The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-09
United States Postage Stamps
Will Hereafter Be Printed
on 1t.
TO PREVENT CONTEMPLATING.
A Local Collector to Be Honored
by the American PhiIatelic
Association.

w dbSi liol hCo PdpCI 10 lOW OSlilS u0Cu
for the first time in the postal history of
the United States in the printing Of post
age stamps. 1t has been generally &C
knowledged that the engraving used in
connection with the printing of the stamps
of this country has been some of the finest
ever produced, and upon this fact the de-
partment has largely relied to prevent
counterfeiting.
Since the transfer of the contract for
printing to the United States Bureau of
Engraving and Printing has been made,
however, the printing has been far inferior
to that done by the former contractors,
and it is believed that this fact led to the
recent attempt in Canada to counterfeit
the current 2-cent stamps. Never before
had such an attempt been made, and the
adoption of watermarked paper is believed
to have been induced by the desire to add
further difficulty to any repetition of the
fraud. The water mark consists of the
letters gu. S. P. s." in large capitals, one
letter appearing in each stamp.
This innovation is matter of great in
terest to collectors. 1t is only recently,
comparatively speaking, that the bureau
has taken up the work of printing the
stamps for the Government, and when
they took over the old plates from the pre-
vious contractors slight modification was
made in the design. 1t consisted of tri-
angular trefoil-like ornament in each of
the upper corners. This virtually made
an entirely new issue from the philatelist's
standpoint. Now that watermarked paper
is being used another new issue has
been created, and owing to the compare
lively short time that the bureau printed
its product on unwatermarked paper some
of the denominations of the latter are GER
foi1, TO &c 4 IL
that they will show the same extraordinary
rise in value that attended the renowned
Columbians.
Mention has already been made in these
columns of the corner successfully operated
by New York firm in the 81 value CT the
Colum bian series. This stamp is now be-
ing sold for 81 a copy. Evidently encour-
aged by the success achieved in this stamp,
Philadelphia dealer is now operating to
secure a corner in the 50 stamp of the same
issue. Scarcely dealer or prominent col
lector in this city but has received a note
asking him if he had any of these for sale
and offering to buy all specimens for cash,
providing the price was right. Few, how
ever, cared to part with such as they had.
1t is also learned that the same person has
been operating in a similar manner
throughout the country.
Frank Koenig, president of the Pacific
Philatelic Society, the local branch of the
American Philatelic Association, recently
moved into his new bachelor quarters, and
as sort of house-warming, invited the So
clety to hold its regular monthly meeting
therein. 1t proved one of the most notable
and interesting ever held by the society.
Communications were read from the
Pittsburg and Chicago branch societies of
the association, suggesting candidates for
the various officers to be voted for at the
annual convention of the American Phila-
telic Association, which will be held at
Clayton, n. Y, near the head of the Thou
sand Isles, beginning on the 18th of August
and continuing for five days. Heretofore,
neither California nor the Pacific Coast
has been represented on the board of
officers of the national association, but
there is now general desire to honor one
of the local collectors.
The names of III. ]. Croker and II. B.
Phillips, both prominent members of the
Pacific Philatelic Society, were suggested
but Mr., Croker withdrew his claims, and
in consequence Mr.. Phillips election as
vice president is almost assured. The
name of B. G. Kenyon of Los Angeles has
also been mentioned in this connection.
Much qualification was expressed at the
consideration shown the Pacific Coast con-
tingent, and after due deliberation it was
decided to indorse the following ticket:
president, H. B. Phillips, San Francisco;
treasurer. n. W. Chandler, Collinsville,
ILL.,; secretary w. c. Stone, Mass. inter-
national secretary, Z. Doeblin, Pittsburg.
A library fund was started and several
liberal contributions were made to it. Mr..
Folte donated quite number of valuable
books, and was rendered vote of thanks
for his generosity.
After the formal adjournment of the
meeting all present were invited to partake
of the refreshments provided by the host
of the evening. Toasts were in order
during the repast. Mr.. Koenig responded
to 1.-THE Pacific Philatelic Society,"" H. J.
Croker to ''The host of the evening and
his elegant rooms" and A. Greenebaum
took occasion to extend to w. Sellschopp,
one of the local stamp-dealers, who was
among those present, the best wishes of
the society and its guests for the success of
his trip to Europe.
Mr.. Sellschopp left by the overland train
this morning, and expects to be gone about
five months. His tour will be one of bust
ness and pleasure combined. He was &C
companied by his family, and will make
his headquarters at the home of his parents,
in Rostock, Germany.
For the purpose of exchange he took
with him about $4,000 worth of stamps,
stamped envelopes, wrappers and postal
cards, mostly those of the countries bor-
dering the Pacific Ocean, of which he
makes a speciality, such as Guatemala,
HongkOng, Samoa, China, Japan, Hawaii,
Tonga, Cooks Island. He also carried
along 1000 sets of the United States Column
bian issue, from / cent to so cent inclusive,
these stamps being in strong demand on
the other side of the Atlantic.
His itinerary includes dozen cities and
towns in Germany, two each in England,
Belgium, Holland and Austria, and Paris.
In going short stop will be made in Chi
cago and New York, and in returning So
journs will be made in about dozen cities,
including Boston, Philadelphia, Washing
ton, Omaha, Denver and Salt Lake. Mr..
Sellschopp also has quite a number of COM
missions from collectors all over the United
States to secure varieties for them.
Not many weeks ago there was published
in the CALL the story of the discovery of q
specimen of the exceedingly rare Ha-
waiian Missionary stamp and its sale to
III. J. Croker for $3.50. The tale was read
by lady in San Jose, and she wrote Mr..
Croker stating that she had specimen OF
the same stamp and was desirous of selling
it. He responded, asking her to forward
it. Instead, she came to see him per-
sonally, and submitted the specimen to
him, with the result that he purchased it,
for what amount Mr.. Crocker did not de-
sire to state It was even a finer specimen