The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-07
HIGH PRICES FOR STAMPS.
THEY ARE THE COLUMBIAN sOUvE-
MIR ISSUE.
There L. Speculation In Them-SOme
Interesting Facts Regarding This
Issue and Others That Have Been
Sent Out by Uncle Ssm-Hints for
Collectors.

The printing Of the Columbus postage
stamp has come TO an end but the sale
Of them has not and will not end for
some time to come. They will be for
sale in the larger postoffices to those in
quiring for them. This may perhaps
cause satisfaction TO that interesting and
constantly increasing class of persons
whose hobby lies in the direction of care
fully preserving every piece Of colored
paper that once did duty for postage.
1t will enable these enthusiastic col
lectOrs 10 lay in a fun and complete
supply Of the Columbus values. if they
have not already done so. The dealers
also will have a few days of grace
wherein TO stock up with prodigious
quantities of the Columbus stamps.
which a few years hence will he retailed
over the counter at prices which, if
Uncle Sam were a Spectator. would
make him feel like kicking somebody
for not giving him the tip.
But although Uncle Sam leaves the
speculative side of postage stamps 10
those who make il d part OF their bust
ness, he manages to make "A very neat
profit in the sale to the great army OF
collectors and dealers of thousands OF
these stamps which will neved be re
deemed. \ conservative estimate places
the governments profits on the Column
bus issue at over 81 900. 900. The major
ity of dealers, it is said. have only be-
gun to stock up heavily for future years.
and some large sales of Columbus
stamps are likely to be recorded during
the next few weeks, so the profits to the
postoffice department viii be consider
ably increased. Mr. -Wanamaker. il is
true. thought the figure would be about
$2,500.00O. The general opinion, however.
among collectors, is that neither Uncle
Sam nor anybody else should complain
at a profit of $1,000 600 a year on postage
stamps.
Had Mr. Wanamaker stopped the sale
of the small stamps during the year
1898. the sales of the Columbus stamps
would have reached and passed the ut
most amount thought of. 1900 900 600. for
as q fact about that number Of stamps
are used during the twelve months.
IT is not generally known that the
American bank note company Of this
city has manufactured all United States
postage stamps since they We're first in
PRODUCED. They have continually re-
duced the cost Of production. always Civ
ing the government the advantage thus
EdDlefls uiilli HOW poSLhEE STAMPS dIt
the most economical article that the gov
eminent consumes.
Every new series of stamps means
considerable profit TO the government is
suing them. By the rapidity with which
many countries make changes IL would
sam as though they look advantage Of
this fact Spain, for instance, has for
long time issued a new set of stamps
every year. To a collector il becomes "A
little tiresome when il is done as reg
ular thing. But these Spanish stamps
which were in use only "A year. have
never begun to be as valuable or SO
eagerly sought after as our own Column
bus series Probably no set OF stamps
ever issued attracted much interest
and were held at such high prices, during
the time they were in ordinary use, as
the much-a buSed ColumbianS To a per
will cause surprise to learn that dealers
in every part of the country. from Maine
10 SAN Francisco, are willing to pay for
the higher values, from One-half to two
thirds of the face value for used speci-
mems. Another singular feature is that
should a collector wish to purchase a
set of these fine stamps Cancelled he
would be charged all the way from SIS
TO So That seems odd when any one
could buy the stamps for SIS at the
postoffice. and if his preference was for
used specimens he could put them on
letters addressed to himself and have
them Cancelled in the usual manner. But
according TO many collectors who have
tried this scheme the element of risk
enters into il too largely TO give general
Sa abstraction
The means that have been adopted to
get possession of Columbian stamps are
innumerable. Office boys in large bust
ness houses have carefully dissected the
contents of scrap baskets for the pre-
cious Columbus stamps which they have
sold to dealers and thereby augmented