Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-10-02
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YVQY YVVV YVVN FVVV VVQY w V MA collection of Birmingham contains two, a pair is held by Berniehon, of Paris, the collections of Mors and Mi rabeau each contain two and another pair is to be found in the Tapling col- lection, now in the British museum in London. These, with a single speci- men in the Kirchner collection and the one recently sold, make Is copies. Four more are thought to be in exist ence, resting probably in other noted collections in Europe. They are prized higher than the stamps of any other country and have been talked of and written about in all corners of the globe. Indeed, the advertising they have received has had much to do with advancing the price to the 5000 mark.
 The history of the Mauritius stamps and their notorious rise in value has long been an interesting subject to philatelists. The first notable sale was made late in the seventies, when a copy of the one penny, turning up in the colony, brought it's gallant finder the sum of $250. Later it was sold to Mr. Tapling for S425. In 1890 S1 ,0O0 was paid for specimen of the two pence on small piece of the original en- yelope, shown in the London Philatelic exhibition. Th0ey were next heard of in 1893, when prominent English firm secured an unused pair of the one penny and two pence, for which they paid s, 400, and last winter two speci- mems were sold to Paris dealer for $9, 9,6o0. The specimen recently found, by far the finest known, was actually sold for the sum of S5,o00, thus estab- fishing new record for the most vaiu- able postage stamp. The condition of this specimen was a potent factor in regulating it's price, as it is perfect in every respect, being of good color and well preserved. Had 1t been torn or otherwise damaged it would not have brought anything like so high price. With rare postage stamp, as with a coin, it's value is regulated entirely by it's condition.
 When the above specimen was dis covered last winter it attracted the at tention of collectors in all parts of the world, and naturally has been watched with a great deal of interest to see how big price it would bring. Evi- dently the owner was fully advised re- garding it's value, as he offered it first for the modest sum of ST ,500, but found no one who preferred the stamp to this sum of money. It was foregone con- elusion, however, that it would not go begging, especially as the envelope bore the same handwriting as the few others in existence, establishing the fact that it was used at the same time in sending out one of the invitations to the ball. Five thousand dollars seems like an enormous sum of money to pay for postage stamp-a mere piece of paper and a small piece at that and yet when 1t is considered that some of the wealthy philatelists 1 spend hundreds of thousands of dol lars on their hobby, one collection in particular being valued at upwards of $1,000000, it is not so important mat ter to these people as it would be to others.
 It is interesting to note how the SOul aC OA SICdb IdIllleS IS WdICneQ Dy the prominent philatelists of the world. They know exactly the loca- tion of every specimen, the time and price at which it was purchased, and in fact, almost as much as if it reposed in their own collection. Not only does this refer to the Mauritius stamps, but to the coveted ten-cent Baltimore, the two-cent Hawaii of the first issue val ued at $3 ,5oO, and to number of other varieties that bring many thousands of dollars. While greater efforts have been made recently to ferret out these treasures than ever before, they have had no effect on prices, as they have not been found in any greater quan- tity. By reason of it's great popularity the "post office" Mauritius stamp can justly be called the "king of rarities," and unless a considerable number should suddenly turn up, which does not seem likely, it will undoubtedly command even higher price as time goes on.
 MATTHEW M. sTRICKLER.
 Didn't Want Stale Ice.