The Washington times., 1906-01-07
Watch Worlds Politics in
Furtherance of Business.
CORNER MARKETS BEFORE w
But if Conflicts Do Not Materialize
Sanguine Philatelists Get
Left.

international politics. than philatelists,
or stamp collectors. to use the common
term.
The half million lawyers, doctors. cier-
gymen. business men. railroad men. stu
dents. women of culture and refinement,
boys and girls composing the great army
of stamp collectors in the United
States. know what is going on in the
world. A political change oftentime
means a change in the stamps used, and
collectors are on the qui viYe for new
things in postage stamps.
For example when the war cloud be
tween Great Britain and the South
African Republic under Doom Paul,
loomed up on TIE horizon. no larger than
mans hand. foxy stamp collectors
quietly bought up everything in the line
Of Transvaal stamps offered for sale.
And all happened jus as the long
headed collectors figured. There was
rush for Transvaal stamps after the
Boer war and prices jumped from 90 TO
800 per cent. The early birds got the
stamps at che low prices and later sold
them TO collectors less swift at a hand
some proht.
The moment the death of Queen Vic
tOria was announced the wise philatcl-
lists bought up all the stamps of the
British colonies having the Queens
head" knowing that a soon as Edward
be anne King a new series OF stamps for
Great Britain and all the colonies would
be issued as soon as designs could be
made And they made a handsome
profit.
Got Left On Danish West Indies.
Occasionally. however. the spectators
get left, just as the longest-headed
operators on the stock exchange get
trimmed. For Instance three years ago,
when the United States began negotia-
tions with Denmark for the purchase Of
the Danish West Indies. located right al
our southeast doorway. the philatelic
specUlators. fOreseeing Jhe end of Danish
West Indian stamps. rushed IL and
bought up everything in sight, paying
good stiff prices for stamps. But the
deal fell through. the advance in prices
was not sustained and the spectators
had large quantities of stamps on hand.
While they did not. probably. lose much
money, they failed 10 make the 100 or SO
per cent anticipated.
When the German Emperor took his
stand in the Morocco matter last sum
mer the philatelists saw indications of
further benevolent assimilation which
a
The dissolution of the Scandinavian
union. which was completed last month
by the triumphal entrance into Chris
tiania Of Prince Charles of Denmark as
the new King Of Norway. was an event
OF great philateIic as well as political
Importance. There are great possibili-
ties in the splitting up of a nation from
a postal standpoint
Already work is progressing upon the
new stamps for Norway, which viii bear
the likeness OF King Haakon VII. II
must be remembered that this is the
first time since postage stamps We're in
vented that Norway has had a King of
her own. Heretofore the stamps of Nor
way have chiefly depicted the arms OF
the country or a trumpet, known as the
''posthorn.
1t is reported in philatelic circles that
there will also be special coronation"
stamps. WHICH shall bear the likeness
of Queen Maud and possibly the baby
Crown Prince Olaf. as we'll as King
Haakon VII. These latter stamps viii
be for the purpose of franking mail dur
ing the period of the coronation cere-
monies, but they will be available for
postal purposes indefinitely. The stamps
Will undoubtedly be printed in two col
ors and brilliant in design and coIOring.
Got Them Going and Coming.
But it is 10 Russia that the philatelist
is looking for unlimited postal develop
ments. Formerly Finland issued its own
stamps. With the absorption OF the
country by Russia the stamps of the
Gar were substituted and have since
been used. With the severance of rela-
tions Finland viii resume the issue of
Its own postage stamps. The same may
be said OF Poland, although this coun-
try never had but one postage stamp
ana that was in use but a short time
During all the confusion incident to
this revolutionary period there VIII un-
doubtedly be many provisional stamps
used-stamps set up in local printing of
fees and printed and gummed by hand
TO meet immediate needs in the absence
Of regular postage stamps. This was
the case during the war between Great
Britain and the Beers. On the British
side, as Well as on the Beers. the regular
stamps became exhausted, and other
stamps were overprinted make-shift
stamps printed to meet the emergency.
These stamps are extremely rare and
sell at high prices.
These provisional or emergency stamps
are the weakness of many phlatelists
and when the number issued Is very linn
ited fabulous prices are paid by wealthy
collectors.
Phiatelists have their eyes on the
Netherlands also. Owing to the fact that
Queen Wilhelmina is chIdless and there
Is no heir to the throne there is talk
that the Queen may abdicate and a re-
public established. Obviously this has
philatelic possibilities. There are signs
OF developments in Panama. Haiti. Santo
Domingo, the Balkan states and in Aus
tria- Hungary: in fact. the atmosphere of
world politics is filled with clouds that
are significant and interesting to stamp
collectors a. we'll as to the public gem
orally, although for reasons widely diff
ferent.