Not only U.S. stamps, but the higher value stamps of almost every other country have advanced in similar ratio. It is the old story over again—"Buy when every one wants to sell, and sell when every one wants to buy." It sounds as easy as "Buy cheap and sell dear"; but how hard it is in practice.
R. Parham.—No premium.
Edith F. Morris, 95 Third Avenue, New York city, wishes to exchange stamps.
O. T. Aldrich.—The editor of this Department is not a dealer in either stamps or coins.
E. Hill.—It is impossible to give any general rule for the detection of the thousands of different counterfeits. In general terms it may be said that to-day only the valuable stamps are counterfeited. Formerly (1862 to 1880) even common stamps were counterfeited. My advice to young collectors is not to buy valuable stamps from irresponsible persons. Go to a responsible dealer for this class of stamps. Some counterfeits are so well made that only an expert can detect them.
E. L. Snyder.—The prices quoted are those at which you can buy from dealers.
C. H. Peck.—The 5c. 1847 U.S. is worth 70c.
G. S. Van Schaick.—There are no grilled U.S. post-cards.
A. D. F.—No premium on the coins mentioned.
E. C. Wood.—Adhesive U. S. Revenues were first used in 1862. Periodical stamps have usually come over from Europe. See Round Table, March 10, 1896.
Clarence G. Michaelis, 3 North Twenty-first Street, East Orange, N.J., wishes to exchange stamps.
J. S. Green.—The Japanese stamp is still in use. The colonial and continental money are still plentiful, and can be bought in most instances for 10c. or 15c. each.
R. Q. P.—The stamps described are Revenue stamps.
C. S. Pomeroy.—There are three minute varieties of the 3c. green U.S. There are three varieties in the triangles of the present stamps. See Round Table, May 14, 1895.
F. H. Culbertson.—The U. S. currency 3c. to 50c. can be bought at double face. Circulated or crumpled copies are worth face only.
T. Ebaugh.—I cannot repeat prices on lists of U.S. coins. See Round Table for December 17, 1895, and January 14, 1896. English coins are not collected in this country. The stamp is a French revenue. No value. The coin is Spanish, worth 25c.
Max Becker.—"Post Obitum" U.S. stamp of 1877 is worth $4. Grilled stamps are those stamps bearing an impression in blank stamp which is designed to cut the fibre of the paper, such as the 1868 U.S., the Peruvian 1874, etc. Stamps issued by a province of a State are called "provincial issues."
E. L.—Spanish coin worth its weight in silver only.
N. D. Holler.—The Peru is an envelope stamp cut square. The Mexico is a seal, not a stamp.
M. Elsberg.—The Buda-Pesth post-cards are good for postage only when printed on the regular government post-cards.
C. Beckly.—Your coin is Grecian, over 2000 years old. It is common. The blackness is caused by oxydization or rust.
A. L. Greene.—Nevada 5c. stamp is worth 25c.
H. W. F.—There is no 6c. 1858 Canada. If you mean sixpence, it is worth $5. The U.S. stamps are worth from 8c. to 50c. apiece. We do not give addresses, etc., of dealers in this column. Any dealer will send you a circular of U.S. stamps.
Karl Wetherbee.—The 3d. New South Wales 1806 is worth $1.50. The 1861 U.S. 12c. is worth 25c. The half-cent 1804 is worth $4, if in good condition.
J. Hull.—Condition counts for everything in rare stamps. At the last great auction sale an unused New Brunswick shilling sold for $80. A used copy (comparatively common) sold for $110. The unused had small, and the used large margins.
Philatus.
Wonderful Florida Springs.
I live on the east bank of the famous Ocklawaha River, six miles from the wonderful Silver Springs. The waters of the springs are clear, and the beautiful shining bottom is plainly seen, while numerous varieties of fish swim and dive into the deep sink-holes. One of these sinks is fifty feet deep, and many are evidently connected in a continuous chain of sinks that are found between this place and Ocala in the pine woods.
We had a good laugh over the story of "Kizner's Pet Sheep."
Percy F. Lisk.
Conner, Fla.