New-York tribune., 1896-11-26
QUEER YARN ABOUT STAMPS
TALE OF A WIDOW LEFT WITH S12o.OOo IN
THE COLUMBIAN ISSUE
a DEALER ~ THIS CITY. WHO SAYS HE ADVISED
HER HUSBAND TO TRY TO CORNER THE
MARKET SOW OFFERS TO SELL


THEM BELOW COST.
! Several hundred circulars have been sent ~
prominent banking and business houses throughout
the city announcing the sale of "E2 'onH'pi"n
stamps. unused and in perfect condition.. wnich
in. ovr,r would like to dispose Of at 81 - each
The circular bears the name OF Albrechi Loewi'
who is engaged in the fire Insurance business "'
No o,s Fast Seyenty-sixth-st. Mr.. Loewit Is also
philatest aad member OF seVera P"''a''''
societies both In this country and in Germany
officials at the Postoillcc. when the circular was
shown 10 them were surprised at the low prices a'
which the stamps were marked. but SAID tha' "S
,h. cov.rnment would not rcCccm unused postage
stamps the offer was probably made by spccu-
lator who found himself in possession o. more
stamps than he knew what 20 do witn' an" ""'
willing 10 sell them at n reduction rather thah 10
have them on his hands.
4 reporter called upon Mr. Loewit and asked
him hoy he was able 10 sell his stamps at so great
q reduction. Mr.. Loewit left the room LOT IL"
moments and presently returned with box con-
tanning LOO two-dollar stamps He had also an
e1ual number OF threc-dollar stamps seVerai Vi
the denomination of 81 and S. as wei AZ Il NUM-
ber Of stamps valued at less than 81 apiece All Oh
the Columbian issue.
Locwii told the following story: Two years ago
a friend Of mine whom | had Krown tor Il 'ohs
lin. sold piece of property for s25.oeo lie was
wealthy man. and desired to invest the money ne
had received for the property He asked my ad-
vice and being a phatclist and believing 'ha' '"'
Columbian stamps would In a few years realize Il
big profit II sold TO dealers. ! advised him 10 use
the money for tho purchase Of Columbian stamps
lie took tho advice and agents were sent to all the
urorrincnt cities I'm tho country with orders 10 ouy
up all tho stamps In the several postoitces'
.S,or,,s to the value Of N25.Ooo were brought to
Scw-york and articles began TO appear III
he. rowspapors commenting on the scarciy oi
stamps Of the new issue. 1t WAS our purpos" 10
hold the stamps until there should pc greater
demand for them. when We Intended 10 sen 'tl''"
o., q GREAT profit We supposed that they could u"
sold fo the Government Mt any time. ana "'r'
r,dcr ,h,t inprcsslon until the death OF my iri'hn
several months ago. II was then found thar inc
siarnps could no, DE sold 70 the postoi''" "u'hor'
ties and 1t became a problem what To 90 "l''
,ho,n / succeeded in selling som" TO collectors
and being we'll known to philatclsts through my
connection with phaielic societies, war ho'e !"
dispos, = several hundred moro
"fu attempts 20 sell the stamps 10 BANKERS
have. several times been shadowcd by detectives,
who wanted 10 know how | secured possession o'
them and whether hadn't stolen them nave
handed the detectives my business cards In snrh
e,-.s hot have u,.'r heard from th"fn again l'
this time / have already i'en able I" s'h All 'u'
yl,n worth Of tn. stamps IN three months. ana
GAL. son. hay. he,u sold AZ a premium. nav"
made nearly the amount Of the original IN
vesimcut This | have hagded 10 IN" wh"" OF
my friend and | shall go nothing uniil nav"
sold the rest and satisfied the claim which fre'
she has against ne FOR advising her HUSBAND 10
make the Investment. Most Of the stamps are kept
for by trust company DOWNTOWN ~ ''"'
to kocp them IN tho house..
All Efforts 10 induce Mr. I.oewl' TO mention the
nam. Of his friend were unavailing II" said en-
phaically that be felt himself b"unh l." H'''''s o''
the widows account
"a moi
and h. ,nnovanre he seemed 20 feel. when pressed
10 do 80 gave to some doubts As 20 thtt par
ID. story and = investigation was h'-in, IN 'Iu'r
Ia learn vhat wa l.ocwits standing among oih'F
stamp dealers. Al Bogarf Dirh.ns S'anP 'on-
pany. No. 100 Ndsstu-st l'@'Wt W. WI hn h5 n
..vcr,l different occasions sold stamps To me com
pany Tho clerk said that he believed l.ocwiS story
n 10 how he came into po-s 'SDh OF th' stamps "iS
" + Gregory. Of No Il Nassau-s,. WAS 40 seen
in reference 10 the stamp lie hai heard oi I..rWl
i,nc,d 4, widow lie sad. soon after IN" issue
o. tn, Columbian stamps dealers from all over the
country tried 10 gct possession ol n many "l 'u'
hi- y,lu. 4tlml- ~ possible. In order % use them
for Speculative purpose. Competition was severe
The Stamps they coud g.t hold or
Among the dealers at that fim" was John 'Ai-
vert of Philadelphia lie bought up all the y ana
"a high "a 81 flr the s. stamps and % ctns FOR the
- cent i-sucs. He was willing Ia buy al aivanc.h
prices and dealers realizing ihcr opportnhy sVl I'm I'm
The stamps a immense prohl 'ilNcrt tnQuSht
IN make a corner In the marke' and 20 sell the
stamps whlch would he uno0tainabic except through
him AT a large profit 10 dealers ana collectors After
scciiripc al the stamps ne could find. Calvert was
obi gcd 70 sell and not wishing II to he known that
he was thus obliged get rid OF them he placed The
.nld many OF the stamps below their face value 10
dealers from whom he had bought them at advanced
price, The stamps ina, i;ocwit IS trying to asn,se
who s.il living. take no stock IN the widow end