The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-23

Tor me to name my price. 1 replied that
mad purchased it for my CO llection and
nad no Intention of selling il, He showed
great disappointment and forgot the IN
cluent soon after leaving with my new
purchase. But had MT been in nv no, In
at the hotel many minutes after dinner
when M. Ferarrl's card was brought in.
had him come up and was surprised Id
hear him make most urgent request 10
be allowed the privilege of purch asing the
stamp he so mucn coveted. ! had again 10
assure him that it was not for sale al any
price, but my assurance failed to COM
pletey satisfy him. lie asked me TO name
any price, stating that he was prepared TO
pay is. After considerable argument he
finally left, but without the scarlet six
pence. He aid not. however, give up all
hope of securing it, for next day inv
brOther-in-aw, who is a friend of Nj
Ferarri, came TO me with proposition Tor
the purchase of the stamp from the French
collector.
"When convinced him that it was not
for sale. he then exacted a promise from
me in behalf of NJ. Ferarri, that if | ever
made up INV mind TO part with it, NJ.
Ferarri should have the first chance to Sc
cure IT,
This same NJ Ferarri is a character.
even among the army of stamp crauks. lie
thinks nothing of packing up his valise
and making off for some place where he
has heard there is some rarity to be had.
de allows no rarity that he does not pos
sess TO pass into other hands If he has the
opportunity to buy II. He is pronounced
wOman-hater and devotes his time almost
exclusively to his stamps. He also en-
plOys the service of two secre taries to
take care OF his treasures at Paris.
de has a thorough knowledge of
stamps, and does not hesitate to buy even
more than one specimen of the extreme
vsrlIies. This practice had given cur
renew TO the story. which ia UeneraltV
credited in European philatelic circles,
that he sometimes is given the pleasure of
buying the same stamps twice.
Another story current is that oddities
are sometimes ID ade to order for him, as
these are the class of stamps he spe cially
prizes. a certain stamp of Denmark was
printed wrongly and but one specimen
was known TO exist. Knowing NJ Fer
anTs weakness, Copenhagen dealer, by
an etfcaclOus argument well understood in
certain official circles, iuuuced the Gov
ernment printer to produce another OF
these errors. which was subsequently sold
10 Forarri for about $500.
"One of the most famous places visited
by travelling collectors is The phllatelic
museum Uf 5. Friedl of Vienna. Here are
accumulated stamps from every country
II the world In unused condition, proofs,
ESSAYS aud great varieties of all kinds.
The finest known collection of the stamps
of the Austrian Empir4 is also one of the
attractions of the Institution. The status
OF the museum Is peculiar. 1t Is the 81 lie
and absolute property of a private in-
dlvldual, yet 1t Is generally believed to be
under the control Of the authorities of
Vienna. Some are so uncharita bic as 10
say that Herr Friedl all IwS the impress
sion prevail! the more readily to secure
additions to his wonderful and vaIuatls
exhibition. On certain days he throws
the museum open for the public. charging