The sun., 1904-12-04
Bonanzas in Rare Stamps
Struck by Accident

would see how badly he had been stuck
ty buying a pig in a bag. To his great
surprise. the box was jammed full OF sheets
and blocks OF department stamps in fac!,
there was no other kind. From 1873 when
they were first issued, to 1870, in which
year they were withdrawn from use, all
the big Government departments had
their own specially engraved stamps
State. War. Navy, DO,
II seerns that the young woman'S father
had been connected with the United states
Traaslry and when the order went forth
10 call in the department stamps and de-
stroy them in 1874 this boNful had In some
way escaped. No attention had been paid
to the stamps until the father died. when 10
ge, rid of them the Young woman offered
them for sale.
There were hundreds Of stamps in the
box, nearly all in sheets, and most OF the
sheets were stuck together Some were
of the common sorts. but many were OF the
rare varieties You will get an idea Of the
dealers bargain when ! tell YOU that one
Of the sheets consisted OF fifty ninety-cent
Department of Justice stamps. every one
Of which was worth $40 at that time. and
would even now bring $50. The price has
come down on account OF a large number
being lately discovered
The dealer soa ed the sheets. separated
them and laid them out to dry on one OF his
tables. and not haif an hour afterward was
offered 81 600 for his purchase Just as II lay.
But he refused, saying that he would get
much more for it, And a. a fact he did.
for those stamps would easily bring at any
time between 5000 and $1,000 in the open
market.
But we don't always land the bargains,
az dow ntown Dealers little experience
will show. Curious as 1t may seem. he les,
his chance becallSe he offered soneth hing
liz a reasonable figure for number OF
stamps.
A man came into his store and care
los slr thrau ,lp,xn on "a hllpC h
containing twenty-five fve-dollar WASH
ington proprietary stamps Of the ls7l-1j
issUe. Zach one Of these stamps IL a
large as an enveloJ and is printed in two
colors. black and green, with large por-
trait OF Washington in the centre
The stamps were all in perfect CONDITION
and crisp. They are very scarce and al
ways bring big sum.
"I'll give YOU IS for them, said the dealer
i:ach'' asled the man, in amazenent
/ or S. for the lot:'
, "Ill ray yon &llo for the lot replied
the dealer.
You don't mean to say hat these ST ms
are worth S. az iece" exclaimed the seller
! Why. think III just have a look around,
and maybe can get bigger price. III
core in again if can't do better and he
wal ed out Of the store.
! "Fe stood outside for several minutes,
evidently in doubt ms to where he would go,
when his eye hapr ened TO fall on price
Z rataloECe III Vne nedle1 WlnOoW HaTf tu
80 cents So he went into The store again,
! bought the cat alogre, opened 1t and almost
/ threw ft when ne saw that his stamps
were cs'alogred at $3.50 each.
"Ee didn't give the dealer another chance
10 ma bid for them. however, but left
in hurry. and that was the last the dealer
ever saw OF him.
Now if the latter bad said in the first
rlace that he would give S, or IS for the lo
I have no doubt he co'ld have had them
and welcome You may irragine that the
next erson who came into tha' store TO sell
stamps was not alarmed by the liberality Y
4 of the dealers offer"