The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-10-07
GUAM POSTAGE STAMPS.
Vain Efforts OF Dealers to Make Big Fronts
Ont OF the Two Issues.


WASHINGTON. Oct. o-From the point OF
view Of the stamp collector. the most unpopu-
lar person on earth to-day is perhaps Capt
leary, lately Governor Of Guam. This state
Of affairs grows out Of the postal issue for the
island Of Guam.
A year and a half ago when Capt. Ieary
sailed for Guam With a complete equipment
for setting up a political household In the new
American possession, he carried along about
$500 In United States postage stamps with
the word Guam" surchnrged on them. Only
the one-cent. two-cent and hve-cent denomin-
ations we're included, Now as a general thing
the scarcity Of a stamp determines its value
TO collectors. A very email issue means that
there viii not be enough stamps to 60 round.
hence the scramble for specimens results In a
price that advances by jumps. For instance.
al the time Of the issue Of the Columbian stamps.
II was ascertained by certain persons that
comparatively few Of the one-dollar value had
been printed. These persons said nothing
but quietly bought UP all the one-dollar stamps
they could. Many collectors. thinking the
supply ample. put on buying until the Govern
ment ceased printing, and then discovered
that one-dollsr stamps were not TO be found:
that they had been cornered. As a natural
'ohsTlhth'F ~ ll'f hhNfu dHu III u very
short time IL required a nve-dollar bill TO buy
the on dollar Columbian stamp.
As soon as the stamp dealers heard Of {! Is
provisional issue for Guam they had visions
of 900 per cent profits. Telegrsmsand letters
containing cash, uoney-orders and drafts
poured IN on the Governor. Not only were
dealers willing 10 pay the face value for tho
entire consignment. which would have netted
a o,.or rroet 10 T-,elaC q, & senn go. ,..-...
would never he used for POSTAL purrotee, but
large premiums were offered above the face
value. Interviews we're requested and pulls
were brought into reouisition 10 draw the
little packet from the Captains valise. but
the Governor was as flint TO all Establishments
and the stamps accompanied him to Guam.
But Capt. Leary's troubles had Just begun.
No sooner was the ship well out from land
than several hundred dealers and several thou
sand collectors sat down and wrote appealing
letters to Gov. Lrary, inclosine stamps, checks,
money orders. bank bills and ereenhacks. beg
Rine for Guam stamps. The first mail ship
putting into port At Guam after the arrival n
the Governor brought several bushels Of letters
asking for STAMPS. Then II occurred TO the
Governor to order more stamps and TO hold
the cash sent in the letters PENDING. the arrival
q ching me h neS dId ie'g go'S1.o Can't Hn fe oaS' Is S a me man very X
pa7ts and resources. He is not the man 10
halt short of the whole thing, and 50 the new
stamps no ordered were plenty. The STAMPS
he originally brought were OF the denominations
OF one, two and i've cents. The orders that
went from Guam by next steamer for stamps
included the denominations Of one, two, three.
four. Ave. six. eight, ten. fifteen and fifty cents
and 81 and special delivery stamps, The quGu-
THY asked for was something tremendous,
value running up into the thousands Of dol
lar. When the requisition reached the Post
once Department at Washington Il was
Pr news Of Capt. Leary'. second order for sur
charged stamp for Guam speedily became
s Sn3N created consternation. 10 a citizen TiiHeS'o ~
Guam a two-cent stamp. with Guam" printed
across the face would be n two-cent stamp.
printing would constitute a separate and dis
tinct variety. and each variety would be de-
slrable and some would bring fabulous prices
snd a new SET Of postage stamps Tor tho Sand
became current United States stamps
were ovorprinted cuba" IT. appears that
hundred time for each denomination, there
being 100 stamps In a sheet. and by accident
the bottom curve Of the b, inCuBA was broken
ON onrr Sf'e only ~@ on NE nveIcent s STAMP. .b a' oS SG,
once on each sheet. Whle the unoroken n"
stamp sold for its face. five cents, the broken
at once jumped 10 81. Some twenty-five years
ago. when each department Of Government
used is own postage STAMPS. either by error
or design. a sheet Of the two-cent value of the
Navy Department was printed In green ink
Instead Of blue, the regular color. A copy
Of this stamp in the blue color sells for rs cents,
while a copy ip the incorrect. or green color.
"a difficult IN obtain at 80.
But 20 return 70 Guam. When IL was an
nounced that a new lot would be overprinted,
the struggle began anew 70 secure copies OK
the first printing. as II vas feared the same
type or forlG would not be used In which
event the originals would command sky prices.
In the course Of several months o firm In the
West secured q few sets Of the first one, two
and hve-cent staInps and placed them on the
market At o. 50 for the three. face value eight
cents. or about 1900 per cent. profit, and the
dealer 40 Offering them was literally seamped
with orders he could not I'll. The last boat
from Guam. Just arrived. brings practically
the first consignment Of stamps 10 the dealers
who sent their money 20 the Governor from
twelve to fifteen months ago. The returns
are very unsatisfactory. In some cases the
money has been returned In other cases part
money and part stamps we're sent, and la nearly
every Instance the plato numbers were torn
Of In view Of the comparatively few stamps
received some dealers are wondering II there
has been u corner IN Guam stamps. In any
event, most Of them are sorroNful because