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.
Bureau, Engraving & Printing. 149
Plate-number collecting is booming. The newest development is the issue of priced catalogues of the 1894 varieties, both with and without water-marks. As yet no one has ventured to price any of the earlier issues, but the demand for them is already greater than the supply.
A number of correspondents ask how many stamps are taken from each sheet in plate collecting. Usually three, and care must be taken that the stamps are not torn apart and that the margin is kept attached. The usual form of imprint on the sheets of the present issue is the following:
Some collectors keep the imprints from top, bottom, left, and right sides, but most are content with one only. Plate No. 89 is the rarest of all so far.
The Pittsburg Library has set apart an alcove for philatelic literature. The other American libraries will probably soon be obliged to do the same.
F. Schoenthaler.—The U.S. silver dollar of 1800 is worth $2. The trade dollar is worth bullion value only.
F. M. L.—The 1845 dime is worth 20c.
H. J. Leake.—Confederate bills are very common, and I therefore advise their collection, as it is comparatively easy to get a very large number by the expenditure of little money, and they are very interesting to all Americans. The dimes of 1829 and 1823 are sold by dealers at 25 cents each. Your half-dollar is worth face only. Mexican coins are worth their weight in silver only.