Evening star., 1945-07-22

one stamp collector.
II. T.. Harris g. Co. of Boston have
issued the following friendly warn
ing" to collectors warning which
certainly should be read and needed
with care:
"The stamps produced during the
war years by enemy and enemy
occupied countries lie, by nearly
all OF Europe and North Africa,
and by the former japanese con-
quests are now beginning to ap-
pear In increasing quantities on the
American market.
These are unusually attractive
and interesting stamps, and are GER
tain to be much in demand. Yet
for the time being we shall decline
to handle the great majority of
them.
THE reason for our watch-and-
wait policy may be simply stated.
We would rather offer the Axis
issues to our customers late, but
priced right, than early at the in
fiated prices at which 50 many OF
them first reach the market.
"At the present time, In our
opinion, the majority of these
stamps-and especially the higher
priced sets-are being sold at fig
ures so far in excess of their basic
values that declining prices must be
expected in the near future.
THE difference between official
and unofficial (or black marketD
rates of exchange; the operations
of spectators trying to raaintain
artificially high prices; the unknown
quantities in which the various sets
exist, and even the authenticity of
certain issues, which may or may
not be accepted for listing in the
Scott Catalogue-these are some of
the factors, still unknown or un-
controllable, which must eventually
determine basic supply -and-de-
mand values of the Axis issues.
"In the meantime, the situation
bears close parallel to that which
existed after World War I. At that
time, the war issues of the enemy
countries, and the early postwar
issues of the new European coun-
tries Uithuania, Hungary, Poland,
etc), reached America in large
quantities at unjustifiably high
prices. During the imitation which
followed, many dealers lost money
on the shrinking values of their
stocks; and, still worse, many en-
bittered collectors lost their con-
fidence not only in stamp values
but also in stamp dealers.
I'VE believe it is in the best in
terests of the stamp hobby to pre-
vent recurrence Of this dangerous
situation, and We are going to do
our bit by proceeding cautiously
with relation to the Axis issues. We
shall add them to our stock only
when, as and if-basing our deci-
sions on our long experience in the
world stamp market-we have good
reason to believe that we can offer
them at prices corresponding to
their true values"
The Post once Department pub
hcity bureau on Wednesday an
nounced: Revised figures on the
quantity of first-day covers of the
Scent Roosevelt memorial stamp
serviced at the Washington, D. c.,
post Office on June n, and the s.
cent Two Jlma alag Raising) stamp
on July Il show that first-day cover
cancellations Of the latter were the
greatest for any single postage
stamp ever issued. These revised
figures disclose that there were 39l,-
$50 covers of the 3-cent Roosevelt
stamp Cancelled on its first day OF
issue, while for the scent Two Jirna
stamp there were 400,279 covers
serviced when first offered for sale.
According to release from the
Fish and Wildlife Service Of the De-
partment Of the Interior. the 1945-
1946 migratory bird hunting stamp,
now available at all first and sec
ond class post Offices at 81, shows a
female and two male shoveller ducks
in fight. Owen j. Gromme made
the water color painting employed
for the vignette. Victor S. Nc
Closkey, jr., designed the frame and
lettering; Matthew D. Ferfton and
John S. Edmonton did the engrav-
ing. The stamp is the twelfth of Q
series.
Elmer c. Pratt, philatelic editor
of the Camden Courier Post, calls
attention to the fact that the Scent
Olympic Games stamp of 1882 shows
a living persona sprinter ready to
sprint.
Hungary announces four Red
Cross stamps, illustrating the va
rious activities of the organization.
Brazil was the first country to
produce stamps to mark the end of
the war in Europe, Switzerland the
second.
Ivor Halstead is the author of
history Of the British postal sys-
tenn IN peace and war, recently
published under the title; Post
Haste"
George Guilsher, former Sec
retary of the Scandinavian Col
lectors' Club, died at Sea Cliff, N. Y,
June IL, aged 40. He was an au-
thority on the stamps of Russia,
Finland and the Levant.
Col. D. T. Gibbs, q former London
post Office offieer, now is in charge
of operating the postal facilities of
that portion Of Germany occupied
by the British.
Colorado collectors are advocating
stamp In memory of Col. William
F. Cody, better known as Buffalo
Bill.
The Collectors Club of Washing
ton will meet at the Pythian Temple,
1912 Ninth street NV, Tuesday
evening at 8.
Myron Rullman, ST., and his son,
Myron. jr., will exhibit selections
from their unique collection of dec
GRATED covers at q meeting Of the
Washington Philatelic Society, Les