The American Philatelist is the oldest continuously published philatelic journal in the world, with the earliest issue dating to January 1887. Its archive (available in print and online to APS members via the APRL) is a rich seam of philatelic writings and history.
The December 1923 issue of the AP contains many interesting tidbits that may tickle and otherwise delight the historically minded modern reader — from discussion of the collection of Mr. Arthur Hind and one of many sales of the Ferrary collection to the ongoing inflation of German postage rates, diving into this issue offers a visceral glimpse into one of the most significant eras of philatelic history. There's also plenty of versimilitude in this issue. Don't miss the fascinating stories in Editor Adolph D. Fennel's column of a man who miraculously discovered what he thought to be a wildly valuable collection in his father's attic, and of A.H. Pike, a New York native who moved from Buffalo to Binghamton with his massive philatelic library and spent over $3500 in today's money for the privilege. It's fascinating to see what hallmarks of the hobby have changed and which persist; see also the AP staff's review of the latest edition of the Scott catalogue below for an interesting combination of the two.
If you have an interest in the remaining articles, columns, or fascinating advertisements from this issue, you can always visit us here in Bellefonte and seek out one of our copies of this issue, or find what you need online via the digital library collection.
Note: Wherever possible, excerpts were transcribed exactly as printed, including formatting and the occasional spelling error or grammatical quirk.
The American Philatelist
Published by and in the Interest of the AMERICAN PHILATELIC SOCIETY
Volume 37. No. 3. December, 1923.
APS President: Charles F. Heyerman
Editor: Adolph D. Fennel
This Month (* indicates article is included in "From the Vault")
Hong Kong – Issue of 1882, 2c Rose, C.A., Perf. 12
JOHN A. KLEMANN.
The Posts of the Bible.
By HOLLAND A. DAVIS.
Supplementary Mail Cancellations of the New York City Post-Office.
Addenda to November Article
By WARREN L. BABCOCK, Detroit Philatelic Society.
The 3c Stamp of the United States 1851-1857 Issue.
By CARROLL CHASE.
Notices*
Regarding a rewriting of the bylaws as voted on at the APS convention in August, closure of foreign post offices in Turkey, and the sale of a Swedish collection.
Editor’s Column*
Reviews
Including Scott’s Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue* & Zumstein Briefmarken Catalogue, 7th Edition 1924
The Specialist
California Fancy Cancels & Recent Issues of Germany
New Issues Notes and Chronicle*
Society Items
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Wants & Exchanges
NOTICE.
At the convention held in Washington, August 1923, it was voted that the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society be rewritten as it was the opinion of the Convention that they were no longer adequate to the needs of the Society.
Suggestions are invited from all members of the Society as to any changes they believe should be made and any additions they think would be advisable.
Write your suggestions on a separate piece of paper and address to
The board of Vice Presidents, A.P.S.
Otto F. Moses, Recorder,
514 Hippodrome Bldg., Cleveland, Ohio.
Foreign Post Offices in Turkey Closed
By George S. Mavrogrodato.
Under the terms of the recent Treaty of Lausanne, which remarkable document is now admitted to be the greatest diplomatic victory of the War period, the European Governments have agreed to abolish their post offices within the Turkish Empire and the mail in the future will be handled by the Turkish Government.
The Turkish Government originally accepted letters only for distribution within the confines of Turkey and foreign letters were carried only by European ships, there being no over-land mail to Europe.
The Austrians at the beginning of the last Century established a direct postal communication between Constantinople and Vienna, carrying their official correspondence by riders across the Balkan peninsula. This state service Agency developed into a regular postal service taking mails for everywhere in Europe. The Agencies of the Austrian-Lloyd Navigation Company accepted and distributed letters wherever their steamers touched Turkish ports and in this wise the first Austrian Levant stamp came into use. Establishment of these postal agencies by Austria was rapidly followed by the French, English, German and Italian Governments who opened postal Agencies using their respective stamps. It was not until the year 1884 that these stamps were surcharged with their Turkish equivalent in order to suppress a petty speculation that was taking place account the minor differences in the exchange value of the various foreign monies. In 1876, the Turkish Government brought out from England, a high English postal official, the late Mr. Frank Ives Scuadmore, to organize the international post office as it was then called and a special set of stamps was issued at that time on which French characters were used for the first time besides the usual Turkish inscriptions. It was hoped by the establishment of this so-called international post, that the foreign offices of the various European Governments would be withdrawn from Turkey. This, however, did not take place, though during the war, the various offices naturally were closed down.
When the Armistice of Moudros was signed, the English, French and Italian offices were immediately reopened. Now, however, under the terms of the Lausanne Treaty, the postal service has been turned over to the Turks and the 27th of October, 1923, marked the closing of these offices and the termination of the use of the familiar “Levant Over-Prints.”
Famous Swedish Collection to be Sold.
Baron Erik Leijonhufvud, the distinguished Swedish philatelist, has, according to “Stamp Collecting”, decided to sell his extensive and probably unique collection of Swedish stamps. This celebrated collection is without question, the finest ever brought together and it is said that the only Swedish rarity missing is a pair of the 20 Ore with the error, the value expressed in words “Tretio” instead of “Tjugo”. The most notable item in the collection is the 3 skilling-banco stamp in yellow instead of green, it being the only known copy and acquired at the Ferrari [sic] Auction last year for about $3200.00. The greater part of the value of this collection lies in blocks of the early issues. The first issues of Sweden are extremely rare unused and blocks either used or unused are exceptional. In the later issues, Baron Leijonhufvud had several unique items, particular errors in the printing of recent issues.
Editor’s Column.
At the last Convention of the Society it was again brought to the notice of the Convention body that the present Constitution and By-laws are, through years of patching and unsystematic addition, no longer adequate to the business needs of the Society. With a view of correcting this it was resolved that a committee be appointed to prepare a coordinated set of laws for the organization. In this number will be found a request from the board of Vice Presidents that the membership aid in this work by their suggestion and advice. Many of the A.P.S. members are familiar with the needs of a large organization of this kind and can render an invaluable assistance by giving this request prompt attention.
Notwithstanding the most rigid economy in illustration and curtailment of extra copies The American Philatelist continues to be published at a loss. The reason for this lies in the low advertising rates and low subscription price and while it has never been sought to make the Journal profitable it should be closely approximate to paying its own way. To accomplish this it has been necessary to increase the advertising rates and while this has been done with the greatest hesitancy we know that our advertisers will appreciate the justice of and need for the revision. It will be noted that the increases are very slight to regular advertisers and we look forward to approval rather than dissatisfaction because of the advance. The rates as printed in the schedule above will take effect with the January issue and all advertisers have been mailed an explanatory schedule which will be sent on request to prospective advertisers.
The American Philatelist now has a monthly circulation of 3000 copies and is rapidly increasing in popularity. Students of advertising realize that it is the very best medium account the superior quality of the replies to advertisements. While replies are not numerous in many instances, they all come from BUYERS, not juveniles or schemers, but real dyed in the wool, serious collectors. One reply of this kind is equivalent to 50 ordinary replies and the connections formed are lasting and of growing profit to the dealer that has the goods and gives honest service. The A.P. has the best mailing list in the World!
We are pleased to include this months [sic] advertisements offers from several well known European firms and we ask such of our readers as may write in response to such advertisements that they do not forget to mention having seen the ad in this Journal. Dealers will also find an item of interest in the advertisement of the Irish Free State Government re the sale of used copies of the provisional issues.
Mr. G.F. Rapkin, the leading English manufacturer of Albums and Philatelic supplies, visited our office last month and without solicitation, offers his application to membership. After paying us this neat cmopliment [sic] he entertained us with an account of trade conditions abroad, which he said were about as good as could be expected under high taxes and unemployment conditions and that without a doubt Philately is holding its own in these days of economic stress. The London non-collecting public displayed great interest in the International Exhibition and Mr. Rapkin says the English papers have given more publicity to stamps than ever before.
We also had the pleasure of a call from a fellow Editor who has made a notable success in the production of “The Collectors Club Philatelist,” Mr. Harry Lindquist of New York City, who promises even a larger and better journal than previous fine issues. Seeing that he is trying to plate No. 1 Norway and incidentally maintains a New York & Chicago office in his business, we wonder how he manages to retain his 180 pounds of avoirdupois. As they would say in Norway, he’s a Filatelik Flier.
Mr. W.C. Michaels of Kansas City, a prominent member of the bar of that city and who has long been an active supporter of The American Philatelic Society, was elected last month to the Presidency of the Kansas City Bar Association succeeding Senator A.L. Cooper. We congratulate Mr. Michaels and only hope the duties that go with this high office will not interfere with stamps!
Unselfish devotion to a cause, even though it be philatelic, is not unknown to us but seldom is this spirit so persistently adhered to as in the case of Mr. A. H. Pike’s effort to complete and keep alive a philatelic library for the use of collectors all over the world. On a limited income, Mr. Pike has assembled the second largest collection of philatelic literature in this country and recently, on his removal from Buffalo, N.Y. to Binghampton [sic], N.Y. he was confronted with the terrific task of moving his accumulation of books and pamphlets. A further test of his enthusiasm and spirit appeared in the form of a cash offer of $2000.00 for his collection as against a $200.00 freight charge for moving the books not to speak of the work. His answer, as would be expected by those that have talked to Mr. Pike on philatelic literature, was that he had room for 2000 feet of shelving in his new home and hoped to use it all! Mr. Pike hopes to secure at least one copy of every Journal ever published in addition to all the handbooks and if any of our readers have in mind cleaning house of old Journals they will do him and future collectors a good turn by giving him an opportunity to acquire any items he may need. If you have any interest in philatelic literature you ought to get acquainted with Mr. Pike if you have not already done so. His address is now 31 Moeller St., Binghampton [sic], N.Y.
Philatelic Cincinnati was all het up last month over the news of a stamp “find” that turned out to be about as remarkable and unexpected as any we have ever heard of. It seems that a number of non-collecting business men were discussing at lunch one day a newspaper item telling of the fortunes paid for old postage stamps at the sale of the Ferrari [sic] collection in Paris and one of these men, a prominent wholesale jeweler, recalled that his father had a collection which he had brought from Germany when a boy some 55 years ago and made a note of it to search for it when he got home. The collection was, happily, found stored in the attic though it did develop that it had been preserved from the furnace and old paper man on two occasions by sheer accident. The stamps found, the gentleman proceeded to seek a source of information as to their value and recalling a business acquaintance who had modestly admitted philately as his hobby, he proceeded forthwith to his home for advice. Now this chap, a U.S. specialist, knew nothing whatever of foreign stamps such as the collection was made up of but he possessed a Scotts catalogue and a willing spirit and the two proceeded forthwith to carefully catalogue the stamps. After an agonizing search through Scotts illustrations, all the stamps were found and listed. There were only 263 stamps and the total catalogue was over $10,000.00! After proper celebration over a bottle of nearly beer and fixings, the discussion led to the problem of how to sell the collection and at what price. The collector of U.S. thought $5000.00 a minimum figure and the proud owner, not on to the vagaries of 50% off list in the jewelry business, thought they ought to bring no less than $7500.00, and it was then decided to have each stamp carefully photographed so that the trade and collecting world might be properly guided and incidentally so that no unscrupulous person might swipe the stamps. This was done at considerable expense and soon the news of the find came to the notice of local general collectors. Double Geneva’s [sic], Basle Doves, No. 1’s of Denmark, Bavaria, Baden und so weiter with the Cross of Savoy, a blue Trinacria, Bombas and even a franc vermillion! So flashed the news to the exclusion of the last plate number on the Harding Memorial and the true story of the origin of the stamps came to light. The father of the present owner of the collection, who is still living, worked as a young man in one of the large Berlin banking houses and in the 60’s, just before he came to America, became one of the very few collectors of that period. He secured all his stamps off the bank’s mail which came from all parts of Europe and this was his sole source of supply other than the trading transactions he had with a young man who was employed in a toy factory across the way who generously offered to trade unused stamps for a quantity of used. After the embryo banker came to America, the collection was put aside and never added to and even forgotten until its resurrection by his son as has been told. The photographs were exhibited to a local collector who immediately desired to buy the lot, but demanded that he see the actual stamps rather than the photographs before negotiating. This was complied with and the stamps shown with every precaution against loss by fire, rain, theft and substitution and then – with one glance at the lot, the prospective buyer declared them all counterfeits! On re-examination by another lcoal [sic] collector, this proved, alas, to be only too true and another dream of fortune swept away. Still it was a truly remarkable find for it represented the oldest counterfeit collection we ever saw and discovered for the world of philately the first slick trader in stamps, the “boy that worked in the toy factory in Berlin.” Perhaps he is still there?
Through Mr. John J. Jewett, we learn of an exhibition to be made at the meeting of The Philatelic Society of the Oranges on Friday evening, December 21st, at the Camera Club rooms, East Orange, N.J., which will afford the members of that lively organization a view of a most unusual collection of twentieth century U.S. and which is no doubt unique in its magnitude. The collection to be exhibited is that of Mr. E.C. Worden and the part to be shown consists of an entire sheet of each plate of each denomination of the new, current issue of the United States, the 1c to $5.00 plus the 8, 16 and 24c airplanes, Special delivery, Harding Memorial stamps, coil stamps and first day aeroplane covers. Over 15,000 stamps are in this lot of current material and the face value of the unused well over $8000.00! As Mr. Jewett remarks, this collection will afford the specialist of the future an accurate color guide of the first printings with a complete set up of the plates. No wonder Uncle Sam established a Philatelic Agency at Washington! In this connection, we might repeat a story told us in connection with the Harding stamp. It is said that official Washington fully expected the first order of 300,000,000 of these stamps to be ample to supply every person in the country and the postal officials could not understand the repeated calls from almost every post office for more of these while the sale of the red two cent remained in its normal volume and after the Bureau had been given an order for 300,000,000 additional it dawned on them that the stamps were being bought up by stamp collectors. It was then decided to print another 600 million to make sure that the stamp would have mail circulation and not only philatelic circulation. Who says the stamp business isn’t good?
The Nassau Stamp Company has purchased the George Worthington collection of United States envelopes which is considered the finest collection of these in the World. The collection is mounted in twenty-two large volumes and as the Nassau Stamp Company also has bought the Mason collection, they unquestionably have the largest stock of United States envelopes that has probably been brought together in many years.
At the opening meeting of the Collectors Club, New York City, held Wednesday evening, October 24th, Mr. Arthur Hind exhibited his remarkable collection of United States and Confederate postage stamps. This collection is valued at over one half million dollars and won the Gold Medal in the championship class at the recent International Exhibition in London, England. The stamps were exhibited by Mr. Hind with the aid of Mr. William C. Kennett and John and Jake Klemann. This collection has often been described and though the members of the Collectors Club knew what to expect, they were nevertheless amazed at the wonderful lot of rare and unique items that Mr. Hind has gotten together. More than one hundred members viewed the collection, among them all the leading New York collectors and dealers and it was generally remarked that if this collection is ever dispersed, there never will be again such a complete line of U.S. assembled by any one man.
REVIEWS.
SCOTT’S STANDARD POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE (The Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 33 West 44th St., New York City, Publishers, Price $1.50). As the arrival of the Robin heralds the coming of the Spring Season so does the annual appearance of a new edition of the Scott catalogue mark the advent of another busy philatelic season and while, year in and out, it’s the same old bird there is always a thrill attendant upon the first peep at the new volume. The 1924 edition just to hand, the eightieth issue of this notable publication, is again somewhat fatter than its predecessors and inside its new blue grey coat are pleasant thrills of rising prices with only a limited number of depressing decreases. While there are no startling increases as a rule and many countries listed the same as last year the general trend is upwards and even the despised Neurope shows many advances in price. The typography and paper is of the same high standard as in former years, the illustrations also the same but now hideously defaced to comply with a silly law. This defacement of foreign stamp illustrations is however amply compensated for by use, for the first time, of illustrations of the stamps of the United States. These, strictly within the letter of the new law, only show portions of the borders of U.S. issues but enlarged four times they will serve to clearly indicate the various varieties and types and besides being a boon to the beginning collector should accentuate the now already well developed boom in these issues. The prices of U.S., which naturally are our first interest, show conservative advances and wisely do not reflect the extreme prices that might have appeared justified by the auction and regular trade prices.
In the section of Postmasters provisionals a number of hitherto unpriced varieties are now quoted but there are practically no advances of note except the St. Louis on pelure paper which have been marked up $250.00 each and even the popular New Yorks remain at last years price of $50.00.
The common but ever increasingly popular 5c 1847 is boosted a dollar to $6 for used examples but its black mate keeps its old price of $25.00. In the 1851-57 series there are slight advances in the 1 and 10 cent stamps which are certainly merited by the demand for them.
A new note has been added following the listing of the 24, 30, and 90c of the 1860 which presages the eliminate of these color trials for future years. In the 1861 issue there is a slight increase in the prices for the 10, 12 and 30c and all of the 1862-66 issues have been slightly advanced. The 1869 1, 6 and 15 c (unframed) have also gone up and the two varieties of the 15c are now, as has uniformly been done in similar varieties, listed as Types One and Two. There are no great changes in the 70-79 issues though the scarce 3c vermillion has now attained the high estate of 60c unused and 45c used. Columbian high values have finally moved up a peg and practically all the 20th century high values are also listed higher. A very good innovation is the separate listing of the imperforate 20th century stamps instead of listing them as sub-varieties. The illustrations with the list of Envelopes and Revenues will prove a big help to these each year more neglected items and may serve to revive interest in them.
The Confederate provisionals are now generally priced and a new Beaumont has been added to the list and there are considerable advances in the list of General issues. We note the “Outer Line” is now $30. and the “Ten” is $25.00 each way, these may be practical prices but do not reflect relative rarity as the outer line is many times scarcer and used “Ten’s” much scarcer than unused.
In foreign issues the British Colonials show the major advances and these are not, with few exceptions, very great. French and Portuguese Colonials seem to be at a stand still and Old Europe is very little advanced though some of the later issues show improvement. Odd countries, such as Afghanistan, which have not changed for a long time, have been advanced nad [sic] of course British North America is still going up.
All in all the catalogue is conservatively priced and this is very wise because there is no telling just what effect the debacle of Europe will finally have on the stamp market. So far America has readily absorbed all European offerings and in many respects prices for good old issues are better abroad than here but no good end would be served by creating a fictitious market through high catalogue prices that act as a deterrent to the beginning collector.
It's a popular sport to criticize Scott’s catalogue and while, like all human products, it has its deficiencies, we are here to say that it compares mighty favorably with any other list. The main fault with the catalogue is that it is not uniform in listing. Some countries are highly specialized and some much simplified and this leads to make some countries “popular” and others unpopular with a general misunderstanding of relative value. There is also an almost inexplainable delay in marking down prices of sets and stamps which have suddenly been thrown upon the market as remainders, or otherwise, at prices at a fraction of catalogue. This is truly unfortunate as it often is the cause of new collectors giving up the hobby after having purchased, say at half or even one-fourth of catalogue, an attractive set only to learn later that it is not even worth a tenth of catalogue. The recent Cuban remainders are the best example of this, one value of these (No. 238) catalogued at 75c unused and 15c used in last years catalogue is reduced in the new edition to 50c unused and 15c used in last years catalogue is reduced in the new edition to 50c unused and 15c used notwithstanding they have been offered wholesale anywhere from 2 to 3 cents and liberally offered as a free premium by many dealers. To a great many collectors the catalogue is their only and sole guide and the publishers really owe these amateurs a more accurate reflector of the current market on what is ordinarily termed “wholesale” stamps. Still our sympathy lies with the publisher because we appreciate pricing over 35,000 stamps is no idle matter and if Scott’s don’t make a perfect job of it we can hardly complain especially as no other catalogue has attained the millennium [sic].
New Issue Notes and Chronicle
By WM. C. KENNETT, JR., and the EDITOR.
Information for this column, with samples of stamps, which will be promptly paid for or returned, will always be appreciated.
UNITED STATES. The Harding Memorial stamp issue has been increased so that the total issue will be one billion six hundred million [1.6 billion] copies. So far sixty-nine plates have been used and the greater part of these have been of so-called flat plate type. It is expected that after December there will be no further printing of this stamp, though with the great number printed there should be plenty to go around and we do not expect even any plate number to be scarce. A number of collectors have specialized in this issue, the cancellations, the perf. 10 and 11 varieties and also some of the differences in the stamps which seem to us to be of the inking variety type rather than plate differences. Dr. H.A. Davis calls our attention to a difference in the side labels which is found both on the perf. 10 and perf. 11 in fine lines and also solid black.
ANTIGUA. The colors of the 1 d. and 2 ½ d., script watermark, have been changed. 1 d. purple, 2 1/2d, orange.
AUSTRIA. The Economist Stamp Co. shows us several of the recent color changes in current issue. Scotts Type A 50, 1000 K. mauve, 1200 K. carmine, 1600 K. slate, 2000 K. blue and in Scotts Type A.51, 3000 K. purple brown and 5000 K. slate blue.
AUSTRALIA. We are indebted to Wilcox, Smith & Co. for a specimen of the 1d. map stamp that was issues to commemorate the restoration of penny postage.
BELGIUM. Mr. Henry Hooreman sends us an additional high value in the engraved Montenez portrait type. Portrait of King Albert, perforated 11 ½. 5 Franc deep purple.
CORFU. A series of provisionals have been issued here by the Italian Gov’t., the current Italian stamps being overprinted “CORFU” and some stamps with value given in Greek currency.
COSTA RICA. The Economist Stamp Co. has shown us four values of a new series for this country which when complete will consist of the following nine pictorials, 1c. purple (National Monument), 2c. yellow (Coffee plant), 4c. green (Bananas), 5c. ultramarine (Post Office Bldg.), 10c chocolate (Columbus & Isabel), 12c. red (Columbus’ Fleet), 20c dark blue (Arrival of Columbus at Cariari), 40c. salmon (Map of Costa Rica) and 1 colon slate with portrait of Manuel Maria Guitierrez.
DANTZIG. The race with Germany in the creation of high sounding values at this writing finds Dantzig many lengths in the lead, the ten thousand red large Arms type having been overprinted one hundred million marks, three hundred million marks and five hundred million marks in rapid succession.
EGYPT. Mr. Ch. Passalides shows us two additional values of the photogravure portrait of King Fuad set. Wmk. Mult. Stars and Crescents, perf. 13 ½. 1 millieme orange and 2 millieme grey.
ESTHONIA. The Economist Stamp Co. shows us Type AP.1, the 5 M. yellow, blue & black overprinted “1923”, a pair of these overprinted “10 MARKA 1923”, a single overprinted “15 MARKA 1923”, a pair overprinted “20 MARKA 1923” and another pair overprinted “45 MARKA 1923.” These are evidently to take care of increased rates on aerial mail.
GERMANY. Messrs. J.L. Reidel, K. Blumel and S.W. Hess have kindly favored us with examples of the many recent “TAUSEND” and “MILLIONEN” surcharges. The last are on a new type which have been purposely printed without any value so as to provide for any rapid change that takes place daily in the value of the mark. The design is made of geometrical pattern in a circle, post horns in the center, “Deutches Reich” in the upper label and the lower label blank. On this stamp the overprint is applied in red or black which places a large figure of value in the center of the circle and fills in the lower label with the value in figures. To date we have seen 500 “TAUSEND” in brown, 1 “MILLION” in light blue, 5 “MILLIONEN” in carmine and 10 “MILLIONEN” in red and as an ordinary registered letter we have just received bore “40 million marks” postage there is a possibility of a value expressed in Billions.
JAMAICA. Mr. Leonard Whiteley kindly shows us the ½ d. current pictorial (Jamaica Exhibition of 1891) in a much lighter green border than the first printings. The difference in the shade is so marked as to justify catalogue listing. ½ d. yellow green and black, wmk. Script C.A.
JAMAICA. A special issue of pstage and revenue stamps bearing the words “Child Welfare” was issued November 1st in three denominations, each of which will be sold to the public at ½ d. advance over the postal value, which extra money will be for the benefit of the Jamaica Child Welfare Association. The stamps are good for revenue and for international postage to the face value and in each case will be on sale at the Post Office during November, December, 1923 and January, 1924. The three designs all have the same border, as per the illustration on the cover and the vignette, in each case, is that of some colored waifs. We are indebted to Mr. Leonard Whiteley for this information and copies of the stamps. ½ d. green and black, 1 d. carmine and black and 2 ½ d. blue and black.
LUXEMBURG. Mr. Henry Hooreman shows the new 3 France value just issued which in tall, oblong format, is a particularly handsome stamp. The stamp shows a very artistic birds eye view of the town and valley of Echternach. Designed by Rudolf Junk, engraved by Ferdinand Schernbock and printed by Enschede & Sons of Harlem, Holland on white wove paper, no watermark, perf. 11. Color, Blue and dark Blue. This stamp has also been overprinted for official use.
MALTA. A new value in the current symbolical type. 1 ½ d. orange brown, Wmk. Script C.A. perf. 14.
POLAND. Mr. J. Almar of Montreal shows us a new value which he advises was issued to commemorate the 150th. anniversary of “Stanislaus Konarsky” who was an 18th. century reformer in education and is known as the father of the present educational system. His portrait appears on the stamp in a central medallion with value in upper corners and Poczta Polska in lower label. 3000 Mark brown, perf. 12 ½, unwatermarked.
RUSSIA. Mr. Karl Koslowski reports a 20 rouble brown in the Soviet soldier design. Mr. J. Almar also shows us two small charity stamps bearing the inscription “All Russiian Assembly of Help for Invalids”, 1 and 2 roubles in light and dark red brown.
SAN MARINO. Mr. Eugene Klein shows us a set of Red Cross stamps of 7 values, one a special delivery in large format, the other postage in two designs, the low values with the usual three volcanoes in oval shield frame and the 1 lire with a head of liberty in the same type frame. Each stamp bears an added value of 5 centimes for the Red Cross. Mr. Klein says only 60,000 sets were issued and that the stamps were in use only 3 days. 5 plus 5c olive, 10 plus 5c yellow, 15 plus 5c gray green, 25 plus 5c claret, 40 plus 5c sepia, 50 plus 5c gray, 1 Lire plus 5c blue and black and 60c blue 5c red, Express stamp. All watermarked crown, perf. 14.
TRANSJORDANIA. “Stamp Collecting” reports a new provisional consisting of the 1 ½ piastre violet Transjordania on Hedjaz with an additional overprint, ½ Piastre in Arabic. The overprint was required to make up a deficiency in low values and other values will probably be likewise overprinted. Some of these overprints were applied by handstamp, others are typographed.
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