G. R. Moffitt.—Your copy of the 1 fl. Hungary is simply one that has been poorly printed.
E. H. Traphagen.—In the case of stamps still in use, always buy unused if offered at the same price as used. In the case of the Columbian stamps, the reason used stamps are still as high as unused is that the bulk of the cost is for the $1, $2, $3, $4, and $5 stamps. If you put them on a package or on a bundle of letters the chance is that they will be damaged, and hence worth much less than if in good condition. This risk must be paid for. Confederate bills are worth 2c. or 3c. apiece.
A. Oakley.—The 24c. U.S. 1872 is worth $5 unused, $2 used. The 1861 1c. is worth 5c. unused, 1c. used.
Tom W. B. Welch, Millburn, N. J.; H. G. Hall, Ridley Park, Pa.; W. A. Macon, Ridley Park, Pa., wish to exchange stamps.
A. Saxe.—There are two types of the French stamps 1876 issue. If you have very sharp eyes you will see the name of the engraver, J. A. SAGE, INV., immediately under the word REPUBLIQUE. In Type I. the letter N of INV. will be found directly under the letter B of Republique. In Type II. the same N is under the U of Republique. INV. is the abbreviation of the Latin word meaning to design.
G. Klinteich.—The New South Wales stamps issued in 1849 are usually called "Sydney Views," from the fact that the stamps bear a view of a city on the seashore, with a ship in the offing, and several figures in the foreground. There are about 50 varieties in the 1d., 120 varieties in the 2d., 25 varieties in the 3d., as each stamp was separately engraved, and some plates retouched or re-engraved. They are worth from $8 to $25 each used, and from $50 to $100 each unused. If you have any of your grandfather's letters from Sydney in 1850 they should bear these stamps.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
J. Abeler.—Your drawing is very good, but I cannot make out the date. I am inclined to think that your stamps are the 1 sh. black of the 1870 issue (Fig. 1), and the 1 sh. black of the 1872 issue (Fig. 2). The first, on the letter, is worth $15, the second, if on the letter, about $2, provided the stamps are in fairly good condition. All Afghanistan stamps were cancelled by tearing or gouging a piece out of the stamp. The centre ornament in these stamps represents a tiger's head.
J. A.—If you have a strip of four 5c. Express U.S. Revenue stamps unsevered it is worth about $2. Single stamps showing two sides unperforated are not worth any more than those perforated all around. Too many such stamps are in the market which are simply "fakes"—that is, they are made from ordinary perforated stamps.
S. L. Coe.—Your Prussian gold coin is worth its weight in gold. It is not scarce.
C. Williston.—A complete set of Columbian stamps from 1c. to $5 can be bought for $25 either unused or used.
Philatus.
Those who think that imported soaps must be the finest, do not know that the materials for Ivory Soap are the best to be found anywhere. The vegetable oil of which Ivory Soap is made, is imported, almost in ship loads, from the other side of the world.
The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.
ALL AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS—YOUNG AND OLD
ARE INVITED TO ENTER THE