Provisional stamps. Perforated.
| ½ cent on 3c., pale yellow, black surcharge. |
| 1 cent on 1c., red, black surcharge. |
| 2 cents on 2c., light green, black surcharge. |
| 4 cents on 4c., rose, black surcharge. |
| 5 cents on 5c., yellow, black surcharge. |
| 8 cents on 6c., brown, black surcharge. |
| 30 cents on 24c., carmine, black surcharge. |
| 1 dollar on 3c. revenue, carmine, black surcharge. |
Nicaragua.—The designs for 1897 are similar to the 1896 set with date and colors changed.
| 1 centavo, lilac. |
| 2 centavos, green. |
| 5 centavos, rose. |
| 10 centavos, light blue. |
| 20 centavos, light brown. |
| 50 centavos, gray. |
| 1 peso, slate. |
| 2 pesos, dark carmine. |
| 5 pesos, blue. |
Unpaid letter stamps.
| 1 centavo, lilac. |
| 2 centavos, lilac. |
| 5 centavos, lilac. |
| 10 centavos, lilac. |
| 20 centavos, lilac. |
| 30 centavos, lilac. |
| 50 centavos, lilac. |
J. M. Cattell.—You can get a catalogue of all postage-stamps, with illustrations of most of the types (except U.S.), for 50c. Anything beyond this is a matter of careful study. Never paste any stamps in the album. You can get one thousand of the best hinges, made of onion-skin, for 15c., from any dealer. The current U.S. stamps from low values are too common to pay for saving. The 50c., $1, $2, and $5 stamps are worth from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. of their face value, even when used, but they must be without tear or other material blemish.
F. Severn.—Part-perforated U.S. revenue stamps are not scarce, but I advise paying any high price for single stamps in that condition. Too many perforated stamps with large margins have been faked into "part perforated." The advanced collectors, as a rule, pay extra for part-perforated revenues when in unsevered pairs only. As to the "ultramarine," they are in most cases quite scarce in this shade.
Maria C. Shatola.—I have no record of receiving any letter from you.
R. F. Bowe.—All the English stamps are water-marked. Take an unused one, or one lightly cancelled, dip it in water, and hold it so that the light shines through, and you will see the water-mark.
E. Bagg, Jun.—The English government perforates initials, etc., in stamps at the expense of the purchaser. This is done to prevent theft.
D. McLaughlin.—In the days of Queen Anne of England (1712) all English newspapers were taxed for revenue. The government put its imprint or tax on each and every paper issued. This tax was abolished June 15, 1855. Specimens are very common. They are collected to a limited degree in England.
T. A. L.—Your U.S. coins are worth three or four times their face value. The Carolus III. is a Spanish dollar no longer current, and therefore worth bullion only, as it is very common.
Philatus.