The morning call., 1894-08-19

Seml-centennlal OF the English possession
Of HOng-Kong that island issued the reg
ular two-cent stamp surcharged as follows
''1S41-Hong-Kong Jubilee-189l, IN Tour
lines. SO great was the demand for these
STAN ps that the supply was soon exhausted
They are now quoted at 70 cents each.
|: Next TO fall victim TO this practice was
ROumanla, which in 1891 Issued series oil
I'VE. stamps on the occasion of the twenty
fifth anniversary of the establishment OF
the Kingdom under Charles L. This series,
which has face value of about 10 cents,
Is new catalpgued at about 50 20.
In 1S92-the four huDdredlh anniversary
OF the discovery OF America-there was
regular flood of commemorative stamps
lie smaller States of Central and South !
America were prompt TO see the advan-
tage that would accrue TO their treasures
oy the Issuance of these special stamps,
and in rapid succession Argentina, Hon
duras, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Salvador
ISSUED stamps IN commemOratlon Of Co.
lumbuS and his discovery OF the New
World. Argentine. somewhat shrewder
than her emulatOrs, issued a pair OF
stamps that were serviceabe for one day
only-October H. 1892. The rush to secure
! these stamps was so general that 1t led to
an incpient riot about the Buenos Ayes
pUstnffice. On the evening Of that day as
high as $40 each was bid for these st amps,
which had a face value of and centayos
respectively. They are now catalogusd at
| rs cents each.
The Columbian stamps issued by Hon.
| duras, Nicaragua and Salvador are known
as "SeebBck" stamps and are sold for about
40 cents a set in unused condition, al
though their face value is several pesos.
Paraguay's Columbian issue consisted
of but single stamp of the value of 10
centavos, and, like the similar Issue of
Argentine, was on sale for one day only.
October u. 1892 Its present catalogue
value is 80 cents
Wa OFIO in n 10
| United States TO issue a series of Column
bian stamps in 1892, but owing to the in
ability of Chicago to get the Worlds Fair
ready in time the idea was not carried out
until 1893. The history of this set of
stamps and its great popularity With col
lectors all over the world has already been
told in detail.
Porto Rico cOmmemorated the landing
OF the GenOese navigator on It's shores by
the issue OF 3-centavOs stamp for use Oh
the 18th of November only. This also
soon became the prey Of SPECTATORS and
its present philatelic value expressed in
current coin is about 81 80.
Venezuela, in her anxiety TO be in the
philatelic swim. anticipated events by FIVE
years and jumbled up dates in a sadly
reckless manner. The event she sought
to recall to mind was the discovery of the
mainland by Columbus, which occurred in
1898 Her stamp commemorative Of this |
fact was issued in 1893 while it bore the
dates of 1892. 1893 and 1892. This label |
was patterned very closely after our /
Columbian issue, and was of the denomina- !
ton of % centlmOS. 1t was apparently |
not great fayOrite with the stamp specu- |
lators, as it has not advanced any in price /
since its first appearance, when 1t sold a /
trifle above its face value.
Shanghai In 1898 used the fftieth ami |
versary of the opening OF her port to |
foreigners as an excuse TO supply a set of |
eight Jubilee stamps for the delertatiOn of /
collectors. The regular set of 1898 was |
surcharged in three lines. "1645-Jubiiee-
1898"
About the lamest prstense for tightening
the purse of the collector was made by |
Montenegro, which Issued a set Of seven
stamps 10 celebrate the QnadTO-centennial |
of the Introduction of printing in that
country. The entire set IS obtainable for
ST, showing that it is far from being popu-
lar with collectors.
This year has already seen four jubilee
issues appear and another is promised for
next month.
Belgium was first to the front with three
labels 20 celebrate the International Fair
held at Antwerp. These have double
interest, as they also have attached the
Sunday label, which leaves il optional
with the sender of a letter whether or not
it shall be delivered on Sunday. If the
Sunday label is not detached the letter
will not be delivered on the Sabbath.
cred in the van of civilization, evidently
felt compelled to come out with a Jubilee
issue. 1t was difficult to find a suIts Bile
occasion; but finally the silver wedding of
the MIkado and his spouse was lit upon.
In commemOVatlOn thereof set OF two
stamps were put forth.
Last on the list u? to date Is Portugal,
which OF late years has shown frequent
Willingness TO apply new issues and varie-
ties to collectors. The chapter of history
celebrated by her set of thirteen comment
OfatiVe stamps was the exploits of the
early Portuguese navigators under Prince
Henry who endeavOred to find their way
to the Indies around Africa. This set is
also in use for the Azores, the only change
in them being the 'suTcharge OF the word
Azores,
Within few weeks Mexico will be on
deck with an entirely new set of stamps,
the designs OF which will illustrate the
various methods in use and that have been
In use IN that country for the transporta-
tion of mail. They Will be Issued on the
10Th of September. which date is there
celebrated. as we honor the 4th of July,
and the issuing or the stamps on that day
is for: the purpose of making them CON-
memorative of the independence of the
Mexican republic
Begun as a legitimate means of celebra-
ton, the Jubilee stamps more recently |
Issued, with few exceptions, are viewed |
by collectors as a himSy and undignlfied |
means of enriching the treasures of the |
countries issuing them. They are far
from being in favor, yet every collector
desirohs II completing his collection feels
in dnty bound TO place them in his album.
With the exception of the three jubilee
sets first issued-the centennials of the |
United States, the coronation jubleeS of |
Great Britain and the centennals Of New
South Wales-all have the faint of specu-
iadoh attached to them. not excepting the |
Columbian issue of the United States,
from. which ex-Postmaster Wanamaker |
calculated TO make a clear profit of So, 00O.-
600 for the Government, and his calcula-
lions were not tar out OF the way.