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.
A bill was introduced late in the session of the Congress which has just adjourned proposing to allow business-men to send out circulars or letters, with return envelopes, on which prepayment shall not be compulsory, but may be collected of the firm sending them out when returned to them. It is claimed that the postal revenues would be increased $30,000,000 per year. Probably the bill will be heard from next winter. Senator Cullom proposed that the printing of the postage-stamps be transferred to one of the bank-note companies. This would be a move in the right direction, as the government manufacture of the present issue has not been a success.
O. H. Schell.—The ordinary English stamps were printed in sheets of 240. Each, stamp was different as far as the letters were concerned. The first stamp on the sheet bore A. B. in the upper corners, B. A. in the lower corners. The second stamp, A. C. in the upper, C. A. in the lower corners, etc. The second row bore B. A. in the upper, A. B. in the lower corners, etc.
H. D. Graham.—The line under the word "Postage" in the Hartford die of the centennial envelope is single. In the Philadelphia die it is double. All revenue stamps and stamped papers are collected by philatelists who make a specialty of this branch. U. S. Locals and Telegraphs are largely collected. I never saw a Postage Due U.S. in blue. I presume you have an essay of proof color. Did you take it off of a letter?
W. T. Fenner.—The comparative worth of cancelled and uncancelled stamps varies, but as a rule the unused stamps are worth much more. In some instances, however, where large quantities were printed and only a few used, the proportion is the other way. A set of Postage Due U.S. of the current issue is worth face value only.
F. A. R.—The 3c. blue U. S. is 1869 issue, worth 1c. used, 15c. unused. The green centennial envelope is worth 25c.
R. Brehmer, 15 High Street, Rutland, Vt., wishes to exchange stamps, especially with foreign collectors.
E. R. Beere.—A Mexican dollar has more silver than an American dollar, but is worth only half as much. The 1806 half-cent is worth 15c.
E. W. Keifer.—The 1895 U.S. silver dollar is worth face only. The usual custom among numismatists is to obtain the fresh coins directly from the mint through a Philadelphia agent.
E. Hall.—Never cut a pair or a strip of unperforated stamps. They are worth more together than singly.
Tom C.—All the low values U.S. issued during the last ten or twelve years can be bought of any dealer at twice face value, with the exception of a few rare shades. The dealers at present have a full supply, and many smaller post-offices still have quantities on hand. Probably in ten years or so dealers will have sold the bulk of these common stamps (at constantly increasing prices), and will then be glad to buy the same stamps back at much more than they sold them for. Age has nothing to do with value. You can buy Roman copper coins nearly two thousand years old at 10c. or 15c. each.
H. M. Kaisinger.—This Stamp Department has been a feature of Harper's Round Table since December 19, 1893.
J. P. Johnson.—The 1804 cent is worth $4; the 1804 half-cent is worth 15c.
S. Mulhall.—Your stamp is an India Revenue, not collected in this country. The only exceptions are those revenue stamps surcharged "Service Postage," and used for postage in 1867. The surcharge is in green ink. The values of the four varieties are, ½ anna, $3; 2 annas, $12; 4 annas, $25; 8 annas, $75.
J. O. Hall.—The 6 kr. Würtemberg 1858 issue, unused, is worth $300; used, 40c. The 1859 one is 9 kr.—used, 10c.; unused, $100.
W. W. Jones.—The philatelic button can be bought of C. W. Kissenger, Box 236, Reading, Pa.
S. Manning.—French colonial stamps bear the name of the colony in which they are used. Among the colonies are several in Africa and Madagascar. Why so many varieties are made it is impossible to say, but probably the profit in selling to collectors was taken into account by the French government. Oesterreich is Austria.
Philatus.
A garb of white well typifies
The purity that inward lies.
So Ivory's whiteness doth express
That pure clean soap brings cleanliness.