Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-28

THE LAWS OPENLY yroLArKp.

The mania for collecting postage stamps has
lasted for many years, and has extended probably
all over the world. The desire for making these
corrections Is not confined to children by any
means and with some people the stamp mania
has such a hold that they are considered genuine
"cranks," yet their albums contain many rare and
valuable specimens The pastime OF making these
collections is very fascinating one TO those who
nave the time ana necessary money Co spare.
TIE GOVERNMENT sPScTMENs
The ordinary demand for domestic stamps Is
met by the Post ONCE departments which has is
sued Circular Offering TO furnish upon applica-
ton at face value specimens OF postage stamps of
every denomination. The ordinary stamps for the
use of the public OF issues from ls4 to 1879 ana
range In value from is cents to s. is per set The
omclai est, stamps-execusive and departmental
and - iss cost rsspssissiy @ cents IS and
ungummed. and have printed acros ss" the fsce
the word specimen" In small type. II is very
generous OF the government to offer such advan-
look into the matter wili md that there are much
better Inducements offered by outsiders for OBJ.
what appear to be domestic STAN ps but OF the
rarest foreign ones
ELEcTRo-rYPR oouNTERrkrs
Many persons who suppose they have In their
collections the choicest specimens have nothing
out counterfeita Business houses have
W." oS.aouSueo IN al parts OF the
country for the purpose OF supplying
the extraordinary demand for desirable stamps.
and have adapted the Illegal method OF reproduc-
ing those stamps from electrotyps Plates They
nave not only Undertaken to eiectrotype foreign
Stamps, but also domestic stamps, particularly
those OF the higher denominatio such as SIG
$A, $50 $4S and SEQ stamps, and these without the
firms issue csi sSross the face Thess
oner to furnish fac smile Of any OF the stamps at
surprisingly low prices.
OPENLY SELLING THE ELEcrRoTYPK PLATES
In some cases rare foreign stamps are counter.
feted and the counterfeit cancelled and sold as
having been used Some persons In the business
not content with selling their counterfeits boldly
advertise that "electrotype plates OF any OF these
stamps Will be supplied for 80 cents each to re-
sponsble parties" Who Is the responsible party,
why, OF course whoever sends the 30 cents
THE LAW IN THE CASE
To be OF any value to the collectors these repro-
auctions must be fac SMILES OF the originals ana
In that case they are commercials Section 5.4e4
KS, provides that any person who shall forge or
counterfeit or knowingly utter forged or counter
felt stamps, shall be fined not more than $500, or
De imprisoned at hard labor not more than 1--WE
years. or shall receive both punshments The
loifowing section makes the counterfeitinC or
forging or foreign stamps liable to Imprisonment
at hard labor for not less than two years nor more
terfeit1ng business grown that the AUTHORITIES of
the government have been compelled to make
euoTtS 10 suppress It.
TIE v1oLAToRs OF LAW.
very likely those who are engaged in the bust
ness In the various cities have no other motive
than that OF supplying the demand for rare stamps
10 benefit the collector But II they are allowed
70 continue, what reason Is there for preventing
any; any counterfeiter 10 the country from electro
yping currency notes ostenslbly for the collectors
| to place In their cabinets? The attention OF the
solicitor OF the Treasury has several times been
called to the matter, and In every instance he has
decided that the business is Illegal
MEASURES TO BREAK Up THE ILLEGAL BUSINESS
NO stringent measures were taken to suppress
1t, however. until recently. The D. g. district at
torney OF New York has decided that It is uniaw-
ful. and Is making every effort to break it up.
Under his direction officers order the plates turned
over to the government and II that order is oom-
Piled with no further steps are taken. The dis
1, tS attorneys AT Boston and Philadelphia and
other places now have the question under advise
ment There is no disposition on the part OF the
government to innct punishment, for, as stated
ABOVE IN nearly all cases no violation OF the Law
Is intended, but it is difficult dlscrimi nate and
abolish the business