Evening star., 1934-01-07
BY JAMES WALDO FAwCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
The value OF stamp collecting to
Uncle Sam is made abundantly mani
fest in a summary of sales through the
phiiatelic agency, as follows: Fiscal
year ending June 80, 1922, SIC, 0,906.50;
1923, $105,31703; 1924, $l29,646.5l;
1925, S108,813.51; 1926, 135,875.94;
1927, Sl76,I57.95; 1923, $154, 1883;
1929, S283 98304; 1880. S3l7,173.32;
1881, $254,797.13; 1882, $337, ,237.20, and
1888, $780,, ,6l954.
For the first quarter of the year end
ing June 80 next, sales totaled $123,-
756.46, and for the second quarter,
S209, 723.16.
But only a relatively small part of
the philatelic business of the Post
Office Department passes through the
agency. 1t has been estimated that at
least s1,000,000 worth of business is
done by local postmasters throughout
the country with collectors.
At the Washington Philatelic Society
meeting last Wednesday evening at the
Hotel Carlton Albert K. Kunze exhibited
approximately 400 selected specimens
from the stamp and cover collection of
Washington philateliSt. Included in the
display were many fine die proofs of
departmental stamps, their colors as
bright as when first they were printed.
Other. attractive features were blocks
of early nineteenth century issues in
teresting examples Of various commem-
oratives, Civil War covers and revenue
stamps. The prize pearl of the show
was a vertical two-thirds Scent 1869
stamp used as a 2-cent value, tied to
piece, appraised at $400.
A ovI,jkitioyo will hn hold ItprJnr
the same auspices Wednesday evening,
January II.
Among Mr.. Houston's papers there
was found a faded clipping from The
Star of more than 20 years ago. The text
reads The 100000 collection of post
age stamps that for years has been
gathering dust in the archives of the
Post Office Department is being ar
ranged and classified for exhibition at
the National Museum, and the collec-
ton, which is declared to be the finest
with one exception in existence, will
soon be in the cases, ready for public
inspection.
The huge task is in the hands Of J.
B. Leavy, Government philatelist, and
T. T. Belote, head of the museums di-
vision of history, who expect to have
the exhibit in permanent shape within
about a year.
"Oficials of the museum and the Post
Office Department say the only collec-
ton of stamps which excels in COM
pleteneSS the one now being arranged Is
that owned by the British Museum.
THE collection includes specimens of
every variety and denomination of
stamps ever issued by this Government,
as well as a collection of practically all
the stamps ever issued by any govern
ment since the use of postage stamps
first began. Included in the collection
are specimens of the original British
stamps of the 40s-which was as large as
an ordinary envelope of today-as well
as the sizes issued in later years.
so far only nineteenth century is
sues and about $4,000 worth have been
put on exhibit. A novel case, consisting
of scores of sliding vertical sections, all
locked with one key, and absolutely air
tight, contains the stamps. The idea
was taken from the British Museum. but
the cases are great Improvement on
those there employed.
Among the most valuable stamps in
the collection are the Franklin carrier
stamp of the 40s, which brings $100;
the type I of 1851. whose faded square
inch OF paper is valued at 5000, and the
1-cent type of the same year and like
value.
The value that attaches to stamp
said Mr. Leavy, "is determined very
queerly sometimes. A misprint, a recalled
issue and historic association brings up
the worth of a stamp to amazing figures
in few years. IntrinSically, they have
no value. If stamp collecting fell into
disfavor all over the world, good many
paper fortunes would vanish at blow "
Mr.. Leavy was In charge OF the
NJ
vember S, 1918, to July 25, 1921. His
successor was Mrs Catherine L. Man
ming. appointed January 3, 1922. BY
curious circumstance, she also had been
his predecessor, serving from April 81
to October %, 1918, in a probationary
capacity.
The Associated Press reports: 'Tri-
angles, those stamps s. difficult to
handle in the post Office rush, but which
embellish any collection because their
design usually is in keeping with the
odd shape, are beginning to appear
again.
; Countries on both sides of the At
lantic Uruguay and Holland, have come
forward with the latest. The Uruguayan
issue was put out in honor OF the
seventh Pan American Conference, held
at Montevideo. Each stamp of the
set of six is in three colors and shows
an albatross winging over map OF the
two Americas. The values range from
3 to So centesimoS.
The Holland triangle is 3O-cent
airmail, showing the propeller END OF
a modern airplane. The stamp mas
been issued in duplicate, one for the
mother country and the other for the
Dutch Indies, and are so inscribed
The annual charity stamps OF the
Netherlands show a child holding
Christmas star The values and colors
are: llsc plus 11ac, slate and orange,
brown; SC plus &c. black brown and 1d
ochre; &c plus 4c, green and gold, and
tl2lac plus 312c, dark blue and silver,
Hungary has new provisional post
-due-10f on 80f, rose red.
/ The new stamps of Basutoland, Brit
Ish colony. are listed as follows: 12d,
emerald green; Id, rose red; I'd, red
violet; Sd, ultramarine; I'D, slate; Cd,