The morning call., 1894-09-02
A TYPICAL PHILATELIST.

Louis LeviSon, the poSsessor of what is
pronounced by all who have had the fell
city of viewing IL the finest collection of
postage stamps in the United States, is
now sojOurning in this city at the Palace
Hotel. He is gentleman of mature
years, and makes the collection of postage
stamps the diversion of his leisure, Just as
others go in for pictures, jewels. enter
tainments or any other hobby.
In Mr. Levison is found the typical
philatelist-one of the many hundreds
who have OF recent years given the fad of
collecting postal labels q status that places
it emphaIically out of the category of
Doyish pastimes. The story of his enroll
ment in the ranks of the philatelists and
his subsequent experience makes interest
ing reading.
10 1875 Mr.. Levison. who had been for
many years engaged in business in this
city, retired to 60 to Europe for the benefit
of his wife'S health. He had been more
than usually successful In his mercantile
career and was we'll able TO resign the
cares OF business to other hands.
Immediately succeeding his arrival at
Mannheim, Germany. be determined to
single out some hobby that would keep
him from suffering the fortunes of ennui,
He had amDls means and ample leisure.
but during his business career had no time
~ uefObc W lub ilRuL6T pleasures oil lie.
he was first drawn to the collection of
carved worries, and before this fancy waned
had accumulated magnificent collection
Most OF his collection was composed of
articles for which be gave the general de-
sign, many were strictly articles of Virtu
while others were made TO com bine art
with utility, such as r set of knives with
ivory handles, carved In designs aDpropri-
ate 10 their use.
But the interest in this waDed, as the
field for indulgence Of originality proved
limited. and what Mr.. Levson sought was
something that would uDlnterTuptedly hold
his fancy.
he next turned to the pleasures found
10 the possession of works from the
brushes of talented painters, and before
these lost their pristine charm he was the
owner OF quite number of choice and
valuable cauvases.
But it was lot until in 1880. when he
had become intimately acquainted with
high official in the employ of the German
Government, that he found himself per-
manently entangled in the fascinating net
of philately'S seductive charms. His
friend was stamp collector. and one day,
thinking 10 interest Mr.. LevisOn, showed
him his album of stamps. At first, like all
who have their attention called to this
fad, he was not backward in expressing
his ridicule for what he deemed a most
childish prediction. Eventually, how
ever. his friend got him interested and he
began a collection on his own account.
Having plenty OF means, Ii was an easy
matter to secure the nucleus of c0llec-
tion. He soon secured the addresses of
several reliable German dealers aud put
himself at once in correspondence with
them. In this way be was not long in
gathering a fairly good aggregate of
stamps, but with the heavy drains he
made on these dealers he, in a few years,
was unable TO secure additions 10 his COL
lection from them. He then placed him.
sell In communication with dealers in
other parts of the world, and his mail
Drought him approval selections from all
the Important philatelic centers. He had
Correspondents, among other places, in
London. Paris, Berlin, CoDstantinople,
New York ana Copenhagen.
FOR several years his main object was TO
I'LL the spacss in his printed album. but
visit to the Berlin Postal Museum set his
desires travelling in a more specific and
more interesting direction, Here he saw
Tor the first time collection of stamps. all
In unused condition, obtained from every
slamp-issulng country. Their beautiful
appearance so Impressed him that no at
once determined 10 build up his collection
as nearly like it as possible. From that
time on he strove TO secure only unused
specimens When these were difficult to
obtain, owing to their scarcity. he placed
USED stamps in his album, replacing them.
however, with uncanceled ones at the first
opportunity. With this object in view he
sold his collection to dealer in Munich