Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-08-10
W, M. GIFFARD'S STAMPS
Hls RARE HAWAIIAN NUMERALS
SOLD TO ~. J. CRoCKER.
some Of the Rare Specimens In Col
lection valued at One Hundred
Thousand Dollars.

a member of all the prominent
clubs of the City, is one of the
most enthusiastic stamp collectors
OF the coast says The Call, and
his pretty aud cultivated wife is
no less devoted to the fascinating
pastime. He has been 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 a
consequence 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 condi-
ton and the handsome appearance
of the collection of Eugene
Gesvret of this City, also a pro.
minent collector, than by the
number of stamps therein that he
desired for his own collection, he
opened negotiations with his fell
low-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 collec-
ton of stamps worth, according
to catalogue figures, not less than
$4,000.
On the same day he also pur-
chased a considerable number of
rare Hawaiian stamps from Wal
ter Giffard, prominent collector
of Honolulu. who is on a visit to
this country. This acquisition
consisted of labels known as Ha-
waiian numerals, and permits
Mr.. Crocker to justly boast of
having one of the best collections
of Hawaiian stamps in the United
States.
Among the rarities that Mr..
Crocker now possesses of that
country are three specimens of
the S. cent and three of the 13 cent
missionary stamps-that is, the
first postal labels credited to the
Hawaiian Government. These are
worth from $3.50 to 5000 each.
Mr.. Gesvret's collections COM
prised the labels of all the coun-
tries that have issued stamps, ex-
cept 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 a specially of the
stamps of these countries.
The collection is mounted in
several 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 his collection on the same plan.
1t took Mr.. Gesvret about five
years to mount his stamps, as he
exercised the greatest care in order
to secure the best possible effects
on the album pages.
During the past two years Mr..
Crocker has made many additions
to his stamps, as can be judged
from the fact that while he valued
his philatelic possessions two
years ago at about $4,000 he dee
clares that at the present time he
could not be tempted to part with
them-that is, his collection alone
for $4,000, while his duplicates
are worth in the neighborhood of
$4,000.
1t is in tae more recent plate
numbers Of the United States
that his albums shine resplend-
ent, and his United States stamps
alone are said to be worth about
$500.
In view of the many diverse in
terests that require Mr.. Crocker's
attention he is considering the ad-
visanility of employing special
secretary to look after his philate-
lie interests.
British Guiana rarities are re-
presented by no less than seven of
the circular stamps, worth several
hundred dollars each.
Plate numbers in Great Britain
are also shown in great profusion,