The San Francisco call., 1896-03-29
Unique Distinction Achieved by
a Popular Hobby of the
Day.
BIG AUCTION SALE OF LABELS.
Nations of the Old World Petitioned
to Suppress the Issue of Specu.
.lative Stamps.

9
tinction of being the only hobby that has a
daily publication issued in its interests,
but this it has had only since the first OF
the year. On the 1st of January, more as
joke than with any serious purpose, the
9. II. Mekeel Stamp and Publishing Com
pany of st. Louis sent out copies of four
page paper which bore the title of The
Daily Stamp Item. The "office cat" ap-
peared as editor. 1t contained news and
contributions concerning stamps, and the
announcement was made that subscription
in the United States, Canada and Mexico
would be So year and So abroad, and that
1.-THE publishers reserve the right to refund
subscriptions and discontinue publication
any time the office cat gets tired of edito-
rial work"
The monthly and weekly competitors OF
this enterprising publication were almost
| unanimous in their expressions that the
time was not ripe for such a move, but
while they were indulging in these dis
couraging prophecies the publishers went
right ahead. They arranged for regular
correspondents in all the large cities of the
United States, including San Francisco.
during the early period OF publication, and
later made arrangements for telegraphlc
dispatches concerning auction sales OF
stamps and other important news matters,
and it now publishes each day kilograms
from New York, Chicago, Boston, Phila-
delphia and occasionally, as the news war
| rants, from this City. 1t Will also soon
have cablegrams from the European stamp
centers-London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels,
etc.
1t is looked upon by collectors as per-
manent institution, for, though it has been
issued for but three months, it has demon
strated fully that there is enough of inter
est transpiring to furnish quite a lively
and valuable daily stamp paper.
Auction sales OF stamps are now at their
height in all parts of the country, though
none have been or are to be held in this
City. The largest sale of the season thus
far, and one that is likely to remain such,
was that held at Boston by Woodward d
Co. The sale occupied three days and was
attended by all the prominent dealers and
collectors of Boston and neig ghboring cities,
while New York, Washington and Canada
were also represented by gentlemen from
those places, and San Francisco and other
more distant cities were represented by
proxy.
The total amount realized from this
sale was $13,678 So, no less than twenty
five lots bringing in excess OF $1oO each,
and these lots in nearly every case con-
sisted of but single stamp. The highest
1851 on laid paper, which realized $3.50.
One of the worst banes OF the stamp
collector, and the cause OF greatest dis
couragement to those deeply interested In
philately, are the class OF stamps termed
speculative. These comprise particularly
the product of people who contract to
furnish Governments with stamps free OF
charge, on the understanding that the
surplus stamps revert to the contractor,
and that new issue be put into use at
frequent intervals. So great has this evil
become that it has resulted in the forma-
ton of societies in both England and in
this country for the special purpose OF
discouraging the collection OF such stamps
and of preventing their issue. These
bodies comprise the most influential people
connected with the hobby of stamp col
lecting.
Not long ago a petition was addressed
by the American committee for the sup
preston OF speculative stamps TO the Gen.
tral and South American countries, who
were serious offenders i'll the practice
charged, with the result that they were
successful in inducing Honduras and Ecua-
dor to cancel their contracts. Encouraged
by this success, the same committee has
now addressed similar document to the
SHINING countries of Europe. Excerpts
from this petition read as follows:
AS spokesmen for millions of earnest men who
devote their leisure time and surplus energy
and resources to the scientific study of postage
stamps, We, the undersigned representatives OF
philetelic societies, respectfully memorialize
all enlightened Governments to discountenance
certain evil practices which tend to demoralize
and degrade the postal service.
The evil practices which we condemn NAV
be classed under three separate heads, differ
ing more in form, however, than in substance:
First-Farming out to printers or private
speculators the monopoly of balances remain
ing after stamp issue has been withdrawn
the tendency being to withdraw issues fire.
quently so as to make the monopoly more prof
liable to the speculator and his official confed-
crates.
Second-Issuing stamps for temporary use as
q commemorative emblem rather than for the
legitimate purpose of acknowledging prepaid
postage, the tendency being to destroy the
usefulness of the token as postage stamp
and to make it the subject of speculation.
Third-The reckless or deliberative super
f1uous multiplication of unusual varieties of
the same stamp by means of surcharging
(overprinting) oftener than the legitimate
needs of the postoffice require, the tendency
being that officials will create new varieties for
purely speculative purposes.
This petition further says that these
practices "shake the confidence of stamp
collectors in all the postal issues of the
offending Government, and it even affects
national credit by creating the impress
sion that the nation is too poor to raise
revenue by legitimate methods."
In conclusion the petition says: 1--WE
solemnly protest against all these vicious
methods. We appeal for the historical in
tional dignity in the administration of the
postal service, as a factor in the intel
lectual, social and moral progress of all
enlightened nations"
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