Had these two sheets been preserved until to-day, probably $20,000 would hardly buy them.
E. Percy.—As you are a new beginner, I would advise you not to pay any attention to water-marks, perforations, shades, papers, etc. You will find enough to study in the stamps themselves independently of these points. After you have a fair collection you can then begin the study of these minor points, but to collect such stamps means the spending of large amounts of money. All the dealers now recognize the fact that these minor varieties, while interesting to the advanced collector with a large bank account, are of no interest to the average collector through his inability to buy or even to ever see these scarce stamps. Hence the new albums and new catalogues for ordinary collecting will embrace only the regular stamps in their ordinary forms.
N. P. P.—The U.S. carrier's stamp, black on yellow (a double circle), issued in 1849, if a good copy on original letter, is worth $8 to $10. Cape of Good Hope Revenues are not collected in the U.S.
G. Beardsley.—Continental money is worth very little. In the beginning of this century some people papered their rooms with it, and one man covered a whole barn with the so-called money. You can buy good copies of the dealers for 5c. or 10c. each.
George Newham.—Stamps of "Tromsöe," "Stadspost," etc., are locals of no value to collectors. To distinguish faint water-marks, dip the stamp in benzine and place it face downward on a piece of japanned iron. The benzine will not hurt the gum.
G. L. Lindsley.—The 5c. nickel without the word "cents" has no premium value. Dealers sell it at 10c.
L. Yungst.—The Spanish dollar, 1788, is no longer current. It is worth so much bullion only.
N. J.—Your English gold coin has no premium value. It is worth its full coinage value.
E. P. Tripp.—"Ultramar" stamps are from Cuba. The Porto Rico stamps of 1873-1876, with paraph also have "Ultramar" at the top. On H.M.S. means On Her Majesty's Service. Gold quarters were never coined by the U.S. government. Those now in circulation were made chiefly by jewellers, and, as a rule, they do not contain more than 10c. worth of gold; the remainder is base alloy. Cut post-cards are valueless.
J. Lowell.—Do not remove gum from unused U.S. stamps. It would lessen the value of the stamps from ten to fifty per cent.
A. de Gram.—I cannot identify your stamps by your description.
R. Parls, P.O. Box 36, Ridley Park, Pa., wishes to exchange stamp.
W. Morrow.—Your stamp is U.S. Revenue 25c. Insurance; worth 10c.
E. C. Crossett.—There is no premium on the new silver certificates, as they have not been recalled.
Hig.—See Harper's Round Table for October 6 for old and new prices of unused U.S. stamps. Used copies remain about the same, except Columbian, which have been reduced. The 1861 5c., used, is worth 35c.; the 24c., 25c.; the 1869 1c., 40c.; the others mentioned by you are less than 10c. each.
George S. Lord, 815 High Street, Bath, Me., wishes to exchange stamps. Inverted medallions occur in stamps printed in two colors. Sometimes the sheet was turned, and one color design was printed upside down.
Carl Hathaway.—The handy-book is now out of print. You can buy a catalogue of stamps from New York dealers at 10c.
H. McLoughlin.—The 1824 half-dollar is very common.
G. Hull.—I do not understand your question. The Mexican silver dollar contains more silver than the U.S. dollar. If you want to sell Mexican dollars, you can get about 45c. or 50c. each. If you want to buy, they will cost you 55c. each.
J. Cabell.—Your "Sydney View" is a poor copy. While fine copies, used and unused, are much higher than two or three years ago, poor copies are only worth half as much as was asked for the same stamps two years ago. When collectors pay $50, $100, or more for a stamp, they want fine copies. Such persons will not touch a poor copy at any price. By fine copies is meant those with a good margin, clean print, no tear or skinned back, and, if perforated, that it be evenly centred, and, if unused, that it have the original gum. Stamps lacking one or two perforations, or not coming up to the above standard, are worth from twenty-five per cent. to seventy-five per cent. less.
Philatus.
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