Doubtless there are many thousands of old issues still on sale in country post-offices, and I would advise the purchase of any or all U.S. stamps issued before 1887. Of the later issues dealers have a good supply. Plate-number collecting is growing every day. As time goes on the scarce plate numbers advance in price, and the commoner numbers decrease. No. 89 2c. is still the scarcest, although some of the first numbers are now almost unobtainable. All the unwatermarked sheets are growing scarce; the $1 has already advanced fifty per cent. since the change to watermark. The $2 and $5 will doubtless soon do the same.
M. Hess.—The stamps mentioned are sold by dealers at 1c. or 2c. each.
Watrous.—I do not recognize the coin by your description.
N. D. Henderson, 135 West Eighty-ninth Street, New York, wants to exchange stamps with Round Table collectors.—As the same rare stamp may be cheap or dear according to its condition, the only absolute test of its value is to sell it at auction.
E. France.—No addresses of dealers are given in this column.
Lester Hicks.—The 1858 flying-eagle cent is quoted by dealers at 5c.
H. E. P.—The half-cent 1809 is worth 10c.
L. E. S.—The ore coin is Swedish. The other coins are worth face only.
E. Ring.—Half-dollars of any date from 1817 to 1836 can be bought of dealers at 75c. each.
S. B. N. and A. C. H.—See answer to R. Baker in No. 837.
F. James.—The Antoninus Pius is an old Roman coin. The cent and gold piece have no premium value.
O. Furhman.—All the stamps are revenues, not postage.
Philatus.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
INTERNATIONAL EDITION.
Le Grand's Manual for Stamp Collectors
A Companion to the Stamp Album.
Prepared for the American collector by Henri Pène du Bois, Esq.