The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-18
STAMP COLLECTING.

Now that the long evenings are here,
when Jack Frost interferes with outdoor
sports, time Is apt TO hang little heavy
with young people who have no hobby 10
hold their interest There is more amuse-
ment in stamp collecting than in most
games, Tor one never tires of 1t. There is
always a way OF improving collection.
Stamp collecting is not necessarily an
expensive hobby: on the contrary, II can
be followed on an economical basis with
entire satisfaction; one need only talk
with youthful collector to find that he
knows more about history and geography
than many older persons. Nor is IL the
most valuable collections which make the
best appearance, but rather those ar
ranged with taste and originality.
Many are the sources for obtaining de-
sirable specimens, and all collectors have
one or more open 10 them Most parents
have treasured some old letters of the
family, and the number OF stamps that
can be secured I'm this way alone viii
make a flrst-rate start for the beginner.
Indeed. some OF the most valuable United
States STAMPS bringing hundreds and even
thousands of dollars have turned up in
just this way.
Those having friends or relatives abroad
have splendid opportunities for getting
the current issues OF foreign countries.
Many desirable specimens are coming into
the United States every day and one of
the pleasures of collecting is in ferreting
out the sources from which the coveted
treasures may be obtained.
great mistake made by beginners
when looking over old letters for stamps,
Is in taking them OF the envelopes. The
value OF many rare specimens has been
reduced one-half In this way In ordinary
stamps II Is all right. for there are a
sunicient number on the market TO make
them low In price, but with scarce va
lot m rfi llt elal al lgfn
their values Is enhanced fully 30 per cent
by allowing them TO remain on the or1gi-
| nal envelope. II Is good plan 10 show
all stamps OF this kind 10 an older coll
lector. then you will be- on the safe side.
III the beginner Intends making pur-
chase now and then. IL is best for him TO
buy stamps In packets. which are sold by
all dealers at from 10 cents TO 81 each
They are much cheaper bought i'm this
way, and the enthusiast Will he enabled
TO improve his collection greatly At mere
ly nominal cost.
II must be remembered that among the
worlds postage issues there are nearly
These can be had at few cents per
hundred. Packets are prepared contain
ing every class OF stamps, excepting. of
dealers dealers issue issue price % lists Describing these these
packets. and one may select those he
| prefers
The collector who attends school will
| find that nearly half of his associates
are actively interested I'm the same hobby.
! Through his various sources he naturally
| gets more than one specimen of kind,
BY trading with his philatelic friends he
| can acquire many new varieties. swap
| ping" as boys call IL, Is very pleasant
way In which TO spend an evening. in
| fact. IL is one OF the delights OF the
| hobby. and should be more encouraged
| than IL Is. even among advanced col
| lectors, for there Is no better way OF i'm
proving a collection.
| When number OF like specimens have
been secured. the best one always should
| be selected for ones collection BY best
| is meant that which IL In the finest con-
dition and not torn or damaged. This is
| important. for. while the hobby NAV not
| be pursued from monetary point of
| view. II should be remembered that many
stamps are constantly Increasing I'm value.
| and should you desire to part with them
| at some future time YOU will get little or
| nothing Ii lhe stamps are In bad condf-
| ton. Torn specimens, even though rare,
| have practically no value. n stamp worth
81 IN fine condition would not bring ten
| cents II torn or badly damaged.
| catalogue Will be of great service 10
| the beginner. IL he has manufactured his
| own album IN will come i'm handy I'm iden-
| tifying the various specimens, and In ar
| ranging the issues and countries Cata-
| logucs are published nearly every wear
| and contain much Information about
| stamps, I'm addition to their market value
| Illustrations for most specimens are also
| papers, devoted TO stamp collecting. are
| published I'm this country and II is capi.
| tai idea To subscribe TO one or two OF
| them I'm order TO keep posted. The sub
| scriptlon prices are twenty-five and fifty
cents per year
| stamp collecting can be proftably fol.
| lowed I'm a variety or ways. according tC
taste, and the long winter evenings can be
| studying the worlds postal issues.-Phila.
1 delphia lnuuiror.