Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-17

People Who Take an Interest in
Postal Currency.

The stamp collectors in Savannah and
elsewhere have been greatly Interested in
the organization ofthe National Philatelic
society. A meeting was held in New
YORK a few days ago for that purpose.
The principal object OF the society is the
announcement and prom otion OF stamp
c0ilecting and the assistance OF members
IN acquiring knowledge in regard to
philately andin supplying special class
OF literature.
Among the officers elected was a coun-
terielt detector. People who try to palm
on old, crOss-eyed stamps as the pOr-
traits OF Queen Eliza beth Will be sever ely
dealt with by this official.
Letters were read from various parts
OF the country not represented by dele
gates. Several letters were from the
south, and two were trCm promoters
OF the enterprise in this city. A number
OF gentlemen here have large and valu-
able collections Of stamps. The ladies
are also taking up the collecting with en-
thusiasm, and are writing in every direc-
ton to their friends TO save stamps for
them"
1t is not at all unlikely that stamp COL
Letting will in time supersede many other
"crszes" that ladies indulge in.
There are dealers IN almost every city
who do good business in buying and
selling old postage stamps, and il would
surprise many people TO know some of
the prominent people of the country who
take a delight in accommodating such col
lections.
EX-President Author has a collection
which is valued at about $1,000. His
little daughter Nellie attends to it, and
frequently pays large sum for a rare
stamp.
Mrs. Rutherford B. HAYES, when in
Washington, requested the Post Office
Department to send her all the strange
stamps which they handled, and her col
lection is the largest in Ohio. When
person starts IN collecting stamps the
craze grows upon him, and 1t is said to be
as powerful as the opium habit.
Fanny Davenport, the actress, was for
merly famous as stamp collector, but
she has given it up OF late. 1t was Miss
Davenport VINO sold a cancelled $500 rev.
enue stamp Of an old date to Baltimore
collector for 50 %.
Among the rare specimens eXtant is a
United states stamp bearing the date of
1874. The letter had been omitted from
it and it read ''Ostage." AS there were
only few hundred such stamps issued
before the mistake was noticed they are
very valuable and readily sell for $2j
each
During the late war the post Office at
New Orleans almost ran out of postage
stamps. AS none could be procured for
several weeks. the postmaster telogra phed
to Jefferson Davis, and received permits
sion TO cut the ordinary stamps into three
pieces, each of which would be received
as whole stamp. This was done for
some time, until new supply could be
obtained, and the mutilated sections,
which are really genuine, now sell for $50
each.
The inventor of the process of engraving
and using the adhesive stamps was Jacob
Perkins, of Massachusetts.
1t is understood that the new society
will request the Postmaster General to
order more attractive pictures upon the
United States stamps. Among the de-
signs to be recommended will be that of a
letter carrier mounted upon bicycle.