The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-12
PhilateIic Neze,s
Abdication of King Edward to Place High Val uation on Pre-Coronation Issues-Austria Fea-
 lures Annual Christmas Relief Stamps
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By J. P. D..

The repercussions resulting from the abdication of King Edward VIII will be felt in all parts of the British Empire and not one of the lest important of these will have its effect on the stamp world.
 Early this year, as sort of experiment, a number of stamps, said number being limited. bear ing the portrait of King Edward, were released. At the time 1t was understood that just prior to the coronation of Edward VIII a great number of these would be releas- ed in connection with the affair. Naturally the coronation of Ed- ward will never take place now and the few stamps which were released earlier in the year have become valuable overnight.
 Early this week, men who were willing to gamble, caused quite a furry in the British stamp mar- ket by paying high prices for the stamps. They were taking a chance by paying large sums, for if the former king had decided not to abdicate and had been crowned in 1887, these stamps would become quite common fol- lowing the planned release of the coronation commemorative.
 But the gamble proved to be a good one. The men who paid high prices for the comparatively few "King Edward" stamps now have very valuable possessions, rarities which will become more valuable with the passing years.
 There is one slight hitch, how ever, which might crop up and ruin the value of the stamps from a financial standpoint. It is quite possible that the British govern ment might formally declare that the stamps have no face value whatsoever. They might even go so far as to say they were never printed.
 From Austria comes the news thst the annual winter relief series, recently released, consists of four designs in large square format. The s plug 2g. shows St. Martin on horseback, cutting his cloak in two and sharing it with the roadside beggar. The other stamps show pictures of St. Elix- abeth giving food to the poor and 8 picture of the members of poor family warming themselves before . fire. In all, 300,O00 of these stamps were printed.
 One of the highlights of the American Philatelic Congress, which took place all during the week at Cleveland, Ohio, was the interest which lay in the fact that
 a faded little stamp of British Guiana, dated 1856 and generally regarded to be the worlds most valuable stamp, might soon pass into the hands of an American collector. The stamp was not on exhibition but the talk that it might come to America was suf- ficient cause for great talk in connection with purchase of the stamp.
 One of the proposals offered. according to James w. Fawcett of Washington, secretary of the con- gress. was that the U. s. collec- tors unite and purchase the stamp for the sum of $40,000.
 From Switzerland comes . des- scription of the new "Pro Patria" stamp. The new set in aid of the new treasury loan, consists of three v:.lues, 10 plus soc, violet, 20 plus lec, orange-red, and 30 plus 10c, blue. The design Is . peasant leaning on . stave. This years Pro Juventute" (child welfare) series will. as usual. con- sist of four values, and will De on sale throughout the month of December. The designs are; 5c, green, portrait of Naegeli. who in- troduced the study of singing in- to Swiss scho0ls; iec. violet. peas- ant costume of Neuchatel; soc, red, Schwytx costume, and soc, hlue, Zurich OheFlana eestun,e.
 An idea of the vast amount of research work done by philatelists aIllnllaa. Aha mat Waar nnnv hA