Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-01-14
THE "NEw" STAMP OoLLEorISe
How the weakness OF the PhilatcIist
IL worked.


The account in the newspapers
the other day of the new stamps
of San Marino gave only one in
stance Of the way In which officials
and private persons trade upon the
amiable weakness of the philate-
list. Most post Offices now re-
cognise to some extent the exist
ence of the philatelist; even the
Crown agents for the colonies
make revenue from the sale of
old stamps to dealers. In some
countries the whole issue of
stamps is controlled by the pecu-
liarities of the philatelio market.
One Of the most common lodges
just now (says the Westminster
Budget") is the special or COM
memorative issue. Portugal is a
bad offender, and this year it is
celebrating-the Tooth birthday of
St. Anthony Of this saint it is
recorded that 80 years after his
death someone discovered that his
tongue had been miraculously
preserved from decay. An issue
of adhesive stamps is, therefore,
judged to be u by no means un :
suitable way to keep his memory
green. The Portuguese colonies
are to share in the celebration.
The smallest variation in de-
sign is enough to make the phila-
telist buy; so one enterprising
local post-office in Russia has
added thirteenth to the twelve
bees which formerly appeared on
the design; nor are the officials
without their reward.
Guatemala is really witty. 1t
has conceived postcard which
must not contain any written mat
ter except the address" not a
very useful piece of stationery,
you will say-stupidl don't you
see you can print on the back,
and it makes another post. card
for the collector to buyl
The error in printing" is a
simple but effective device. You
order set of stamps to be print
ed in certain coiors. After the
first few sheets you find the colors
are wrong, and change them. The
collector buys both lots. The
"surcharge" dodge can be used. of
course, without other limit than
human ingenuity: One of the
most startling of recent times is
bold d. L. on the face of some
Greek starnps. 1t is not re-
Election on the sobriety of the
officials. 1t signifies a particular
method of delivery. 1t is one of
the few out of the thousands OF
surcbarges that have some use.
An african territory recently
issued fine set of stamps. A |
sheet was recently found of which
each one was. surcharged with the
2 name of month. 1.-The owner
. said it cost him two bottles Of GIN
to get it done"
President Ezeta, of Salvador,
prepared stamps for 1895. He
went out of office before they came
in. But his stamps remain-for
sale to collectors.
There are a few buildings on |
the coat of the Red Sea which
are called Djibouti, and boast
themselves French colony. They |
boast also u colossal stamp-value
25f. No specimen could ever be
wanted for real use.
Chill got on for many years
without unpaid letter stamps.
Suddenly tie need was felt-so
suddenly that provisional" labels
had to be issued while the real
stamps we're being engraved. The
collector treasures n provisional
above mos, things.
Official post-offices are bad
enough, but what shall we say of
the writer of this letter publish
ed in Messrs. Stanley Gibbons
Monthly Journal):-Dear Sir
Knowing your firm as the greatest
dealers in post stamps, L take the
liberty to ask your attention for
the following business:-On my
trip on the Upper Congo entered
in tract of friendship with free
9 Arab King, and bought from him
: the concession to make stamps
for his Kingdom. AS / should
like to sci! the concession, l offer