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.
One of the stamp papers reports that a Washington philatelist has had two U.S. 1847 ten-cent stamps made up into a pair of cuff-buttons. This is an old idea. I remember seeing a number of similar buttons many years ago in Germany.
A rumor is current that a new series of stamps is under contemplation by the U.S. government, or that there will be a change in the color of several denominations.
The Olympian stamps continue to be used on letters received in New York, and several foreign papers state that the set will be used until next October, and possibly longer. The official report of the number printed of the different denominations shows clearly that the speculating element was in the mind of the officials of the Greek government. For instance, they printed 20,000 of the 60-lepta stamp (12c.), and 50,000 of the 10 drachmai ($2). The 60 lepta advanced in price to $1.25 within a few days, as all the 60 l. were sold out on the first day to a few favored ones. The outcry from the other speculators was so loud that the government ordered 50,000 more printed, and the price dropped to 30c. It is a pity that the Greek government should humiliate itself in this way, and the first step to make these Olympian stamps "regular" should be an order to print as many copies of any denomination as may be asked for. The stamps themselves are so pretty and interesting that every collector wants to see them established as a regular issue.
Bev.—The U.S. 1870 stamps were printed by the National Bank-Note Company. In 1873 the contract passed to the Continental Company. They added secret marks to the 1c., 2c., 3c., 6c., 7c., 10c., 12c., and 15c., and probably to the 24c., 30c., and 90c.; but these last have not been identified to the satisfaction of all philatelists. In 1875 the American Bank-Note Company succeeded to the contract. They printed the stamps on a peculiar soft porous paper, which identifies their issues. They also added a secret mark to the 3c. stamp, and some years later they re-engraved the 1c., 3c., 6c., and 10c. As to U. S. stamps on ribbed paper, I personally do not believe in them. I have seen many collections of unused U. S. in blacks, and never saw one on ribbed paper. The used stamps which looked like ribbed paper were probably accidentally produced by the paper to which they were affixed.
W. K. Dort.—To answer all your questions would take at least two columns. U. S. Revenue stamps, perforated, are still very low in price, with the exception of the few scarce and rare stamps. You can get a full catalogue of all postage-stamps and of the U. S. Revenue stamps for 25c. from any responsible dealer.
Edgar Hill, 3612 Columbia Avenue, Cincinnati, O., wishes to exchange stamps.
J. H. De Jarnette.—No premium on the coins.
J. K. Dennon.—Postal cards are collected by some of our leading philatelists. As there is very little demand, the prices are low; but, on the other hand, dealers do not pay much attention to them, and carry very little stock. Personally I prefer adhesive postage stamps to U.S. Revenues.
W. P. Kellmond.—Dealers ask 15c. for the U.S. 1804 half-cent. No "flying eagle" cents are worth more than face, except the 1856, which can be bought for $4.
A. Hall.—The Franklin-head U. S. carrier stamp used in 1851 is one of the rarest U. S. stamps. If the U. S. government had not reprinted this stamp it would be worth $250 to-day. The reprint was made on the same paper, with the same color of ink, and from the original plates.
A. Reichman.—My advice is to keep all your stamps, whether duplicates or not, until you know more about them. Buy a catalogue, and carefully examine the stamps by it. After you have selected all the varieties, sell or trade the rest. Do not keep them, expecting to make a fortune by their rise in value. They may go up according to catalogue, but you will find it impossible to realize. Cornering stamps is about as unprofitable a thing as cornering stocks. For instance, so many people bought quantities of Columbian stamps on speculation that the dealers in New York are buying them at ten per cent. discount. One dealer bought a lot of nearly $11,000 face value at that rate, and the lot contained a quantity of the $1 and $2, which still other parties have cornered.
E. R. N.—Your stamps are worth 5c. each. The only way to tell the date of issue is by reference to one who knows, or, still better, by reference to a catalogue which gives illustrations, dates, prices, etc. Such a catalogue you can buy of any dealer for 25c. or 50c.
Hawley, Pa.—1. "Pneumatic" envelopes are those used in Berlin, Paris, etc., for letters sent through the pneumatic post-tubes. Some day we hope our government will wake up and give us a pneumatic service in the large cities. 2. See answer to O. H. Schell. 3. Technical terms in stamp-dealing are too numerous to mention in one answer. 4. By looking carefully. 5. The centennial of the first settlement.
R. H. Anderson, 121 East Forty-seventh Street, New York, wants to trade stamps for mineral or botanical specimens, or curios.
E. B. Bradley.—You ask too much. Refer to a catalogue, which can be had of any dealer for 25c.
H. Bevis.—Unless you know what the genuine stamp is, or have a copy before you, you cannot expect to detect counterfeits.
S. Garmley.—The 12c. 1872 is worth 50c. The 30c., worth 12c. The 24c. is 1861 issue, worth 25c. Your 3c. 1861 is probably the rose, worth 1c.
Philatus.