Evening star., 1936-09-20
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
The Byrd stamps of 1888 and 1884.
perforate and souvenir sheet i'm
perforate alike, are rising on the
philatelic market in New York.
C. Robert Kay, writing for the Asso-
ciated Press, says: Announcement by
the Philatelic Agency that only half
as many of the imperforate variety
were printed as of the perforated
stamp caused sudden squirt in prices
Of the former. Previously the perfo-
rated variety had sold at slightly
higher prices than the imperforate.
Today the reverse is true. Retail lists
now quote the perforated stamp at 6
cents unused and 5 cents used. The
imperforate is listed at Z cents un-
used and 6 cents used. Auction prices
realized for both varieties in unused
condition are close to the retail prices.
Wholesale lots of used specimens re-
Gently brought $3.50 per hundred for
the perforated variety and 81 per hun
dred for the imperforate."
As to the recent Tipex sheet OF four.
Mr.. Kay reports: 1T has been stabil-
azed at between 26 cents and 80 cents
per sheet, more than double face
value. The price is apparently de-
termined by the anxiety OF the pros
pective buyer, as revealed to those who
have quantities for sale. Much hag-
Cling precedes transactions in unused
sheets in Nassau street.
Prices for Cancelled Tipex singles
are still booming. Last week they
Jumped from So to "a per hundred at
auction. No true idea Of the scarcity
of Cancelled copies is yet available and
many wholesalers believe that they
eventually will be as valuable as un-
used copies. They are very scarce in
cancelled sheets of four"
Other current prices in the New
York market, given by MIR. Kay. are:
1882 George Washington Bicentenniai
set of unused blocks Of four, face
value s2.2s, realized IS; 1888 Graf
Zeppelin 50-cent mint block OF four,
face value 81, brought $11; 1884 Ma
tioual Parks set in mint block OF four,
face value $2.20, sold at $3.50. Auc-
ton commissions Of 20 per cent are
deducted from remittances to owners.
The John Ericsson scent stamp OF
1926 and the Battle of Fallen Iimbers
stamp of 1929 are inscribed memo
rial" but neither is memorial issue.
For the G. A. r. convention, open
ing today, Mrs. X. P. McElroy, 1412
Sixteenth street, is sponsoring COM
plimentary cachet. Those interested
should send standard size ga self
addressed stamped envelopes.
The 3-cent Century Of Progress
bouvenir sheet was removed from the
Philatelic Agency sales list Tuesday.
No announcement has been made con-
cerning total distribution, but the
ogure Is known to be relatively small.
President Roosevelt went to
Cambridge to take part in the celebra-
tion of the tercentenary Of the found
Ing Of Harvard University. but re-
fused to authorize a commemorative
stamp for the occasion. The basis
Of his opposition to the project was
his belief that other institutions OF
higher learning might appeal for
similar recognition.
The Army and Navy Heroes series
still Is shelved. Post Office Depart
ment officials insist that eventually 1t
viii be printed, but the impression at
the White House is that it will not.
The President has not expressed any
interest in the matter recently, and
nothing can be done until he gives
the order to- proceed.
Collectors are advised to preserve
al copies of the Wisconsin, Michigan,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Arkansas,
Texas, San Diego, Boulder Dam.
Oregon Territory and Susan B.
Anthony stamps that may come their
way on cover. These issues, printed
In scant editions, have been largely
used in commercial and social cor
sespondence, and 1t Is estimated that
approximately IS per cent OF them
already have disappeared from
philatelic circulation. Mint copies, Of
course, will be available among dealers
indefinitely, but specimens which have
done postal duty are equally worthy
Of attention.
"During the early part Of 1917"
bays Richard Mcp. Cabeen In the Chi
cago Tribune, "the Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing accidentally perpe-
trsted . stamp error which caused the
ofi1ciab Of the bureau and Of the Post
Once Department many sleepless
nights, for here the impossible had
taken place, and stamps Of scent
value were found side by side Csc
Aenant to philatelists) with the regu-
lar 2-cent stamps Of the sheet.
ITO those unacquamted with the
method used In making plates for line
engraved stamps, such an error may
not appear to be extraordinary. In
autographed or typographical stamps
4 is not unusual for stamps OF the
wrong value or Of the wrong design
ko be mixed in the printing plate, but
in the case Of engraved stamps, where
the printing plate is rigid sheet OF
steel In which the stamp design has
been mechanically impressed. this type
Of error was never considered posi-
btlity.
Following the discovery of the mis-
take the Post ONCE Department had
o search made Of stocks Of 2-cent
stamps in every post ONCE through
out the country snd succeeded In re-
covering about 40 per cent Of the total
erinttng. After some time an expla.