The morning call., 1893-12-24
COLUMBIAN STAMPS.

IL the Columbian Issue of stamps of the
United States has not proven as success
ful financial venture for the Government
as was anticipated they have more than
fulfilled the expectations of philatelists
All over the world the demand for them
has been greater than the supply, except
for the commoDest values-the l, ?, 4, 5
and 10 cents. Their great artistic beauty
excited the collecting instinct of thousands
who had never before proven susceptible
10 the philatelic mania, while their limited
life of one year greatly stimulated the de-
sire of the regular devOtees of philatelia to
secure sets of them.
Their term of life was announced to end
with the first of January. 1894. and there il
now every indication that the original In
tentiOD of the Government will be carried
out. With the approach of the new year
came a stronger tendency than ever to
secure quantities of these abels and with
the increased demand came an advance in
their value. Two instances will serve to
illustrate.
In this city sets comprising the eight de-
nominations from l to 10 cents In used
condition were sold until within week or
two for Is cents. Recently, however, an
order was received by local dealer from
Germany for 800 of such sets. for which Is
cents set were offered. Despite the ut
most efforts of the recipient of the order
he was unable to fill it, and was only able
to forward about 800 sets. Since then the
local retail price has been advanced TO 20
cents.
A Kansas City collector was surprised a
lew weeks ago to receive from a cor
respondent in Germany an order for 100
used 81 Column bian stamps, for which
81 % each was offered. The order was, of
course, promptly filled.
Though Postmaster-Genelal Bissell has
succeeded In reducing the contract number
OF Columbian stamps from 5000. 000, 900 to
1000, 1000. there is certain to be a large
number of them remaining in the hands of
the PostOffice Department after the LIST of
January, owing TO the dIsfavor they are
held In by the general mercantile COM
munity, due to their large size. And what
Is now most seriously troubling all those
who are interested in the financial side of
phllately Is the disposition that will be
made OF these "remainders"
In many countries it is the custom to sell
obsolete stamps to stamp-deaiers al figures
much below their face value, but I'D to the
present time none OF the great powers has
iudulged 10 this method of increasing its
revenue at the expense of the pbilateiiSts,
and IL is not likely that the United States
will be the one to initiate such practice
among the flrst nations Of the eartn. 1t
has never yet sold any of its postal issues
below their face value. though il has
caused to be reprin ted stamps of obsolete
issue for the sole purpose of meeting the
wants of stamp collectors. All such, how
ever, were sold at face value or bestowed
gratuitouSly.
In this connection it may be stated that
all stamps issued by the United States
since 1861 are still servlceable for postage
Those issued previous TO that date how
roh oi hat
The reason for this action was that large
quantities of stamps were held in Southern
postofflces al the time hostilities began be-
tween the North and South. and it W as to
prevent their being converted into sinews
of war by the Confederacy that their value
was annulled. To-day they are worth. IN
most cases, MANIFOLD the value repre-
scented by their lace.
Frequent inquiries have been made of
the POstoffice Department as to what &C
ton Is TO be taken at the end of the cur
rent year relative to the Columbian stamps,
but only evasive replies have heretofore
been received by the anxious inquirers
To fully ascertain the exact situation, and
at the same time secure an opportunity to
make snug sum OF money, a local col
lector, who also deals somewhat extern
siveIy in stamps, sent the following re-
markable letter to Washington:
SAN FRANCISCO, November 13. 1898.
To the Hon. Postmaster General Wdshin0-
ton, u. C.-DEAR SIR: 1t Is understood that
with the new year the Columbian issue OF post
age stamps will be put out of use and the re-
NAMING stock of the United States Government
viii be destroyed. With this understanding [
desire to submit to the POstoffice Department
the following offer regarding some of tile re-
naming stock:
Being dealer 10 postage stamps for phIla-
telic purposes, / am in a position 10 use 10 600
sets OF the Columbian stamps from l cent TO So
in cancelled condition. l would want the
Stamps 10 be lightly Cancelled, and several dit
ferent styles OF obiteraIion used. aud would
want them TO De in good condition.
Ii necessary would be willing TO guarantee