"Dear me, how extravagant."
"Not at all, sir; why, we even contemplated floating the British Isles over and anchoring them a short distance outside the city's harbor as a sort of breakwater, you know."
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.
How many stamps make a good collection? I am frequently asked this question by readers of the Round Table, and find it a very hard one to answer. For instance, on one day I saw a collection of over 2000 stamps, and had to say it was a very poor collection. There were a few scarce stamps, but every common stamp, every "Seebeck" stamp, and all the cut-square envelopes and post-cards went to make up the quantity. On the other hand, it was my good fortune to see a little book about 6 by 4 inches in size, with some 30 or 40 leaves. This was a selection made up from one of our great collectors' albums for exhibition in the coming London stamp show. This little book, which could be slipped into any pocket, contained 200 stamps, the catalogue value of which was $15,000. Every stamp was in perfect condition—Hawaiian "missionary"; Cape of Good Hope wood block, in blocks of two and four; Canada 12d.; first series of British Guiana; first of Moldavia; shilling, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, etc., in various shades; Brattleboro, Baltimore, and other rare U.S. locals. In fact, to enumerate the stamps would be to give a list of the great rarities. Such a collection is hardly ever seen, and after exhibition the stamps will be restored to their proper places in the regular albums.
The government does not seem to make much progress in the prosecution of the parties who had in their possession fifty sets of the Periodical stamps (from 1c. to $60), the face value of which was about $10,000. These were hawked about in New York at $80 per set as genuine stamps. The claim is now made in court that they were not originals, but proofs. The leading dealers in New York declined to have anything to do with the stamps when they were first offered, and their caution has been amply justified.
A. Lamareux.—The so-called 25c. and 50c. gold pieces were never made by the government. The bulk of them were manufactured by jewellers, and, as a rule, they do not contain more than 25 per cent. of their nominal value in gold. The manufacture of these so-called coins is now illegal.
R. Bulkley.—The difference between the 10c. U.S. brown of 1872, unused, worth $1, and the one worth $10 is altogether in the paper. In the one case the mesh is quite apparent when held up to the light; in the other, the paper is harder and more compact. I assume you are an expert, and know the differences in the papers used by the different bank-note companies.
W. F. Webb.—The U.S. 24c. of 1857, unused, is worth $5; the 12c., same issue, unused, $1.25. If used, about half as much. The $1 mortgage, unperforated, worth $1.
R. F. Anderson.—Packets of very common stamps (30 or 40 varieties) can be had at 25c. per 1000. Cheap-priced packets will of course contain cheap stamps only. "Correos y telegs" is Spanish, indicating that the stamp can be used in payment of postage or for telegrams. "Comunicaciones" is Spanish also.
C. W. W. and A. G. D.—The 1870 stamps were grilled. In 1872 the same plates were used in the manufacture of the ungrilled stamps. The grilled is worth 100 times as much as the ungrilled.
E. B. Mayo.—I am not a dealer. Apply to some regular dealer for your wants.
J. Waxer.—The 2c. and 3c. U.S. coins are very common.