Vol. III. No. 25.
FEBRUARY.
1881.
E annotmced in our last number that, after consulting with some of the more influential of our supporters, we had decided upon raising the rate of our sub- scription to 3/6 per annum. Inasmuch as many of our subscribers approved of the change, none objected, and sundry new ones sold all that they had, and came bravely to the front with the pro- ceeds, we fondly imagined that there was no harm done. But it appears that we had omitted to secure the approbation of the Editor of the Foreign Stamp Collector's Magazine for our extortionate measure ; indeed, on this and other accounts we have incurred his reprobation.
In the first place, he has no hesitation in asserting that we ought to have reduced our price to 1/-. We will not stigmatise this wholly unasked-for counsel as impertinent, because we shall find even more use for the word further on. A short time ago the Editor of the F.S.C.M. took an American colleague severely to task for his vulgarity. The American retorted by accusing his critic of crass stupidity, an accusation which the latter, we regret to see, is doing his utmost to justify. If the style of the American journal in question is at times broadly colloquial, not to say slangy, it is nevertheless often redeemed by flashes of humour which go far to reconcile us with its apparently irascible Editor. But in the following extract from the F.S.C.M. we can find nothing which exalts the ponderous attempt to be fivnny above a very low level of vulgarity. Our critic would have us exclude from our pages " Capt. Evans's Parliamentary Blue Book on the exact number of stamps used by each man, woman, and child in Mauritius since the creation of the world ; whether they were originally sent out in a vessel with two masts or three ; who made the figure-head of said vessel ; whether on arrival they were taken to the Post Office in a cart or a wheelbarrow ; what the office-boy's mother thought of them, and so on. To maintain that such tearing of a subject to tatters is interesting is mere hypocrisy, and reminds one of those people who go into ecstasies over the knife- grinding and saw- sharpening of Wagner, and pretend to believe that it is music." The italics are ours. Not even the quotation from Horace, filtered
2 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
through the Latin Delectus, a little further on, can redeem the dreary vulgarity and silly impertinence of these few sentences.
In the last Bulletin of the Socie^te Francaise de Timbrologie Dr. Legrand, in referring to Capt. Evans's work, says : "Amateurs caimot hut be under an obligation to the (French) Society for having rewarded the efforts made by Captain Evans to solve their difficulties. He has shown philatelists how the materials wherewith to prosecute their science ought to be collected." We Avill not tarry to explain how for many reasons Ave attach more importance to the opinion of the Secretary to the French Society than to that of Mr. Cheveley. Were it not that our disposition is naturally angelic, and that the impertinence of this extremely silly person so trendies upon the burlesque as fairly to disarm wrath, wo should be tempted to administer the wigging which the writer of the phrases we have italicized so richly deserves. Really Mr. Cheveley, so all who take an interest in the statistical details of philately, or who profess to find music in Wagner's Tannhauser or Lohengrin, are guilty of mere hypocrisy. Why stop here, and not brand as hypocrites all and every who take an intelligent interest in any subject whatsoever which happens to be beyond your comprehension1?
Our bumptious friend goes on to say in respect of our paper " that it is very nice, no doubt, for an Editor to feel that those for whom he caters, if few in number, are all thoroughly well versed in philatelic matters ; but the high road to success, from a purely commercial point of view, is to catch the million." But then, our idea of success is not the purely commercial one. Wo have not the faintest hope of ever rivalling the circulation of the F.S.C.M. ; for we have the authority of Carlyle for believing that its admirers will be nearly thirty million times more numerous than ours.
— ♦ —
Aalesund. — We chronicle with some repugnance a soi-disant local stamp for this province. The design comprises an oblong oval, containing an unflattering portrait of a codfish enclosed in a second oval, inscribed " bypost - frim.erke " above, and " aalesund " below. Beneath the latter word is the value in full, " tre ore," and above the former the numeral of value (3). In the four angles are the letters " o . y . e . n . " respectively. Border of plain lines. Shape, oblong rectangular. Impression litho- graphed, colour upon colour; per/. 10 J. This rubbishing label is printed in three colours ; viz., brown on rose, brown on grey, and brown on blue.
Angola. — The 50 reis is changed to the colour of the 40 reis, which latter will consequently, we presume, either be suppressed or have to seek another and distinguishing hue. 50 reis, deep blue.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 6
Argentine Republic. — The 8 centavos, which has been re- cently subjected to perforation in lieu of rouletting, has been sent to us perforated vertically and imperforate horizontally.
Chili. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. send us the new 5 ceutavos postage stamp. It is almost an exact reproduction of the one lately current, the only difference being that the numeral of value is rather more squat in shape, and that the label, inscribed " centavos," is beneath the numeral, instead of traversing it as heretofore. 5 centavos, carmine ; rouletted.
Cuba. — We are indebted to Mr. William Clifford for the first sight of two of the neAv stamps for this island ; viz., the 5 and 10 c. de peso. They are identical in design with last year's issue, but the date is changed to that of the current year, the money denomination is altered, and the colours are re-shuffled. Thus the 5 cents is of the colour of the 1880 25 cents, and the 10 cents of that of the superseded 1 peseta. Since writing the above we have received the other values from Mr. de Ysasi :
1 ■ cent, de peso, sea-green \
2 1 ,, ,, pale bistre j
5 ,, ,, ultramarine > col. imp., on white paper ; per/. 14-
10 ,, ,, red-brown \
20 ,, ,, chocolate /
We have also received the new Cuban post cards. They bear five lines of inscription: 1st, "ultramar;" 2nd, "union postal universal;" 3rd, "union postale universelle;" 4th, "espana;" 5th, "En este lado," &c. There are three ruled lines for address, the first being headed with the prefix " a " in script type. The single cards have the stamp, of the same type as the adhesives, on the right. The double cards have stamp on the left of the first card, and the additional inscription "La otra tarjeta es para la respuesta" at the bottom. The reply card has the stamp on the right, and the additional word " respuesta " at the bottom. No borders ; reverse sides plain. P. Cards. 2 c. depeso, lake, on white card \
2x2 ,, ,, ,, f Size, single cards, 133 x 100 mm.
3 c. ,, carmine ,, ( Double cards, 133 x 189g, unfolded.
3x3 ,, ,, ,, )
Egypt. — The 10 paras lately current has been replaced by a stamp of another colour, but which is in every other respect identical with the defunct
10 paras, brown- violet.
Finland. — A correspondent sends us a 25 penni envelope and the new Postal Union card. The stamp on the envelope is of the same type and colour as the adhesive of similar value. It is on white wove paper, with sharp-pointed flap, without gum or device. The card, of the value of 10 penni, has four chief lines of inscrip- tion : 1st, " union postale universelle," breaking the upper border; 2nd, "finlande" ("carte postale"); 3rd, "postkort
PR°N FINLAND. POSTIKORTTI SUOMESTA ; " 4tll, " OTKPblTOE IlNCbMO
n3b $nhahhain." There are five dotted lines for address, the first
4 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
being headed by " Vastaanotajan ninii. Till (a) ; " the third by " Adressatens bostad : Vastaanotajan asunto : Adresse du destinataire ; " the fourth by " Bestaminelse orten : Meno paikka: Lieu de destination ; " the fifth by " Adresslandet : Meno maa : Pays de destination." The stamp, in the right upper corner, is of the same type as the adhesive. Key-patterned border; reverse side plain. The inscriptions are type-printed in black ; the stamp and border are in colour.
Postal Union Card. 10 pemii, orange, on buff card ; size of border, 129 x 77 ; size of card, 141 x 88 mm. Envelope. 25 penni, carmine, on white ; size, 144 x 79^ mm.
France. — M. Gruat writes to us as follows : " I have received information from the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs of France that in 1876 300,000 blue 20 cs. stamps of the current type were sent out to some colony, but it cannot be ascertained for the moment to which one they were sent. Timbres-Taxe are about to be issued with an effigy, and I will send you some as soon as I get them." Our correspondent does not say what effigy is to adorn the new Timbre-Taxe stamps.
The current 1 centime stamp has undergone a decided change in colour, being now printed on blue, instead of violet or lavender paper.
Great Britain. — The watermarks of the 3d. (plate number 20), and the 4d. and 6d. (plate number 17), have been changed from the sprig of rose and garter to a crown of the same type as that of the current Id.
Liberia. — We have hitherto omitted to chronicle the change in colour of the 24 cents adhesives, which is now 24 cents, pale rose. LllZOn. — We have to add another to the already long list of sur- charged and provisional stamps of Luzon. This time it is a fiscal which has been pressed into temporary postal service. jjS* ^ The design of the stamp comprises the Spanish arms •t PAftA O [n a circle, surmounted by a royal crown. Within" the CORRC0S circle anci following its curves, is " derecho " on the ^r £?* left and "judicial" on the left. There are curved s ^ labels with rounded ends above and beneath the central circle, the upper one inscribed " filipinas," and the lower one "10 cuartos." The stamp is lithographed, and roughly perforated, and is surcharged in black, in four lines — " habilitado," " para," "correos," "2f cms." — the first and last lines of the inscription being inversely curved. We presume that "cms." stands for centimos.
2| cms., bistre, surcharged in black on a 10 cuartos fiscal stamp.
New Granada. — We have received the current 10 centavos,
brown, printed upon slightly blued paper.
Norway. — Mr. Ashwell has sent for our inspection a variety of the 5 and 10 ore post cards, which is worthy of note. The in- scription— "Paa denne Side," &c, is, with the exception of the
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 5
initial letters of the words " Paa," ' ' Side," and "Adressen," printed in lower-case instead of capitals throughout, and the said initial letters are in plain Roman capitals instead of the fancy letters which head the corresponding words on the ordinary card. The inscription is punctuated. There are observable differences also in the border, the outer line of which is thinner, the key-pattern more blurred, and the inner wavy line peculiar, being, in the lower border, a mere line of dots. The 10 ore card is printed in a very dull, washed-out shade of carmine.
Porto Rico. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. send us a set of stamps from this island, some of the values of which are so absur<l!y low that we are inclined to question their franking power. Half a milesima de peso is barely equal to one-fortieth of a penny, or one-fourth of a centime, and we are curious to know what postal service is rendered in Porto Rico for so shadowy a remuneration. The stamps are identical in design with those issued last year, only the date being changed to 1881.
| milesima de peso, lake ) colrd. imp. ( 4 milesimos de peso, green
1 ,, ,, ,, brown > on white ;< 6 ,, „ ,, yellow-brown
2 milesimos,, ,, rose ) perf. 14 (8 ,, ,, ,, ultramarine From Mr. de Ysasi we have received the ordinary issue for 1881,
which differ from the 1880 series only in the date, colour, and money denomination.
1 cent de peso, green ) . (8 cents de peso, reddish-brown
2 ,, ,, ,, carmine ( col,r.; imP- 1 10 „ ,, ,, grey
3 „ „ „ chocolate > on white paper ; < 20 sepia
5 „ „ „ lavender ) PerJ- W (
Portuguese Indies. — The 50 reis of this dependency has undergone the same change as the Angola stamp of like value. 50 reis, deep blue.
Queensland. — We have received the newly-issued post card
for this colony. Upon a fancy label, with moire groundwork, are
two lines of inscription: 1st, "post card," in largish white
Roman capitals ; and 2nd, " Queensland, Australia," in coloured
block letters. Beneath the label are two lines, the upper being
shorter and thicker than the lower one, between which is printed,
in coloured block letters, " the address only," &c. To the left of
the label are the royal arms, crown, supporters, and motto. To
the right is the stamp with the head of Her Majesty (of the same
type as that upon the early adhesives), in an oval of solid colour
which is enframed by another oval with double outer line, in the
upper curve of which is " Queensland," and in the lower one
" one penny " in coloured block letters. The space between the
two inscriptions is filled in with arabesques. There are four dotted
lines for address, the first being headed with the prefix "to" in
script type. Fancy border, reverse side plain. As the cards are
very irregularly cut, we give the outside measurement of the border
only.
Postcards. Id., carmine on white card | ■,.,, , , 10A, „.,
Id., „ yellow,, j lithographed, 130£ mm. x 84J.
6 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
We are indebted to Mr. Philbrick for a sight of the new high value adhesives. In design they are lithographic transfers of the original tattle dance, stamp. Value printed in fall
5s., pale rose, on thick wove paper ; no watermark \ w f
20s. , mauve lake, thin paper ; watermark, Q and crown J " r* ' Servia. — Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. have sent us three of the new Servian adhesives. In a circle, on a ground of hori- zontal lines, is a bust portrait of the Prince, in uniform, looking to the left. Above and below the circle are fancy labels, the first inscribed "cpbnja," and the second "ttomta." On either side of the circle are wreaths of oak and laurel. At the two lower corners are double-lined rectangular blocks containing the numerals of value. The upper angles are filled in with arabesques. M. Moens gives us the colours of the other three values. 5 paras, green 10 ,-, rose j
20 , , orange ' upright rectangular ; coloured impression
25 ,, ultramarine I on white wove paper ; per/. 13.
50 ,, brown )
1 dinar, lilac St. Domingo. — The post cards which we described in our last number have very soon been supplemented, if not superseded, by those which we have now to chronicle. In the present set the border, composed of circles containing the letters "r.d" alternating with fleurs-de-lis ornaments, is mostly cut away to admit of labels with rounded ends inscribed in fancy capitals, " union postal universal " at top ; " union postale universelle " at bottom ; "republica dominicana " on the left; and "republique domini- caine" on the right. They are printed in colour upon more highly glazed coloured card. The reply paid cards are not perforated, as was the case in the first set, and are merely folded over at the top in the usual way.
Postal Union Cards. 2 centavos ) carmine on I
,, ,, ,, 2x2 ,, J rose card ) size
,, ,, ,, 3 ,, \ dark blue on } unchanged. .
„ ,, ,, 3x3 ,, j blue card (
Straits Settlements. — We have to chronicle another provisional 10 cents, surcharged in exactly the same type as the one which we described last month on the 12 cents, blue.
10 cents, surcharged in black upon the 12 cents, blue. In March, 1880, we referred to a stamp of which we had heard, but never seen at that time ; viz., the 2 cents Straits Settlements, surcharged with crescent and star, for use in the states of some of the neighbouring potentates. This stamp, of the surcharge on which we annex an en- graving, appears to have been obsolete for some time. It was sent to us by one of the British officials as a curiosity ; but our correspondent, with the charming insouciance so characteristic of the unphilatelic, did not deign to say whether it was used in Johore, Perak, Elsewhere, or in all three places. Can the letters "s.u." have anything to do with Sunda 1 The surcharge is in black.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. (
Turkey. — Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. send us some Turkish stamps, surcharged in blue, with a triangle, rounded at the corners, which contains a Turkish inscription. Their correspondent explains the raison d'etre of these stamps as follows : " These stamps are sur- charged 'catchak,' which means 'contraband,' and are applied to letters which ought to have been sent by post, but which are seized upon travellers. The surcharge indicates that a double postage is levied, half of which goes to the post-office authorities, and the other half to the discoverer of the attempted fraud." We sent these stamps to our contributor, "A Post Card Collector," who endeavoured to obtain for us some information respecting them from the Turkish Embassy at Paris. From this source we learn that the surcharge stands for "contraband-Bosnia," and is no doubt applicable to letters seized in the way described above, but does not indicate that half the postage levied goes to the party seizing the smuggled letters. We are promised further information as soon as it can be obtained from Constantinople. The stamps we have seen thus surcharged are the
10 paras, lilac )
20 ,, green > heavy inscription. Issue, 1876 ; per/. 1S\.
1 piastre, yellow )
5 ;; 55? J Issue of 1871 ;W- 7- The specimens of the Mount Athos stamps, which we described in August, were so heavily postmarked that we thought the characters surcharged upon them were Turkish. They are how- ever Greek, as will be seen from the smaller of the two engravings above. Prom the same source, in Paris, we learn that there are thirty-two convents at Mount Athos, and that they have the privilege of surcharging their stamps. Their letters are posted either at the Eussian convent, or at a small village in the vicinity called Kapiecr. The three characters of the surcharge are " 2. X. II.," and Dr. Legrand supposes that they stand for " SeySat/xa-Xpto-rov- IIoAio-," which, if we had not forgotten our Greek, we should venture to translate " Holy City of Christ." The stamps we have seen thus surcharged are the
101 pSe, yellow j heavy Ascription. Issue, 1876 ; per/ «i-
2 „ brick Issue of 1871 ; per/. 7. 5 „ blue ,, 1868 ; „ 13\.
Venezuela. — We have to add to the values already chronicled of the Escuelas type, perforated —
25 Centimos, yellow.
Victoria. — We have to thank Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. for the new twopenny postage stamp for this colony. Within a double-lined oval, on ground of horizontal lines, is the diademed profile portrait of Her Majesty to left. Fancy labels above and below follow the. contour of the oval, and are inscribed " victoria "
b CONCERNING SOME DUBIOUS GUADALAJARAS.
and "twopence" respectively, the letters being larger at the beginning and end of the words than in the middle. The re- mainder of the stamp is filled in with arabesque ornaments,* difficult to imagine, and still more so to describe. We should judge the stamp to be of colonial execution, and as such it is fairly creditable, being far superior to the stamp which it supersedes. The features of Her Majesty are strongly marked, especially the nose, which is a noble organ.
2d., brown, upright rectangular; col. imp. on slightly-surfaced white paper ; watermark, V and crown ; per/. 12 x 1%\.
CONCERNING SOME DUBIOUS GUADALAJARAS,
The two first philatelists in England have called upon us simultaneously to speak a word of warning against some of the soi-disant Guadalajara stamps which have turned up of late in such suspicious quantities ; and although we wish that one of them had undertaken the task himself, and done the subject greater justice than we can, we shall not shrink from the duty which we are thus summoned to perform.
It has often struck us, and no doubt other collectors, as strange, that these stamps, from their origin so scarce, should during the last eighteen months have become so readily procurable. For some time it was impossible, in spite of our suspicions, for us to urge anything more condemnatory than the vague feeling of distrust with which we were inspired. The measurements were all strictly accurate ; the papers on which they were printed were the papers of the tattered old originals we had hoarded for years. The only notable differences between the old lamps and the new — differences which instead of filling us with delight called forth the uneasy feeling to which we have referred — were that the latter were so incomparably fine as compared with our old undoubtedly genuine specimens. They reached us on large pieces of the original envelopes ; and the obliteration, consisting of floriate thingummies and crafty paraphes, struck us as being almost too good to be true. For that " the beautiful and the true are one " is to the philatelist a poetic rendering rather than an accepted axiom ; and it came to pass that we found ourselves wondering whether it were not possible that reprints of these stamps were being foisted upon collectors.
The dies from which the Guadalajara stamps were printed were the ordinary obliterating hand stamps used in that province, with some additions made to them. Obliterating stamps are proverbially long-lived. We find the eagle series of 1S64 and the head of Juarez series of 1872-74 obliterated with the same hand stamps which hi the interval served for the confection of the Guadalajaras of 1867-68 ; just as we meet with Spanish stamps of quite recent issue obliterated with the well-known postmark so familiar on the stamps of 1850. We find no difficulty therefore in surmising that the hand stamps to which the genuine Guadalajaras owe their being are still to be got at. The paper — quadrille, bdtonne, and wove, of wondrous hues — will always be found so long as Providence for some mysterious purpose suffers foreigners to infest the earth. The stamp once reprinted upon passable paper, to place it upon a piece of old envelope and obliterate it, is comparative child's-play ; for there is no reason why that which has been so ably done in the case of the United States and Confederate Locals should not be done in Mexico.
Fortunately there generally arrives a time when, owing to carelessness, or the bumptiousness engendered by a long run of luck, the purveyor of dubious rarities commits a fatal blunder and comes to grief. Amongst the shoals of Guadalajaras which have recently been offered for sale there were few, if any, of the perforated or punched stamps. Collectors who had long despaired of getting any Guadalajaras at all, after having supplied themselves recently with
PHILATELIC GAINS. V
most of the imperforate varieties, began naturally to hunger for the punched 'ones. Was it likely that their yearnings should remain for long ungratified ''-. Not when the enterprising purveyor goes the length of calling upon collectors to give a name to their wants. Before us lie two letters, couched in identical terms, addressed to the two gentlemen who have urged us to take this matter up. The "party" who writes them, and whose name is neither Brown nor Robinson, says, " I think I can put my hand on any kind or variety of Guadalajaras if you will kindly let me know what you require." And so he did ; but in that hand was the wrong punch ! It is unfortunate for this " party " that he did not content himself with flying at smaller game than the veterans upon whom he " tried it on," and who n entendent pas raillerie in these matters. It is evident that these fancy punches have awakened in others the same doubts as to the authenticity of the stamps themselves which we have long nursed and brooded over. We have now unbosomed ourselves, and have done our duty, however clumsily, in putting our readers on their guard respecting the recent importations of Guadalajaras. Verbum mpienti! May the pockets of our readers be spared in time.
PHILATELIC GAINS OF 1880,
The contents of the following list, where not otherwise described, are to be taken as adhesives. Words in italics point to the particular change in the object in question which constitutes it a new variety ; and the page referred to is that of the second volume of the Philatelic -Record on which the novelty is described. Angola. — 50 Reis, blue.
Antigua. — Post card, 1J red-brown. (Page 14.) Argentine Republic— 8 c, lake, per/. 12. (Page 116.) ISewsbands. 1 c, vermilion
4 c, blue. (Page 25.) Envelopes. 8 c, red-brown, dark red
16 c, yellow-green, on straw-coloured wove paper. Assab. — Various Italian stamps and 10c post card, surcharged. (Page 116.) Ad stria. — Several stamps of the current issue, per/. 12.
Newspaper Stamp. \ kr., sea-green. (Page 161.) Newspaper Tax Stamps. Design re-engraved and slightly altered.
1 kr., blue. (Page 61.)
2 kr., brown.
Post Cards, 2x2 kr., brown on buff', in the following varieties ; viz. : For * Austria proper,
t Bohemian provinces,
* Illyrian „
* Italian „ t Polish
* Ruthenian „
* Slavonic „
Postal Union Cards. Black inscriptions ; buff card. 5 kr., vermilion. (Page 100.) 5+5 kr. „
5 sld. „ 5+5 sld. „
Pneumatic Post Cards. Third line of upper inscription omitted, and <; Funfhans " added to the list of offices on the left side. 10 kr., blue on blue 10+10 kr. „ „
N.B.— There is only this one variety of the reply-paid card.
* "With "An" on the face. t Without "An."
25*
W PHILATELIC GAINS.
A/ores.— 25 r., blue-grey. (Page 26.) 25 r., lilac 150 r., yellow
Bavaria. — 1 mark, mauve ; watermark undulations.
Post Card. 5 pf., violet ; arms in oval. (Page 26.)
Belgium. — Post Card. 5-4-5 c., green, without frame.
Bermuda.— ^d., dull brown. (Page 48.)
id., orange. ,,
Provisional Post Cards. Carmine on buff; space for two stamps. (Page 1 1 7.) Carmine on blue ; space for one stamp. ( „ 161.)
Bhopal. — J a. , green, per/. 7. (Page 100.) \ a., chestnut, „ ,, ( „ 145.)
The sheet of the \ a. has been entirely re-drawn, and the errors corrected, giving thirty-two fresh varieties of type. It appears doubtful whether the re-drawn sheet exists imperforate as well as perforate. The \ a., brown, which was for some time chronicled by mistake as 1 a., is of the first rect- angular variety. The sheet of the J a., green, has also been re-drawn, and presents some errors not found hi the original drawing.
Bhore. — 1 rupee, black on yellow. (Page 133.)
8 annas, „ green. „
4 „ ,, rose. „
2 „ „ lilac. „
The postal authenticity of these stamps still requires confirmation.
Bolivar.— Dated 1880. 5 c, blue. (Page 100.)
10 c, lilac. „
20 c. , rose. „
40 c. , brown. „
The 5 c. of 1879, and all the values of 1880, are said also to exist on blue laid paper.
Brazil. — Stamps of Brazilian manufacture ; rouletted.
50 r., blue. (Page 161.)
100 r., bottle-green. „
200 r., lilac-rose. „
Post Cards. 20 r., carmine on white. „
20+20 r.
50 r.j blue on buff. „
50+50 r. „ „ „
80 r., orange on buff. „
Bosnia. — 1 kr., lilac.
Post Card. 2X2 kr., brown on buff.
British Honduras. —Id., blue, imperf. vertically. (Page 87.)
Buenos Ayres. — 1 peso, violet. Fiscal used for postage. (Pp. 87, 117.)
Bulgaria. — 50 c, blue and black. (Page 26.) Post Card. 10 c, carmine. „
Canada. —15 c, bright violet.
Cape of Good Hope.
Provisional. 3d. on 4d. , blue. Error, theee. (Page 3.)
„ „ „ „ „ PENCB. ( „ 61.)
„ „ „ violet-rose. ( „ 26.)
3d., dull rose. ( „ 100.)
„ „ surcharged 3 (two types). (Pp. 100, 11s
Cashmere. — Rectangular. | a., red on laid paper. | a., blue „
1 a., black „
2 a. „ „ 4 a., red „
PHILATELIC GAINS.
11
Cashmere. — Rectangular.
on thin wove paper. (Page 76.
14.)
£ a. 2 a.
0 a- 5) n >J ( ))
£ a., blue on thick wove paper. \ a., black on „ „
1 a< )5 )5 5?
i a. „ on (?) 4 a. „ „
8 a. „ „
Ceylon, — 4 c, rose. (Page 87.)
2£ rupees, red-brown. ( „ 26.)
Registered Envelope. 12 c, rose and blue. ( PostCards. 6 c, blue. (
8 c. , red-brown. (
Chili.— Re-issue of obsolete 5 c. postage stamps. (
5 c, fiscal used for postage. (Pp. 118, 145.) Christiansund. — Locals. New issue of stamps and cards. (Page 3.)
61.
„)
118.)
Cuba. —Dated 1880.
Post Cards.
5 10
m
25 50 1 10 15
green rose
violet-brown ultramarine.
c, c,
c,
c, ultramarine. (Page 4.) c, sepia. „
p., red-brown. „
c, brown-lake. (Page 44.) c, bright rose. „
Cyprus. — English stamps, &c, surcharged in black. £d., rose-red. (Page 61.) Id.,
2£d., violet-brown. (Page 44.) 4d., olive-green. ( „ 61.) 6d., black. „
Is., green. „
Post Cards. Id., brown. „
l*d., „ „
Surcharged in blue. Registered Envelopes, two sizes. (Page 61.)
„ red-brown. Wrapper. Id., red-brown. „
Post Card of special type. Jd., red-brown on buff. „
Danish "West Indies. — 50 c, mauve. (Page 14.) Post Card. 2 c, blue. ( „ 118.) Deccan. — Envelopes. \ a., red ; type of 4£ a. envelope.
5 a., brown. All the envelopes exist on papers of various colours and makes, and with various ornaments on the flaps.
Dominican Republic. — Lithographed ; rouletted on coloured lines. (Page 147.)
sage-green I 25 c. . . . pale violet vermilion 50 c. . . . orange
Prussian blue 75 c. . . . ultramarine rose 1 p. . . . gold
bistre Post Cards. 2 c, green on buff. (Page 162.)
2 + 2 a- „ „ 3 a, carmine „
3 + 3 c. „ „ Similar to the above, but with inscriptions in the frame.
2 c. , green on pale green 2 + 2 c.
3 c, carmine on rose
0 + o C ,, ,,
1 c.
2 c. 5 c.
10 c.
20 c.
Postal Union Cards
12 PHILATELIC GAIN8.
Dutch East Indies. — 2 c, brown, perf. 12. (Page 15.) 2£ c, yellow „ „
5 c., green „ „
Post Cards. Yl\ c, surcharged " Vijf cents" in red YL\ c „ „ in blue
12| c. „ figure 5 reversed
Postal Union Card. 5 + 5 c, surcharged with additional inscriptions Fernando Poo. — 5 c, sea-green. (Page 44.) 10 c, carmine „
50 c, bright blue „ Fiji. — Engraved " V.R." 3d., green on wove. (Page 1 18.) 6d., carmine on wove. ( „ 162.) Finland. — Envelope. 25 penni, carmine
Postal Union Card. 10 „ orange on buff. France.— 3 c, pearl-grey. (Page 76.)
Pneumatic Post Cards, with stamp of new design. 50 c. , carmine 50 + 50 c. „ (Page 27.) Provisionals. 30 c. on 50 c. (Page 76.)
30 + 30 c. on 50 + 50 c. (Page 76. ) 30 c, carmine. French Colonies. — 3 c, yellow, imperf. (Page 87.)
20 c, red-brown on green, imperf. (Page 101.) 25 c, black on red, imperf. 25 c, yellow, imperf. (Page 14.) 30 c, brown „ „
Guadaloupe. Unpaid letter stamps. 15 c, black on blue. (Page 87.) 30 c, black on white „
Gambia. — Wmk. cc. and crown ; perf. 14.
^d., chrome-yellow. (Page 87.) Id., maroon ( „ 101.)
2d., carmine „
3d., ultramine „
4d., chocolate „
6d., deep blue
Is., deep green ( „ 118.) Post Card. Hd., blue-green ( „ 101.)
Germany. — Types as before ; " pfennig " without final " e.* 3 pf., green, perf. 15. 5 pf., violet „ (Page 44.) 10 pf., rose „ ( „ 28.)
20 pf., blue „ ( „ 44.)
25 pf. , brown „ 50 pi, dull green „ ( „ 44.) Newsband. 3 pf., green „ ( „ 28.) Post Card. 5 pf., lilac Enveloppe-annonce 10 pf. Borne, if not all, of the above are printed in soluble colours. (See page (>3.)
Error. 2 marks, rose. (Page 145.) Gold Coast. — -|d., olive-brown. (Page 4.) 2d., green ( „ 15.)
Post Card. — Hd., red-brown ( „ 4.) Great Britain. — hd , sea-green. (Page US.) Id., brown-red. (Vol. i.) 1 5 d., maroon. (Page 118.) 2d., rose-lake ( „ 145.) 2 hd., blue ( „ 4.) 4d., brown ( „ 101.) Is., light red ( „ 118.) 2s., red-brown „ 15.)
PHILATELIC GAINS. 13
Greece.— Errors. 10 lep. with "0" on hack 10 „ "00" „
20 „ 2 „ reversed.
Unpaid Letter Stamp. New type ; 5 lep., green.
Grenada. — Id. cut in half used as £d. (Page 87.)
Guinea. — All the Cape Verde values surcharged "guine" in black. (Page 101.)
Heligoland. — Post Cards. Probably fancy varieties. 10 pf. formed by printing two impressions of the 5 pf. on the same card ; second stamp in various positions.
Postal Union Card. 10+10 pf., black.
Holland. — Post Cards. Varieties of type of 2| c. (Page 44.)
Hong Kong. — Provisionals. 5 c. surcharged on 18 c, lilac. (Page 27.)
5 c. „ 8 c, orange ( „ 119.)
10 c. „ 12 c, blue ( „ 27.)
10 c „ 16 c, yellow ( „ 63.)
10 c. „ 24 c, green ( „ 76.)
2 c, rose ' ( „ 63.)
5 c, ultramarine ( „ 162.)
10 c, lilac ( „ 146.)
48 c, broim ( „ 88.)
Post Cards. Provisional, with adhesive stamp, three surcharged on 5 on
18 c, lilac. (Page 44.)
With impressed stamp, 1 c, blue-green. (Page 27.)
3 c, brown „
4 c, slate „ Provisional. 1 c surcharged on 4 c, slate. (Page 119.)
Hungary. — Newsband. 2 kr., lilac (Page 63.)
Envelopes with new wmk. 3 kr. , green 5 kr. , rose. Post Cards. Arms on left; wmk. vertical. 2 kr., yellow-brown on pale buff 2+2 kr.
Postal Union Cards. 5 kr., red 5+5 kr. „
Iceland. — Post Cards. 8 aur. , carmine. (Page 119.) 10 „ mauve „
5+5 „ blue and grey.
India. — Envelope. 9 pies, orange. (Page 4.)
Official Post Card, i a., blue. (Page 45.)
\ a., ultramarine. (Page 101.) Official stamps with blue surcharge. (Page 88. )
Labuan. — Provisionals. 6 surcharged in red on 16 c, blue. (Page 119.) 8 „ in black on 12 c, carmine „
2 c, grass-green. (Page 133.) 10 c, brown ( „ 162.)
The stamps of Labuan, which were originally watermarked c.a and crown, are now watermarked, like the majority of our colonial stamps, o.c and crown. It is supposed that the letters c.a in the original watermark stood
for CROWN AGENTS.
Liberia. — 1 c, ultramarine, perf. 10. (Page 162.)
2 c , bright rose „ ( „ 133.)
6 c, bright violet „ ( „ 133.)
12 c, yellov) „ ( „ 146.)
24 c. , pale rose.
Livonia. — 2 kop., brown, red, and green. (Page 133.)
14
PHILATELIC GAINS.
134.)
ny.)
Luxemburg. — Error. " Un Pranc" surcharged on 37|c, brown, perf. 12.)
40 c, bright yellow, per/. 12. Stamps printed in Holland : 2 c, black, perf. 13. 10 c, lilac J „ 20 c, brown ,, 25 c, blue „
Post Cards. 5 c, pale lilac, on buff. (Page 7G.) 10 c, orange-yellow „ „
Luzon. — (See Philippines). Madeira.— 5 r., black. (Page 77.) 25 r., blue-grey. ( „ 4.) 25 r., lilac. ( „ 45.)
150 r., yellow. ( „ 81.)
Post Card. 10 r., light brown. (Page 134.) Varieties with reversed surcharge : 25 r., rose 25 r., blue-grey 50 r., green. Mauritius.— 2 c, red-brown 17 c, rose. (Page 28.)
8 c, blue 3S c, lilac „
13 c, grey-black 50 c, green „
2 rupees 50 c, violet-brown „
PostCards. 6 c, green. (Page 45.)
8 a, blue. (
Provisional. 4 c. surcharged on 8 c, blue. ( Mexico. —4 c. , brown-yellow on wove and on laid.
Envelope. 4 c, pale rose ; wmk. arms, Jjc. Porte de Mar Stamps. 2 c, brown. (Page 63.) 10 c, carmine „ 25 c, blue „
50 c, green „
100 c, violet. (Page 88.) Montserrat. — 2|d., red-brown. (Page 15.) Natal.— |d., blue-green. ( „ 134.)
Nevis.— Id., violet. ( „ 77.)
Newfoundland. — Type of 1876. 2 c, green, rouletted. New Types. 1 c, violet-brown, perf. 12.
2 c, green,
3 c, deep blue, „ 5 c. , blue, „
Post Cards, new types. 1 c, green.
2 c, vermilion. New Granada.— 10 c, brown on slightly blued paper. 20 c, violet. "(Page 134.)
25 c, green on white. ( „ 162.) New South Wales. — Registered Envelope. 4d., carmine. (Page 29.) Oiiicial Stamps. Id., red, black surcharge. (
2d., blue, „ „ (
3d., green, red „ (
6d., lilac, black „ (
Sd., yellow, red and black surcharge. Is., black, „ „ (
Nicaragua. — 10 c, vermilion, rouletted. (Page 102.)
Nowanuggur. — 1 dogra, black on bright rose. ( „ 134.)
2 „ „ yellow-green. „
3 „ „ yellow. „
Paraguay.— 3 reales. black, surcharged 5 in blue. (Page 119.)
|
(Page |
46.) |
|
\ >> |
5.) |
|
I )5 |
46.) |
|
V !J |
5.) |
|
\ ?) |
28.) |
|
\ )) |
77.) |
|
\ ?5 |
28.) |
PHILATELIC GAINS. 15
Persia. — Issue with coloured border. (Page 5.)
10 sh., black and purple 1 kr. „ „ brown 5 kr. „ „ blue.
1 sh., black and vermilion
2 sh. „ „ yellow 5 sh. „ „ green
PostCard. 2£ sh., red and black. (Page 15.) Peru. — Stamps surcharged " Union Postal Universal" and "Plata." 1 c, green, red surcharge. (Page 16.) 2c, carmine, blue „ „
5 c, ultramarine, red „ „
50 c, green, red „ „
1 sol, red, blue „ „
2 c, carmine, black „
Errors. 1 c, green, red „ reversed.
5 c, ultramarine, red „ „
Stamp for unpaid letters. 1 c, yellow-brown. Philippines.— 200 mils., rose, per/. (Page 28.) Type of 1880. 2 c. , carmine. „
2^ c, dark brown. (Vol. i.) 8^ c, red-brown. (Page 77.) Provisional. 2| cms. surcharged in black on the 10 cuartos " Derecho
Judicial " fiscal. Error. Provisional. 8 c. on 100 mils. , rose, lettered coreros. (Page 77. ) Post Card. 3 c. , carmine and orange. (Page 45. ) Porto Rico. — 5 c. de peseta, sea-green 25 c. , ultramarine. (Page 5.)
10 „ carmine 40 c. , lavender „
15 „ red-brown 50 c, sepia „
1 peseta, stone. (Page 5. ) ^ d. de peseta, sea-green 2 c, lavender. (Page 134.)
^ „ carmine 3 c. , pale orange „
1 „ pale lake 4 c, black „
Portugal. — 5 i\, black. (Page 88.)
10 r., yellow-green 25 r., blue-grey. ( „ 5.) 25 r., lilac. ( „ 46.)
150 t., yellow. ( „ 88.)
Post Card. 10 r., light brown. (Page 135.) Portuguese Indies. — 10 r., green. ( „ 120.)
25 r. , pale lavetider. „
50 r. , blue. Queensland.— Old Type. 2s., blue. (Page 46.)
2s. 6d., vermilion. ( „ 102.) 5s., orange. ( ,, SS.) New Type. 4d., yellow.
6d., green. ( ,, 46.) Is., mauve. ( ,, SS.) Provisional. |d. surcharged on Id., orange. (Page 46.) Error. Id., orange, lettered " §oeensland." ( ,, 120.) Provisional, £d. , with same error. ,,
Registered Envelope. Red (no stamp). ,,
Fiscals used for postage. Id., mauve ,,
6d., brown ,,
Is., bright green ,, 2s. 6d., red ,,
5s., orange ,,
10s., bistre (Page 162.) Different type. Id., violet. (Page 120.) Post Cards. Id., rose on buff.
Id., rose on white. Rajpeepla. — 1 paisa, chalkv-blue. (Page 135.) 2 „ (?) " ( „ 135.)
2 annas, green ( ,, 146.)
4 „ red ( „ 146/
16 PHILATELIC GAINS.
Roumania. — 5 bani, bistre ; imperf. (Page 29.) New type. 10 b., rose
15 b., red-brown. (Page 102.) Post Card. 5-f 5 b., without date after " Tiraju." (Page 47.) Roumelia. — Current Turkish stamps, surcharged "r.o." in blue. Jan. 1876 type, i pias. . pale green. (Page 162.)
2 „ . yellow-brown „
10 par. . black and lilac „
20 paras . black and rose colour „
1 piastre black and blue „
2 piastres black and orange „ 5 „ . red and blue „
Same surcharge on issue of 1876 :
| piastre, green „
2 „ yellow-brown „
New type. 5 paras, black and greenish yellow „
10 „ black and green „
PostCard. 10 „ blue and black (Page 16.)
Russia. — Provisional envelopes :
7 kop. , surcharged in red on 8 kop. , grey 7 „ „ „ 10 „ brown.
Post Card, without value expressed, grey-black on buff. (Page 135.) Post Cards for correspondence with the " Register Office : " 9 kop., black on buff. (Pp. 88, 103.) Without value „ (Page 147.)
St. Vincent. — Id., dull green. (Page 77.) 6d., deep green ( „ 135.) Provisional. Id., surcharged on half 6d., green. (Page 77.) Fiscal (?) used for postage. 5s., lake-red. (Page 89.) Servia. — 10 par., orange, perf. 12\. 50 „ bright green. War Post Cards. Black on buff, circular violet surcharge. (Page 47.) „ on rose „ „ „
,, on buft, oval violet surcharge „
„ on blue „ blue surcharge „
10+10 p., ordinary card, blue on rose, oblong black surcharge „ Shanghai. —Various values with surcharges. (Page 103.) Sirmoor. — 1 pice, blue, on laid paper. (Page 77.) South Australia. — 4d., bright violet. (Page 63.)
Official. Sd., surcharged o.s. in black. (Page 16.) Spain. — Type with royal crown. £ c. de p., green. (Page 47.) Straits Settlements. — Provisionals. Black surcharges.
5 cents (figure 5), surcharged on 8 c, orange. (Page 104.)
10 cents, surcharged on 30 c, maroon (various types) ( „ 29.) 10 (only) „ „ „ „ " ( „ 48.)
10 cents (italic numerals), surcharged on 30 c. maroon
(various types) ( „ 164.)
10 „ (italic numerals) „ 12 c. blue.
Post Card. 4 c. , red-brown. Surinam. — Provisional Post Cards :
71 c, surcharged in black on 15 c, stone. (Page 48 )
7i& „ green „
Sweden. — Error. 20 ore, red, lettered Tretio.
Post Card. New type, 6 ore, lilac. Tasmania. — On glazed paper, and perf. 14. Id., carmine 2d. , bright green 8d., pale chocolate.
CORRESPONDENCE. 1 7
Tolima. — New types. 50 c., green. (Page 135.) 1 p. j vermilion „ Cubiertas. 10 c, yellow, blue, and red. (Page 148.) 50 c. „ „
Transvaal. — Id., surcharged with "v.r." close together, pin per/. (Page 48.) Head of Queen, id., rosy vermilion. (Page 148.) Trinidad. — Registered Envelope. Unstamped, blue and green. (Page 64.) Turkey. — 20 par., black and rose. (Page 6.)
1 pias, black and blue „ Various types, surcharged with a triangle, said to be for use at Mount Athos. (Page 89.)
Postal Union Cards. 20 par., black and rose on white. 20+20 „ Turks Islands. — Is., reddish violet. (Page 64.) Id., vermilion, wwk. star Is., dark violet „ Uruguay. — Lithographed. 1 c, chocolate, rouletted. (Page 164.) Official. 1 c, chestnut, red surcharge. (Page 164.) 5 c., green, black „ „
10 c, vermilion, black „ „
20 c, bistre „ „ „
50 c, black, red „ „
1 p. , blue, black „ „
Type of 1866. 15 c, yellow, black surcharge „
The current envelopes exist both on wove and on laid paper. Postal Union Cards. 2 c, carmine. (Page 121.) 3 c, green ( „ 104.) Venezuela. — 5 c, blue (shades). (Page 29.) 10 c, carmine „ ( „ 29.) 25 c, orange „ ( „ 6.) 50 c. , chocolate „ ( „ 16. ) IB., green „ ( „ 29.) Esouelas. 5 centimos, orange, perf. 11. (Page 136.) 10 „ „ „ ( „ 164.)
25 „ „ „ ( „ 164.)
50 „ „ „ ( „ 105.)
1 Bolivar, green „ ( „ 136.)
2 „ blue „ ( „ 164.) PostCards. Unstamped; white card. (Pp. 121,136.)
carmine black
blue maroon.
Victoria. — Post Card. Id., lilac ; slight alterations in the frame. Virgin Islands. — New type. Id., green. (Page 121.)
2id., red-brown ( „ 30.)
Post Card. lid. „ ( „ 30.)
Wurtemburg. — 2 marks, vermilion. (Page 17.)
gEomspoitfeuti,
"BLEUTE PAR LA GOMME."
To the Editor of "The Philatelic Record."
Dear Sir, — I had hoped to have spared your readers the infliction of another letter on this subject ; for I am sure chemical details must be extremely uninteresting to the body of them, a fact I infer from the discussion being left entirely to " Chemicus" and myself ; but my offer to write direct having been met by the letter in your last issue, I have no alternative but to beg permission to again make use of your columns to prove my " case " chemi- cally, to the best of my ability, and I hope your other correspondent will condone any shortcomings in my endeavour to do so. The rest of your readers are differently situated ; they need not peruse the letter, though I
18 CORRESPONDENCE.
hope by the summer, when I am glad to observe " Chemicus " intends availing himself of my proffered information (which is still very much at his service), more of them will be found to take sufficient interest in the subject to assist in settling the question.
. It seems to me that "Chemicus" admits (provided my statement as to dextrine being used by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. is correct) the " iodine theory," so far as the gum supplying the starch is concerned, falls to the ground by reason of the difference in colour between iodo-dextrine and iodide of starch ; but though I have no doubt I can, if necessary, sub- stantiate my assertion, as well as prove that the adhesive properties of gelatine are at least well known to photographers, I need not discuss the points raised now, as " Chemicus " appears to have taken up slightly new ground, and to imply that the only part the gum plays is to supply the acid which brings about a change in some of the constituents of the paper used.
So far, as my former letter will show, I agree Avith " Chemicus " (although we have the fact that the gum itself is generally coloured, and partakes of a greenish, not bluish, hue), but I still contend that the change is not produced by the formation of iodide of starch, both for the reasons before given (applying more particularly to the gum), which still remain uncontroverted, and for others, affecting the paper, of which I shall presently speak.
When I was investigating the matter I used several different papers in ] ny experiments, as well as specimens of the stamps themselves, so I shall perhaps be held excused if I rely more on the latter, and confine my remarks principally to them ; for each kind of paper may contain several different constituents, and it is next to impossible therefore to deduce reliable data from one sample, which will apply altogether to another, though the results are doubtless very interesting and useful in an experimental sense.
In the course of my experiments, to return to the stamps however, after discharging the colour from one of them, I washed it til! the gum was entirely removed, and placed it in a solution of pure iodine without ap- parently altering its condition in any way, though the same stamp was, after another washing, immediately restored to its blue shade by the application of dilute acid.
A " blued " specimen was then soaked for fifteen minutes in a saturated solution of hyposulphite of soda, but this produced scarcely more impression than a similar immersion in plain water would have done.
These experiments speak for themselves. The first seems to show that the colour is not due to iodine, and that acid does cause the change ; the second also shows that the blue is not iodide of starch, that substance being used as a test for hyposulphite of soda, the presence of which is shown by the bleaching of the starch compound ; in fact, I am somewhat inclined to think that the rapid fading of the iodo-dextrine and iodide of starch I spoke of in connection with my experiments, hi my last letter, may in a great measure be due to that chemical in the body of the white paper I used, as it is very largely employed by paper manufacturers, to get rid of the traces of chlorine left behind in the process of bleaching the pulp.
This or atmospheric influences must have affected in a similar manner the pieces of paper sent to you by " Chemicus " and examined by me. One of them (the white) is perfectly colourless, the other (the grey) simply showing faint patches of what is perhaps described best as " violet bloom," only visible in a strong side-light, and not at all by gaslight, on a stain of some inde- scribable tint in the middle of the paper ; there is certainly no trace of blue, such as we meet with on the stamps now, and what colour there is will doubtless soon fade away also.
I may add that this fact is in direct contradiction to to the behaviour of the stamps themselves, some specimens of which, decolourized by me two years ago, are slowly but surely regaining their "bluish" appearance.
With many apologies for the extreme length of tliis letter, I remain, dear Sir, yours, &c ,
"Bleute par la Gomme."
THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OP LONDON. 19
f «tap at % fplatclk $&tutu at f anton.
■ -o
The seventh meeting of the season was held on the 29th January, 1881, at 14, South Square, Gray's Inn ; the President in the chair. The Secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved, and the following letter addressed to him in his official capacity by Mr. Westoby :
"THE NEWSPAPER STAMPS OF GREAT BRITAIN.
"Dear Sir, — I thank you for communicating to me the report of the meeting of the 15th hist., at which I regret that 1 was not able to be present ; for, having given a good deal of thought to this matter of the newspaper stamps, I should have been glad of the opportunity of discussing the subject, besides which I may have become prejudiced in favour of their postal rank.
" The chief objection urged at the meeting seemed to turn on their not being what the French term timbres-mobiles. Now, what I understand to be the difference between a timbre-mobile and a timbre-immobile or fixe is, that the former is nothing more or less than an applied stamp, which may be attached or detached at will, and that the latter is one which is affixed to the paper or document, the stamp being of no use without the document, nor the document without the stamp.
" We do admit these fixed stamps into collections of postage stamps ; for what is an envelope stamp but a timbre fixe? It is true that for some years it was not treated as such ; but by the Act 33 and 34 Vict. c. 79 s. 19 it was provided that ' it shall not be lawful for any person to affix to a letter, news- paper, supplement, publication, packet, or card sent by post, or to the cover thereof (if any), by way of prepayment of postage thereon, an embossed or impressed stamp cut out or otherwise separated from the cover or other paper, card, or thing on which such stamp was embossed or impressed although such stamp had not been before sent by post or used.'
" This provision, contained in the Act repealing the duties on newspapers shows clearly, I think, that in the minds of the framers of the Act news- paper stamps fell under the same category as envelope and wrapper stamps. What really is the gist of what the Government says to the public 1
" ' If you bring your paper to Somerset House we will, on payment of the duty, stamp it with a certain stamp, according to its size, and on this paper you may print what you like, provided it is a newspaper in conformity with the Act, and we will then carry it free for you for fifteen days.
" ' If you bring your paper to Somerset House we will, on payment of the duty, stamp it with a certain stamp, and you may enclose what you like in it, and we will carry it free for you to the address, if hi other respects it is in conformity with the postal regulations.'
" It must also be borne in mind that the Government at one period, or rather on two occasions, issued half-sheets stamped with Id. embossed stamps, on which the public might write or print what they chose, and this was also the case with the original Mulready covers.
" All these latter happen to be small, and are easily stowed away in an album, even when envelopes are collected in entirety, as they ought to be. Unfortunately the newspaper is very unwieldy in comparison with its stamp. It is no wonder that philatelists do not know exactly what to do with them, but I think that they cannot ignore them on the ground that they are not timbres-mobiles.
" I believe that the real cause of their having been passed over by philatelists is this ; when the Act 33 and 34 Vict. c. 79 came into operation, although its effect was really to change the fiscal into a postage duty, yet the Government continued to use the old stamp with but a trifling alteration, not noticed by the public, and with no alteration as regards the Id. stamp on the Times. If the word ' postage ' had been introduced into the stamp, so
20 NOTES AND QUERIES.
as to show all the world that the duties had been made postal duties, I ask with confidence whether any philatelist would have ignored them. My attempt has been to show that, although not so expressed upon „the stamps themselves, these stamps have, since July, 1855, been essentially postage stamps. " Yours truly,
"W. A. S. Westoby."
The Secretary was requested to embody this letter in the minutes, and to publish it in the report of the day's proceedings, with the view of inviting further discussion on the subject.
The business of the day was the compilation of a list of the stamps, &c, of New Zealand, which was greatly facilitated by the opportunity afforded to the members of examining the President's collection. The list, which had previously been prepared by the Secretary and revised by the President, called for few additions or amendments. The Secretary showed on behalf of a correspondent the 3d. South Australia, of Issue VIII., 1870, with the departmental surcharge "p.s." in black, which was thereupon added to the Society's list. Mr. Kern showed the same value, surcharged "3d." in black, Issue IX., 1871, of a distinctly Prussian-blue shade. The following novelties and curiosities were also exhibited and noted : Queensland, new adhesives, being as regards design lithographic transfers of the original type, 5/-, pale rose, on thick wove paper, without watermark ; 20/-, mauve-lake, on thin paper, watermarked "q" and crown. The 1/-, mauve, of the new type, with the second " i " in shilling considerably elongated, owing presumably to faulty printing. Post cards, Id., carmine on white and on yellow card. Luzon, the 10 cuartos Dereeho Judicial fiscal converted into a postage stamp by the surcharge, in black, " habilitado para cobreos, 2-* cms." Cuba, 5 and 10 cents de peso, 1881. Chili, new 5 centavos, adhesive. St. Domingo, Postal Union post cards. Nicargua, the 10 cs. , rouletted, with a curious surcharge or obliterating mark, consisting of a black oval containing the letters " par " in white. The Secretary showed, on behalf of M. Roussin, of Paris, a supposed official envelope and stamp of Alwar, struck with a small oval hand stamp, enclosing Oriental inscription. The inscription was recognized as the seal or obliteration which is found on some of the used adhesives of Alwar. He also showed, on behalf of Mr. William Lincoln, a stamp forged hi imitation of the 4 cuartos, Spain, of 1855, which had evidently passed unchallenged through the post. It is a rather poor imitation as compared with the well-known forgeries of the same issue, in which even the water- mark is imitated.
Owing to the press of other matter the Secretary has been unable to obtain the publication in this month's Philatelic Record of the Western Australia list.
Notes aiitr €tueries.
The continuation of Capt. Evans's paper on the Stamps of Mauritius is unavoidably postponed until next month.
H. B. — Fie ! and that plate not finished !
H. S. — We cannot say without seeing them.
Z. — It is worth about 30s. You forgot to send a stamp for return postage. E. D. — They are the usual reprints.
Notice.
The Publishers much regret the continued delay with regard to the photo- graphic frontispiece and the Index to Vol. II. The first photo, was not a success, and it was some time, owing to Mr. Philbrick's engagements and tlie state of the weather, before another could be taken. If the portrait does not accompany this number, it will follow it very shortly.
Published by Pemberton, Wilson, & Co., 13, Gray's Inn Square, London, W.C.
8Hu| §MIati|li4 54cut[£
Vol. III. No. 26. MARCH. 1881.
•OT WITHSTANDING the cheers which on the 14th instant greeted Mr. Gladstone's announcement, that the one penny postage and receipt stamps are to he amalga- mated, we venture to say that it took most people by surprise. If the use of the same stamps for the pre- payment of letters and telegrams caused such confusion in the hook-keeping of two branches of the same estab- lishment that it had to be abandoned, will not the confusion between two quite distinct branches of the Revenue be worse confounded 1 We had no idea until we read Mr. Gladstone's statement, of the applause with which it was received, that receipt stamps were so difficult to get, or that those lucky people who are in the habit of signing receipts murmured at their hard lot, in having occasionally to invest in a shilling's worth. We presume that the combined stamp will be neither the current postage nor Inland Eevenue adhesive. The change will afford the Messrs. De La Rue and Co. an opportunity, of which we dare not hope they will avail, of improving upon the justly contemned label issued in January, 1880.
Sir Henry Bessemer was one of the band of Postal Reformers. He made many experiments on behalf of the Stamp Commissioners, for which, judging from his plaint in The Times on the subject, some time ago, he was very inadequately recompensed. In a letter published in the same journal of the 15th instant he comes once more to the front, with a suggestion as to how the delay caused by a certain class of letters passing through the Dead Letter Office may be avoided. It often happens that one is not sure of an address. Supposing it is incorrect, and the addressee cannot be found, the letter goes to the Dead Letter Office, is opened, and returned to the sender perhaps ten days or a fortnight after it was first posted, during which time he does not know whether it has reached its destination or not. Sir Henry Bessemer suggests that, in cases where the sender is in doubt as to the address, the envelope shoidd be ruled off into two divisions, the upper one containing the tentative, and the lower one either an alternative direction, or else that of the sender of the letter. The upper part of the
22 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
envelope is to be stamped in the upper right corner, and the lower is to be stamped in the left lower corner. The first stamp would be obliterated in the usual manner when the letter was first posted, and the second one would remain to prepay a second postage, in case the first address proved to be insufficient. In that case the letter-carrier would be instructed to re-post the letter in the nearest pillar-box or office, and it would then go on without delay to the alternative address, or to that of the sender, whichever might be written in the lower division of the envelope. We very much doubt the practicability of this scheme. We are informed that a first-rate sorter at the Post Office can cancel as many as two hundred stamps per minute. Working at this rate, he must, like the Irish- man at Donnybrook fair, when he sees a head, hit it, and it is not likely he will pause to consider whether he is obliterating the stamp belonging to the tentative or alternative address. Yet the delay caused by returning the letter to the Dead Letter Office might be avoided if the same plan were adopted here as is frequently done in the United States, of printing the name and address of the sender upon the envelope, together with a request that should the authorities not succeed in delivering it within a certain number of days, it may be returned to whence it came.
1tm^Hq$; jfeijtuqri^ mtit !I^$tt$t[iferfwn$*
Aalesund. — Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. have forwarded us the price list of the purveyor of these trashy labels, and we are more than ever convinced that they are merely printed for the de- lectation of collectors. They are priced at so much per 100, per- forate and imperforate, used or unused. A cancelled stamp is sent to show the obliteration, which is neat, but fails to carry any con- viction as to the stamp having prepaid a letter. The colours, as given in the price list, are five — brown on yellow, red, blue, red- brown, and grey. And all these are varieties of the one poor value of 3 ore.
Barranquilla. — Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. send us two stamps (one value in two colours), with the following information afforded them by a correspondent. " Barranquilla is a port in Colombia, on the Atlantic Ocean. These local stamps will very shortly be put in circulation, by a private office, for conveying correspondence to its destination." In the centre of the stamp are the letters " a.m.s.o.," in a monogram, on ground of horizontal lines, within a coloured oval, inscribed in white capitals — " franqueo particular " above, and " barranquilla " below. Two coloured labels, of irregular shape, on either side of the stamp, are inscribed in white block letters, " cinco centavos," the inscription on the
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
23
left-hand side reading upwards, and that on the right downwards. The remainder of the stamp is filled in with arabesques. If this stamp be genuine, it will probably be used as the By-post stamps are used in Norway. It already resembles its Norwegian con- geners in appearing in various colours.
5 centavos, chocolate ) colrd. imp. on white paper ; 5 „ green ) shape, oblong rectangular.
per/. 11|
Bhore. — Two stamps of the most un- couth design and execution have been sent to us by an Indian correspondent, with the assurance that they are postage stamps used in Bhore. Most of the specimens are mere smudges of colour on rough laid native paper, of a yellowish hue. We annex a cut of one of the values. It is only fair to say that the postal character of these labels is not yet proved. Mr. Philbrick does not believe them to be postage stamps.
\ anna, transverse oval 1 „ oblong rectangular
red ; imperf.
Bulgaria. — From the Timbre Poste we learn that a new issue of stamps for this state is about to take place. We gather that neither the design nor the colours of the existing values are to be altered, but that the value is to be expressed in statinki, the Bul- garian equivalent for the word centimes. Two new values are to be added to the series ; viz., 3 and 15 statinki, the first of which will be vermilion, and the second blue. The post card, of the value of 5 statinki, will be printed hi green on white.
Chili. — The 2 centavos impuesto fiscal (of the same type as the 5 centavos, blue, which was lately employed as a postage stamp) is now doing postal duty.
Provisional. 2 centavos, brown. Fiscal stamp used for postage.
Costa Rica. — The £ real reaches us surcharged cfa . The other values will doubtless be subjected to a similar alteration in the money denomination. Our specimen bears the January postmark.
2 cents, blue, surcharged in red on the medio real.
Cyprus. — The supply of the old halfpenny stamps having run out, the post office officials have been driven to extemporise a stamp of the exhausted value. This they have accomplished by adding the additional surcharge " half-penny " to the penny stamp, the original value of which it obliterates. The surcharge is in black, block letters, and as it is somewhat irregular, it has probably been done in the island.
$d. surcharged in black on the obsolete Id. of Great Britain.
24 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
Deccan. — We have received the £ anna envelope with an official embossed seal on the flap. It consists of a double oval, enclosing an Oriental inscription, and with " h.h. The Nizam's Government" within the frame.
Great Britain. — Mr. A. Howell informs us that he has received a letter from the Postmaster- General, informing him that a new postage stamp, of the value of 5d., will shortly be issued, but giving no further particulars. This stamp has since been issued, but we have not been able to get one.
Holland. — Mr. Ash well writes to us : "I am told that new post cards are to be issued in April, and will comprise 2^, 2£ x 2J, 5, and 5 x 5c. cents. They will measure 140 x 90mm., and be tinted like the French cards. The 2 J cents will be printed on rose, and the 5 cents on green, card.
Hong Kong. — Some ingenious, rather than ingenuous, lads have been trying to make a market for some of the Hong Kong values surcharged Service. The stamp was evidently made for the purpose of imitating the small Service surcharge of India, and has been promoted from the office of forging to that of making bogus surcharges.
India. — The Timbre Poste announces that the provisional type-set official post cards have been superseded by others of more careful execution. There are three lines of inscription : 1st, "east india service post card ; " and 2nd and 3rd, " the official signa- ture AND DESIGNATION OF THE SENDER MUST BE WRITTEN ON THE
reverse." This inscription is divided into two at the word sender. The stamp is in the right upper corner, and comprises the profile, to left, of Her Majesty, on ground of solid colour, within a white circle bearing the words, in coloured block letters, " on her majesty's service." A label below is inscribed "quarter anna," and above are two blocks, with the letters "i.e." The lower label and the upper blocks form excrescences upon an irregular octagon.
Service post card. £ anna, ultramarine on thick white paper ; 120 x 74mm.
njyp Liberia. — M. Moens figures a new adhesive for inland postage, which differs in design from the other stamps in use. The new label, which is about the size of our own one penny, bears within a circle, which touches the edge of the stamp, the representation of an African landscape. A label above the circle is inscribed " inland," and below the circle is the word "cents," with
the numeral of value repeated on either side of it. The spandrels
are filled in with conventional ornaments.
3 cents, black ; lithographed in colour on white paper ; per/. 11.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 25
Luzon. — The 10 cuartos Derecho Judicial fiscal is J§>* ^$o still enlisted in the postal service, but with a different "<" ©
surcharge. This time it reads " habilitado, correos, OORR£OS 2 cents de peso," the first and last lines being curved ^ jg as before. *%?? ?**"
2 cents de peso, bistre ; surcharged in black on a 10 cuartos fiscal.
Norway. — Mr. Ashwell calls our attention to the fact that we omitted, in chronicling the variety of the 10 ore post card, last month, to mention that it is printed on white card, instead of on buff as heretofore.
Portugal.— -The new 50 reis is now current. The portrait is
the same as that on the last issued 5 and 25 reis, and is within a
treble-lined circle on ground of horizontal lines. White labels
above and below the circle are inscribed respectively, in coloured
block letters, " Portugal . continente," and " 50 . reis . 50 ." The
spandrels are of Etruscan pattern, and the outer border a heavy
line of colour. _ . . , . . . .
50 reis, blue ; perf. 13.
Portuguese Indies. — Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. send us the 40 reis in the new colour.
40 reis, yellow.
St. Domingo. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. send us the 1 centavo of the recently issued type, the face of which is covered with a rose coloured reticulated burele. We do not know whether the other values are to be treated in the same way.
Samoa. — We are indebted to the same firm for the first sight of a new value in Samoan stamps. It is similar in type to the other values, and presents the same eccentricities of perforation. 9d., burnt sienna.
Servia. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. have also sent us the new Servian post card. It has two lines of inscription, one above and one beneath the arms, crown and mantle. Two ruled lines for address, the first headed " T," in script type. Below, an inscription in small print. The stamp, of the same type as the new adhesives, is on the right side, but some way from the top of the card. Key-patterned border. Reverse plain. The cards seem to be very irregularly cut.
Post card. 5 Paras, brown on rose card ; size of border, 130 x 80mm.
St. Vincent. — We have to warn our readers against forgeries of the scarce provisional Id., which had so ephemeral a currency last year. The forgeries are concocted out of halves of the pale six- penny ; the surcharge and the central perforation are very well imitated. In many cases the surcharge is reversed. Some of these stamps were sold to an esteemed correspondent of ours, whose suspicions were first aroused by finding that the person from whom
26
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
he obtained them had "plenty more." By dint of search and enquiry our correspondent succeeded in discovering the printer in Birmingham, who had surcharged the stamps to order without knowing for what purpose they were intended. We shall not point out in what respects the forged stamps differ from the real ones, but we will gladly give an opinion on any which may be sent for our inspection.
Tromso. — We have received from Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. two local or By-Post stamps, supposed to be used in this town. The Editor of Smith's Circular has saved us the trouble of hunting for this place. He says, " About 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in latitude 69° 38', is the town of Tromso, in Finrnark, the northernmost province of Norway, which stretches towards the east and over part of Lapland." The stamp is an improvement upon ruost of the Norwegian locals. On an oval of solid colour, with a narrow white border, is a reindeer. A coloured label, following the contour of the upper portion of the oval, is inscribed " tromso by-post " in white letters. Below the oval is a scroll, on which is " tre ore," the two words being divided, and the lower end of the oval debruised by an ornamental shield bearing the numeral of value.
3 ore, brown. 8 „ green.
upright rectangular, j per/. 11£.
Turkey. — In correcting the proof of what we said respecting the Mount Athos stamps in our last number, a printer's error escaped our notice. The word Xpio-Tov should of course read XpLcrrov. Mr. Philbrick writes us : " Although familiar with Se^acr/xior, 2e/8at/x.a beats me, unless there be a low modern Greek inflection 2e/3cu/u,os. I should render the inscription boldly, %efid<jjxia XpiOTou IIoAis."
The Turkish post cards are now being printed upon pale buff, instead of, or as well as, on white card as heretofore.
Turk's Islands. — To make their stamps fit in with Postal Union rates, these islands have adopted the almost universal plan of surcharging. We have the sixpenny surcharged in bold numerals, * 9^ and A.
-' \ surcharged in black with the respective numerals of
2h± 4d. )
value on the current 6d.
Victoria. — We annex a cut of the new two penny value which we described last month. It is the same which figured in the latest number of the Timbre Poste, and would be excellent were it not for the eccentric substitution of a "d" for the "t" in the word Victoria. M. Moens explains this by assuring us that his engraver was suffering at the time from a severe cold in the head.
0\vv\\%-,\wnwv
HOW TO MOUNT ENVELOPES AND POST CARDS.
27
CONCERNING SOME DUBIOUS GUADALAJARAS,
In reference to what we said under this heading last month, Messrs. Whitfield, King and Co. are anxious we should state that the accusation which we made against a certain party of having forged perforations does not apply to them. As we never intended that it should do so, we have no hesitation in saying as much. The same firm has sent for our perusal sundry letters and docu- ments from then- Mexican correspondents in support of their creed, that all the Guadalajaras which have passed through their hands are genuine originals. We do not for a moment question their good faith, but we do question their ability to decide whether certain stamps are originals or reprints.
After our last number was published we received the Guia del Colec- cionista for January, which also contains an article upon these stamps, in which the authenticity of late supplies is gravely questioned. The Guia del Coleccionista goes much further than we do in doubting the genuineness, as regards perforation, of any of the punched stamps. That this mode was official we do not suppose, and for clumsiness it surely stands alone in the annals of perforation. Stamps so pimched could hardly be torn apart. The only way to separate them from their margin apparently was to poke one's finger through them. Anyone accustomed to settle disputes through the medium of eye-gouging would probably be an adept hi tackling these punched Guadalajaras. Each stamp must have been punched separately, just as they probably were printed. When we consider how these stamps were got up — hastily, and hi the midst of civil war, " alarms, and excursions " — it is strange that such a detail as perforation should have been insisted upon, especially as, after all, the stamps could be more readily separated with a pair of scissors than by means of the perforation attained to.
HOW TO MOUNT ENVELOPES AND POST CARDS,
At the last meeting of the Philatelic Society a visitor, Mr. W. K. Freeman, of New York, explained the method which he has adopted for mounting envelopes and post cards, a method which strikes us as being so simple and yet so excellent that we shall endeavour to give our readers the benefit of it. The material used by Mr. Freeman is that very thin, but tough, paper called Bank Post ; but we should be inclined to recommend as being better, especially for heavy envelopes, the thin glazed calico which is used instead of tracing paper. The collector, having chosen his material, should get it cut into strips of a quarter inch in breadth, by his stationer, and then proceed as follows : Set the envelope or card before you just as you wish it to appear in your album, or on whatever you are accus- tomed to mount your specimens. Place one of the strips beneath the envelope, leaving half an inch protruding beyond the lower edge. Turn this piece A up over the envelope, fold it straight, and hold it firmly whilst the longer portion of the strip is brought over the front of the envelope, and folded so as to exactly overlap the first half inch. Carry the strip over to the back of the envelope again, and cut it off at a length corresponding with the first fold. The strip will now be folded at A, B, and C. The back of A and the front of C are then gummed together, care being taken that the gum does not touch the paper beyond the limits of the fold A, and D is left a loose flap, to form the hinge by which the envelope is ultimately mounted. A second strip is then prepared in exactly the same manner, and the two are laid aside, with the
28 THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS.
envelope they are destined to mount, until the mucilage is thoroughly dry and firm. When this is the case, the two strips have become bands, with an overlapping hinge D, which is to be folded over the joining at A-C, and which, when gummed to the sheet, is invisible except when the envelope is turned down to admit of the reverse side being inspected. Fasten the bands far enough apart to show the stamp upon the envelope after it has been slipped between them. When this has been done it will scarcely ever be necessary to remove the envelope, since, by turning it over on the hinge, all that is noticeable upon the reverse side, such as the tress, watermark, gum, silk threads, or portion of inscription, can readily be seen, and yet the envelope has nothing whatever adhering to it. Cards or envelopes can be mounted hi this way so as to overlap one another as closely as may be desired, and Mr. Freeman assures us — and we can readily believe him- that after a little practice the process may be very easily and expeditiously per- formed, especially if a number of mounts be prepared one day, and the mounting be accomplished another.
THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS,
By CAPT. E. B. EVANS, R.A.
Part VI — continued.
I have now, I think, reached the end of my history of the postage stamps, &c, of Mauritius, and I hope in the next number to conclude with a kind of reference list. Before doing so, however, I wish to allude to one or two other subjects.
The first is a simple one, and may be briefly dismissed.
I was asked a short time ago if I had any specimens of the 6d. and Is. stamps, manufactured by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., without the small numerals at the sides. These stamps are mentioned hi the latest edition of Dr. Gray's Catalogue, but they do not exist. All the values are mentioned in that Catalogue as existing with the small figures, and all except the 3d. and 5s. as existing without them ; but there is only one type for each value, Id., 2d., 3d., 4d., and 9d., without, and 6d., Is., and 5s., with the figures.
The second subject is, I think, a matter of rather more importance.
In the Memoires du Congres International des Timbrophiles, held in Paris in 1878, at which my first notes on the Mauritius stamps were- read, appears a paper by Dr. Legrand on the same subject. It is hardly necessary for me to say that Dr. Legrand is a very high authority on all philatelic matters ; and most of the readers of this magazine are doubtless also aware that he has made the early issues of Mauritius his especial study.
For these very reasons, when I find from the paper I have alluded to that Dr. Legrand has entirely misunderstood some remarks which I made, and some documents which I quoted in my notes, which remarks and quotations appear in a very similar form in my present paper, I flunk it necessary for me to give some further explanation on the point hi question ; for if so careful a philatelist has been led astray hi the matter, it is evident that less careful ones are still more liable to be so.
The point is not one of any great importance ; indeed it woidd be of very small importance if raised by a less high authority than Dr. Legrand.
It is in regard to the engraving of the two 2d. stamps of 185S-59, or there- abouts, as I have termed them — the 2d. large head with band, and the 2d. small head.
The history of these two stamps, so far as I have been able to unravel it, may be found in the May number of tins magazine for last year, where 1 hope I made it clear that the 2d. large head must have been produced from the plate of 1848 re-engraved, and the 2d. small head from a new plate. I
THE STAMPS OP MAURITIUS. 29
hope that I also made it clear that the re-engraved plate was re-engraved by Mr. Sherwin, and that the new plate was engraved by Mr. Lapirot.
Dr. Legrand agrees with me in the first portion of the above conclusion, but in regard to the second, he seems to suppose that the documents I quote might mean that Mr. Lapirot re-engraved the old plate, and Mr. Sherwin made a new one. This is not the case ; the documents are quite conclusive on this point, and if I have quoted them so as to make it appear otherwise, I have quoted them insufficiently or incorrectly. Mr. Sherwin was never asked to make a new plate, and never offered to do so ; all the correspondence with him was on the subject of re-engraving the old one, which was in his hands from, probably, March, 1858, to September in the same year, when he returned it unfinished.
On the other hand, Mr. Lapirot, on examining the plate returned by Mr. Sherwin, gave it as his opinion that " it was too far gone to produce a good impression" evidently referring to an old plate which he considered to be in too bad a state to be made anything of ; and he then offered to make a new one for £10.
This new plate was the one delivered on February 22nd, 1859, and was the one from which the 2d. small head was printed.
In regard to the order in which these two stamps were issued, I mentioned them in my " Notes " in the succession hi which they had always previously been catalogued, and took it for granted that the 2d. large head was issued at the end of 1858, provisionally, while Mr. Lapirot was engraving his new plate. Dr. Legrand reversing the plates, reverses this order also, considering it probable that the 2d. small head, which he attributes to an unfinished plate on account of the impressions having so soon shown signs of wear, was issued at the end of 1858 ; that the plate had worn out by the time that Mr. Lapirot delivered his new one, in February, 1859 ; and that then the second plate, which he supposes to be the re-engraved one, came into use.
I think I have said sufficient above to show that these suppositions are untenable ; but further, if they were correct, the 2d. small head would only have been in use for about six months, while the 2d. large head would have been in use for ten months ; and the latter would naturally be the more plentiful of the two, whereas in reality I suppose twenty specimens of the former may be found for one of the latter. Again, according to Dr. Legrand's theory, the plate of the 2d. small head should have been much worn by February, 1859 ; but attached to Mr. Pearson Hill's letter of March 31st, 1859, was a specimen of this 2d., no doubt one of the stock then hi the post office, and this is a very fine impression, evidently from quite the early state of the plate, further proof of the fact that it was produced by the plate delivered by Mr. Lapirot, in February, 1S59.
Therefore, as I hope I showed in the May number, the only question is, whether the 2d. large head was issued while Mr. Lapirot's plate was being engraved or after it wore out ; and in the same number I stated that, while I considered it quite possible that the former theory was the right one, I thought it equally probable that the latter was the more correct.
Now in studying the obliterations this question has cropped up again, and, at the risk of wearying my readers, I feel impelled to say a little more about it. It is evident, from the rarity of the 2d. large head, that it was in use for a very short time only, either immediately before the 2d. small head, or immediately after that variety. If it was printed from the plate in the state in which it was returned by Mr. Sherwin, it would probably have been issued in September or October, 1858 ; it would then have continued in use for five or six months, more than half as long as the 2d. small head, and would certainly not be so rare as it is. Again, had it been issued so early as October, 1858, most of the specimens of it would be obliterated with the mark con- sisting of five concentric circles, which, as I have shown, was in general use at the General Post Office until the end of 185S, if not later ; whereas, out of seventeen obliterated specimens that I have been able to hear of, eleven are obliterated with the mark consisting of bars with a blank centre, which I have only met with on other stamps used not earlier than February or March, 1859 ; four with the circular stamp containing the word " paid," which I
30 CORRESPONDENCE.
mentioned as having also apparently been employed rather frequently in 1859 ; and two only with that consisting of concentric circles.
The fact of two specimens being found with this last obliteration does Jiot prove anything as to the date of then use ; for, although this mark does not seem to have been hi general use after the end of 1858 or beginning of 1859. still it was used occasionally. I have met with a specimen of the 2d. small head, and I have specimens of some of De la Rue and Co.'s stamps bearing it ; but if either of these 2d. stamps had been issued in October, 1858, a large number of the specimens found would certainly bear the circular mark.
If the re-engraved plate was not made use of soon after Mr. Sherwin returned it, there seems no reason why it should have been used before Mr. Lapirot delivered his plate ; 2d. stamps would not have been much more urgently required in January or February, 1859, than they were in October, 1858 ; for the Id. plate was still in fan condition, as shown by the Id. stamp attached to the letter of March 31st, 1859, to which I have already alluded. Also I think that the fact of the postmaster reporting so promptly the delivery of Mr. Lapirot's plate, and requesting that a supply might immedi- ately be struck from it, looks as if he had no 2d. stamps at that time.
On the other hand, by the time that Mr. Lapirot's plate wore out, the Id. plate of 1848 must have become almost useless also. It was then evidently necessary to do something ; for it was quite impossible to get on without either Id. or 2d. stamps. The Id. plate was re-engraved at some time or other, probably when this emergency arose ; and the re-engraving of the 2d. may have been completed on the same occasion.
The two plates, in their re-engraved state, are both hi existence still ; the Id. plate appears never to have been used, and the 2d. very little. Why was the use of them given up and lithography resorted to, when a supply of stamps was expected from England in a few months 1 The most probable reason is that there was no one in the Mauritius who could print from these plates. Mr. Lapirot died, I believe, hi 1859 ; Mr. Barnard had left the island some time pi'eviously, and if Mr. Sherwin was still there, he may not have been able to print from them. There was no one hi the island when I was there who could do so. It was some months before I could get a single fair impression struck from each plate, and finally I spent the greater part of a day at Mons. Dupuy's establishment, and tried all possible methods. A supply of stamps could not possibly be printed from them hi the island now.
All the above reasons confirm me in the belief that the most probable date for the issue of the 2d. large head with band is the latter part of 1859, perhaps September or October hi that year.
(To be continued.)
<£orrcspontreuce,
"OPINIONS DIFFER."
To the Editor of "The Philatelic Record."
Sib, — As one of the oldest collectors in England, I cannot but feel great satisfaction at the strides which the science of philately is making, and be glad to note in the rising generation the presence of that carefid study and that attention to detail which renders the pursuit so valuable in itself, and without which it becomes justly open to the reproaches often directed at it by the ignorant. It behoves us all when publications like the Foreign Stamp Collectors' Magazine take on themselves to sneer at labours they could not undertake, and details they can hardly master, to bear testimony to the true and real value of the learning and acumen, as well as patience and research, exhibited in the papers on the " Stamps of Mauritius " con- tributed by Captain Evans to your journal. For one, I most thoroughly agree with my friend, Dr. Legrand, in his eulogium upon them. I should be sorry indeed were young collectors to be led by anyone assuming to be their guide into despising the patience and care requisite in study, or into the
CORRESPONDENCE. 31
great mistake of supposing that all facts which can now be vouched and put on record are not to he sought for and published both for their intrinsic value and for their ultimate use when the present generation of collectors has passed away and the opportunities of unearthing official documents are gone for ever. Impatience of detail, undue haste to achieve a factitious and self-styled completeness and finality, characterize nothing worth the name of a scientific pursuit.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to Captain Evans, which I for one do not hesitate to acknowledge, and to express the hope that his labours may induce others who have favourable opportunities at command to emulate his example.
I feel some reluctance to speak on the subject because the Editor of the F. S. C. M. has indulged in language I cannot but deprecate, and dis- played a coarseness of criticism and self-sufficiency of opinion alike painful to observe, and destructive of all weight or authority to his opinions ; but I feel it right, even at the risk of giving undue prominence to his hasty and uncalled-for remarks, to express my regret at then substance and my reprobation of their style.
I remain, Sir, your faithful Servant,
Fred. A. Philbriok.
Sir, — As the Editor of the Foreign Stamp Collectors' Journal is evidently averse to his dogmas being questioned, I shall feel obliged if you can find room for the accompanying letter, written and sent to the F. S. C. J., as you may see by the date, before the Record for February was published.
Yours, &c, E. G. H.
" To the Editor of the ' Foreign Stamp Collectors' Journal. ' ' ' Sir, — As a reader of both your paper and the Philatelic Record, I should like to be allowed to ask you one or two questions suggested by the notice of your contemporary in your current number.
"First. Is it not somewhat unusual for one paper to offer to another suggestions as to the price at which subscriptions should be fixed ? It seems to me that the financial arrangements of a journal are certainly not open to criticism on the part of a contemporary.
" Second. Do you really think upon reflection that I lay myself open to the charge of vileness (for nothing in my opinion can be viler than hypocrisy) because I do not consider any detail connected with my hobby uninteresting, and also because I have the misfortune, from your point of view, to admire Wagner's music greatly ?
"Third. Do you not think that your references to 'the wheelbarrow- office-boys' mothers,' &c. , are, if not rather vulgar, still a trifle wide of the point 1 and do you not think that your reference to Wagner, his music, and its admirers, is, to say the least of it, somewhat unseemly ? You may be, for all I know, a musician in theory and in practice ; but you are certainly not so widely known in this capacity as to justify you in advancing (don't be offended) so silly an opinion against that of many famous musicians, and, say, fully four-fifths of so musical a nation as the German.
"Yours, &c, E. G. H.
" 18th February, 1881."
Sir, — Will you allow me to say that I flunk it is a great pity that the F. S. C. M. should have spoiled what it had to say by the manner in which it said it. I consider that all the fun of stamp collecting is stopped by having to look out for varieties. What is the use of perforations and water- marks from a postage-paying point of view 1 and why, when I have got a good copy of a stamp with one kind of watermark, should I go to the trouble and expense of getting another merely because the watermark is different? Stamps are merely official receipts, which satisfy postmasters and letter- carriers that the postage has been paid. It is very certain that these people do not know or care anything about differences which they cannot detect.
32 PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OP LONDON.
When a stamp is stuck on a letter differences in watermark or perforation do not count for anything, and the stamp is a penny or a five-shilling stamp, and nothing more nor less. And even when it is off the letter, its facial value is unaltered by its being perforated 10 or 14, or watermarked with co. and crown, or with a star. I have a very large collection (over 2,000 stamps), and I advise beginners to satisfy themselves with one stamp of a particular value and design, and not to bother themselves as to how it is perforated or watermarked.
Yours, &c, H. F.
[We have received a number of letters on this subject, but must content ourselves with printing three of them. The weight of Mr. Philbrick's opinion will, we trust, strengthen the steadfast and stay backsliders! We print the letter of " E. G. H. " because it appears to us that it was a mis- take on the part of the Editor of the F. S. C. J. not to do so, as it would be on ours not to give voice to "H. F.," the only one amongst our corre- spondents who does not agree with us. Besides, we have a lurking suspicion that "H. F.'s" letter may be read, between the lines, in our support. In thanking our other correspondents for their letters, we would remind them that it is not worth while breaking a butterfly upon the wheel. Our unwise contemporary has had his little say, and we have had our little laugh, and have forgiven him. — Ed.]
frcratfjMQS at t\t iPatelk Soritig of f anton.
The ninth meeting of the season was held at 14, South Square, Gray's Inn, on the 5th March, 1881, the President in the chair. After the minutes had been read and approved, the business of the day — the compilation of a list of the stamps of Queensland— commenced at the previous meeting, was con- tinued, and finished. One of the most important conclusions arrived at in connection with these stamps was, that there were only two distinct issues of the star watermarks ; namely, the bold six-rayed star of the first issue, and the truncated, or obtuse star. The intermediate star, similar in design to the first one, but somewhat smaller, was proved to exist side by side with the larger star of the earlier, and the truncated star of the later issues. This dis- poses of the supposition that the intermediate star was distinctive of a separate issue, to which it has always been extremely difficult to assign a date. Of very few countries are the stamps so difficult to classify, according to date, as those of Queensland. In the first place the issues are intermixed" in an extraordinary manner, certain values of one watermark having been used concurrently with others of different watermark. It is very seldom also that Queensland adhesives are found obliterated with a date stamp, a mode of obliteration which is, of course, conclusive in showing when the stamps were in use, and most useful in aiding to determine the dates of issue.
Upon the conclusion of the day's business, Mr. Philbrick showed, on behalf of Mr. Breitfuss, a recently unearthed specimen of the Moscow local envelope of 1857. This extreme rarity is struck on yellowish-grey paper, at the upper right corner of the envelope, in a bright shade of vermilion. It measures 140x90 nun., and is without flap ornament. It is mentioned in the latest edition of Pemberton's Stamp Collector's Handbook, p. 183, where a cut, accurately representing the stamp, appears, although the author says that he had never seen one. A copy exists in the fine collection of Mons. de Ferrari, of Paris, who discovered it accidentally in a small album, and it is known that duplicates efcist in the official archives of the Russian post-office at St. Petersburg. Mrs. Tebay showed a twopenny adhesive of South Australia (2nd type, rouletted), with the Departmental surcharge "n. t." in black, which was added to the Society's list. The Secretary showed, on behalf of a corres- pondent, who says that he has possessed it for more than a year, and that he obtained it from the Straits Settlements, the current two cents of that
LIST OF THE STAMPS, ETC., OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 33
colony, surcharged with the word " perak " in black block letters, pre- sumably for use in that state. The stamp was considered to be of dubious authenticity.
Mr. Willard K. Freeman, of New York, who attended the meeting as a visitor, and whose name is familiar to older collectors as a writer on philatelic subjects, gave some interesting information respecting the various issues of United States envelopes, and of the manner in which some of the soi-disant rarities have been created. He also explained and demonstrated his plan for mounting entire envelopes and post cards in collections, a plan which met with general approval, and which is referred to in another page of this month's Record.
Notice to Stamp Dealers.
Certain persons having attempted to obtain stamps upon credit by repre- senting themselves to be members of the Philatelic Society of London, dealers are requested to communicate with the Secretary should they have any doubt as to the truth of such representations.
Notice to Members.
On and after the 25th instant all letters to the Secretary and Treasurer should be sent to his new address, 13, Gray's Inn Square, London, W.C.
gcferwa fist at % Mmp, &t.t at ffitztm g«str»Ii».
Compiled at the Meeting of the 4th December, 1880.
Issue I. 1855-60.
Four values. — Lithographic transfers from dies engraved on steel by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, & Co., of London ; printed in colour upon white and coloured paper, varying in substance ; brownish gum ; watermark, a swan. Design : In the centre of each value is a swan, swimming to left. In the 2d. and 6d. values there is an addition of reeds on either side of the swan in the vignettes. In the twopenny value the background is plain ; the border is octagonal, of solid colour, and inscribed in white block letters. In the four- penny the background is reticulated ; the border octagonal, of solid colour, and inscribed in similar type. In the sixpenny value there is an addition of reeds on either side of the swan in the vignette ; the background is stippled ; the border octagonal, of solid colour, and inscribed in white block letters. The one shilling has a reticulated background, and an oval border of solid colour, inscribed in white block letters. Shape, oblong octagonal, except the one shilling, which is a transverse oval.
The 2d., 4d., and 6d. are inscribed " t . postage . b . two, four, and six- pence . l . western . r . Australia." The Is. is inscribed " t . postage . w. Australia . b . one shilling," the upper and lower inscriptions being separated by small cross-like ornaments.
The four values were issued in the following order : 2d. and 6d., 1855 ; 4d. and Is., 1858.
2d., brown, on red and orange paper.
4d., blue (deep, light, and nearly slate), on white and yellowish paper.
6d., coppery to golden bronze, on white and yellowish paper.
Is., deep red-brown, deep and pale bistre, on white and yellowish paper.
Variety. — The 4d. exists with the central vignette inverted in the frame. The 2d. is found printed on both sides, not merely having a reversed im- pression, owing to one wet sheet being laid on the top of another.
Proofs on India paper, in black, of the 4d. and Is. are known, and pre- sumably existed for the other values.
In 1861 the above four values were rouletted, and in some cases perforated,
34 LIST OF THE STAMPS, ETC., OP WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
probably unofficially. Later on the 2d. was subjected to a perforation, about 13, nearly akin to a roulette.
2d., brown, narrow and wide roulettes, and perf. 13.
4d. , blue, two kinds of narrow roulette )
6d., bronze, narrow and wide „ > not seen perforated.
Is., bistre, two kinds of narrow „ ) Remarks. — The wider roulette runs about nine to ten, and the narrow usually about fourteen cuts to the two centimetre gauge. Copies of the 4d., with a roulette perforation of 17, resembling pin pricks, are sometimes met with, and also the Is., rouletted 12£. Considerable differences exist in the sizes of the swans hi the watermark.
Issue II. 1860-61.
Four values. — Engraved on steel by William Humphrey for Perkins, Bacon, and Co. Coloured impression upon thinnish white paper, verging, in some specimens of the twopenny value, upon pelure ; yellowish gum ; water- mark, a swan. Design, a swan swimming to left on reticulated background ; border formed of four straight reticulated labels, separated in the corners by floriate ornaments, and inscribed in white block letters. The Id. value pre- ceded the others by about a year. Shape, oblong rectangular. " t . postage .
B . ONE PENNY . TWO, FOUR, and SIXPENCE . R . WESTERN . L . AUSTRALIA."
Id., black ; imperf., and non-officially rouletted, Q\ and 12J, and perf. 14, square holes.
2d., vermilion (light and dark); imperf., and non-officially rouletted, 9£ and 12£.
4d., deep blue ; imperf., and non-officially rouletted, 9J and 12|, and pin perf. 17.
6d., sap-green ; imperf., and non-officially rouletted, 9| and 12J.
Remarks. — The 4d. value is very seldom met with in a cancelled state, although beyond doubt a limited number were used for postage.
Issue III. 1862-64. Five values. — Engraved on steel by Perkins, Bacon, and Co. Coloured impression upon stoutish white paper ; whitish gum ; watermark, a swan. Same design and inscriptions as in preceding issue. Machine perforated, 16, 15£, 15, 14|, 14, 13. In most, if not all the values, the perforations are compound. All the values, except the Is. (which alone is perforated 16, true), are found with an all-round perforation of 14.
Id., deep rose (shades, verging upon lake). 2d. , blue (dark and light). 4d., vermilion. 6d., purple-brown. Is., bright green. Remarks. — Specimens of the Id. and 2d. are to be met with with their respective values and a crown, printed upon the reverse side, in red.. This is the control mark.
Varieties. — The Id., 2d., and 6d. are known imperforate, and are probably in this state to be considered as proofs, although specimens of the Id., im- perforate, seem to have passed through the post. The 6d. is found upon paper blued by the acid action of the gum.
Issue IV. 1864. Five values. — Some type as preceding issue, but without watermark ; various perforations.
Id., lake, carmine to deep dull red ; machine perf. 13. 2d., deep blue ; machine perf. 15, and 14 to 16 compound. 4d., carmine „ „ 14 to 16 „
6d., violet „ „ 15J „ 14 to 16 „
Is., deep green „ „ 14 to 16 „
Variety. — The 6d., violet, upon paper blued by the acid action of the gum.
LIST OP THE STAMPS, ETC., OP WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 35
Issue V. 1865-80. Five values. — Same type as preceding issue. With this issue the printing of the stamps of Western Australia by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. seems to have commenced ; for from then until the present time the watermark is changed to CC. and crown. Machine perf. 12£, and latterly 14. Id. , bistre. 4d. , carmine. .
Id., yellow-ochre. 6d., violet (deep to pale).
2d., chrome-yellow. Is., bright green, dull deep green.
2d., pale violet. Remarks. — The Id. bistre and the Is. green of this issue are catalogued by M. Moens as existing watermarked with the swan instead of CG. and crown. The President has seen the Id. bistre, so watermarked, in the collec- tion of Dr. Legrand ; but the specimen is imperforate, and of a distinct shade of bistre to that met with hi the ordinary perforated stamps of that value. Therefore it would appear probable that this label is only a proof struck upon paper, watermarked with the swan, which had passed into the possession of the new printers, together with Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co.'s dies. The Is. stamp so watermarked appears to be a myth.
The 2d. pale violet is an error, having been printed by mistake, towards the end of 1877, in the colour of the 6d. A die of the 2d. was by mistake inserted when preparing the plate to printwoff the 6d.
Varieties. — Printed as proofs: Id., deep bistre; 2d., yellow; 6d., deep purple ; Is., green, imperforate.
Issue VI. 1871.
One value. — Type-printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. in colour upon medium white glazed paper ; white gum ; watermark CC. and crown. Design, a black swan swimming to left, upon ground of horizontal lines, within double-lined oval ; straight white labels at top and bottom of stamp, inscribed with coloured block letters upon white ; sides and spandrels orna- mented with bullrushes. The whole enframed by a border of double lines. Shape, oblong rectangular. Machine perf. 14. 3d., reddish-brown.
Remark. — The swan, portrayed so faithfully on this vignette, is the indi- genous black swan of the Australian continent, most appropriately introduced as an emblem of the colony.
Issue VII. March, 1875. One value. — Owing to the temporary exhaustion of the stock of one penny stamps, a makeshift was extemporised by surcharging the current Twopence with one penny in Roman capitals, the initial letters of each word being larger than the others.
Id., surcharged in green on 2d., chrome-yellow.
POST CARDS.
Issued May, 1879. Two values. — Type-printed in colour by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., of London. Two lines of inscription : 1st, " post card " in Roman capitals, the two words being separated by the royal arms and supporters ; 2nd, " the address only to be written on this side " in block letters. The stamp is in the right upper corner, and the design comprises the black swan, of the same type as in the Threepenny adhesive, with a frame varying for each value. In the Halfpenny card the swan is in an oval, on ground of horizontal lines. Above and beneath the oval are white double-lined straight labels, inscribed in coloured block letters, " western Australia " and " postage one half- penny." The side labels are filled in with floriate ornaments, and the spandrels with conventional arabesques. In the One Penny card the swan, on ground of horizontal lines, is enframed in a double-lined octagon of irregular shape, resembling that of the first Pourpenny adhesive. The top and bottom labels are the same as in the Halfpenny card, and the lower one
36
NOTES AND QUERIES.
is inscribed "postage one penny." The side labels are filled in with lozenge-shaped ornaments, with a Jieur de lis in the centre of each. The spandrels have conventional arabesque ornaments. Both cards have "the same key-patterned border, and the reverse side is plain.
id., red-brown on stout rosy-buff card
Id., blue i „ bluish- white card
> Size,
121 x 74 mm.
STAMPS EMPLOYED FOR OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Most of the stamps already enumerated are to be found with a circular hole, varying in size, punched as nearly through the centre of the label as possible. In the early days of stamp collecting a superstition was current to the effect that these stamps were supplied to convicts, serving their sentences of transportation in Western Australia, and distinguished their correspondence from that of the rest of the community. As a matter of fact, these muti- lated stamps were employed to frank and to particularize official correspond- ence. There were two distinct sizes of punch in use — the earlier (A) cutting a hole about 4, and the later (B) one of 3 mm. in diameter. The following varieties are known to the Society :
ISSUE I. Varieties of holes.
|
4d. 6d. Is, |
blue ( bronze ] brown 1 |
* imperf . and rouletted ' imperf. imperf. |
A and B B A |
|
2d. 6d. |
orange i green 1 |
Issue II. imperf. | imperf. ] |
A and B AandB |
|
Issue III. & IV. |
|||
|
Id. 2d. 4d. 6d. is. |
deep rose blue vermilion and carmine - violet green |
, perf. 15 J v perf. 15 perf. 14-16, shades and varieties of perf. perf. 13 L perf. 14-16, > Issue V. |
A and B A and B •A and B A and B A |
|
Id. 2d. 4d. 6d. Is. |
bistre and yellow-ochre chrome-yellow carmine h violet green |
perf. 12|, shades. |
A and B AandB ■ A and B A and'B A and B |
|
3d. |
, reddish-brown |
Issue VI. |
B |
|
Id. |
, chrome and green (?) |
Issue VII. |
|
|
This |
system of puncturing the |
stamps has now ceased. |
|
|
Notes ana (JEtttews. |
T. K. T. — It is all very fine writing flippant letters to say you are off to the Gib, Naples, &c. ; but it would serve you right if the Woolsack fell vacant during your absence and you didn't get it.
A. W. — Both forgeries. How about the stamp for return postage 1 G. R. B. — Have handed your letter to our publishers. We have nothing whatever to do with their advertisements and business.
Messrs, Femberton, 'Wilson, & Co., 308, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, London. W.
9%4 iltilat^Ii^ %^m\[i
Vol. III. No. 27.
APRIL.
1881.
HERE is a certain American dealer in postage stamps who at one time had a most unenviable reputation as one of the cleverest concoctors or, at any rate, " placers" of forged United States and Confederate locals. The only reason why some of our foremost European col- lectors did not subscribe a handsome sum to procure his extinction by the summary process of lynching, in his own country, was, that he did occasionally send them rare and genuine stamps ; and as they became accustomed to his little pecu- liarities, they contented themselves with taking his diamonds, and refusing and exposing his paste. His trade in paste, at moderate prices, having become much blown upon, he has been obliged to keep up the balance in his budget by charging extortionate prices for his real gems, and has only improved his character as to the quality of his wares at the expense of that of his conscience in charging for them.
It is all very well to urge that an amateur has only himself to blame if he pays more for a stamp than he considers it is worth. He will probably retort that he wants the stamp, that he has no intention of re-selling it, and that he does not like the idea of losing it owing to a brother-collector, with greater means than judgment, giving the price which he himself feels to be an extrava- gant one. Still, when a dealer names his price, however high, there is nothing to be said against it. The dealer has a right to hazard his reputation for conscientious charges if he chooses; and the collector may buy or refuse, as he pleases. But, disagreeable as it is to have to pay more for a stamp than it is fairly worth, there are ways of extracting the price which add bitterness to the operation; and in these days of constant intercommunion amongst philatelists, it is their own fault if unholy conspiracies against their purses remain unexposed. Collectors greatly object to, and are concerting to baffle, such proceedings as those adopted by the party in question with the view of tricking them into paying higher prices than
38 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
those which in the first instance he leads them to "believe will pur- chase the coveted stamp. For instance, he writes to an amateur, and says, " Will you buy a ' Pittsylvania,' or whatever the treasure may he, at $1001 I know of a solitary specimen, which will come at that price." "Yes," replies the victim, "if I like the copy." Over it comes by return mail, priced at $150, accompanied by documents to show that the dealer has had to pay nearly that price for it. Now this is an unwarrantable attempt to work upon the collector's good nature. He must either pay 50 per cent, more than he was led to believe would he the price, or else throw the stamp upon the hands of the dealer, who, of course, insinuates that he would never have bought it, save to meet the requirements of his valued customer. Another unpleasant peculiarity of this person is, to accompany the offer of his wares with the assurance that So-and- so will gladly pay more for them. After all, the only remedy against dealers of this class is, to cease all dealing with them. A little self- denial for the moment will probably result in obtaining the stamp later on from the same source, but through another channel. All that we can do, in deference to the requests which have been addressed to us on the subject, is to expose the tactics complained of, so that collectors may he aware of them, and take steps to prevent being played off one against the other.
lftiui}liq$t J)t$t[0^ri^ tmh ll^aqihttion*.
Bahamas. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. send us a post card and, what is still more of a novelty, a stamped envelope, the first which has ever heen used in the British West Indies. The post card, although of Messrs. De la Eue and Co.'s manufacture, is slightly different from the others of the West Indian series except as regards the stamp, which is the same as the St. Kitts, &c. There are three lines of inscription — 1st, " union postale universelle," under which are the royal arms ; 2nd, " Bahamas ;" and 3rd, " the address only," &c, all in block type. The card has a key-patterned border, and the reverse side is plain. The envelope has the embossed profile of Her Majesty on an oval of solid colour, with scolloped border. A second oval has the inscription, "Bahamas postage, fourpence," in coloured block letters upon reticulated ground. This again is enframed by an outer pearled oval. Flap tongued and gummed ; without tress.
Post Card. l£d., carmine on buff card. Size of border, 118x79 ; card, 1274 x 89 mm.
Envelope. 4d., violet on white laid paper, 139^ x 83 mm.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
39
Chili. — Besides the 2 and 5 centavos Impuesto fiscals which we have already referred to, we have the 1 centavo of the same .series employed for postal service.
1 centavo, vermilion ; fiscal stamp used for postage.
Copenhagen.' — The Timbre-Post thus describes two local post cards, issued 1st February last, which are believed to he pro- visionals: "A double-lined frame, measuring 116 x 62 mm., with rounded corners, encloses the inscription, in five lines: 1st, :kjo-
BENHAVNS ; ' 2nd, ' BY OG HUSTELEGRAF ; ' 3rd, ' EXPRESS BREV-
KORT ; ' 4th, ' (PAA DENNE SIDE SKRIVES KAN ADRESSEN) ; ' 5th,
'adresse,' followed by three dotted lines. Double Card. — Same
inscription, except that the fourth line is lower down, and there are only two dotted lines for address. The two cards are joined at the right side, and are rouletted. The second half is inscribed ' svar— brevkort,' instead of 'express — brevkort,' and under- neath, ' (at bepordre express) ; ' at the bottom is, ' (buket kan vente 5 minutter paa zvaret) ' — ' The messenger can wait 5 minutes for the reply.' The frame is only 77 x 66 mm. A 10 ore stamp is placed hi the right upper angle."
10 ore, blue and gold on white. 10 + 10 „
Costa Rica. — The annexed cut represents the surcharge upon the Medio real to which we referred last month.
Cyprus. — There are two types of the pro- visional halfpenny described by us last month. In one the letters of the word halfpenny are more spaced than in the other, a difference with which collectors are familiar in the stamps of St. Helena. Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. inform us that the new piastre series will be issued on the 1st May.
Ecuador. — We have received one value of the new emission for this state. In the centre of the stamp are the arms, in an oval which rests upon a bundle of lictor's rods, is draped with flags, and surmounted by an eagle. A crenelated label above is inscribed in white block letters, " Ecuador — correos." A curved label below is inscribed, in like manner, " cinco centavos." Numerals of value in the four corners, and conventional ornament in the remaining portion of the stamp, which is evidently the work of the American Bank Note Company, complete the design.
5 centavos, blue ; col. imp. on white ; upright rectangular ; perf. 12.
France. — The 10 c. black on mauve card has undergone a slight alteration, the words "reserve" and " exclusivement," in the line of instructions under "carte postale," being transposed as follows : " ce cote est exclusivement reserve" a l' adresse."
We have received the telegraph card on blue paper, without surcharge, bearing a stamp similar to that adopted for the 30 c. rose on buff card, but with the numerals "50" in lieu of " 30." 50 C, black on blue paper.
40 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
French Colonies. — The black on greyish-brown card, without stamp, last issued for these colonies, reaches us with slight modi- fications, having now seven lines of instructions as to payment of postage beneath the words "carte postale," instead of five as heretofore.
Great Britain. — The new fivepenny adhesive to which we referred last month, but were not able to describe, is but a poor label after all. The stereotyped portrait of Her Majesty, on ground of horizontal lines, is in a scolloped oval, with an outer border of dots. Straight black labels at top and bottom are respectively inscribed in white block letters, " postage " and " five pence." The outline of the stamp between the labels is of an indescribable geometrical pattern, and left white. 5d., black; col. imp. on white; upright rectangular; wmk. crovrn; perf. 14-
We have good reasons for believing that all our English postage stamps, with the exception perhaps of the 5/-, 10/-, and £1, will soon be entirely changed. The new one penny combined postage and receipt stamp will be printed in violet, something like the old 6d. The new stamps will probably be of three shapes : the first, that of the current Id. ; the second, an elongated rectangle, like a bill stamp ; and the third, octagonal, with an octagonal perforation. These three shapes will be repeated in each succeeding three values.
The 2|-d. is now watermarked with crown.
Mr. Howell sends us a letter from the Inland Revenue Depart- ment, Somerset House, replying to two questions addressed by him concerning the amalgamated postage and receipt stamp. As regards the new stamp, "it is hoped that it may be ready for issue by the 1st July next." In reply to an enquiry as to whether a postage stamp may be legally used as a receipt stamp pending the issue of the new combination label, Mr. Howell is informed that this question " will be dealt with in the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill."
Holland. — Hi our last we heralded the approaching emission of new cards for this country, one of the values of which we have since received from Mr. Clifford, of Hull. The value before us is the double card, 2£ + 2^ cents. There are two lines of inscription — 1st, " briefkaart ; " 2nd, " (met betaald antwoord) " — and there are two dotted lines for the address, the first preceded by "aan." A stamp of the same type as the adhesive of similar value is in the right upper angle, and the usual coat of arms in the left. The card for the answer differs from the above only in the second line of inscription, which reads, "(betaald antwoord)." The back of the original, and the front of the reply card are paler than their reverse sides ; in fact they are greyish-white.
The single card is inscribed with "briefkaart" and the prefix "aan," only on the face.
91.01 \ mauve on salmon-pink ; 92 x 138 mm., or 3£ x 5f inches.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 41
Hungary. — The Timbre-Poste announces the issue of two new cards, 2 and 2 + 2 kreuzer. These have two lines of inscription :
1st, "MAGY. KIR. POSTA KR. NG. POSTA;" 2nd, " LEVELEZO LAP.
karta dopisnica." There are four dotted lines for address — the first preceded by " czim-nastov " — and the last finishes with a thick ruled line. They have the usual embossed stamp to right, and arms of Hungary to left. The reply paid card has an addi- tional inscription in the left lower angle, and. " (valasz-odgovor) " added on the second half below the two lines of inscription. 2 kreuzer, orange on buff. 2 + 2 „
India. — Mr. Philbrick informs us that he has seen the 2 annas, current issue, watermarked, in a very red, minium shade, something like the old unwatermarked 2 annas.
Jamaica. — We have not seen it mentioned before that there are at least two distinct varieties of surcharge to be found on the Postal Union card. In one the words " universal postal union " measure 78& mm., and in the other 74 mm., and in the latter the surcharge is in longer upright capitals than in the former.
Java. — Mr. Ashwell has asked us to try and elicit some trust- worthy testimony as to the authenticity of the "vijf cent" surcharge on the 12£ cent Java post cards. He is informed by his Dutch correspondents that these cards are not to be obtained in Java ; that they were never so surcharged in that colony, but rather, in all probability, by some concocter of philatelic gems in Europe.
Luzon. — M. Moens says that the post card issued in 1879 is to be found with the surcharge " convenio universal de correos " in red as well as in black.
We have received a new Postal Union card, differing only as regards colour and stamp from the Cuba cards just lately issued. It bears five lines of inscription. 1st, " ultramar ;" 2nd, " union postal universal;" 3rd, "union postale universelle ;" 4th, " espana ;" 5th, " en este lado," &c. There are three ruled lines for address, the first preceded by "a." The stamp, of the same type as the adhesives last issued, is in the right upper angle. 3 c. de peso, rose ; size, 86-^ x 131 mm., or 3f x 5^ inches.
There are two types of the " habilitado para correos," 2|- c.m.s. surcharge, which Ave described in February. In the one the surcharge is of a more oval shape, as in that chronicled last month, than in the other, which is comparatively circular.
New Granada- — M. Moens thus chronicles the issue of a post card : "It bears in the left upper angle ' e. u. de c' in large letters, crossed by ' tarjeta postal ; ' below, ' escribase en seguida la direction solamente ; ' and at the bottom of the card, ' y a la vuelta la communicacion.' There are four dotted lines for address, the first preceded by ' a,' and the third by ' in.' In the right upper angle is the stamp bearing the arms of the
42 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
country, with a curved band above, incribed ' e.e.u.u. de Colom- bia,' and another below with 'correos.' In the four angles are the numerals of value in ovals."
5 centavos, brown on lilac-blue card ; size, 138 x 90 mm.
Peru. — The Timbre-Poste has heard of the 1 and 5 centavos values, current Peru, with the word "lima," instead of "peru," in the oval surcharge.
Portugal.— We have a variety of the 20 reis blue card with " sr." on first line of address, beneath the " d " of " d'este " above; size of card, 86x127 mm. So far as we know, this variety has not been chronicled before.
The reply paid card, 10 + 10 reis, brown, has made its appearance.
Roumelia. — We have received from Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons,
and Co. the new 1 and 5 piastres stamps. They are similar in type
to those which we described hi January, and hi colour to the
Turkish stamps of the same values. The mistake of writing
" 1 piastre " in the plural is corrected in the Eoumelian stamp.
Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. inform us that two new post
cards are being prepared in Vienna, one single and one double, each
with places for adhesive stamps to be affixed.
20 paras, black on rose;
1 piastre ,, blue.
5 ,, rose on bine.
The Timbre-Poste figures another variety of surcharge, consisting of the words " roumelie orientale " surcharged vertically, in oval form, upon the current 10 paras of Turkey. M. Moens alludes to this stamp as a provisional, but perhaps it may be relegated amongst the R.O. series, of which the Eastern Eoumelians declined to accept.
Russia. — We have received the new 7 kopeck envelopes in three different sizes. They are of white Avove paper, with plain, tongued flap ; no watermark.
Envelope, 7 kop., slate ; sizes, 113^ x 74£, 144^ x 81, 140 x \\1\ mm.
St. Domingo. — In addition to the 1 centavo of the current issue with rose-coloured burelage, which we described last month, M. Moens says that he has seen all the values with the exception of the 20 and 50 centavos, similarly altered.
2 c, reticulation lilac. I 25 c, reticulation red. 5c, ,, rose. I 75 c, ,, yellow.
10 c, ,, ,, 1 peso ,, ,,
Servia. — The Timbre-Poste describes a post card which is now obsolete, having been replaced by the 5 paras card, which we described last month. It has the same stamp as the 10 paras violet, but the inscription " carte-correspondance " is changed to " carte postale." The Greek frame is larger, has a St. Andrew's cross at each angle, and measures 114 x 67 mm., as against 1 13 x 65 mm. The three lines for address are closer, and the inscription is in different characters.
10 paras, dull blue on pale rose.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
43
Sierra Leone. — The Postal Union card for this colony has made its appearance. There are three lines of inscriptions : 1st, " union postale universelle," "beneath which are the arms of Great Britain ; 2nd, "sierra leone;" 3rd, "the address only to be written on this side." In the right upper corner is the stamp, of the same type as the adhesive ; and the whole is surrounded by a Greek frame, l^d., grey-blue on buff card.
Uruguay. — The Timbre-Poste announces new cards, "2a seria, 1880," same type as those last issued.
2 centesimos, ultramarine. 2 + 2 , , vermilion-red.
Switzerland. — We understand that the designs for the proposed
new emission arebeing selected,
one at a time, with great de- liberation. We annex cuts of
the two which have already
been decided upon. It is said
that they will not be issued to
the public before next autumn,
except perhaps in the case of
the 12 centimes, a new value, for which there appears to be a demand, and of which there is of course no stock on hand to be previously exhausted.
TobagO. — We have to thank Mr. William Clifford for the first sight of a new value which proclaims the admission of Tobago into the Postal Union. The stamp is identical in type, paper, water- mark, and perforation with the rest of the series, but, like the recently-issued Id., it has the word "postage" in the lower curve of the circle which enframes the head.
Id., red-brown.
4d., bright green.
Turkey. — The following letter was read at the last meeting of the Philatelic Society with reference to the Mount Athos stamps and others of the current issue with the surcharge "Imprimes." As the letter bears upon its face impressions of the surcharges referred to, we are justified in concluding that they were applied to the stamps in Constantinople, and that the stamps so surcharged were supplied to the convents at Mount Athos.
" POSTES . IMPERIALES OTTOMANES-DIRECTION DU SERVICE INTER- NATIONAL. Constantinople 25 Fevrier, 1881. Monsieur, je vous retourne ci-indus la petite note sur laquelle vous trouverez les renseignements demandes. La surcharge ' ImpHmes ' et le timbre triangulaire applique sur les lettres provenant du Mont Athos, n'ont servi que du terns du Caime pour eviter les fraudes. Agreez," &c. Signature illegible. The Caime was an issue of paper money, but why the stamps should have been more tampered with during its currency than at any other time, or why the stamps intended for use at Mount Athos should have been more particularly pro- tected than others, we must confess our inability to comprehend.
44 THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS.
Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. send us, in addition to the stamps which we described last month, the 1, 2, and 5 piastres of the latest issue with the :i catchak " surcharge.
The mistake of writing 1 piastre in the plural has been corrected in the current stamp of that value.
Turk's Isles. — In addition to the varieties which we described last month, there is a second type of the 2Jd. value, in which the |^d. is smaller than in the other.
THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS,
By CAPT. E. B. EVAy'S. R A.
REFERENCE LIST.
(Read at the Meeting of the Philatelic Society of London on the Hfl I
September. 1S47. Engraved faille douce; local manufacture : c on thickish white paper : no watermark I Queen Victoria, with
diadem, to left, on ground . and perpendicular lii-
solid ground : above. " poseagb ; " below, value in words ; on lei office;" on right. " Mauritius : " the las: two inscriptions both reading upwards. One type .... alue.
Id orange-red.
2d. darkblue.
August (?). lS4v Similar to the above, but lettered post paed on left, and twelve types of each value.
Note. — Some of the types of the Id. appear to have had a back » crossed diagonal (as well as perpendicular) lines. A specin. existence, which shows this very plainly. Type 7 of the "2d. is lettered '
PE>*OE."
These stamps continued in use for about ten years : and the plates having been much worn by the number of printings wliich took place during that time, they may reasonably be divided into two sets : viz. : 1. Inipr^ showing perpendicular as well as diagonal lines in the baekgroiu. Impressions showing diagonal lines onlv.
L 1S4S to about 1854. A. Thick white, or yellowish, paper.
Id orange-red.
2d deep blue, blue.
B. Thickish blue paper. Id. vermilion.
aa (f)
I have only seen one specimen #n this latter paper. It is a fine early im- pression of the Id., and the paper is a distinct blue, the col .'.most the tluekness of ordinary blue wove writing-paper : quite different : bluish paper most commonly found with these stamps, and to the thin blue paper of later impressions.
C. Bluish paper (probably discoloured by the gum. & Id. . . . rusty red. •2d. . . . blue vvarvinir).
•2. 1855 to 1nVv-9. A. White paper ^yellowishl Id. rusty red.
2d. blue (varying).
}£?= *~ «T^-
.. -. . . ~ ' - _
. _>:;.- ' .1
46 THE POST CARDS OP FINLAND.
This stamp was produced from the re-engraved plate of the 2d. of 1848. It has been hitherto usually placed before the 2d. of March, 1859 ; but I am more inclined to believe that it came after that 2d., and immediately before the next native issue.
December, 1859. Lithographed ; local manufacture ; profile of Queen Victoria to left, with diadem ; lettered above, " Mauritius ; " below, value in words ; Greek pattern on each side ; all on solid ground ; one type for each value ; thick white laid paper.
Id blood-red, vermilion, pale red.
2d blue, pale blue, dull slatey-blue.
Specimens of the 2d. may be found reading " two pfnoe," but these are simply due to defective printing.
March (?), 1860. Surface printed ; manufactured by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. ; profile of Queen Victoria to left in oval, enclosed in a rectangular frame ; lettered above, " Mauritius ; " below, value hi words ; in colour, on white curved labels ; white paper, unwatermarked, varying slightly in thickness ; perf. 14-
Id lilac-brown, varying.
2d dark blue, pale blue.
4d rose, deep rose.
9d pale lilac, reddish-lilac.
Second type of Britannia series. October, 1861.
6d lilac-brown.
Is yellow-green.
1862.
6d slate : perf. 14\, 15.
Is dark green ; perf. life, 15.
June (?), 1862. Type of 1860, but with small figures of value on each side of the oval containing the head.
6d green.
Is. dark buff, buff.
November, 1862. The supply of Id. and 2d. stamps being temporarily exhausted, the lilac Britannia, without indication of value, was issued as a Id. stamp.
(Id.) . . . . . lilac. Specimens of this stamp exist bearing the value " eight pence " sur- charged in a semicircle, in black, over the head of Britannia. It is not known when this surcharging took place ; but, at all events, one specimen is known apparently authentically obliterated.
8d lilac.
(To be continued.)
THE POST CARDS OF FINLAND,
BY "A POST CARD COLLECTOR."
Part I. Type of Stamp, 1S66.
October, 1S71.
Medium-sized card, 130x88 mm. In centre of card at top, " korres- pondanskort," arched and in shaded capitals ; below, " for " and " fin- land" in two straight lines. Three dotted lines for address, the first preceded by " till," and the third by " bestammelseort." The lower part of card, which is separated from the upper by two thin plain straight lines, is devoted to ttvo paragraphs of instructions. Stamp in upper left-hand corner. The whole is surrounded by a neat Etruscan border. 123 x 80 mm.
THE POST CARDS OP FINLAND. 47
Type I. Variety I.
Par. 1. " ADDRESS ORTEN, ADDRESSEN."
Par. 2. "forpliktad."
8 p. Card, cream to buff; stamp and frame, yellow and pale yellow-green.
October, 1871.
Variety II. Same as above.
Par. 1. "ADRESSEN, ADRESS-ORTEN."
Par. 2. "forpliktad."
8 p. Card, creamy ; stamp and frame, yellow-green.
Variety III. Same as above. Par. 1. " adressen " and " adressen-orten." Par. 2. "forpligtad."
Ten horizontal and ten vertical lines on reverse. 8 p. Card, medium thickness, yellow-green ; stamp and frame, green.
November, 1871.
Variety IV.
Similar to Variety III., but dotted lines at back.
8 penni, yellow-green ; frame, yellow-green on yellow-buff.
8 „ „ „ „ on buff.
8 „ „ „ „ on dark brownish-buff.
8 „ „ „ „ greenish-buff.
8 „ light green and green ; frame, yellow-green, on glazed creamy-buff.
8 „ green „ ,, ,, on pink-buff card.
A variety of shades of the above are to be found.
Variety V. Similar to Variety IV., but ruled lines at back.
8 penni, light yellow-green, yellow-green, blue-green ; frame, dark green, on glazed light creamy-buff.
8 penni, yellow-green, green, and light green ; frame, dark green, on thick glazed yellow-green card.
A variety of shades of the above are to be found.
October, 1872. Type II. Variety I.
Medium-sized card (132 x 88). At top inscription in three languages, and in three lines. " till " and " bestammelseort " omitted. No dotted lines for address. At bottom another three lines of instructions. Stamp in upper left-hand corner. The whole surrounded by a neat Etruscan border (123 x 81). At back ten ruled lines, surrounded by Etruscan border, which is interrupted at top and sides by instructions in three languages.
8 penni, light yellow-green, dark yellow-green, and light green ; frame, dark green, on thick buff (unglazed).
Variety II.
Same as above, only with additional inscription in small black type on the left-hand side, under stamp, printed upwards. (Two sub-varieties.)
First Sub- Variety.
In last Russian word of this additional inscription the third letter has a n for LI, with and without period at end of Russian instructions.
8- penni, light yellow-green, dark yellow-green, green ; frame, dark green, on deep buff.
48 PROCEEDINGS OP THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OP LONDON.
Second Sub- Variety.
Error corrected. No period end of instruction.
8 penni, yellow-green ; frame, dark yellow-green, on deep buff.
June, 1873.
Similar to previous, but no inscription at side, as part of it is added to the instructions at bottom.
The following changes are introduced :
" KORRESPONDENSKORT " for " KORRESPONDANSKORT." " KIRJEVAIHTOKORTTI " for " KIRJEWAIHTOKORTTI."
At bottom, the first line of instructions runs : " Pa denna sida tecknas endast adressen och adress-orten. Till Ryssland pa ryska." Two varieties.
Variety I.
At top, second line of instructions with a round full stop ; third line, a dot over " i " in last word, square full stop.
8 penni, yellow-green, dark green ; frame, dark green ; salmon card.
8 „ yellow-green, green, dark green; frame, yellow-green to intense green ; light yellow-buff card.
January, 1874.
Variety II.
Second line of instructions with square period; third line, no dot over "i" in last word, round full period. 8 penni, yellow -green ; frame, dark green ; deep buff card. 8 „ light green ; frame, yellow-green (shades) ; light buff card. 8 „ dark green ; frame, dark green ; salmon card. 8 „ green ; frame, dark green ; light pink-buff card.
Provisionals. July, 1875.
Similar to issue of January, 1874. Provisional 8 p. x 8 p., prepared by the postal authorities by means of printing a second 8 p. below the one already impressed.
8 penni, yellow-green ; frame, yellow-green ; on light buff card.
July, 1875. Inscriptions altered.
1. "brefkort (till ort mom Finland)."
2. "kirtekortti (suomenmaassa)."
3. Russian translation.
Instructions at bottom, except " Till Ryssland Pa Ryska " and its trans- lations, which are omitted. Stamp (type 1S66) to right.
10 penni, mauve ; frame, mauve ; on buff card.
froxtcMngs of % f Irilatelit ,§ocictn of lon&on.
The tenth meeting of the season was held at the Secretary's Chambers, 13, Gray's Inn Square, on the 26th March, 1881, the President in the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and approved, the Secretary read a letter addressed to the President by Dr. Legrand, Secretary to the French Society, acknowledging with thanks the receipt of the London Society's Proceedings. The Secretary announced the presentation to the Society of the complete issue of The Philatelic World by Mr. Bogert, of Brooklyn, New York ; and of El Filotelista by Mr. G. Michelsen, of Bogota, United States of Columbia, for which the thanks of the Society were accorded.
PROCEEDINGS OP THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON. 49
The business of the day was to examine the Reference List of the Stamps of Mauritius, prepared by Captain Evans ; and more especially to enquire into the points connected with the twopenny stamps of the third and fourth issues, upon which Captain Evans and Dr. Legrand differ.
In the paper contributed to the Paris Congress of 187S, Captain Evans placed the twopence, large head, supposed to be the twopence of the second issue re-engraved by Mr. Sherwin, as prior in point of emission to the 2d. , small head, of which he designates Mr. Lapirot as the engraver. Dr. Legrand, in an exhaustive critique of this suggestion (vide Memoires du Congre's Internationale des Timbrqphiles), transposes this order, and sums up against Captain Evans's views as follows : " 1. The issue of the small head, with short band, took place towards the end of 1858. . . . This stamp was the handiwork of Mr. Sherwin. 2. The large head, with band, was issued during the course of 1859. It was made by Mr. Lapirot. The twelve stamps forming the plate are arranged in the same manner as are those on the plate of the second issue, and it is probable that their origin was the plate engraved by Mr. Barnard re-engraved as regards those parts which had become worn out." In that portion of his monograph on the Stamps of Mauritius which appeared in No. 16 of the Philatelic Record, and also in a letter addressed by Captain Evans to Dr. Legrand (a transla- tion of which is given in the twentieth fascicule of the French Society's Bidletin), Captain Evans shows pretty conclusively that the twopence, small head, was the new plate engraved by Mr. Lapirot ; but, although still ex- pressing some uncertainty upon the point, he is rather inclined to share Dr. Legrand's opinion that this stamp was used prior to the twopence large head, with band. Dr. Legrand's remarks upon Captain Evans's letter are con- tained in the same issue of the Bidletin, which had not been published at the time when Captain Evans placed that portion of his monograph which appeared in No. 26 of the Record, in the hands of the Secretary to the Philatelic Society. Dr. Legrand's reply amounts to this : that whilst ad- hering to his opinion, which Captain Evans no longer combats, that the small head was issued prior to the large head, he has further arrived at the conclusion that not only was the small head engraved by Mr. Lapirot, as Captain Evans has all along maintained, but that the twopence, large head, was re-engraved by the same person.
This conclusion was generally shared in by the members present, always supposing that the twopence, large head, is a re-engraving of the twopence of the second issue, which the President doubts, inclining to believe that it was a new plate altogether. But in any case, whether the plate was a new one or the old one retouched, it seems most likely that Mr. Lapirot was the engraver who produced the twopence large head. Captain Evans has shown that Mr. Sherwin returned the former, or second plate, unfinished, or rather, in all probability, almost untouched. Had it been returned in the state from which the large head was subsequently printed, Mr. Lapirot could hardly have pronounced it, "Too far gone to produce a good impression ; " for, as a matter of fact, the impressions from this plate are excellent, and it is only in the design that the stamp falls short. The plate of the twopence, small head, was undoubtedly engraved by Mr. Lapirot to be used in lieu of the worn-out one of the second issue. The new plate seems to have worn badly, and when it, in turn, became useless, then either the plate which he had previously condemned was given him to touch up or else he engraved a new one. In either case the twopence, large head, was the result of his labours, and was used for a short time until the pair of stamps lithographed by Mr. Dardenne were ready for the public. In the discussion upon this subject, both Dr. Legrand and Captain Evans have to a certain extent con- verted one another ; and the minor points upon which they are still unagreed are relatively of small importance.
Upon the conclusion of the day's business the Secretary showed some post cards and envelopes mounted upon Mr. W. R. Freeman's system. One objection urged against it was, that if the envelopes are mounted in this manner in a book, instead of on sheets, they are apt to flap over when the leaves are turned, and thus incur the risk of getting " dogs'-eared." He also
50 LIST OF THE POSTAGE STAMPS, ETC., OF NEW ZEALAND.
showed, on behalf of a correspondent, a recently-issued Russian Red Cross envelope, and some of the obsolete Hungarian envelopes utilized by having the current adhesives stuck over the original stamps. There were also ex- hibited the provisional ^d. Cyprus, with the word " halfpenny " surcharged in two different types ; the medio real of Costa Rica, surcharged " 2 ots. ; " and the current Id. South Australia, with a double surcharge of " 0. s."
The Secretary read a letter, communicated by Mr. Campbell, from the Post Office at Constantinople, explaining the purpose of the surcharges of "Imprimis" and the lettered triangle upon the Mount Athos stamps. It was thought that the explanation made the matter rather more obscure.
REFERENCE LIST OF THE POSTAGE STAMPS, ETC, OF NEW ZEALAND,
Compiled at the Meeting held on the 29th January, 1881.
Issue I. 1S55.
Three values. — Engraved on steel by Humphreys, and printed by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co., of London. Coloured impression on stout wove blue paper ; white gum ; no watermark. Design, three-quarter face bust portrait of Queen Victoria, crowned, with garter, ribbon, and royal robes, in low-necked chess, on engine-turned background within a double-lined circle, which nearly touches the sides of the stamp. Above and following the upper curve of the circle are the words " new Zealand " in the hue of the paper upon colour. Beneath the circle upon a small straight label, in small letters, is the word "postage" in colour. This label rests upon another straight one, forming the bottom of the stamp, which is changeable with the value, and inscribed with the value in full in the hue of the paper upon colour, and has a small double-lined square at each end containing a conven- tional ornament. The spandrels are filled in with ornamentation resembling an ceil de perdrix groundwork, and are so strongly shaded in the upper corners as to give them the appearance of being rounded off. The inscriptions on the Id. and 2d. are in Roman capitals, and on the Is. in block letters. Shape, longish upright rectangular ; imperforate.
POSTAGE ,,
T . NEW ZEALAND . B . 0NE pENNY ■ TW0 PENCE . ONE SHILLING.
Id., vermilion.
2d., blue and slaty-blue (very distinct shades).
Is., green (a yellowish shade). Remarks. — One die did duty for all the values, the designation of which in the bottom label was altered in each case. Unused copies of this issue are rare, and the shilling is practically unattainable hi this condition.
Issue II. 1859. Four values. — Precisely similar in design to the preceding, and from the same dies. The sixpence, like the shilling, has the value in block letters. Coloured impression upon white paper ; white gum ; no watermark. The paper is soft, unsurfaced, and varies greatly in substance. Sets may be made from very thick to very thin.
Id., orange-vermilion, pale to dark \ 2d., blue, bright and dull r • . .
6d., reddish-brown, light and dark ( mrpertorate. Is., pale green, blue-green. )
Series on hard white paper, slightly surfaced ; no watermark ; imperforate. Id., orange-red (shades). 2d., deep, bright and pale blue. 6d., orange-bistre, pale and dark fawn.
LIST OF THE POSTAGE STAMPS, ETC., OF NEW ZEALAND.
51
Varieties. — Some of the values of this issue are to he found with un- official perforations. The following are known to the Society : A are on the soft, unsurfaced paper. B are on the hard, slightly-surfaced paper.
|
Rouletted. |
Rough pin-hole perforations, about 10. |
Serrated fine perforations, about 16. |
|
|
Id. |
A |
B |
|
|
2d. |
B |
B |
|
|
6d. |
A B |
A |
B |
|
Is. |
B |
A |
B |
imperforate.
Issue III. 1862-3. Four values. — Identical in design with the preceding issues. Coloured impression upon very thin greyish paper (the pelure of catalogues) ; white gum ; no watermark.
Id., orange to carmine shades of vermilion \ 2d. , pale lavender, ultramarine f
6d., grey to blackish -brown, red-brown ( Is., dark green, green. ;
Varieties. — The 6d. dark brown and Is. of this issue exist unofficially rouletted, and all the four values machine perforated 13.
To this period, late in 1863, must be referred the twopence, on thick white paper; no watermark; machine perforated 13. This stamp is somewhat carelessly printed.
2d., blue, deep blue ; perf. 13.
Issue IV. 1862-3. Five values. — Unchanged in design. The new one, Threepence, has the value in block letters. Coloured impression upon white paper varying in substance ; yellowish gum ; watermark, a large six-rayed star. In the margin of the sheet are five parallel lines, forming a border to the whole. The paper varies much in thickness.
Id., orange-red, vermilion, deep crimson \
2d. , blue, deep, light and chalky, and ultramarine
3d., bright violet, -violet, violet-brown, lilac |- imperforate.
6d., red, black, and dull-brown
Is., dark and yellow-green (shades) j
Varieties. — The 2d. and Is. are found on paper showing a distinctly blue appearance, probably due to the gum. All five values and shades of each exist unofficially rouletted ; the dents of the roulette are wide. Other values are found with a fine pin perforation measuring about 16 ; viz., the 2d., 3d., and 6d. ; and the 6d. and Is. with an oblique perforation.
Issue V. 1864. Four values, of the same design as the preceding, seem to have been issued in 1864. They are printed in colour upon white paper varying in substance, and are watermarked with the block letters " n. z." instead of with a star. Id., vermilion (a carmine shade) \
2d., pale blue f imperf., rouletted (all save the 6d.),
6d., red-brown ( and machine perf. 13.
Is., green (shades) )
Remarks. — The 6d. of this series rouletted has not been met with. Moens catalogues it, however. The Is. is also known with oblique serrated perfora- tions. The paper with the watermark "n. z." was manufactured specially
52 NOTES AND QUERIES.
for the fiscal stamps of the colony, and during a temporary lack of that ap- propriated to postage stamps was made use of for this issue.
Issue VI. 1863-66.
Six values. — Identical in design with the preceding. The new one, Four- pence, issued in 1865, has the value printed in block letters. Coloured impression upon white paper varying in substance ; wliite gum ; watermark, six-rayed star.
Id., vermilion, orange \
2d. , deep, pale, and chalky-blue
3d. , bright, pale, and brown- violet, purple officiallv machine
4d. , dull red lomciaiiy n acinne
4d., canary-yellow, orange (1866), ochre-yellow Per '
6d., red, black, and dull-brown Is., dark and yellow-green (shades) /
Varieties. — A set of this issue may also be made up on very thin, almost pelure, paper. Issue VII. 1872.
Three values of preceding types, but changed as regards colour. Coloured impression on white paper, varying in substance ; white gum ; watermark, six-rayed star ; perl 13.
Id., deep and pale bistre (and also compound perf. 10 x 13) j 2d., vermilion, orange „ „ [ imperforate.
6d., pale and full blue „ „ )
Varieties.— The 2d. of this issue is also to be found : first, without watermark ; second, watermarked "n. z. ; " and third, on paper more or less distinctly laid with a lozenge-patterned watermark ; all perf. 13. The 6d. exists imperforate horizontally.
(To be continued*)
Notts anir ^ucrtcs.
R. T. N. — 1. We cannot tell you the value of the |d. match stamp which was prepared for use under Mr. Lowe's Chancellorship of the Exchequer. Perhaps some of our readers who collect fiscals can help you. We believe that the stamp has been forged. 2. Take as a speci- men of a stamp on laid paper the 3 grote, and of one on wove the 5 Sgr. of Bremen. 3. Perforated stamps are those which have portions of the paper punched out and removed, like our current issues. Rouletted stamps are those with slits, of greater or less length, as in the current Nicaraguas. Good examples of the saw-perforation, which does not remove any portion of the paper to which it is applied, are found in the second issue of Bremen. The "Susse" perforation wTas that applied to the French stamps in 1861, prior to their official perforation, by the private firm of Susse Freres, of Paris. 4. Yes. In that condition the stamp is neither used nor unused. 5. The approximate dates of the two first issues of Ceylon are 1857 and 1861. They comprise the im- perforate and perforate stamps with star watermark. The issue water- marked C.C. and crown came out in 1864-66. 6. Some advanced collectors take them, but it is not necessary.
C. G. — Serve you right.
Drocer and Roulette. — Declined with thanks.
A. H. — Thanks for your letter, which we have utilized. To the best of our belief the 1/- Great Britain remains unchanged as to watermark, and will probably be superseded by a new stamp before such change
Messrs. Femberton, Wilson, & Co., 308, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, London. W.
SM §Mlai$4 |Ji>c.o'![il.
Vol. III. No. 28. MAY. 1881.
LTHOUGH, as we "believe, no Philatelic Society has ever been founded in Spain, and no philatelic periodicals are now published within her boundaries, we are in- debted to Spaniards for the best works which have as yet heen written by any individuals or societies upon the stamps of their own countries. Appreciative reference has already been made in our pages to the work of Sehor Esteban Argiles, whose reference list of the stamps of Spam and Colonies was published by M. Ventura, at Saragossa, in 1879 ; and we have now before us a still more important work upon the same subject, which bears the title, Resena Historico-Descriptivci de los Sellos de Correo de Espana, and is written by Sehor Antonio Fernandez Duro, one of the principal functionaries in the Central Post Office of Madrid. Neither the time nor the space at our command will admit of our giving a detailed description of this most valuable contribution to philatelic literature, the contents of which we have not yet had time to master, but which is evidently a storehouse of future reference and quotation. We cannot but regret that the book is not written in some other language more generally known than Spanish, and we believe that a translation, say into French, would repay anyone who undertook to produce it. Never before has any work of the kind been published which can compete with Sehor Duro's for completeness and accuracy of detail. The description of every stamp, or issue of stamps, is accompanied by the name of the engraver, and by a recital of the government
54 THE rillLATELIC RECORD.
decrees bearing upon its emission and suppression — a mass of in- valuable information to which probably no one who did not hold the high official position of Sehor Duro could have had access. A full account is given of the numerous frank stamps which are employed in the departments of State and by public corpora- tions ; but, on the other hand, strange to say, no mention is made of the Don Carlos emissions, or of the government telegraph stamps. As a matter of course, such omissions as these must be intentional, and not accidental. We can hardly suppose that Senor Duro can have been actuated by an overstrained idea of patriotism in passing over the Don Carlos issues in silence. Philatelists, in the pursuit of their study, are of no sides in politics, and glean consolation, where others find none, upon the fields of civil war and revolu- tion, out of the rage, turmoil, and wreckage of which they have contemplatively fished some of their chiefest treasures. We are therefore inclined to think that Senor Duro has not referred to the Don Carlos stamps, which had so ephemeral a currency during the last Carlist insurrection, simply because it is not in his power to give that minute information respecting their emission and emplojr- ment which so pre-eminently distinguishes all that upon which he writes with authority. He tells us that every stamp of the mother country and her colonies, with the exception of the native-printed Philippines of 1854 to 1863, and the home issue of 1876, which was engraved in London, were produced at the Fabrica national del Sello, or National Stamp Factory, at Madrid. In 1876 the Sotiedad del Timbre obtained the contract for supplying the new issue for that year, and procured the stamps from London. They were, however, found to be more costly than those of home and government manufacture, and the experiment has not been repeated. We shall hardly be accused of insular arrogance if we venture to express the opinion that the 1876 was the best, and probably the least forged, of any of the Spanish issues.
At haphazard we pounce upon a few items of information which are certainly new to collectors. The seven stamps, bearing the arms of Spain, which superseded the emission of 1853, have generally been lumped together as one issue of 1854, although it was supposed that the 2 cuartos, green, the only stamp of the
THE PHILATELIC RECORD. 55
series which is undated, preceded the other values by a short time. But SefLor Duro shows us a Royal decree of the 29th May, 1853, creating the stamps of 6 cuartos, 2, 5, and 6 reales, which were in use from the 1st January to the 31st October, 1854. Another decree, dated the 1st September, 1854, after reciting certain changes in the postal tariff, declares these values, with the excep- tion of the 2 reales, to be obsolete, and creates the new stamps of 2 and 4 cuartos and 1 real, which, together with the 2 reales pre- viously issued, circulated from the 1st November, 1854, until the 31st March, 1855. Another error under which we have laboured is, that the stamps of 1855-57 were three intentionally distinct issues. As a matter of fact, which the identity of the design and the comparative identity of colour should help to demonstrate, there was only meant to be one issue for the three years. On the 8th March, 1855, was decreed the creation of the 2 and 4 cuartos and 1 and 2 reales, which were printed and issued on the blue laid paper, watermarked with loops. About the 28th December, 1855, the supply of this paper at the National Factory having become exhausted, a circular bearing that date was addressed by the General Post Office to its branches, notifying to the subordinate officials that they were not to refuse stamps printed on paper other than that to which they were accustomed, provided that the stamps appeared to be otherwise genuine, and explaining that henceforth the adhesives would be printed on the white laid paper, water- marked with crossed diagonal lines. On the 14th April, 1856, another circular was issued by the General Post Office, intimating that the supply of this paper was also exhausted, and that the stamps would be printed on plain unwatermarked paper. Thus it will be seen that, although we have not been far out in our classifi- cation of the order in which these stamps were issued, there was yet but one Royal decree — that of the 8th March, 1855 — which affected their creation, and the differences in paper and watermark were merely adventitious.
Skipping many pages, we arrive at a solution of the mystery
which has hitherto enshrouded the meaning of the 25 cent de
peseta, Porto Rico, issue 1877, surcharged with the letter "R."
Nothing can be simpler than the explanation when it is set before
27*
56 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.
us. The supply of the 25 cent de peseta receipt, or Recihos, fiscals having run short, the postage stamps of similar value were con- verted into the desiderated fiscals by surcharging them with an "E."
But for the present we must cease quoting from this excellent book, a perusal of which we most heartily recommend to all our readers who can tinker a little at Spanish, which is after all not so difficult. The author is thoroughly straightforward, and adheres closely to the task which he has set himself. He is not above acknowledging outside assistance, and more than once bears testi- mony to the help he has derived from the Catalogue of Spanish Stamps, published by the Philatelic Society of London. He is wrong, however, in supposing that this was the unaided compila- tion of our esteemed friend, Mr. V. G. de Ysasi, who, although he lent a vigorous hand to the work, was only one of a band of enthusiastic fellow-labourers. Seiior Duro's book will be still more highly appreciated in days to come, and by others than philatelists only. Work like this has to be done, and the longer it is delayed the greater will be the difficulties, already great, in the way of accomplishing it. It is a pity that the Post Office officials of other countries do not emulate his example. They have access to those Decrees, Treasury warrants, Orders in Council, and other documents of the sort, a perusal of which is so absolutely necessary to those who undertake to compile an intelligent and accurate description of the stamps of a country, and which are, as a rule, so jealously guarded by officials from the profane inspection of the laity. In conclusion, we would add that Sehor Duro's work, which consists of over 250 double-column imperial octavo pages, illustrated by 115 cuts, may be obtained from our publishers.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 57
Ifmnjftiijs, JHsjjm^rtp, nnt \pmxplniwm.
Antofagasta. — M. Moens is informed by a correspondent of the existence of a 50 centavos value similar in design to the octagonal typographed 10 centavos.
50 centavos, blue.
Azores. — The 5 reis black, and the 50 reis blue, current issue Portuguese, now circulate in the Azores with the usual surcharge.
5 reis. red ) -,
50 „ black {surcharge.
Captain Evans sends us the following varieties to add to our list of post cards ; viz.,
Large sized cards. Sr to left of D'Este. 30 reis, yelloio-green.
20x20 ,, blue. Small ,, ,, Sr almost under D\ 30 ,, green.
British Guiana. — Some of the registration envelopes now in use in this colony seem from their size to have been originally intended for sugar-bags. They have three lines of inscription ; 1st, "British guiana registered letter," in Eoman capitals, underlined ; 2nd and 3rd, " this letter must be given to an
OFFICER OF THE POST OFFICE TO BE REGISTERED AND A RECEIPT
be obtained for it," in block letters. A ruled space for the stamp
in the right upper corner bears the legend, in six Lines, " Stamp —
for — postage — to be — placed — here." The upper part of the
envelope is ruled off by two lines, and in the lower left corner is a
rectangular space inscribed in two lines, " name and address — of
sender," in block letters. The stamp upon the flap is embossed,
and comprises the profile of Her Majesty, to left, in white, upon
ground of solid colour, within a pearled circle which is enframed
by an outer circle inscribed in block letters upon reticulated
ground, "British guiana registration fee — four cents."
Another border of pearls completes the design. The flap is plain,
and the seam scallopped, and the upper part bears the name of the
contractors, Messrs. Mc Corquodale and Co. Only the reverse side
of the envelope has the conventional imitation-string lines. Stamp,
lines, and inscriptions are in scarlet-vermilion. We have seen the
following sizes :
t, • , .. i . \ sizes, 154x97 mm., or 6iT;-x 3r inches.
.Registration envelope, 4 cents, I ' 909 ,-197 s x *5
scarlet-vermilon, on white > 9Q9 159 " " llivfi "
wove paper, linen-lined. ^ 254x177,',' " 10x6M ,','
58
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
Bulgaria. — The Timbre-Poste describes the new post card for this country. It has the same frame as the 10 centimes card ; but the second line of inscription takes the place of the first, and the second, which was in French, is replaced by one in Eussian charac- ters. The directions occupy one line.
5 Statinki, blue-green.
Cuba. — It appears that we have omitted to chronicle a value of this year's series which was issued some time after the others. 2 c. de peseta, carmine.
Cyprus. — Mr. William Clifford sends us the following extract from a letter, dated 23rd April, addressed to him by one of the Post Office staff at Larnaca : " I believe in my last I informed you that the new stamps would be issued on the 1st May. Well, we had already published a notice to that effect in all parts of the island, when, two weeks ago, a Government order came down from head-quarters telling us to take down the notice, and to continue the issue of the current stamps until further notice. I asked the post- master to-day when he thought that the new stamps would be issued, and he said no date was yet fixed, owing to some legal difficulty. The new stamps are of the values of ^, 1, 2, 4 and 6 piastres."
Ecuador. — The Philatelic World gives the following list of the new stamps, one of which
we described last month, desism for each value.
There is a different
|
1 centavo, brown. |
1 10 centavos, orange |
|
2 ,, lake. |
20 ,, slate. |
|
5 , , blue. |
1 50 ,, green. |
French Colonies. — V Ami des Timbres announces that the new stamps for use in the colonies are ready, but will not be put in circulation for three months. The design, as given in the magazine just quoted, corresponds exactly with the description which we gave in December, 1879, except that the numerals of value are in a double lined rectangular frame, hiding a portion of the design, and placed rather to the left of the stamp instead of in the centre, as in those used at home.
1 cent., black on blue paper.
2
4
5
10
20
brown violet green black brick
bistre blue green lilac
Yperf. U.
(25 cent., yellow on yellow paper. 30 ,, brown ,, bistre ,,
135 ,, black ,, yellow ,, 40 ,, vermilion on bistre , , 75 ,, carmine ,, rose 1 fr., bronze-green on light green
Great Britain. — It is only lately that the three-halfpenny post card, bearing the additional inscription " and Ireland," has come into circulation.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
59
Grenada. — We are indebted to Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. for the first sight of three novelties for this island. When we say that two of them are provisional postage stamps, we need hardly add that they are surcharged. First we have the purple stamp, surcharged in black instead of in blue — "postage" above, and " half- penny " in a straight line below, in block letters. Then we have a stamp of the same design (probably a fiscal), lake-red in colour, surcharged " postage" above, and " two pence half-penny" in a curve following the outline of the lower part of the circle which encloses the portrait, also in black block letters. — The post card has three lines of inscription. 1st, " union postale univer- selle;" 2nd, "Grenada (de Grenada);" 3rd, "the address only," &c. The stamp, in the right upper corner, has the diademed profile of Her Majesty, to left, on ground of horizontal lines, within a white-bordered oval. Fancy labels above and below portrait, lettered "postage" and "penny halfpenny" respectively. The remainder of the stamp is decorated with conventional ornaments, and would be of upright rectangular shape, but that the angles are rounded ! No border, reverse side plain. Makers, De La Rue and Co.
[Just as we are going to press Ave have received a third pro- visional adhesive ; viz., a blue stamp, of the same type as the other two, surcharged in black, block letters, " postage " above, and " four pence " below the portrait, both inscriptions in straight lines.]
Provisional Adhesives.
^d., surcharged in black on purple fiscal, without value expressed. 2|d. ,, ,, lake-red fiscal, ,, ,,
4d. ,, ,, blue ,, „
Postal Union Card. lid., red-brown, on very thin buff card ; size, 122J x 86 mm.
Holland. — We have received the new unpaid letter stamps, which are similar in design to the 5 and 10 cents issued in 1870. Smith's Circular gives a list of eleven values, differing from the ten chronicled in the Timbre-Poste. We have only seen eight ; but it appears that the new 5 and 10 cents will not be issued until the stock of those values on coloured paper is used up. The stamps are printed in ultramarine on white paper, and have the numerals of value and the word " cent " in the centre, in black, except in the highest value, which has gulden " printed in red.
|
1 cent, blue and black |
/ 12i cents, blue and black |
|
|
14 „ ,. |
\ 15 tS >> »» |
|
|
24 „ „ |
> per/. 12 |
<20- „ |
|
5 )» )) )) |
25 „ „ |
|
|
10 „ „ „ . |
V 1 gulden ,, red. |
GO NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
The new 5 cent post card is now in use, and diners from the 2^- cent card, described last month, in the stamp, which is of the type of the 5 cent adhesive, and in not having the prefix "Aaiv" on the first line for address.
5 cent, blue, on light blue tinted card ; reverse side white ; 138 x 92 mm., or 5f x 3f inches.
Hungary. — M. Moens announces in one and the same breath that certain values of these stamps were, during last month, printed on watermarked paper, and that the watermark has already been suppressed. The watermark consisted of fifteen ovals in the sheet of stamps, in eight rows of seven, each oval containing the letters K. p., standing for Kir Posta, or Royal Post. The values seen by M. Moens on the watermarked paper are the current 2, 5, and 10 kreuzers.
Hyderabad. — (Esperons qu'il va etre content, cet excellent M. Moens). — The stamps of Hyderabad, hitherto known to the vulgar as The Deccan, with their wonderful surcharges in black, red, and purple, have more than once aroused in us a demon of mistrust, which Ave have never seriously set ourselves to exorcise. We quote Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. upon the subject. They say : "A correspondent in Hyderabad, a Government official, offers to supply us with any Deccan stamps, printed to order in any colour we please, and has sent us a few specimens, which we enclose, of what he can do. Perhaps it is well that this should be made known, as a caution to collectors, and in the interests of philately. We shall certainly refrain from ordering ; and if we offer any for sale, it shall only be as proofs." Bravo, Messrs. Stan- ley, Gibbons, and Co. ! And please remember that the officials at Constantinople appear to be quite as obliging as those in Hyderabad. The specimens sent us are the skeleton types in red and in bright green, and the oblong stamp in violet-brown.
Italy. — The current 20 centcsimi, head of King Humbert, with white stars in the corners, is now in use, surcharged "estero."
Jamaica. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. send us one of the registration envelopes in use in Jamaica. They are of exactly the same pattern as those current here, but have no stamp on the flap.
We have been shown, on behalf of Messrs. Winch Bros., two Jamaica fiscal stamps, which have done postal duty, and winch the owners have had in their possession for some time.
Fiscal stamps used for postage, l|d. , pale ultramarine. ,, ,, ,, 3d., lilac.
Java. — M. Moens calls attention to the fact that the 2 and 25 cents are now printed in somewhat different shades.
2 cents, red-brown. 25 , , brown-violet.
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. Gl
Labuan. — Another provisional ! The 12 cents surcharged ce°™ in two lines across the centre of the stamp, no attempt being made to obliterate the original value.
8 cents (provisional), surcharged in black on the 12 cents, carmine.
We have also received the Labuan Postal Union card. It has four lines of inscriptions. 1st, "union postale universelle ; " 2nd, "labuan;" 3rd, "post card," divided by the arms of Great Britain ; 4th, " the address," &c. It bears a stamp of the same type as the adhesives in the right upper corner.
4 cents, green on light buff ; 120 x 89 mm., or 4f x 3 J inches.
Luzon.- — -Another provisional ! This time it is the 2 \ c. de peso postage stamp, Type 1880, surcharged in black, " habilitado correos — 2 cent de peso," as in the stamp which we described in March.
Provisional. 2 c. de peso, surcharged in black on the 2 c. de peso, brown. Type 1880.
New Granada. — The current 20 centavos, as well as the 10 centavos, now seems to be printed upon slightly blued, instead of on white paper.
20 centavos, blue on blue paper.
New South Wales. — In addition to those which we have already described, the following values have been surcharged o.s. for official use, and are in circulation.
5d., green, red surcharge. 10d., lilac, red surcharge.
9d., red-brown, ,, | 5s., violet, black ,,
Porto Rico. — At a recent meeting of the Philatelic Society, a specimen of the 5 c. de peseta, lake, of 1879, was shown, with the inscription " porto ricc," the last letter being a most distinct c, and not a malformed o.
Portugal. — Capt. Evans writes to us : " I can add to your list of Portuguese post cards, as I have both the 30 reis and the 20 x 20 reis in the two varieties. Mine run as follows :
Large sized cards. Sr to left of D'Estc. 20 reis, blue.
Small ,, ,, Sr almost under D'. 20x20 ,, „
,, ,, ,, „ ,, ,, ,, 30 „ green (not ijelloiv-green).
Roumania. — The new 25 bani is now in circulation. It is precisely similar in design to the 15 bani which we described in September last.
25 bani, blue ; per/. 12.
Russia. — Captain Evans tells us that he has the 10 kopeck envelope, largo size, type of 1872, surcharged 7 kopecs in red.
In addition to the three sizes of the new 7 kopeck envelopes which we described last month Ave have received another, measuring 139i x 57 mm.
The "Enquiry" card, which we described in our August number of last year, is now issued with the extra inscriptions on the face in rose-red instead of in black, as heretofore.
62 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
St. Domingo. — The envelopes before us appear to be intended for use in the office of the President of the Republic. The stamp, which is in the left upper corner of the envelope, has the arms of the state on a background of horizontal lines, enframed by three distinct circles. The first is lettered republica dominicana above, and has reticulations below, and the date 1880. The second is composed of straight lines converging towards the centre, and the third is inscribed servicio nacional el presidente de la republica. There are three sizes at any rate, and perhaps more.
Oifi ' 1 F 1 { Dark blue on white laid paper, 9 x 3xf inches.
without expressed value. ) " n i -"i v v8 /L? "as ■
1 { ,, blue laid paper, linen lined, 10£x4f ins.
Sierra Leone. — In addition to the post card described last month, the Timbre-Poste signals another value. It has three lines of inscriptions. 1st, "union postale universelle," with the arms of Great Britain below ; 2nd, "sierra leone;" 3rd, "the address," &c. In the right upper angle is the stamp, of the same type as the adhesives. The whole is framed by a Greek-patterned border. Id., carmine on light buff. Size of frame, 118 x 79 mm.
Sweden. — We have seen a variety of the 6 ore post card with short inscription beneath the word "brefkort," which has the stamp in right upper angle merely embossed, and not printed in colour.
Tolima. — UAmi des Timbres for April figures two hitherto undescribed stamps for this sovereign portion of the United States of Columbia. The first is a Oubierta, with large fancy numeral 5 in the right and left upper corners. The upper part of the numeral is surmounted by five stars, and is inscribed "curreos." From the lower part of the numeral a female head, inscribed " libertad," peeps forth, and says reproachfully to the artist, "What atrocities are committed in my name." The inscriptions between the numerals consist of, first, " estados unidos de Colombia," in a straight line of block letters, and then two inscriptions, side by side, of five lines each, the upper and lower lines being curved, and each word being ornamented with flourishes. The left-hand inscription reads,
" CORREOS DEL ESTADO SOBERANO — DEL TOLIMA," and that to the
right, " CERTIFICACION CON CONTENIDO VALE 5 CENTAVos."
Then comes the usual " Sal '16 de — en — de—187- — ," and upon the ruled lower portion of the label the word " Remite" all in script type. The other stamp, for registered letters, is very similar in design to the New Granada stamp issued in 1865, and used for the same purpose, but is less than half the size. It has the same six-rayed star in the centre, but with the letter "a" upon the netted ground, and the numerals 50 in the points of the star. The central design is enframed by a white circle, inscribed in
Colour, " CORREOS DE E° S° DE TOL1MA — CINCUENTA CENTAVOS," the
two inscriptions being divided by star like ornaments."
Cubierta. 5 centavos, ochre on white paper. Registration Stamp. 50 ,, milky-blue ,,
NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 63
Turkey"; — A new value is now current of the emp. ottoman type, printed in the same colours as the Eastern Roumelian stamp of similar value.
5 paras, olive-green and black ; pcrf. 13^.
In referring to the Mount Athos stamps M. Moens says, in the Timbre Poste for April : " We do do not see the use, which appears to be a ' privilege,' of these surcharges, and still less why they should he collected. The surcharge merely indicates whence the stamps come, as do all date obliterations." We agree with M. Moens only in so far that we have not yet grappled with the raison d'etre of the surcharge. As to their collectable value, they are certainly distinct from the ordinary Turkish stamps. All that we have seen have an obliteration in addition to the surcharge. It is evident that they were prepared for a purpose which was to dis- tinguish them from the ordinary stamps. Unfortunately it is not improbable that the courtesy of the post-office authorities in Con- stantinople, where, as we have seen, the surcharging die is kept, may lead them to execute orders for more, and the unused speci- mens, which will no doubt turn up, may well be regarded with suspicion. But if we were to reject the used copies which we came across before attention had been called to the surcharge, we might as well reject the Eastern Eoumelians, the Antigua stamps with Montserrat, or the adhesives of Great Britain with Cyprus printed upon them.
Captain Evans tells us that, in addition to the Mount Athos stamps which we have already described, he has seen — ■
20 paras, green. Issue 1876 ; heavy surcharge. 1 piastre, yellow. Issue 1868 ; perf. 13^-
[Since the above was written we have received the Timbre Poste for May, and we cannot refrain from expressing our surprise that, after reading the official document which we gave in our last number, M. Moens should, on the faith of a correspondent, stigma- tise this surcharge as " une grosse carotte."
Because we were the first to call attention to these stamps we have no wish, from motives of amour projore, to thrust an unwar- ranted belief in them upon collectors, and we cannot justly be accused of over credulity in these matters. We will briefly sum up what we have to say in their favour :
1. The stamps which we described in August, 1880, were not sold as curiosities, but were picked out from a number of used Turkish stamps.
2. All those which we have noticed from time to time, and which we believe to be original and genuine, have the usual ob- literations in addition to and over the triangular surcharge.
3. The letter which we have published, emanating from the General Post Office at Constantinople, distinctly recognizes these stamps, and states that they were thus surcharged for use at Mount Athos, and shows further that the die with which the surcharge was effected is kept at Constantinople, and not at Mount Athos.
G4 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.
In conclusion, we have no hesitation in expressing our suspicion of the hitherto undescribed values in an unused condition which are now turning up. The official letter to which we have already referred shows that the stamps have been for some time obsolete. That there may be some unused copies left at Mount Athos is possible. Stamps thus surcharged to order at Constantinople have no greater philatelic value than the German Transvaals. We have even had sent to lis, spick and span new, the unpaid letter stamps, with heavy border, and some of the stamps with French inscrip- tion, bearing the Mount Athos surcharge. We do not believe in them.]
Turk's Islands. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. send us the one shilling adhesive in the old indigo and in the current plum- colour, surcharged |. We presume that this new provisional halfpenny takes the place of that Avhich we described in March, which was surcharged on the 6d. value. There are varieties in the surcharges, in the size of the numerals, and in the size or absence of the stroke dividing the numerator and denominator of the fraction. — From Messrs. Stanley, Gibbons, and Co. we have received two further varieties of the provisional 4d., which differ from those which we have before described in the superior squatness of the numeral 4.
Provisional Adhesivcs.
id., surcharged in hlack on the } , "' , " ' - • ° ( Is., plum.
4d., variety of surcharge in hlack on 6d., hlack.
United States. — We have received a portion of an envelope concerning which we are greedy for information. The design of the stamp consists of a fancy numeral 3, 12 mm. in length, en- framed in an engine-turned oval. Beneath the stamp, in a curve following the outline of the oval, is the inscription in coloured block letters, six cents u. s. return envelope. As this is all that we possess of the envelope, we cannot say what other inscriptions there may be upon it, nor explain wdiy the stamp bears the numeral 3 whilst the inscription seems to indicate 6 cents as the value of the envelope. Hence we refrain from guessing at the value. The stamp and legend are in scarlet-vermilion upon white wove paper.
Uruguay. — We are now in possession of the two cards of which we announced the issue last month. They have three lines of inscriptions. 1st, the fancy capitals, " r o u," crossed by a scroll incribed " tarjeta postal;" 2nd, " 2A serie — 1880;" 3rd, " es- cribase de este lado," etc. They bear the same type of stamp as those of the last issue in the right upper corner. The reply-paid card has an extra line of inscription beneath " escribase de este lado," etc., and "respuesta" above that line on the second half.
2 cents, blue to deep blue, on white card.
2 + 2 cents, Venetian red, on white card, size about 129 x 77 mm., or 5to x 3 inches.
THE POST CARDS OF FINLAND.
65
Venezuela. — Of the Escuelas type, perforated, the following high values are said to be in circulation —
5 Bolivars, green. 10 ,, carmine.
Wurtemberg'. — M. Moens describes and figures a series of official stamps now in use in this kingdom, of which he gives the following account : " Official stamps for franking correspondence connected with the business of the State, churches, schools, and public benevolent institutions, were issued, in part, on the first of April last, in terms of a decree, dated 26th March, 1881, of the Ministry of Churches and Schools. Article 3 of this decree sets forth that, ' Delivery of these stamps shall be made against printed acknowledgments of their receipt upon forms to be furnished by the post-office department. At the end of every month the post- office authorities shall prepare a statement of the number of receipts in their possession for stamps issued, and shall submit it to our Department for examination and payment.' "
These official stamps are of the same values and colours as the ordinary postage stamps, and are of one type. The design, which is typographed, consists of white labels at top, bottom, and sides, a fifth label crossing the centre of the stamp obliquely from the left lower to the right upper corner, and two escutcheons, one on either side of the central label, with the numeral of value. The left label is inscribed K. wurtt, the top one post, with a star before and after the word. The bottom label is inscribed with the numerical value in words, and the right label with pfennig. The central label bears the legend amtlicher verkehr, or, Official Correspondence. Six values, printed in colour on white paper ; shape, upright rectangular ; perforated 11.
3 pfennig, green. 5 , , violet. 10 ,, rose
20 pfennig, ultramarine.
25 „ bistre.
50 ,, bronze-green.
THE POST CARDS OF FINLAND,
Our contributor, "A Post Card Collector," asks us to add the following varieties to the list published last month :
November, 1S71. Variety V. Bided lines. 8 penni, yellow-green, on thin pale yellow-green card. 8 „ green " „ whity-green „
GQ NOTES ON PIGMENTS.
NOTES ON PIGMENTS,
By "CSEMWUS."
Before entering upon a brief description of the various pigments which are employed to give colour to printers' ink, I must premise that, except in one or two instances, it is not my intention to describe the processes adopted in the manufacture of these bodies ; but I shall content myself with indicating their chemical composition. I shall also point out the changes which time and the atmosphere work upon them ; but do not intend for many reasons to treat of the action which chemical re-agents have upon them. Nor do I think it will be necessary for me to enter into the theory of colour, presuming that most of my readers are more or less acquainted with it.
Those bodies which we call pigments are derived from all the three kingdoms of nature — the animal, the vegetable, and the mineral. As a rule, the pigments derived from animal and vegetable sources are brilliant in colour and of great purity, but are very unstable, or fugitive ; whilst those derived from mineral or inorganic sources, although not of great brilliancy, are usually of a stable or permanent character.
The chief pigments used in the manufacture of printing inks, classified into fugitive and permanent colours, are :
FUGITIVE PIGMENTS.
Reds. — Rose-pink, carmine, crimson, Florence, Hambro and Kermes lakes, iodine scarlet, dragon's-blood.
Yellows. — Yellow-lake, Dutch, English, and Italian pinks; orpiment, gamboge, gallstone, Indian yellow, patent yellow.
Blues. — Antwerp blue, Prussian blue.
Oranges. — Annatto, orange-orpiment.
Greens.— Sap green, verdigris.
Purples. — Purple-lake, burnt carmine.
Browns. — Brown-pink, prussiate of copper.
PERMANENT PIGMENTS.
Reds. — Lac lake, vermilion, red-lead, madder lake, madder carmine, light red, Venetian red, Indian red, scarlet-lake.
Yellows. — Raw sienna, jaune, chrome-yellow, Naples yellow, lemon- yellow, yellow, Oxford, and Roman ochres, cadmium yellow.
Blues. — Blue verditer, cobalt, ultramarine, indigo, smalts, blue ochre.
Oranges. — Orange-lead, orange-chrome, burnt sienna, burnt Roman ochre.
Greens. — Emerald-green, green verditer, chrome-green, mineral green.
Purples. — Madder-purple, purple-ochre.
Browns. — Vandyke brown, raw and burnt umbers, asphaltum, sepia, manganese-brown, bistre, cassel brown.
NOTES ON PIGMENTS.
RED PIGMENTS.
Madder Lake.
Crimson Lake.
Scarlet Lake.
Rose Pink.
Vermilion.
Venetian Red.
Indian Red.
NOTES ON PIGMENTS. 67
RED PIGMENTS.
The most important of the red colouring matters are the lakes. Lake is a generic term applied to those pigments derived from vegetable or animal sources where the colouring matter is deposited on an earthy base, usually alumina. Lakes are of various colours — red, yellow, blue, and purple, of each of which I will treat in its proper place. The process adopted in their manufacture is practically the same, and a description of the method of manufacturing one of them, crimson-lake, will serve for all.
Crimson-lake is prepared by boiling cochineal (the bodies of insects that live on various plants belonging to the order cacti) in water for a few minutes, and then adding to the decoction thus obtained a small quantity of alum. The mixture being boiled again for a few minutes, and then allowed to stand for some time, a fine powder of a beautiful colour settles slowly to the bottom. This powder is then collected and introduced to commerce as crimson-lake. After the removal of the powder the remaining liquor is still coloured, and can be used for making some of the inferior lakes.
Carmine is prepared in a similar way, but a stronger decoction of cochineal is used.
Florentine, Hambro, and scarlet-lakes are all prepared from cochineal.
Rose-pink is a coarse kind of lake, prepared by dyeing chalk, or whitening, with a strong decoction of Brazil wood.
Madder-lakes and madder-carmines are prepared from madder root by similar processes.
Lac-lake is prepared from sticklac, a secretion formed on twigs or branches of trees by an insect native to the East Indies.
These lakes are pigments of great beauty and purity ; but with one or two exceptions they are very fugitive in character, rapidly fading on exposure to light. They are much used in all kinds of colour-work. The action of acids or of alkalies destroys the colour of nearly all the lakes ; hence stamps printed with ink, the base of which is a lake, offer great diffi- culties to the cleaner of obliterated stamps.
Vermilion is a sulphide of mercury, and is prepared by heating a mixture of sulphur and mercury, when a black compound is formed, which is taken and thrown into red-hot cylinders, where it undergoes sublimation, and in doing so loses its black colour and assumes a brilliant red tint, which now forms vermilion. It is largely used in all branches of colour-work, and is a fairly permanent colour, although there appears to be some doubt on this point, as some writers say that the red-vermilion gradually changes back again into the black and early stage of the process.
Red-lead is a peroxide of lead. This pigment is largely used in colour- work ; but where permanency is desired it should not be employed, in- asmuch as by exposure to air it gradually blackens, owing to the formation of a new compound of lead ; namely, the sulphide. This property of blackening is common to all lead compounds, and renders the use of colours containing it undesirable. Hence the reason why so many stamps originally printed in red or orange colours now appear of a black or brown hue, as, for instance, some of the Prussian, the Ionian, early Newfoundland, and many other postage stamps.
Dragon's-blood is occasionally used in printing, and is a resin found on the fruits and leaves of some species of palm trees grown hi India. It is of fugitive character. Iodine-scarlet is a pigment of exceedingly fugitive character, although of great beauty of colour, and is a compound of mercury and iodine.
Light red, Venetian red, and Indian red, are pigments of great value, and owe their colour to oxides of iron. Venetian red and Indian red are natural pigments, but are now for the most part produced artificially. Light red is made by the action of heat on pure yellow-ochre. These reds are of permanent character, not being affected to any extent by time or atmos- pheric agencies.
{To be continued.)
68 THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS.
THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS.
By CAPT. E. B. EVANS, R.A. (Read at the Meeting of the Philatelic Society of London on the 2Gth March, 1881.
(Continued from page 44-)
REFERENCE LIST.
March (?), 1S63. Type of 1862 of Messrs. De La Rue and Co.'s stamps, Gd. . . . . lilac
Is. . . . . green.
Received from England in May and June, 1863, and issued as shown below ; types as before of Messrs. De La Rue and Co.'s stamps; 3d. without, 5s. with, figures of value at sides ; white paper ; watermarked crown and cc. ; perf. 14. (The varieties of shade are of course due to subsequent printings.) 1S63. Id. . . dark lilac-brown, brown, yellow-brown.
2d. . . blue, varying. 3d. . . vermilion. 4d. . . rose, varyimj. 5s. . . brown-violet. 1SG4. 6d. . . lilac.
Is. . . yellow, orange-yellow. 1872 (?). 9d. . green.
Received in April, 1864; issued
1865. 6d. . . pale green, dark green, yellowish-green.
Received in March, 1865 ; issued 1868 (?). 5s. . . mauve. 1870. Is. . . blue.
October, 1872. Surface printed ; manufactured by Messrs. De La Rue and Co. ; different type ; watermark and perforation as in 1863.
lOd maroon.
Provisional stamps : surcharged locally ; " halfpenny " in two lines in black. February, 1S76. id. on 9d., pale lilac, reddish-lilac ; un watermarked. October, 1876. |d. on 10d., maroon ; watermarked crown and cc. April, 1877- Provisional stamp, made in England, " halfpenny " in one line in black, surcharged on impressions from the lOd. plate in rose; the original value cancelled by a black bar ; watermarked crown and cc. ; perf. 14.
|d. black and rose.
December, 1877. Provisional stamps ; surcharged locally, with new value in one line in black, the original value being cancelled by a black bar ; watermarked crown and cc.
Id. on 4d. . . . rose. Is. on 5s. ... brown-violet, mauve. January, 1878. Provisional issue, made in England; surcharged in black, with the values in cents and rupees; types, watermark, and per- foration as before.
2 c. on type of lOd. . maroon (with lower label removed) 4 c. on Id. . . . yellow-brown. 8 c. on 2d. . . . bine. 13 c. on 3i! . . . vermilion. 17 c. on 4d. . . . ruse. 25 c. on 6d. . . . slate-green. 38 c. on 9d. . . . lilac. 50 c. on Is. . . . green. 2 is. 50 c. on 5s. . . mauve.
THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS. 69
Permanent issue, with values in cents and rupees ; manufactured by Messrs. De La Rue and Co. ; different design for each value ; watermark and perforation as before. March, 1S79.
4 c orange.
25 c olive-yellow.
January, 1SS0.
2 c brown.
8 c. 13 c. 17 c. 38 c. 50 c.
2 rs. 50 c.
blue.
grey-black.
rose.
violet.
green.
brown-violet.
STAMPED ENVELOPES.
Manufactured by Messrs. De La Rue and Co.
December (?), 1S61. Two values, different design for each — 6d., circular; 9d., shield-shaped, with nine sides ; embossed on small envelopes, 4| x 2f inches ; pale blue wove paper ; three varieties of flap ornament — 1 containing a single rose ; 2 containing a wreath of flowers ; 3 containing crossed lines, forming a pattern of narrow diamonds, with rosettes where the lines cross. * 1. 6d. . . violet I 2. 6cl. . . violet.
9d. . . dark brown | 9d. . . dark brown.
3. 6d. ?
9d dark brown.
December, 1862. Two values ; 6d. same design as before ; Is., small oval ; embossed on large envelopes, 8f x 3f inches (these dimensions vary slightly). Two kinds of paper — I. Pale blue, thin, hand-made, wove paper ; II. Ordinary machine-made wove paper, varying in colour from blue to almost white. Three varieties of flap ornament — 1. Circular device of inter- laced rings ; 2. Large circular tress, with lozenge pattern in the centre ; 3. Same size as 1, with a rose in the centre on a lined ground. I. 1. 6d. . red violet. Is. . yellow.
*■ 5) 55 55 55
**• 55 55 55 55
*■*■• *■• 55 55 55 55
9
*" 55 55 55 55
Q
"■ 55 55 55 55
January, 1873. Two values — lOd. oval, with outer frame of ten curved sides ; Is. 8d. oval, in frame curved above and below, and straight at sides ; embossed on large envelopes ; pale bluish, linen-lined paper ; flaps plain. lOd. . . . maroon ; 6^ x 4 inches.
Is. Sd. ... blue ; 7 x 4f inches.
December, 1877. Provisional envelopes, the two last mentioned sur- charged locally, with new value in one line in black, with a bar below to cancel the original value.
6d. on lOd. ..... maroon.
Is. on Is. 8d blue.
January, 1878. Provisional issue from altered dies ; 8 c. from die of 6d., 25 c. from die of Is. 8d., 50 c. from die of lOd. ; thick white wove paper ; plain flaps.
S c. . . blue, pale blue ; 5J x 2i inches.
25 c. . . mauve ; 5| x 2| inches.
50 c. . . red-brown ; 6£ x 4 inches.
* It is only quite recently that I have met with a specimen of the 9d. with the 3rd variety of seal, and I do not know whether the Gd. exists with this variety.
70 THE STAMPS OF MAURITIUS.
March, 1879. New die ; oval design ; paper, &c., as last. 50 c. . . brown ; 6i x 4 inches.
POST CARDS.
Provisional cards of local manufacture, used with an adhesive stamp.
February 18th, 1879. Arms and motto of Mauritius; inscribed "Mau- ritius, inland post card;" frame 4| x 2$ inches ; signature of lithographer in sixteen varieties in left-hand lower corner ; lithographed hi black on white card.
2c. . . . . black and maroon.
February 21st, 1879. Arms of Great Britain; inscribed "Mauritius post card ;" frame 4f x 2| inches ; lithographed in black on white card. 2c. . . . . black and maroon.
March, 1879. Cards of private manufacture; crown and inscription "Mauritius post cardj" no frame ; type printed in black on enamelled cards of various colours.
2 c. . . black and maroon on yellowish-white. „ „ „ green.
,, . . ,, ,, rose,
„ „ „ pale blue.
Cards with an impressed stamp, manufactured by Messrs. De La Rue and Co. ; printed in colour on buff ; no frame.
October, 1879. Inland card ; type of 2 c. adhesive issued in January, 1880.
2 c . . . red-brown ; 4* x 2i§ inches.
March, 1880. Postal Union card ; similar to the last, but with additional inscriptions ; type resembling that of the lOd. adhesive of 1872. 6 c . . . green ; 4| x 3f inches.
August, 1SS0. Same size, and with the same inscriptions, as the 2 c inland card ; but with type of 8 c. adhesive issued in January, 1S80 ; sur- charged with new value in one line in black, with bar below cancelling the original value.
4 c on 8 c blue.
The 8c. cards may also be met with unsurcharged ; but I do not think they were ever issued for use in that state.
8 c. blue.
ESSAYS.
ADHESIVES.
1876. Essay of surcharge, " £ " on left, " d " on right of the neck of the profile, " halfpenny " in one line below, in red and in black.
^d. in red on 9d. . . lilac, reddish-lilac
|d. in black on 9d. . . . lilac.
POST CARDS.
1877. Type-printed in black on coloured cards ; arms and motto of Mauritius ; fancy frame ; space for adhesive stamp.
(2 c) lilac
(4 c) blue.
Similar to first issued card ; end of the scroll containing " inland post card," extending into the space for the stamp ; without the signature of the lithographer.
(2 c) black on white.
(Concluded.)
CORRESPONDENCE. 71
<£orvcsponirciue*
RECENT TURKISH SURCHARGES.
To the Editor of "The Philatelic Record."
Dear Sir, — I do not think anyone will accuse me of being unduly preju- diced against surcharges, but I confess that I should like to know a little more about those pretty things that have turned up from Turkey in such profusion lately.
Have the heads of the Turkish Postal Department only just woke up to the fact that the stamp mania may be made very profitable if properly worked? or how is it that we have not sooner been supplied with these surcharges, some of which are found on stamps which I thought had been for some time obsolete ?
In Le Timbre Poste for September, 1S79, there appeared a letter, received by a correspondent of M. Moens, from the Chief Secretary of the Turkish Post-office. This letter seems to throw some light on the subject of the stamps surcharged " imprimes," which for some reason appear to be mixed up with those surcharged for Mount Athos.
The following is, I believe, a fairly accurate translation of the letter :
" Constantinople, 14th July, 1879.
" Sir, — In reply to your letter of this day's date, I hasten to inform you that the surcharge bearing the word " imprimes " originally applied to the stamps of 10 paras of the second issue at the time of the alteration authorizing the payment of the postage on newspapers in copper currency " (this, I think, must be the meaning of " lots du changement des recettes des joumaux en cuivre ") " has been since also struck, on various occasions, on the stamps of 20 and 50 paras and 2 and 5 piastres of the above-mentioned issue, and that under the following circumstances (which had besides been already foreseen at the time of the application of the measure relative to the receipt of copper currency for certain charges) :
" It happened sometimes that publishers or others brought packets of newspapers or other printed matter to the post-offices franked by means of stamps for international postage of higher values than 10 paras. If the stamps in question were of the first issue, the senders were requested to change them, seeing that the stamps belonging to that issue already bore a surcharge, and that it was not considered convenient to print surcharge upon surcharge ; but if the stamps were of the second issue, then the same sur- charge was struck upon them that was used for the 10 paras, and that with a view to facilitating the transmission of the parcels and granting a privilege to the senders, which has perhaps, at the same time, given pleasure to collectors.
" In fact, the plan adopted to distinguish the stamps paid for in copper money from those paid for in good" {i.e. undepreciated) "money having been soon given up in favour of a more practical scheme, which consists in selling for copper money only the stamps of 10 paras of the first issue, and for good money all the others without distinction, it follows as a natural consequence that the stamps surcharged with the word 'imprimes,' and especially those of higher values than 10 paras, are somewhat rare.
"(Signed) Eletacci, Chief Secretary."
Now some of the above is plain enough, but other parts are not quite so easy to understand.
It is evident that 10 paras stamps of the present issue (for that, no doubt, is what is meant by the second issue, it being the second issue of stamps for international postage) were surcharged with the word " imprimes," and could be paid for with the depreciated copper currency, and doubtless paper also. This will explain the letter published in the April number of the
72 PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON.
Philatelic Record. The Mount Atlios surcharge may have a similar ohject. Perhaps the inmates of the convents are allowed to purchase their stamps with the depreciated currency, or it may he used simply for the purpose of keeping the accounts of the Mount Athos Post-office separate.
But I must say that I do not quite see what was the ohject of surcharging with the word "imprimes" the stamps of higher values than 10 paras which had already been purchased by the users and placed on packets of printed matter ; for unless the official who surcharged them was authorized to refund the difference between the value of the money originally paid for them and that of the currency (which seems hardly likely, though it may have been the case), the surcharging would not appear to have been of any great use to the senders of the packets.
One thing, however, seems certain ; namely, that the only stamps issued to the public with the surcharge "imprimes" were the 10 paras of the current issue, and that any other unused stamps found with that surcharge are specimens made for the benefit of collectors only.
It appears also that both of these surcharges are obsolete.
In regard to the " catchak," are stamps with this surcharge really kept in stock, or is it not rather a species of obliteration applied to the stamps on, or after, their being stuck on the seized letters ? Is it not possible that the stamps thus surcharged are of a similar nature to the once-sought-for " too-late " Trinidads ?
You state in the April number that the surcharging stamps are ap- parently at Constantinople ; and if that is the case, an obliging official with great zeal for the public service, and a commission on the sale of stamps, might do wonders for the benefit of collectors. No doubt different coloured surcharges are used in the various Turkish provinces, and there should be at least a variety of shade for each of the convents (thirty-two, I believe) on Mount Athos.
While I am on the subject of Turkish surcharges I may just mention a curious circumstance. A short time back I examined a large stock of envelopes belonging to a well-known firm. Among them were about a couple of hundred, I should say, of the Turkish 1 piastre surcharged " cheir." Every one of these had. the flap carefully gummed down.
Now it is hardly likely that this was done by their present possessor. It was must probably done in order that they might be mure easily surcharged.
It doubtless adds greatly to the value of these envelopes for postal purposes, and certainly speaks volumes for the good-nature of the Turkish Post-office authorities.
Yours, &c, Edw. B. Evans.
ptocccijirtgs uf tbc philatelic Batith of bonbon.
»
The eleventh meeting of the season was held at 13, Gray's Inn Square, on the 30th April, 1881, the President in the chair. The Secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved ; and the President read a communication from Capt. Evans in support of his belief that tin- 2d., large head with band, of Mauritius was printed from the old plate re- engraved, and not from a new one. The President intimated that he would consider Capt. Evans's arguments, and report upon them to the Society. Attention was called to some forgeries of the first issue of Mauritius post cards, which appear to emanate from Paris, and to which it is probable that further reference will be made. The business of the day was to study