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.
Quite a number of inquiries have come to me as to what is "embossing" or "grilling." Both words mean the same thing in philately. Above are two illustrations from the 1867-68 stamps. It seems at one time the government feared that cancelled postage-stamps could be used a second time. They therefore adopted (in 1867) a method of impressing or embossing on the backs of the stamps after they had been gummed a series of small squares, each square having a sharp point. The idea was that these points or squares would break the fibre of the paper, so that the gum and cancellation ink would go right through the stamp, and thus make a second use impossible. At first the entire stamp was grilled, and these are now quite rare, and the 3c.-stamps are worth about $20 used, or $25 unused. This was soon given up, and a grill measuring 13 x 16 millimeters was used. These stamps were in turn soon discontinued, and are now scarce, this 3c.-stamp is worth $5 used, $20 unused. The grills were then reduced to 11 x 13 mm. and 9 x 13 mm. Of the first variety of grills the 1, 2, 3, 10, 12, and 15c. are found. Of the latter all values from 1 to 90c. are found. In 1869 the new issue of stamps brought a still smaller grill into use, 9½ x 9½ mm. Then in 1870 the new issue had a grill 9 x 11½ mm. The 1, 2, and 3c. of this issue are common, but all the other values are rare, especially the 12c. and 24c., which are worth from $25 to $35 each. In 1871 a grill, 8½ x 10½, was used on the 1, 2, and 3c. only, but soon discontinued, and since then no U. S. stamps have been so made. Peru used the same grills on some stamps, but has also discontinued the practice. A number of double grills and odd-sized grills are known, and are much sought after by specialists.
H. M. Poynter.—The 5-franc piece 1809, France, is sold by dealers at $1.
L. A. D.—The 1861 and 1868 U. S. stamps are printed from the same dies in the same colors, but the 1868 are "grilled." An early number of the Round Table will contain illustrations of these grills. The Costa Rica, Honduras, Salvador, etc., unused, are probably remainders.
F. Edgerton.—Postmarks have no value.
J. G.—The quotation was on one million assorted, and the value depends altogether on the number of varieties in each lot. Apply to any dealer.
Harold Simonds.—The stamps are part of the "Jubilee" issue of New South Wales, all of which bear the inscription, "One Hundred Years." They were issued in 1888 to commemorate the one-hundredth anniversary of the first settlement made in 1788.