The morning call., 1893-10-22
plate numbers. A differenc. in some of

plate numbers. A difference In some of
the details first mentioned frequently
means decided variation in the value of
the stamps, for instance: A stamp of a
certain watermark may be worth but few
cents, while Its counterpart on differently
water-marked paper may be worth as many
dullars, and the same conditions hold good
of varieties in paper and perforation.
What gives the various enhanced values
to stamps of the same design having these
distin ctve peculiarities is that they are Of
different dates of issue. some being rarer
than others, the relative scarcity of stamps
regulating their values.
Ever since the mania for stamp-eolect-
ing began In Great Britain more than fifty
years ago, shortly after the issuance of the
fir st postage stamps by the Government of
that country. it was predicted that it was
craze of purely temporary character and
would speedily die out, but time has only
served to spread its strange fascination,
and what was once only a schOolbOy'S
amusement is now the diversion of
thousands of men and women all over the
world and in all ranks of life, including
royalty and some of the most prominent
public and professional men, though they
are known as philateists usually only
within the circle of their fellow collectors.
Numerous theories have been advanced
by philatellc writers to account for the re-
markaoe attraction that is inherent In
this apparently senseless and useless fad.
Some attribute it to the fine workmans ship
often displayed on stamps and the beauti-
full colOrs in which they are printed, these
qualities being supposed to appeal to the
artistic sense others claim that the merits
of phllately lie in the incentive they fur
nish to geographical, political and histori-
cal research; many are said to hold it in
esteem owing to the financial profit that
may be derived from it. But the probable
IF NH LOT oil IL
summed up by writer in Filatelic Facts
and Fallacies, one Of the local stamp mag
aZines:
''Stamp-cOllecting of to-day is simply great
and complicated puzzle, and 1t is the difficult
ties OF its solution which lend TO it its intense
and continuous interest. Were its compica-
tions easily and quickly Strengthened out or
were its solution an impossibility, there is
little doubt that IL would soon wane in esti-
nation.
while there of course exists the possibility
of some one securing every known variety of
stamp, the improbability of this feat being
accomplished is really so small that no appre-
hension need be felt for the permanency of in-
terest in phiIately."
Equally interesting with why, what and
how philatelsts collect is the manner in
which they preserve and display their label
curios.
The beginner usually utilizes some dis
carded blankboOk, which he finds lying
his father or employer. AS his accumula-
tion increases he invests in a cheap album,
which costs from 10 to % cents, then his
desire can only be gratitied by the pos
session of an album with spaces specified
for all the ordinary variety Of stamps end
illustrated with cuts of many of them. By
the time this has been pretty well filled il
has become obsolete, owing to the numer-
Gus new issues that are continually forth
coming. Then q finely finished blank al
bum Is brought into requisitiOn so as to
permit of the insertion of shades and
varieties not usually allowed for in the
printed book. This also permits of wide
field for the display of taste in the ar
rangement OF designs, for mounting the
specimens and for bringing out pretty
color effects.
The usual style of mounting collection
is to reserve page, or mum Der OF pages.
for each country. arranging the stamps
thereof in order of their issue and deDomi-
nation. When this work is accomplished
BY one who has keen sense of form and
color the effect is most pleasing and at
tractive.
Many Of the wealthier collectors place
such store by their philatelic treasures
that they give up a room In their house
exclusively to their hobby.
All do not. however, collect the stamps
of all coun tries. The extraordinary rate at
which new issues are put forth working a
most discouraging effect on the fraternity,
and causing them to specialize or confne
their efforts TO particular countries and
their colonies. groups of countries. con-
tinents or one of their hemis pheres.
Specialists, as rule, ray attention first to
the stamps of their own country. In this
country speeialism runs to the stamns OF
the United States, Great Britain and her
colonies, and of the Western Hemis sphere,
in the order named.