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THE

PHILATELIC RECORD.

VOL. XII.

JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1890.

LONDON:

THEODOR BUHL AXD CO.

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C.

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Vol. XII. JANUARY, 1890. No. 133.

HE Eeport of the Committee appointed by the Philatelic Society of London, to consider the most appropriate mode of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of postage stamps, was adopted by the Society at a meeting held on the 20th December last. The following are the principal recommendations of the Committee :

1. That the Jubilee Anniversary of the introduction of Postage Stamps should be celebrated by an Exhibition of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes, Post Cards, and Philatelic Literature, as well as of all Postal and Philatelic curiosities and objects of interest, to be held at a suitable hall in London during the week ending on the 10th May, 1890.

2. That having regard to the extreme difficulty of assembling a large committee, the arrangements for such Exhibition be en- trusted to a committee of five members of the Society, to be termed the "Exhibition Committee."

3. That the President and Vice-President of the Society shall be constituted ex-officio members of such Exhibition Committee.

5. That the Exhibition Committee be appointed by ballot at the first meeting of the Society held in the month of January, 1890.

7. That a fund, to be called the "Exhibition Expenses Guarantee Fund," be opened under the direction of the Ex- hibition Committee, and a treasurer thereof be appointed. That the Exhibition Committee be requested as soon as possible to communicate an approximate estimate of the expenses connected with the Exhibition, and that thereupon a circular notice be addressed to the principal collectors and persons interested in Philately throughout the United Kingdom, informing them of the proposed Exhibition, and inviting their co-operation with the Society in defraying the necessary expenses.

At the meeting of the Society, held on the 3rd instant, the following five gentlemen were elected ; viz., Messrs. Bacon, Castle,

2 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

Colman, Garth, and Tilleard, who, with the President and Vice- President, constitute the Exhibition Committee. A circular issued by this Committee on the 13th instant will be found in this number.

We congratulate the Society on the strength of the Com- mittee, and are confident that all will be done that can be effected to make the Exhibition a success. We give this early notice of the intentions of the Society, in order that our friends abroad may have time to furbish up their armour and take their part in the Philatelic display, and thus give it a cosmopolitan character.

— ♦ —

Argentine Republic— Another one of the new series has made its appearance — namely, the 6 centavos — showing a portrait of General Sarmiento, President in 1866-70, three-quarters to the left, within an oval, on a ground shaded with lines. Above, on a scroll, is

CORREOS Y TELEGRAFOS; REPUBL1CA to the left, in

the exterior rectangular framing, and Argentina on the other side. The numerals of value are in discs in the lower angles, with centavos between them. The impression is on white wove paper, and the perforation is 13 J.

Our own specimens are in greenish-blue, but the Timbre-Poste says it has been received in various shades of blue-black, greenish- black, blue, and blue-green.

Adhesive. 6 centavos, greenish-blue (various shades). .

Bavaria. — We mentioned in our last that the card of 5 pf., violet, dated " 89," was now issued with the undulations vertical. According to Der Philatelist the same vagary of the printer has extended to those of 3 and 10 pfennig.

Post Cards. 3 pf., green on buff; vertical undulations. 10 „ carmine on buff „

Bhopal. — Major Evans writes us that he has the 1 anna, brown, type of 1881, in twenty-four fresh varieties, one of whicli is lettered eegam for begam. The stamps are not perforated. It is by no means unlikely that the stamp announced in our last, on the authority of the Timbre-Poste, belongs to this new issue. 1 anna, brown ; imperforate ; 24 new varieties. British North Borneo. — The 8 and 10 cents, according to the Timbre-Poste, have now the inscriptions altered to postage and revenue.

Adhesives. 8 cents, green ; postage and revenue. 10 „ blue

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 3

Colombia. — Some of our readers have doubtless seen stamps obliterated with Colombia in letters graduated so as to form an oval. We are informed that this obliterating mark emanated solely from Cartagena (department of Bolivia).

Costa Rica. — We do not know if it is attributable to the recent dearth of stamps prior to the last issue, but a correspondent showed us a short time since an envelope stamp of 5 centavos, 1886, affixed to a letter addressed to him at Panama, which had been admitted to frank the letter.

Egypt. — On the 17th December last a notice was issued by the Egyptian Post Office in the following terms :

"On and after the 18th instant there will be on sale at all Post Offices —

" 1. Small envelopes, with embossed stamp of 1 m., intended for visiting cards, addressed to the town in which they are posted or its suburbs.

" 2. Small envelopes, with embossed stamps of 2 m., intended for visiting cards for the interior of Egypt or abroad.

" 3. 'Envelope letter' of 1 pt. (10 m.), which can be used both in the interior of Egypt and abroad."

" ' Envelope letter ' is a small card, which when folded has the form of an envelope. A communication can be written on the inside, and the ' envelope letter ' can then be closed in the same way as an ordinary envelope."

"These new stamped envelopes and 'envelope letters' are sold in packets of twenty, at 1 pt. (10 m.) per packet, in addition to the value of the postage stamp embossed on each. They can also be obtained separately, when their price is J m. each, in addition to the value of the postage stamp embossed thereon."

The envelopes of 1 and 2 milliemes measure 108 x 71 mm., and are of azure laid paper, watermarked " Postes Egyptiennes " in script. The "envelope letter" when folded measures 121 x 94 mm., and is of thick light blue wove paper. The upper flap of the small envelopes is made with an ungummed tongue at the end, which slips into a cut made in the lower flap. The " envelope letter " is made similarly, but the side flaps are not gummed, while the tongue is gummed, and as when turned down it catches the side flaps, the "envelope letter" cannot be opened without breaking the flap. Not only is it made in Messrs. De la Eue & Co.'s matchless style of fancy stationery, but in form it is a very great improvement on the "letter cards" of the Continent, with their long rows of gum and holes, and entirely does away with one of the objections of the " Circumlocution Office " to Letter Cards, mentioned in our number for November last. Happy Egypt ! which has no cackling association of stationers to dictate to its Post Office.

Then again, only fancy being able to send twenty envelopes with visiting cards within a town and its suburbs for 7|d.

The stamp on the envelope of 1 m. has an exterior octagonal 133*

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

frame, the lines being broken by an ornament in the middle of each. In the envelope of 2 m. the exterior line of the frame is composed of 16 zigzags. Both stamps have the pyramid and sphinx in the centre in a circle. The stamp on the "envelope letter " is that of the current One Piastre. This latter bears the inscription in blue of enveloppe lettre, with the equivalent in Turkish above it.

Envelopes. 1 millieme, brown on azure laid ; watermarked. 2 milliemes, green „ „

Envelope Letter. 1 piastre, blue on stout light blue wove.

Faridkot. — We have already chronicled the native stamp of .•wvmnju, the type 1888 as in ultramarine, dull blue, S99Q 5 anc^ greenis^"^uie- The Timbre-Poste now reports it in dark blue-green, black, and red, perforated 12; and in green, black, red, and blue, imperforate.

1 paisa, blue-green ; perf. 12.

1 „ red „ and imperf.

1 „ black ,, ,,

1 „ green ; imperforate.

1 „ blue ,,

Finland. — We annex an engraving of the r£2Q£^ new type of the 25 penni, described in our last, c'^

M. Breitfuss, in writing to the Timbre-Poste, \ remarks that the shield in the new type has nine 1 1 stars in place of eight, and that this arises from the fact of one of the Governments having some time past been separated into two. Ought not 5j each then to have half a star % d~

The same correspondent also mentions that in the stamps of 10 penni, 20 penni, and the former 25 penni, the earlier printed ones have the lion shaded, while in those printed later there is no shading. The plate is no doubt worn, and the shading gone ; but is it worth while to make two series of such stamps 1 The phases of the plates of these stamps are scarcely of so much interest as those of such stamps as Mauritius, &c.

Grenada. — We have the fiscal stamp of 2 shillings, green on orange, surcharged in black " half — penny — postage " in three lines of capitals.

Adhesive. \ penny on 2s., orange and green ; surch. in black.

Natal. — We learn that the colour of the 3 pence has been changed from blue to slate-grey.

Adhesive. 3 pence, slate-grey ; wmk. W C A ; perf. 14.

New South Wales. — Mr. Castle sends us some official en- velopes which have not been yet chronicled by us. First, there is the official envelope of 1 penny (white laid), with stamp of the centenary type, with o.s. inserted on plugs, referred to in our number for October last. Next there is an envelope of white laid, of commercial size, with stamp of 2 pence centenary type, over- printed with o.s. in black ; and lastly, an envelope of commercial

j-v-Twt-a rw

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

size, of white wove, not official, with two One Penny stamps of the new type.

This latter has the name of a firm stamped in colour on the flap, and the story goes that this firm sent 2000 envelopes to the Government Stamp Office to be stamped with the twopenny stamp. By a mistake they were stamped with the one penny; the firm refused to accept them, and returned them to the office, when a second stamp was affixed; and the firm has now 2000 curiosities in place of 2000 twopenny envelopes.

Envelope. 2 pence, made by 2 stamps of Id. (1888), mauve on white wove. Official Envelopes. 1 penny, mauve (1888), on white laid (120 x 95 mm.).

2 pence, blue (1888), on white laid, overprinted in black.

Pahang. — In addition to the value mentioned in our last, the Timbre-Poste reports the 10 cents, slate, of the Straits Settlements as overprinted in black with pahang.

We now wait with expectancy for similar stamps to arrive over- printed for Negri Sembilan, the last of the five native protected states of the Malay Peninsula. There is now a British resident at Kwala Pilah, so that our expectation will probably be realised. Adhesive. 10 cents, violet, overprinted in black with pahang. Perak. — We are indebted to a correspondent for sending us a specimen of something quite new in the way of overprint on that popular stamp the 2 cents, pink, of the Straits Settlements. The present overprint is p.g.s., in black, with full stops after each letter. We mention this as there may be varieties of the overprint discovered, dependent on the important fact of the omission of one or more of the stops. We are informed that the overprint is intended for "Perak Government Service."

A dhesive. 2 cents, pink, overprinted in black with P. G. S. Russia. — The adhesive stamp of 7 kopecks has undergone some slight modification in its type. The posthorns are now mixed up with thunderbolts. Adhesive. 7 kopecks, blue. Russian Locals. The following announce- ments have lately been made by the Timbre-Poste:

Bogorodsk. — M. de Ferrari writes that he has

the following envelopes in plain white paper,

bearing the unpaid letter stamp in red of the

first type (St. George on horseback to the right) :

Envelopes. 5 kopecks, red ; sizes 150 x 22 mm.

and 188 x 125 mm.

Charkoff. — Since the 10th October last the caduceus and cornucopia have resumed their places on these stamps, but are now relegated to the lower half of the upright oval, the numeral of value occupying the upper half. The impression is on plain white wove paper, and the perforation is 11 J. Adhesive. 5 kopecks, blue and gold.

6

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

Gadiatsch. — This seems to be a most prolific district in stamps of 3 kopecks. We chronicled a trinal issue this time last year, a dual one since, and now we have another trinal, which took place on the 30th October last. The central design in all is similar to that in the July issue, though St. George looks still more like a gondolier than before. The annexed engravings will

dispense with the necessity of further description, except to re- mark that the first is in red on white paper with green lines ; in the second the lines and the inscriptions are in pink, the scallopped frame, with the Arms and crown, being in green ; the third is on

grey paper. Adhesives.

3 kopecks, red and green on white ; Type 1.

2.

pink 3 „ bronze on grey ; Type 3.

Lebedjan. — The annexed design is that of a stamp of 5 kopecks, lithographed in red on plain white wove paper, on which is a back- ground in blue.

Adhesive. 5 kopecks, red and blue on white.

Opotchka. — The stamp of 1885, in carmine- pink, has now the colour of impression changed to yellowish-pink.

Adhesive. 5 kopecks, yellowish-pink.

Oustioujna. — This is a new candidate for philatelic honours. This district in the government of Novgorod appears to have issued a stamp of 3 kopecks, in March last, of the type shown in the annexed design. The impression is on orange-coloured paper, and the perforation is 11 J.

Adhesive. 3 kopecks, black on orange. Prilouky. — This stamp, which has since 1887 changed its colour from pink to blue, violet, and green, has gone back to pink, though of a brighter tone than before. Adhesive. 5 kopecks, black on bright pink. Schatz. — A new issue of the stamps of the type of January last, described in our number for May last, has been made. Adhesives. 3 kopecks, red on white ; perforated 11£. 3 „ grey „

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

A correspondent of the Timbre- Poste has discovered a stamp of the design shown in the annexed engraving, which has not yet been chronicled, though its issue probably took place prior to that of the stamp on pink of May, 1888. (Phil. Record, vol. x. 116.) The im- pression is in black on pink paper.

Adhesive. 3 kopecks, black on pink.

St. Thomas and Prince Islands —

According to our contemporaries, the director of the post at St. Thomas has received a reprimand from the Lisbon authorities for treating some stamps of 10 reis in the manner shown in the engraving. However this may be we are unable to say. Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. have just sent us a specimen of the 20 reis, pink, surcharged in black with a large numeral " 5 " at the top, " reis " at the bottom, and " cinco " between. Adhesives. 5 reis on 10 reis, green ; surcharged in black. 5 „ 20 ,,, pink „ „

Salvador. — By a slip of the pen we wrote last month, at the top of page 222, that the value was barred in one centavo of the new type. We meant, of course, the upper inscription was

barred, as mentioned in the description and

the synopsis.

Santander. — The American Journal of

Philately reports the issue of a stamp of

1 centavo of a new design, as shown in the

annexed engraving. It is lithographed on

plain white wove paper, and perforated 13.

Adhesive. 1 centavo, blue.

Siam. — Some three months since we chronicled the surcharge

of the 2 atts, vermilion, of the first issue with " 1 att," but failed

to give an engraving of it, which we now do.

We are informed that the stock of the 2 atts of the first issue having become exhausted, and the new stamp not having arrived from England, recourse has been had to the 2 atts of the current issue. From the specimen before us, the surcharge is in black, that over the "2 atts" in the tablet to the right having a large numeral " 1 " upon it, and the equivalent in Siamese over that to the left; while between the tablets are Siamese characters, probably equivalent to " Atth."

Adhesive. 1 att on 2 atts, green and pink ; surcharged in black.

Sirmoor. — Major Evans has sent us specimens of what purport to be stamps of the \ anna of the 1 880 issue. We say, purport to be, but they are more than doubtful, as they are exactly

8

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

similar to the engraving given in M. Moens' Catalogue, and repeat the errors there made in the Indian characters, and have evidently- been printed from a copy of his cliche. On the stamps in question there are the printed remains of the rows of perforation round the stamp, which have not been entirely removed. We should add that the paper is thinner than that of the genuine ones, and the perforation is 12£, in place of 11£.

Surinam. — The Timbre-Poste has received the post card of 15 cents, surcharged " 1\ cent" in violet. Some are surcharged horizontally and others obliquely to the right, both from top to bottom and vice versa. In the horizontal surcharge the following errors may be noted; viz., a double surcharge, one being below the stamp, and another of " 17£" in place of " 7£." Post Card. 7| c. on 15 c, grey ; surch. in violet, horizontally and obliquely.

Swaziland. — Annexed is an engraving of the issue of the Transvaal, overprinted for use in this territory, and described in our number for November. We are somewhat in a fog as regards the orthography of the surcharge. We have never seen it spelt with the addition of an E except on these stamps.

Switzerland. — The colour of the stamp of 15 centimes has been changed from yellow to violet.

Adhesive. 15 centimes, violet.

Turkey. — We extract the following from the Timbre-Poste: "An envelope from Bagdad has been sent to us, franked with half a stamp of 2 piastres, cut diagonally, bearing a black round stamp of 12^ mm. The ob- literating stamp covers part of the half stamp, which has not got the whole of the surcharge, a portion of the circle being wanting, which would seem to indi- cate that the surcharge was made before the obliteration. It may, therefore, be supposed that the Post Office applied this stamp on the half adhesive."

Adhesive. % stamp of 2 piastres, violet and blue, surcharged in black.

Uruguay. — The engraving shows the surcharge on the 5 c. described in our last.

We have received a stamp of 5 centesimos of a new design, showing the Arms within a circular band at the top, inscribed republica oriental in the upper part, and Uruguay in the lower, with del over it inside the band. There is a large numeral of " 5 " below, with centesimos on a scroll underneath.

A stamp of 2 centesimos also arrives, the principal feature being a large numeral " 2 " within an upright oval band, with a similar inscription to that on the stamp of 5 c.

A REVIEW. 9

The impression is on plain white wove paper, and the per- foration 14£. Adhesives. 2 centesinios, red.

5 „ blue.

Victoria. — Der Philatelist reports that the Is. 6d., ultramarine- blue, is now in orange.

Adhesive. Is. 6d., orange.

The Stamped Envelopes of the United States. By Professor Horner. Third Edition, Revised and Continued, by Mr. E. B. Hanes.

[We are indebted for the following review of the above work to Major E. B. Evans, who kindly undertook on our behalf the examination of a very complicated subject, but one with which he is so competent to deal. — Ed.]

We have received from Messrs. Durbin and Hanes of Philadelphia a copy of the third Edition of Professor Horner's valuable work on The Stamped Envelopes of the United States, which purports to be revised and continued by Mr. E. B. Hanes ; we regret to find however that this new Edition is in reality only a reprint of the original book, with some of the subsequent discoveries of Professor Horner and others inserted in the body of the work, with the more recent issues given in their proper places at the end, and with other discoveries embodied in an Addenda ; the additions to be made to the early issues are thus divided into two parts, and without wishing in any way to disparage the careful labour bestowed upon this edition by Mr. Hanes, we cannot help thinking that it would have been well, either to have reprinted the first edition exactly as it stood and kept all additions to that portion of the work for an addenda, or, and better still in our opinion, to have thoroughly revised and rewritten the whole, inserting all new discoveries (except of course those made while the work was in the press) in their proper places.

Our principal reason for wishing that one of these two courses had been adopted, is the fact that many of Professor Horner's notes and observations, which were doubtless correct enough when written, eleven years ago, have by this time become quite out of date, and some of them, when read by the side of the Reference Lists as they now stand, are absolutely contradictory. For instance, taking the first issue, we find in the closing notes "If any envelopes of Note size were made from Varieties B and C of Die 2, they have absolutely disappeared," while in the Reference List immediately above we find No. 1|, which is Note size, Die 2, Yar. C, by no means an un- attainable envelope at the present day. Again, not a line further, " Nos. 4 and 5 are exceedingly scarce. We know of but one uncut copy of No. 4 — none of No. 5." These envelopes, the 3 c. Die 1, Full Letter, on white and on buff, are scarce still, but much less so than this note would imply — we write with two uncut copies of each before us ; further, the unlearned would conclude that Nos. 4 and 5 were at all events the rarest envelopes of that issue, as no doubt they were when the list was originally compiled, but we now have added to it, without remark, No. f (the same Die in Note size), and No. \ (the 3 c. in Ladies Note), both of which are scarcer than 4 or 5, the latter being we believe really one of the unattainables.

In Issue II. there are some half numbers, which appeared in the original edition, and seem to indicate that Professor Horner only discovered the second shape of size 2 at the last moment ; the list of this size must originally have been 34, 35, 36, 37, the 3c. on white and buff, and the 4 c. on white and buff ; on discovering the second shape the half numbers were apparently added, so that the whole numbers now refer to the white and the half numbers to the buff envelopes. The note below says, " Nos. 36 and 37 are rare, as are also 42 and 43. This plainly should be " Nos. 36, 133**

10 A REVIEW.

36|, 37, and 37|," &c, thus including all the ruled 4 c. envelopes ; but the question arises, Had the author really seen all these ? or did he assume that the 4 c. existed in both shapes of Size 2 ? We have seen 37 and 37|, can any of our readers on either side of the Atlantic vouch for the existence of 36 and 36£ ?

The irregularity of revision we have already alluded to, leaves uncorrected the error of including shape N in the heading of Issue III. ; this shape does not appear in the reference list, but per contra shape K which does now appear in the reference list is not inserted in the heading.

The original, we fancy somewhat presumptive, list of the 2 c. envelopes and wrappers in Issue III. is repeated without question : — Die 1 in shape A on straw and orange, Die 2 in shape G, on the same papers, and both Dies on manilla wrappers ; but does No. 56 (Die 1 on orange, shape A) exist ? We have never seen it. And does either of these Dies exist on wrappers at all ? All the wrappers we have seen are stamped with a third variety of Die, with numerals resembling those of Die 1, and lettering more like that of Die 2.

Professor Horner states that "Nos. 100 and 101, on Shape I, are very rare." Do these exist at all? We cannot hear of anyone who has ever seen them.

The notes to Issue V. also appear open to revision, where they state, "The paper of No. Ill is remarkable from its extreme thinness in many instances." As far as our limited experience goes, Nos. Ill, 112, and 113 are all, as a rule, on quite thin paper. Again, "Nos. 115 and 116 are becoming scarce." This was probably a slip of the pen, or a misprint, in the first instance, for No. 115 is the common variety of the 9 c. envelope, No. 114 being apparently scarcer.

In the reference list of the Reay issue two half numbers (169| and 170J) are inserted from Dr. Horner's Supplement of 1884 ; these no doubt would not have been left without some remark in the notes on the subject of their rarity and peculiarity of shape, had they been included in the first Edition ; some further description of their shape is not altogether unnecessary, as we believe that it is not conspicuously like Shape R.

In the case of the issues of 1874-78, Mr. Hanes states in his preface that it was thought best to leave the list as last revised by Dr. Horner, but this is not quite the case ; we are glad to see that the author's plan of dividing Issue VII. into three periods, as in his revised list of 1884, thus upsetting the order of the Numbers, has been abandoned, the order of the first Edition reverted to, and the numbers which Dr. Horner used twice over in his revised list duplicated by half numbers {e.g. No. 280, which occurs twice in the second edition, appears now as 280 and 280J) ; on the other hand, some things are inserted which were not in either of the editions superintended by the author, so that here again we have the inconsistency of the notes and observations not always corresponding with the reference lists and illustrations ; thus at the head of Issue VII. we find illustrations of four types of the 2 c. and three of the 3 c, whilst the letterpress remains the same as in the first edition, and therefore describes only three types of the 2 c. and two of the 3 c. The third type of the latter is described in a Note of Dr. Horner's on page 48, where the illustration would have seemed more appropriate also ; but the fourth type of the former is mentioned nowhere, except in the reference list of Issue VIII., under Nos. 629|, 630J, and 681J, there being no note whatever to indicate that these half numbers are additions of Mr. Hanes's, and were not in any of Professor Horner's lists.

The Notes to Issue VII. required to be entirely rewritten to make them at all consistent : On page 28 we find, watermark " C, so far as known, is found only on a single specimen, 3 c, Full Letter, Amber;" while the reference list which follows includes "325f, Size No. 4£, Shape V, Die B, green, 3 c, Paper Blue, wrnh. C !" Again, on pages 32 and 33, we have first the note to the revised list of "Reprints and Others Probably Prepared Especially for the Centennial," copied from the second

A KEVIEW. 11

edition, p. 67, and then the notes to the original list of Issue VII., copied from the first edition, pages 39 and 40 ; the note given at the end of this issue in the second edition, p. 72, seems to be omitted altogether, though it was no doubt intended to embody the latest ideas of the author, but the other notes we have mentioned are copied verbatim, the only attempt made to reconcile the discrepancies between them being the omission of the third paragraph of the notes on p. 40 (first Edition).

Thus on page 32 (third Edition), line 32, we find "404 is really 315 with the die changed," and at line 36, "No. 315, I may say here, has also been omitted, as 404 takes its place." These both form part of the note in the second edition, and read strangely, because, if 315 and 404 were different dies, they were distinct varieties, and should both have been retained. On examining the reference lists, we find that in the first edition 315 is the 2 c, Die A, brown on orange, Full Letter, Shape T, and 404 is the 2 c. , Die C, in the same colour, &c. , and thus the die does differ in the two numbers ; in the second edition 315 (which the note says is omitted) re-appears as 2 c, Die A, but the envelope is said to be shape U, and 404 is exactly the same ; so that there Dr. Horner made a slip, as he gave 404 and 315 as the same Die, and at the same time did not omit 315.

The third Edition rings the changes in a different fashion, making 315 Die A, shape T, and 404 Die A, shape U ; but repeats, as already stated, the faulty note of the second Edition, stating that 315 is omitted, and further gives the note from the first Edition stating, "I have chronicled No. 315 on the authority of information from a trustworthy source that this envelope was, for a brief time, on sale at the post-office at Pottsville, Pa." All these contradictory statements will rather puzzle the unassisted student of the present edition.

It is a pity that the 4th paragraph of the notes from the first edition was not omitted as well as the third, since it states that " Die B of the 5 c. is found only on white and amber No. 4| ; " the reference list giving it also on cream No. 7.

No. 446^ is an extraordinary variety, chronicled by Horner, in his second edition, without any remark, and copied into the third edition we can only suppose blindly. It purports to be a 2 c, War Department,- die C, a type hitherto unheard of, on an envelope of orange paper, size 4|, an equally unknown variety; if Professor Homer had intended to chronicle this curious combination of two unknown quantities, he would surely have alluded to it in a note, and if Mr. Hanes can vouch for its existence we should have been grateful for a statement to that effect. In the absence of evidence in favour of the variety, as described, we should be disposed to conjecture that, as 446 is the 2 c. Die B (the usual type) on orange, size 6, shape T, 446^ should have been the same type, paper, and size, shape U, a not at all unlikely variety to exist, since all the other extra letter envelopes in this series are of that shape.

We find some alterations made in the descriptions of the two additions to the list of Centennial envelopes, given by Dr. Horner on p. 66 of the second edition ; No. 542J is there described as with square gum, it is now shown as with round; 54:5a was previously described as with round gum and wmk. A, but is now given as square gum and wmk. B. There being no note as to these changes, we cannot tell whether they are corrections or misprints.

In regard to Issues VIII., IX., &c, we find but feAv remarks to make : We have an idea (possibly erroneous) that Die B of the 5 c. is found in Issue VIII. , with wmk. A, but as we see that Mr. Hanes has been able to verify several varieties marked " ? " by Dr. Horner, we presume he was not able to spot this one with certainty ; the insertion of the 2 c. Die D without remark, we have already alluded to ; we note that in Issues VIII. and IX. the 2 c. War Department is always given as Die C, but we have never seen any change in the die chronicled ; No. 692 was given in the 2nd edition as black, probably through a slip on the part of either author or printer, it is now corrected to red, but still remains remarkable as having the square

12 A REVIEW.

gum, which we thought had been abandoned some time earlier for all the smaller sizes, its predecessor, No. 438i, being noted as with both varieties of gum.

The envelopes with wmk. D included in Issue IX., should we think more properly come into Issue VIII. ; there was no break in the contract, which was renewed at the end of 1882 for another four years, and had it not been that some changes in the schedule of sizes took place about the same time, the change of watermark would have been the only point of difference between the two issues ; as it is we find the 1 c. and 2 c. in Sizes 3, 4|, and 5 (with the exception of the 2 c. size 4§, in fawn) with wmk. D in Issue IX. ; the stock of Size 3 envelopes, in fawn paper, with this wmk. seems to have lasted well into Issue X. ; and a supply of blue paper with the same wmk. must have been found, for this only occurs in Size 4| in Issue IX. , but re- appears in four sizes in Issue X.

This Issue X. is remarkable for exhibiting an apparent uncertainty on the part of the printers as to whether red or brown was the correct colour for the 2c; we say apparent, because it is quite possible that there was really no uncertainty at all, and that all the red impressions, except the (accidental 1) varieties of the July 1884 type in red, were printed before any of the brown ones ; being catalogued however in the order in which they became known to collectors, we have first the October 1883 type in red, second the November 1883 type in red, third (under May 1884) the November type in brown, fourth (under June 1884) a recutting of this type (or probably of some of the working dies made from the original, thus showing several "minor varieties) in red, fifth the same type and varieties in brown, and lastly the so-called Kellogg type, of July 1884, in broivn with two errors (?) in red.

In noticing Issue XI. we should perhaps say a few words as to the cele- brated Syndicate envelopes, about which there was so much discussion a year or two ago on the other side of the Atlantic, but which are here catalogued (very rightly) without any special remark. In October 1886 a new contract was entered into, and this was marked by the introduction of a new watermark, the letters U. S. in a plain monogram ; at the same time the higher values, 10 c, 30 c, and 90 c. (all intermediate ones were already obsolete) were withdrawn from sale at the Post Offices, and became only obtainable to order, in quantities of 1000; in the course (we believe) of 1887, some of the dealers in the United States joined together to order some lots of these envelopes, a not unnatural thing to do, as probably none of them cared to invest x times 900 dollars in x varieties of the 90 c. envelopes ; they seem to have obtained ten varieties of the 30 c. and four of the 90 c. , in addition no doubt to a number of the 10 c. , representing a fairly large investment, especially as it was open to anyone else to do the same. Fortunately however (for the lucky investors) in September 1887 the authorities took it into their heads to alter the colours of the 30 c. and 90 c, and the Syndicate found that they had got a monopoly of those two values in the old colours with the new wmk. ; for it does not appear that either private individuals, who probably never require these high values, or any other dealers had obtained supplies of them ; as a natural conse- quence up went the prices, and then the fun began— the unfortunate envelopes and the fortunate firms who possessed them were denounced, by those who were not so fortunate, in terms which we had supposed to be reserved for election times, and some of the most serious Societies, Philatelic and Philatelical, solemnly declared them to be Anathema, and doubtless would have marked them with the number 666, or the word specimen, had they had any of them to mark. Yet, as in a still more celebrated case —

" In spite of all this terrible curse, Nobody seemed one penny the worse."

And we really are unable to see what there was to go into hysterics over ; it is no doubt a dreadful thing to find fourteen more high-priced envelopes added to an already too long list of wants, and it is a still more dreadful

A REVIEW. 13

thing to find that some one else has made a profitable investment, which we might have made ourselves if we had had the capital and the luck ; but that sort of thing is always happening, and we have got to get accustomed to it. These 30 c. and 90 c. envelopes are just as collectable as the 10 c, or as the 30 c, brown, and 90 c, purple, which superseded them; none of these are on general sale, but to accommodate collectors they are obtainable (singly if required) at the New York post office, and there, we believe, only after a good deal of trouble and circumlocution, and not in the Department where other envelopes and stamps are on sale. It is quite open to collectors to exclude these, or any other varieties, from their collections if they think fit, but they should find some better reason for doing so than the fact that some of them are only obtainable at high prices.

These envelopes are on quite a different footing to the English printed:to- order varieties, the dies of which are impressed upon paper of any size, shape, and nature that is sent in ; the American envelopes are supplied in all cases complete by the Post Office Department, and are made of official paper in certain colours, sizes, and shapes, and in no others ; the choice, however, is large enough to satisfy all tastes — three qualities of paper, two colours of each, and ten sizes !

In Issue XII. we find ten varieties chronicled with the so-called rejected die of the 2 c. ; but we find no mention of the impression of this type in grey, which we believe first attracted attention to the fact that there were two dies of this value, and of which we understand that a copy (the only one known ?) exists which passed through the post. A misprint heads the list of Size 5 in this issue — "full" instead of extra "letter."

We now come to the Addenda, which include several very interesting items, about some of which we could wish for some more detailed informa- tion : — No. 64 is described as having " a variety of the Nesbitt watermark peculiar to itself. The letters p.o.d. and u.s. are separated by a space of four millimetres, instead of joining each other as in the usual variety." We are not quite certain whether this means that the p and the o, the o and the r>, and the u and the s are in each case 4 mm. apart in this variety, but are joined together (the p, o, and d, and the u s) in the ordinary ; or that the line p o d is 4 mm. above the line u s, instead of being joined to it. From an examination of specimens in our possession we gather that the latter is the meaning ; but there are so many irregularities in these Nesbitt watermarks that we almost doubt this being a sure test, and in any case we do not think it is the most marked point of distinction ; we should add the following points as more plainly recognisable : — The groups of letters in this variety of paper are placed vertically one above the other, instead of in echelon as in all the other varieties (for there are other varieties) of the Nesbitt watermark ; the rows — p o d and u s— run parallel to the laid lines, instead of obliquely across them ; and the envelopes are usually (? always) cut so that the laid lines run horizontally across the body of the envelope instead of diagonally. That these envelopes were among the earliest manufactured, and that this type (Die 2, A) was the earliest form of the die we have no doubt, but we believe that there is also no doubt that other varieties were manufactured before any were issued.

Nos. 47a and 47b, the 3 c. of 1860 impressed on Note Sheets of white and blue paper, respectively, without any watermark, are surely essays only ; it is unlikely that unwatermarked sheets were prepared for issue. Nine out of the other thirteen proposed additions to Issues II. and III. differ from the ordinary in being on unwatermarked paper, and unfortunately no notes are added to tell us whether it is certain that these are not essays, whether the paper is wove or laid, or whether its appearance is such as to lead to a belief that the absence, or invisibility, of the wmk. is due to defective manufacture. In many of the current envelopes and wrappers in manilla and amber Manilla the wmks. and laid lines are invisible, the paper being apparently wove, in parts at all events, still a trace of a wmk. can generally be found somewhere ; but we have by us a variety of No. 49 (say 49a), not included in the list before us, which is on wove paper, with no

14 PHILATELIC GAINS.

wmk. , to all appearances, yet we have no doubt it was made on the same frames as the ordinary manilla, laid and wmkd. We have seen specimens corresponding with 48|, 49£, 69|, and 70£, and we can add a variety of 30 (say 30a), and the 3 c. of 1861 in Full Letter and Extra Letter, orange paper, all three with no wmk. , but we should be glad to be assured that any of these were really issued for use.

A rather tantalizing description is given of No. 48|, just enough to make us wish for more : " The paper is entirely different from the buff or manilla wrappers, in texture, watermark, and laid lines, which precludes the possibility of its having been bleached." We do not quite understand how any arrangement of " texture, watermark, and laid lines " would prevent paper being bleached, but we do understand what Mr. Hanes means ; if he had but described the paper he refers to we should have been able to judge whether it corresponds with any of those employed in this issue.

The rest of the Addenda we must pass over, merely deploring the absence of notes to some of the other items, and pointing out that the alteration made by the Errata in No. 483J, makes it correspond with one of the varieties included in 481.

Our readers must not conclude from what we have said, that we have nothing but fault to find with Mr. Hanes' Edition of Dr. Horner's work ; it is the business of a reviewer to point out blemishes, and most of those we have alluded to are due to a praiseworthy anxiety on the part of the editor not to make any alterations that were not absolutely necessary ; we think that his modesty has led him to make too few corrections, but that is after all a fault on the right side ; we might have found the work which has so long been recognized as a standard one, tinkered up beyond all recognition, but we are quite sure that this would not have occurred in the hands of Mr. Hanes, who might have been safely trusted to revise throughout with judgment. We think that it would have been better to have done this, he seems to have thought otherwise ; it is merely a difference of opinion ; in any case all collectors of United States envelopes should be grateful to him for a new Edition of a work that none of them can do without, and which had long required to be extended to a more recent date.

PHILATELIC GAINS OF 1889,

The contents of the following list, not otherwise described, are to be taken as adhesives. Words in italics point to the particular change in the object in question, which constitutes it a new variety ; and the page referred to is that of the eleventh volume of the Philatelic Record on which the novelty is described. A note of interrogation indicates that the authenticity is doubtful.

Afghanistan. — 1 abasi, brown-purple on white laid bdtonne' paper ; new

die. (Page 147.) Antigua. — 1 penny, violet-rose (1862); imperforate. (Page 164.) Antioquia. — Reprints of 1869 issue. (Page 23.)

Type of 1886. 1 centavo, carmine on violet. 1\ centavos, purple on flesh. 5 „ vermilion-red on yellow.

10 „ black on green.

Provisionals. 2\ „ black on yellow.

" JJ 55 5»

1\ „ red on white. 5 „ „ orange-yellow.

New Issue. 1 centavo, black on pink ; perf. 13£. 2£ centavos „ pale blue ,, 5 „ „ yellow

10 „ „ green

(	„ 61.)
(	„ 61.)
(	„ 61.)
(	„ 61.)
(	„ 185.)
(	„ 185.)
(	„ 198.)
(	„ 198.)
(	„ 199.)
(	„ 199.)
(	„ 199.)
(	„ 199.)

PHILATELIC GAINS.

15

Argentine Republic— Surcharge of "oficial" (?). New Types. \ centavo, blue ; perf. 12.

3 centavos, blue-green ; perf. 12. 5 ,, rose-red „

12 ,, blue „

20 „ green „

\ centavo, brown, altered type.

1 ,, ,, new type.

2 centavos, brown on light buff.

Wrappers. Letter Card.

2

white.

Austria. — Provisional Pneumatic Envelope. 15 kr. Varieties in Newspaper Stamp of 1867. Levant.— Surcharged "soldi" stamps (?).

Barbados. — Registration Envelope. 2 pence, blue. print of De La Rue and Co.

(Page 4) (Pages 164, 180.) (Page 199.) ( „ 61.)

( n 180-) ( „ 180.) (Pages 107, 164.) ( „ 107,131,217.) ( „ 61,82,164.) (Page 164.)

(Page 31.) ( „ 180.) (Pages 23, 195.)

Sizes F and H. 131.)

Im-

Letter Cards.

Bavaria. — 3 pfennig, yellow-green; perf. 14J; hoi'izontal wmk. (Page 61.)

Unpaid Let. Stamps. 3pfennig,greyoverprintedinred;^er/".14J. ( „ 61.)

5 jj >j j? » ( n 61.)

10 j> » n J' ( » 61.)

Post Cards. 3, 5, and 10 pf., dated "89;" horizontal undulations.

(Page 61.)

5 pf., dated "89;" vertical undulations. (Page 217.)

Belgium. — Errors in 1 centime, reseda. (Page 61.)

1 centime, grey -green. ( „ 181.)

2 centimes, red-brown. ( „ 5. ) 10 „ carmine on blue, within

(Page 5.) 10 centimes, pink, white inside. (Page 5.) Telegraph Stamp. 25 francs, reseda and red. (

Bhopal. — New Plates. \ anna, deep blue-green ; imperf . | „ deep green ; perf. 6. } „ black; imperf.

In » per/- 7i. 1 „ brown ; „

Bogota.— \ centavo, black ; perf. 13|. (Pages 109, 165.)

Brazil. — 700 reis, bright mauve ; perf. 12J ; new type.

and without.

31.)

(Pages 42, 61.) ( » 42,61.) ( „ 42,62.) (Page 82.) ( „ 218.)

Post Card. Envelopes.

40 reis, blue on rosy-buff.

(Page 5.)

(Pages 43, 62.)

(Page 43.)

» 43.)

100 „ emerald-green on white laid. 200 „ pink on white laid.

100 „ green on white laid ; new size. ( „ 199. )

300 „ carmine-red „ „ ( „ 199.)

Wrappers. 20 „ violet on whity-brown. ( „ 24.)

40 „ blue „ „ ( „ 43.)

60 „ brown „ ,, ( „ 43.)

Letter Card. 80 „ pink on white. ( „ 24.)

Journal Stamps. 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300 reis, orange-yellow. ( „ 24.)

500, 700, 1000 reis, orange-yellow. (Pages 43, 62.)

10 reis, olive. (Page 147.)

20 50 100 200 300 500 700 1000

light green.

„• pale orange.

„ lilac.

„ black.

„ pink.

„ dark green.

„ blue.

„ chesnut-brown.

147.

147.) 147.) 147.) 147.) 147.) 147.) 147.)

16 PHILATELIC GAINS.

British Bechuanaland.— | penny, black, of Cape of Good Hope, over- printed in green. (Page 24.) Provisional. | penny, surcharged in black on 3d., purple and black, of

1887. (Page 24.) Post Card of 1886. Variety in surcharge. (Page 199.) Registration Envelopes of the Cape of Good Hope, overprinted in green in large capitals. 4 pence, blue. Size G-. Imprint of De La Rue & Co. (Page 148.) 4 „ „ „ H. „ „ „ (Pages 148, 164.)

4 „ „ „ K. ,, McCorquodale & Co. (Page 148.)

Registration Envelope, with embossed stamp of four pence of Great Britain.

4 pence, vermilion. Size G. (Page 164.) Protectorate. — 4 pence, purple and black, of B. Bechuanaland, 1888, with surcharge in red. (Page 5. ) 4 pence on \ penny, red and black, of B. Bechuanaland, 1888, overprinted in black. (Pages 165, 200.) Registration Envelopes of the Cape of Good Hope, overprinted for British Bechuanaland in small capitals, with additional overprint. 4 pence, blue. Size G. Overprint in black. Imprint of De La Rue

& Co. (Page 62.) 4 pence, blue. Size H. Overprint in green. Imprint of Be La Rue

& Co. (Page 62.) 4 pence, blue. Size K. Overprint in green. Imprint of McCorquodale &Co. Page 62.) Registration Envelopes of the Cape of Good Hope, overprinted for British Bechuanaland in large capitals. Sizes G, H, and K, above described. (Pages 148, 164.) British Guiana. — 1 cent, purple, "Inland Revenue" overprint in black. (Pages 107, 165.) 2 cents, purple, " Inland Revenue" overprint in black. (Page 107.)

* 33 33 33 53

O 55 55 35 55

8 3} 33 33 33

-*"" 55 53 35 35

•^4 ,, ,, „ ,3

48 „ „ „ ,3

'•* 33 33 55 33

1 dollar, green „ „

2 dollars „ „ „

« 35 55 33 33

4 j> )1 33 31

5 33 J) 33 , 35

2 cents, purple and black, with additional overprint in New Issue. 2 cents, purple and orange. (Page 181.)

8 „ „ pink. ( „ 181.)

72 „ „ brown. ( „ 181.)

96 „ „ carmine. ( „ 181.)

Post Card. Varieties in surcharge on the 3 cents, 1885-6. (Page 24.)

Registration Envelope. 4 cents, vermilion. Size H 2. Imprint of De La Rue & Co. (Page 5.) British Honduras.— Post Card, 1888. 5 cents, dark brown on buff. (Page 6.) British North Borneo. — 2 cents, red-brown; postage and revenue.

(Page 200.)

5 dollars, violet ; postage and revenue. (Page 200.)

10 dollars, brown ; postage and revenue. (Page 200.) Post Cards. 1 cent, ochre. (Page 108.)

2 cents, purple-brown. ( „ 108.)

6 „ blue. ( „ 108.) 8 „ green. ( „ 108.)

(	53	107.)
(	53	107.)
(Pages 107, 165.)
(Page 107.)
(	55	107.)
(	33	107.)
(	33	5.)
(	35	218.)
(	35	218.)
(	55	218.)
(	33	218.)
(	53	218.)
in red.	(Page 131

PHILATELIC GAINS. 17

Bulgaria. — 3 stot. on 5 stot., green on pale green, surcharge in black. (Pages 24, 44.) New Type. 5 stot., green on white ; perf. 13. (Pages 83, 132.)

1 leva, vermilion „ „ (Page 181.)

PostCard. 10 stot., carmine on white. ( „ 83.)

Reply Card. 5 + 5 stot., green on white; inscriptions as on single card of 1887. (Page 200.) Canada. — 2 cents, blue-green. (Page 148. ) Registration Stamps. 2 cents, pale and dark brick-red. (Page 132.) 5 „ blue-green. ( „ 200.)

Envelopes, &c Overprinted "Official" or "Service" (?) ( „ 44.) Cape of Good Hope. — 1 penny, ra#-carmine; wmk." Foul Anchor." (Page 83.) Post Card. \ penny, brown on white. (Page 62.)

Registration Envelope. 4 pence, ultramarine. Sizes G and H. Imprint of Messrs. De La Rue and Co. (Page 62.) Cashmere. — See Kashmir.

Ceylon.— 5 cents on 64 c, red-brown. Postage and Revenue, surcharge inverted. (Page 6.) 2 cents on 4 c, lilac-pink. "Two" surcharged in black over

"Four." (Page 63, 108.) 2 cents on 4 c, lilac-pink, surcharged in black with "2 cents." (Page 200.) 25 cents, bistre-brown, numerals in olive. (Page 218.) Post Cards. 5 cents on 6 c. , blue on buff, surcharge in black.

(Page 44. ) 3 cents on 6 c, blue on buff, surcharge in black. (Pages 148,200.) Reg. Envelope. 15 cents on 12 c, pink, surcharge in red. (Page 148.) Telegraph Stamps. 12 c. on 25 c, green, new variety. ( „ 152.)

20 c. on 50 c, blue „ ( „ 152.)

40 c. on 50 c. „ „ ( „ 222.)

60 c. on 1 rupee,Venetian-red, new variety. ( „ 222. ) 60 c. on 2 r. 50 c, slate-grey „ ( „ 152.)

80 c on 1 rupee, Venetian-red „ ( „ 152.)

80 c on 2 r. 50 c, slate-grey „ ( „ 152.)

80 c on 2 r. 50 c „ „ ( „ 153.)

Chalco. — 2 reales, black on grey-green (?). (Page 65.) Chamba. — 1 anna, violet-brown, surcharged in black, in two lines, with

" Chamba State." on Indian stamp. Chiapas. — 4 reales, black on white. (Page 66.) Chili. — Post Cards. 1 centavo, carmine on green. (Page 6.) 2 centavos, red on slate-blue. ( „ 6. ) Colombia.— 5 pesos(May, 1883), lightbrown on yellowish; perf. 11. (Page 132.) 50 centavos, brown on buff; perf. 11. 1 peso, lake on white „

5 pesos, yellow-brown on white „ 10 ,, black on pink „

20 centavos, violet; perf. 13| ; connected inscription. 5 pesos, black on white ; perf. 12. Registration Stamp. 10 centavos, red ; perf. 13|. Official Cubierta. Black on white batonne blue. Cubierta. 50 centavos, lilac-rose.

Congo.— 5 centimes, green ; perf. 15 ; new type. 25 „ t dull blue „ _ „

5 francs, violet, surch. 3 fr. 50 c. in black ; new type. Post Cards. 10 centimes, black on white

15 ,, carmine on buff Reply Cards. 10 + 5 „ brown on white

15 + 10 „ black on pale green

( „	132.)
( „	132.)
( „	182.)
( „	182.)
vtion. ( „	201.)
( „	218.)
(Pages 108,	201.)
(Page	! 45.)
( „	218.)
(Page 83.)
( „	45.)
n. (Pages 45, 83.)
(Page	! 45.)
( „	45.)
( „	109.)
( „	109.)

(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 182.)
(	„ 218.)
(Page 222.)
( „ 222.)
(Page 183.)
( „	183.)
( „	63.)
( „	63.)
( .»	63.)

18 PHILATELIC GAINS.

Costa Rica. —5 centavos, brown-red ; fiscal usedpostally. (Page 148.) 10 „ blue „ „

New Series. 1 centavo, olive-brown 2 centavos, blue-green 5 „ vermilion 10 „ brown-red 20 „ yellow-green 50 „ carmine

1 peso, blue

2 pesos, violet 5 „ olive-green

10 „ black

Cuba. — Telegraph Stamps. 5 c. de peso, black ; fiscal. 10 ,, blue „

Curacao. — New Values. 1 cent, pearl-grey ; perf. \\\. 2 cents, purple ,,

15 „ grey-green 30 „ lilac ,,

60 „ olive ,,

1 guld. 50 c, light blue, with dark blue centre. (Page 63.) Unpaid Letter Stamps. 2§, 5, 10, 12§, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 cents, green and black. (Page 132.)

Danish West Indies. — Post Card. 2 cents, blue on white; new issue.

(Page 45.)

Denmark. — Letter Cards.

4 ore, blue on light buff, with additional inscription. (Page 165.) 8 „ red „ „ „ ( „ 165.)

Dominica. 1 penny, carmine, overprinted "Revenue," used postally. (Page 109.) 1 penny, lilac, overprinted "Revenue," used postally. (Page 109.)

Dominican Republic — 1 centavo) green; overprinted " Oficial " (?). (Page 183.)

2 centavos, red; overprinted "Oficial" (?). (Page 183.)

5 „ blue „ „ (?). ( „ 183.)

10 „ orange „ „ (?). ( „ 183.)

Dutch Indies. 30 cents, light green ; perf. 12£. (Page 6.) Post Card. 5 cents, dark blue on light blue.

Egypt. 10 piastres, violet; wmk. "Star and Crescent." (Page 45.)

Unpaid Letter Stamps. 2 milliemes, green ; new tijpe. ( ,, 63.)

4 „ puce ,, ( „ 63.)

1 piastre, blue „ ( ,, 63.)

2 „ orange „ ( „ 63.) Envelopes. 1 piastre, blue; wink. " Posies Egyptiennes." (Pages 6, 25.)

2 ,, orange-red ,, ,, ( ,, 6, 25.)

Wrapper. 1 millieme, brown on manilla. (Page 6.)

2 „ green „ ( „ 6.)

Faridkot.— 1 folus, green-blue; perf. 12 ; new type. (Page 25.)

1 ,, green ; perf. 12 „ ( „ 64.)

1 ,, ultramarine -blue ; perf. 12 ; new type. ( „ 25.)

1 paisa, greenish-blue; perf. 12 ,, ( „ 25.) 1 ,, ultramarine-blue; new type.

1 ,, ,, perf 12; new type. ( „ 25.)

\ anna, vermilion-red ; new type. ( „ 45.) I ,, ,, perf. 12; new type.

\ „ didl blue; perf. 12. „ ( „ 64.)

h „ black „ „ ( „ 64.)

i n green „ „ ( „ 64.)

PHILATELIC GAINS.

19

Stamps, &c. , of India overprinted in black.

4 anna, green ; overprint and Arms in black. (Page 166.)

brown

Envelopes.

Reg. Envelope. 2 annas, blue ,,

Fernando Po. — 10 c. de peso, brown ; perf. 12.

Finland.— 25 penni, blue ; perf. 124 ; new type

Post Card. 10 + 10 penni, pink on buff; new design. ( France.— Official Post Cards. (Page 25.)

( „ (Page 110.)

(Page 219.)

83.)

166.1

Envelope. 5 centimes, green on buff.

Levant. 25 c, black on red, overprinted in red.

5 francs, lilac on pale lilac, overprinted in black.

Gabon. — Provisionals.

25 c. on 5 c, green, on pale green ; surch. in black.

25 c. on 10 c, black on violet ; surch. in black.

15 c. on 5 c, black, unpaid letter stamp ; surch. in black.

15 c. on 30 c. ,, ,, ,,

25 c. on 20 c. ,, ,, „

10 centimes, black on pink.

25 „ „ green.

Gambia. 2 pence, orange ; wmh Crown C A.

(Page 166.)

25.) „ 183.)

(Page 46.)

(

(

132.) 84.)

149.) 84.)

133.)

133.)

6 „	blue		( „
Germany. — New Designs.	3 pfennig, brown.
		5	,, green.
		10	,, rose. (Pa|
		20	, , ultramarine.
		25	„ orange.
		50	„ red-brown.
Envelope.		10	, rose on white.
Wrapper. Post Cards.		3	, brown.
	5	, green on buff.
		10	, rose ,,
	10 + 10	J 33 33

(Page 133.) 133.)

(Page 201.)

( „ 201.)

(Pages 184, 201.)

(Page 201.)

201.) 201.) 202.) 202.)

202.) 202.) 202.)

Levant. 10 paras on 5 pf., green ; new type ; surch. in black. (Page 202.)

20 ,, 10 pf., rose

1 piastre on 20 pf . , ultramarine , , , , 1J „ 25 pf., orange

2 4 „ 50 pf., red-brown ,, „

Gibraltar. — Post Cards. 14 pence, chocolate-brown on buff. 4 + 4 penny, bright green „

1+1 ,, carmine ,,

H + 1| pence, dark brown

202.) 202.) ( „ 202.) ( „ 202.)

(Page 47.)

Wrapper.

1 penny, carmine on whity-brown. (

47.) 47.) 47.)

47.)

Surcharge in black of entire former issue with value in centimos.

(Page 149.)

5 centimos on h penny, green.

10 ,, 1 ,, carmine. ( ,, 149.)

25 ,, 2 pence, brown-red. ( ,, 149.)

25 „ 24 „ blue. ( „ 149.)

40 „ 4 „ orange. ( „ 149.)

50 „ 6 „ lilac. ( „ 149.)

75 ,, 1 shilling, bistre. ( ,, 149.)

Post Cards. 5 centimos on 4 penny, green on buff'. (Page 150. )

5 + 5 „ h + h » „ ( „ 150.)

10 „ 1 „ carmine on buff. ( „ 150.)

10 + 10 „ 1 + 1 „ „ ( „ 150.)

15 „ 1| pence, brown on buff. ( „ 150.)

15 „ 14 „ „ loc. sur. ( „ 184.)

15 + 15 „ 14 + 14 „ „ ( „ 150.)

20

PHILATELIC GAINS.

Wrapper.	5 ctmos. on h penny, green on whity-brown. (Page 150. )
	10	j*	1 „ carmine ,, (	, 184.)
Reg. Envelopes	20		j	2 pence,vermilion. Sizes F and I. (	, 150.)
	20		>	2 ,, ,, Sizes G and K. (	, 184.)
	20			2 ,, ,, local surch. (	, 202.)
New Series.	5		»	green ; wink. Crown C A. (	„ 219.)
	10		j	carmine ,, (	„ 202.)
	25		>	ultramarine ,, (	„ 219.)
	40		j	brown-red ,, (	„ 219.)
	50		j	lilac ,, (	, 219.)
	75		>	olive-green ,, (	, 219.)
	1 peseta,	brown ,, (	, 219.)
	5 pesetas,	slate-grey ,, (	, 219.)
Post Cards.	5 centimos, green on buff. (	, 202.)
	10	)5	carmine „ {	, 219.)
	15		>	brown „ (	, 219.)
Wrappers.	5		»	green on whity-brown. (	, 219.)
	10			carmine , , (	, 219.)
Reg. Envelope.	20		>	vermilion. Size F. (	, 202.)
Gold Coast. — 2 pence, b	rown ;	wmk. Crown C A. (Page 64. )
3	„ yellow-	?reen „ ( „ 184.)
6	„ orange	( „ 64.)
1 shilling,	violet	( „ 133.)
2 shillings	brown „ ,,133.)
5	3J	purp]	e, value in blue; wmk. Crown C A. (Page 184.)
10		5?	„ carmine ,, (	„ 184.)
20	5)	J}	(	„ 184.)
Provisional. 1	penny	on	6	pence, orange; wmk. Crown CA, surcharge

in black. (Page 133.) Great Britain. — 1 penny, purple ; watermark inverted. (Page 166.)

Official. Government Parcels.

Post Cards.

Private Post Card. Telegraph Forms.

1 shilling, green, 1887, surch. iu black. (Page 202.) 9 pence, purple and blue, 1887, surcharge in black.

(Page 25. ) I penny, red-brown on white. New issue. (Page 133.) 3 pence, vermilion on buff. ( „ 150.)

6 pence, violet. New' die. 10 „ sky-blue.

Greece. — 20 lepta, light and dark carmine. Athens impression.

1 lepton, brown, on loatermarked paper „

5 lepta, green ,, ,, „

20 „ carmine ,, ,, „

20 „ „ ,, ,, Athens per/. 13fc. (Page 134. indifi

65.)

202.)

65.)

(Page 134.) ( „ 151.) ( „ 203.) ( „ 134.) impression.

(Page 134.)

25 lepta, indigo and sky blue, on ,, .

Grenada. — Registration Envelopes. Imprint of De La Rue & Co. 2 pence, blue, with red inscriptions. Sizes F and G. (Page 134.)

Guadalajara.— Medio real, black on white. Variety. (Page 66.)

Guadeloupe. — Provisionals. 3 c. on 20 c, brick-red on green, surcharged

in black. (Page 47.)

15 c. on 20 c, brick-red on green, surch. in black. (Page 47.)

25 „ „ „ „ ( „ 47.)

10, 15, and 25 c. on stamps of 20, 30, and 40 c, surcharged in

black with new design. (Page 84.) 5 c. on 1 c, black on blue, surcharged in black. (Page 166.)

Guanacaste. — New series for Costa Rica, surcharged in black. (Pages 203,219.)

(To be continued.)

JUBILEE POSTAL EXHIBITION. 21

JUBILEE POSTAL EXHIBITION,

We have been requested by the Committee of the proposed Postal Exhibi- tion to publish the following preliminary circular, to which we call the special attention of philatelists, whether at home or abroad, in the hope that they will do all in their power to assist the Committee in their un- dertaking, as well by promises of financial support as of exhibits, so as to render the proposed Exhibition a success worthy of the occasion.

P&tlateltc &orietp of iontion.

Exhibition Committee.

Offices— 4, Lombard Court,

London, E.C.

Sir, — I have to inform you that in commemoration of the fiftieth anni- versary of the introduction of postage stamps, an Exhibition of Postage Labels, Envelopes, Post Cards, and Newsbands, as also of Proofs, Essays, Philatelic Literature, and other objects of interest in connection with the postal service, will be opened in London in the month of May, 1890 (the 6th of that month being the anniversary of the date of the first issue of postage stamps to the public), under the auspices and direction of the Philatelic Society of London.

A Select Committee of the Society, including the President (F. A. Phil- brick, Esq., Q.C.) and the Vice-President (T. K. Tapling, Esq., M.P.), has been appointed to make the necessary arrangements, and to engage a suitable hall or institution at which an exhibition can conveniently be held ; and full details will shortly be sent to all who are disposed to interest themselves in the proposal.

The initial expense entailed upon the Society in carrying into effect their projected scheme cannot but be large, although the Committee is sanguine that the novelty and national importance of such an exhibition will invite considerable public patronage, and that their outlay will be to a great extent recouped.

The Committee, however, desire from the first to be placed in a position to inaugurate what they venture to submit may be termed a national movement, in a manner befitting the country which initiated so important a reform in the postal system of the world.

I am requested therefore to invite support from those interested in philatelic subjects (whether members of the London Society or not), and am authorised to enclose a form, which may be filled in and returned to me, with a sub- scription, however small, towards the expenses of the object in view, or a promise to guarantee a sum (limited to £10), which may be called up, if required, by the Committee at a fortnight's notice at any time after the 31st March next.

Detailed accounts of the receipts and payments incident to the Exhibition will be duly published by the Committee ; and should any surplus remain after repayment of the "Guarantee Fund," it is proposed that a charity or charities in connection with the Post Office shall benefit accordingly. I am, Sir, faithfully yours,

CHARLES COLMAN,

January 13th, 1890. Hon. Sec. Exhibition Committee.

Donations towards the preliminary expenses or promises of guarantee towards the expenses of the Exhibition should be addressed to C. Colman, Esq., at the offices of the Committee, 4, Lombard Court, London, E.C, to whom it is requested that all communications may be addressed.

22 PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON.

PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON,

COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1889-90.

President — F. A. Philbrick, Q.C.

Vice-President— T. K. Taplixg, M.P.

Secretary — D. Garth. Assistant-Secretary — J. A. Tilleard.

Treasurer and Librarian — C. N. Biggs.

E. D. Bacox. A. "W. Chambers.

M. P. Castle. Dr. C. W. Voter.

The third meeting of the season (1389-90) was held at the Salisbury Hotel, Fleet Street, on Friday, the Sth November, 18S9, at 7.30 p.m., fourteen members and one visitor being present, with the President in the chair. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, the Secretary read a letter from Mr. Broderip, sending a copy of Mr. Reuter- skiold's work on the Cantonal issues of the Stamps of Switzerland, which he was directed to acknowledge with the thanks of the Society. Specimens of the 2 cent registration stamp of Canada in brown, and the 5 cent Newfoundland stamp of 1S66 (the latter imperforate and apparently post- marked), received from Mr. John Siewert, of Moscow, were submitted to the meeting. The last-mentioned stamp was, in the opinion of the meeting, declared tobe a proof ; and it was decided to make enquiries as to whether the Canadian stamp was ever printed in brown. The Secretary reported the receipt of a letter from Mr. Basset Hull, enclosing his Reference List of the Official Franks and the Envelopes and Post Cards of Tasmania, and containing interesting information in reference to the original plate of the issue of 1853, and a note of a new issue of reprints on thick plate paper. Captain Charles L. Norris, proposed by the President and seconded by Mr. A. H. Wilson, was elected a member of the Society. It was decided that the annual dinner of the Society should take place on Friday, the 13th December, a sub -committee being appointed to make the necessary arrange- ments. The revision of the Society's Reference List of the Stamps of St. Lucia concluded the business of the evening.

The fourth meeting of the season was held at the Salisbury Hotel on Friday, the 22nd November, 1S59, at 7.30 p.m., and was attended by eighteen members (including the President in the chair) and two visitors. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the President, with the object of ensuring accuracy in the revision of the reference lists of the Society, moved a resolution to the effect that a memorandum, calling attention to any special matters in the subject appointed for study at any meeting which are open to doubt or likely to involve discussion, should be circulated amongst the members prior to the meeting. The resolution, which was seconded by the Secretary, was carried. The revision of the Society's Reference List of the Stamps of St. Lucia occupied the remainder of the business portion of the evening.

The fifth meeting of the season was held at the Salisbury Hotel on Friday, the 6th December, at 7.30 p.m. In the absence of the President and Vice-President, the chair was taken by Mr. Castle, and the meeting was attended by twelve members. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, the revision of the Society's Reference List of the Stamps of Turks Islands was proceeded with and completed. No other business was taken.

The sixth meeting of the season was held at the Salisbury Hotel on Friday, the 20th December, at 7.30 p.m., and was attended by nine members

NOTES AND QUERIES. 23

and one visitor, the ehair being occupied by Mr. Castle, in the absence of the President and Vice-President. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary reported the receipt of letters from Mr. Basset Hull, containing circulars relating to his proposed journal devoted to Australian Philately; and from Mr. George Watson, of New Watson, with his Catalogue of Post Cards and Letter Cards. The report of the Committee as to the proposed celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Introduction of Postage Stamps was then brought up for consideration. The Committee recommended that the Society should inaugurate an exhibition, to be held in London early in the month of May, 1890 ; and the report, which contained suggestions for the management and working of the business connected with the exhibition, was — on the motion of the Secretary, seconded by Mr. Castle— adopted, and directed to be entered on the minutes. The remaining business consisted of the revision of the Society's Reference List of the Stamps of the Virgin Islands, which was completed.

The seventh meeting of the season was held at the Salisbury Hotel on Friday, the 3rd January, 1890, at 7.30 p.m., ten members and one visitor being present. The chair was taken by Mr. Castle, the President and Vice- President being absent. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, Mr. Richard Pearce, proposed by Mr. Nankivell, and seconded by the Secretary ; Mr. William Cowland, proposed by the Assistant Secretary, and seconded by the Secretary; and Mr. Walton R. Burrell, proposed by Mr. Hawkins, and seconded by the Secretary, were elected members of the Society. After some discussion on the subject of the proposed exhibition, the Secretary reported that it would be necessary to ballot for the five members of the Exhibition Committee, as eight members had been nominated. A ballot was accordingly taken, when the following members were elected ; viz., Messrs. E. D. Bacon, M. P. Castle, C. Colman, D. Garth, and J. A. Tilleard, making, with the President and Vice-President, the full Committee. The Secretary gave notice that at the next meeting he would call attention to certain unused colonial stamps which have recently been offered for sale in considerable quantities. In the course of the evening a rouletted 2d. stamp of Prince Edward Island, forwarded by Mr. Donald King, was exhibited.

Jiotts ana <&uews.

In reply to several correspondents, who have requested us to publish a Catalogue of the Stamps, Envelopes, &c, of Great Britain, on the lines of the Catalogue of the Telegraph Stamps, the editor is not indisposed to accede to their wishes ; and perhaps the present year would be the fittest for the work of cataloguing these stamps and their various phases during fifty years. To arrange such a catalogue in the mode he should prefer is no easy matter, and he w<ill be unable to undertake it till later on in the year, when he can hope to have the assistance of some of his philatelic brethren in its revision.

Sedang. — From the New York Tribune we learn that the king of the Sedangs during last season ran up a bill of 7000 francs at an hotel in Ostend, whither he had gone from Paris to cool. The landlord naturally wished for a settlement, when the king offered a promissory note, payable when his taxes were due, but which the landlord declined to accept, and his majesty was accordingly arrested and taken to prison. It is added that he has issued a proclamation, telling his condition, and calling on his friends and subjects to come to his assistance.

According to later news, his postage stamps have fallen to a very

24 NOTES AND QUERIES.

heavy discount, being offered at 1 franc the series, and no purchasers even at that price.

R. G. — We have received your letter, but do not see our way to carry out any of your suggestions. Experience will alone teach com- mencing collectors how to handle their stamps, and which of them will bear a bath and which will not. As a general rule it is best to abstain from face- washing of every kind, and if paper adherent to the backs has to be removed let it be done from the back rather than by soaking the stamp, unless you are certain as to the effect. Thus few collectors of any experience would fail to detect that an old penny, red, stamp had been washed, without any necessity for looking at its back to see if the gum had gone. The second lot of English penny stamps (the red of 1880), though they are printed in a fugitive colour, will stand a bath unharmed, while certain other stamps, like the early Russian and some of the French, though printed in non-fugitive colours, will not. With regard to mounting we could tell nothing new. Hinge your stamps with our publishers' " stamp mounts." Your stamps will not oxidize much if your album is kept in a dry place.

We cannot see that there is any call for a general Jubilee catalogue. Advanced collectors use that of M. Moens continued to 1888 — a work of some 1200 pages in royal 8vo. The hand-book of Major Evans was carried up to this date by a supplement, and there is further his general catalogue now in course of publication by the Saint Louis Publishing Company (that portion containing the adhesive stamps having just been completed) — a work which can be obtained direct or through our publishers. It is very complete, though it does not include local stamps, and is accurate, lucid, and concise.

Victoria. — The One Penny rate for letters under \ oz. came into operation throughout Victoria on the 1st instant, and it is stated in the Melbourne Daily Telegraph of the 19th December that the autho- rities have decided to commemorate the occasion by the issue of a new penny stamp, the design of which is being considered by the Department.

A. H. P. — Certainly. They were sold at the Post Office for 3d. and 6d. respectively.

E. A. E. — Thank you for your letter regarding the stamps of Faridkot. We will adopt your suggestions.

Pemberton, Wilson, & Co., Palmeraton Road, Wood Green, London, N.

Sffy Iftito^ ^m\i

Vol. XII. FEBRUARY, 1890. No. 134.

HE principles of political economy which govern the relationship between consumption and production seem now to prevail in the matter of postage stamp collect- ing. It has been long ago seen that the earnest seeking after stamps, and the establishment of a certain value fully compensating , for the trouble of searching for them, has produced great results, and has disinterred many valuable specimens, and some varieties which might otherwise have been destroyed, or have never been heard of. An example of this may be seen in the recent paper of the President of the Philatelic Society on the earlier issues of British Guiana, who there describes the great "finds" of these stamps, and the disinterment of a value up to that time unknown. But the demand for novelties is quite another thing, and seems likely to prove a disaster instead of an advantage to stamp collectors. Old collectors are beginning to draw the line, beyond which they will go no farther ; and it is scarcely to be wondered at when we look at what is going on. Makeshifts, or what are termed "provisional issues," have been hurriedly made almost without end, and sometimes more than half of the novelties described in these pages each month consist of surcharged stamps, many of them with half-a-dozen varieties of type. The values for the most part are small, and thus the greater part of the issue is readily bought up by speculators on the spot who "corner the market." So far as the stamps are concerned there is probably, with but few exceptions, a primary legitimate cause for the issue ; but the very fact of the carelessness with which the surcharging is often carried out, and the too eager greed of the speculators in forcing up the price, proves an irresistible temptation to the production of imitations, the bane alike of collectors and dealers,

26 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Then again it would seem that the demands of collectors are frequently very far in excess of those of the postal service. This is especially evident in the case of local issues produced in many instances by a single concessionnaire, and also in the stamps of small communities like the Eussian locals, or in those of small states. In a recently published account of a trip to Norway, the writers on their arrival at Tromsoe were, before landing, pestered by little boys to buy Tromsoe locals. An official report was lately published, in which it was stated that had it not been for the demands of collectors, the postal revenue of a British colony would have shown a deficit. Is it to be wondered at then that small States should be tempted to produce stamps for the benefit (!) of collectors? Take for instance the State of Faridkot, a small State having an area, according to Hunter's Imperial Gazet- teer of India (see Phil. Record, vol. iv., page 193) of 600 square miles (smaller than Oxfordshire), a population estimated at 68,000, and a revenue of £30,000. In 1882 two stamps in blue, one of 1 folus and the other of 1 paisa, found their way to this country. Allowing time to send for and receive a supply, they came over in sheets of sixty-six stamps, varied by adding green and brown (probably red, as we never saw a brown variety). Two or three months later came a square stamp of J anna, in blue, bearing the date of 1924, equivalent to a.d. 1877. In vol. vi. of the Record we find that the idea of the Faridkot authorities in having the stamps made originally was to raise the wind, and probably they were intended for receipt stamps, as no reference to any of the stamps being for postal use appears on the face of them, except on the upright rectangular stamps of 1 paisa. In the same volume will also be found a notice of how the impression of the J anna, in red, came to light. Since that period has been the deluge ; and the 1 folus first plate has given place to a second, and lately to a third. Impressions from the first plate are to be found not only in blue, but in red, green, and black ; from the second plate in blue of every variety of shade, as also in red, green, and black, both perforated and imperforate, and it appears that yellow in shades has now been added. Impressions from the third plate have only as yet come to hand in blue. Of the 1 paisa there have been three plates, the impressions from the first being only found in blue of various shades on laid and wove paper; but those from the second plate are in blue, red, green, and black, and from the third in the same colours, perforate and imperforate ;

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 27

while of the £ anna there are impressions in all four colours from the first plate, and the same from the second, perforated and im- perforate.

In 1872 the productions of the Morton Company, under the direction of M. Panopoulo, with his nine varieties with steamer and his seven without, all made from the same hand-stamp, those without steamer having a small piece of paper introduced to intercept the impression, raised a smile. But the present state of things is a serious question for collectors, which unhappily appears to he one incapahle of a satisfactory solution. The only certain inference to he drawn is, that the major part of the deluge of provisionals and varieties is due to the hunger of collectors after novelties, and while the consumption lasts the production will inevitably keep pace with it.

Tfamjlih^ J)i*tmrcmst mb Xtpmtxkthm.

Argentine Republic. — Another value of the new series has been issued; namely, the 40 centavos. The design shows a portrait of Dr. Mariano Moreno, threequarter face to the left within an upright oval band, inscribed in the upper part correos y telegrafos, and in the lower part republica Argentina, the value in words being on a straight tablet at the foot. In the upper angles are the numerals of value. The impression is on plain white wove paper, and the perforation 13 J.

Adhesive. 40 centavos, bronze-green.

Bavaria. — The colours of the stamps, whether adhesives or applied to post cards, wrappers, or envelopes, are to be altered according as the stock on hand is exhausted. The new colours will be those lately adopted by the Imperial German Post Office ; viz., 3 pfennig, brown; 5 pfennig, green; 25 pfennig, orange; and 50 pfennig, red-brown. Of the above, the 3 pfennig and 25 pfennig have already appeared, as also the post cards of 3 pfennig and 5 pfennig with the corresponding reply card. Dei' Philatelist states that in the single cards the watermark is horizontal, and in the reply cards it is vertical. The cards bear the date of "90."

Further, it has received the reply card of 10 + 10 pfennig, carmine on buff, with date of "89;" the 3 pfennig, green on buff; the 5 pfennig, lilac on buff; and the 5 + 5 pfennig, lilac on grey, with date of " 90." In these also the watermark is horizontal on the single cards and vertical on the reply cards. 134*

28

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

Adhesives. 3 pfennig, brown; perforated 14 25 Post Cards. 3

5 5 + 5 10 + 10

orange ,,

green on buff; horizontal undulations, dated "90."

lilac on buff ,, ,, ,,

lilac on grey ; vertical undulations „

carmine on buff ,, ,, dated " 89."

brown on buff; horizontal undulations, dated "90." 5 ,, green on buff ,, „ „

5 + 5 ,, green on grey ; vertical undulations ,,

Brazil. — The Timbre-Poste publishes an extract from a Brazilian newspaper of the 21st December last, announcing in general terms the changes about to be made in the stamps of this quondam empire. One of the changes does not speak much for what we are to expect. Dextrine, the use of which has been banished from other countries, is to be substituted for gum arabic.

We have seen lists of the new stamps — eight in number — in the III. Br. Journal, as also of a series of unpaid letter stamps ; but we defer an enumeration of them till next month.

Cashmere. — Major Evans writes us that we do not appear to have chronicled the following stamps of the current issue on thin laid paper in place of wove.

£ anna, brown, on thin laid paper.

} „ bright red „ „

I ,, black „

Colombia. — We have received a stamp of 10 centavos in brown on yellow wove paper, showing the arms in an oval on a plain ground. Under the oval is centavos on a scroll-shaped tablet, with republica de Colombia on a horizontal tablet at the foot. The numerals of value are in small rectangular single lined frames on each side immediately above centavos, and are probably movable, so as to adapt the die to any number of

centavos.

Adhesive.

10 centavos, brown on yellow ; perforated 13£.

Congo. — According to the Timbre-Poste, the 10 centimes of the new type was issued on the 15th December last.

Adhesive. 10 centimes, carmine ; perf. 15. New type.

Costa Rica. — The whole of the values of the new issues,

from 1 centavo up to 50 centavos inclusive, have been issued

overprinted in black with oficial in the manner

shown in the accompanying engraving.

Official.

1 centavo, olive-brown, overprinted in black ; perf. 15.

2 centavos, blue-green ,, ,, ,,14.

5

10 20 50

vermilion brown-red yellow-green carmine

15. 14. 14. 15.

Dutch Indies. — The adhesive stamp of 5 cents is now blue in place of green. Adhesive. 5 cents, blue.

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

29

Egypt. — The annexed engravings represent the stamps embossed on the small envelopes described in our last.

Faridkot. — A correspondent has sent us a fresh type of the 1 folus (small oblong) in ultramarine-blue, perforated 12£, like the second type, from which it is chiefly distinguishable by the impression not being so clear, while in the upper angle of the lower half there are only six white dots in place of ten, three of these running into each other. Considering the curious history of the J anna stamps, as found in the Record (vol. vi. pp. 107, 164), we are very much inclined to think that the normal colour of these stamps of 1 folus, and those of 1 paisa, is blue, and that they are printed in the different varieties of colours for the benefit of collectors, or to " enhance the revenue," which seems to have been the primal object. Our correspondent suggests that the variety of colours may be for different postal districts ; but considering that this State is about the size of the county of Oxford, this scarcely appears to us to be very likely. The 1 folus of the second type has already appeared in blue, red, black, and green, to which we hear yellow has now been added; and all these varieties can be had perforated or imperforate, according to fancy.

2nd type. 1 f61us, yellow ; perforated 12| and imperforate. 3rd type. 1 ,, ultramarine ; perforated 12 \.

Finland. — The 2, 5, 10, and 20 penni of the new type have made their appearance.

Adhesives. 2 penni, grey ; perf. 12£. New type. 5 „ green ,, ,,

10 „ rose 20 „ yellow „ „

French Colonies.— Nossi-

Be. — Annexed are engravings of two of the surcharges de- scribed by us in August and September last.

Gibraltar. — The second type of the surcharge of 20 centimos on tue registration envelopes with flattened numerals, referred to in our number for November last, was applied locally; while the first or ordinary one was applied in England. The stock of registration envelopes in hand at the Gibraltar Post Office was

id«

30 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

sent to the printer there, and amongst these were twenty-three envelopes of the 1886 issue (Barbados overprinted with Gibraltar), size F.

We have now received the new issue of the whole of the adhesives with the exception of the 75 centavos, which at the date of our last letter had not been issued. As we gave a list of these in our December number we need not repeat it.

Eegistration envelopes, sizes G and K, are also to hand.

Reg. Env. 20 centimos on 2 pence, blue ; issue of 1886 ; surcharged in black ; Size F. 20 centimos, red ; Sizes G and K.

Ehean-Guan. — The 2 cents, pink, of the Straits Settlements has, according to the Timbre-Poste, been overprinted vertically with khean-guan, the overprint being 20 mm. long. We know of no stamp that has been so highly favoured as the 2 cents stamp of the Straits.

Adhesive. 2 cents, pink ; (Straits Settlements) overprinted in black.

New South Wales. — The Five Shillings of the Centenary issue was, as we stated last year, printed on paper watermarked with " 5s/." This paper, for convenience' sake called white, was a handmade paper, much resembling in colour and substance that formerly used for the engraved English stamps, and similar in every respect to that employed for the issue of 1860. However well adapted such paper might be for printing from an engraved plate, it was, as we have before remarked, but ill adapted for surface printing ; and the consequence was that the impression was blurred, and all the finer parts of the engraving rendered indistinct and confused. We suppose that to this, or to the happy exhaustion of the old stock, we are now indebted for a better impression on white paper of a smoother nature, though yet wanting the "De la Rue finish," a specimen of which has been sent in by Mr. Castle. The paper is watermarked thus : — yv

the single-lined square being about 17 mm. The /5/-\ perforation is 10. \N S W

Adhesive. 5 shillings, violet, new watermark ; perf. 10. >

Nicaragua. — The post card of 2 centavos with its corresponding reply now comes to hand on cream coloured card and with the colour of the impression of a browner tone than in the late issue.

The American Journal of Phil, announces the envelope of 10 centavos as having been surcharged in red with 5 centavos.

Post Cards. 2 centavos, chestnut-brown on cream. 2+2 „ „ „

Envelope. 5 ,, on 10 c, lilac ; surcharged in red.

Paraguay. — The III. Br. Journal lately published a copy of a Decree of the postal administration under date of Asuncion, 5th October last, to the effect that from and after that day a series of service stamps would be put in circulation destined

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

31

exclusively for franking the foreign service correspondence, the stamps to consist of :

5 centavos, imperforate. The word " Oficial " and the indication of the value printed in pink on the stamp of 15 centavos.

3 centavos, imperforate. The word " Oficial " and the indication of the value printed in violet on the stamp oi 15 centavos. cp^^

1 and 2 centavos, imperforate. The word \ " Oficial " and the value of 1 and 2 c. printed in carmine on the stamp of 15 centavos.

These stamps do not come to hand quite in conformity with the provisions of the Decree. The Timbre-Poste reports the receipt of the following :

Adhesives. 1 centavo, purple, surcharged in black ; perforated 11£.

2 centavos ,, ,, „ ,,

3 ,, ,, ,, „ imperforate.

" ' »' JJ >» >? >}

The overprint of " Oficial" and the surcharge of the value are done by two operations, so that the distances of these from each other vary. ~~

Perak. — Annexed is an engraving of the jK stamp described in our last.

Portugal. — The following changes are an- nounced :

Adhesives. 25 reis, red-violet.

80 ,, orange-yellow. Post Card. 10 ,, brown on buff, wit! tout lines on hack.

Rajpeepla. — We have omitted to mention that Der Philatelist lately stated that the stamps described under this head in our number for November last are fiscal stamps. A correspondent confirms this, and says he has heard that they are purely receipt stamps, the orange-red being used where the value is expressed in rupee coinage.

Russia. — The 1 kopeck, orange-yellow, has the arms modified by the introduction of thunderbolts with the post-horns. Adhesive. 1 kopeck, orange-yellow.

At the close of the month of December last a notice from the Direction of the Posts and Telegraphs was published in the Messager Officiel announcing the issue of a series of stamped wrappers and letter cards. The wrappers are of buff- coloured paper, and are in three sizes — 14f x2f inches, 14f x 5 J inches, and 17£x7 inches. These two latter may be divided down the middle so as to allow of them being affixed in form of a cross. The letter cards are all of the same size, and are white, with a stamp of 5 kopecks for circulation within the limits of the district ; yellow, with a stamp of 7 kopecks for circulation within the limits of the empire ; and grey, with a stamp of 10 kopecks for foreign use.

32

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

The annexed engraving shows the type of the stamp on the wrappers. The Letter Cards bear a stamp of the type of that of the cards of 3 kopecks (with dotted ground of colour for the 7 kopecks), and are printed to the right, the imperial arms being in the cor- responding left corner with the words "Letter Card" in Eussian between. There are six lines for the address, and instructions in Eussian at the foot.

The Letter Cards for foreign use bear the envelope stamp of 10 kopecks in the right upper corner, the arms in the corresponding left corner, and the inscription "Letter Card" — "Universal Postal Union" — "Eussia" — both inEussian andFrench. There are five lines for the address, and the instructions are in Eussian only, at the foot. Wrappers. 1 kopeck, orange on buff.

2 „ green on buff (two sizes). Letter Cards. 5 ,, violet on white.

7 ,, blue and red on yellow-buff. 10 ,, blue on grey.

Salvador. — Annexed is an engraving of a stamp described in our December number.

The long-expected avalanche has at length fallen, and Der Philatelist gives a list of the adhesives of 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 50 centavos, and 1 peso ; of post cards of 2 and 3 centavos, with corres- ponding reply cards; of envelopes of 5, 10, 11, 20, and 22 centavos; and of wrappers of 3, 6, 12 J, and 25 centavos; enough to satisfy the most ardent collector. We will give an engraving of the type of the adhesives in our next, by which time we hope to receive specimens, which will enable us to give a more complete description than if we borrowed it from our contemporary.

Shanghai. — We really cannot commend the new series. There was a certain character about the late one which was pleasing, though monotonous. Here the design is all confusion. On an uncoloured ground within a circular band is a coat of arms with hideous supporters somewhat like acrobatic poodles with dreadful heads. There are inscriptions in Chinese above and below. The circular band is inscribed "shanghai" at the top and "local post " at the bottom. In the lower spandrels are the numerals of value in discs, with " cents " on a tablet between. In the upper spandrels are Chinese characters denoting the values. The type is the same throughout mutatis mutandis. The impression is on white wove paper, and appears to bear a watermark ; but as we have only seen one series we are unable to say more, as some of the stamps bear only a portion of a watermark, while others have none at all. The perforation is 15.

Adhesives. 2 cents, brown. I 10 cents, black. | 20 cents, dark lilac. 5 ,, pink, j 15 ,, blue.

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

33

Siam. — We annex an engraving of the 2 atts surcharged with inn^ 1 att, described in our last.

Messrs. Butler write that in one of the sheets recently received by them the numeral " 1 " was altogether omitted on eight of the stamps. The raison d'etre is that the surcharge is applied in two parts by hand, the portion of it with the Siamese characters being on one stamp and the " 1 " on the other. This accounts for the frequently "drunken" appearance of the numeral.

Adhesive. 1 att on 2 atts, green and pink ; varieties in surcharge.

St. Vincent. — Mr. Campbell writes us that sheets of the 2£d., surcharged in black on blue, have reached him, consisting of six rows of ten, of which the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th are water- marked with "Crown C A;" while the 4th has "crown agents." This is doubtless owing to the steel plates not being adapted to the size of the panes of the "Crown C A paper." * We chronicle it as a variety, lest collectors might be puzzled at some future time.

Adhesive. 1\ pence on 1 penny, blue, surch. in black; wmk. " Crown Agents."

Surinam. — Additional values of the existing type have been added to the current issue, perforated 12, specimens of which have been sent us by Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co.

Adhesives. 15 cents, grey.

20 ,, emerald-green. 30 „ Venetian red. 40 ,, brown. 1 gulden, Venetian red, centre grey. Unpaid Letter Stamps. 30 cents, lilac, numerals in black. 50 „

Travancore. — Envelopes of 1, 2, and 4 chuckrams, of white laid paper, are announced, bearing a round stamp with a central design similar to that of the adhesives, and bearing similar inscriptions.

Envelopes. 1 chuckram, dark blue ; size, 136 x 80 mm. 2 chuckrams, vermilion ,, ,,

4 ,, dark green ; size, 120 x 94 mm.

* The sheet of paper watermarked with " Crown C A " is about 21| inches long by 11| inches wide, and is watermarked for 4 panes of 60 stamps each in 10 rows of 6. The panes are separated longitudinally by a blank space f in. wide, and horizontally by a space equal to the height of a stamp, which space is watermarked with " crown agents " in double-lined capitals of about 12 mm. Down the right and up the left exterior side margins are the words " crown agents for " — " the colonies " in watermark. To print the St. Vincent stamps from a plate of 6 rows of 10 the sheet has been cut into three. The top and bottom of these can have the watermark of " Crown C A " on all, but the middle one has the words " crown agents " running across it, taking up the space of one row. The width of the plate of the St. Vincent is less than that of the sheet, so that the whole of the words " crown agents " does not appear. 134**

34

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

Turkey. — The accompanying engraving is intended to represent another variety of the mode in which a stamp of 2 piastres has been made to do duty for two of 1 piastre. It is said to be an ephemeral, or next door to one, for it had an existence of two days, having been replaced by the one described last month.

Adhesive. 1 piastre on | of 2 piastres, violet and blue, surcharged in black.

United States. — Mr. Stone has kindly communicated to us the following particulars of the Telegraph frank stamps of the Western Union which we were unable to complete in our catalogue.

1882. Blue ; control mark in red.

Blue ,, ,, written in black.

1885. Green ,, „ violet.

1886. Mauve ,, „ red.

1887. Red-brown ; control mark in red.

1888. Blue

Blue ,, ,, violet.

1889. Olive-green ,, „ red.

Uruguay. — We annex engravings of the two stamps described in our last.

Victoria. — The new penny stamp promised for the inauguration of the new rate of postage has come to hand. It is about a millimetre larger each way than the stamps of the mother country, the design showing the Queen's head to the left (a rough copy of Messrs. De la Eue and Co.'s engraving of the One Penny English), on a solid rectangular ground, within a frame composed of conventional ornamentation on the sides, while at the top is " victoria," and at the bottom " one penny." Above the value is a small horizontal tablet, inscribed " stamp duty." Impression on white paper, watermarked " V and Crown." Perforated 12£.

We have also an envelope of white laid glazed paper of extra commercial size, with stamp of the current type printed in the same colour as the adhesive.

Adhesive. 1 penny, brown-orange; wmk. "Vand Crown ;" perf. 12 h. Envelope. 1 ,, ,, white laid glazed paper.

Wurtemburg.— A change is to be made in the colours of these stamps similar to that in those of Bavaria. At present only one value has been announced in the new colours.

Adhesive. 5 pfennig, green.

Post Card. 5 pfennig, green on buff.

THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD. 35

SOME REMARKS ON THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD,

A Paper read before the Philatelic Society of London, January 17th, 1890. By E. D. BACON.

From the earliest days of collecting the stamps of Trinidad have always presented more difficulties to philatelists than those of any other of the British West Indies. The two most important points in connection with their history that require elucidation are, as you know, the following : (a) What were the franking powers of the labels without expressed values ; (6) What was the method of production employed for the native-printed stamps. Both questions have raised much controversy amongst collectors, and many divergent opinions are held upon each ; they practically, however, remain unsolved to the present day. The object of this paper is to try and throw some new light upon the general history of these stamps, more par- ticularly with reference to the two questions I have named.

As far back as April last I commenced collecting together what materials I could find, with the view of seeing whether it was possible to offer any reasonable explanation of the difficulties connected with these stamps. It was only when I came to search through the philatelic journals for papers treating on these subjects that I learnt how very little has at any time been written upon the stamps of this island, and I at once saw I should not get much assistance from that source. I then addressed a letter to Mr. J. A. Bulmer, the present Postmaster-General of Trinidad, asking him for certain particulars relating to the issue of the stamps. In his reply he says : " I have the honour to inform you that my appointment to this colony as Postmaster-General only dates back to 1883, and that there are absolutely no official records of the postage stamps, &c, issued for any period prior to that time. I have forwarded your letter to the persons long resident in the colony who have taken an interest in the collection of postage stamps, and I now enclose the reply of Mr. Taylor, one of the best informed persons in Trinidad on such matters." Thanks to Mr. Bulmer's courtesy, his letter put me in correspondence with Mr. Taylor, and he and I have been in constant communication ever since. Mr. James Graham Taylor, the gentle- man referred to in Mr. Bulmer's letter, has been a stamp collector for many years, and he at once became interested in the investigation I had begun. He has devoted a great deal of his leisure during the last few months to endeavouring to obtain as full and complete replies as possible to the various questions I addressed to him at different periods, and I am indebted to him for much of the new information I am able to lay before you this evening.

The inland postal service of the island was first commenced in the year 1851, the Ordinance establishing the post being published in The Trinidad

36 THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD.

Royal Gazette for April 16th of that year. I take the following clauses from that document :

"Trinidad, 4th April, 1851.

"An Ordinance for Establishing an Inland Post and, Rates of Postage within the Colony.

" II. And be it enacted, That there shall be one General Post Office in the Town of Port of Spain, where letters may be received from all places within the colony and parts out of the colony, and whence all letters may be de- spatched to all places within the colony and to all parts out of the colony.

" VIII. And be it enacted, That on every letter arriving in this colony from any place beyond the limits of the colony, if delivered from the General Post Office in Port of Spain, and on every letter posted at the General Post Office in Port of Spain for transmission to any place beyond the limits of the colony, there shall be charged and shall be paid to Her Majesty for the use of the colony one uniform rate of one penny.

" IX. And be it enacted, That the postage payable on all letters arriving in this colony from any place beyond the limits of this colony shall be paid by the person to whom the same may be addressed on the delivery of the same to him.

" X. And be it enacted, That all letters arriving in this colony from any place beyond the limits of this colony, and delivered from any post office except the General Post Office in Port of Spain, and all letters posted at any post office in this colony except the General Post Office in Port of Spain, for transmission to any place beyond the limits of this colony, and all letters transmitted by the post from any one place to any other place within the limits of this colony, shall be charged by weight, according to the following scale ; and the several numbers of rates of postage hereinafter set forth shall be charged, and shall be paid to Her Majesty for the use of the colony on all such letters ; that is to say, on every letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight, one rate of postage ; on every letter exceeding half an ounce and not exceeding one ounce in weight, two rates of postage ; on every letter exceeding one ounce and not exceeding two ounces in weight, four rates of postage ; on every letter exceeding two ounces and not exceeding three ounces in weight, six rates of postage ; and on every letter exceeding three ounces and not exceeding four ounces in weight, eight rates of postage ; and for every ounce in weight above the weight of four ounces there shall be charged and taken two additional rates of postage ; and every fraction of an ounce above the weight of four ounces shall be charged as one additional ounce. And on all such letters there shall be paid the following rates of postage ; that is to say, on every letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight, one uniform rate of one penny; and on every letter exceeding half an ounce in weight, progressive and additional rates of postage (each additional rate being estimated at one penny), according to the scale of weight and number of rates hereinbefore fixed and declared.

"XI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That as regards all letters posted at any post office within this colony, all such letters when posted shall have thereon or affixed thereto a stamp or stamps to the amount of the rates of postage payable on the same under this Ordinance ; and in all cases in which any letter shall be posted at any post office within this colony without having thereon or affixed thereto such stamp or stamps, or having thereon or affixed thereto any stamp or stamps, the value or amount of which shall be less than the rate .of postage to which such letter would be liable under this Ordinance, such letter shall not in any case be forwarded by the post, but shall if posted at any other office than the General Post Office be transmitted to such General Post Office, and shall so far as may be practicable be returned to the sender thereof.

"XII. And be it enacted, That the Governor shall from time to time provide proper and sufficient dies or other implements for expressing and denoting rates or duties of one penny and twopence, or rates or duties of any other value or amount as the Governor shall see fit for the purposes

THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD. 37

herein mentioned ; and stamps shall be made or impressed from such dies or other implements as the Governor shall from time to time by writing under his hand direct.

"XIII. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Governor to appoint such persons as he shall see fit to retail the stamps denoting the duties of postage on letters.

" XIV. And be it enacted, That printed newspapers may he sent free of postage, or liable to postage according to the rates and regulations hereinafter set forth ; that is to say :

" Printed British or Foreign Newspapers brought to ) ™

this colony by packet boats or private ships . J ;' Printed British or Foreign Newspapers or Island )

Newspapers transmitted by post from any one > Each One Penny.

place to any other place within this colony . )

" Island Newspapers sent by post from this colony . )■ Free. " Printed Votes and Proceedings of the Imperial '

Parliament, Periodical Publications, Pamphlets,

Magazines, Reviews, and other Publications, sent -One Penny.

to this colony by packet, if delivered at the

General Post Office, in Port of Spain . . . j " If delivered at any other Post Office, and if not ) q pennv

exceeding one ounce ...... j -*'

" If exceeding one ounce, for every ounce beyond ) q pennv

that weight ....... J ^ '

" Patterns :

" Packets or covers containing patterns or samples, being open at the sides, and not exceeding one ounce, and without any letter or writing in, upon, or within any such packet or cover, other than the name of the sender, his place of abode, the prices of the articles contained therein, and the name and address of the person to whom the packet or cover shall be sent .... " Letters not open at the sides containing patterns

or samples, and not exceeding one ounce in ^ Two Pence, weight

" XV. And be it enacted, That it shall not be compulsory to send news- papers by post.

" Passed in Council this Fourth day of April, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-one.

"(Signed) Richard D. Cadiz,

" Clerk of Council.

" The foregoing Ordinance was duly proclaimed by me, in Port of Spain, this 11th day of April, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-one. " (Signed) W. B. Gould,

"Marshal."

Although, as we see, the above Ordinance was proclaimed on the 11th April, 1851, Mr. Taylor informs me the inland postal service was not commenced until August 14th of that year. The latter would, therefore, be the correct date of the first issued stamps, which we know were those without expressed values. There is a somewhat curious incident in con- nection with the date of this issue, which I am unable to give a satisfactory explanation of. Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. tell me they sent the first supply of stamps out to the island on December 21st, 1848, and a second lot in December, 1850, so the authorities must have had a stock of stamps on hand long before they were needed. Why they should order a second lot before the first were issued will probably remain known to themselves alone.

y One Penny.

38 THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD.

I have searched The Gazette for the years 1S49 and 1850 in vain for any notice of the issue of stamps prior to 1851.

I have also looked through The Gazette for 1847 and 1848 without finding any notice or even reference to the "Lady McLeod" local. As the Inland Postal Service was only started in August. 1851, the stamp was probably employed by the owners of the steamer as a purely private means of franking letters carried by their vessel between the Towns of San Fernando and Port of Spain, and had no connection whatever with the Post Office.

Now with regard to the much-disputed question of the postal values of the early stamps. We see from Clauses VIII. and X. of the Ordinance that there was one uniform rate of One Penny for the transmission of half ounce letters within the Island, and a similar charge, irrespective of weight and the foreign rate, for letters forwarded to or despatched from places outside the Colony, when those letters were posted at or delivered from the General Post Office in Port of Spain. Clause XII. states that the Governor shall provide One Penny and Two Penny stamps, or such other stamps as he may find requisite for carrying out the new arrangements. It is quite obvious no other values would be required to defray the new rates ; in fact a One Penny stamp was all that was really necessary. Foreign letters, as was usually the case in those days, would mostly be forwarded unpaid, provided they bore a colonial Penny stamp for the local rate, or the postage would be defrayed in money, for it was not until January 1st, 1859, that the prepayment of letters to Great Britain was made compulsory. Now entire letters are known with the red, blue, or lilac stamp upon them which have passed between two towns in the Island ; and I have before me three entire letter-sheets sent from the Colonv to Barbadoes. One of the latter bears the brown stamp, and is dated Trinidad, Nov. 27th, 1S51 : the second has a blue stamp of the first issue, and is postmarked Trinidad, Oct. 2Sth, 1852 : and the third carries a grey stamp, and the postmark Trinidad, July 10th, 1853. Each letter has also the Barbadoes postmark, dated two days later than the Trinidad one. All three letters have the numeral 4 written in ink on the face, which I take to signify the foreign postage, which being identical in each instance points to the same postal value of One Penny (the local Island rate) for all three stamps. Then we have used pairs and blocks of the blue stamp, Mr. Tapling's collection containing an unsevered used strip of five of the native printed grey. It is true the letters with the blue, lilac, and grey stamps may have been heavy ones, but we should remember the former stamp, if it only represented Two Pence, would carry an ounce letter, and I think we may consider this a slight argument against a higher value for this stamp. Let us next see what help Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. — the printers of the stamps — can render us. I have had one or two interviews with the manager and other members of this firm upon the subject of the different values, and by their kindness I am able to give you the following interesting information. The first supply, which, as I have already stated, was sent out on December 21st, 1848, consisted of blue and lilac stamps, no values being given in their books. These were followed in December, 1850, with blue and brown ; January, 1852, blue and brown ; September, iS52, One Penny, no colour given ; February, 1853. red and blue ; September, 1S53, red'; February. 1854, One Penny, red ; July, 1854, One Penny, purple ; December 31st, 1855, and December 1st, 1856, no colours or values given ; June 24th, 1S57, One Penny, red : and a further supplv of One Pennv, red, stamps on each of the following dates : February 17th and October 26th, 1S5S;* April and August 5th. 1859; March 24th. 1860, and so on to 1862. You will notice there were never more than two colours ordered at the same time, and these only for the first few consignments, which is certainly strange if three values were wanted for the service. Taking these particulars into consideration, with what I have previously said, I would suggest that the brown, red, lilac, and purple stamps probably each represented One Penny at different

* A supply of 4d., lilac, 6d., green, and Is., purple stamps, with values expressed, was also sent out with this and the succeeding consignments.

THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD. 39

periods, while the blue may have done duty during the first year for Two Pence, but afterwards for only One Penny. I am aware in making this suggestion I am entirely at variance with all former writers upon the subject, but not one of these, so far as I have been able to discover, had any good reason for assigning the values they did — of Six Pence to the blue and One Shilling to the lilac. It would certainly be interesting to know how in the first instance these values came to be given to these two stamps. The earliest work I possess that gives any values to these stamps is the English translation of M. Moens' Catalogue by Dr. C. W. Viner, published in 1864. In this book, at page 114, the following remarks will be found : "Note.— The value of the red stamp is 1 penny, of the blues 6 pence, of the others 1 shilling." As I have no copy of the French edition from which the translation was made, I am unable to say whether this note is given on M. Moens' authority, or whether it was added by the editor, Dr. C. W. Viner. If on the former's, M. Moens appears to be now more undecided upon the subject, as in the sixth edition of his Catalogue he puts a note of interrogation after all except the red stamp, which he calls One Penny. Several writers have even added a fourth value to the first issue — viz., Four Pence — which they say was represented by the reddish-puce stamp on "blued" paper. I think, however, the majority of collectors are now agreed no such value existed at this time, and that the variety of colour was merely an early shade of the One Penny. I feel there is still a good deal to be said upon this difficult question of the values, but I hope you will consider the suggestions I have put forward are worthy of some consideration, should you not think them sufficient to prove my contention. At any rate, the information of Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, & Co. , if they have made no mistake, helps to prove the purple stamp was One Penny, and not One Shilling, although it is still possible this stamp may have been issued as some other value during a portion of its existence.

I may add, Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. inform me that the same plate was used for printing all the stamps with unexpressed values, and that the plate contained 110 stamps, arranged in eleven horizontal rows of ten.

We will now pass on to consider the native-printed stamps. These stamps were issued at different periods as provisionals, pending a fresh supply of the stamps then in use from England. According to dated specimens, there appear to have been at least three separate issues of these makeshifts. The first took place- apparently in October, 1852 ; the second at the end of 1856 ; and the third towards the autumn of 1858. The earliest copy I have seen to which a date can be assigned is one of the first and best impressions of the blue, on a letter -sheet in Mr. Tapling's collection, postmarked Trinidad, October 10th, 1852 ; Barbadoes, October 12th, 1852. Then I have seen another blue, not so good an impression, which was taken off a letter dated January 8th, 1857 ; and lastly, the very poor " blurred " copies are usually found on envelopes postmarked about the autumn of 1858.

Mr. Taylor tells me the stamps were produced by a French artist named Charles Petit, who was living in the island at that time, and he sends me the following short account of his history, which he has obtained from one of his people. Charles Petit, who was an engraver and lithographer, was born at Bordeaux in 1822 or 1823. He left France after the third revolution and the deposition of Louis Philippe, his father having lost most of his property during that eventful period, having been engraver, lithographer, and printer to the Government. The subject of our sketch went from Bordeaux to Surinam, also to Demerara, Cayenne, Barbadoes, and Venezuela. He then went to Trinidad, where he only remained two years. He left in September, 1853, for New York, for the benefit of his health, but died at sea during the voyage there.

Mr. Taylor further informs me, the stones from which the stamps were printed are still preserved in the Colonial Secretary's Department at Government House. They are both ordinary lithographic stones of a light greyish colour. The one I designate A is in shape an irregular narrow

40 THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD.

upright rectangle, measuring 9 inches in length by 3i inches in "width at the top, and 4h% inches at the bottom, and is If inches in thickness. It has only one design upon it, which is placed about 2| inches from the bottom of the stone. The other B is an oblong, measuring Sf inches by 7? inches, with a thickness of li inches. It bears fifty-four designs, arranged in six horizontal rows of nine stamps each. The design on the first is drawn reversed and is engraved— i. e. cut into the stone— while those on B are also reversed, but appear slightly raised. It is evident this was a lithographic transfer made in the usual way from A. Mr. Taylor has kindly sent me over the tracings of the two stones I now hand round for your inspection. He obtained these by placing the face of the stones on the card and drawing his pencil round them. He has also, as you will observe, located the exact position of the designs as they exist upon each. The cut on stone A is quite fresh and very distinct, so that if more than one transfer had been taken we should not get the extremely poor blurred impressions we find among these stamps, and the gradual deterioration I have shown took place, by the postmarked copies I have already drawn attention to. No other stones or plates are to be found in the Colonial Secretary's Office, so there is little doubt, I think, that all the provisional stamps were produced from the two stones I have described. What I am not quite so sure of is, whether stamps were printed from stone A for issue to the public. The stone has blue colouring matter upon it, so impressions have evidently been taken off in this colour, but whether these were merely proof copies or not is, I think, uncertain. The process of printing stamps one at a time would be necessarily so tedious that, if resorted to at all, it would only have been so for a short period— say, during the manufacture of the lithographic transfer. On the other hand, we find some of the earliest of these stamps with such clear impressions that they have somewhat the appearance of engravings, and they have been actually described as such by several philatelic writers, one of whom, the late Captain H. 0. Weare, in a paper on "The Stamps of Trinidad," published in The Philatelical Journal for April loth, 1S72, went so far as to state the specimens I now refer to were printed from an engraved copper-plate. My own belief is no stamps were printed from stone A for issue, and my opinion is corroborated by a horizontal pah' of the earliest impressions in Mr. Tapling's collection. These two stamps show the same distance between each other as some of the later issued poor copies do, which certainly belong to stone B, and both stamps have also evidently been printed at one and the same time. I am consequently of opinion that all the native stamps ever issued were printed from stone B, and that the impressions taken from this stone gradually degenerated, partly from wear, and it may be partly from carelessness in the printing of* the stamps after Mr. Petit's death.

All conceivable shades of blue, from indigo to very pale and even blue-green, are known for these provisionals. The stamp is also found printed in shades of grey, which, judging from the impressions, was the last colour employed previous to the change to red. The paper also varies from pelure to thin card, the earliest and best impressions being usually found upon a yellow-toned paper. In some catalogues the grey stamp is put down as representing one shilling, but, like the so-called fourpence of the first issue, most collectors now consider this a variety of colour only, and that the stamp had the same postal value as the blue.

Mr. Taylor tells me in one of his letters that stone B is very much blurred over with red colouring, thus proving the red stamp was the last printed. I notice M. Moens, in the sixth edition of his Catalogue, mentions the red stamp was reprinted in 1SS2. I do not know on whose authority this statement is made, but I should be more inclined to believe the stamps that turned up in some quantity about that date were remainders, of which there were probably many on hand, as the variety was so little used.

As regards the colour employed for these native stamps. It may be, blue was first selected as being the colour of the One Penny stamp then in use. or that the printer chose it in preference to any other, either on account, as

THE EARLIER STAMPS OF TRINIDAD. 41

he thought, of its better printing qualities or because no supply of red "ink" was available. When the last lot of stamps was required in 1858, the colour would naturally be changed to red to conform to that of the One Penny then current, which we see from Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co.'s list of stamps sent out had been red, without intermission, for sometime previously.

This completes all I have to say upon the native-printed stamps, but before concluding my paper I propose to give you copies of a few further postal notices I have extracted from The Trinidad Royal Gazette. The first institutes a postal delivery of correspondence within the towns of Port of Spain and San Fernando, letters, &c, having previously only been delivered when called for at the various post-offices. This notice appeared in The Gazette for August 11th, 1852 :

''NOTICE. "Postal Delivery within the Toions of Port of Spain and San Fernando. "General Post Office, Port of Spain, 9th August, 1852. ' ' His Excellency the Governor having authorised a daily postal delivery (Sunday excepted) within the Towns of Port of Spain and San Fernando, commencing this day, the undersigned hereby gives Notice thereof to the Public ; and that in order to give greater facility to such delivery, it is necessary that Parties should direct their correspondents to add to the usual address on their Letters, &c., the name of the Street, and also the number of the House in which they reside. In the case of Merchants' Letters, however, these particulars will be unnecessary.

"(Signed) Jas. H. O'Brien, General Postmaster."

Mr. James H. O'Brien was appointed Postmaster of the General Post Office in Port of Spain on August 13th, 1851— the day before the commence- ment of the Inland Postal Service. The following is a list of the subsequent postmasters who have held office from that date to the present time : Mr. Ellys Layton succeeded Mr. O'Brien as Colonial Postmaster on the 1st June, 1853 ; and Mr. William Eversley was appointed Postmaster- General of the Colony on December 14th, 1860. He was succeeded in 1865 by Mr. Charles Chipchase, who was followed, on October 13th, 1866, by his brother, Mr. Henry Chipchase. The latter was succeeded, on January 1st, 1879, by Mr. J. W. O'Brien, who was a son of the Mr. O'Brien appointed in 1851. He remained in office until the year 1883, when the present Postmaster-General, Mr. J. A. Bulmer, who was formerly Postmaster of Cyprus, was appointed.

The next two notices are taken from The Gazette for October 20th, 1858, and January 5th, 1859, respectively.

"General Post Office, 9th October, 1858. "NOTICE " Is hereby given, That from and after this date All Letters addressed to the United Kingdom must be Prepaid, in order to obviate the appre- hended inconvenience of a large number of letters being detained, owing to the writers being ignorant of the new regulations, and thus posting them unpaid; the transmission of such letters for a further limited period, say, until 31st December next, has been sanctioned, but imposing on each a fine of Sixpence, in addition to the Postage due upon them.

"(Signed) Ellys Layton, Col. Postmaster."

"Compulsory Prepayment of Letters to the United Kingdom.

"General Post Office, 21th December, 1858. " From First January next all Letters addressed to the United Kingdom must be prepaid. Any Letters posted unpaid will not be forwarded to their destination, but will be opened and returned to the writers. The Colonial Penny Stamps now in use will answer the purpose of prepaying Letters, until such time as the requisite description shall have been received from England. "(Signed) Ellys Layton, Colonial Postmaster."

42 PHILATELIC GAINS.

The last notice is particularly important, as you will observe it speaks of the postage to England being paid by the Colonial Penny stamps until the arrival of the required values. The rate to England at this period was sixpence the i oz ; so it is certain if other values had previously been in use in the island, only one penny stamps were in stock at this time. We see from the following notice, published in The Gazette for May 11th, 1859, that the fourpenny, sixpenny, and one shilling stamps, with the values expressed, were first issued on May 9th in that year :

"Govekxmes-t House, 9tli May, 1S59. "Postage Stamps, representing Is., 6d., 4d., and Id., are now procurable, on application to Mr. Eveesley, the Confidential Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Oflice, on the terms mentioned in the notice issued on the 24th February last.

"(Signed) J. Scott Bushe, Colonial Secretary."

We shall find on referring to Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co.'s list of the stamps sent out to the Island that the colour of the One Penny mentioned in this notice was red.

The above issue completes the list of the imperforate stamps of Trinidad, with the exception of one or two accidental varieties found among some of the later printings. I purpose breaking off my paper to-night at this point, and I have now given you as much of the history of these early imperforate stamps as Mr. J. G. Taylor and I have been able to collect together to this date. In conclusion, let me add, I regret I have been unable to produce sufficient official information to prove conclusively what were the actual postal values of the early stamps, but I hope by drawing fresh attention to the subject we shall not have long to wait for a decisive solution of this philatelic problem.

PHILATELIC GAINS OF 1889,

{Continued from page 20.)

Guatemala. — 5 centavos, violet, thick numeral. (Page 7.

Official. 1 centavo, blue, overprinted " Oficial " in black. (Page 219.)

5 centavos, violet „ „ „ ( „ 219.)

10 „ red „ „ „ ( „ 203.)

Guinea. — New Values. 80 reis, grey. (Page 184.)

200 „ pale lilac. ( „ 184.) 300 „ orange. ( „ 184.)

Gwalior. — Stamps, &c, of India, overprinted with "Gwalior" and the equivalent in Hindu. 4 annas, green, overprinted in black. (Page 1S4. ) 1 rupee, filac-grey ,, ,, ( „ 184.)

Envelopes. ^ anna, blue, 1877, overprinted in red. Arms in blue. (Page 48.) \ anna, green, overprinted in black. Arms in black. (Page 84.) Post Cards. £ „ red-brown „ „ „ „ ( „ 84.)

4~*"4 •>■> j) » » r> r> \ »• ^*v

Hawaiian* Islands. — Envelope. 1 cent, green : new size. (Page 203.)

Holkar. — \ anna, purple ; new type. (Pages 25, 48.)

£ „ black on pink ; native production. (Page 203. )

Holland. — New Values. 7£ cents, red-brown ; perf. 12. (Page 7.)

22£ „ blue-green „ ( „ 7.)

1 gulden, lilac ,, ( „ 7.)

PHILATELIC GAINS. 43

Hungary.— 2 kr., red- violet, 1881 ; perforated \\\. (Page 84.)

Indo Chin a.— Provisionals. 5 c. on 35 c, black on yellow, surcharged in

black. (Page 47.) 5 c. on 35 c, black on yellow, surcharged in black. 2nd type. (Page 64. )

Italy. — New Types. 5 centesimi, green ; wmk. Crown ; perf. 14. 40 ,, brown „ „

45 „ grey olive-green „

60 ,, purple „ ,,

1 lira, yellow ,, ,,

5 „ green Post Card. 5 cent, dark green on red-buff.

Letter Cards. 5 „ dark green on neutral grey.

20 „ red on orange. Old Type. Post Card. 10 cent, brown on white, dated 89.

Page 167.)

„ 167.)

„ 167.)

„ 167.)

n 1670

„ 167.)

n 167.)

„ 151.)

„ 167.)

„ 84.)

Jamaica. — New Type. 1 penny, purple ; tablet in carmine ; wmk. Crown C A. (Page 85.) 2 pence, green ; tablet in green ; wmk. Crown CA. (Page 203.)

Jhind.— -Stamps, &c, of India, overprinted with "Jhind State" in two horizontal lines.

i anna, green, overprint in red. (Page 185. )

1 „ purple-brown „ „ ( „ 185.)

2 „ blue „ „ ( „ 185.) 4 „ grey-green „ „ ( „ 185.)

1 rupee, slate „ „ ( „ 185. ) Service. \ anna, green „ „ ( „ 185.)

2 annas, blue „ „ ( „ 185.) Envelopes. \ anna, green, overprint and Arms in Mack. (Page 151.)

1 „ chocolate ,, ,, ,, ( „ 151.)

Post Cards, i „ red-brown ,, ,, ,, ( „ 151.)

$ + 4 3} 35 »> 55 55 ( 33 151.)

Kashmir.— -2 annas, red on yellow p'elure paper. (Page 203.)

4 „ olive-green on thin glazed white. ( „ 203.)

Telegraphs. 2, 5, 10, and 20 rupees. . ( „ 87. )

Liberia. — 8 cents, ultramarine, type of 1882; altered and perf. 14. (Page 110.) Registration Envelopes. 10 cents, blue ; varieties in type. (Page 220.)

Luxemburg. — 2 centimes, brown-bistre. (Page 210.)

Madagascar. — Provisionals. '05 c. on 10 c, black on violet; surcharged

in black. (Page 204.) 25 c. on 40 c. , vermilion on yellow ; surcharged in black. (Page 110.)

Martinique.— -Errors in provisionals of 1888. (Page 47.)

Mauritius.— 4 cents, carmine; overprinted for fiscal purposes and used postally. (Page 167.) 4 cents, purple ; overprinted for fiscal purposes and used postally. (Page 167.)

Medellin. — See Antioquia.

Mexico.— 6 centavos, red on plain white ; perf. 12. (Page 26.)

10 ,, ,, ,, surcharged in black with" 3" (1).

(Page 204.) Envelopes. 5 centavos, blue (eagle in red), on vjhite wove. (Page 204.) 10 „ red „ ,, ( „ 204.)

u

PHILATELIC GAINS.

(Page 167.) ( „ 167.) ( n 167.) ( „ 167.) ( „ 85.) ( „ 85.)

(Page 48.)

(	„ 185.)
(	„ 185.)
(	„ 85.)
(	„ 48.)
(	„ 48.)
(	„ 185.)
(	„ 48.)
(	„ 185.)
(	„ 185.)
(	„ 48.)
(	„ 185.)

Post Cards. 2 centavos, carmine-red, on form of 1884.

3 „ puce, on form of 1884.

3 „ vermilion-red, on form of 1884.

5 „ blue (1888), inverted position.

2 „ carmine-red on buff (2 varieties).

3 „ vermilion-red on buff. Reprints of stamps of 1864. (Page 204. )

Nabha. — Stamps, &c, of India, overprinted with "Nabha State" in two horizontal lines.

\ anna, green, overprint in black. 2 annas, blue ,, ,,

4 ,, olive-green, overprint in black. 1 rupee, slate-grey ,, ,,

Service. \ anna, green, overprint and " Service " in black.

1 ,, purple-brown,, „ „

2 annas, blue ,, ,, „

4 ,, olive-green „ Envelopes. \ anna, green, overprint and Arms in black.

1 „ brown „ ,, ,, Postcards. J ,, red-brown,, ,, „

5 ' S »» >> >» »> »J

Natal. — 5 shillings, maroon ; wmk. Crown CA ; perf. 14. (Page 48. ) 1 penny, maroon „ „ „ ( „ 110.)

Nevis.— 6 pence, pale red ; wmk. Crown CA ; perf. 14. (Page 7.)

Newfoundland. — Post Card. Provisional. 2 c. on 1 c, green on buff; surcharged in black. (Page 134. ) Envelopes. 3 cents, violet on white laid. (Page 220.)

5 „ blue „ „ ( „ 220.) Wrappers. 1 cent, green on whity-brown. ( „ 220. )

2 cents, carmine ,, ( „ 220.)

3 ,, red-brown „ ( „ 220.)

New South Wales. — 6 pence, carmine, on white. Centenary issue. ( Page 7. )

8 ,, pink-mauve. Centenary issue. ( „ 48.)

1 shilling, violet-brown ,, ( „ 67.)

5 shillings, dark violet ,, ( „ 111.)

Envelope. 2 pence, blue ; Centenary type ; commercial size.

(Page 134.) Reg. Envelopes. 4 pence, pink ; instructions in red ; ordinary shape. (Page 67.) 4 pence, pink ; instructions in red ; cut altered. (Page 168.) Official Envelopes. 1 penny, violet; Centenary type; O.S. on commercial size. (Page 26.)

1 penny, violet; Centenary type; O.S. on official size. (Page 26. )

2 pence, blue; Centenary type; O.S. overprinted in black. (Page 185.)

Reg. Official Env. 6 pence, violet; type 1870; O.S. on plugs; official size. (Page 26.)

New Zealand.— 1 penny, pink; wmk. "N.Z. and Star;" inverted wmk. (Page 67.) 1 penny, rose-pink ; wmk. "N.Z. and Star." (Page 67.) Wrapper. \ penny, pink ; wavy border to instructions. ( „ 134.)

Post Card. 1 + 1 penny, brown-pink on buff; new issue. ( „ 134.)

Nicaragua.— Post Card. 3 centavos, blue on buff. (Page 49.)

Nokway. — Unpaid Letter Stamps. 1 ore, grey bistre. (Page 151.)

10 „ carmine. ( „ 151.) 50 „ violet. (Pages 151, 168.;

PHILATELIC GAINS. 45

Norwegian Locals.— (Page 28.)

Nossi-Be.— Provisionals. 5 c. on 10 c, black on lilac ; surcharged in blue. (Page 166.) 15 c. on 20 c, brick on green ; surcharged in blue.

(Page 183.) 25 on 30 c, brown ; surcharged in blue. (Page 183). 25 on 40 c, vermilion (1887) ; surcharged in blue.

(Page 149.) 25 on 40 c, vermilion on yellow (1881) ; surcharged in blue. (Page 149.) Pahang. — 2 cents, rose, of Straits Settlements ; surcharged in black.

(Page 220.) Panama. — 5 c. on 10 c, black on yellow ; surcharged in violet (?). (Pages 111, 168.) 5 c, black on light greyish-blue. (Page 168.) 50 c, brown on white. (Page 168.) Paraguay.— 15 centavos, purple; perf. 11 J; new type. (Page 67.)

Perak. — 1 cent on 2 cents, rose ; overprinted in 3 lines in black.

(Pages 134, 168.)

Persia. — New Series. 1 shahi, pink; perf. 11 \. (Page 49.)

2 „ pale blue ; perf. 11 \. ( „ 49.)

5 „ pale violet ,, ( „ 49.)

10 „ black; perf. 11 J. ( „ 169.)

1 kran, orange-green; perf. 11 £. ( „ 169.)

2 „ pink; perf. 11 J. ( „ 169.) 5 „ green „ ( „ 169.)

6 on 50 centimes, black ; overprinted " Officiel " in black. (Page 134). 6 on 10 „ orange ,, ,, „ horizontally.

(Page 134.) 8 on 10 centimes, orange ; overprinted "Officiel" in black, horizontally. (Page 134.) Peru. Provisionals.

1 centavo, green ; surcharged in red. (Page 111.)

lOcentavos „ „ „ ( „ m.)

25 centavos, carmine (1883) ; surcharged " 1883 " (?). ( „ 49. )

25 „ „ „ „ "Habilitadol883"(?). ( „ 49.)

Philippines.— 1 mil de peso, pink (" impresos"). (Page 135.)

2 „ blue „ ( „ 153.) 5 „ brown „ ( „ 135.) 1 c. de peso, yellow-green. ( „ 151. )

Provisionals —

2| cmos. on \ cmo. , yellow-green ; surcharge in carmine. ( „ 28.)

2| „ on 10 c. de p., green ; surcharge in violet-carmine. ( „ 67.)

2| „ on | cmo., yellow-green „ „ ( „ 49.)

2| „ on 50 mils (1887), pale olive „ „ ( „ 49.)

2| „ 5 c. de p. (1887), slate-grey „ „ ( „ 49.)

2f „ 20 c. de p., "derechos detirma," brown „ ( „ 49.)

2| „ 200 mil de p. „ „ green ,. ( „ 49.)

2| „ on 2f- "Recargo de consumos;" surcharge in black. ( „ 85.)

Queensland. — 2 shillings, light yellow-browa; wmk. Crown and A; perf. 12. (Page 204.) Post Cards. 2 pence, blue on bum (Page 29.)

3 „ mauve on buff. ( „ 29.)

1 penny, crimson-lake on buff; new type. (Page 186.) Porto Rico.— Telegraph Stamps. (Page 222.)

Rajpeepla.— 1 anna, orange-red ; perf. 11 J. (Page 204.)

1 „ blue „ ( „ 204.)

2 annas, green ,, ( ,, 204.)

46 PHILATELIC GAINS.

Reunion.— Unpaid Letter Stamps.

5 centimes, black on white. (Pages 84, 110.)

10 „ „ (Page 110.)

20 „ „ ( „ 110.)

30 „ „ ( „ 110.)

Roumania. — 1£ bani, black ; 3 bani, violet ; 5 bani, green on azure. (Page 68.) 10 bani, carmine ; 15 bani, brown on buff. ( „ 68.)

25 bani, blue ; 50 bani, bistre on yellow. ( ,, 68.)

Unpaid Letter Stamps. 5 and 10 bani, green on yellow. ( ,, 68.)

Neio Seines on Watermarked Paper. li bani, black ; pert 15. (Page 221.) 5 „ green „ ( „ 221.)

15 „ red-brown „ ( ,,221.)

25 „ blue „ ( „ 221.)

Russia.— Neio Types. 4 kop., carmine; perf. 13. (Page 111.)

10 „ dark blue „ ( „ 86.)

20 „ light blue,centrecarmine; perf. 13. ( ,, 86.)

50 „ brown- violet ,, green ,, ( „ 86.)

1 rouble, brown „ orange ,, ( ,, 86.)

Envelopes. 5kop.,violet-brn.onlightbuff; wk." zigzags; "2sizes.( ,, 169.)

7 „ blue „ „ 1 size. ( ,, 169.)

10 „ „ „ „ 2sizes; newtype. ( ,, 169.)

20 „ „ azure „ „ „ ( „ 169.)

7 „ „ light buff „ „ „ ( „ 169.)

Post Cards. 3 „ carmine-red on buff : neio issue. (Page 151. )

3 + 3 „ „ „ ( „ 151.)

4 „ „ „ ( ,, 13o.)

4 + 4 „ „ „ ( „ 151.) Without stamp, brown on buff „ ( ,, 221.)

Russian Locals. Pages 8, 29, 50, 86, 135, 205.

St. Vincent.— 6 pence, purple; wmk. Crown C A; perf. 14. (Page 68.)

5 shillings, deep carmine ; wmk. Crown CA; perf. 14. ( ,, 50.)

Provisional. 2£ pence on 1 penny, blue ; surcharged in black. ( ,, 169.)

Salvador.— Stamps of the last issue, with contra-sello.

1 centavo, brown, counterseal in violet. (Page 68.)

5 centavos, blue „ black. ( ,, 68.)

10 „ orange „ ., ( „ 68.)

1 centavo, green (1879), on thin white laid. { ,, 221.) 1 „ on 3 centavos, brown (1887) ; surch. in black ; two

vars.; provisional. (Pages 169, 186, 221.) 1 centavo {new type), green, with upper inscription barred. (Page 222.) Envelopes. 5 centavos, blue on white, yellow and blue laid ; new type. (Page 68.)

5 centavos (1887), with counterseal, blue on white laid, with

interior in various colours. (Page 136. ) Telegraph Stamps. Type of 1883. 2 reales, carmine ; perf. 12. (Page 207.)

4 „ violet „ ( „ 207

Sarawak. — New Types. 2 cents, purple and rose-red ; perf. 14. (Page 8,

3 „ „ blue „ ( „ 8,

4 „ „ yellow „ ( „ 8 6 „ „ red-brown „ ( „ 8 8 „ green and rose-red ,, ( „ 8

12 „ „ blue „ ( „ 8

25 „ „ red-brown ,, ( „ 51

Provisional. 2 c. on 8 c, green and rose-red, surch. in black. (Page 186

Selanoor. — 2 cents, pink, overprinted in black vertically. (Page 152.) {To be continued.)

PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON. 47

PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON,

COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1889-90.

President — P. A. Phtlbriok, Q.C.

Vice-President— T. K. Tapling, M.P.

Secretary — D. Garth. Assistant-Secretary — J. A. Tilleard.

Treasurer and Librarian — C. N. Biggs.

E. D. Bacon. A. W. Chambers.

M. P. Castle. Dr. C. W. Viner.

The eighth meeting of the season (1889-90) was held at the Salisbury Hotel, Fleet Street, on Friday, the 17th January, 1890, at 7.30 p.m., eleven members and one visitor being present, Mr. Castle occupying the chair in the absence of the President and Vice-President. The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Corwin, of New York, announcing that an Exhibition of Postage Stamps would be held in that city early in August of the present year ; and that it was also intended to hold an exhibition on a large scale in connection with the proposed "World's Fair" of 1892, and promising further particulars of both exhibitions. A letter was also read from Mr. Basset Hull in regard to the publication by the Society of his work on the Stamps of Tasmania; and on the motion of the Secretary, seconded by Mr. D. Mackenzie, a sub-committee consisting of Mr. Bacon and Mr. Castle were unanimously appointed to superintend the publication of the work. Mr. Edmund Broderip, Mr. George Whitfield, and Mr. T. West were duly elected members of the Society. Mr. Bacon read an interesting paper upon the " Early Issues of the Stamps of Trinidad," and it was resolved that this country should be studied at the next meeting to ensure early discussion upon several novel theories contained in the paper.

The ninth meeting of the season was held at the Salisbury Hotel on Friday, the 31st January, at 7.30 p.m., and was attended by eleven members, including the President in the chair. After the minutes of the two last meetings had been read and confirmed, the Secretary reported the receipt of a letter from Mr. Basset Hull, sending specimens of the stamps referred to in his work, and a letter from Mr. H. Haes in reference to his recent offer of a collection of stamps to the trustees of the British Museum and asking for the assistance of the Society to supplement the collection. After some discussion it was resolved, " That the Society, while appreciating the motives which have actuated Mr. Haes in his offer to the British Museum, feel that it would be premature for the Society to deal with the subject until they are informed in what light the trustees of the British Museum regard the matter, and whether it is proposed to form a National Collection." The Secretary also read a letter from Mr. Rodd, calling attention to some dangerous forgeries of the Fourpenny stamps of the first issue of Tasmania and of some of the Fiji surcharges. The remainder of the evening was occupied with the discussion of Mr. Bacon's paper on the Stamps of Trinidad, and of matter connected with the proposed exhi- bition.

48 NOTES AXD QUERIES.

The tenth meeting of the season was held at the Salisbury Hotel on Friday, the 14th February. 1890, at 7.30 p.m.. nineteen membe'rs being in attendance. In the absence of the President and the Vice-President "the chair was taken by Mr. Castle. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, the Secretary reported the receipt of a letter~from the Brooklyn Philatelic Club, sending "a photograph of original types of the Moldavian stamps. The Secretary also read letters from Mr. Basset Hull in regard to his work, and enclosuqg copies of the Federal Australian Philatelist ; and a letter from Dr. Tiner. with remarks on Mr. B: paper on the Stamps of Trinidad. The Secretary reported that Mr. Uses' collection had been accepted by the trustees of* the British Museum, but that no statement was made as "to whether any steps would be taken by the trustees to complete or add to the collection." Mr. C. E. Fox. proposed by the Secretary and seconded by Mr. Bacon, was elected a member of the Society. Air. Castle reported that Messrs. Senf had written enquiring whether they would be allowed to translate and publish portions of the Society's work on the Oceania, and was requested to reply that

the Society did not see their way to comply with the request. The revision of the Society's reference list' of the Stamps of Trinidad occupied the remainder of the evening.

A. de PiEUierskiold. — "^Ve have received your letter, and returned the stamps. We purposed publishing the letter, but want of space does not admit of our so doing. However we will take an early opportunity of referring to it.

W. C. 1C — The same die was used for making the B Too Late * stamps as was used for making the ••Registered''' stamps, the value of which was " One Shilling/' Some years ago the skeleton essays were not at all uncommon ; that is, the stamps before the type portion was printed on them. TTe have not seen specimens of late years.

E.G. — Your Greek stamp of 20 lepta, black, is an essay. The values were printed in a galaxy of different colours. The two Denniarks are said to be rejected essays, though, to be " rejected r it ought to be shown that they were submitted. They are worthless.

J. J. C, 2sew York. — Many thanks for your paper on the Japanese Post Cards, but we think you cannot have seen the exhaustive paper we published on the same subject in the February and March numbers of the Record of 1S59. If you refer to this we think you will find not only all the varieties you describe set out there in a methodical manner, but about forty others which you do not describe.

In answer to several correspondents, we are not losing sight of the desirability of publishing the various types of the telegraph stamps. At the present moment we cannot say more than that we hope to be able to do so.

PiWton. Wilson, k Co., Fftlmertton Eotd. Wood Gr*en. London, K.

Sfhit pMlafotlht ^tm\i

Vol. XII. MARCH, 1890. No. 135.

;E shall perhaps best consult the interests of Philately by devoting some of our space this month to the publication of the Prospectus of the forthcoming Philatelic Exhibition, to be held in London on Monday, May 19th, under the auspices of the Committee appointed by the Philatelic Society of London, and under the patronage of H.E.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. The Committee has been fortunate in obtaining the Portman Rooms as the place of exhibition. The position is very accessible, and as the site formerly occupied by Madame Tussaud's exhibition of waxworks, its whereabout is known to many thousands out of London.

No doubt the Committee had good reason for the arrangement of the groups, though we confess ourselves that we fail to see why, for instance, Labuan and the Fiji Islands should be linked together in Group II. ; while North Borneo, Sarawak, and Siam figure in company together in Group III. Nor why if Samoa and the Tonga Islands were to be linked with any of the Australian colonies, they should not have appeared with New Zealand rather than with Queensland. It also seems somewhat of an anomaly to exalt the Transvaal into the 1st Group, which owes the number of its stamps to the vagaries of the printer, while Spain is relegated to Group II.

It is always easy to find fault, but not always easy to do better ; and writing in ignorance of the reasons influencing the Committee, we are perhaps unwise in appearing to disagree with a collective judgment. Still, we ourselves should feel more pride in possessing a perfect collection of Spain, or Germany No. 2, than we should in possessing the German and native productions for the Transvaal,

50 THE PHILATELIC EECORD.

with all the changes rung upon its overprints in varied type, varied colours, &c. Japan may also seem to be oddly placed in Group I. ; but then it must be borne in mind that it fully compensates in numbers for what it lacks in importance, as many of the stamps appeared in forty varieties and different gauges of perforation, while the introduction of the syllabic characters gave occasion to add a further stock of varieties. Thus we have a goodly array, though it may be somewhat same to collect forty varieties of, say, the 6 sen of 1875, in which there are no fewer than thirteen different syllabic characters and two plates of one of them. With fourteen sheets of forty each we should feel rather weary of the orange chrysanthemums of the 6 sen of 1875.

This exhibition is to commemorate the introduction of postage stamps, and to show their progress during fifty years. It is to be lamented that within the last few years of this period so much rubbish has been mixed up with the good; we do not mean forgeries or fancy stamps, but those manufactured by Post Office officials, who lend themselves to creating rarities ! A story well authenticated has been related to us of what occurred some very few years back with one particular surcharge. Fifty copies only were printed, under the direction of a Postmaster-General, of which one or two were passed through the post. The chief took twenty for his own share, and the rest were distributed among other officials and their friends. We begin to lose all faith in overprints and surcharges; and it would be well if philatelists when gathered together from the four winds would agree as to some common action to be taken on this and such avalanches as we are threatened with by some of the Central American States. There is one thing to be said as regards those of Salvador, the " 1890 " issue will not fall into the class of the unattainables even in the year 1940, nor will dealers keep any stock, as they can be supplied by the contractors as soon as the "1891 " issue is made. We trust our readers will forgive us for digressing into this subject again, but we are real lovers of Philately, and feel strongly that damage and disgust will arise unless some steps are taken by collectors, and we recommend it to the consideration of the London Society. Let our readers turn to our list of Novelties for this month, and we think this will convince them more of the necessity of some united action in face of what we have now to contend with than any words of our own.

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

51

]f tnnjliifjs, JKstouarbs, anfc ^^$u$tikfon$,

Argentine Republic— The annexed en- graving represents the stamp described in our last.

Bamra. — The III. Br. Journal chronicles a stamp, which the annexed engraving pourtrays, save the rectangular frame, which is the idea of the engraver. There are said to be two values of 4 and 8 annas, but these seem to be large values for internal postage. Bamra is one of the central provinces, with an area of about 2000 square miles, and a population of a little over 80,000.

postage

4 annas, black on yellow. 8 ,, black on pink.

Bhopal. — The Timhre-Poste has received the 4 annas, yellow, imperforate, in twenty-four varieties. Like the 1 anna, brown, chronicled in our January number, one of the stamps is lettered eegam in place of Beg am.

4 annas, yellow on white laid ; imperforate.

Brazil. — The new unpaid letter stamps were issued in December last, and we now give an engraving of the type, which is the same through- out the series, save the numerals of value. We have received a series, except the three highest values, through Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co., and the impression is on plain white paper, and the stamps are rouletted.

Unpaid Letter Stamps. 10 reis, carmine-red, rouletted.

20 „

50 „

100 „

200 .,

300 „

500 „

700 „

1000 „

We have also received some specimens of the new postage stamps, which show very poor work. For want of proper cleansing in the operation of printing the paper is stained with the colour of the impression. The design shows the " Southern Cross" within an upright oval band, inscribed in the upper part e. u. do brazil, and in the lower part are twenty stars. There is a pearled band outside that carrying the inscription, and on a scroll above is correio, while on a similar scroll below is the value with numerals. There is no rectangular framing. The perforation is 13, and the 135*

52

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

stamp measures about 30 x 23 mm. \Ye take the colours of such as we have not seen from the official list.

Adhesives. 20 reis, Paris green.

50 ,, olive green.

100 ,, pink.

200 ,, lilac.

300 ,, dark blue.

500 ,, brick red.

700 „ violet.

1000 ,, yellow.

The Timbre-Poste states that the letter card of 80 reis has no longer a rounded flap, but a pointed one, and the paper is creamy-white, instead of azured white.

Letter Card. 80 reis, pink on creamy -white.

Bulgaria. — We see that the Postal Union Eeply Card of 10+10 stotinki is now in vermilion-red, so far as the frame, stamp, and arms are concerned, while the inscriptions are in black.

The adhesive of 10 stotinki, in red, was also issued on the 6th to 18th of the present month, but has not yet been received by us. Postal Union Card. 10 + 10 stotinki, vermilion-red, with black inscriptions.

Ceylon. — The accomplished surchargers have made a new type of the surcharge of " 2 cents " on the 4 cents, pink and violet-rose. The original value is barred with a black line, and "2 Cents" in small thick type is applied above, sometimes correctly, at other times near the top, upside down, and again in both these ways on the same stamp, but it is said that these two latter varieties exist only on the 4 cents, pink.

2 cents on 4 cents, violet-rose, surcharged in black ; new type.

2 cents on 4 cents, pink, surcharged in black ; new type, with varieties.

Cuba. — The new series made its appear- ance with the new year, the design being the same as that for Spain, except the inscription in the upper tablet, which is "cuba impresos " for the " milesimas de peso," and " isla db cuba " for the " cent, de peso." The impression is on plain white paper, and the perforation 14.

Adhesives. \ mil. de peso, light reddish-brown ; inscription, "impresos." 1 2

1 cent, de peso, yellow-brown ; inscription, "isla de cuba."

2 ,, dark blue ,, 2 j ,, blue-green ,, 5 ,, bronze-green ,,

10 ,, violet-brown ,,

20 ,, dark violet ,,

The post card of 2 c. de peso is the only one yet reported, and it is similar to that of 1882, except in the stamp. Post Card. 2 c. de peso, green on buff.

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 53

DiegG-Suarez. — Under this head the Timbre-Poste reports a stamp of the French Colonies of 20 c, brick-red on green, surcharged in blue, with "15" obliquely over the original value. Diego-Suarez is a port on the north-east of the island of Madagascar, ceded to France as a naval station by the treaty of 1885, but it may be asked by what authority such surcharges are made. As, however, it is a French station, we shall probably have a copy of a decree emanating from some official.

Adhesive. 15 c. on 20 c, brick on green ; surcharged in blue.

Dutch Indies. — The post card of 7J cent, comes to hand on glazed cream-coloured paper.

Post Card. 7£ cent., ochre on cream-coloured paper.

Egypt. — The single rate of postage for the interior having been reduced on the 1st instant to 5 milliemes (20 paras), an envelope and a letter envelope of that value were issued on that day, the stamp on which we will describe in our next.

Envelope. 5 milliemes, carmine-red on azure laid ; wink. " Postes Egyptiennes ;" size 120 x 95 mm., 145 x 121 mm.

Letter Env. 5 milliemes, carmine-red on drab; size 120x95 mm., 120 x 84 mm.

Gabon. — The Timbre-Poste states that these stamps are being offered for sale with false surcharges, though warranted genuine. We will not point out the various discrepancies, but the present batch are all postmarked " 20 Nov. 89." Caveat emptor.

Gibraltar. — We have received the 75 centimos in olive-green, completing the series of adhesives. A registration envelope of size H 2 may also be added. All the registration envelopes are manufactured by Messrs. De La Rue and Co., and bear the imprint of the firm.

Adhesive. 75 centimos, olive-green ; wmk. i£ CA, perf. 14.

Registration Envelope. 20 ,, red; size H 2.

Great Britain. — The long expected Ten Pence adhesive was issued on the 15th of last month. It is to our mind the most effective stamp of the " Jubilee" series. The head is in the same shaped frame as that of the Nine Pence, but instead of being placed in the centre of a croix pates it is in an upright rectangle with "postage" at the top and "& revenue" below, and the numerals of value are at the sides. The impression is in purple and red, and is admirably printed. The red is of a carmine tone, but is not carmine, and is not doubly fugitive like the purple. Needless to say, it is on " Crown" paper and perforated 14. Adhesive. 10 pence, purple and red ; wmk. " Crown," perf. 14.

We have seen a current Twopenny stamp perforated with a large crown and b t below. Can any of our readers inform us why such stamps are marked specially for the Board of Trade, and by what officials they are used] We suspect that they are for the bankruptcy business, which probably has to bear the cost of postage, payable " out of the estate."

54

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

blue, orange.

Ferrari notifies two errors which had duly

Grenada. — We annex an engraving of the .£ stamp chronicled in our January number. It is said that the whole issue was exhausted in six days. Nothing more likely.

Gwalior. — The Timbre -Poste states that

the J anna is now surcharged in black in place

of red

Adhesive. | anna, green, surcharged in black.

Honduras. — Annexed is an engraving of a new type which P^^j^^w^vy? seems to have been recently adopted, and of ^E^^^^^^^^ which two values appear to have been issued. 3 The impression is on plain white paper and the perforation is 12.

Adhesives. 5 centavc 10 „

Hungary. — M. de

stamps with curious

passed through the post. One is a 20 kreuzer, 1881, in which the numerals are wanting; and the other is an 8 kreuzer of the same type, in which the numeral appears twice — once in its proper place and the other at the end of the envelope.

20 kreuzer, black (1881), without numerals. 8 „ orange (1887), numeral repeated.

Madagascar. — Annexed is an engraving of

another surcharge which it is said was made by >|^rop||||§HK order of the Resident-General, dated 8th Decem- ber, 1889, 2000 stamps of 25 c. having been surcharged, of which 800 were for Antananarivo and 1200 for Tamatave. As the supply of 5 c. stamps arrived on the 26 th, the further surcharg- ing was stopped.

05 ou 25 c, black on pink, surcharged in black.

Mauritius. — The present little game of passing fiscals through the post, with the object we leave our readers to divine, has received a check here, and it is to be regretted that the example set by the Postmaster-General of this colony is not followed in some other places. By a circular dated the 16th October last, for a copy of which we are indebted to our Brussels contemporary, the Postmaster-General gave notice to all Postmasters to treat any letter bearing an "Inland Revenue" stamp as unpaid, and to take care not to obliterate it ; and this notice was to be put up in a conspicuous place in each Post Office.

Nicaragua. — The first of the three engravings on page 55 shows the surcharge on the envelope of 10 centavos mentioned in our last.

A new series of stamps for the use of the public, as also a series of official ones, are announced. The other two engravings will absolve us from any description. The impression is on plain white paper and the perforation is 12.

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

55

O-vTJ-iTUWUVJ-a

Adhcsives.

1 centavo, yellow-ochre

2 centavos, vermilion.

5 10 20

Official Stam2)s.

Adhesives. 50 centavos, violet. 1 peso, brown, dark bine. 2 pesos, green,

grey. 5 ,, pink,

red. 10 ,, orange.

All the above values printed uniformly in blue and sur- charged in red as in the engraving. The Timbre- Poste remarks that of these there will no doubt be a crop of varieties.

Pahang. — This State having tasted the delights of the 2 cents Straits Settlements overprinted in one type wants it in another. Doubtless it will soon be wanting a 2 cents surcharged with " one " cent. Adhesive. 2 cents, pink, overprinted in black (2nd Type). In January last we announced, on the faith of some of our contemporaries, that the 10 cents, violet, of the Straits Settlements had been over- printed in black with pahang. We had some doubts at the time whether this was not the production of those "funny folks" that produce surcharges to please everyone's fancy, and it appears that our doubts were justified. Official information has been received that no other stamp except the 2 cents, pink, has been overprinted for Pahang. Germany, though not the fountain, seems to be the conduit-pipe by which these and like imaginary surcharges are distributed to credulous collectors.

Perak. — Messrs. Whitfield, King, and Co. send us a pair of stamps from the sheet of the latest surcharge described in our number for September last. The upper one is variety (1), the lower one is variety (3), and in this latter Perak is spelt preak. Adhesive. 1 cent on 2 cents, pink, surcharged in black preak for Perak.

We have had rather a surfeit of "one cent Perak." We have, therefore, the pleasure of announcing a new combination of which we have as yet heard of no varieties, though doubt- less we shall soon be able to accommodate our readers.

Adhesive. 1 c. on 2 cents, pink ; surcharged in black

PERAK ONE CENT.

56

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

Philippines. — The Philippines have, like Cuba, teen blessed with a new series of more imposing numbers than usual The design is the same as that of the current issue of Spain. The four smaller values have on the upper tablet filip^ impresos, while the other values have filipinas ou the upper tablet, the lower tablets in both carrying the value. The impression is on plain white paper and the perforation is 14.

Adhesives. 1 mil3 de peso, dark violet ; inscription FiLiPiS impeesos.

i de centavo, brown-violet ,, ,,

2 c. de peso, brown-red ,, filiplxas.

2 j ,, ultramarine ,, ,,

5 ,, dark blue „ ,,

5 ,, bronze-green ,, ,,

8 ,, yellow-green ,, „

10 ,, blue-green ,, ,,

12| „ green

20 „ , pink

25 ,, light yellow-brown ,, ,,

It is stated that the reason for having two stamps of 5 c. de peso — one in blue and the other in green — is that the former is for the Postal Union, while the latter is for internal use.

Porto RlCO. — Here again we have an 1890

issue, always of the same type as that of the current issue for Spain. The inscription in the upper tablet is " puerto-rico " throughout the series. The impresion is on plain white paper,

and the perforation is 14.

3 c.

i rniia 1 2 4

5

8

10 20 40

SO

de peso, dark blue.

violet-brown.

ultramarine.

pink.

vermilion-red.

orange.

yellow-green.

Ad?,: peso, black

blue-green, pink

bronze-green. 6 , , brown.

8 ,, greenish-bistre.

1 c. de peso, yellow-bistre.

2 ,, dark violet.

Roumania.

circulation.

The Timbre-Paste states that the stamps of the new design made their appearance last month, the design being the head of the king within an upright oval band, inscribed Romania in the upper part, and the value in words in the lower part. The numerals of value are in discs in each angle of the rectangular framing. The impression is on white watermarked paper, and the perforation is 13£.

Adhesives. lj bani, violet-red on watermarked paper ; perf. 13J. 3 ,, violet

-The 3 and 10 bani, on watermarked paper, are in

a

10 15

•-:

sea-green brick-red bistre ultramariue

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

57

St. Helena. — The 2 pence, yellow, has, it is said, been withdrawn from circulation, or has ceased to be issued.

St Thomas and Prince Islands— We

annex an engraving of the last surcharge chronicled in our January number.

Salvador. — Der Philatelist reports the following envelopes with the stamp on the flap similar to that on the envelopes of 5 centavos. Envelopes. 10 centavos, red on orange ; size 152 x 83 mm.

10 11

white ; size 152 x 120 mm. brown on white : size 143 x 109 mm.

There is also a stamp of 2 centavos similar in design to that of 1 centavo, green, with the upper inscription barred.

Adhesive. 2 centavos, carmine-red ; upper inscription barred.

In consequence of the fire which occurred in the National Palace on the 20th November last, the Director of the Posts ordered all the stamps saved out of the conflagration to be sur- charged in black with " 1889."

Adhesives. 1 centavo, green, surcharged in black " 1889." 3 centavos, brown ,, ,, ,,

5 ,, ultramarine ,, ,,

10 „ orange

The new issue was made on the 1st January last, when Mr. Seebeck took over all the old stamps, and the new series came into use. We annex an engraving of the type, which is the same throughout, mutatis mutandis. The impression is on plain white paper, and the perforation is 12. Adhesives.

20 centavos, orange. 25 „ red. 50 „ brown-violet. 1 peso, lake-red.

1 centavo, dark green.

2 centavos, yellow-brown.

3 „ yellow. 5 „ blue.

10 „ violet.

The envelopes, wrappers, and post cards we have not yet seen, but annex an en- graving of the stamp on the envelopes, of which Der Philatelist announces the following — size 160 x 90 mm.

Envelopes. 5 centavos, blue on white and yellow.

10 ,, brown-red on white.

11 ,, dark yellow ,, 20 ,, red- violet ,, 22 ,, yellow-brown ,,

We chronicle the above most reluctantly, but follow the mul- titude in doing evil out of which no good can come. It will be

58

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

observed that all the stamps bear the date 1890. Are we to have Bolivar over again?

Servia. — The annexed engraving is said to be the design adopted for the new series which is shortly to be issued. The stamps will be printed in Berlin at the Government printing establishment.

Shanghai. — Annexed is an engraving of the stamps described in our last, and which were issued on the 1st January last. It appears that only the 10 and the 20 cents are on watermarked paper, and also that in the 15 cents there is an error in the value in

Chinese, which only represents " 5 cents and half of 10 cents."

We repeat the synopsis to avoid confusion. Adhesives. 2 cents, brown, on plain paper. 5 ,, pink ,, ,,

10 ,, black, on watermarked paper. 15 ,, blue, on plain paper. 20 ,, violet on watermarked paper.

Sweden. — The letter cards have now six- teen dotted lines in the inside, which will doubtless prove advantageous to some writers.

Tasmania. — "Bogus" surcharges of half- penny on one penny are current.

Travancore. — The annexed engraving shows the type of the stamps on the en- velopes described in our last.

United States. — The new series was partially issued on Feb- ruary 21st, and we have received specimens of most of the values. The following is a copy of the circular of the Postmaster-General :

" The Department has had in contemplation for nearly a year past a full revision of the designs and styles of postage stamps used in prepayment of postage on matter passing through the mails. The subject was necessarily delayed to await an impending change of the contract for furnishing adhesive stamps, through which the new standards might be fixed. The new contract was executed in November last, and the work of designing and engraving was immediately begun. All needful preparations having been completed, the new stamps will be issued at once, and they will be placed on sale at the principal post-offices on Saturday, the 22nd inst. The issue of the new i and 5 cent stamps will be delayed for a short period on account of the difficulty experienced in producing acceptable portraits of Lincoln and Grant. Mean- while the department will continue to furnish 4 and 5 cents stamps of the old style when called for. The stamps remaining in post-offices must be sold, and Postmasters must not make requisition for the new stamps so long as they may have a sufficient supply of stamps of the old style. The old stamps must not be returned to the Department for exchange or redemption. Postmasters must not exchange or redeem stamps of the old style remaining in the hands of the public. The stamps of the styles now in use will continue to be recognised equally with those of the new issue in payment of postage. The stamps of past issues which are still valid consist of three

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS. 59

different styles, and are known as the series of 1861, 1869, and 1870 respectively. The two issues of stamps made before the war of the Rebellion, and designated as the series of 1847 and 1851, were long since declared to be valueless. Many of the stamps of the latter issue are believed to be still outstanding ; and they must not be accepted by Postmasters in payment of postage. Matter bearing these stamps, and offered for mailing, must be treated as held for postage. There will be no changes in the current special delivery, postage-due, or newspaper and periodical stamps ; neither will the stamps on the stamped envelopes or the letter sheet envelopes be changed, for the present at least. No specimens of present or past issues are furnished directly by the Department. The new series comprises the same denominations as the series in present use to meet existing rates of postage. The stamps differ somewhat in form from those in present use, and are about one-eighth smaller in size."

The new stamps are all of the same design, showing a portrait in an upright oval on all but a solid ground. Above the oval on a cartouch is united states postage, and at the foot the value in words, above which on each side are the numerals of value in uneoloured figures on a solid ground. The one cent stamp contains a profile bust, after Eubricht, of Benjamin Franklin, printed in ultramarine-blue. On the two cents stamp is a profile bust, after Houdon, of George Washington, looking to the left, printed in carmine. The three cents stamp contains a profile bust, after Powers, of Andrew Jackson, printed in purple. The four cents stamp contains a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, after a photo- graph from life, three-quarters face, looking to the right ; the colour is chocolate. On the five cents stamp is a portrait of General Grant, after a photograph from life, three-quarters face, looking to the right ; colour light brown. The six cents denomination has a portrait of James A. Garfield, after a photograph from life, three-quarters face. The colour of this stamp has not yet been fully determined upon. The ten cents stamp contains a portrait of Daniel Webster, after a daguerreotype from life, three-quarters face, looking to the left; colour milori-green. The fifteen cents denomination has a portrait of Henry Clay, after a daguerreotype from life ; the colour is deep blue. On the thirty cents stamp is a profile bust of Thomas Jefferson, after Ceracchi ; colour black. The ninety cents denomination contains a profile bust of Commodore 0. S. Perry, after Wolcott's statue ; colour, orange-vermilion.

The size of the stamps is 18f x 22 mm., or £ a millimetre shorter than our stamps of one penny, and £ millimetre wider. The impression is on plain white paper; the gum is white, and -£\ the perforation is 12.

Adhesives. 1 cent, blue.

2 cents, carmine-red.

3 ,, dark purple.

10

15

5 30

90

dark green, dark blue, black, vermilion.

Victoria. — We annex an engraving of the design of the new One Penny stamp described in our last.

60 LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION.

LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION, 1890.

patron. H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, E.G., etc.

Committee.

F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Q.C. T. K. Tapling, Esq., M.P. E. D. Bacon, Esq.

M. P. Castle, Esq.

D. Garth, Esq.

J. A. Tilleard, Esq.

Charles Colman, Esq., Secretary.

Exhibition Offices: 4, Lombafd Court, E.C., 20th February, 1890.

PROSPECTUS. In commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the introduction of Postage Stamps, an Exhibition of British, Colonial, and Foreign Postage Stamps, Envelopes, Post-cards, Newsbands, &c, and of Albums, Books, and Appliances for their collection, of Philatelic Literature, and of curiosities and objects of interest in connection with the Postal Service, will be opened at the Portman Rooms, Baker Street, London, W., on Monday, the 19th May, 1890, under the direction and management of a Committee of the Philatelic Suciety of London.

The Committee desire that the Exhibition shall comprise a complete collection of the postal issues in all countries during the past 50 years, and with this object they cordially invite the co-operation of collectors throughout the world.

The Portman Rooms have been selected as affording at once ample space for such an exhibition, and facilities for displaying all exhibits in a good light, without, however, risk of damage from immediate contact with the sun's rays. The rooms are also readily accessible, being close to the Baker Street Station on the Metropolitan Railway, and on a line of omnibuses directly communicating with Charing Cross.

All Postal Issues will be exhibited under glass, and in locked or sealed cases. The Committee will employ night and day watchmen, and take every possible precaution ; and no stamps, envelopes, or other exhibits of a similar nature will be allowed to be handled except by the Committee and the Judges ; but the Committee cannot undertake personal responsibility in case of loss.

It is intended that the Exhibition shall remain open to the public until the evening of Monday, the 26th May, and Exhibits will be returned to the owners as soon as possible after that date.

It is proposed to hand any surplus proceeds of the Exhibition, after payment of all expenses and guaranteed sums, to a Charity in connection with the Post Office, to be selected by the Postmaster-General.

The Committee have decided that the Exhibition shall be subject to the following rules and regulations, of which all Exhibitors will be held to have had notice.

Rules and Regulations.

1. Exhibits in Class I. must be mounted on cards, paper, or loose pages ; and in order to secure, as far as possible, uniformity in the general appear- ance of the Exhibition, cards of suitable sizes have been provided by the Committee, and can be furnished on application to the Secretary at a trifling cost. It will be inconvenient to exhibit cards or sheets exceeding 14 inches in height, and the Comuiittee therefore recommend the adoption of mounts of moderate size.

LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION. 61

2. A charge for space occupied by exhibits, or by the cards or other material on which they may be mounted, will be made on the following scale :

For each square foot occupied up to 25 feet . . . 6d.

„ „ where more than 25 feet is occupied . 5d.

,, „ , , ,, 50 „ „ . 4d.

„ album or volume of stamps exhibited . 2s. 6d.

The above charge will be payable by the exhibitor on sending in his exhibit, and will be inclusive (except in the case of albums) of insurance from risk by fire. Collections in books or albums will be insured for such a sum as the owner may desire, the premium being payable by him, in addition to the charge for the exhibit.

3. Notice of the character and extent of exhibits, with the value for insurance, should be sent to the Exhibition Secretary not later than the 15th March, and the Committee would be glad to have earlier notification, if possible, from intending exhibitors. The accompanying form of notice can be conveniently employed. All exhibits should be delivered, post or carriage paid, at the offices of the Committee, 4, Lombard Court, E.C., on or before the 1st May. In the case of exhibits under Class VIII., notice of the character of the article proposed to be exhibited should, if possible, be sent to the Secretary before the 1st April, who will then communicate with the applicant, with a view to its inspection by the Committee or their agent, who will decide as to its suitability for exhibition. All exhibits in this latter class accepted by the Committee should be delivered, free of carriage, at such time and place as the Secretary may notify to the owner. All exhibits will be returned to their owners after the close of the Exhibition free of charge, registered or insured, or otherwise, as directed ; but transmission will in all cases be at the sole risk of the owner.

4. The Committee reserve the right of rejecting any exhibit or exhibits, without assigning any reason for such rejection. They will endeavour, however, to find room for everything which may be deemed worthy of exhibition. All specimens exhibited for competition must be bond fide the property of the exhibitor.

5. Albums and volumes of stamps will be exhibited open at the most interesting pages, to be varied from time to time during the Exhibition by a member of the Committee. No albums will be allowed to be inspected (except by the Judges) unless with the express written permission of the owner and at his risk, and then only in the presence of one of the Committee.

6. No price or other notification of its being for sale should be affixed to any exhibit ; but an intimation may be made to the Committee that any exhibit or exhibits are for sale, and they will make arrangements accordingly to facilitate this circumstance, and the price being made known to the public. No exhibit thus sold will, under any circumstance, be allowed to be removed until the close of the Exhibition. In all cases of sale, the purchase- money will be payable to the Committee, who will deliver the article to the purchaser, and account to the owner for the price, after deducting a com- mission of 7£ per cent. , which will be applied towards the general expenses of the Exhibition.

7. No dealer will be allowed to compete, except for the prizes given under Classes V. VI. and VII.

8. The Judges will be appointed at a Special General Meeting of the London Philatelic Society, to be held during the last week in April, and their decision will be in all cases final. In making their awards, the Judges will take into special consideration, not only the value and completeness of the exhibit, but also the neatness and accuracy of arrangement, method of mounting, and condition of the specimens submitted.

9. The following scheme of competition has been adopted by the Committee, who, however, specially desire to point out that exhibits not for competition are also cordially invited.

62 LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION.

Class I.

Will consist of Special Collections of the Adhesive Stamps of any one of

the Countries or Combinations of Countries named below : Group I. — Afghanistan. British Guiana. Cape of Good Hope and Natal. Confederate States and Locals. France, including Colonies. Granada Con- federation, including the various States. Great Britain. Hawaii. India and Ceylon. Japan. Mauritius. Mexico and Guadalajara. Native States of India, including Cashmere. New South Wales. New Zealand. Peru and Pacific Steam Navigation Company. Philippine Islands. Tasmania. Transvaal, Boer, or New Republic. United States of America. United States Locals. Victoria.

Group II. — Argentine Confederation and Republic, Buenos Ayres, and Corrientes. Austria, Austrian Italy, Bosnia, Danubian Steam Navigation Company, and Hungary. Bolivia and Ecuador. Brazil and Chili. Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Germany — (1) Bergedorf, Bremen, Brunswick, Hamburg, Hanover, Liibeck, Prussia, and Schleswig-Holstein. (2) Baden, Bavaria, German Confederation and Empire, Mecklenburg Schwerin and Strelitz, Oldenburg, Thurn and Taxis, and Wurtemburg. Holland, Belgium, Congo, and Luxemburg. Italy, Modena, Naples, Papal States, Parma, Romagna, Sardinia, Sicily, and Tuscany. Labuan and Fiji Islands. Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island. Portugal, Azores, and Madeira. Portuguese Indies and other Portuguese Colonies. Queensland, Samoa, and Tonga Islands. Roumania and Moldo-Wallachia. Russia (including Locals), Finland, Levant, Livonia, Poland, and Wenden. San Domingo and Hayti. Shanghai, China, and Hong Kong. South Australia. Spain. Straits Settlements and Dependencies. Switzerland. Trinidad. Turkey. Uruguay, Venezuela, and La Guiara. Western Australia.

Group III. — Antigua, Montserrat, and British Honduras. Bahamas and Bermudas. Barbadoes and Nevis. Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and San Salvador. Cuba, Porto Rico, and Fernando Poo. Cyprus, Gibraltar, Heligoland, Ionian Islands, and Malta. Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Christopher. Egypt, Suez Canal, and Liberia. Griqualand, British Bechuanaland, Protectorate, and Orange Free State. Lagos, Gambia, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and St. Helena. North Borneo, Sarawak, and Siam. Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Persia. Greece, Servia, Eastern Roumelia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. St. Vincent and St. Lucia. Turk's Islands, Tobago, and Virgin Islands.

Note. — Any three countries not enumerated in the above lists may be shown together for competition as one country in Group III. Exhibitors may compete in any or all of the above groups, and the number of exhibits is not limited.

Class II.

Will consist of entire Collections of Adhesives, with or without Envelopes,

Post Cards, &c.

Division 1.— Total number not to exceed 5,000. 2.— „ n n 3,000.

Class III. Will consist of Collections of entire Envelopes and Wrappers. Division 1 — One or more of the following countries : Austria and all States. Germany and all States. Mauritius. Russia, Finland, and Poland. United States of America. Division 2. — Any four countries not named in Division 1.

Class IV. Will consist of Collections of entire Post Cards and Letter Cards. Division 1. — One or more of the following countries : Finland. Germany and all States. Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Trinidad. Japan. Luxemburg. Mexico. Roumania.

PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON. G3

Division 2.— Any six countries other than those given in Division 1.

Class V. For exhibits of Adhesives, Envelopes, Wrappers, or Cards by Dealers.

Class VI.

For Philatelic Literature and Works connected with the introduction of

Postage Stamps in Great Britain.

Class VII.— For Albums, &c. Division 1. — The best method or system suitable for mounting the Stamps of Class I. „ 2. — The most suitable Album or Book for Class II. „ 8.— The best method or system for arranging Classes III. & IV;

Class VIII. Special Arrangements or Groups of Stamps, Stamps on original Envelopes or otherwise marking historical events, or not conforming with the preceding Classes. Telegraph Stamps. Proofs and Essays. Curiosities and Objects of Interest in connection with the Postal Service.

LIST OF PRIZES. Class I. — Group I. Two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. ,, II. One gold, two silver, and three bronze medals. ,, III. Two silver and four bronze medals. A special gold medal, being the Grand Prize of the Exhibition, will be awarded to the most meritorious exhibit in any group of this Class. Class II. — Division 1. One silver and two bronze medals. „ 2. One silver and one bronze medal. Class III. — Division 1. One gold and one silver medal.

,, 2. One silver and two bronze medals. Class IV. — Division 1. One silver and one bronze medal. „ 2. One silver and one bronze medal. Class V. — Three bronze medals. Class VI. — Three bronze medals.

Class VII. — One bronze medal for each of the three Divisions. Class VIII. — Two silver and three bronze medals.

A limited number of medals will further be placed at the disposal of the Judges, including three silver medals for recognition of special services rendered to the Exhibition.

No exhibitor can take more than one prize in each Class, and the Committee reserve to themselves the right of withholding medals if the competition in any Class should produce an insufficient number of exhibits.

PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON,

COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1889-90.

President — F. A. Philbrick, Q.C.

Vice-President—^. K. Tapling, M.P.

Secretary — D. Garth. Assistant-Secretary— J '. A. Tillearl\

Treasurer and Librarian — C. N. Biggs.

E. D. Bacon. I A. W. Chambers.

M. P. Castle. Dr. C. W. Viner.

The eleventh meeting of the season (1889-90) was held at the Salisbury Hotel, Fleet Street, on Friday, the 28th February, at 7.30 p.m., and was attended by fifteen members. The chair was occupied by Mr. Castle, in

64 NOTES AND QUERIES.

the absence of the President and Vice-President, and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary reported the receipt of a further letter from Mr. Haes with information as to the reply received from the trustees of the British Museum in reference to the proposed mode of dealing with the collection presented by Mr. Haes. The business of the evening consisted of the further revision of the Society's reference list of the stamps of Trinidad, which was completed.

The twelfth meeting of the season was held at the Salisbury Hotel on Friday, the 14th March, 1890, at 7.30 p.m., fourteen members and one visitor being present, Mr. Bacon taking the chair in the absence of the President and Vice-President. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary reported the receipt of letters from Mr. Marshall and Mr. Comyns resigning their membership, and the resig- nations were directed to be accepted with regret. Mr. Colman, as honorary secretary of the Exhibition Committee, reported the progress which had been made in the arrangements for the Exhibition, and announced that H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh had consented to act as a patron of the Exhibition. After some discussion on matters connected with the Ex- hibition, the meeting proceeded with the business of the evening — the revision of the Society's reference list of the stamps of British Guiana, which was not concluded at the close of the meeting.

Jiotcs antr fauttit*.

H. R. R., North Shields. — The Turkish stamps, on coloured tracing paper, were issued 13th January, 1863, in virtue of a firman of the Sultan Abdul- Aziz, dated 14th Ramazan, 1278. It was not till towards the end of the year 1863 that the stamps on ordinary paper were issued. Mount Brown, in his catalogue, only refers to the issue on thin paper. It is probable that all the values were printed on thick paper, but only two — the 20 paras and 1 piastre — are common. An obliterated specimen of the 5 piastres is recorded, but no one has seen the 2 piastres. In the Philatelical Journal for April, 1872, will be found pretty nearly all that is known on the subject, and in that and the succeeding papers are lists of all the issues up to that period.

With regard to Mr. Tapling's stamp there is no doubt that it was an error on the part of the lithographer in making his transfer on to the stone, an error which it appears was corrected after a few sheets had been printed. How the lithographer contrived to make the error is the point on which the learned are not by any means agreed, and each has his psalm.

The concluding pages of the Philatelic gains of 1889 are unavoidably crowded out this month by more pressing matter.

Pemberton, Wilson, & Co., Palmerston Road, Wood Green, London, N.

HFfy pftttat^uE J^i

Vol. XII. APRIL, 1890. No. 136.

'T present our thoughts will not run in any other groove than the Philatelic Exhibition. We tried to write on some other subject, but without avail; and therefore we resign ourselves to the inevitable.

In some respects it is to be regretted that the Com- mittee was unable to put forth the programme at an earlier date. The Colonies of Great Britain are happily so at one with the old country that every thing which stirs and affects the root is felt throughout the whole of the branches. But the Colonies lie wide, and it takes time to communicate with them and to organise things over there. Thanks to the energy of Dr. Houison, some interesting exhibits from New South Wales are being sent over by the Government ; and we understand also that Tasmania will contribute. We had hoped that New Zealand might also have sent exhibits; but the obituary in our pages of this month unhappily tells us that such hopes are vain. Had it been possible to have allowed more time, exhibits would doubtless have been sent from many other parts of our great Colonial Empire. The Exhibition will open on Monday, May 19th, and will close on the evening of the following Monday, May 26th. Full particulars of the ceremony, and the time of admission on the opening day, will be advertised in the daily papers.

The Exhibition will be open on Tuesday, May 20th, and subsequent days (Sunday excepted), between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The price of admission on the opening day will be 2s. 6d., and on the other days Is. Tickets of admission for the whole period will be obtainable on application to the Hon. Secretary ; price 5s. Catalogues, price 6d.

Imitating the language of the newspapers, we only add that the above are the latest news up to the time of our going to press.

M

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

^uqlitp, J)btooirb$, anb ^susttWfott*.

Afghanistan. — We have received the following stamps of the current type, all printed on wove paper :

5 annas, black on orange. 10 „

1 rupee 5 annas

10 „ 1 rupee 5 annas

10 „ 1 rupee

5 J

blue.

pink.

5 annas, black on green. 10 „

1 rupee

5 annas 10 „

1 rupee

5 annas 10 „

1 rupee

J5

fellow.

violet.

Together with the above values in marone on similar colours

Argentine Republic— The accompanying engraving represents, it is said in the Timbre- Poste, J. Secundo de Aguero, and has been lithographed on a wrapper since the 21st Feb- ruary last. The wrapper is 250x166 mm., and bears the title republica Argentina on the right.

Wrapper. 4 centavos, blue on manilla.

Bavaria. — We have the following additions to make to the stamps and post cards chronicled in our February number. All the stamps have a watermark of lines undulated horizontally :

Adhesives. 3 pfennig, green, perforated 14 ; horizontal undulations. 10 ,, red-brown ,, ,, ,,

brown on grey; vertical undulations; dated "90." carmine on buff ; hor. undulations ; dated " 90." ,, ,, vertical ,, ,,

,, on grey

PostCards. 3 + 3

10

10

10 + 10

There are two varieties of these latter. In the double cards the word "bavi^re" reads as "bavi^r^," either on the front part or on the reply part.

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

67

Brazil. — We annex an engraving of the stamp of 100 reis, as mentioned in our last, which at the date of our last advices was the only one of the series that had been issued. We refer our readers to a letter from a correspondent at Eio de Janeiro for more ample particulars of these and the other stamps we have lately- chronicled.

Canada. — The 15 cents has again changed its colour, and is now bright violet.

Adhesive. 15 cents, bright violet ; perf. 12.

Colombia. — The following intelligence appears in some of our contemporaries. The 1 peso comes to hand on thick white paper in place of an azured paper.

Adhesive. 1 peso, pink on white ; perforated 11J.

The size of the last post card is increased from 118 x 74 mm. to

* Post Card. 2 centavos, black on orange.

Four new official cubiertas have appeared :

1. The frame is composed of ornaments interlaced, and is printed in black on pink.

2. The frame is composed of knots of cord, and is printed in black on white.

3. The frame represents a ribbon, doubled in pot-hook pattern, and is printed in black on yellow.

4. The frame shows a wavy ribbon, with ornaments in the corners, and the impression is in black on blue.

Official Cubiertas. No value, black on pink. ,, ,, white,

yellow. „ blue.

Cuba. — Der Philatelist chronicles a post card of 4 c. de peso, in addition to that of 2 c. de peso chronicled in our last.

Post Card. 4 c. de peso, carmine on buff.

DiegO-Suarez. — The Timbre -Poste publishes a copy of a decree of the President of the French Eepublic putting an end, from the 1st January last, to the free transit of letters to and from the troops at Diego-Suarez ; and it was in consequence of this decree that the stamp of 20 centimes, surcharged in blue with " 15," as described in our last, was issued.

REPUBLIOUEFRANOAISE: 136*

68

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

Egypt. — The annexed engraving repre- sents the stamp on the envelope and letter en- velopes chronicled in our last. We promised to describe the stamp, but the engraving will be a better description than any we could give.

Faridkot. — Annexed is an engraving of the stamp as affixed to the post cards, envelopes, and registered envelopes of India overprinted for this State. In chronicling these in our number for September last we omitted to give the size of the registered envelope, which is size F. (132 x82 mm.)

Great Britain. — The Twibre-Poste states that in the collection of M. Ferrary there is a specimen of the 4 pence, sage-green (1877), imperforate. Imperforate specimens of any of the plates of the 4 pence, except 11 and 12, are rare, but we know of a private collection where there are specimens of all the plates imperforate, except 5 and 6, which were never printed from.

A correspondent tells us that he has found the current fourpence with a topsy-turvy watermark.

We find that Ave have failed to mention that the 1 shilling of the current issue is overprinted govt- parcels in black. 1 shilling, green (1887), overprinted gov1-- parcels.

Guatemala. — A few months since we mentioned that the current stamps of 1,5, and 10 centavos had been overprinted in black with oficial. We learn that the 2 and the 20 centavos have been also overprinted in like manner.

Official. 2 centavos, yellow-brown, overprinted in black. 20 „ green „ „

We have received some well-executed envelopes and post cards of new designs. The stamp on the envelopes shows a post-horn, embossed in white on a solid transverse oval ground, within an engine-turned border, in the upper part of which is Guatemala, and in the lower part the value in words, while the numerals of value are in small upright ovals in the border at each end of the major axis. The twist of the horn makes a circle of about 7 mm. diameter, and in the envelope of 5 centavos is plain, while in that of the 10 centavos the letters u.p.u. (Union Postal Universal) are inserted. The envelopes are of plain white laid paper ; size 152 x 89 mm.

The post cards consist of one of 3 centavos for internal use, and of one of 3 centavos for the Union, with a corresponding reply card. The first of these has a stamp in the right upper angle of

NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

69

the frame, which is of a chain pattern between lines, the design showing a band crossing it almost diagonally from left to right ; lower angle of the rectangle inscribed tres centavos, and in the lower triangle is a numeral 3 ; in the upper triangle tarjeta postal on a curved tablet, and Arms. In the left upper angle of the frame is a vignette, and between is republica de Guatemala, below which is " Servicio Postal Interior " in script. Three dotted lines for the address, the first of which is preceded by " Sr." in script. The instructions, in Spanish in two lines, are in the left lower angle of the frame. Impression on white card (142 x 91 mm.) In the frame of the second are introduced the words caRte postale at the top, and in each side union postale universelle. In the right upper angle is the quezal on a column, with a wreath enclosing it, and to the left a design, showing in the centre a transverse oval band enclosing the numeral "3," with centavos in the lower part of the band. The inscription is " Eepublique de Guatemala." Instructions in Trench in one line are in the lower part of the frame to the left. The reply card is similar, with the addition of the words on the front card of " carte postale avec reponse payee," and on the second of "carte postale reponse."

Envelopes. Post Cards.

5 centavos, pale blue on white laid.

10

3 3 + 3

pink

pale blue on white, pink „

pink „

Honduras. — In addition to the stamps of 5 and 10 centavos of the design shown last month the following values exist :

1 centavo, green.

2 centavos, red.

20 ,, yellow-brown. 25 ,, pink.

30 centavos, violet.

40 50

75

blue.

brown.

blue-green.

1 peso, pink.

Envelopes, wrappers, and post cards have also been issued. The stamp on the envelopes and wrappers is of the design shown in the annexed engraving. They are of the following values, colours, and sizes :

Envelopes.

5 centavos, blue on white and azure,150 x 87 mm.

10 ,, orange ,, 160 x 92mm.

20 ,, brown „ 195 x 80mm.

25 „ pink „ 239 x103mm.

Wrappers. 1 centavo, green on manilla. 2 centavos, red ,,

5 „ blue ,,

We have not yet received specimens of the post cards, nor have we seen a description of them in any of our contemporaries.

Mexico. — We gather from the Timbre- Poste some recent changes in the post cards, &c, of this republic.

70 NOVELTIES, DISCOVERIES, AND RESUSCITATIONS.

New post cards were issued at the commencement of the year, lithographed, but with -the inscriptions type-printed. Stamp in the right upper angle, the numeral in an oval; in the left an eagle of a fresh design; and between these "servicio postal mexicano " in an arch, below which is " tarjeta postal." Then three dotted lines with "Senor," and at the bottom "Servicio urbano " or " Servicio interior."

Post Cards. 2 centavos, carmine, inscriptions in blue. 5 ,, ultramarine ,•, pink.

There are also other post cards with "union postal universal" on the left, and the like in French on the right, while under the arched inscription is " tarjeta postal . carte postale " in one

line. postai jjt Cards. 2 centavos, carmine, inscriptions in green. 3 „ red „ „

The wrapper for the interior has the form simplified. The gummed corners on the side where the stamp is are not cut. Wrapper. 1 centavo, green on orange. The postage stamp of 12 centavos in puce has been in circu- lation since the beginning of February.

Adhesive. 12 centavos, puce, perforated 12^. Besides the envelopes of 5 and 10 centavos described in November last, the following of the same form have appeared on similar paper : Envelopes.

4 centavos, red. I 12 centavos, red.

6 „ „ I 20 „

The design of the letter cards has been changed. To the left is the eagle, and to the right the stamp with numeral in the centre. Between these is "servicio postal mexicano — tarjeta carta" in two lines, followed by "Senor" and three lines for the address. To the left and right "servicio urbano" or "servicio interior," and below on the left are the instructions. The inscriptions are in black.

Letter Cards. 4 centavos, red on buff ; inscriptions in black. 10 „ „ pink „ „

Monaco. — The