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.
Some time ago Mr. Friedl of Vienna, whose postal museum was one of the sights of Vienna, came into possession of a large number of the Austrian Mercury stamps of which the used copies bore a cancellation mark hitherto unknown. He sold some of these stamps at large prices, when the sale was stopped by a charge that these stamps were counterfeits. A lengthy controversy ensued, which ended by an open acknowledgment that the stamps were genuine. Mr. Friedl felt aggrieved at the charges, and has determined to sell out his collections, his stock, and the contents of his museum. One of the leading American dealers met him in Germany, and secured a number of very valuable stamps; among other things he purchased the unique complete unused sheet of 3 pf. Saxony, 1850 issue, catalogued at $50 per stamp. Unfortunately the sheet never came to America, as it was sold to a leading English collector who was also in Germany at the same time. Numerous other good U.S. stamps changed hands through this dealer, so that very little has come across the water.
The only plate of the 2c. stamps containing different triangles is No. 170. This plate is printed in one sheet of four panes, each pane containing 100 stamps. These sheets of 400 stamps are cut apart, and the panes of 100 each form a complete sheet as we get them from the post-office. The two left-hand sheets of Plate No. 170 contain seven rows of Triangle III., and three rows of Triangle II. When a complete sheet is not kept, collectors usually take a pair or block showing both triangles.
The summer months are usually dull in a philatelic sense, yet many collectors find time to devote themselves to their hobby, and frequently manage to get stamps at a lower price than during the brisker winter months. This year the off season seems to have been devoted more especially to Revenue and other stamps which are not connected with the postal service. A collection of these oddities is very interesting in itself, and also very instructive. In Germany many collections of the Governmental Insurance stamps are made. (See illustration of the 14 pf. Elsass-Lothringen stamp.) Late issues of German papers state that the government has a surplus of 125,000,000 marks insurance money on hand, which it proposed to invest in the building of cottages and houses for workmen, to be let at reasonable rates. The law has been in force since January 1, 1891, and it probably affects over 15,000,000 workmen and work-women. It provides insurance against sickness and accidents, and for a pension in old age. The benefits are: 1. Free medical treatment, medicine, and surgical appliances through life. 2. Half-pay in cash during illness, or free hospital treatment for thirteen weeks each year. 3. Twenty days' wages on death, and, if insurance is kept up, those dependent on the deceased receive a small pension. 4. At a fixed period, late in life, payments cease, and a small pension is given. The payments into the fund for insurance are made weekly (forty-seven weeks to the year) one-third by the workman, one-third by the employer, and one-third by the government. Each state in Germany has its own series of stamps, 14 pf., 20 pf., 24 pf., 30 pf., etc., similar to the Elsass-Lothringen represented above, but bearing its own name.
In this country quite a number of savings-banks and similar establishments have introduced a similar system. For instance, the Pratt Thrift of Brooklyn sells stamps at 5c., 10c., 25c., and 50c. each. These are pasted in a book or on a card, and can be turned in as so much cash whenever desired. The great objection to collecting stamps of this nature is that no used stamps can be bought, and unused stamps must be paid for at full face.