Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-17
STAMP COLLECTORS.
STAMP Cranks" Looked Upon
as Harmless Idiots.
FEW PEOPLE WITHOUT HOBBIES.
Stamp ollectlng as a Teacher OF History
and Geography-It Also Stirs up
Patriotism.

]
paper clippings, stamps or husbands.
there is person anywhere who is not
addicted especially to something.
Some people belittle stamp-collect-
ing. But the same critics collect
things which have only monetary
value. while stamps have as substan-
tial and lasting value.
Stamp collectors have always been
termed "stamp cranks." They were.
for awhile. looked upon as harmless
idiots. But times have changed. Why
collect articles for the mere sake of
collecting? Why not collect some
thing that will insure to your future
dvantage-something that. in after
years. if you so desire. you can dispose
of and get good return for the money
invested? Why not start your son and
daughter with a nice album, SUBJ
scription to one or two stamp collectors
papers. and packet of stamps? Is it
not better to have them spend their
evenings over their stamps than over
dozen other amusements you can think
Of. utterly empty and frivolous? Be-
sides, stamp-collecting does teach them
history and geography. Familiarity
with our own stamps arouses their
interest in our country and thus in
directly this stirs their patriotism.
Have no fear that stamp-collecting will
weaken the minds of your children.
Far from it.
1t has often been stated in print that
the recent Cars of Russia have all been
stamp collectors. A young man in
Wisconsin sent Alexander III a set of
Columbian and other rare United
States stamps. Imagine his surprise
when. a few months later, he received
a complete collection of Russian stamps
-rarities and all-and the compli-
ments of the Gear Of Russia. 1t is rare
that foreigner is favored with a gift
from Gar.
The little girl Queen of Holland is
also stamp collector. though she can
not be called pbilatelist.
The Duke of York and several other
members of the British nobility find
amusement in stamp-oolleotin
But philately would move on
whether royalty and nobility collected
or not. Many of our own Senators and
Representatives collect stamps; and in
unofficial circles the names of Scott,
Painter, Mekeel, beats. Doeblin, Dur
bin. Gremmel. and other collectors on
great scale, are familiar to the public
eye.
Philately has given rise to several
large societies and innumerable small
ones. Of the larger societies, the Amer
lean Philatelic Association is the oldest
and probably the staunchest; the Chi
cago Philatelio Society comes next. and
then the Philatelic Cons of America,
the largest society. This last is also
the young collectors society. Each
society has many ladies as members.
especially the Philatelic Sons of Amer
lea.
In August every year convention is
held by each of the national societies
in some interesting place, and the
members have an excellent time
Last year Niagara Falls was the choice
of both. Next year the American
Philaltelic Association will meet at
Clayton. N. Y, and the Philatellc
Sons of America at Denver. The Chi
cago Philatelio Society has rooms and
holds regular meetings. and conse-
quently no conventions are held.
Philatelic journals not only keep the
collector abreast of new issues, frauds
and counterfeits, but contain articles
from we'll known philatelic writer's
IL ,, lao
one stamp journal and keep it posted.
for there is abundant opportunity for
dishonesty in philatelic business.
Fox example. dealers in stamps arrange
their stamps in packets and on ap-
proval sheets. Approval sheets are
sheets of onion-skin paper ruled off so
as to hold twenty five, fifty or more
stamps. The price of each stamp is
placed just below it. The sheets are
sometimes sent out unsolicited to col
lecto1s, but as rule only ON request.
The dealers advertise widely. and any
one sending two references or his own
society cumbersome dealers do not
require even such precaution-can get
few sheets OF stamps on approval for
ten days. He can buy OF sell as many
as he pleases, and return the rest.
with the money for those used. The
stamps are fastened to the page by
little paper hirges and are easily re-
moved, Most dealers allow from ten
to fifty per cent commission OH sales,
so if you sell yonr friends some,
you get a commission, for doing
so. Should You keep the stamps your
self you get the commission anyway.
There is nothing to prevent dishonest
person from keeping the sheets sent
him. if he is willing to run the risk of
what follows. Sometimes thieves of
this sort are made to disgorge. as they
have used the mails for fraudulent
purposes, and when the dealers place
such matter in the hands of the post.
office inspectors it goes hard with the
| fellow who Is caught Again. some. |