The morning call., 1893-10-15
PHILATELISTS.

Fifty thousand dollars year is what is
spent In San Francisco by collectors of
stamps in pursuit Of their hobby. This
may appear to be an excessive amount
expended for what most people look upon
as valueless scraps of paper, but when it
is further stated that the number OF people
who take an active interest in gathering
these labels as curios probably exceeds
5000 it will more readily be compreheDded
that the opening statement is based on
facts.
BY those we'll informed on philatelic
matters it is estimated that not less than
1000 persons. exclusive of school-chlld
make stamp-collecting a hobby, and that
San Francisco contains at least sixty ad-
vanced col!ectors-people who make
| special study OF stamps In IL their variety
of watermarks, shades, perforationS and
| dies.
The most active Of these have formed
themselves into societies which hold regu-
ular meetings for the purpose of discussing
| philatelic subjects, exchanging stamps
and encouraging social amenities between
collectors There are three such bodies
| here: The Pacific Philatelic Society CON-
| prises about twenty-five of the most ad-
vanced collectors; the Phllatellc Society OF
San Francisco has membership OF sixty
two, and branch IL Sons of Philatella Of
| forty, most of the last named being also
mem bers of the Philatelic Society Of San
| Francisco. Besides giving members the
| benefits of their exchange. purchasing and
sales departments, each organization main
tains library of phllatelic literature,
which is always accessible to members
| The members of these organizations COM
prise men from all walks of life-bankers,
business men, lawyers, physicians, news
paper men, government employees. etc.
There is also a philatelic press club, which
has a membership of twelve collectors
who are engaged in either editing philatelic
publications or contributing 10 their col
umns. 1t is styled the California Philatelic
Press Club.
Two monthly magazines, wholly devoted
| to stamp collecting, are published In this
city. One has taken the alliterative title
Of Filatelic Facts and Fallacies, and has
enjoyed an evidently prosperous year of
existence, as 1t announces that Its initial
nun Der of volume LII will contain twice
the usual quantity of matter. or thirty-two
pages and cover. 1t is published Dy
| local firm of stamp-dealers. The Phllatelic
Californian made its appearance the early
part of this month under the auspces OF
| the local Philatelic Press Club. 1t con-
sists of sixteen pages and cover and pre-
sents vers fine typographical appearance.
| The subscription price for either OF these
papers is but % cents per year. There
have been other ventures of similar kind,
! but none that proved paying
| Many valuable collections Of stamps are
owned in this city, the most costly, prob
ably. being that OF w. A. II. Connor.
valued at $4,000. E. Gesvrers comes
next, consisting Of an accumulation OF
postal labels worth between $4,000 and
$4,000; another notable collection is that
of w. Sellschoop, who values the contents
| OF his albums at about $4,000.
| No less than five regular dealers in
stamps find profitable business in cater
ing to the wants of collectors. and San
Francisco can boast of having one whole
sale dealer in this peculiar merchandise.
In one of these stamp emporiums the days
basness frequently exceeds 500.
Many notable sales have taken place
here, both in private and at auction. Not
many weeks ago one Of the stamps issued
by the Postmaster at Baltimore before the
Federal Government had issued stamps
changed hands in this city, $500 being paid
for it, Some time previous to this stamp
known as the Saxony error, being the
half-groschen printed on blue instead OF
gray paper. passed into new hands, the
price paid being $500. Entire collections
have quite number of times changed
ownership at figures exceeding $1,000. The
latest transaction of this kind was the sale
of the largest portion OF the well-knUwn
collection of j. N. Luff for S1500-the
largest amount ever involved III stamp
deal in this city.
Last winter witnessed the Inauguration
of regular stamp auction sales in San
Francisco. The largest OF these reali Zed
S2100 and occupied three evenings. 1t
comprised in most part the collection of
Charles Sutro of Sutro q Co.. bankers.
The highest price paid for single stamp
at auction was $40. for the $50 United
States newspaper stamp.
AS an indication of how largely STAN D.
collecting is INDUCED in here 1t can be
stated that 1000 copies OF one OF the lead
ing stamp catalogues published in the
United States were sold in::San:Francisco
alone. Albums for mounting and pre-
serving stamps are utilized by all collect
ors of the present day. as their prices are
such that even the sch0olboy can afford
one. They range in price from 10 cents to
| Is cents each. One local collector has no
| less than six albums, which cost him SIS,
| for displaying his phlatelic treasures.
| While the cash business transacted by
| the different dealers reaches the aggre-
gate amount OF $4,000 q year. the ex-
| change business footS up an equal amount.
| A peculiar fact in connection with this
| stamp ollectng hobby is that the receipts
| Of dealers were little affected by the recent
| financial stringency.
Considerable stocks are carried by the
| dealers in this city, as can be partly real
| lied when it is stated that there are in the
neigh borhood OF 80, 900 varieties OF adhesive
| stamps and envelopes alone, valued all the
way from 1 cent to $500. One dealers
stock is said to be worth no less than
| $4,000, and as no insurance can be OBJ
tained on it the most valuable portion is
kept in large fire-proof safes. A conserva-
tive estimate places the total amount of
| money invested in stamps in this city by
dealers at about $4,000.
| The local philatelic fraternity do OF pro-
pose to neglect the opportunity OF spread
| ing knowledge OF their hobby during the
| Midwinter Fair. Negotiations are already
under way looking to the transfer Of the
magnificent philatelic exhibit now at the
| Chicago Fair to this city.
| SAY, GIRLS If you want TO fool that best fellow.
! Just ask him TO give you his package of Whites
Yucatan Gum. " hen he asks you to be excused for