Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-07
POSTAGE STAMPS
Of GREAT VALUE
Romance in the Little Bits of
Printed Paper-The Rarest
Stamp.
From the Strand Magazine.

From the Stfduu Nd&uAAuc'
Not a little Of the fascination which
the study anrd collecting of postage
stamps holds for enthusiasts lies in the
fact that the story Of their origin and
subsequent history is in many cases Of
an exceedingly romantic character.
The single known copy of the rarest
stamp In the world. valued at $4,000
the one-cent British Guiana issued in
1S56-was discovered by a young collec-
tor in the colony among some old fam
lily papers stored away in an attic
Knowing nothing Of its scarcity. and not
being favorably impressed by its appear
ance, he sold it to another collector for
trifiing sum, the purchaser being also
ignorant of his great bargain. Ultimate
" 1t found its way to Europe and now
reposes in the collection of NJ Philippe
de Ia Renotiere Of Paris, who purchased
it many years ago.
The value of f1.45o is placed upon the
famous Post Office Nautilus" stamp.
which was crudely engraved on a small
copper plate by a local matchmaker OF
Port Louis, and issued September p.
1S47 A total of only 500 copies of each
Of these stamps were tediously printed
of one at time from the plate, and the
majority of these were used on invita-
lions to a ball sent out by Lady Comm,
wife Of the governor of the colony
It was not until nearly twenty years
after their issue that the first two copies
Of these rarities were brought to light by
a young stamp collector of Bordeaux.
The most perfect used copy Of the pence
post office Mauritius was sold by auction
in 1904 for no less sum than f1,450,
and Is now included in King Georges
collection.
To the story of the matchmaker who
designed this stamp may be added that of
the bakers boy who engraved a stamp OF
the Republic Of Corrientes. now forming
part of the Argentine federation. In 1855
it was decided by the authorities to issue
stamps. but they could find no engraver
to cut the die or prepare the plates While
one of the officials was discussing the
situation with the head of the state print
ing office on his veranda one morning a
bakers boy arrived with the daily supply
OF bread, and, overhearing the converse
ton, volunteered to undertake the work,
stating that before emigratlng 70 soutn
America he had been apprenticed 10 an
engraver in Italy. Ultimately the boy was
given the work to do, and he turned out
a stamp which, although crude, served for
all postage stamps issued in Corrientes
from 1855 to 1880.
Probably few people are aware OF the
fact. by the way, that his majesty then
Prince of Wales) was responsible 1or the s
design Of the 1902 postage stamps OF
Canada, universally acknowledged 10 pe
the most artistic stamps OF the iase o reen
ton the postmaster general or CANADA
then on q visit to England, took the op-
portunity of consulting his royal nlgh-
ness on the subject of the proposed new
issue Of postage stamps for the Domln.
ion. The prince at once took the keenest
interest in the work. designed the stamp
I'M conjunction with member OF the
ROYAL Philatelic Society, and superin-
d dapaed IN st this country. The Edwardian
.tsn,ns of Canada can therefore lay
Claim to the distinction Of being de-
signed by a king.
A stamp round which centers. one OF
history is the so-called death mask
stsmnH Of Servia, issued In 1904 to
commemorate the accession OF King
Peter I. The dastardly assassination
81 %,.r KING sv military military oficers. June II,
1908. wiped out the obrenovitch dynasty
from the throne of Servia and paved
the way for the present king.
After the tragedy one OF the most
was commissioned to prepare a stamp
from a design by Servian artist,
showing on single plaque the twin
profiles of Kara Georg, the founder of
the dynasty which bears his name, and
King Peter, his descendant:
The stamps were issued at the time of
King Peters coronation In 1904. and
hardly had they got into circulation
adeath-mask" of the late King Alex
ander had been skillfully and subtly
introduced into the design. and on the
stamp being inverted could be plainly
traced IN the reversed features OF the
two heads. :.
This discovery at once caused an ont
cry, the stratagem being ascribed to
ex-Queen Nathalie. mother Of the MUIR
dered king, and her supporters. but all
connivance In the plot was Indignantly
repudiated by the engraver, and the
mystery Of this extraordinary happen
ing has never been satisfactorily