The San Francisco call., 1896-07-26
il. d. Cpoeker's
Stamp Collection
PbiIateIic Gems Owned by
the President of the
Horse Show

Henry ]. Crocker, president OF the
Horse Show Association and member OF
all the prominent clubs of the City, is one
of the most enthusiastic stamp collectors
OF the coast. and his pretty and cultivated
wife is no less devoted to the fascinating
pastime. He has been a collector for more
than twenty years. but for the past few
years has devoted more time and money
to this hobby than ever before. As con-
sequence he now holds the foremost place
in the ranks of philatelists of the Pacific
Coast.
Very recently he placed to his credit the
record of having made The most notable
purchase OF stamps in San Francisco. and
in fact west of the Rocky Mountains.
Tempted more by the fine condition and
the handsome appearance of the collection
of Eugene Gesvret of this City, also a
prominent collector, than by the number
of stamps therein that he desired for his
own collection, he opened negotiations
with his fellow-collector, and within the
remarkably short period of about half an
hour an agreement was reached whereby
Mr.. Crocker was to become the owner of a
collection of stamps worth according to
catalogue figures. not less than $4,000
On the same day he also purchased a
considerable number of rare Hawaiian
stamps from Walter Giffard, prominent
collector Of Honolulu, who is On visit to
this country. This acquisition consisted
of labels known as Hawaiian numerals,
and permits Mr.. Crocker to justly boast OF
having one of the best collections OF Ha-
waiian stamps in the United States.
Among the rarities that Mr.. Crockel
now possesses of that country are three
specimens of the 5-cent and three Of the
13-cent missionary stamps-that is, the
first postal labels credited to the Hawaiian
Government. These are worth from $45(
10 5000 each.
Mr.. Gesvret's collections comprised the
labels of all the countries that have issued
stamps, except those OF the United States
He retained, however, the issues of the
United States OF Colombia and of the
French colonies, and he will make &
specially of the stamps of these countries
The collection is mounted in seyera
handsome and expensive albums. Mr.
Crocker intends to keep them in the shape
in which he acquired them, and will prob
ably rearrange the older portion of hi
collection on the same plan. 1t took Mr.
Gesvret about five years to mount hi
stamps, as be exercised the greatest car'
in order to secure the best possible effects
on the album pages.
During the past two years Mr.. Crocke
has made many additions to his stamps
as can be Judged from toe fact that whil
he valued his philatelic possessions twt
years ago at about $40, 900 he declares tha
at the present time he could not be tempted
TO part with tbem-that is, his collection
alone-for $T5 600, while his duplicates ar
worth In the neigh hborhood of 600.
1t is in the more recent plate numbers o
the United States that his albums shin
respondent, and his United States stamp
alone are said to be worth about $500.
In view OF the many diverse interest
that require Mr.. Crocker's attention he il
considering the adyisability of employing
a special secretary to look after his phila
telic interests.
British Guiana rarities are represente,
by no less than seven of the circula
stamps, worth several hundred dollar
each.
Plate numbers in Great Britain are ais
shown in great profusioD, among the ex
treme rarities being copy of plate II 0
the sage green I'D, and one of the 10i red
brown, plate 2. The latter is valued a
$500.
Three of the scent and the same mum
Der of the 10.cent stamps of st. Louis or
nament one page, and are matter of spe
cial pride to their owner. Each of thes
Is worth a couple of hundred dollars.
Will III. Crocker, the president of tn
Crocker- Woolworth Bank, is also YER
prominent and enthusiastic collector @
stamps, and between him and his cousin
Henry ]. Crocker, there exists pleasan
but nevertheless determined rivalry as t
which shall eventually possess tn
choicest aggregation of these little scrap
of insignificant appearing paper. Up to
year ago Will was somewhat in the lead
but with the impetus secured by Henry il
the acquisition of the Gesvret collection
and the Giffard Hawaiian numerals tn
latter has start that will be very diff
cult to overcome.