Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-12-13

scarce and are worth four Or five hun
dred dollars each. They are scattered
all over the world and nobody but lit
tie Prince Edward has a complete set.
The prince Of Wales was one of the
most constant visitors at the exposi-
tion. usually accompanied by his two
little sons. and spent hours studying
and comparing other collections with
his own.
One OF the most interesting fea-
lures of the exhibition was a coliec-
ton of forgeries and w. H. Peckitt,
big London dealer, at 81 Strand.
told me some Interesting stories about
them. Rare stamps have been coun-
terfeited continually ever since they
had a value. Rev. r. B. Ehree OF
London is the most accomplished ex
pert In detecting counterf feits, and
has written book Of more than 100
pages devoted entirely to that sub
ject He gives a history and a de-
scription OF every important imita-
tioE that has ever been imposed upon
the stamp market and describes how
they can be distinguished from the
genuine. Hamburg has the distinc-
ton OF being the scene CT more stamp
counterfeiting than any other city and
the counterfeiters who live there have
| shown the highest degree of ingen-
| uity, have made the most money and
have flooded the world with imita-
tions OF semi-rare stamps. 1t Is use
less for anyone to attempt to coun-
terfeit the unique ones. The Japan
ese have recently gone into the coun
terfeit business extensively and effec
lively. Mr.. Peckitt told me that the
cleverest foreigners now come from
that country and they are quite nu
merous. No foreigner. however. has
ever succeeded in initiating the wa
ter-mark perfectly, and that is still
the protection OF the collector.
The amount OF labor and ingenuity
that has been shown by counterfeiter;
is astonishing. The most remarkable
feat, Mr.. Peckitt says, was accom-
plished by Spanish forger with a
rare stamp issued by Spain In 1865
upon which the profile of the queen
was turned the wrong way. AS soor
as the mistake was detected the en-
tire issue was Withdrawn from sale
but several thousands had already
been sold at the postofflce. and hun
dreds Of them are now in collections
throughout the world. The demand
for them is always active and high
prices are paid.
The forger took two correct stamps
OF the same year. issued after the er
ror had been rectlfied, and in some
unknown and mysterious manner sue
ceeded In grinding down the head
from one and placing 1t over the other
In such fashion that the profile was
turned in the right direction. He sold
the forgery for only E10, which
scarcely paid him for his time and
trouble.
The great notable frauds have been
practiced upon spectators. Twelve
or fifteen years ago 1t was announced
that he czar of Russia would abolish
/ thc riuHiSH CouStitutiOu, anu bOllt
ingenious dealer succeeded in getting
into the newspapers a dispatch pur.
porting to come from Helsingfors that
the government had issued mourn.
Ing postage stamp to commemorate
that event. This announcement nat
urally attracted the attention OF deal.
ers and collectors. and very soon the
stamp appeared in the market Then
came another announcement sent to
the news agencies and published in
almoste every paper in Europe that
the czar had ordered the mourning
stamps suppressed and had banished
| to Siberia the officials who issued
them. This news sent the price soar
| Ing, and 1t was not until several
months later that the fraud was dis
covered. The mourning stamp was
engraved, printed and issued in Ham
burg, and the people in Finland had