Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-16
ABOUT STAMP.C0llECTING,
Philatclism a Mild Mania. but an Important
Industry.

There is one branch of trade and q
very important branch it is, that has
not been yet affected by the rapid in
| crease in bicycling during the past few
years. This is the stamp trade. which
| to many appears to be merely form Of
| mild insanity or monomania, whereas
| 10 enthusiastic collectorsit becomes the
principal interest of their lives. Phil
atelist is a word of Greek origin, which
signifies literally love of stamps and
| the expression is none too exaggerated
| to describe the passion of the collector.
| his patient researches, and his trium-
| plant JOY at the discovery and acqui-
sition of some unusually rare specimen
Postage stamps in their present form
were first regularly issued in 1896. but
| il is since 1850 that stamp collecting
began to be heard of. InGress the
violinist. was one Of the first amateurs
and devoted much attention to his
hobby. AS he was at the same mo-
mcnt devoted to his violin, it seems re-
| markabe that he found so much spare
| time for his stamp album In 1853 there
were several stamn brokers in New
| York, as well as in London and Paris
| but the first regular stamp exchange
was started in Paris in 1860 and had
| its first quarters at the foot of the
Hunting Diana. in the Tulleries Gar
dens. Mothers and nurses soon pro-
tested against this invasion of their
territory. as the number of stamp anna
tours increased rapidly and took pos
session Of this delightful part of the
Parisian's pleasure resort. The police
found themselves obliged to forbid the
premises 10 all stamp collectors. who
then took refuge in a quiet part Of
the Champs Elysees and finally set
| tied themselves permanently on the
Avenue Marsiny, where exchange was
held on Sundays and Thursdays.
When one considers the amount Of
money that yearly changes hands
merely through postage stamps one
realizes that this trade has become
something more than mere child's play
The most valuable collection in the
world is owned by NJ Philippe de Fer
rari son of the Duchess of Galliera,
and it is estimated To be worth over
$500 900 Nj. de Fcrrari is i'll constant
communication with all the principal
philateiists the world over, and has two
stamp librarians. if the term may be
employed, to attend TO all the necessary
business, such as classifying, These
men are paid salary of $4,000 a year,
When NJ. de Ferrari desires to acquire
certain stamp he nevers let's the
question of expense interfere with his
purpose. He recently bought two
stamps of the 1SlI issue Of Mauritius.
Tor which he paid $4,000 Among the
rare specimens of his collections are
the issues of British Guiana, 1870 and
Hawaii. 152, which are worth from $1,000
To $500 each.
stamp collecting is said to be more
popular in Germany than in any other
country. the United States coming
next, with some 500 600 collectors Then
come England and France. That stamp
collecting may degenerate into a mania
of the most dangerous kind has been
recently shown in Paris, where the
latest sensational murder was brought
about by The assassinS desire to OBJ
tain a valuable collection belonging to
a Wcll-known collector, of the name of
Dclabaen. Aubc~t. who is now on
trial for the murder, has long been
collector, and there is the strongest
evidence to show that he murdered the
unfortunate Dclacacff merely to obtain
the latter's collection.