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 letter issued by the American S. S. S. S., addressed to those countries using "Seebeek" stamps, has already produced fruit. The President of Ecuador has issued a decree cancelling the contract for the supply of these stamps, on the ground "that it is unworthy of the dignity of Ecuador" to continue such an arrangement.
As enterprising firm in St. Louis has begun the issue of a daily stamp paper, edited by "The Office Cat," price $3 per year, but the publishers reserve the right of discontinuing the paper and refunding subscriptions at any time the "Office Cat" gets tired. Although begun in fun, the editor has issued several numbers, and it looks as if the paper would be a success. Great is philately and many are its devotees. The time may come when a daily stamp paper will be issued in all the philatelic centres, both morning and evening editions.
Stories of great "finds" are current. Ever since the Louisville discovery of 137 St. Louis stamps, which the lucky finders (two porters) sold for over $30,000, the attention of stamp-collectors all over the Union has been directed to unearthing old correspondence. The South has been a little backward so far, and yet there is no doubt that large numbers of the rarer Confederate "locals" are still in existence. To aid the Round Table readers to identify these stamps, I shall give reduced illustrations next week of some or all of the stamps. A complete list of the fourteen stamps issued by the general government of the Confederate States, together with illustrations of the same, and their comparative scarcity, will be found in the Round Table dated December 10, 1895.
J. Dennett.—As there are at least sixteen different Prince Edward Island stamps, I cannot know to which you refer.
A. T. D.—An embossed stamp is, strictly speaking, one in which all or a portion of the stamp is in relief, but the word is frequently used for a grilled stamp—that is, one in which a series of indentations has been made. See Round Table, July 16, 1895, for illustrations of grills. Laid paper is one in which, held up to the light, there appear white lines. Ribbed paper is a paper embossed in lines very slightly raised above the surface.
H. Marrietta.—For value of cents see Round Table, December 17, 1895. For water-marks, Round Table, January 7, 1896. Zes is Dutch for six. A medallion looks like but is not a coin. The stamps and envelopes can be bought for double face.
H. Martin.—Your half-dollar is not 1813, but a worn 1843. Dealers ask 75c. for an unworn copy.
M. B. Griffiths, Post Master, M. Pa., H. S. Berry, W. Skating, M. Zimmerman.—See Round Table for December 17, 1895, and January 7, 1896, for prices asked by dealers for the coins.
J. A. W.—The stamps are current Mexican. The timbre stamp is a Mexican revenue.
L. A. S.—Foreign coins are not much collected in the U. S. For values of U. S. coins from 25 cents to $1 see last number. The other coins mentioned do not command a premium.
A. A. Moses.—See the Round Table dated January 7, 1896, for methods of seeing water-marks.
M. O. Conger.—See Round Table dated December 17, 1895, for values of U. S. coins from 1 cent to 20 cents. The Confederate stamp is worth 5 cents.
Philatus.
An experienced laundress will tell you that shirts never look as white as when washed with Ivory Soap.