Evening star., 1922-01-01

America from the West Indies and
South America did not bear, as they
would if sent today, merely the
stamps of their country of origin, but
as that was before the days of the
universal postal union, it was some
times necessary that the postage
should be paid with stamps of two or
three different countries, and in the
collection is a most remarkable
"cover" upon which four different
countries are represented by their
postage stamps. This cover started
in Peru, came up the west coast OF
South America, across the Isthmus OF
Panama, then through the West
Indies, where the stamps Of two other
countries were placed upon it, and
arrived in New York, and further
charge Of 10 cents was collected by an
American stamp before it was deliv-
cred to the addressee in this country.
A MOTHER unusual cover is per-
haps unique in all the realm Of
philately. Two continents were
linked together by stamps of third
continent. Two United States stamps,
the 10-cent denomination of the series
of 1869, which httingly enough bear
upon them the American eagle poised
for fight and standing upon the
United States shield, carried a letter
from Japan to England. The letter
was sent from the United States con-
sulate in the city Of Hiogo, in Japan,
which explains why the American
stamps were good for postage on a
letter mailed in the land of Nippon.
and the stamps themselves are can
celed with the name of the Japanese
city.
From a historical standpoint no
part of the Ackerman collection is Of
greater interest than that which en-
braces the first postage stamps issued
in this country for general use. These
are called the series of 1S47 and We're
in use during the four years from
July, 1s47. until July, 1851. The Sc
ries consists of but two stamps, 81
cent brown bearing the portrait of
Benjamin Franklin. to pay single
rate on letters going any distance up
to 500 miles, and a 10-cent black with
portrait of Washington, to pay the
rate on single letters going over 800
miles. The scent stamps ware
greatly in shade, and it is but little
exaggeration to say that OF the
thousands of specimens in existence
no two of them are exactly the same.
The 10-cent stamp, being black. is
not subject to any great variation,
and this in itself is indeed a compli-
ment to the men who made them
three-quarters of a centary ago. be-
cause many of the specimens do not
show the slightest fading or deteri-
oration in color.
Before the 10-cent stamps were
printed the plate was gone over by
the engraver and many of the loo
impressions on it, or perhaps all OF
them, were slightly touched up to
strengthen or improve some of the
lines Of the engraving. Since the
slight re-engravings are not exactly
the same on any two Of the subjects
on the plate. there are 100 slightly
different varieties Of this stamp. and
if, as some students believe. there
were two plates of 100 subjects, then
collectors may seek 200 different va
rieties of this stamp. Many of the
more noticeable varieties are present
in the Ackerman collection.
This part of the 1s47 collection is
not, perhaps, of so great interest to
the historian as the collection of thes'
stamps used on the original letters
or envelopes from many cities and
towns of America. The number OF
post offices at which the 1S47 stamps
were sold is not known. The number
of cities and towns at which it can
be proved the stamps were used by
letters bearing them is only small
fraction of the total number of post
offices. The collection contains let