Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-26
FORTUNES FOR POST STAMPS
MiIions of Dollars Invested in the
BusfneSs-BOme Notable Col
IectiOns.

million and a half dollars for collec-
ton of rare obtects-small, perishable, not
always beautiful, sometimes with little hts
toTic interest-it 10 pretty sum to pay.
Six hundred thousand donars-that Is an
other expenditure that might very well
make ordinary folk open thier eyes. Fifty
thousand dollars a year to crafty hobby
that IL not yachting or buying old masters
that again would make most persons
think a great many more times than twice.
But these are the sums men pay for
stamps, postage stamps. some new and
some black with the ink Of the canceling
machine, but worth often hundreds or even
thosuands of dollars apiece.
The twenty fifth anniversary of the
founding OF the American Philatelic society
il to be celebrated this year in Chicago by
a great exhibition OF stamps of many ia
nous collectors. At the same time there
will be an international exhibition in
Vienna.
People who do not collect stamps or who
regard that passion as one OF the passing
phases OF boyhood may be somewhat sur
prised to know that two large exhibitions
can be successfully carried on at one time.
They will receive a further shock when
they learn that there are now millions OF
Enthusiastically millions, IL is no figure OF
speech-invested in the stamp business.
In Paris is a gentleman who calls him
self M. La Renotiere. Calls himself is
a proper turn of phrase in this connection
because he really is a Marquis de Ferrari
but he has come to dislike titles and all
the attributes OF greatness, and lives as a
simple gentleman. This is the man who
has paid for the best collection of stamps
in the world not less, they say, than a
million and a half dollars.
He comes of an old and very wealthy
family of Genoa. and the taste for collect
ing is in the blood. His mother gave Paris
a museum, and to this institution NJ. La
Renotiere will leave his wonderful collec-
ton, that 1t may be a delight and marvel
to his fellow enthusiasts as long as stamps
pass through the postage office and adorn
the albums OF collectors.
Next In value to the collection of NJ. La
Renotiere comes that OF an American, Mr..
@. II. Worthington OF Cleveland. He Is a
wealthy business man whose one great
recreation is the collecting OF stamps He
keeps a secretary who does nothing but
attend to this hobby of his, He has some
stamps that are worth a fortune and many
that sell for more than the average pro-
fesstonal man can earn in a month. Some
time ago the collection was valued at
$4,000, and 1t is probable that today a
valuation OF 200 would fall short OF
the price his albums would bring.
The British Museum has perhaps the
third finest collection that OF the late
Mr.. TAPPING, member of Parliament, who
bequeathed his stamps to the museum In
1890. At that time they were said to be
worth $500 COO but they would bring today
much more than that sum.
King George has a remarkable collection
and is honorary president OF the Royal
Philatedio society. but he has specialized
closely. Most collectors nowadays special
ize, because there are so many stamps il
the world that II is impossible to achieve
real distinction as a collector unless SOM
comparatively small field is chosen. Mer
like NJ. La Renotiere, who have collected
for many years and have spent fortunes
on their stamps have good general collec
tons, but usually even the rich collector
have their specialties King Georges is
very properly, the British empire.
Although his collection is outranked In
value by five or six others OF different
kinds. he has the distinction of having
paid the record price for a stamp. Owe
200 was given at auction for a 2-pennS
blue Nautilus stamp OF the year 1915
certainty OF no beauty bul one o.
the rarest stamps in the world. Not NOR
than eleven are known 10 exist
The speciality OF Henry Croker OF Sa
Francisco has been Hawaiian stamps an
he has a collection that is being sent owe
20 Vienna TO set a pace for collectors ther'
He Is not looking for prizes for he hs
already won all that can be competed FOL
In London some years ago his Hawaiia
afamoS won the GOLD ohamDionahin meda
which means that IL was not only tn
best exhibition OF Hawaiian stamps. bu
the best exhibit shown At all.