The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-08-09
COLLECTORS ON LOOKOUT.
Some Valuable Stsmps are in Circuls-
ton.

Mankato stamp collectors, of whom
there are a number will do well
to watch the stamps which come to
them on their mail, and to ask their
friends to do likewise. 1t has been
discovered that sheet of the Pan
American series of stamps, of the 3
cent denomination, wes printed with
the picture of the Express train up
side down. This sheet was in the
package shipped to the postmaster at
Brooklyn, and the stamps were re
tailed without the error having been
discovered.
One of the purchasers, who had Sc
cured ten of the stamps, noticed the
capsized express as he was about to
affix one to letter and Immediately
sent letter to the bureau of engrav-
ing and printing in Washington,
making complaint. Through the bu-
reau the news of the inverted train
came to the ears of the stamp collector,
who instantly saw visions of rarity
of the very first water. 1t is said that
this collector or his represen-
tative, went to Brooklyn, and after
some negotiations secured four of the
ten inverted trains. 1t appears that
the purchaser had used four of the
stamps, given away two. and for the
remaining four received $50 each.
Could he have secured the whole
sheet. his profits would have amount
ed to 81, 99S on an investment of 81.
1t is understood that the Washington
man who paid $50 each for the stamps
has refused an offer of double that
amount. Just what price will ulti-
mately be received for the six copies
known to be in existence cannot be
foretold. That is dependent upon
several contingencies. If there should
never be more than these six copies,
the holders would be able to get their
own price, as there are men of great
wealth following the pursuit of
stamp collecting as pastime who
would not hesitate to pay 81, 900 to Sc
cure a copy.
Only once hitherto have the United
States undertaken to issue a series of
stamps in two colors-in 1869. This
series comprised denominations from
cent to 80 cents, only the denomina-
tions of 10, "a, 80 and cent cents
being printed in two colors At the
time of this issue sheet Of each of
the two colored denominations, save
the 80 cents, was printed with the
central figure inverted. These stamps
are exceedingly rare, and fine copies
sell at $500 and upward.
During the past winter sheet of
common 1-cent stamps, with the word
Guam printed across the face, slip
ped through the bureau with the, word
Guam upside down. just how
many OF these stamps are in the hands
of the collectors cannot be ascertained,
but they are held at fancy prices and
few offers at any price.
In 1878. Which, each department Of
the government service used it's own
distinctive set of stamps, instead of
the penalty envelope, an error was
made by the Continental Bank Note
company, then having.the government
contract for postage stamps. The
regular color of the navy department
stamp was, blue, and in some way a
sheet of the 2-cent denomination was
printed in green, These errors of
color are held at $40 each, while the
same stamp in correct color sells for
about 40 cents.
The Ameri ,an. Bank Note company,
in printing the Columbian series of
stamps, made similar. error, sheet
of the Accent value, which was in
ultra marine shade of blue, having
been printed in the steel blue shade of
the 1-cent value. The entire sheet
was captured by a stamp collector.
Single copies now sell at about $50 at
auction.