The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-02-13
FASCINATION OF POSTAGE STAMPS
Holding The Habit Takes Hold of a
Nan When He Begins TO Collect.

Sdlu stamp dealer 20 New OF r
Sun reporter. This phase OF
collecting, indeed, forms one OF
the chief delights of the rich col
lectOr.
A millionaire collector of this
city will roam about the greater
part of a day in order to get a de-
sired stamp at a bargain, and when
he succeeds it gives him the great
est satisfaction. Apparently he
feels amply compensated tor all
his trouble.
But the hobby has its advant-
ages, as it gives invaluable men
tai relaxation. When the man OF
business is occupied with his
stamps all business problems and
worries fly to the winds.
Some time ago a very promin-
ent lawyer in Chicago walked into
the store of a stamp dealer of that
city and said: I want to see some
of your stamps"
The stamp dealer, who knew
the lawyer and was aware that he
was an extremely busy and hard
worked man, replied: Why, you
are joking-you don't want to buy
stamps.
Eyes l do said the lawyer. I
have done too much work lately
and have had something like a
breakdown. My physician sug-
gests that l take up some kind OF
collecting pursuit that will furnish
a degree of mental rest, so
thought OF stamps, and the ply
stefan thinks that collecting them
will answer the purpose nicely"
The collecting of stamps pos
sesses a curious fascination. Some
years ago a Chicagoan was APP
pointed consul general at Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil. After he had
been stationed there for a while
his niece, who lived in Chicago,
wrote and asked if he would send
her some Brazilian stamps.
The consul general told one OF
the attaches of the Office to tear
off some stamps from letters which
came to hand in the course OF
ordinary business, and these were
forwarded to the Chicago girl.
Upon receiving the stamps she
wrote and thanked her uncle for
them, but stated that the stamps
he had sent were not the kind she
wanted, as plenty Of the common
and current varieties were easily
cbtainable in Chicago. What she
wanted was the old Brazilian
stamps of the obsolete issues.
The gathering Of the latter
stamps he found to be a task OF
considerable difficulty, but he
went to work, visited the different
local stamp dealers, made inquiries
in various directions for the stamps
and in the course of few months
had acquired an expert knowledge
of the numerous Brazilian issues.
Brazil was the second country
in the world to adopt the adhesive
postage stamp, and from the time
of their first use, in 1913, down to
and including 1906, there were net
less than 43I straight varieties,
not to speak of the numerous trif-
ing varieties.
In trying to get additional in
formation about these stamps the
collection of them finally began to
exercise fascination for him and
the first thing he knew he was buy
ing stamps for the American con-
sul-general at Brazil and his niece
had become a secondary considera-
ton.
He had much trouble in dis
tinguishing the difference between
the early issues, as from 1843 up
to 1866 all the stamps showed just
the figures from 10 to GOO. without
value or inscription and nearly all
printed in black. But he per.
severed.
"Often when he desired a GER
tain variety of stamp to fill out a
certain series he bought the entire