Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-22

Postage stamps bearing women's
heats have always had fascinating
interests for stamp collectors ever since
Queen Victoria was first depicted as a
young Queen on the first adhesive post
age stamps ever issued. the bne and
two penny values OF Great Britain. In
1870. The portrait WAS beautifully en-
grnved, and although simple In design.
that original adhesive stamp issue has
ever since been regarded as triumph
In philatelic engraving. The portrait
was profile OF the Queen at the time
she ascented the throne. 1t was copied
from medal engraved by William
wyon to commemorate the. Queens
first visit to the City of London after
the coronation In 1877. The portrait
was greatly admired by Queen Vic
tofia stamps. especially those of
in later life TO change II on the new
issues. she declined. on the ground.
Il is said, that she wished to remain
in her peoples memory as the young
Queen OF the wyon portrait.
As that was the standard portrait
for more than half century on the
various issues of Great Britain as well
as on the great ma jority of the British
colonial issues. the statement recently
made by Fred j. Melville, one u Eng.
lands leading stamp authorities. will
doubtless cause little surprise among
philatelists to learn that probably 3.5oo
distinct varieties OF postage stamps
portrnying Queen Victoria are in ex-
istcnce. This ts about three times the
number. adds Mr.. Melville. OF the
stamps bearing the picture Of King
Edward Many of the earliest Vic
toria setamps. especially those of
Mauretius, are now very rare and a
fairly complete collection OF the
Queens heads would form a very vals
liable collection In Itself.
Next to Queen Victoria, the two other
feminine monarchs whose portraits on
postage stamps are most familiar are
Queen Isabella III OF Spain and Queen
wilhelmina OF Holland. There are 172
varieties OF the Spanish Isabella
stamps. the higher value In each issue
being quite rare. and about $50 varie-
ties with wlIheimina's portrait. The
first Dutch issue portraying Queen
wilhelmina showed her as little girl
That remained for several years until
the Queen, becoming tired OF seeing
her youthful portrait, changed II In
1908 for the pleasing portrait which
still remains In use on the stamps of
Holland.
The present Queen Mary of England
has been depicted In very artistic por-
traiture on several stamps, chiefly OF
the North American British colonies
Tier portrait first appeared on the Dia-
mond jubilee issue of Newfoundland
the different values bearlng portraits
of all the royal family. In 1908 New
foundland issued a stamp with the
portrait of Queen Alexandra and In
1901 appeared q four-cent violet stamp
with what is considered by many coll
lectors as the most beautiful portrait
on a stamp of Queen Mary, showing
her as the Princess OF Wales. In 1905
when King George and Queen Mary
then Prince and Princess. visited Can.
ada for the Quebec Tercentenary ceie-
bration. there was a special postal ir.
sue, OF which the half-cent value bore
their portraits facing each other.
In 1910 Rhodesia issued special sc.
ries on whicl. Queen Mary was depicted
The issue was TO celebrate the pro.
jected visit of the Prince and his wifs
TO open the Union Parliament In South