Of the 1890 issue the following are known to exist unperforated: the 2c., 4c., 5c., and 15c. Very few copies have come on the market, and those have been eagerly snapped up by the big collectors. Hitherto these unperforated stamps have probably been mere accidents, but there is danger in their becoming hereafter "accidental on purpose."
Plate Nos. are still booming. The early pink 2c. and ultramarine 1c. are comparatively easy to get. But the early Plate Nos. on watermarked paper are quite scarce. There must be quantities of these in the smaller post-offices. Fifteen dollars are offered for Plate 89 in any color.
As soon as a great rarity is discovered hundred of collectors look over everything they can find, and, wonderful to say, the stamp supposed to be unique rarely remains in that condition. The 10c. Baltimore, first catalogued about a year ago, was hardly announced when a collector in Louisville found another copy on the original envelope. And now another copy has turned up in Washington. The other day a lady who had relatives living in Florence in 1852 was induced to look over her old letters, and among them was one envelope bearing a beautiful strip of three 2 soldi Tuscany worth $50 each. The strip of three is probably worth $200 at least. Several other rare stamps were in the same lot.
The Argentine Republic has just issued a complete set of post-cards, embossed envelopes, and wrappers in commemoration of the eighty-sixth anniversary of the republic's independence. It is said that this issue is not to serve for a limited time, but will continue indefinitely. Argentine has not been very conservative in the making of new issues during the last decade. Complete series were issued in 1888, 1889, 1890, 1892, with some additional values in 1891, Columbian 2c. and 5c. in 1892, and official stamps in red and in black surcharges, with the inevitable inverted surcharges, some perforated, others rouletted, etc.
From present appearances it looks like a good set to let alone. As to their appearance, they are ugly in comparison with the Greek Olympian stamps, which have been put on the black list. The following is a complete set of this commemoration series:
| 3 centavos post-card, orange on buff. |
| 4 centavos post-card, gray on buff. |
| 6 centavos post-card, violet on buff. |
| 6x6 centavos post-card, violet on buff. |
| 3 centavos letter-card, orange on buff. |
| 4 centavos letter-card, gray on buff. |
| ½ centavos wrapper, blue. |
| 1 centavos wrapper, brown. |
| 2 centavos wrapper, green. |
| 4 centavos wrapper, gray. |
| 5 centavos envelope, pink on buff. |
L. Warren.—The only way to detect counterfeit stamps is to know what the originals are. Paper, water-mark, perforation, roulette, color of ink, size, and peculiarities of the engraving, and many other factors enter into the problem. Dealers usually keep an album of all the different varieties of counterfeits of every stamp for the purpose of comparison. Duplicate counterfeits are at once destroyed. In addition, dealers, like the advanced collectors, study the peculiarities of all genuine originals which come into their hands, and are always ready to take time and trouble to see fine collections, and talk over the different stamps. It is only by this method that a man becomes an expert in these days of dangerous counterfeits. Gradually an intuitive knowledge of forgeries is developed, so that frequently an expert will condemn a stamp which seems to be in all essentials a genuine one. If not an expert there is only one way to buy valuable stamps, namely from collectors or dealers, known to be experts, and known to be responsible.
W. K. Dart.—The current 2c. have three forms of triangle (see Round Table for May 12, 1896). They have no particular value, either used or unused. I would advise you to get a catalogue for 25c., as it is impossible for one to quote prices on a long list of ordinary stamps for every one of the many readers of the Round Table. Study your stamps by the aid of the catalogue.
S. E. Seorah.—The A.P.A. will hold their annual meeting at Lake Minnetonka, a beautiful summer resort in the lake country of Minnesota.
Philatus.