The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-28
KING OF WORLDS
STAMP COLLECTORS
AGED AUSTRIAN WHO sPURNs
THIS TITLE BUT HOLDS IT.
He Has Paid Over s1,ooo,ooo for His
Collection and It Has Steadily In
creased in Value in His Hands-A
New Haven Stamp Of 1s4e, Now
Worth $1,000, Cost Him $40.
NEEEEEj
Philadelphia North America

The king of stamp collectors, Philip
la Renotiere of Paris, France, has add
ed another stamp rarity to his vast
collection, which takes in almost every
bit of engraved or stamped paper ever
issued by any country thruout the world
stamps first began in England, in l840,
and which is now estimated to be worth
at the very least $3,000,000.
The unique variety which has just
come to light is Lombardy stamp,
which was discovered by dealer Of
Cologne, Germany. 1t seems that the
stamp dealer had bought large guam
tity Of Lombardy scent stamps, all
printed in yellow ink.
The common specimens were printed
on plain paper, while the rarer ones
lar ribs. The great find differed from
these two issues by reason of the ribs
being horizontal, and was the only one
Of the kind in mass Of fully 100, 900
stamps.
The dealer at once teleeraphed to NJ.
Renotiere that he had happened upon
variety previously unknown. The
collector telegraphed in return that no
would come In person and have look
for Cologne. After examining the
stamp, NJ. Renotiere paid several hun
dred dollars for it.
Renowned a Title.
This leader of a hobby which Is
worldwide, embracing millions of fol-
lowers in every walk Of life and in
Guiding many OF the world, most "a,
nous men, is known to the stamp world
as Herr Won Ferrari, and it Is said that
his personality is as remarkable as the
great collection that has made his name
familiar wherever stamp collecting Is
followed. He has devoted most Of his
| life to the collection Of postage stamps,
upon which he is credited with having
expended over $1,250,0OO.
| He is thought to be over 50, and
altho generally supposed to be a
Frenchman, because of his long resi-
dence in Paris, is in reality an Aus
trian. His father was an Austrian
nobleman, bearing the title of the Duke
of Galleria.
Fsf4sea to ds asfepa e5S t6Hd s an
| the fortune bequeathed to him by the
duke, giving as his reason the fact that
the wealth had been gained by means OF
which he did not approve.
For many years after he arrived IN
Paris he was IN stra1tened c1TSunl,
stances, and earned scant livelihood
as private IutoT. Ii IHo cary oiAeAS
by his mother 8 death he fell. heir to
a fortune. and it was at this time that
he is supposed to have acquired ms
| taste for the collection of stamps,
! which he pursued with such energy that
even in 1855 he was credited with being
the owner of the most complete S eoiG Se
ton of that time, a reputation that ne
has constantly maintained to the pres
ent day.
formed by purchasing outright several
large collections, for two of which ne
paid sums around $4,000, but these
two collections now form only small
proportion of his enormous accumula-
Etion Of stamps.
| rarities are in his collection. In many
cases in which there is only one known
specimen that one stamp will be found
among his holdings The unique Bit
ish Guiana l-cent stamp, Which was
kprinted on ordinary wrapping paper
is owned by him.
Vault for His Stamps.
No one, not even M. Renotiere him:
self. accurately knows the number OF
snecimens contained in his collection.
whole vault in safe deposit company
in Paris is taken up with 1t.
Many Of the extreme raritles are ex
hibited in showcases placeo aTounu Gils
vault. and the privilege of looking al
them is sometimes given by the owner
to his friends. It is said that he has
but little to do with other Parls1aI
philatelists, and has never publicly ex
hibited any part Of his collection. Il.
There is no way of accurately esti
mating the present value OF the col
lection. While NJ. Renotiere has beel
extremely lavish and liberal In thu
prices paid. still many thousands of TIL
rare varieties were bought thirty INV
Or forty years ago at prices far below
the sums they would bring now.
A good illustration of the way thel
value has advanced is shown in his pur
chase of rare United States stamp
This is what is known as the New Ha
ven stamp, and was issued by the post
: master Of that city in 1916.
. It is printed in red ink, with tn
, figure "5" in the center, and "Pos
E Ofce' at the top. The postmaster
signature, "E. A. MITCHELL is at tn
bottom.
: A specimen Of this stamp was foun
in small collection in 1871; up to tina
4 time it had been unknown. NJ. Reno
there paid $40 for it. Now the stamp
valued at $1,000, and the price is &C
vancing yearly.