THE

LondonPhilatelist:
THE MONTHLY JOURNAL OF

THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

VOL. VIII. JUNE, 1899. No. 90.

The Season of 1898-1899.

EIGHTEEN HUNDRED now appears for the last time in its
dual capacity as representing the two halves of the expiring
Philatelic season, although the winter of 1899-1900 will see
the last complete season of the century. It is obvious,
therefore, that the time is not yet for a general survey
of the past; but, none the less, a few remarks may be made
with regard to the trend of recent events.
Philately, like trade, follows the flag, and it is with the
transference of this emblem of sovereignty from one great
nation to a greater that the dominant feature of the past
year is to be found. The collapse of the Spanish colonial
power, in the recent conflict with our American cousins, has
been signal, and so complete that, bereft by the fortune of war of all the
colonies that were important, the Spanish Government has just ceded to
Germany, against payment, the few remaining groups of islands that America
did not claim. How are the mighty fallen! The quondam world-wide
empire of Spain has dwindled down in the expiring nineteenth century
to the ownership of Fernando Po!
Le roi est mart: vive le roi! The United States Government., in taking
over the various postal arrangements of their new colonies, has been prompt
in continuing and improving the previous facilities; and in so doing has
alike made use of the local stamps, surcharged their own stamps for colonial
use, and made arrangements for permanent issues. The natural outcome of
all this has been a keen interest on the part of American collectors in the
stamps of their new colonies (including Samoa), and the laying of the
foundation of a new school of collectors that will some day be one of the
great Philatelic factors—"America and Colonies."
146 THE SEASON OF 1898-1899.

The German nation—longo intervallo—is following suit; but at present

their Philatelic interest is confined to surcharges on the current Imperial
issue. And, although they are but of slender interest, they are fairly
numerous, and present also the germ of " Gjermany and Colonies." The
recent appearance of French works of reference and catalogues has opened
our eyes as to the very numerous colonial possessions of our immediate
neighbours and their still more numerous issues of surcharged stamps. The
last few years have, however, seen no recrudescence of those superfluous
overprintings, with the result that confidence and patriotism having
allied themselves across the Channel, a great revival of interest has been
shown in the issues of " France and Colonies." One of the advantages
of stamp collecting is that it induces a familiarity with contemporaneous
history; and it may indeed be said that the postage stamps of a decade
form a microcosm of its most important events. The aspirations of the
several great nations towards a colonial empire is the great feature, and
the great danger, of the expiring century, and Philately has formed an im-
perishable index thereof in the guise of the issues of the newer colonial
empires.
The expiring season has not as yet been marked by the appearance
of any very important work on Philately, but it is to be hoped and expected
that before the summer heats drive us all away from town and stamps, the
work on our own stamps—if not another one also of first-class importance—may
have appeared. The Catalogue is always with us, and is rapidly becoming-
a Philatelic encyclopaedia, owing to the collaboration of so many of the
leading labourers in the Philatelic field. The well-being and activity of
Philatelic bodies has, however, been fully maintained latterly; and neither
herein or in the financial side of collecting do we see any ill omen for the
future. Clouds will pass across the landscape and shadows apparently rest;
but they pass, and the sun still shining behind them at length emerges, and
sends us once more on our way with renewed confidence.
In our humble opinion the event fraught with the most vital effect upon
Philately—in this country—has been the continued decadence of the auctions.
We have so frequently alluded hereto that we need do no more than
reiterate and .emphasise our view that the interests of the collector—as
of the auctioneer—demand that some attempt shall be made to keep up
the standard. The veriest tyro in Philately can see that the auctions have
latterly become a "shoot" for the unloading of rubbish and rejections—not
for collections. These former have been, and are, improperly described, are
generally sold for what they are worth—not what they purport to be in
print—and serve to alarm and debar the sober and consistent collector alike
from purchasing his stamps of the dealer or selling them at the auction.
 [ H7 ]

The Stamps of New South Wales..

SOME MORE INTERESTING RECORDS ABOUT THE "SYDNEY VIEWS."

BY A. F. BASSET HULL.

WHEN Dr. Andrew Houison compiled his History of

the Post Office and of the Issue of Postage Stamps in
New South Wales, he had very little time at his dis-
posal in which to search for and arrange the available
official records relating to the early issues of the
colony. On the 24th of February, 1890, he obtained
the necessary permission to prepare the work, and before the end of the
following month it was printed ! It is not a matter for surprise, therefore,
that the records published are not as complete as could be wished; never-
theless, the work is a most remarkable evidence of Dr. Houison's energy
and ability to achieve much in a very short space of time.
A little while ago I was fortunate enough to find several old letter-books
in the Postal Department which had evaded discovery in Dr. Houison's
necessarily hurried search. These contain copies of the letters written
from the Department, and supply several of the missing links in the chain
of evidence regarding not only the Sydney Views, but also the later issues.

On the 17th April, 1849,the Postmaster-General (Mr. James Raymond)

wrote to the Colonial Secretary respecting an Act of Council for establishing
an uniform rate of postage in the Colony. Several paragraphs are suffi-
ciently related to the subsequent issue of stamps to justify quotation. He
wrote:—
"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd
December last, forwarding one from the Honourable the Attorney-General, and
directing me to furnish the details of a measure for establishing an uniform rate
of postage in the Colony.
" 2. In obedience to your instructions, I have accordingly copied from the
Imperial Acts of Parliament the clauses which I think might be made applicable
to this Colony.
"3. With regard to the rates of postage to be adopted, it appears to me that,
referring to the alteration proposed in the weight from a quarter to half an ounce
to assimilate to the English scale, an uniform rate of 4d. would be a very great
reduction (the average rate at present being 8d.); but considering the number of
unclaimed and undelivered letters, it may be a question whether a 3d. rate to
be prepaid, otherwise to be liable to double postage, would not be more beneficial
to the public, and yield an equal revenue.
"4. In proposing this rate I have assumed that, as in England, the privilege
of franking will be abolished, and although I cannot but anticipate some falling
off in the revenue, yet looking to the extent of this privilege, and the evasion of
148 THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

postage to which the present high rates tend, I have every reason to hope that it
will be only temporary.
" 5. It will be observed that I have copied the clauses respecting stamps,
considering that if they can be adopted it will be advantageous to the public, as
I am aware of many instances where servants have destroyed letters entrusted to
them for posting in order to retain the postage.
"n. In conclusion, I have only to observe that, although I have not proposed
any charge for newspapers, yet referring to the fact that in the United Kingdom
they are subjected to a stamp duty as well as postage in some instances, and that
in the United States, and, I believe, in most other nations, they are liable to
postage, I cannot but consider some small rate should be imposed to defray the
expense to which the Treasury is subjected, for it must be obvious that besides
the additional labour occasioned by their sorting and delivery, the contracts for
the conveyance of the inland mails would be much lower, as they would in many
instances be sent on horseback but for the number and weight of the newspapers."

It is interesting to note that the proposed Postage Act was under con-
sideration as early as December, 1848. The Postmaster-General's recom-
mendations were subsequently embodied in a Bill which, upon motion for
second reading in the Legislative Council, was referred to a Select Com-
mittee (gth August, 1849). The Report of the Committee was tabled on
the 12th September following, and most of the points of interest regarding
postage stamps contained therein are included in Dr. Houison's book.
The Act was passed at the latter end of 1849, and active preparations
were entered into for producing the necessary postage stamps.
One of the principal engravers then resident in Sydney was Mr. Robert
Clayton, of Castlereagh Street. This gentleman had given evidence before
the Select Committee on the Postage Bill, and had also tendered for a
printing-press, dies, and plates for stamps for the sum of £36. He averred
that he could produce any number of impressions on a plate, identical in
detail, from one die. Unfortunately, however, the results of his system
did not meet with the approval of the Postmaster-General, as will be seen
later on.
On the 12th October, 1849, Mr. Raymond submitted for the approval
of the Colonial Secretary certain forms required under the new Postage
Act, observing that it was proposed to omit the columns for free letters and
to substitute columns for stamps and for newspapers. With respect to the
distribution of stamps, he proposed to forward them, as in England, to every
country office for sale, debiting them with the amount, and allowing credit
in the monthly account for any remaining on hand at the termination of the
month.
With reference to the proposed arrangements for payment of postage
on official correspondence, the Auditor-General in conjunction with the
Postmaster-General wrote to the Colonial Secretary on the I5th November,
1849:—
"SiR,—In attention to your instructions that we should propose some arrange-
ment in respect of the payment of postage on Official correspondence under the new
Postage Act, we do ourselves the honor to report that the most desirable method
appears to us to be for all Public Departments to adopt Postage Stamps which might
 THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 149

be supplied by the Post Office upon requisition, and charged for in a monthly or
quarterly account, a form of which we beg to submit.
" 2. By the adoption of this system, all letters from the several Public Officers in
the Interior who should procure stamps in like manner from the country Postmasters
would be prepaid, and the general adoption of stamps by the Government would
tend in a great measure to induce private individuals to resort to these stamps in
corresponding on their own affairs with Public Departments.
"3. Should any letters be posted unpaid the postage can of course be included
in the same account with the stamps, but parties being aware of the penalty for
non-prepayment, we think the letters so posted will not be very numerous.
"4. The adoption of stamps will facilitate the business of the Post Office, and
moreover relieve Public Officers from the necessity of attaching their signatures to
the letters as an authority for the postage being charged against their Departments.
" 5. The stamps would be entrusted to an officer in each Department, who would
be responsible that they were used only for Official letters, and it may be considered
necessary that they should be accounted for by a quarterly account in a form similar
to the enclosed marked No. 2, or by any more eligible form which in practice may
suggest itself."

On the following day Mr. Raymond submitted to the Colonial Secretary

a draft of the proposed Regulations for guidance of the Post Office Depart-
ment under the Postage Act, 13 Viet, No. 38, and stated that "the
preparation of the dies and other arrangements for providing Postage
Stamps are in progress, and having conferred with the Auditor-General
and Colonial Storekeeper as directed in your communication, the mode of
sale and the poundage to be allowed thereon has been agreed upon, and is
inserted in the Regulations for the approval of His Excellency the Governor
and the Executive Council."
In anticipation of the stamps being soon ready, a requisition for an iron
safe " for the custody of the dies and stamps " was forwarded to the Colonial
Storekeeper on the I5th November.
In the meantime Mr. Clayton seems to have been at work producing
stamps by his own method, when a proposal from Mr. Ham,* of Port
Phillip, to provide the stamps was submitted to Mr. Raymond. There
appears to have been a previous communication from Mr. Ham on the
subject, but I cannot trace it. In returning the letter from His Honour the
Superintendent of Port Phillip, forwarding "a further proposal from Mr.
Ham to supply the stamps required under the new Postage Act," Mr.
Raymond wrote to the Colonial Secretary (29th November, 1849):—
" 2. I do myself the honor to report that finding the stamps prepared by Mr.
Clayton were of so inferior a description it was determined to get three copper plates
engraved, and the work being in progress I fear it is now too late to make any altera-
tion as it is considered necessary that the Stamps should be struck off and a supply
be at the several country Post Offices before the commencement of the new year.
" 3. As to the Stamps being forged I think the best security will be their little
value and the number of persons who should be entrusted with their sale, but in
England the paper used is, I understand, the great safeguard against forgery.
" 4. From the specimen of Mr. Ham's engraving which I have seen I regret that
* The engraver of the first Victorian stamps.
iSo THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

circumstances do not admit of his offer being accepted, as the work would, I have no
doubt, be more satisfactorily executed, but referring to the instructions contained in
your letter of the aoth October as to the early distribution of the Stamps, I see no
other course now left but to carry out the arrangements in progress."

Writing to the Colonial Secretary on the I3th December, 1849, little more
than a fortnight before the stamps were to come into use, Mr. Raymond again
refers to the failure of Clayton's undertaking, and gives further interesting
particulars. He says:—
" SIR,—I do myself the honor to report that the sample of Postage Stamps sub-
mitted by Mr. Clayton having been disapproved of by the Board appointed under
your letter of zoth October last, it was considered that as he had failed in his
undertaking, the arrangements entered into with him for providing the Postage
Stamps were at an end.
" 2. Under these circumstances, it was determined to get three copper plates
engraved, and as the same are now nearly completed, it is necessary to make
arrangements for printing the Stamps.
"A printing-press has accordingly been purchased under the inspection of the
Colonial Storekeeper, and several Printers having offered their services, I desired them
to send in written Tenders which would be submitted.
" I therefore do myself the honor to enclose a schedule of those received, and
from the enquiries I have made, I am led to believe that the individual named in the
margin [Charles Kay], whose offer is the lowest, is an eligible party to perform the
work."

On the same day Mr. Raymond wrote to the Colonial Secretary, report-
ing on a letter from a Mr. Harris soliciting tender for printing stamps, that
" arrangements have been made for engraving the plates, but a tender for
the printing has been received from Mr. Harris and submitted with others
this day."
It was necessary to expedite matters, and on the following day the
Postmaster - General wrote to Mr. Charles Kay, Union Street, Sydney,
" I have received the sanction of His Excellency the Governor to accept
your tender for printing and gumming the Postage Stamps required for
this Department at the rate of three pounds fifteen shillings for every
one thousand sheets containing 100 stamps on each."
The tenders of the following printers were declined :—
Mr. Alonzo Grocott, Elizabeth Street.
Mr. Robert Clayton, Castlereagh Street.
Mr. William Harris, at Mr. Blunt's, Bridge Street.
Mr. Hugh Carruthers, Engraver.
Mr. H. C. Jervis, Pitt Street.

Dr. Houison illustrates some of Clayton's essays, of which two appear

to be printed direct from copper plates, and the others from lithographic
transfers. It would seem, therefore, that his method of reproduction was
simply that of lithography. Doubtless the inferior appearance of the
lithographed stamps as compared with impressions taken direct from the
plate caused the Postmaster-General to reject the whole plan, and adopt
 THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 151

the one of procuring the separate engraved plates referred to in his letter
of the 13th December.
It is curious, however, to note that in accepting Kay's tender for printing,
Mr. Raymond should have mentioned one hundred stamps as the number to
each sheet. Perhaps that number was originally intended (more particularly
as Clayton could produce one hundred lithographic transfers almost as easily
as twenty-five), and the short time at the engravers' disposal compelled them
to restrict their plates to a smaller number of impressions. At any rate, we
can be thankful that there were not one hundred impressions on each plate
of the "Views." Separately engraved, retouched, and on all the kinds of
paper then in ordinary use, the number of minor varieties would have run
into thousands !
The arrangements made for printing the stamps under the direct super-
vision of the Postmaster-General, the Auditor-General, and the Colonial
Storekeeper, as might have been anticipated, had very soon to be altered,
and authority obtained for deputing the supervision to subordinate officers.
On the igth December, 1849, Mr. Raymond wrote to the Colonial
Secretary:—
"SiR,—Having reference to the arrangement proposed in your letter of 2Oth
October for forming a Board consisting of the Auditor-General, the Colonial Store-
keeper, with myself to superintend the printing of the Post Office Stamps, 1 do
myself the honor to report that Mr. Lithgow states the duties of his own Depart-
ment will not admit of giving his personal attendance, but proposes to send a
representative in the person of Mr. Ferguson, one of his clerks, under whose
inspection I am proceeding with the work, as nothing but the most prompt exertion
will enable me to have a supply ready by the ist January. Mr. Buchanan proposes
to adopt the same course unless some other arrangement should be considered more
advisable."
There being so few working days remaining before the stamps were
required for issue, it can easily be understood that the printer would be
working incessantly, and that the supervisors would therefore have no time
to perform their ordinary duties if they strictly carried out the original
arrangements ; hence it became absolutely necessary to appoint deputy-
supervisors.
That the printing went on satisfactorily from that date may be assumed,
as there is no doubt that the stamps were ready for issue on the ist January,
1850.
The next recorded item is one of the most interesting in the history of
the "Views," and although it has been published before, I must insert it here
in order to make this paper complete. Fortunately it is brief and to the
point:—
"GENERAL POST OFFICE, SYDNEY,
"zist Dec., 1849.
"SiR,—I do myself the honor to submit the undermentioned Accounts for
Copper Plate Engravings of the Postage Stamps, and request you will obtain authority
for my including them in Abstract.
" 2. The Amount can be paid out of the sum voted for this Department for the
current year, a balance of ^5,800 remaining unexpended; but in explanation of
152 THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

difference in price, I beg to state that I was obliged to employ separate engravers, the
Plates being urgently required, and that I made the best arrangement I could under
the circumstances.
" Robert Clayton for furnishing a Copper Plate containing 25 engravings of
the Penny Postage Stamp, Ten pounds.
"John Carmichael for furnishing a Copper Plate containing 24 engravings
of the Twopenny Postage Stamp, Twelve pounds twelve shillings.
" H. C. Jervis for furnishing a Copper Plate containing 25 .engravings of
the Threepenny Postage Stamp, Seven pounds.
" Charles Kay for providing articles required in printing Postage Stamps,
Five pounds eleven shillings and ninepence.
" Amounting in all to Thirty-five pounds three shillings and ninepence.
"I have, &c.,
"The Honorable the Colonial Secretary." "JAS. RAYMOND.
Looking at this account at the present day, one can only marvel at the
small sums charged for the engravings. The work was very good of its
kind, especially in the case of the ad., and yet these elaborate designs were
engraved on copper at the rate of IDS. 6d. each; while for the 3d. little more
than 53. 6d. was charged !
Kay's items were doubtless small necessary articles—blankets, paper, and
other requisites. They could hardly have included a printing-press, as
assumed by Dr. Houison, because the total sum is so small, and the Post-
master-General's letter of the I3th December mentions the purchase of a
printing - press under the inspection of the Colonial Storekeeper, which
was included in a subsequent contingent account, the cost being £20.
Within a month of commencing the printing of the Sydney Views,
Mr. Raymond was forced to conclude that the appliances and means of
production available in the Colony were totally inadequate to the require-
ments of the Department. As early as the 5th January, 1850, he wrote to
the Colonial Secretary, " Much difficulty has been experienced in providing
the Postage Stamps authorised to be issued. It is not my wish to imply
that there are not mechanics in the Colony capable of engraving the Stamps,
but there seems a difficulty in multiplying the Dies upon a Steel Plate for
want of the requisite machinery, and under these circumstances it appears
to me that it will be advisable to obtain from England three Steel Plates
containing at least 100 impressions of each stamp."
The history of those plates " to be obtained from Ejngland," what delays
took place, and what temporary arrangements were resorted to, forms very
interesting reading, which I hope in due course to publish. In the mean-
time, to continue the history of the " Views," I find on the 2grd January, 1850,
the Postmaster-General wrote to the Colonial Secretary, reporting on a letter
from the Colonial Storekeeper, who complained that he was inconvenienced
even by having to depute one of his clerks to supervise the printing of the
stamps. Under date 23rd January, 1850, Mr. Raymond wrote :—
"SiR,—In returning to you the accompanying letter from the Colonial Store-
keeper, complaining of the inconvenience experienced in his Department by the
continued employment of one of his clerks in attending the printing of Postage
Stamps and desiring me to state when the required number will be printed,
 THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 153

" 2. I do myself the honor to report that it is out of my power to estimate the
number of Stamps likely to be required, as one hundred and thirty thousand have
now been printed, and it is only within the last few days that there has been a
sufficient supply to meet the demand.
" 3. It appears to me, however, that an arrangement something similar to that
at Melbourne might be beneficially adopted here, namely to entrust one party to
superintend the printing, who should sign a joint certificate with the Printer of the
number struck off, then hand them over to this Department, obtaining my receipt and
forwarding receipt and certificate to the Audit Office. The Plates to be deposited in
an iron chest, the key of which to remain in his possession.
"4. Some such alteration is moreover necessary, as the Printer complains the
hours he is allowed to work do not enable him to earn enough to maintain himself,
and that in tendering he contemplated upon working eight or ten hours, when he
would print as many in two days as he does now in a week.
" 5. If therefore the gentleman now deputed by the Auditor-General to attend at
this Office should be considered sufficient to superintend the printing, and that by
paying him extra—say at the rate of one shilling per hour for every hour he may
be employed beyond the usual Office hours, a sufficient number could be printed
in two or three days each week, the arrangement would, I think, be the most
economical and more convenient for all parties."

On the 25th April, 1850, the Postmaster-General wrote to the Colonial

Secretary, submitting certain contingent accounts for approval, and requesting
that the sanction of His Excellency the Governor might be obtained to his
including them in the contingent account This is one of the most important
and interesting records found, in that it establishes the fact that after all
Jervis, and not Carmichael, as assumed by Dr. Houison, retouched the
2d. plate. The items are as follows:—
" Hugh Carruthers for repairing and supplying Stamps, &c., Thirty-seven pounds
thirteen shillings.
" J. C. Thornthwaite for supplying Stamps, &c., Six pounds eighteen shillings.
" (Note: These two items refer to obliterating stamps for various post offices.)
" H. C. Jervis for re-etching and repairing the plate for printing Twopenny Postage
Stamps, Six pounds.
"J. S. Norrie for supplying gum for gumming Post Office Stamps, Six pounds
eighteen shillings.
"Charles Chapman for supplying colours for printing Postage Stamps, &c.,
Eighteen pounds eight shillings."

The date upon which these contingent accounts were submitted for
approval does not, unfortunately, give any clue to the actual date upon
which the "re-etching" or the "repairing" of the 2d. plate were effected.
From the dated copies referred to in Oceania, it is evident that the so-called
retouch of Plate I.* was made in February, 1850, the plate having become
so worn during six weeks' employment that the finer lines had entirely
disappeared. From examination of a number of impressions from Plate I.,
I have long held the opinion that the plate was several times operated upon,
* For the sake of convenience I refer to the various stages of the plate as I., II., or III., with
" retouches," as generally accepted.
154 THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

possibly in the evenings or intervals of use ; for instance, while the id. or 3d.
plates were in the press. The same "plate number" may be found with more
or less signs of tinkering or retouching, of such a character as to preclude the
supposition that they were merely slight repairs, which in their turn had
disappeared through the wearing of the plate.
The terms used, which were probably copied verbatim from Jervis's
account, point to more than one operation on the part of the engraver,
when considered in conjunction with the terms used in subsequent accounts.
I have, therefore, no hesitation in taking the above-quoted account to refer
to the several temporary scratchings at the plate, and also to the re-etching
or entire renewing of the designs on the plate, which resulted in altering the
character and appearance of the stamps in such a marked manner as to have
caused the late Mr. Tapling to think they were from an entirely new plate.
In replying to a letter from the Colonial Secretary with reference to
certain inquiries from the New Zealand Government about the production
of postage stamps, Mr. Raymond wrote (29th November, 1850), " The plates,
being on copper, are objectionable, as they require to be renewed, and the
impression thus becomes altered." From this it is evident that Mr. Raymond
was fully alive to the disadvantages attached to the copper-plate system.
Although specimens of the stage of the 2d. plate, known as Plate III.,
have been found with date October, 1850, it was not until the 24th of
January, 1851, that another batch of contingent accounts, including repairs
to the plates, was submitted for approval.
These accounts were :—
" H. C. Jervis, Account for repairing and renewing Plate for Twopenny Postage
Stamps, Six pounds.
"do. do. One Penny Postage Stamps, Six pounds five shillings.
"Charles Chapman, Account for colours and materials supplied for printing
Postage Stamps, Twenty-two pounds fifteen shillings.
" Dawson and Thompson, account for articles supplied for printing Postage
Stamps, Three pounds 1/9.
"John Row, account for furnishing gum for Postage Stamps, Six pounds 17/11."

Although the repair which produced the stage known as Plate III. was
neither as radical as that producing Plate II. nor that of the id. plate, Jervis
put in the same charge of 53. per " head " all round ; and, finally, for the two
last repairs he made the same charge. His accounts are included in a batch
submitted on the nth June, 1851, rather more than a month before the 2d.
laureated plate was submitted for approval.
The accounts were:—
"H. C. Jervis, Account for repairing 'Twopenny' Postage Stamp Plate, Six
Pounds.
"H. C. Jervis, Account for repairing 'Twopenny' Postage Stamp Plate, Six
Pounds.
" William Ford, Account for paper supplied to Stamp Department, Two pounds
twelve shillings and sixpence.
" William Ford, Account for paper supplied to Stamp Department, Nine pounds
twelve shillings and sixpence.
 THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 155

" Edward Youngman & Co., Account for gum supplied to Stamp Department,
Two pounds ten shillings.
" Charles Scott, Account for Articles supplied for use of Stamp Department,
Nineteen shillings and threepence.
" Charles Chapman, Account for colours, &c., supplied for Postage Stamps, Twenty-
six pounds four shillings."

We have, therefore, the fullest evidence that there was one " renewal " of
the id. plate and four operations, variously described as "re-etching and re-
pairing" (i), "repairing and renewing" (i), and "repairing" (2), while there
is no mention of repairs to the 3d. plate. Upon this point the memorandum of
the Postmaster-General, dated 3oth November, 1851, that the "present plate
(3d.) . . . though in use for nearly two years, has never been repaired," sup-
plies convincing evidence that there are no missing " contingent accounts "
with regard to that plate.
It is a matter of no little satisfaction to find at this late date that the con-
clusions of the late Mr. Tapling and Mr. Philbrick as to the number of plates
(or states of the plate) are fully borne out by actual official records.
With regard to the number of stamps printed I have not yet been able
to procure full information, but several interesting items have come to light
bearing upon the subject. While I found copies of letters "transmitting
returns of the Postage Stamps printed and issued," dating from nth
February, 1850, up to the 23rd January, 1853, the returns themselves,
unfortunately, were not copied.
The letter from the Postmaster-General to the Colonial Secretary, dated
23rd January, 1850, previously quoted, gives 130,000 of all values as printed
up to that date, and states that it was only within the preceding few days
that there had been a sufficient supply to meet the demand. This statement
must not be taken to imply that at least 130,000 per month were required,
because the demand for the first month of issue was necessarily great, in
order that all offices throughout the Colony might be furnished with a
supply sufficient to last for some time. In the letter regarding the inquiries
by the New Zealand Government, also previously referred to, Mr. Raymond
gives the following " return of the number of Postage Stamps issued to the
Postmaster-General for sale between i January and 31 October, 1850:—
Designation. Number. Value.
One Penny ... 242,900 ... £91^ l2 °
Two Penny ... 384,576 ... .£3,076 12 i
Three Penny ... 69,600 ... £%35 4 °
Total ... 697,076 ... ^4,883 8 i"

The value is computed at the wholesale rate, viz., 8s. per 100 at id.,
i6s. per 100 at 2d., and 243. per 100 at 3d.
The evidence of Mr. John Curwen Boyd, one of the Inspectors of
Stamps, given before the Board of Inquiry into the working of the Post
Office, and quoted in extenso by Dr. Houison, contains a statement that
73,914 stamps were printed in January, and 86,096 in February, 1851.
There was, doubtless, some little difference between the monthly average
156 REPORT OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

printed and issued, and it is therefore difficult to arrive at any definite

conclusion as to the average monthly increase in the issue. I have, how-
ever, ventured to make a rough estimate, taking 70,00x3 as the probable
month's issue in October, 1850, and 4000 as the average increase per
month. From these figures (which I admit are not very satisfactory),
I arrive at an estimate of the total number of each value issued up to
the date of supersession by the Jaureated types.
The estimate is :—
id., 720,000 . . superseded 2oth December, 1851.
2d., 815,000 . . „ 24th July, 1851.
3d., 375,000 . . „ ist December, 1852.
Although the total numbers may eventually be found to have been
somewhat greater, I do not think the difference will be very large. My
estimate is larger in the aggregate than Dr. Houison's, who, however, had
only the numbers printed in January and February, 1851, to go upon.
He estimated the issue for the six months ended 3Oth June, 1851, at id.,
151,163; 2d., 302,326; and 3d., 46,511. For the same period I estimate
the issue of id. at 193,200; 2d., 301,600; and 3d., 55,200. Dr. Houison
gives the proportion in which the denominations were issued at two two-
penny to one penny, and six and a half twopenny to one threepenny.
The proportion shown in the ten months' issue quoted above is 3i id.,
5! 2d., and i 3d. in every ten stamps.
The subject is an interesting one, but further indulgence in speculation
may weary my readers. It is also just possible that I may trace more
complete records at a later date. In the meantime I hope to publish some
new and captivating records regarding the laureated series.

Report Presented at the Annual General Meeting

of the Philatelic Society, London.
FOR THE SEASON 1898-99.
BY J. A. TILLEARD, HONORARY SECRETARY.

ONthis the last of our meetings for the season 1898-99 it

is, as usual, my duty and pleasure to report the result of the
past year's doings of the Society, and I am happy to think
that the members may fairly congratulate themselves on the
position in which the affairs of the Society stand at the
expiration of the season, which is brought to a close with
to-night's meeting.
Since the date of my last report six new members have been elected,
viz., Messrs. J. W. Mercer, H. Barber, J. E. Heginbottom, G. Owen Wheeler,
O. Gillett, and C. R. Aldrich.
 REPORT OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON. 157

On the other hand, we have to deplore the loss by death of Captain

Northey, Colonel Chermside, Mr. Pearson Hill, and Mr. J. Siewert. The
most prominent of these are, perhaps, Mr. Siewert and Mr. Pearson Hill;
and in regard to the last-named it must be a matter of especial regret to
a Philatelic Society that death should be the cause of the removal from
the list of its members of a name so closely associated with the introduction
of postage stamps.
Our roll of membership has been further reduced by the resignations
of the Rev. N. Borton, Miss Trellis, Mrs. Raahange, Sir H. Bunbury, and
Messrs. H. Champion,'G. Stein, D. C. R. Greathead, W. S. Hardy, B. P. Rodd,
E. Shorthouse, E. T. Sturgis, J. C. Potter, J. N. Mostyn, T. Dormer,
B. Crowder, E. Collett, C. Hart, and M. E. Hughes-Hughes, so that our
total members now stand at 274.
In consequence of a regrettable incident, which has been the subject
of discussion this evening, in regard to a member who has thought it
consistent with his membership to seek to disparage the work of the Society
in the columns of a Philatelic journal, and has referred to an imaginary and
exaggerated number of resignations in the past season as a proof of the
accuracy of his criticism, I think it right to say that all the members above
referred to have given private reasons for their retirement in no way con-.
nected with the work of the Society, and in most cases they have also
expressed regret at having to resign their membership.
In the course of the season there have been seventeen meetings in all,
as against sixteen in the previous year. These have been held fortnightly, in
accordance with a resolution passed at the first meeting; and the average
attendance of members has been seventeen, a slight decrease on the average
for the season 1897-98.
Papers have been read on the following subjects: by the Vice-President,
"The 1876 Issue of Spain," and "Condition"; by Mr. E. D. Bacon, "The
supposed Bermuda Stamp of 1849 to l 8 55"; by Mr. R. Frentzel, "The
Emperor Maximilian and the Issue of Postage Stamps during his Reign ";
by Mr. Ehrenbach, "The Issues of Uruguay from 1866 to 1872"; by Mr.
E. J. Nankivell, "Behind the Scenes," and "A Proposal for a Catalogue
for Collectors"; by Mr. R. Meyer, "Speculative Issues" ; by Mr. T. W. Hall,
"Notes on the Later Issues of the Argentine Republic"; by Mr. Gordon
Smith, "A Reference List of the Stamps of Curacoa"; and notes on the
First Danish Stamp were also communicated by our President, H.R.H. the
Duke of York.
The papers have mostly been accompanied by an interesting display
of the stamps to which they related.
There have also been special displays of " Roumania " and " Finland " by
the Vice-President; " Hong Kong," by Mr. Hausburg; " Buenos Ayres,"
by Mr. Ehrenbach; " Servia," by Mr. Oldfield; " Mexico," by Mr. Frentzel;
and " Persia," by Mr. Forbes, on the introduction of Mr. Oldfield; and on
each occasion notes or papers dealing with the history of the stamps shown
were read at the meetings.
The displays have again proved an interesting and attractive feature
of the season, and I do not think that their value and importance can be
 158 REPORT OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

over-estimated. Now that the preparation of formal papers is by no means

so easy as at the time when the serious study of our pursuit was confined
to the few, and when Philatelic literature was very limited in extent, the
occasions of displays are most useful for making known the results of
original research and for comparing notes. The viva voce discussions and
exchange of ideas and experiences cannot fail to have a stimulating effect,
and notable progress in knowledge can often be traced to the seed sown
at meetings for displays, and afterwards developed by individual workers.
The accounts submitted by our Honorary Treasurer show a continued
improvement in the finances of the Society, and the reading of the accounts
and the report of the Auditors has, I feel sure, been a source of gratification
to all of us. In view of the sound financial position in which we find our-
selves, I venture to suggest that the time has come when an annual sum
should be devoted to the purposes of the Society's library. I think that
members will agree that it is highly important that our library should be
brought to the highest state of perfection which our means will permit, and
I trust that a liberal grant may be made with this object.
In consequence of the illness of the surviving author and from other
causes, the publication of the work on the stamps of Great Britain has been
. further delayed. The printing is, however, now very nearly complete, and
before the end of the present month the book will be in the hands of sub-
scribers. Owing to the great expense incurred on this work, it has been
found impracticable to proceed with the publication of the Society's own
researches. The funds at our disposal are not sufficient to justify the pre-
paration of more than one book at a time, although an effort would no doubt
have been made to complete the " African Colonies," had it been possible to
foresee the difficulties which have caused so long delay over the " British
Isles."
The Publication Committee is, however, now proceeding with the re-
mainder of the African book, and I hope this may be issued before the
termination of the present year.
In further connection with the subject of publications, I regret to find,
from correspondence which I have received during the past year, that there
still exists among some of our members resident in the country or abroad a
feeling that, as they cannot attend the meetings and have the advantages which
they consider the London members possess, they are entitled to a substantial
return for their subscriptions. I had hoped that membership of our Society
was regarded from a higher standpoint than that of individual benefit, and
that it would not now have been necessary to deal with such a suggestion.
Some years ago our late Secretary, Mr. Douglas Garth, was continually asked
the question, " What benefit do I individually reap by being a member of the
London Society ?" and I venture to repeat his own words on the subject, as I
feel that they cannot be improved upon, and are worthy of being recorded
on our minutes. In the course of his reply, Mr. Garth said:—
" I feel strongly that no such incentive should be necessary to anyone who desires
to associate himself with a society formed to promote the science and pursuit in
which I am assuming that he really takes pride and interest. Does any purely
scientific society profess to offer its members any intrinsic or pecuniary advantages ?
 REPORT OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON. 159

Does it not rather simply invite co-operation in advancing and developing the science
or knowledge of the particular subject, whether of interest to a class of individuals or
to the community at large? Does it not seek to achieve this object by mutual inter-
course and exchange of ideas, theories, and opinions, by combining the results of
individual labour, and by sharing any necessary expenditure, the necessity and limit
of such expenditure being regulated by common vote ?
" Our increased subscription of one guinea per annum is, I submit, within the
means of most of our country friends who seriously embark upon the pursuit, and
I strongly urge that it should be tendered by our members not as a quid pro quo, but
as a contributing agent in maintaining the London Society in its position as the
leading authority of the world upon Philatelic subjects. •
" I consider that far more ' touch' between the London and country members
than at present exists is possible, and would be most desirable, and that our country
members might, by writing short papers to be read at our meetings, by regularly com-
municating new facts and theories which come under their notice, and by asking in
return for information and advice, materially assist our deliberations, reap real
advantage to themselves, and find more pride and satisfaction in their otherwise
perhaps unremunerative membership of the London Society."

I commend these words to your consideration, and I feel sure that if the
suggestions contained in the concluding sentence were more generally borne
in mind and acted upon by our country and foreign members the work of the
Society would be considerably improved, and its sphere of usefulness greatly
extended.
I shall, I trust, be excused for referring to a certain feeling of unrest in
regard to the future of Philately, which has been manifested of late in
Philatelic circles. I have heard it said that Philately is on the decline, and
the fall in prices and other signs are pointed to as proving that this is so. I
do not believe it for one single moment. The pursuit has taken too firm a
hold, and possesses too great fascinations for its followers, to be easily shaken.
The number of serious and intelligent collectors is continually on the
increase, and the activity of societies at home and abroad is alone sufficient
to show that there is in reality no retrograde movement.
It is a source of great gratification to our Society to observe the progress
which has been made, and the good work which is being done by many of
the provincial and colonial societies, and we recognise and appreciate to the
fullest extent the great assistance which they give in the furtherance of the
cause to which we are devoted.
In this respect I would especially refer to the labours of the Manchester
Society in organising the International Philatelic Exhibition, which will
shortly be held in Manchester. I am sure I shall only be expressing the
feelings of all our members in offering our heartiest congratulations to the
Manchester Society on its great enterprise, with our best wishes that its
efforts to increase the popularity of Philately may be crowned with the
fullest success.
ListofMembersofthePhilatelicSociety,London.
Honorary President—H.R.H. THE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA, K.G., &c.

Council for the Year 1899-1900.

President—H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK, K.G.
Vice-President—M. P. CASTLE.
Hon. Secretary—J. A. TILLEARD. Hon. Assistant Secretary—H. R. OLDFIELD.
Hon. Treasurer—C. N. BIGGS. Hon. Librarian—-T. MAYCOCK.
W. B. AVERY. R. EHRENBACH. T.
T. WICKHAM JONES.
E. .D. BACON. E. B. EVANS. R.
R PEARCE.
W. DORNING BECKTON. T. W. HALL. GORDON SMITH.
G(

J. H. Abbott. D. Ellis. B. D. Knox. Lieut. A. R. Raby, R.N.

E. R. Ackerman. A. C. Emerson. C. P. Krauth. The Earl of Ranfurly.
Major J. G. Adamson. J. D. Enys. H. Kropf. F. Ransom.
C. R. Aldrich. J. H. Escolme. C. J. Lambert. A. W. Rawcliffe.
Dr. W. H. Allchin. Major Evans. J. S. Lambert. Rev. G. H. Raynor.
P. J. Anderson. T. D. F. Evans. J. G. Langton. Rev. P. E. Raynor.
J. M. Andreini. P. Fabri. C. F. Larmour. J. H. Redman.
W. Armistead. Philipp La Renotiere. F. A. Larmour. Baron A. de Reuterskiold.
W. B. Avery. H. Ferrier-Kerr. A. B. Langridge. J. S. Rich.
F. W. Ayer. O. Frith. E. Lentz. Vernon Roberts.
E. D. Bacon. Rev. T. S. Fleming. E. Levy. J. S. Robertson.
G. J. Bailey. C. E. Fox. C. Lindenberg. L. Rodet.
H. Barber. H. Fraenkel. P. J. Lloyd. A. Rosenberg.
W. Barnard. F. R. Fraser. B. Loewy. G. B. Routledge.
A. R. Barrett. R. Frentzel. H. Loveridge. Major R. H. Sadler.
G. B. Barrington. W. Gaddum. H. F. Lowe. E. T. Sandars.
A. T. Bate. D. Garth. E. C. Luard. F. N. Schiller.
Mrs. C. A. Baynes. L. Gibb. C. J. Lucas. W. Schwabacher.
R. H. Beamish. C. Gibbons. A. A. Lyall. E. S. Schwabe.
W. D. Beckton. E. S. Gibbons. H. H. Lyman. Lieut. L. Schwarz.
W. Beckwith. G. F. H. Gibson. D. J. Macfie. W. Scott.
Rev. W. Bell. H. J. Gillespie. T. E. Madden. E. H. Selby.
David Benjamin. J. W. Gillespie. C. E. McNaughtan. Prince Boris Shahoffscoi.
F. G. Bepler. O. Gillett. Dr. F. Mailman. W. Silk, jun.
E. Beveridge. Thos. Girtin. J. N. Marsden. A. B. Slater, jun.
C. N. Biggs. A. A. Good. Mrs. Marshall. Gordon Smith.
Rev. G. S. Bird. J. T. Green. C. F. D. Marshall. J. E. Sparrow.
W. W. Blest. H. Grey. W. Matthews. A. H. Stamford.
Dr. E. von Bochman. A. G. Griffith. Major A. B. Maxwell. W. M. Stenart.
Dr. A. Boswell. T. W. Hall. T. Maycock. A. Steudell.
F. Breitfuss. J. H. Hallett. G. F. Melbourn. R. T. Stevens.
Dr. T. J. W. Burgess. Surgn.- Major G. F. A. Harris. J. W. Mercer. C. Stewart-Wilson.
F. F. Burghard. W. Harrison. R. Meyer. W. C. Stone.
M. Burnett. J. J. Haupt. Dr. G. Michelsen. Sir Edward Sullivan, Bart.
Lieut.-Col St. L. Burrowes. L. L. R. Hausburg. H. M. Millington. Lieut.-Col. H. A. Tapp.
M. P. Castle, J.P. Surgn. -Major A. W.Haviland. J. B. Moens. Dr. R. S. Taylor.
S. M. Castle. E. Hawkins. Major C. J. Everitt Mumby. A. J. Taylor.
A. W. Chambers. J. E. Heginbottom, B.A. Capt. W. J. Myers. Mrs. Tebay.
J. H. Chapman. W. Herrick. E. J. Nankivell. W. Thome.
W. L. Chew. Dr. H. Hetley. B. W. Neave. J. A. Tilleard.
Captain Chichester. David H. Hill. Surgeon - Major A. G. E. J. G. Tolhurst.
G. Churcher. F. C. Hill. Newland. J. S. P. Tompsett.
Sir Jas. R. Andrew Clark, J. 0. Hobby. G. B. T. Nicholl. G. L. Toppan.
H. R. G. Clarke. [Bart A. Holland. J. A. Nix. R. J. Torrie.
H. Clotz. A. L. Holman. A. Odell. C. J. Tyas.
F. O. Conant. Rev. W. H. Holman. H. R. Oldfield. Rev. W. N. Usher.
M. W. K. Connolly. F. E. Horton. J. S. O'Meara. E. D. E. Van-Weenan, j.p.
M. S. Cooke. Dr. A. Houison. Capt. St. G. Ord. Dr. C. W. Viner.
Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart. H. P. Hudleston. A. A. Osborn. J. Walker.
Surgeon E. Cooper, R.N. M. E. Hughes-Hughes. F. E. Owen. E. L. Waterlow.
Captain F. Cooper, K.A. A. F. Basset-Hull. Lieut. B. Oxehfvud. T. Martin Wears.
C. B Corwin. G. J. Hynes. J. V. Painter. Consul E. F. Weber.
W. Cowland. W. E. Image. W. R. Palmer. L. S. Wells.
A. B. Creeke, jun. G. F. Jackson. H. G. Palliser. F. West.
T. H. R. Crowle. D. M. Jacobs. Prince Doria Pamphilij. A. E. L. Westaway.
C. Dack. W. E. Jeff. A. D. Park. W. A. S. Westoby.
C. J. Daun. Sir H. Jerningbam, K.C.M.G. A. Passer. Mrs. Weston.
E. S. Davidson. Mrs. C. M. Jervis. Dr. A. G. Paterson. G. O. Wheeler.
A. A. Davis. J. F. Jones. W. Patterson. H. J. White.
H. F. Deane. T. Wickham Jones. R. Pearce. H. Winckmann.
H. E. Beats. J. E. Joselin. W. E. Peebles. W. E. Williams.
Dr. E. Diena. W. R. Joynt. C. Pereira. A. H. Wilson.
T. P. Dorman. Dr. F. Kalckhoff. Miss Feyl de Pfeil. W. T. Wilson.
A. G. E. Driver. Dr. J. N. Keynes. O. Pfenninger. N. H. Withee.
H. J. Duveen. J. L. Kilbon. Judge Philbrick, Q.c. Baron de Worms.
G. L Edwards. D. A. King. W. Pimm. Baron A. de Worms.
R. Ehrenbach. T. W. Kitt. H. Quare. Baron P. de Worms.
E. A. Elliott. H. J. Knowles. D. A. Quiggin. G. H. Worthington.
 OccasionalNotes.
MR. H. MARTYN GOOCH.
THE announcement of Mr. Gooch's retirement, we are assured, will be
received with general regret by the readers of this journal. Mr.
Gooch entered the service of the London Philatelic Society nearly seven
years since—viz., on September ist, 1892—but a few months after the
occupancy by the Society of their present domicile at Effingham House.
The London Philatelist had only been initiated in January of the same year,
and Mr. Gooch's assistance was at once enlisted in the new venture—be it
said with continuous and increasing success. Although as a boy he had
dabbled in stamps, Mr. Gooch had practically no knowledge of the serious
side of stamp-collecting, and it is, therefore, the more to his credit that he
rapidly attained such a sound general acquaintance with Philately as to enable
him to write with comparative facility on any point connected therewith.
His abilities have been amply displayed in various departments of this
journal, and the Editor, while fully testifying his gratification at Mr. Gooch's
literary success, cannot but sincerely regret that his valuable co-operation is
no longer available. Mr. Gooch's retirement is purely on his own initiative,
and as he will have ample leisure it is to be hoped that his talents, as
evidenced in the case of the recently-issued Standard Catalogue of Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co., will still be available for the benefit of Philatelic
readers generally.
Mr. Gooch's successor, both as regards his duties to the London Philatelic
Society and to the London Philatelist, is Mr. A. Churchill Emerson, a gentle-
man who for very many years past was a member of the Society. Mr.
Emerson, who is widely known both to collectors and dealers, has been
associated with stamps almost as long as anyone in this country, and we
are confident that he will have the help and sympathy of all classes in
Philately in entering upon his new duties.

THE MANCHESTER PHILATELIC EXHIBITION.

WITHlN a few hours from the time that this issue will be in our readers'
hands the Manchester Exhibition will have opened its doors, i.e. on
Thursday, June 29th. The latest advices that we have received testify to
the Herculean labours devolving upon the devoted band of Philatelists, led
by Mr. Doming Beckton, who are turning night into day in their efforts to
have the many hundreds of show-cases duly displayed and their contents
duly catalogued before the opening day. It is, however, abundantly clear
already, from the volume and quality of the exhibits received, that the
Exhibition is going to be a great success. It is also evident that there will
be a great reunion of Philatelists from all parts of Europe, and as there will
be various entertainments, excursions, and amusements available beyond the
900;
16s OCCASIONAL NOTES.

Exhibition itself, it is sincerely to be hoped that no collector or " collectress "

within 500 miles of Manchester will neglect to avail him or herself of the
chance of a lifetime in seeing such a grand display.

THE REPRINTED U. S. PERIODICALS.

MUCH has been already written pro and con in the American Philatelic
press, and we gather that the true inwardness of the question in the
mind of the real and true collector is that the transaction redounds but little
either to the credit of the United States postal authorities or to the
advantage of Philately. In the eyes of the average general collector they
are handsome and attractive stamps—and these two qualifications frequently
in this world outweigh that of origin—and they will sell, but they are
assuredly " unnecessary and speculative." In defending his action in the
matter, Mr. J. M. Bartels gives some additional information as to the
issue of these reprints, which we venture to borrow from the columns of
the Metropolitan Philatelist for May 27th last.
Mr. Bartels says that at the commencement
"no intimation was given of the fact that there were not enough on hand to make up
any number of sets that might be decided upon, neither did the possibility of a
shortage enter the mind of anyone. A large quantity of stamps had been returned
from postmasters throughout the country, and it was believed that this stock would be
used in addition to the supply still on hand at the Bureau. However, upon closer
examination of the stamps returned, and after a decision had been reached, it was
found that the condition of this stock was extremely poor, many of the sheets stuck
together and the stamps torn. The assorting of a lot of this kind would have been
an endless job, and, rather than do so, the Department gave an order to the Bureau
to count out 50,000 sets of the stock on hand and to print sufficient more of any
denomination that might be found short in completing the required number. Not
until after the stamps had been placed on sale was it known to any of us that the
stock returned by postmasters had not been included in the 50,000 sets.
" Had this decision been reached some time last June, or prior to the issue
becoming obsolete, and this lot been printed just the same and for the very same
purpose, namely solely for sale to collectors, the stamps would have been precisely the
same as they are to-day, showing similar unavoidable variations in shades, gum, etc.
No one could possibly have called them reprints in the Philatelic sense of the word;
they would have been bona-fide originals, even if printed expressly for collectors."

There is a delightful ingenuousness about this last bit of special pleading!

"If"—what a tiresome preposition it is—the stamps had been issued or
prepared for issue in June last they would obviously now have been re-
mainders. As they were, however, printed not for the needs of those who
use the stamps, but to make a profit to the United States Post Office, after
their supersession, they are, and will remain, reprints for all time, issued under
circumstances that are certainly no credit to one of the Great Powers of the
world.
 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 163

A REFERENCE LIST OF U. S. REVENUE STAMPS.

MR.H. E. BEATS has sent us a prospectus of an important work on this
subject, the joint results of himself, Mr. G. L. Toppan, and Mr, A.
Holland, acting as a Committee of the Boston Philatelic Society, these
gentlemen being also members of the London Philatelic Society. Mr. Beats
states that he "began work on it nearly six years ago, obtaining all the
private records of Butler & Carpenter and Joseph R. Carpenter, who were
the first contractors for Revenue stamps under the Act of 1862," and adds
that " our work is now about finished, over 700 pages of type-written copy
being ready for the printer." The work will, it is evident, be a standard
authority on these stamps, and will hence be a requisite in every Philatelic
library. We add a few excerpts from the prospectus, which will afford an
indication of the labour involved :—
"The work, as its title indicates, is designed to be more than a bare reference
list, or catalogue, of the various emissions of the Revenue stamps of the United
States. It aims not only to be a reliable and complete catalogue, but to give a full
and detailed description of each stamp—its history, so far as it has been possible to
ascertain it, and such other data as have been deemed to be of genera] interest. The
scope of the work, which was conceived in May, 1896, has been gradually increased
as the authors discovered new material, until now the book will comprise upwards of
400 pages royal octavo.
"A good idea of the scope of the work may be obtained by the following
synopsis of its chapters, or divisions:—i. Contracts for the engraving and printing
of the stamps. 2. Paper. 3. Perforation. 4. Colour. 5. Rulings of the Com-
missioner of Internal Revenue. 6. General notes. 7. Counterfeits. 8. Each stamp
considered under its own title and denomination.
" Under this last heading all data concerning each separate stamp have been
systematically condensed. It includes :—i. A full description of the stamp. 2. The
date of its first printing. 3. The date of its first delivery. 4. Plate numbers. 5.
The number of stamps per sheet. 6. The total number of the stamp issued. 7.
Such genera] notes as are of interest.
" The above refers especially to the first issue; but the same general arrangement
has been retained throughout the entire work, modified or elaborated, of course, as
circumstances seemed to warrant. In the second and subsequent issues of docu-
mentary, proprietary, and the private die stamps, the above information is supple-
mented by the date of the approval of the die by the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, and, of course, by the number issued on each kind of paper. The general
information will be found to be very full and interesting; for example—in the case
of the $500 stamp of the second issue, we are enabled to state not only the exact
number issued, but just who purchased each copy and the date. Especial attention has
been paid to the chapters upon paper and perforation, and, while we do not claim
that the subjects have been exhausted, we do claim that, so far as the official records
throw any light upon the subjects, no more can be ascertained.
" It may not, perhaps, be generally known that this is the first Philatelic work to
be undertaken and carried to a successful conclusion by any society in the United
States; such, however, is the fact, and, naturally, the step is rather in the nature of an
experiment. We trust that it may prove a successful one, and that the collectors
of the United States will signify their approval of the undertaking by favouring us with
their subscriptions for the work. As the Society has not undertaken to publish it
164 OCCASIONAL NOTES.

with an intention of filling its treasury from the proceeds of its sale, we are enabled
to announce a price which will place it within the reach of all, viz., $3 per copy,
bound in paper covers. It will be published on or about September isth. Sub-
scriptions should be addressed to Mr. Geo. L. Toppan, i, Richmond Court, Beacon
Street, Brookline, Mass."

A CATALOGUE FOR COLLECTORS.

IN the last issue of this journal was published a short paper recently
read by Mr. E. J. Nankivell before the London Philatelic Society, in
which he argues in favour of the issue of a sort of Philatelic encyclopaedia,
under the above title, by the "Premier Society"! The columns of the
London Philatelist are perforce open to all well-meaning collectors, but the
insertion of articles or opinions by no means presupposes editorial agree-
ment therewith. Mr. Nankivell is a skilled and experienced journalist,
and always invests his subject - matter with a pleasant gloss that helps
to make its perusal attractive ; but we are confident that he would not
arrogate to himself the same capacity and experience in Philately that he
possesses in other matters. His objective has always been Transvaal, nor
are we aware that he has ever made a general collection or won his spurs as a
Philatelic author in the preparation of a paper relating to any issue of stamps,
outside those of the country of the great Oom Paul! When, therefore, our
friend fires off a short article, on which the ink is evidently hardly dry,
and expects the London Society as a body to immediately adopt it, he
reckons somewhat without his host. In the course of remarks made hereon
in a recent number of the American Journal of Philately—which to us are
assuredly somewhat premature, and would have been better inserted in this
journal, where they would have been open to refutation—it appears that Mr.
Nankivell resents the non-adoption of his suggestion. Our friend's rdle has
always been that of the friendly critic, although frequently the adjective
has been more prominent than the noun, but he has never displayed
any great constructive policy, so far as shown by his published utterances. In
an off-hand, spare-half-hour manner he suggests that the London Society
should settle down to a labour of Sisyphus in the preparation of " a catalogue
that shall deal exhaustively with every country . . . alike for the purposes of
the beginner, the advanced collector, and the specialist" ! "This may seem
a large order," says Mr. Nankivell. We suggest to him that everything must
have a beginning, and that if there is one country on which the last word can
be written, it should be the one that he has been so assiduously and success-
fully studying and collecting for these many years past.
Mr. Nankivell has, however, recently issued a little magazine entitled
The Transvaal Collectors' Quarterly, and in his " First Words" we read:
" Having collected and studied the stamps of Transvaal for the past twenty
years"; " There is much, however, which we desire to have cleared up";
" For some years we have been accumulating material, but we have no inten-
tion of venturing upon its publication until we are able to write much more
definitely than we can at present," etc., etc. There are other countries on
which more information is required besides the South African Republic
 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 165

before they can be " dealt exhaustively with," even by " a large committee
of twenty leading members " of the London Philatelic Society, even under
its " elected chairman," or energetic secretary, honorary posts either of which
our friend could doubtless ably and cheerfully fill!
The preparation of such a stupendous Philatelic work as an exhaustive
catalogue of all varieties of issued stamps as advocated by Mr. Nankivell
would involve an expense for illustrations and printing of thousands of
pounds, would take the undivided time of many leading writers for several
years, and would require to be rewritten and revised before it was half
issued. It would have a limited sale, owing to its purely scientific aspect,
its immense bulk (which would probably extend to several large quarto
volumes), owing to the heavy cost of production and consequently high sale
price—possibly £5 to £10—and lastly owing to the natural absence of all
pricing in a scientific work. It would be caviare to the multitude for these
reasons, and would "sigh to find its warmest welcome" in the libraries of
Philatelic societies. The catalogue that is to be final has so far appeared
in very few instances, as applicable to any single country, much less to the
world, as Mr. Nankivell so modestly suggests. Even Poland, Ionian Islands,
or Fernando Poo, would require some collation of facts before the " last word "
on all their issues, history, and obliterations could be indited.
Our experience of, and connection with, Philately has extended over
nearly a generation, but we venture to assert that no proposition to any
Philatelic society has yet been made so enormous in its scope, so impracticable
in its suggestions, or so ill-considered and presumptive as to its authorship
as Mr. E. J. Nankivell's " Catalogue for Collectors."

CESSION OF FURTHER SPANISH COLONIES.

GERMANY and Colonies is evidently to be a cry of the future in Philatelic
circles. The remarkable interest and attitude taken by the German
naval forces in the late Americo-Spanish War have been much commented
upon, even if they have not elicited general approval. (See Captain Young-
husband's Round About the Philippines^) It was evident that the German
Emperor was thirsting for further colonial extension at the expense of either
combatant, and it is, therefore, not surprising to hear that their colonising
aspirations have now been partly assuaged by the cession to them, against
a monetary payment by the Spanish Government, of the Carolines, the
Pelew Islands, and the Ladrones or Mariana Island (except Guam).
The Caroline Islands, a group in the Western Pacific, were discovered by
Portuguese navigators in the early part of the sixteenth century, and were
formally annexed by Spain in 1686. Fourteen years ago the rights of Spain
to the possession of the group were challenged by Germany, which about
the same time had appropriated the Marshall Islands, to the east of the
Carolines; but the dispute was submitted to the arbitration of the Pope, who
decided in favour of the Spanish Government. Most of the islands and
islets in the group are uninhabited coral atolls; the remainder having a
population of twenty-two thousand, including a number of Japanese and
166 OCCASIONAL NOTES.

Chinese colonists. From a few of the more fertile islands, copra, or dried
cocoanut, is exported in large quantities, most of the trade being in German
hands.
The Pelew, or Palau Islands, are a smaller group, situated to the west
of the Carolines, and between them and the Philippines, and have a popula-
tion variously estimated between five and ten thousand, mostly Malays. Six
of the islands are inhabited. The soil is fertile, and the climate healthy.
The chief exports are copra, tortoise-shell, and mother-of-pearl. The Pelews
were discovered by the Spaniards in 1543.
The Mariana, or Ladrones, "Thieves' Islands," lie to the north of the
Caroline group, and were discovered by Magellan in 1521. Guam, the largest
island in the group, with a population of about nine thousand, was ceded by
Spain to the United States last year. The population of the remaining
islands barely exceeds one thousand, but some of them are said to be fertile,
producing rice, maize, cotton, sugar, tobacco, and indigo. The United States,
doubtless for naval purposes, have taken the largest plum out of the Ladrones
pudding, but as the group consists of twenty islands there is still an opening
for the German emigrant, who, by the way, generally goes to the United
States, or else to the- British Colonies, where government is a little less
paternal and there is no Militdr-pflicht. The German Post Office has already
surcharged its current stamp for the Marshall Islands group previously
referred to, of which the population is about equal to that of the Pelew
Islands in quantity and quality, so we imagine it will not be long before we
have diagonal surcharges over the Imperial Eagle for all three new groups.
If it were Portugal, there would be twenty for the component islets of
the Ladrones! Poor Spain is thus bereft of all its colonies except Fernando
Po, which has suddenly discovered that it is really quite an important place
(compared to the foregoing), having a population of no less than thirty-five
thousand, and hence requiring a long and elaborate list of new issues. The
making of colonies—not islands with surcharged stamps, wild birds, and a
few untamed natives—is akin to making a stamp-collection : both require
a gradual and careful building-up to have any real value, and in neither cases
do numbers count for much !

PHILATELY IN THE TRANSVAAL.

WEhave to acknowledge the receipt of the " Rules of the Philatelic
Society of Johannesburg (South African Republic), founded May ist,
1899," from the Hon. Secretary (Mr. H. P. Turner, P.O. Box 917, Johannes-
burg). It will be seen elsewhere that this last accession to the body
Philatelic has been most successfully founded, and it would seem that in the
midst of so large, wealthy, and cosmopolitan a society as that of Johannesburg
Philately is likely to take strong root. The rules seem assuredly well
drafted and adapted for the local aims of the Society; those especially
affecting the Departments of Sales and Exchanges and Auctions denote an
intention on the part of the Executive to make the Society really a live one,
which consummation we most devoutly desire.
 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 167

THE LATE DR. VON STEPHAN.

THE eminent services contributed by this statesman, not only to the
postal system of the Fatherland, but of the whole world, have recently
met with due recognition in the capital of the German Empire. In the
Dome Hall of the Postal Museum at Berlin a statue of Dr. von Stephan has
been erected.
At the inaugural ceremony speeches were made which fully recognised
the great service rendered not only to Germany, but the whole of the
civilized world, by the late Dr. von Stephan in the development of the Postal
Service initiated by him, and his title to the gratitude of posterity as the
" Creator of the Universal Postal Union " was generally acknowledged.

MR. WESTOBY'S "STAMPS OF EUROPE."

THE tenth portion of this work has now been issued, similar in quantity
and quality with the previous instalments. The principal countries
now dealt with are Roumania, which affords Mr. Westoby another oppor-
tunity to indulge in a political retrospect that is at once interesting, succinct,
and vivacious, and Russia, for whose delicately-executed stamps the author
expresses great appreciation. Although satisfied as to the real postal
requirements of the great majority of the Russian local stamps, Mr. VVestoby
wisely, in our view, omits them from his work. The postal issues of Wenden-
Livonia and the Russian Levant are, however, included, as they should be,
both by reason of their extended use (thirty-seven and thirty-five years
respectively) and the special Imperial recognition that they have always
been accorded. The second issue (1865) of the latter, the 5 kop., brown and
blue, and the 20 kop., blue and red, in virtue of their sixty-three varieties of
type each, are really the Sydney Views of Europe, and although they are
scarce stamps, there should have been no difficulty in procuring copies for
illustration, the omission of which is to be deplored. Romagna, Eastern
Roumelia, and San Marino form the balance of the present instalment.

THE GERMAN PHILATELIC CONGRESS, 1899.

THIS well-known gathering—the Philatelisten Tag, to use its universal
Continental name—will be held at Dresden on the 2ist to the 25th of
July next. The choice of the beautiful capital of Saxony for the eleventh
celebration of this festival should induce a larger following of visitors, for
whose delectation a very enjoyable and full programme of instruction and
amusement has been announced. Under the auspices of the Bavarian Phila-
telic Society, there is also to be an important meeting of collectors, with festal
arrangements, at Munich, from the i$th to the ijth of July. It is to be
hoped that some of our readers may be enabled to assist at these enjoyable
functions during; their summer vacation.
 New Issues,
'NOTES OF NEW, AND V A R I A T I O N S OF C U R R E N T , ISSUES.
(Varieties of Obsolete Stamps, and Discoveries, will be found under "Philatelic Notes.")
We do not profess to chronicle everything, brit, with the kind help of correspondents, are desirous that
all the important novelties may be included. Speculative stamps—i. e. those not really required for
postal purposes—will be considered on their merits, and Jubilee issues will not be chronicled.
Members of the London Philatelic Society, and other -readers generally, are invited to co-operate with us
in making the columns as interesting as possible. Our foreign readers can especially help us in
this direction, by sending copies of any official documents relative to changes in the current issues,
or early intimation of any new issue, accompanied, when possible, by a specimen ; such information
will be dtily credited to the correspondent, and, if desired, the specimen promptly returned.
Address: EDITOR "LONDON PHILATELIST," EFFINGHAM HOUSE, ARUNDEL STREET, STRAND,
LONDON, W.C.

BRITISH EMPIRE. tions will be re-adopted. All the plates,

but the altered ones of £d., id., 2d., and 4d.,
BARBADOS.—Imperial Penny Postage is have arrived in the colony."
responsible for the addition of a new value—
sd.—to the stamps of the small 1892 type. STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.—Afcgr* Sembi-
We learn from the M. J. that the colours of lan.-—Mr. G. Fraser Melbourne has shown
this stamp are the same as the colours of us some blocks of the provisional stamps
the 2s. 6d. value, which, with the lod. stamp, alluded to last month, which include an
is to be withdrawn from use. The plate of additional surcharge of " Four cents" on
the Jubilee issue is to be destroyed, and the 5 c., blue, of the 1892 type. The 3 c.
already some of the values in this type are stamp described in our list as of this type
exhausted. should be the type of 1895. We think also
Adhesive. 2d., blue-black and orange. that the 4 c. on 5 c., black and carmine, is a
mistake (?).
GIBRALTAR.—Morocco Agencies.—Messrs. Adhesive. 4 c. on 5 c., blue (1892 type); su«ch. black.
Whitfield King & Co. have sent us the 25 c.
Pahang.—The news is only too true; the
value with the London overprint, which can
" Four Cents " surcharging business is being
be added to the list given last month.
Adhesive. 25 c. blue ; surcharge black.
made the most of. The 8 c. stamp of Perak
has been brought into use here surcharged
INDIA.—Duttia.—From the same source in black "Pahang—Four cents" in two-
we have received a new setting of the Duttia lines.
labels in which the inscriptions " Duttia- Adliesive. 4 c. on 8 c., lilac and ultramarine.
State-Postage " are in sans serif type instead Perak.—The 8 c. value has been sur-
of Roman. The stamps are also rouletted charged " Four cents," and Le T. - P.
horizontally on black lines. The seal of the announces the issue of a 150. value of the
Maharajah is still necessary to render the tiger's head type.
stamps valid for postal use, hence this Adhesives, 4 c. on 8 c., lilac and ultramarine.
15 c., green and orange.
appears in blue on each stamp.
Adhcsives. % a., black on green; surcharge blue. TASMANIA. — A new value—lod. — has-
1 a. ,, „ white ,, ,, been issued in the London type. The
2 a. ,, ,, yellow ,, ,,
4 a. ,, ,, rose ,, ,, figures of value are on a white ground.
NEW ZEALAND.—Mr. L. A Sanderson Wmk. "Tas,"perf. 14.
Adhesive. iod., lake and deep green.
writes to the Australian Philatelist:—
" The colonial printing of the new issue
will be started during the first week of EUROPE.
April at the Government Printing Office, GERMAN COLONIES.—We gather some
Wellington. The issue is to be printed on further interesting information on the sur-
' Small Star N. Z.' paper, and I regret to say
that the 11 perforating machine is to be charged issues for the various German
used until worn out, when the finer perfora- Colonies from the P. Monthly and World.
 NEW ISSUES. 169

China.—The new " China " series of sur- AMERICA.

charged German stamps dates from January, BOGOTA. — The Bogota local has been
1898, for the values of 5, 10, 20, 25, and 50 issued with a new perforation, 13^ instead
pf. The 3 pf. postage stamp was not issued of 12.
at first, and only since January of this year Adhesive. \ c.f black, perf. 123.
a small quantity of 3 pf. stamps was sent to
Shanghai and Tsintan. This value can ECUADOR. — Some new stamps of the
only be employed in sending circulars or portraiture type, a change from the ever-
newspapers between the two cities just lasting "Arms" series, have been issued.
mentioned. The stamps, which are of large size, repre-
sent the following personages -.
German New Guinea. — The catalogues
mention six values; only four of these have 1 centavo, Vargas Torres, killed at Cuenga
ever been issued, the 5, 10, 20, and 50 pf. in 1887.
Marshall Islands.—There is but one Post 2 centavos, Abdon Calderon, a hero of the
Office on the Marshall Islands Archipelago, battle of Pichincha.
Jaluit. This explains why 3 and 25 pf. stamps 5 centavos, Juan Montalvo, Liberal writer.
are entirely superfluous. As a matter of fact, We take the above details from Le T.-P.
only the 10 and 20 pf. stamps have ever The stamps are bi-coloured, and perf. 14.
been used, and it is not known definitely Adhesive*, i c., lilac-blue and black.
whether the 5 and 50 pf. have ever reached 2 c., lilac and black.
the islands. 5 c., red „

German S. W. Africa.—The present issue NICARAGUA. — The new stamps chronicled

with the surcharge " Sudwestafrika" in one on page 82 include the 5 pesos value.
word includes a 10, 20, and 50 pf. These During the late revolution communication
are the only values of the surcharged series between Bluefields and the capital of the
at present in use. Republic was interrupted, and stamps having
It will be noticed that some of the in- run short (extraordinary coincidence), a
formation given above varies from that given certain number of envelopes were impressed
in our May issue, and it would appear that with the seal of the Treasury Department
both lists of the values in use in the various in violet, this being further overprinted with
colonies need confirmation. the Arms of the Republic in black. These
HUNGARY.—From the same source we curiosities were mercifully limited to three
learn that of the current Hungarian stamps varieties.
on the " Crown" paper, the 8 kr., I and 3 Adhesive. 5 pesos, light blue.
florins values remain to be issued, there Official Adhesive. 5 ,, ,,
Envelopes. 5 c., violet and black on "white.
being a large stock of these three values on
the "kr." paper still available.
NORWAY.—We are indebted to Mr. F. H. SALVADOR. — The 5 c. value of the 1898
Dethloff for specimens of the 2 ore value, type has arrived with the inexplicable sur-
the last to be issued in the redrawn type, charge " Transitio Territorial." There is
"Norge" in Roman instead of sans serif
also the usual set of new stamps dated 1899,
capitals. The entire sheet is inscribed in
the lower right-hand corner "1898-1899," also various unpaid letter and other sur-
and the perforation is that first used for this charged " Oficial " labels. No doubt the full
issue on the 3, 10, and 20 ore. list will be available shortly, and if not too
Adhesive, 2 ore, brown, perf. 14^X13^. enigmatical or speculative, we will attempt
to quote in condensed form.
ROUMANIA.—Changes of colours, to take
place on June ist, are announced for the 5, UNITED STATES. — Guam. —The Metro-
15, 20, and 25 bani values. The new colours politan Philatelist reports the overprinting
are given as— of the i, 2, and 5 c. values of the United
Adhesive*. 5 b., green.
15 b., violet. States stamps for use in Guam, an island
20 b., rose.
25 b., blue. of 5500 inhabitants, in Oceania. The sur-
A new series of Postage Due stamps is charge, which is in large type, is placed
announced to appear on the ist July. The horizontally across the stamps just below
values are to be 2, 6, 10, 30, 50, 60, and the centre. The following quantities have
90 bani. been despatched under the care of Captain
 i yo NEW ISSUES.

Leary, who left New York for Guam on cluding three values of the postage due
May 6th last :— series.
Adhesives. i c., green ; surcharge black, 10,030. Adhesive. 8 c., purple, surch. black, 25,000.
2 c., carmine ,, ,, 30,000. Postage Due. i c., carmine ,, ,, 25,000.
2 c. ,, ,, ,, 25,000.
5 c., blue ,, ,, 5,000. 10 c. ,, ,, ,, 5,000.
URUGUAY.—Messrs. Whitfield King & PORTUGAL.—Lorenzo Margues.—The pro-
Co. have sent us a new type of the 5 visionals alluded to on page 111 were created
milesimos stamp, of the same size as the by surcharging the fiscal stamps of Mozam-
low value " centavos" adhesives. The bique. The surcharge consists of the words
centre is occupied by a statue of some " Correio—de—Lourenzo Marques" and new
local genius. The 5 c. stamp has been value within a frame, set so that the sur-
printed in blue. charge appears twice on each stamp. The
Adhesive*. 5 mil., blue.
5 c. „
following values have been operated on:—
Adhesives. 5 r. on half 10 r., green and black.
VENEZUELA.—Le T.-P. adds other values 251- „
50 r. on half 30 r., green and red.
of the new issue to the 25 c. quoted last 50 r. ,, 800 r. ,, brown.
month; we also chronicle the registration
stamp. PERSIA.—The surcharges applied to the
Adhesives. 5 c., green. current stamps consist of small pieces of
10 c., brick-red. ornamental type without any definite shape,
50 c., grey.
1 bolivar, green. varying on each value. The overprint is in
2 ,, yellow. violet. All values from i sh. to 50 krans
Registration Stamp. 25 c., yellow-brown.
have been treated to this disfigurement.
SAMOA.—Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
OTHER COUNTRIES. have sent us the one shilling label with the
CUBA. —Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. "surcharged 2|d." overprint, as applied to
have sent us the provisional Special De- the id. stamp previously chronicled. Native
livery stamp, being the U.S.A. label over- troubles seem quieting down in Samoa; we
printed in red "CUBA—10 c.—de PESO." wish Philatelic troubles showed some signs
Adhesive. 10 c., blue ; surch. red. of abatement!
Adhesives. 2jd. on is., rose; surch. red.
FERNANDO Poo.—Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. have sent us a provisional stamp TRANSVAAL.—The Phil. Monthly again
which has been issued to meet the apparent blossoms forth into prophecy :—
stamp famine in Fernando Poo. For the "The union of the Transvaal Republic
purpose the large fiscal stamp (imperf.) has and the Orange Free State is about to be
been surcharged "FERNANDO POO, 1899— realised, and one of its first consequences
will be the withdrawal of the current
HABILITADO PARA CORREOS—1$ CENT DE postage stamps of these two countries and
PESO," in black. We hear also that the the creation of a new series for the new
same stamp has been surcharged "FER- federation, which will probably adopt the
NANDO POO, 1899 —CORREOS—IO CENT DE name of 'United Republic of South Africa.'"
PESO," the "CORREOS" in red and the The M.J. reproduces the following cutting
remainder of the surcharge in black. from a local paper:—
Adhesives. 10 c., in red and black, on 15 c., green. " Arrangements have been made whereby
15 c., in black ,, ,, stamps in future will be printed in the
Republic. One kind of stamp will be
HAWAII.—We append formal chronicle of issued available for both postal and revenue
the colour changes referred to on page 84. purposes, ranging from halfpenny to shilling.
Adhesives. i c., green. They will be the same size as at present,
5 c., blue. bearing an impression of the President.
10 c., brown. Stamps above those values will be of the
same size as the present revenue stamp, and
PORTO Rico.—Orders have been given will bear the impression of the coat of arms
for some additional surcharged stamps, in- of the Republic."
 PhilatelicSocieties'Meetings.
JohannesburgPhilatelicSociety.. Mr. A. J. Cohen; Supt. of Exchange, Mr. H.
P. Turner ; Members of Executive Committee,
Messrs. L. J. Mosely, C. Berger, S. H. Webb, and
President—]. N. VAN AI.PHEN, Esq. Adolph Sonn.
Hon. Secretary— Mr. H. P. TURNER.
Although the intention of forming a society
A MEETING of the members of the recently-formed originated but a few weeks ago its inception has
Philatelic Society of Johannesburg was held on met with great sviccess, the membership already
Tuesday evening at the Society's Room, Reliance numbering fifty. The Society intends to make
Buildings, 51, Kerk Street, opposite the Grand the exchange packet one of its chief features,
National Hotel. having decided to have three distinct circuits,
After reading the minutes of the last meeting namely, a local packet, a South African packet
the members proceeded to complete the list of (for distribution all over South Africa), a foreign
officers by election of a Chairman. The Society picket (for distribution abroad). It was decided
was eminently successful in obtaining the patron- to hold fortnightly meetings on the second and
age of the Postmaster - General (Mr. J. Van fourth Tuesday in each month, at the above rooms.
Alphen), who accepted the lion. Presidentship. Publishers are requested to send copies of Phila-
The following gentlemen were elected : lion. telic literature with a view to subscription thereto.
Vice-Presidents, Messrs. A. Van H. Fulleken, The Secretary will be pleased to hear from other
R. Lilienfeld, and Gustav Sonn; Chairman, Mr. societies in South Africa or abroad desirous of
H. F. Thompson; Vice-Chairman, Mr. M. Neu- collaborating with this one. Those desirous of
burger; Hon. Secretary, Mr. H. P. Turner; Hon. joining will please communicate with the Hon.
Assistant Secretary, Mr. A. M. Phillips; Hon. Secretary, H. P. Turner, P.O. 60x917, Johannes-
Treasurer, Mr. W. P. Cohen; Hon. Librarian, burg, S.A.R.

Corrrespondence.
COMMUNICATIONS.—All communications of Philatelic matters and Publications for Review shoiild
be addressed to the Editor of THE LONDON PHILATELIST, Kingston Lodge, Richmond Place,
Brighton.
ADVERTISEMENTS should be sent to MR. A. CHURCHILL EMERSON (Advertising Department), Effing-
ham House, Arundel Street, London, W.C.
SUBSCRIPTIONS. —THE LONDON PHILATELIST will be sent, post free in Great Britain or the countries
of the Postal Union, to any subscriber, on receipt of 6s. ($1.50). Subscribers' remittances should
be sent to Mr. A. CHURCHILL EMERSON, EFFINGHAM HOUSE, ARUNDEL STREET, STRAND,
LONDON, W.C.
RAILWAY LETTER FEE STAMPS. matters, but appears to be an exceptional case
DEAR SIR,—Permit me to thank Mr. Dendy which cannot affect the general status of the
Marshall for his letter. I look upon the railway postage stamp. At the same time, it would be
companies as " part of the machinery of the Post interesting to have the opinion of other members
Office" in the conveyance of the ordinary on this curious question.
mails; but, in the matter of Railway Letters, I remain, yours sincerely,
as " machinery connected with the P.O.," which ERNEST A. ELLIOTT.
is not exactly the same.
As to the status of the Penny Postage Stamps NEW ZEALAND PERFORATIONS.
on these letters, it seems to me that in claiming
the sole right of conveyance of letters, the Post DEAR SIR,—I should like to supplement your
Office is also under an obligation to convey every reply to Mr. Ernest A. Elliott's letter, in your
letter with regard to which the required conditions issue for February, in reference to the Jd., black,
have been fulfilled, New Zealand. I was living in Wellington at the
A penny stamp being affixed, the P.O. has time the issue came out. Stamps were printed at
a right to convey, and the sender has a right to the Government Printing Office there. On April
demand the conveyance of the letter. Some 1st, 1895, the first sixty sheets were offered to the
alteration in the mode of conveyance being public, pin-perforated I2j by the old machine;
desired, the authorities say, '' Relieve us from as this was found to produce ragged work, the
the whole, or a part, of our obligations, and we perforation was altered to 10 (after having been
will grant you the privilege of paying someone three weeks in use).
else to do the work !" Does this alter the status I should add that the new machine was in use
of the stamp ? It is certain that it has the usual at the time, so the old machine was used tempo-
status up to the time of placing the letter in the rarily, as the stamps were urgently required, and
hands of the railway company, and also franks only sixty sheets were issued, as mentioned above,
the letter over any part of the journey (if any) and, as far as I can remember, a few of the panes
in which it is forwarded in the ordinary manner. were bought up locally.
The fact that the letter may not come into the Yours truly, W. P. COHEN.
hands of the P.O. at all somewhat complicates JOHANNESBURG, Box 68, P.O.
 [ (72 ]

The Market.
NOTE.—Under this title will be inserted all the information that may refer in any way
to the financial aspects of Philately, e.g., the sales or values of stamps, the state
of the Market, Trade publications, etc.

COLLECTORS of fiscal stamps will be interested stamps of the United States, many of which were
in learning the prices realised upon four lots of unduly boomed by speculators and collectors a
the Chapman Collection of U.S. Revenues sold few years ago.
recently in New York City. This is a class of " We, of course, must take into consideration
stamps little known in our country, but evidently the fact that the present season has been marked
highly popular with our cousins. Revenue, $2.50, by the largest addition to thj stamp-collecting
claret and black, head inverted, unused, £26; fraternity that any season has ever shown, and
Proprietary, $5, unused, ^55; Fleming Bros.' the effect of this is bound to be apparent in an
Liver Pill, I c., black, £12; Jos. Swain, 6 c., increased demand for stamps during the approach-
orange, few tears, ^20. ing season. As soon as this demand materialises
* * * it will be seen that the supplies of many desirable
stamps cannot keep pace with the demand for
MESSRS. PUTTICK AND SIMPSON'S sale on June them, and that a closer approach to catalogue
6th and 7th included:—Madrid, 3 c., bronze, quotations will have to be maintained by dealers
heavily cancelled, ^8 IDS. ; Ceylon, 1885, CA, than has been the practice during the past two or
"Five Cents" on 4 c., lilac-rose, unused strip of three years."
three, £6 IDS. ; Puttialla, Service, 1887, with The two following sentences, which embody
surcharge in red, the error " Puttilla," unused, the opinion of the Scott Stamp and Coin Co. as
£4 155.; Mauritius, Post Paid, 2d., blue, early to the available quantity of unused United States
state, £7; Newfoundland, 64d., carmine, un- stamps in fine condition, have the ring of honest
used (no gum and small margins), £10; ditto, conviction founded on experience. The same
half of is., orange, used as 6d., on entire letter, remarks would equally apply if the words " United
j£i2. Among a nice collection of U.S.A. issues States" were deleted, and the name of many
we note the following realisations:—1861, I c., another country substituted as regards the fine
dark blue, premiere gravure, unused (no gum), stamps on offer in this country. Stage processions
£10; 5 c., mustard, unused, £j; 90 c., blue, of diseased stocks at the auctions do not make
an unused pair, £5 ; Nevis, lithographed, 4d , fine copies less valuable.
orange-yellow, unused, ^5 ; St. Vincent, wmk. "As to the unused stamps of the United
" Star," 53., rose, unused (part gum), .£10 153.; States, we shall not allow ourselves to be led
Pacific Steam Navigation Company, I real, blue astray by the low prices obtained at auction for
on bleute, £5 155.; Western Australia, first issue, the straggling specimens which have appeared
2d., brown on red, unused, £8. from time to time, the majority of which were
* * * not in extra fine condition, and the prices
THE SCOTT STAMP AND COIN COMPANY realised for which can form no true basis for
announce the new edition of their catalogue to an estimate of value. A search among dealers'
appear early in October next. Some innovations stocks for fine specimens of the United States
are announced, both in the general arrangement would soon prove to anyone how scarce these
of the varieties listed as well as the all-important stamps really are, and we feel certain that it
question of prices. On the latter point the Scott will take but a few months to prove to the
Stamp and Coin Co. say: "It will be our earnest collecting fraternity that our ideas on this subject
endeavour to have the quotations reflect the actual are correct, and that those who think that these
value of stamps, based not only upon the supplies stamps have been wildly overpriced are in error."
which are upon the market, but also upon the * * *
demand which, in the case of a popular country, MESSRS. VENTOM, BULL, AND COOPER sold
may place the value of one stamp far above that on May 25th and following day a collection, by
of a specimen of another country which is far order of the deceased owner's executors, the sale
rarer than the stamp first referred to, but which including a " collection" of German States,
forms part of a series in which no particular in- unused, containing but a few notable rarities,
terest is taken. While in our judgment, as we and the vast majority in the poorest condition.
have already expressed it in these columns, the The one ewe lamb of these Germans was the
reductions made in the English Colonials by the Prussian Eagle, 2 s. gr., Prussian blue, an
leading dealer in England have in many cases unused horizontal strip of 3, £16 ; Ceylon, 8d.,
been far too drastic, we feel compelled to accept brown, imperf., £10; Uganda, 1st issue, 30, 50,
English authority upon the value of English and and 60 cowries, black, and 5 and 10 cowries,
British Colonial stamps, as the market for these violet, unused, £10 53.; Fiji, 1874-75, "2d.,"
stamps is dominated by English dealers and in red, on 6 c., green, with plain V.R., an un-
collectors, and not on this side of the water. In used block of 4, £g los.
many cases we shall feel that the quotations are The same firm at their sale on June gth sold
not a fair reflection of the comparative value of the following, among other lots': Great Britain,
the stamps, but prefer, on the whole, to accept id., red, Archer roulette, unused, £3; Ceylon,
the foreign notations and leave it for future 8d., brown, imperf., £10; Cape of Good Hope,
editions to correct such errors as may have crept triangular, Is., emerald-green, an unused pair,
in. The prices of many of the commoner kinds £g; ditto, a pair of the dark green, unused,
of foreign stamps will be reduced to correspond £7 IDS.; Canada, lod., blue, unused, £6 55;
more closely to the rates at which these stamps Nevis, lithographed, 6d , grey, £5 ; St. Vincent,
can be purchased at wholesale, and the same will is , indigo-blue, unused, ^3 95.; is., brown, un-
apply to the common and medium varieties of the used, £4 175. 6d.