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.
The publishers of a paper in Boston, having occasion to send out many thousands of their annual announcements, by a special arrangement with the postmaster used 1c. stamps which had been cancelled in a press by the entire sheet as follows:
I understand that an employé of the P. O. inspects the affixing of stamps thus cancelled.
This is a variety well worth collecting, but possibly the same plan may become popular at other large post-offices, and it would be a little difficult to determine the genuineness of many varieties.
Mr. John N. Luff read a paper on the early issues of Switzerland, at the Collectors' Club, and illustrated the same by stereopticon views of the stamps, counterfeits, cancellations, etc. Most of the unused stamps from which the photographic slides were made came from Mr. H. J. Duveen's wonderful collection of these rare stamps. This was one of the best papers ever read before a philatelic audience, and the first stereopticon stamp lecture given in America.
People wonder at the high prices asked for old postage-stamps. The same people probably wonder at the still higher prices asked for old books, old armor, old pictures, etc. But the curious thing is that a man who gives $5000 for a unique stamp is not thought to be quite as sane as the man who gives $100,000 for an old master, or $50,000 for a rare orchid. Still philately flourishes, and the press is educating the public.
I very much regret to announce the death, on Thanksgiving day, of the Daily Stamp Item, at the age of one year. Begun as a joke, edited by "the office cat," it has appeared day by day for a full year, always bringing a little philatelic titbit, and sometimes containing as much news as the average weekly or monthly stamp paper. The publishers purpose to issue a special souvenir number during the holidays, containing a review of the year's work, and also a complete list of the subscribers, to each of whom a copy will be sent.
F. W. Lerk.—The little true value of "Seebecks" was shown at a late auction, where sets of these stamps were sold for $3, the catalogue value of which was $28. If you are looking at collection as a speculation, my advice is to buy high-priced stamps only, the higher the better, as a rule; but if you are collecting for fun, go in for everything in the countries you select, and you will have much satisfaction, and not suffer any money loss should you wish to sell your collection, provided you study your stamps carefully, get and keep them in fine condition, and make up all the chief varieties in shades, etc.
Philatus.