Please tell me where to find The Little Red Hen—the old-story with the song "I'm glad I'm not a duck."
Jessy Flanigen.
Woodbury, N. J.
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.
The millionaire collector usually devotes his time and money to "plating" New South Wales, Tasmania, Nevis, and other stamps which were engraved separately by hand, with the result that each stamp on the sheet is different. The ordinary collector cannot afford to take these men as his standard, but it is wonderful how much can be done by true philatelists with little money. The ordinary 3c. stamps from 1851 to 1884, the 2c. stamps of 1883, '87, '90, '93, and '94 are all extremely common, and can be bought at from 10c. to 50c. per thousand, in assorted lots. Almost each issue can be found in a large number of shades, and a collection of these makes as fine a show as a plate of the rare stamps. A similar thing is frequently done with the English stamps issued between 1858 and 1887. These were usually printed in sheets of 240 stamps, each stamp bearing different letters. One gentleman in New York has gone a step farther, and is making up a complete sheet of each issue of all the English stamps, including the £5. This is a gigantic piece of work, and I doubt the possibility of success in the majority of the stamps, although this particular collector is a man of wealth, willing to spend his money on his hobby. The Philatelic Society, New York, has a number of these made-up plates of the English penny stamps, presented by Mr. Corwin, the first president of the society. I know another philatelist who is making a general collection of used stamps, taking those which have been cancelled by a date cancellation or by a post-office cancellation. This excludes all stamps bearing a smudge, such as is usual in the greater part of the postal world to-day. Still another philatelist takes stamps on the original envelope or letter. Of course no complete collection can be made this way, but a remarkably beautiful album is the result.
Laura Root.—It will pass at face value. No premium.
Brownie.—The dealers sell Confederate bonds, bills, and "shinplasters" at very cheap prices. Many millions were issued and never redeemed. One dealer in a Southern city holds a quantity weighing 8000 pounds. They are very interesting to every student of American history, and I always advise their collection, especially at present, when they can be bought cheap.
Z. Behrens.—The first U.S. stamps issued for general use throughout the country were the 5c. and 10c. 1847 issue. They are worth 70c. and $3.50 each (used) respectively.
L. Bishop.—Do not cut your envelopes to shape. Cut off the entire end of the envelope square, leaving as good a margin as possible. Entire envelopes are being collected more to-day than formerly.
A. Harding.—The "Special Delivery" stamps are not scarce, but probably the yellow one will be the least common in the near future.
B. Murphy.—The English stamp is worth 20c., if in good condition.
E. W. Greene.—The 10c. "Power of Attorney" U.S. Revenue is one of the common varieties. It is worth 75c. unperforated, 1c. perforated.
J. Smith.—The Canada 12 pence is a very scarce stamp in any condition. A used copy is worth $200 and more, according to condition.
O. W. Hall.—The 24c. U.S. 1861 issue comes in twenty or thirty different shades. They are worth from 25c. to 50c. each used, and from $1 to $2 unused. The rare 1881 green without the line under the stars is worth at least $10.
Philatus.