value. Only a short time since the daily newspapers contained a statement about how a shoemaker took a coin in change, as ordinary money, and happening to be in the habit of comparing his coins with a Coin Manual, he found that this piece was valuable, and sold it the next day for $1,100. Even recent dates are sometimes valuable, for instance, quarters and half dollars of 1853 are worth from $5 to $10, a cent of 1856 brings $3, but we cannot undertake to give further examples as there are hundreds of them. Many people have become rich by keeping their eyes open for old coins, why not you? The best places to find them are in the country districts. Numerous Canadian and other foreign coins are worth big sums. We might also add that similarly high prices are paid for old stamps taken from envelopes that have been through the mails. Even the most common kind are saleable in quantities, and if you get the best book of prices of stamps, you will find that there is no humbug in the oft-repeated story of the “value of a million stamps” or even a single stamp, oftentimes. In order to get fully posted get the two most reliable coin and stamp books. They contain information more reliable than any that you can find elsewhere. Both books are revised right up to this month and contain the names and addresses of reliable coin and stamp brokers with whom you can deal. Although the books may be worth many dollars, perhaps a fortune to you, we will send both volumes, postpaid, on receipt of only ten cents, silver or stamps. Send your order for these books to the U. S. Supply Co., Box 329, Lynn, Mass. Although you may obtain these books any time during the next twenty years, it may be best to send at once so as to lose no opportunities.

Statistics of the Globe.

The earth is inhabited by about 1,500 million of inhabitants, viz:

Of the Caucasian race	460,000,000
Of the Mongolian	550,000,000
Of the Ethiopian	190,000,000
Of the Malay	300,000,000
Of the American Indian	1,000,000

There are about 3,064 languages spoken in the world, and its inhabitants profess more than 1,000 different religions. The number of men is about equal to the number of women. The average of human life is about 33 years. One-quarter die previous to the age of 7 years, one-half before reaching 17, and those who pass this age enjoy a felicity refused one-half of the human species. To every 1,000 persons, only 1 reaches 100 years of life; to every 100, only 6 reach the age of 65; and not more than 1 in 500 lives to 80 years of age. There are on the earth 1,000,000,000 inhabitants; of these 33,333,333 die every year, 91,824 every day, 3,730 every hour, and 60 every minute, or 1 every second. The married are longer lived than the single, and above all, those who observe a sober and industrious conduct. Tall men live longer than short ones. Women have more chances of life in their favor previous to their being 50 years of age than men have, but fewer afterward. The number of marriages is in the proportion of 75 to every 1,000 individuals. Marriages are more frequent after the equinoxes, that is, during the months of June and December. Those born in the spring are more robust than others. Births and deaths are more frequent by night than by day. The number of men capable of bearing arms is calculated at one-fourth of the population.

The Origin of Postage Stamps.

The origin of the postage stamp had a tinge of romance in it. It was thirty-seven years ago that Rowland Hill, while crossing a district in the north of England, arrived at the door of an inn where a postman had stopped to deliver a letter. A young girl came out to receive it; she turned it over and over in her hand and asked the price of postage. This was a large sum, and evidently the girl was poor, for the postmaster demanded a shilling. She sighed sadly and said the letter was from her brother, but that she had no money, and so she returned the letter to the postman. Touched with pity, Mr. Hill paid the postage and gave the letter to the girl, who seemed very much embarrassed. Scarcely had the postman turned his back, when the young inn-keeper’s daughter confessed that it was a trick between her and her brother. Some signs on the envelope told her all she wanted to know, but the letter contained no writing. “We are both so poor,” she added, “that we invented this mode of corresponding without paying for the letters.” The traveler, continuing his road, asked himself if a system giving rise to such frauds was not a vicious one? Before sunset Rowland had planned to organize the postal service upon a new basis—with what success is known to the world.

Wedding Anniversaries.

First	Cotton.
Second	Paper.
Third	Leather.
Fifth	Wooden.
Seventh	Woollen.
Tenth	Tin.
Twelfth	Silk and fine linen.
Fifteenth	Crystal.
Twentieth	China.
Twenty-fifth	Silver.
Thirtieth	Pearl.
Fortieth	Ruby.
Fiftieth	Golden.
Seventy-fifth	Diamond.