The sun., 1907-08-11
ROYAL STAMP COLLECTORS
FIRST on THE LIST rs THE
PRINCE or WALES.
Unique stamps and Series Of stamps I'm tss
Collection The Emperor of Japan.
Pope Plus Y. and the Queen Of maiy
I'm the Brothcrho pod -S'xar's Collection.

with as much enthusiasm as people in lower
walks Of fe. At the present time the
principal royal collector is tho Prince Of
Wales.
He Ia honorary president OF the Royal
Phiatelic Soc ETY. OF London and owns one
Of the largest and most comprehensive
stamp collections in the world. His albumS
contain stamps, or series OF stamps. abso-
lutely unique, having been especially printed
and presented to h m by admirers In differ
ent parts of the British Empire.
Among the presentations Of this chsrac-
ter is a book containing British. colonial
and other stamps given to him as a wedding
present in 1893 by the London Philatelio
Society. Upon another occasion a collec-
ton OF the stamps OF Great Britain from the
! record sheets was presented to him by
the inland revenue authorities. and { 10
| safe to sly that this series could not DO
duplicated.
When the plates for printing Great Brit
f, ain'o STAMPS are made the first impression
is sent to the stamp department at Somerset
House as a proof and to be registered.
All these stamps are unperforated and
only one sheet is printed from each plate
in this condition. OF these proofs the
Prince 3 slbumG show a complete series.
They also contain a similar 1ecial collec-
ton of the postage and telegraph stampb
of India.
At various times the Crown agents for
British colonies in different parts OF the
/ world have given him collections Of the
British Colonial stamps. the Sydney Phila-
telic Club presented a collection OF tho
stamps of New South Wales. Canadian
philatelists gave him a comprehensive
IF fhA cAn Of rt3 tah
America. while upon the Princes recent
visit to India the Kashmir Durbar presented
him with a specialized collection of the
s.amps of Kashmir.
The Maharajah's gift showed the Kash-
mir stamps in single copies, used and un-
used: Iairs and blocks of two, four &c.,
copies of originals, entire sheets. proofs
from defaced plates, and even examples
of clever forgeries. The album in which
the stamps were inclosed was a handsome
| scecimen of native art in chiselei silver
work. the pages being illustrated by native
| artists.
His collection shows a pair and a single
| copy of the famous one penny Mauritius
stamp. The one penny stamp, which is in
perfect condition, came to light in an un-
! usual way.
The album Of a French schoolboy was
bought by dealer for a trifing sum, and
| great was the dealers astonishment In
| glancing carelessly through the leaves to
| find the rare Mauritius stamp in mint state.
| Careful scrutiny of the remainder OF the
stamps in the book failed to disclose any
thing else of value. the stamps with this
one exception not being worth SO cents.
The one penny stamp was afterward put
| up at auction, and was purchaser by the
| Prince for 81, 200, being the highest price
ever rs:i for a single stamp up to that
| time.
Among other series he owns the only
| complete set OF Liberian stamps, someN
| ST ecimens of which are valued at $500 each.
| He is by no means merely an accunulator
Of stamps, but has read papers on phila-
| telc subjects before the Royal Stamp 30
ciety. He is said first to have collected
| stamps when he was a midshipman on tho
| Bacchante and in recent years Is credited
| with having written TO friend that stamp
collecting was one OF the greatest pleasures
| Of his life.
His collection has been valued at $1,000
| but this figure is probably short OF the
mark. on account OF his numerous unique
specimens. which would bring high prioss
| If offered in the market. His two young
sons are also stamp collectors, and each
| had his collection on view a. the great
stamp exhibition last year.
| The Queen Of Italy is an enthusiastic
! collector Of stamps and owns a large
Some time ago the Postmaster. General
! Of the Argentine Republic, upon learning
! that Queen Helene was follower OF phi
lately, had prepared albums containing
| complete set OF all the adhesive stamps
ever issued in Argentina, some Of These
| being Of extreme rarity and Of great value.
| This idea so strongly FoooEnTaended N:eh
that the representatives Of other foreign
! Powers at the Italian court followed As
gentina's example and presented the Quaen
with albums containing complete sets OF
| the stamps Of their respective countries.
Henry White before he retired as tho AM
bassador to Italy presented to the Queen
a complete set Of the postage stamps Of tho
United States
The Emperor of Japan takes time to
collect stamps while leading his country
to greater achievements in war and peace.
Some time ago the French Government
sent him a complete set Of all the French
stamp issues from iSa9, the first year OF the
use of stamps in that country. down TO the
present time.
There is still another Oriental ruler who
collects postage stamps, and that ts the
King Of Siam. SO Tar as Is known ne and
the Emperor Of Japan are the only rulers
in the East to collect stamps. But little
is known of the Siamese Kings stamp
comprehensive. His enthusiasm for
stamps is shared by his oldest son. Prince
Damrong Of Siam.
The Crown Prince Of Sweden is ool-
Margaret Of. Connaugkt. The French
Government gave the Princess com
plete set of French stamps az wedding
present.
Among stamp collectors can ALSO be in>
cluded Queen Wilhelmina OF Holland. al
though but little has been made public OF
the extent of her collection.
King Alfonso Of Spain is a collector.
When he made his recent visit to Paris.
the French President had albums pre-
pared. in which were placed all the stamp
issues Of France and her colonies. and
these were presented to the Spanish ruler.
The present Czar OF Russia, so far as can
be learned, is not a st imp collector. although
he owns u magnificent collection. His
father. Alexander Ill. always had q strong
partiality for the gathering Of stamps,
and brought together a collection valued
at $500. 900. which upon his death came
into the possession OF Gar Nicholas.
Pope Plus Y. has been a stamp collector
for many vaara