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 new U. S. Postage-due stamps are printed in aniline colors, and if wet the colors run badly. Do not soak any of them, as that would ruin them. The higher values of these stamps (30 and 50 cents) are still scarce, as many post-offices had large stocks of the old issue, or of the lower values (1, 2, 3, 5, and 10) of the current issue.
Proofs and essays of U. S. stamps are advancing in value rapidly. A few years ago they brought nominal prices only.
Unused U. S. stamps, with the original gum well centred, are worth from 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. more than when gum has been soaked off, or when not evenly centred.
F. Boggs.—Write to any of the firms mentioned in our advertising columns.
E. S. D.—Dealers ask 20c. for the 1835 dime.
J. S. Powelson.—The 2c. 1869 can be bought for 8c.
Ruth E. Chamberlin.—The 1804 half-cent is quoted at 15c.
Glen Carter.—"Helvetia" stamps are those of Switzerland from 1862 to date. They are worth from 1c. to $1 each, according to scarcity.
John H. Campbell.—The last issue of Mexico are the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 50 centavos; 1, 5, and 10 pesos.
F. Waldron.—The prices quoted are those asked by dealers, not the prices paid by dealers for them. Address firms mentioned in our advertising columns.
R. S. C.—In die A, 1887, 2c. green U. S. envelope the bust points to the space between the third and fourth "tooth" of the edge. In die B, the common die, the bust points to space between second and third "tooth."
Ben B. Wooster.—It is frequently difficult to distinguish the two dies of the 1851 U. S. 1c. stamp, as they were printed with very small margins. The 1851 extra line U. S. 3c. is identical with the 1851 die, but perforated. The extra line is at top and bottom only.
A. C. G. Williams.—Die B, fawn, star watermark, is very common, and worth very little. The rare envelope has the die C stamp. In this the head of Washington is egg shaped.
Josie S. Grey.—There is no 1775 Washington U. S. cent. For the prices of the cents and half-cents see Round Table No. 842. The other coins and tokens mentioned have no premium value. I do not know the "Veto" token.
E. M. Farewell.—Old English telegraph and revenue stamps are not collected in this country.
A. J. Selover.—The flying eagle cent, 1856, is worth $5. The other dates do not bring any premium.
A. Walter.—No premium on the coins mentioned.
S. M.—The legend "One Hundred Years" appears on the stamps of New South Wales.
H. B. Barber.—The only way is to buy an illustrated catalogue, which will give you prices also.
Have you noticed when discussing household affairs with other ladies that each one has found some special use for Ivory Soap, usually the cleansing of some article that it was supposed could not be safely cleaned at home.