The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-03

AS tho philatelic bulls are credited with
having already invested more than $50, 900
In this deal they will probably be unable
TO hold up their end on the 50, SIS, S4 and
So, but will find little difficulty in getting
fancy figures for the 81 denomination. as
but $50 OF these were put on the market
by the Governments move to aid collee-
tors 10 obtain the complete set at face
value.
Now the question that is agitating phila-
telic circles is whether Postm aster Bssell
can be prevailed upon to order a reissue of
the 81 value. While the Government took
hand in breaking up corner in stamped
envelopes some time ago the present situ-
alton bears a different aspect Then col
lectorS had no lntimation of when the life
Of the stamped envelopes would terminate,
but in the case of the Columbian every one
knew their issue was TO cease al the end OF
1893. so that those who failed to secure a
full set have only themselves to blame for
the result of their neglect. 1t is generally
behaved that this is the view Postmaster
General Bissell will take of the matter
and that there will be no reissue.
Under the circumstances the best thing
that collectors who have not secured the
complete set can 10 is to buy such demoni-
watch their opportunities to buy the miss
ing values at the lowest premium. There
are probably yet few of the smaller post
Offices that have complete sets, and the
man who strikes one of these can make
quite turn on the 81 stamps.
Most OF the collectors in this city had
the foresight to secure the full set in time
and consequently the local price for the
scarce 81 is about 81 less than it Is East,
where they are not backward in asking
So 80 for it.
Owing to the frequent inquiries made of
the Pos toffice Department at Washington
relative TO the Columbian issue of stamps
and envelopes, printed circular was pre-
pared and is new sent In response to the
letters Of collectors and dealers. 1t bears
date of March 81, 1894, and reads in part:
They are no longer supplied to Post
masters.
They cannot be given by this office to
any one nor sold to purchasers except
through the agency of postmasters.
They will be good Tor postage without
limit of time.
MANY thousands of each denomination
of the stamps and most of the envelopes
of this series are yet on sale at postoffices
throughout the country.
When aScertained that these stamps are
in stock in postsffices other than that of
wOuld-be purchaser they may be had by
addressing postmasters who have them.
inclosing the value In money-order or pos
tai note of the stamps desired with the
postage end registry fee.
IF only part of the stamps desired
can be furnished by postmaster he will
send those he mas tnat are called for with
the money balance.
mo postmaster is permitted to solicit
the sale of stamps (of any kind outside
the range of his Office delivery, and hence
will not send inventories of those he has
to inquirers.
Nor are pOstmasters permitted to ar
range for fictitious canceling of stamps.
thereby gaining personal profit for them
selves and the purchaser at the expense of
the department"
The last clause was inspired by prac-
tics which was widely resorted 10 by
stamp dealers and collectors to obtain the
high values cheaply. Letters bearing such
stamps would be mailed at postofice
where the salary of the postmaster was
based on the amount of stamps he can
celed, with the understanding that a por-
ton of the revenue that would thus accrue
10 the postmaster was to be returned TO
the party offering the mail matter. In
this way many dealers obtained quite a
stock of high values at considerable below
their face value. Such used stamps are
now quoted at about 90 per cent over their
original value. In one instance the carry
ing out of this scheme led to the arrest of
a member of prominent st. Louis stamp
firm, an emplOye of the firm and a post
master on charge of conspiring to de-
fraud the Government, and the case is now
pending.