The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
STAMPS THAT TELL A STORY.
COMMEMORATIVE ISSUES TO
MARK GREAT EVENTS.

This Country the Real Pt0nScP In This LINZ
% Stamp Making -Rumanla's Issues
the Newest-Mistakc That Make Some
acknowledgements stamps OF Greece.
One more set Of commemorative postage
stamps has appeared. these latest arrivals
being issued by Rumania, which a
taken advantage OF the fact hat the year
1908 is the fortieth Of the accession Of Prince
Charles and the twenty-ffth anniversary
Of the change OF the country from a prin-
cipSlity TO q kingdom TO signalize the dual
event.
Commemorative stamp issues have be-
come 30 fashionable that they now en-
brace hundreds Of varieties, with a great
range OF value. There are 90 many OF them,
and ~ q rule they are so artistic In design
and 90 interesting from a historical point Of
view that certain persons made q speciality
OF their collection. These stamps are nearly
always larger than tho regular issues, and
more elaborate In design.
The first stamps Of this nature TO be used
by any country were those issued by the
United States in 1859. These included de-
nominations Of I, ., ., Q, 10, ~, Is, ~, %
and % cents. They were beautifully en-
graved, all in diff oolors. The one cent
stamp showed the head Of franklin, the
frat Colonial Postmsster-G General. and also
the first under the federation Of the States.
The two cont stamp bore a post horse n
q rider, the three cent had q locomotive
and the II cont an ocean steamship, the
whole set illustrating the advance OF the
postal facilities. The 10 cent stamp bore
the head Of Washington, after Stuart's
painting; the Is cent represented the land
ing Of Columbus, from the painting by
Vanderiyn, while the ~ cent showed the
signing Of the Declaration Of Independ-
enoe, copied from the. Trumbull painting.
The 50 cent stamp bore the United States
coat Of arms, showing an eagle with out
stretched wings and grouped flags at either
side. This stamp was in osrmine blue.
and one Of the handsomest ever issued by
any country. The 90 cent stamp showed
the portrait Of Lincoln.
These are the rarest OF all the commemo-
ratfve issues, and q complete set Of 1899
unused is worth several thousand dollars.
This set was made remarkable by reason
Of errors in printing, which occurred in
the denominations Of is, "a and 30 cents.
By mistake tho flags on the latter stamp
were printed upside down, and this error
gives such q stamp q value OF more than
$500 when cancelled. The picture Of the
landing OF Columbus on the IS cent and the
picture OF the Declaration Of Independents
on the "A cent were also inverted in several
instances, and the defect now makes the lat
ter stamp worth 500 and the is cent variety
unused worth ten times as much.
IL Is said that an inverted specimen Of
the % cent value was printed, and this
was listed in the catalogues for many years,
A,,k kk~~a - No kan~a apA@funAn RlfhNaHnh
it is quite certain that such an error came
from the press. 1t is supposed that they
were never allowed to get into circulation.
The next commemorative stamps to be
Issued were those in the centennial year
OF 1870, which appeared in the shape OF
stamped envelopes. These stamps were Of
large size, in two colors, red and green
but both Of the same design. This showed
a post horse at the top, with q railroad train
underneath. Above was -l77s,' while at
either side Of the word Postage were
"U' and s. Below the train was the
value, Three CENTS and still further be-
low "Is70."
In 1897 Argentina came into the field with
a commemorative stamp celebrating the
discovery Of America by Columbus in 1907;
and then followed the great series Of Column
bian stamps. issued by this country during
the worlds fair at Chicago. Il was from
this set that the nations Of the earth readily
conceived the idea Of issuing ~commemoras
tive stamps.
The Columbian issues were OF the de-
cents, and 81, 81, %. - and IS. All OF these
stamps bore Representations OF scenes in the
life OF Americas discoverer.
Y-~A-aar VanH.NLoln ioOttA1 n 1870
msmorative stamp almost similar in design
and color to one denomination Of the Co
lumbar stamps. The resemblance was 30
marked that the Venezuelan stamp not in
frequently went unchallenged through
the United States mails.
In 1904, 1895 and 1898 Portugal came out
with three commemorative issues. The
drst OF these was known a. the Don Henry
Celebration" stamps and marked the
centenary OF Prince Henry the navigator.
The 1895 issue commemorated the seventh
centenary OF the birth OF st. Anthony Of
Padua and bore the figure and scenes In the
life Of the saint on the face and a Latin
prayer on the back. The lsoe, issue cele.
Vasoo da CANA, and the designs prin-
cipally showed thee explorers ships at sea in
varying scenes
Bulgaria in 1893 issued a set Of postal
labels 70 CSlcDr6Vo inc DhpL5Iu VI ETIuCo
Boris in the Greek Church and In 1901 and
1908 issued two other types OF commemora-
tive stamps, the latter OF which showed
a battle on q steep mountain side.
Belgium issued q set In celebration Of the
Brussels Exposition in 1890 and in 1897
British Guiana issued a stamp for Queer
Victoria's jubilee, as did Barbados. TIKI
Last named now has a stamp In circulation
commemorating the death OF Nelson a
Trafalgar in 1906, this stamp showing e.
pecialIy clever workmanship and fine enect
in colorfng.
Canada Issued q set Of stamps in 1897. also
concentrating the jubilee Of Queen Vic
toria, which was dated les7-lSo7. Thu
stamps bore the portraits Of the Queen a.
young and as she appeared in tb'
latter year. There were sixteen values ol
thu set, ranging from half q cent to IS.
Canada also issued Q Christmas stamp II
1898, This bore the map Of the world, un
derneath being Xmas 1893, while still fur
Their below was the inscription, We Hole
A VAster Empire Than Has Been Their
were two varieties Of these, In blu RnC
lavender and carmine.
Newfoundland in 1897 issued q jubilee sc
Of stamps Of fourteen values, from one cen
20 90 cents. These are probably the mos
artistic and striking Of all the Canadian
stamps. Tho -four cent stamp Of the New