Evening star., 1936-03-15
nv JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

| SOclated Press wire service OUT Oh NeW
York, says: Spectators in United
States postage stamps, accustomed to
watching prices of their holdings
steadily rise during the past two years,
may have a rude awakening this Sum-
| mer.
Startling prices are now being
paid for unused copies of the higher
priced commemorative by wealthy
collectors striving to complete their
exhibits before the opening of the
Third International Philatelic Exhi-
bition in May.
Some dealers, commissioned to fill
up those blank spaces in their clients
albums regardless of cost, predict the
unusual demand will cease after the
exhibition and conditions will return
to normal. Coupled with the Gus
tomary Summer slump in the stamp
business, this is expected to bring
about a static condition until next
Fall, when collectors return from their
vacations and again turn to their
stamps for recreation.
Boom psychology is definite
factor in the stamp trade at present,
just as it was in 1885 when imitation
talk was current. One example of
excessive optimism was the high price
paid last Spring for wholesale guam
titles of the Scent Maryland COM
memorative of 1884. These sold at
auction for more than 50 per hundred
but at the beginning of the Summer
the price slumped, and even now they
may be purchased wholesale at $1.5C
| per hundred.
While the Maryland stamp Is an
unusual example, because almost every
other United States commemorative
has held its gains, it is not impos-
sible that wholesale prices of several
recent United States issues now ir
the boom stage may experience q
similar drop this Summer, along with
the higher priced commemorative.
One Washington speculator is sale
to have a hoard of 1000 sheets Of
the 50-cent Graf Zeppelin stamp. HI
is reported to have been negotiating
with New York dealer on the basi,
of three and half times face value.
The suppressed potato tax stamp.
went on sale at the Bureau of Interna
Revenue, Room 1920, Monday. as ex.
pected. But complaints we're legion
especially when collectors were told
You must take them as they come.
Straight-edges were removed later ir
the week, yet nothing could be done
about off-center copies.
The bureau also is selling silver ta2
stamps in the following denomina.
tions: 1c, &c, &c, &C, sc, &c, 10c, zoe, Csc
4Oc, SOC, 8Oc, 81, 81, So, 81, IS anc
$40; total, s27.48.
No further details have been an
nounced with respect to the proposed
Army and Navy series, forecast in The
Star exclusively March 6. 1t is un-
derstood that the names of a numer.
Gus company Of heroes will be consid-
cred by President Roosevelt, the spon.
sor of the set, and by the Post Office
Department officials. Among those
favored are: John Paul Jones, Com.
modore John Barry, Gen. Robert E
Lee, Gen. Stonewau Jackson, Gen
Phil Sheridan and Admiral George
Dewey.
Collectors who desire to have. the
u. S. S. Constitution cold Ironsides'')
included should communicate with
| Postmaster General James A. Farley
Individuals interested in the much
debated plan for series of stamps tc
restore to fame the so-called neglect
ed" Presidents still are petitioning the
postal authorities, despite Mr.. Roose-
velt's repeated denial Of their appeal
Some of the agitators are distant kin
folk of the deceased Chief Executives
But the philatelic public maintains
its attitude of resistance, and no irri-
tating decision is anticipated in
campaign year.
Gibbons Stamp Monthly, London
discusses in fortnight fashion a dan
ger to philately which, unfortunately
has not been comprehended by Euro
pean collectors in general. In an
open letter to the Belgian minister
of posts" the editor says, Richard
Byl refers to the abuses which have
arisen during recent years by the
presentation to high officials of i'm
| perforate sets of Belgian stamps
which in many cases come on the
philatelic market at fantastic prices
"a protest against these unissued
imperf stamps is long overdue, but
we are amazed when we read further
to find a suggestion that, in order to
remedy the present abuses, the Bel
gian postal authorities should issue
the Queen Astrid charity stamps to
the tune of 1000 sets in imperf con-
dition at the price Of 100 francs, the
proceeds to go to the charity funds
which are benefiting so largely from
the enormous sales Of the ordinary
stamps.
The New York Times and Time
Magazine joined in a philatelic
"howler" when they said: "In success
sive reigns the head of the sovereign
on coins and stamps faces alternately
left and right. Thus Queen Victoria