The morning call., 1893-12-10
PHILATETIC SPECULATION.

So great and rapid are the fluctuations in
value of many stamps that phiately offers
a most inviting field TO those of specula-
tive proclivities. While no great for
tunes have been made out of any single
deal yet there are numerous instances
where quite respectable sums have been
realized-from few hundred to several
thousand d0llars--in a short slime. For
one with a knowledge of philately and a
fair amount OF capital there are almost
daily opportunities for indulgence in this
mild form of gambling. 1t must not be
thought. however. that the chances are al
ways with those bold enough to make
venture for large and quick profits, for 1t
sometimes happens. though not often, that
loss follows.
just at present. particularly in the
United States, there is almost general
tendency among philatelists TO speculate
in the current issue of Columbian stamps,
and even many foreigners have taken TO
boarding these stamps In expectation of
decided increase i'll their value III the near
future. This movement has. within few
weeks. been much intensified by the pub
llshed announcement that Postmaster
General Bssell has made a compromise
with the contractors who are furnishing
the stamps, whereby the total number to
be issued has been reduced from 5000, ,000,-
600 to 1000, 600, 000 The values most
sought after are those least used, such as
the 3, 6, 8 and Is cent and the higher de-
nominations. Up to the dollars values
the stamps designated retail al nearly their
face value in used condition; for good
specimens the face and more is readily OBJ
tanned. Only few weeks ago Denver
collector received an order from German
dealer for 100 Cancelled 81 stamps, for
which the latter agreed to pay ST % each.
The order was promptly filled.
In this city there are several collectors
who are making systematic efforts to cor
Der all the more desirable United States
Columbians and who keep the stocks OF
these stamps of the regular dealers at a
very low state. Thus far it has been i'm
possible to buy complete set of used
Colum bian stamps in this city. and so great
was the demand for unused specimens
that for considerable time the local post
Office was unable to meet the demand for
fun sets.
The great attraction that exists in these
stamps lies in the fact that their life is
fixed for one year.
But the greatest speculative fever ever
| chronlcled ID philateiic circles was that
superinduced by the jubilee or centenary
| issue of the Argentine Republic on No
vember IL, 1892. to commemorate the dis
covery of the New World. The fact that
tboy "oio W 10 ioeuSu loI Que uay Ohly
was announced some months in advance
and gave the news ample time to reach
even the most distant phiatelic centers.
The result was that collectors and
dealers 10 all paris OF the world
simply overwhelmed correspondents
in the enterprising republic with
orders for the short lived stamps
But two denominations were issued-2
centavos and centav0s. Before nightfall
So each was offered for single specimens,
| used and unused. and after the postoffice
closed the price advanced to $40 In gold
each. This was highwater mark and since
then there has been a gradual decline,
until to-day the pair can be had for 81 so,
either used or unused. 1t was reported al
the time that a number of the postoffice
| attaches took advantage of the situation