Evening star., 1942-10-04
Among the Stamp Collectors
News of the Phiatelc World Its Interests and PEOPLE
By James Waldo Fa,vceff.

ment with the Treasury Department
whereby the Revenue Philatelic
Agency, Room 1902, Internal Rev.
enue Building. now has available for
sale to collectors all of the 1912
stock transfer stamps from 1c to
$1,000, with the single exception of
the &c denomination which has not
yet been issued for the current year.
Philatelic periodicals are being
distributed to TOO United Service
Organization service clubs through
out the United States. The pub
fishers are contributing copies as a
gesture In practical patriotism and
for the benefit of the hobby In
dividual collectors desiring to do
nate philatelic books, stamps and
accessories are invited to communi-
cate with Stamps for Servicemen,"
USO, Empire State Building, New
York City.
Charles H. Chevallaz. 1121 New
Hampshire avenue NV, reports
that the stamp collectors and deal
ers of Paris still meet at their out
door bourse near the Palais Royal
Stamps Magazine, edited and pub
lished by Harry L. Lindquist, 2 West
Forty-siXth street, New York City,
Is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The first number was released Sep
tennber IT, 1882 the 525th bears the
nf a
two dates there has been a decade
of faithful and helpful service to
philatelists of all classes.
James Starr, writing on "The
Stamps Of China" says: Middle
Flowery Country as its own people
call it, has existed as nation from
time immemorial. When Abraham
left Ur, China was probably in for
nation. She has seen the rise and
fall of Crete, Babylon, Carthage,
cations. Once her territory extended
from the Arctic Ocean to we'll into
India and the Near East; and
Europe. as far west as Warsaw
paid tribute to her emperors,
Genghis Kahn and Tamerlane.
AT times in the past aggressive,
but recently for years devoted to
peace, China has been overrun and
apparently conquered many times by
nations of barbarians. But always
in the end China has overthrown
her would-be conquerors and cast
them out or absorbed them in her
own civilization. 1t has been merely
q question of time, and time is
nothing In China =.
with such an ancient civilization
It may seem strange that no postage
stamps were issued by this nation
of paradoXes until 1878, but stamps
are a modern invention, and while
China had no stamps until recent
years, two postal systems have ex-
listed there for many centuries"
Kent B. Stiles. writing in the
New York Times for September q,
reports: The Federal authorities,
IN an effort to end traff1cking in
used postage stamps from which can
collation. marks had been so Efficient
appear to be unused copies, intro
duced Photographic machinery in
presenting the Governments evi-
dence in the recent trial of New
York dealer. On the basis of this
and other evidence, the jury, seven
women and five men, convicted the
dealer on all seven counts in the
indictment.
This was the first time in the
history of American Jurisprudence
that projectors and a violet-ray ap-
paratus were placed in operation in
a United States court so that judge,
jury. counsel and spectators could
see, through photographs shown on
the screen, cancellation marks which
had been placed on stamps that had
passed through the mails. Govern
ment attorneys said that trafficking
In cleansed stamps had become wide
spread and was costing the Post
ONCE Department many thousands
Of dollars in postal revenue.
THE postal authorities began an
inquiry several months ago into the
business of M. LANCER, operating the
Langer Stamp Co. at 761 Sixth
avenue, New York City. Postal In
spector Louis j. Bader, representing
himself as shipping clerk, made sew
eral purchases of stamps purported
to be unused copies. A few weeks
later postal inspectors arrested
LANCER. They searched his premises
and seized about $4,000 stamps
ranging in face values from half
cent to 81. These and ones earlier
purchased were turned over to the
Philatelic Research Laboratories,
Inc, and each stamp was examined
for characteristics of cancellation
Nearly 1,500 photographs were taken,
and these and the stamps were in
troduced at Langers trial, September
IA to II. The courtroom was
darkened for several hours, and
stamps which to the unaided eye
appeared unused were put under
ultraviolet light and the canceling
marks including dates and names
Of cities, were read to the jury.
Judge T. Blake Kennedy, presiding,
left the bench to get a better view
OF what the projectors showed on the
screen.
United States Attorney Clayton D.
Hollinger called only three witnesses.
Postal Inspector Bader testified to
having bought stamps from LANCER
Inspector L. j. Moran testified to
the arrest and to seizure of $4,000
stamps. Y. Souren, president of
Philatelic Research Laboratories,
Inc, testified regarding the photo
graphic and other examinations he
had made. Judge Kennedy in
structed the jury that the Govern
ment had proved that stamps
handled by LANCER had been altered,
in that cancellation marks had been
removed, and that the jury's verdict
should be reached on the single issue
of knowledge and intent to sell al
tered securities of the United States
Government.
Judge Kennedy last Friday SEN
STAMPS AND COINS.