Sierra Leone.—Water-mark C.A. with crown. De la Rue's standard design.
| 1d., black and rose. | 2-1/2d., black and blue. |
| 2d., black and orange. | 1s., green and black. |
Canada has just issued a new 2c. post-card.
Madagascar.—-
| 1c., black. | 20c., red. |
| 2c., brown. | 30c., brown. |
| 4c., claret. | 1 franc, bronze. |
Colombian Republic, Antioquia.—Two sets seem to have been issued at one time. The design is the same in both, but the colors are different. The denominations are 2c., 2-1/2c., 3c., 5c., 10c., 20c., and 50c.; 1 peso, 2 pesos, and 5 pesos, and a registration stamp.
The new French stamps, the design of which was published last March, seems to have been abandoned. It is said the government was not satisfied with the design, and intend to open a new competition.
I am frequently asked whether the dollar values of U.S. stamps are ever used in a legitimate manner, and if so by whom.
As a matter of fact the dollar values are used in a very few post-offices, and probably the bulk are used in New York city. Bankers send bonds abroad in large packages by registered mail. The regular rate is 10c. an ounce, $1.60 a pound. One large firm of bankers to my knowledge has used over $2000 in dollar stamps for this purpose in a single week. The average size of the bundle of bonds necessitates stamps to the average value of about $20. Larger bundles are frequently sent. In England a stamp of £5 ($25) is frequently used. I have seen the wrapper of a bundle received by a New York banker on which were eight £5 stamps. Lawyers send legal papers in a similar manner. The largest package I know of from New York was about the size of a large dry-goods case. It was filled with legal papers to be used in a patent suit in South Africa. The postage was $187, consequently the box weighed about 117 pounds. There is practically no limit to the weight of first-class parcels in either the domestic or foreign mails.
F. W. Lampier, Jun., Stites Melton, and Miss Fannie Moore, of Ridley Park, Pa., wish to exchange stamps.
B. A. Richardson.—Dealers sell the 1835 dimes at 20c.
F. I. O.—The 3 kreuzer 1865 Würtemberg unused is offered by dealers at about $2.
K.—The following are prices quoted by dealers: U.S. cents, 1831, 1845, 1846, and 1847, 5c. each. Dimes, 1838, 1842, 1854, and 1856, 20c. each. Half-Dime, 1853, 10c. Quarter, 1845, 50c.; 1853, 35c. U.S. cent, 1705, 50c. to $1. The other coins, etc., face value only.
A. Albers.—English Revenues used for postage, if on the original envelope, are sought after in England, but in America there is no demand.
C. P. K.—By buying at auctions entire envelopes can frequently be bought at much less than the catalogue prices for cut copies.