THE

LondonPhilatelist:
THE MONTHLY JOURNAL OF

THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

VOL. III. JANUARY, 1894. No. 25.

A New Departure.

THE foregoing words are not perhaps inappropriate in

commencing a New Year's enterprise, and they have
moreover an especial significance in view of the changes that
we propose to make in the future conduct of this Journal.
It will be seen that an alteration has been made in the
previous arrangement for chronicling the New Issues. The
matter has been already alluded to in these columns, and
as a slight misconception has arisen in one or two quarters
we will briefly reiterate the reasons adopted for the change.
In the first place, under the circumstances of the issue
of the London Philatelist, as the Journal of the London
Philatelic Society, it has been considered that the publication
of Papers and Essays upon stamps should constitute the main objective
of this Journal. With the heavy expenses entailed upon the production
of a magazine in order to make it typographically perfect, it is obvious that
an unlimited number of pages is beyond the scope of practical finance.
In such case the treatment at full length of all the new issues—their ever
increasing number will be found noted elsewhere—involved the absorption
of an undue portion of our space, and consequently crowded-out matter
that was in our judgment of better value. The Issues and Novelties can,
however, not be disregarded, and in adopting the via media—an epitome
of the more important, under geographical divisions—our readers will hardly
be able to claim that they are ignored.
Secondly. We have before alluded to the excellent work done in this
respect by our leading contemporaries—English, French, Belgian, German,
and American, and we are strongly influenced in the adoption of this new
departure by the conviction that, in so doing, we are not now running counter
250:
2 THE "FIJI TIMES EXPRESS" STAMPS.

to our contemporaries, who were mostly in the field previously to ourselves.

In these days every one is a student of literature, which in almost every
branch is good and cheap; for the same amount that the daily newspaper
costs, any collector can provide himself with a number of the best
philatelic magazines published, and in so doing he will reap both pleasure
and profit.
Thirdly. We are of opinion that " Discoveries and Resuscitations," with
comments upon stamps not of recent issue, are more likely to be read appre-
ciatively if separated from their brethren of recent birth, and that treated
separately, as they will be under "Philatelic Notes," they may not only
induce a study commensurate with the labour often involved in penning
them, but may evoke further comment from those of our readers who are
au conrant on the several subjects. Other slight modifications of our pro-
gramme will be noted ; beyond these however this journal will not travel
in the future, and will endeavour to follow faithfully the policy initiated at
its inception.
As regards this policy it has clearly been shewn that it is our wish to run
counter to no existing journal, nor shall we allow any personalities or adverse
criticism to draw us over the border line of a friendly rivalry. As regards
our main supporters—the general body of collectors and those dealers who
do not have their own journals—it will be the constant aim of the London
Philatelist to provide for both classes a fair and honest return for their
expenditure. Occupying a unique position as the organ of the London
Philatelic Society, there is every reason to hope that this journal will be
read wherever English-speaking Philatelists are found, and we can only urge
upon all our readers alike to aid us as far as lies within their power in
improving the quality of the paper by their contributions and by increasing
its circulation. On our part we shall be found ready to loyally exert our-
selves in the furtherance of the highest aims of Philately, and if we are well
supported by those most interested in it, we shall look forward not only
without any misgiving, but with confidence that our humble endeavours will
have conduced to strengthen the foundations of this fascinating pursuit.

The "Fiji Times Express" Stamps.

A PAPER READ BEFORE THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON, DECEMBER 29™, 1893.

BY E. D. BACON.

T'HOSE of my audience who were either present at the meeting

of the Society on January i3th last, when I read a paper
on the Fiji Times Express stamps, or who have perused that
paper, which was published in the London Philatelist for
January of this year, will recollect that I was able to give the
reason for these stamps being brought into use, the date of
their issue and discontinuance, and the method of their production.
 THE "FIJI TIMES EXPRESS" STAMPS. 3

Since writing the paper referred to, I have endeavoured to complete the
history of the stamps by making up the sheet of the twenty-four varieties
of type. This I have now practically accomplished, and I am glad to be
able to present collectors with an illustration of the various types. The
stamps on quadrilte paper and those on laid bdtonnt were printed from the
same setting-up, but the last three stamps of the bottom row of the sheet
on the latter paper were altered from three pence to nine pence by the
insertion of a numeral "9" in place of the figure "3." The stamps, a§
4 THE "FIJI TIMES EXPRESS" STAMPS.

illustrated, occupy their original positions on the sheet, and the proof that
they are correctly arranged may be gathered from the following notes :
Nos. i, 7, 13, 19 correspond with a vertical strip illustrated in Stanley
Gibbons' Monthly Journal for January, 1893, and this strip from the margin
and the absence of rouletted lines to left forms the left side row of the
sheet.
Nos. 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 21, 22, correspond with specimens in Mr. M. P. Castle's
collection. His copies of 3, 4, and 9, 10, and 21, 22, are unsevered pairs,
while the whole seven stamps fit together, and evidently came off the same
sheet.
Nos. 5, ii, 17, 23, are a vertical, unsevered strip in the " Tap]ing
Collection."
Nos. 6, 12, correspond with a pair in Mr. W. B. Avery's collection, and
inasmuch as I have seen specimens of Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 showing rouletted
lines at either side, No. 6 must be the right top corner stamp. No. 2,
judging from the rouletted lines at either side, fits on to Nos. I and 3, which
gives the correct position of Nos. 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 21, 22, and consequently
also Nos. 5, n, 17, 23, the two blocks noted above.
No. 18 is the only variety of the one penny I have seen without rouletted
lines to right, it therefore follows it is correctly placed.
Nos. 14, 16 appear from the rouletted lines to fit on to Nos. 13 and 15,
and 15 and 17 respectively; but I have nothing further to guide me in
placing these two types thus instead of vice versa.
No. 20 must be correctly placed, as it has rouletted lines at either side,
and does not correspond in type with the gd., variety 23.
No. 24 must be in its true position, as it is the only place left for this
type.
No. 23. I have not succeeded in finding the corresponding type of this
gd. in the 3d. It of course exists on the quadriltt paper, and anyone coming
across the type may recognise it from the gd. illustrated.
Nos. 22A, 24A, are types 22 and 24, with the value altered from 3d. to
gd. In making the alteration to the latter type the letters of the word
EXPRESS got somewhat shifted.
No. 8. I have not been able to find this type of the one shilling, but any
collector having a variety of this value not illustrated, will know it is the
missing type, and be able to place it in its correct position.
There is only one what may be called " prominent variety " on the sheet,
and this is number 22, which has a comma instead of a period after EXPRESS.
The principal differences of type may be sought for in the horizontal
lines at the top and bottom of the stamps. These lines are made up of
several pieces, and the breaks occurring between the lines will be found in
different positions on the various stamps. I must remark here, however, that
all the specimens of the stamps on laid bdtonnt I have examined are printed
in heavier ink than those on quadriltt paper, and this sometimes causes some
of the breaks between the lines, which are quite distinct on the latter
stamps, to disappear on the same varieties on laid b&tomte.
 THE "FIJI TIMES EXPRESS" STAMPS. 5

Besides the breaks in the lines most of the varieties show differences in
the position or size of some of the letters of the inscription. I give a list
of these, so that collectors will have no difficulty in recognising the types,
even in cases where the illustration does not show the horizontal lines very
distinctly.
No. 2. Has both the letters " s." of " EXPRESS " in smaller type, and the
" P." of " PENCE " has no bottom stroke.
No. 3. Last letter " S." of " EXPRESS" is smaller. The illustration of
this type is taken from a specimen that has been torn across,
and that has been damaged beneath the " c " of " PENCE."
No. 5. First letter " S " of " EXPRESS " is smaller.
No. 9. The top part of the first letter " I " of " SHILLING " is defective.
No. 10. Has the " s " of " TIMES," the " S " of " SHILLING," and the first
" S " of " EXPRESS " all in smaller type.
No. ii. Has the letters "Fl" of "Fiji" lower than the "Jl," when the
word is looked at in a horizontal position.
No. 12. The letters of "FIJI" vary in position the same as in No. n, and
the letter " s " of " SHILLING " is smaller.
No. 13. The first letter " N " of " PENNY " is placed higher than the " E."
No. 14. The "S" of "TIMES" is smaller.
No. 15. The " S " of " TIMES " is smaller, and the second " I" of " FIJI" is
defective at the top.
No. 16. The second " N " of " PENNY" is defective at the bottom to right.
No. 17. The bottom stroke of " P " of " EXPRESS " is defective to left.
No. 18. The "s " of "TIMES" is smaller, and the first "S" of "EXPRESS"
is lower than the other letters, when the word is looked at in
a horizontal position. (This is not shown very clearly in the
illustration.)
No. 19. The " P" of " PENCE" is defective at the top to left.
No. 20. The " P " of " PENCE " is defective at the top to left, and the " s "
of "TIMES" is smaller.
No. 21. The "S" of "TIMES" and the first "s" of "EXPRESS" are
smaller.
No. 22. Both letters " s " of " EXPRESS " are smaller, and there is a comma
instead of period at the end of the word.
No. 23. The first "l" of "Fiji" is rather lower than the other letters,
when the word is looked at in a horizontal position.
No. 24. The second " I " of " FIJI" is defective at the bottom.

With these remarks I take my leave of the " Fiji Times Express" stamps,
but before concluding I wish to publicly thank all those Philatelic friends
who have so kindly lent me their specimens. Without their assistance in
this respect it would have been impossible for me to reconstruct the sheet of
twenty-four varieties.
 Stray Notes on the Postal Adhesives of Great
Britain
By HASTINGS E. WRIGHT.
A PAPER READ BEFORE THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON, ON JANUARY IZTH, 1894.

WE have much pleasure in calling the attention of that numerous class of our readers
who are students of English stamps, to Mr. Hastings Wright's excellent paper,
indicative of close and attentive study throughout, and, so to say, created by the
formation of his own collection. The splendid array of stamps of which this is
composed were, on the occasion of the paper being read, exhibited in the London
Philatelic Society's room within glazed cases, and their study during the two days
preceding and at the meeting constituted a most excellent precedent, and materially
enhanced the interest and value of Mr. Wright's paper. For the benefit of those
readers who were unable to be present we mention some of the principal exhibits,
premising that almost every copy was in immaculate condition.-— ED.
id., pairs of plates 82, 88, 114, 132, 225, &c. 6d., lod., and is., octagonals ; all the die
id., all the rare combinations of die, perfo- numbers in mint condition.
ration, and watermark. gd., plate 3, with hair lines, and plate 5
id., L.C. with stars, imperf. (unique), perforated, and with original
id., brick-red, L.C., perf. 16. gum.
id., rose, L.C., perf. 16. 2s., salmon ; pairs and singles.
id., Archer roulettes, used and unused. 55., plate 4, on blue and on white paper.
id., S.C., die I., imperf., on white paper. los. and 203., Cross.
id., L.C., perf. 14; all the rare shades. los. and 205., Anchor, on white and on blue
2d., S.C., perf. 14. papers.
2d., L.C., perf. 16 ; thick and thin lines. ios., current issue, on blued paper.
2d., S.C., perf. 16. 2os., "orbs."
2d., L.C., perf. 14 ; thick and thin lines. Complete set of I.R. officials and Govern-
" 2d., no lines, pairs and singles ; and pair of ment Parcels, unused.
2d., plate 7. Pair and singles id. V.R.
4d., S. garter, on blue. Pairs of 8d., brown, and l£d., dull rose, and
4d., S. garter, on white, used. 2 singles of ditto.
4d., medium garter, on white, unused.
All the stamps were unused, with gum, and in mint condition. With one or two
exceptions there were several pairs and singles of every variety, and all the plate
numbers were complete, so that it was practically a complete collection.

IN presenting these notes on the Postal Adhesives of Great

Britain I would preface my remarks by saying that I address
myself more particularly to those who have not yet given
special attention to the stamps of this country, with a view to
showing that they offer to the philatelist a subject of greater
scope and interest than they have hitherto, I believe, received
the credit of possessing. Those who have studied our stamps will not, I fear,
find in these notes anything new. The subject has already been elaborately
dealt with by eminent philatelists, whose work has beyond question done
 THE POSTAL ADHESIVES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 7

much towards investing our stamps with more than average interest to the
collector. Nevertheless, their careful study is constantly revealing fresh
points on which little or no light has hitherto been thrown, and to many
questions of great interest and importance no satisfactory solution has yet
been forthcoming. It is not my purpose, in these notes, to deal with this
branch of the subject, but I may perhaps remark in passing that in conjunction
with my friend and fellow-member, Mr. Creeke, I am engaged in making a
searching investigation into every obscure point with which we are acquainted,
and that the very favourable conditions under which we are enabled to conduct
our enquiries justify us in expressing the hope that much information will,
result of an important and interesting character, and various points at present
shrouded in mystery solved on a satisfactory basis.
To the specialist the stamps of this country offer a field of almost limit-
less extent. Restricted to our postal adhesives only, finality is well-nigh
impossible. I have reason to think that the great body of philatelists have
hitherto been withheld from giving to the stamps of this country the attention
they deserve owing to the erroneous notion that there is not much to collect.
I once asked an earnest philatelist why he ignored the stamps of Great
Britain. His answer was, " Well, there is not much to collect, there are but
few features of interest, and I fancy if I started I should be pretty well
complete in a week or two. So I prefer keeping to countries that give one
some trouble." Would-be specialists of our stamps may, however, dismiss
these fears as altogether groundless. The stamps of Great Britain are as
eminently calculated to give the philatelist a headache, and to engender
feelings of utter despair, as those of any country under the sun. There exist
a score or more varieties, of which only some half-dozen sheets were ever
issued. Let the specialist try to complete himself in these unused. Of the
more ordinary issues there are merely some seven or eight hundred varieties,
of which the major part, on a moderate estimate, exist in at least five shades,
and each of these may in turn be found on two, three, or even four descriptions
of paper. Arrived at this point, the specialist who revels in minute varieties,
may proceed to deal with the various watermarks, of which he will find quite
twenty descriptions, and these again can be met with inverted, reversed, and
both inverted and reversed. They may be altogether absent, or present such
an appearance as to defy all attempts to solve them. Is the collector now
absolutely complete? By no means! Finality is not yet within measurable
distance. He has yet to form complete sheets of all the varieties referred to,
and in spare moments he can give his attention to sundry errors, of which
many examples may be found. To all this may be added the envelopes,
post cards, and wrappers.
The collector will now possess at least 6,000,000 adhesives alone, arranged,
let us say, in 2000 volumes, and if he still survives he may proceed to turn
his attention to private issues, telegraphs, essays, colour trials, proofs,
curiosities, and strive to attain finality with fiscals. I give these figures
merely to re-assure the voracious collector who stands aloof from the stamps
of Great Britain, for fear of there not being sufficient to satisfy the cravings
of his philatelic appetite. Far be it from me, however, to advocate the
pursuit of this ideal, having hitherto (and perhaps wrongly) restricted my
 8 THE POSTAL ADHESIVES OF GREAT BRITAIN.

own collection to the varieties issued prior to 1884, the abominations of the
latter issue being more than my philatelic soul could tolerate. I would here
say a word with regard to the arrangement of an English collection. The
usual plan adopted by philatelists is to take each series or issue separately,
and arrange these in groups in strict chronological order, the result being
that the stamps of each value are intermixed in a confusing manner, and the
collection as a whole reduced to chaos, the chaos, I admit, being more
apparent than real. Nevertheless, having tried this mode of arrangement
myself, I was finally compelled to abandon it, and to adopt what is, in my
opinion, the more rational method of arranging each value by itself, without
regard to the chronological order of entire series or issues. This plan seems
to me to lend itself more readily to the proper study of the various varieties
of each value, and though I am aware many objections may be urged against
it, I think on the whole it simplifies the matter, and avoids much confusion.
My argument applies equally to a work of reference. Take, for example, Mr.
Westoby's very useful Reference List of English Stamps. Without the
collector carries in his head the date of issue of each variety and plate
number, he cannot readily hit upon the particular stamp to which he is
desirous of referring; and if he is a beginner, and knows but little of the
subject, he may miss some varieties altogether. Some time ago I mentioned
the subject to Mr. Westoby, and, if I recollect aright, he so far agreed with
jny views that he expressed his intention of dealing with the series of each
value as a whole in any future work of the kind he might publish. I will
now proceed to deal briefly with the chief points of interest attaching to the
various issues.
Of the line-engraved stamps of fd. value little need be said beyond
mentioning the fact that Plate 9 was undoubtedly put to press, and specimens
appear to be more common than formerly. It is necessary to examine
specimens carefully, this stamp being a favourite with certain individuals
who have in many instances, and with much skill, transformed Plate 3 into
Plate 9. Specimens showing errors in the plate numbers have also been
forthcoming, notably the numbers 12 and 13 on the same stamp. These and
any others must necessarily be bad, as the imprimatur sheets show no errors
of this description, and it must be borne in mind that an error of this nature
is well-nigh impossible. The case is altogether different in regard to the
corner lettering. Here it is conceivable a mistake might occur, and as a
matter of fact the imprimatur sheets show that genuine errors of this nature
do exist.
The One Penny.—It will, I think, be generally conceded that this beautiful
stamp presents a subject of more than common interest, and offers a wide
field for study and research. Of the line engraved series alone there
exist no less than 165 known varieties, excluding shades of colour; and I
venture to affirm that no other stamp in existence presents a variety of
shade so beautiful and extensive. Many of these shades are so distinct in
character that they undoubtedly afford some guide towards determining
approximately their date of issue, and to arrange them in their proper
sequence is a problem of much interest. This series is also remarkable for
peculiarities of printing and perforation. Specimens may likewise be met with
 THE POSTAL ADHESIVES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 9

showing strange hair lines, and corner letters inserted, misplaced, and
double-printed, may be found in great variety. With respect to perforation,
not only does this frequently present strange vagaries of position, but
the area of the puncture varies so greatly sometimes on the same sheet as to
present at first sight the appearance of a difference in gauge. It is clearly
evident that many years elapsed before the perforating machinery was
brought to perfection ; though, on the other hand, I have seen on the
original covers several specimens which passed through the post in 1850,
perforated with a degree of perfection not afterwards excelled. These,
of course, were the product of Archer's machine, and are the more
interesting from the fact that it was not until fully three years after this
date that the first stamps were officially perforated. With regard to the
rouletted specimens much difficulty is experienced by collectors in deter-
mining the genuineness or otherwise of the many used specimens now
to be met with. At present there would seem to be no reliable guide. The
fact of a given specimen differing from the authenticated copies does not
necessarily disprove its genuineness, inasmuch as Archer's machine doubtless
underwent innumerable modifications and adjustments during the several
years he was at work on it, and it is doubtful if duly authenticated
specimens resulting from all these trials exist. Even on the same sheet
the incisions varied considerably both in length and gauge. On the other
hand, it must not be forgotten that the manufacture of spurious roulettes
is a matter of comparative ease. It therefore behoves collectors when
purchasing to have a suitable guarantee with every specimen. It is to
be hoped that specialists will be able to throw some further light on this
interesting variety, specimens of which ought on no account to be removed
from the original covers.
As regards the dates of issue of the several varieties of this value much
uncertainty exists, but an examination of a large number of specimens on
the original covers has enabled me in several instances to assign earlier dates
than have, so far as I am aware, yet been recorded. The earliest dated
specimen having a perforation of fourteen is February 6, 1855 (SC. Die I.),
which is eighteen days prior to the earliest date recorded by Mr. Westoby.
The first appearance of this value on paper watermarked " L.C." is July 16,
1855, recorded by Mr. Levy, this date being more than eleven weeks
earlier than that given by Mr. Westoby; and, strangely enough, among the
imprimatur sheets at Somerset House, the first bearing the watermark of
"L.C." is dated November 12, 1855. It is difficult to determine the precise
date on which the perforation gauging sixteen was abandoned, though it was
probably some time in 1855, despite the fact that specimens in rose-red are
found with the early perforation, though the earliest recorded appearance
of this colour is April i8th, 1857. These were perforated fourteen, whereas
the earliest date yet recorded for specimens perforated sixteen is February
24, 1858.
These facts, coupled with the rarity of this variety, point to the conclusion
that some of the old perforating machines were at this time brought again
into temporary use, possibly owing to a breakdown of the regular machines.
(To be eontimted.)
 The"CityDespatchP o s t " o f New York
BY E. D. BACON.

IT is a matter of much regret that so few collectors in this

country take an appreciative interest in what are known as
the private or local postage stamps of the United States. This
is fortunately not the case in the States themselves, as many
philatelists there confine their attention exclusively to the
issues of their own country, including of course among these
the labels I am speaking of. Every new variety that is unearthed (for fresh
discoveries are even now occasionally made) is critically examined, and the
greatest pains have been and are taken by American writers to recover every
little incident connected with the history of each one of the local posts.
The adoption of adhesive stamps by Great Britain in 1840 was' not
followed by the United States Government until 1847. During this interval
it is not surprising that many of the private local posts, of which a large
number existed in the more populous towns, availed themselves of such an
obviously successful means of collecting postal charges. The standard work
dealing with this branch of philately is Les Pastes Privies des Etats-Unis
d' Amerique, by Mr. Ch. H. Coster, published by Mons. J. B. Moens in two
volumes—the first, which treats of the adhesive stamps, in 1882, and the
second, on the envelopes, in 1885.
The first of the private posts to make use of stamps for franking purposes
was the " City Despatch Post" of New York, and it is the early history of
this post which forms the subject of my present paper.
I have recently been in correspondence with a gentleman named Mr.
Charles Windsor, who tells me that his father, Mr. Henry Thomas Windsor,
was the originator and proprietor of the City Despatch Post, and of its
stamps. Mr. Coster, in the work I have alluded to, does not mention Mr.
Windsor's name, but he gives the translation of a circular which was published
at the time the stamps were first issued. This circular has the name of Mr.
Alexander M. Greig attached to it, who signs himself " Director." Mr.
Windsor's story is shortly this: His father, who was a London gentleman,
temporarily resided at Hoboken, a suburb of New York, from May, 1841,
until the autumn of the following year. He had seen the successful working
of Sir Rowland Hill's system in London in 1840, and introduced it into New
York by starting a post known as " Greig's Post." Mr. Windsor goes on to
say that his father told him that he brought the post out in January, 1842, in
Mr. Greig's name, as Mr. Greig was an American well known locally, while
his father was a Londoner and a comparative stranger. Mr. Windsor
recollects his father telling him how he strained every nerve to get the post
in- full working order before Valentine's Day, which he expected would be a
very heavy day, and so it turned out, for the Post was so inundated with
letters that, owing to the arrangements not being thoroughly completed, so
many complaints of irregularity were made, that he greatly feared it would
 THE TAPLING COLLECTION. n

be the death-blow of the post. His fears, however, proved groundless, for
the public continued to support the undertaking, until the Government
declared it to be an infringement of its rights, and Mr. Windsor thinks the
post was suspended for a short time. He further says that the citizens called
so loudly for its continuance that it went on again, and about that time his
father was called to London, and did not again revisit the States. Mr.
Windsor possesses an entire sheet of the stamps, which was given him by
his mother, who told him at the time she gave them to him that " they were
some of the stamps of his father's post he had when the Government
compelled him to discontinue it, considering it to be an infringement of the
Government rights." The stamps in question are the three cents black on
greyish paper, and the sheet contains thirty-six specimens arranged in six
rows of six. Mr. Windsor, who is now 77, has further sent me a letter from
his brother, who corroborates his statements.
Personally, I have no means of judging whether Mr. Windsor's story as
given above is true, but I have no reason to doubt its accuracy, and I have
been led to publish the account he gives in the hope that it may induce
some philatelist in the States, who is interested in these local stamps, to
make further investigations into the early history of the " City Despatch
Post," and so confirm or otherwise Mr. Windsor's version of the founding of
the Post. If the particulars given in my article turn out to be substantially
correct, Mr. Windsor's father deserves the full credit of being the first to
introduce postage stamps into the United States.

The Tapling Collection.

BY M. P. CASTLE.

THE STAMPS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

THEintimate relationship that must necessarily exist between
this magnificent bequest to the nation, and those members of
the London Philatelic Society who had the privilege of being
associated with its late Vice-President during the formation
of this unique collection, involves a practical obligation upon
Mr. Tapling's successors to place before the philatelic world
the full knowledge of the treasures thus gathered together. The prime
mover in this direction must necessarily be Mr. E. D. Bacon, the Philatelic
Curator, with whose energy and scientific knowledge the collection is
steadily assuming a tangible reality. Secondary to this, however, much can
be done for the general benefit of collectors who have not the advantage of
personal access to these stamps in conveying to them some idea—not merely
in the form of a catalogue raisonnee—of the stamps exhibited and the lessons
to be gleaned therefrom. With the kind co-operation of my friend, Mr.
Bacon, I propose to execute this mission in this and subsequent articles,
premising merely that in order to counteract any tendency to produce " dry "
reading I shall, adopting a colloquial term, intersperse my "catalogue" with
remarks pertinent to the stamps under consideration.
12 THE TAPLING COLLECTION.

The method of mounting and exhibiting the stamps has already been
described in this journal (pp. 152 and 162, vol. ii.), and I need therefore only
say that the system inaugurated by Mr. E. D. Bacon works admirably, and
that if the stamps could be all visible, say in shallow glazed drawers, nothing
would remain to be desired. The first portion of the stamps of New South
Wales—restricted thus for want of space—has been withdrawn from view,
and the second and remaining part has been but lately shown. For this
reason I have somewhat delayed the previously-written description of these
stamps in order to have the whole of the material before me.
ISSUE I. THE SYDNEY VIEWS.
The great interest taken by Mr. Tapling in these remarkable stamps was
a matter of general knowledge—hence, with his great facilities of acquisition,
it may readily be imagined that his collection was rich herein. Nor did the
late Vice-President acquire these fine unused specimens without an ardent
search, and, aided by Mr. Bacon, every available spot was searched that
might conceal an unused Sydney.
PLATE I. UNUSED.
On soft yellowish wove paper five copies are to be noted, in fine con-
dition, ranging in colour from carmine to pale red; a block of four of the
same of the lighter pinkish colour that is a later printing, and is more often
found on the subsequent hard and slightly bluish paper—is a "thing of
beauty." On the hafrd paper are eight specimens, all fine though less rare
but varying less in shade than the former, very marked variations being little
known on this paper. The variety on ribbed (hard) paper is not included
in an unused state in the collection. It is however very rare, for though I
happen to possess a single copy (plus, alas, a slight tear!), I do not remember
to have seen another. This ribbing can also be found on the same paper with
a yellowish tinge.
USED SPECIMENS AND PLATE.
There are some eight or ten picked postmarked specimens, mostly of
abnormal colour or brilliancy, in addition to those on the plate, which is a
magnificent one, embracing—
i Block of . . . . 8
i 4
I Strip of . . . 3
4 Pairs . . . 8
23 of the 25 varieties.
The largest blocks here, came to Mr. Tapling through a relative in Sydney,
and are superb. I well recollect his pleasure at their receipt, a feeling I was
enabled to share, as there was a block of five with others that, being
duplicates, passed into my own collection. In addition to this made-up plate
there is a sheet entire and uncut of this die in bright brick-red, somewhat
darker than those usually noted as proofs, but which, from their general
appearance, I take to be proof impressions. In any case this sheet is
singularly beautiful, valuable, and probably unique. Mr. Tapling acquired it
through a well-known London dealer, a year or two before his decease, at a
price commensurate with its rarity. Had it been acquired a few years earlier
it would have saved a good many hours' work for those who compiled the
" Stamps of Oceania "!
 AfewNotesontheOfficialPostageStampCollectionoftheCa
BY CAPTAIN NORRIS-NEWMAN.

WE are much indebted to Capt. Norris-Newman for this paper, which was accom-
panied by a letter, from which, with our valued correspondent's permission, we make
a few extracts of matters of general philatelic interest.
Dating from Cape Town, under date December gth last, Capt. Norris-Newman
writes:
" Having at last managed to spare a moment from my ordinary journalistic duties
on our Eastern border and Basutoland, I have been glad to be able to devote some of
my time here; first, to inspecting the official collection of the Cape Government;
and, secondly, to going through the official records, in order to enable me to complete
the few points necessary for writing a short pamphlet on the History of the Cape
Stamps, as well as meeting with the philatelists here. I was agreeably astonished to
find so many intelligent collectors, with collections varying from 5,000 to 10,000, some
of whom are also specialists; and I venture to believe that my visit, and constant notes
in the daily papers, will have done much for the advancement of our fascinating
science, as well as for the elucidation of its few doubtful points in connection with
some of the issues. I have been successful in obtaining a view of whole sheets of the
Reprints (so-called) Wood Blocks, showing the exact position of the error on each
^heet, and have secured some thereof. I shall, however, make official application for
a whole sheet of each variety of the Reprints for presentation to your Society; and, if
necessary, they can be overprinted ' Reprint' or ' Specimen,' which has not yet
been done.
" With regard to the new design for a penny stamp I cannot speak very highly of
its design or beauty. Only six copies have been sent to this country as yet (perforated
14 and gummed), of which one has been given to His Excellency the Governor, and
the other five are in the possession of the Postmaster-General. Only the one value
has been engraved, and will be issued when the present stock of the current issue is
exhausted. The colour is the same."

DURING a short holiday visit of a few weeks to Cape Town

—naturally on philatelic matters bent—I was glad to be
able to avail myself, through the courtesy of the present
Postmaster-General, Mr. Ffrench, of the opportunity of
going through the official collection in the possession of
his department. The result, however, I am bound to
admit, was disappointing in the extreme, as the collection was only started
in 1882, and was originally arranged by a clerk in the office, who knew
absolutely nothing about the subject. The stamps are pasted down most
firmly on each side of the sheets, which are of thick cardboard description—
badly arranged, and not even placed in issues, consecutively or otherwise—
whilst, of course, as might be expected, no regard is paid to the distinction
between imperforate, rouletted, and perforated varieties; and watermarks
14 OFFICIAL POSTAGE STAMPS OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

are unthought of. The total number of stamps now arranged amounts to
3,030, from 175 stamp-issuing countries, several important countries being
unrepresented; and out of the whole lot there are absolutely no rare or very
old stamps, except among the Australian Colonies, which have sent reprint
or sometimes proof specimens in black of their old issues, surcharged or
overprinted as such. Envelopes, postcards, or wrappers are noticeable only
by their absence, so that, as a matter of fact, the collection is neither repre-
sentative nor up to date. In fact, nearly every private collector in South
Africa has a superior one, and some have contributed stamps to the official
collection to assist in filling up the very large gaps. The countries are not
even arranged alphabetically or geographically, so that it puzzles me
exceedingly to know upon what principle the collection has been made.
With regard to the Cape stamps themselves, in which at any rate one would
expect them to be complete, the whole lot number 20! including a copy of
the id. and another of the 4d. wood blocks from the reprinted sheets on
wove paper, gummed; but the originals and errors are not there; and of the
other triangular stamps there is only one specimen of each, no notice being
taken of the Perkins-Bacon and the De la Rue issues. The gem of the
collection, in the eyes of a collector, is undoubtedly the beautiful set,
unused and original, of the perforated newspaper U. S. stamp of 1874
from i cent to 60 dollars; whilst a few of the British Colonies have sent
copies of surcharges, including those of Hong Kong, Straits Settlements,
Labuan, British Honduras, and British North Borneo. Of the greatest
philatelic rarities there are neither originals nor reprints of the early
Mauritius, Reunion, Sandwich Islands, New Caledonia, British Guiana, or
Natal, and even South African Colonies and States are not fully icpre-
sented; only Swazieland, Zululand, B.C.A. and B.S.A. Co. being nearly
complete. Out of the 175 countries which have sent stamps only 30 of them
marked them "specimen" or "reprint," including European states, most
English Colonies, Cuba, Philippine Islands, Japan, Argentine Republic, and
Persia.
There are still, however, in the possession of the Department, and, I
believe, unpacked, complete current sets in triplicate of all the countries
under the Universal Postal Union, sent them from the International Con-
vention at Vienna ; so then, when these are opened, sorted out, and
arranged, it is to be hoped that the work will be done by a philatelist, and
thus help to make the official collection more complete, up to date, and
useful as a reference than has hitherto been the case. In consequence of the
enquiries of Mr. Bacon and myself, the Postmaster-General has started a
large scrap-book in which a copy of each stamp issued by the Cape Colony
is to be put, with all the notes obtainable from official sources of its
manufacture, issue, changes, surcharging, withdrawal, number issued, &c.;
and as time permits, enquiries are made and researches pursued through the
records in the Treasury, Colonial-office, and Post-office Departments, so that
in time we may hope to have a complete official record of the history of the
Cape adhesives, envelopes, wrappers, and post cards.
 Philatelic Notes
NOTE.—Under this title will be found all notes relating to postal issues other than those that are
chronicled as current novelties, or which form the subject of special articles. The co-operation of
Philatelists is invited in order to make this column of a varied and interesting nature.

BRITISH EAST AFRICA.

A CORRESPONDENT of Mr. D. Brosnan having taken exception to the
statement that the first issue of these stamps included imperforate
specimens, that gentleman applied to the Company, and we are enabled to
cite the reply thereto, premising that we have seen specimens of all the
values imperforate on letters duly franked thereby from Mombassa.
IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY, LIMITED,
2, PALL MALL EAST, LONDON, S.W.
DOMINIC BROSNAN, ESQ., 8M December, 1893.
27, New Oxford Street, W.C.
DEAR SIR,—I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 7th inst.
The imperforated stamps which you bought at a premium three years ago are
perfectly genuine. They were the first sheets of the present issue of this Company's
stamps; and not only have they been used for franking letters from East Africa, but
they can even now be used for that purpose.
At the time you purchased these stamps they were on sale to anyone who cared
to buy them, and indeed have long since all been disposed of, so that they may now
be looked upon as considerably increased in value.
Yours faithfully,
E. BRADBRIDGE (for Secretary).

PSEUDO IMPERFORATE AUSTRALIAN STAMPS.

THERE are certain Oceanian stamps that the philatelic St. Thomas will
never believe in until he sees them in pairs ; e.g. the 53. New South
Wales, and the is. Queensland. Mr. D. Brosnan has shewn us lately two
specimens that go far to support this incredulous attitude, one being the Sd.,
dark green, perforated 12, of New South Wales ; and the other the 6d.,
yellow-green, Star watermark, square perforations, of Queensland, both of
which would never be doubted as being imperforate, whereas Mr. Brosnan
himself cut off the perforations ! Mr. Castle has also in his collection a id.
Star watermark, perforated, New Zealand; and a 2d., no watermark,
Queensland, with margins between stamp and perforation that would satisfy
the veriest craver for " large copies !" The only comfort is that specimens so
providentially provided with an exuberance of margin must be very rare,
hence they do not constitute a serious menace to collectors, the "moral"
being to carefully consider the general surroundings of the stamps that exist
only in an abnormal state as imperforate.
16 PHILATELIC NOTES.

INDIA "SERVICE" SURCHARGES.

MR.W. H. BOLLAND has sent us some Indian stamps which, as he justly
says, are not recorded in the Society's work, but have been in a friend's
collection for twenty years. This of itself is no convincing proof, thirty-
year-old forgeries not being unknown. The overprinted word Service is of
the same width as the ordinary " large " type, but nearly \ mm. deeper; the
lettering is rough, badly set up, and worse printed. In the shape of the type,
notably in the " S " and " r," they strongly resemble the small surcharge, a
fact in their favour. The first two specimens submitted by our correspon-
dent, the \ anna, blue, and 8 pies, lilac, both with watermark, and dated in
1872, somewhat favourably impressed us ; but the subsequent receipt of four
other values—i, 2, 4, and 8 annas, with apparently the same surcharge,
delicately avoiding the postmark, is not of a reassuring nature. We had a
belief for years — founded, like our correspondent, on ancient rights of
possession—that there were other than the two types of surcharged service
stamp; but it is plain that considerable corroborative evidence will be required
before these surcharges can be pronounced not guilty, and we should be glad
to hear witnesses in the case.

THE 4 c., BLACK, OF LUXEMBURG.

A GERMAN correspondent informs the Monthly Journal that the 4 c.,
black, which we described lately, " is a proof struck by Mons. P. Bruck,
in March, 1875 ; and on consulting (as we ought to have done sooner) the
volume upon the stamps of this State, in Mons. Moens' Bibliotheque des
Timbrophiles, we find these impressions fully dealt with and noted, both perf.
and imperf. However, we exhibited our ignorance in good company!" We
are much obliged to our contemporary, and can only plead as excuse that the
writer's Philatelic library has not yet recovered the shock it sustained by his
prolonged absence. We had, however, already informed the owner of the
" stamp" in question, that in view of the prolific powers of Luxemburg we
attached but a very small pecuniary value to the specimen.

NOTES ON THE WEST INDIAN STAMPS AT THE EXHIBITION OF

THE LONDON PHILATELIC SOCIETY.
WE are indebted to Mr. J. A. Tilleard, whose constant attendance at the
recent Exhibition of the West Indian Stamps gave him leisure to
exercise his well-known Philatelic perspicuity, for some stray notes on
interesting stamps present and absent that, though somewhat late in the
day, will be found of interest.
"Antigua.— 1st Issue, id. and 6d., imperf.; id., imperf. vertically. The
compound perfs. of Issue III. and the half stamps of the id. of same issue
used as ^d. were not shown.
"Barbados.—Strip of three id. on is. shown, but the varieties with
surcharge inverted not there.
 PHILATELIC NOTES. 17
"British Guiana.— Issue VI. The 24 c. on thick paper, perforated 12, is
evidently very rare unused, not being shown in this state. Issue X. 24 c.,
perf. 12, not shown. Query, Does it exist? I think not. Issue XV. A
novelty was shown here, the 4 c., perf. 12 J, small 2 not being shown. 1856
Issue. No specimen of the 4 c. on ' sugar ' paper was shown.
"British Honduras. — J of id., without surcharge, used as i c. shown.
Issue VII. Does the 2 c., black, on 500., black, on is., grey, exist? The
Postmaster says none were made in the Colony ! The \ of the 2 c., red, on
50 c., on is., grey, was shown cut diagonally and vertically.
" Falkland Islands. — In the surcharge | on id. some sheets evidently only
had each third stamp surcharged. Probably for use as 2fd. stamps — i.e. two
unsurcharged —the third surcharged \ in each corner, and cut off with
two unsurcharged attached.
"Grenada. — H.R.H. The Duke of York showed a specimen of the id. of
Issue IV. with small four-rayed star watermark.
"Montserrat. — The 2jd., watermarked CC & Cr., imperforate, is probably
a proof.
"Royal Mail Steamship Co.— An entire sheet of thirty stamps was ex-
hibited.
"St. Christopher. — The rare id. on 2fd., small surcharge, was shewn used
and unused, one sheet of twenty stamps only having been thus printed,
according to good authority.
"St. Lucia. — Issue VII. I did not see the 3d. on dark blue, the existence
even of which is doubted by many.
"St. Vincent.— Additional varieties of perforation, and specimen of the
id. on 2jd., carmine, with single bar added to the two narrow bars, also with
two bars added, wider spaced, neither variety having been yet chronicled.
"Trinidad. — The id. 'native' die seems to be scarce used, as only two
specimens were to be seen ; the same remark applying to the |d. on the pale
mauve stamp, watermarked CA & Cr., unused. As to the special com-
memorative issue of February 23rd, 1891, I note that one specimen is dated
in March, the remainder having the date of H.R.H. the Duke of York's
visit.
"Turks' fs/atut.—The surcharges of 1881 shown by H.R.H. show that
the published lists are still incomplete, and in some respects incorrect.
Among these stamps the 2|d. on ed.^ith small type of Jd., was shown,
there being only one or two copies known, and altogether this exhibit will be
found a very instructive one."
We can cordially endorse Mr. Tilleard's closing words from personal
inspection.

DISCOVERIES.
ST. HELENA.— A correspondent informs the Monthly Journal that he
possesses a specimen of the id. with short line, 14 mm., imperforate,
and with good margins.
18 PHILATELIC NOTES.

Bermuda.—The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain has seen copies of

the is., green, CC and Crown, perforated 14x12^—a batch apparently so
perforated at the same time as the 3d. value already known.

UNITED STATES COUNTERFEIT GRILLS.

||N animated discussion has arisen in the American journals as to the
question whether the "grills" on the United States stamps are
susceptible or not of easy imitation. Mr. E. S. Clark, of Belleville, Ontario,
whom the writer had the pleasure of meeting at Chicago, contends in the
San Francisco Philatelic Facts and Fallacies, that he has, and can produce,
imitations that defy detection; while Mr. Alvah Davison stoutly controverts
this theory in the columns of the Post Office. We can only hope, in the
interests of collectors, that the latter view of the case is the correct one.

FRESH FORGERIES.
THEPhilatelic Protection Association have given notice of the circulation
of the following new forgeries :
NEW SOUTH WALES.
Sydney View, id., red ; 2d., blue (beautifully imitated).
Laureated Issue, id., red (two shades); 2d., blue (two shades);
and 3d., green.
Registration Stamps, imperf. and perf.
NEW ZEALAND.—is., green; imperf, and perf.
CEYLON.—1861, 46., rose, and 2s., blue.
NATAL.—ist Issue, embossed, 3d., rose.

STRAY NOT£S ON TRANSVAAL: A COLLECTION..

[Link] J. NANKIVELL writes us that the summary at the end of
his paper on the Surcharges of Current Issues (L. P., vol. ii. p. 201)
needs a little correction and revision, and should have been as follows:
1893. January, 2^d. on is., green, 148,860; surcharge in black, in one line.
June, 2jd. „ „ 29,460 „ „ two lines.
January, id. „ 6d., blue, 776,580
May, ^d. „ 2d., bistre, 299,280 „ red.
June, |d. „ „ 29,580 „ black.
 [ '9 ]

Occasional Notes.
.H.I.H. THE GRAND DUKE ALEXIS MICHAELOVITCH.
THEelection of so illustrious a member of the London Philatelic Society,
may be taken as a further evidence both of the rising interest taken
in Philately by all classes, and of an extending recognition of the prestige
and influence of the Society. We need hardly say that the election of the
Grand Duke Alexis was received with acclamation, which would be doubly
renewed should H.I.H. be at some future date enabled to personally attend,
it being well known that the Duke is an ardent and studious philatelist.

WEST INDIAN PHILATELY.

IT is with pleasure that we note a new addition to the list of Philatelic
Societies. We take this opportunity of tendering our best wishes for
the welfare of the British Guiana Philatelic Society, and trust that every
member may indulge his patriotism in securing a complete collection of the
stamps of that country! The proceedings of the two first meetings will
be found duly noted elsewhere, and we have to thank Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co. for the information.
•••
SYLLABUS OF MEETINGS OF THE LONDON PHILATELIC SOCIETY.
IN January igth, subject of study " Hongkong."
On January 26th, Mr. Ehrenbach will read a short paper on "The
Stamps of Brunswick."
On February 2nd, subject of study, " Stamps of the Straits Settlements."
On February gth, Mr, Castle will read a short paper on " The Registered
Stamps of New South Wales."
*
A MODEST DEMAND.
A CORRESPONDENT who, like the Editor, has recently been travelling,
relates the following anecdote as told to him by a passenger on the
R.M.S. Orinoco on the voyage from the West Indies, who about thirty miles
off the Azores threw overboard a corked bottle containing his name and
address, and a request to anybody finding the same to give him information.
He further offered a reward to the finder, if desired. After a lapse of
twenty-seven days the bottle was found on the Island of Terceira, and a
letter was received by the passenger claiming the reward ; also a letter from
the Portuguese, who translated the message for the finder, suggesting he
should also like a present. He is a stamp collector, and writes, " I wish for
my collection of postage stamps, some stamps from your country, but not
common ones. I wish the stamps of 1847-54, 1862, 1865-67, 1872-73,
1875-76, 1878, 1880-82, 1883 surcharged, 1884-87 ; high values too."
This is true modesty, as our friend aptly remarks !
20 OCCASIONAL NOTES.

A RECORD!
THEoccasion of the reading of Mr. Hastings Wright's very able paper on
the "Stamps of Great Britain" was productive of a record as to attend-
ance, which inclusive of the Baron de Worms and other visitors, amounted
to between forty and fifty. The fine display of the English stamps of
H.R.H. the Duke of York, who graciously sent them for this purpose, and
of Mr. Hastings Wright's splendid collection, without doubt materially con-
tributed to this desirable result. It is'however clearly shown that nothing
attracts a big meeting so much as the sight of fine stamps, and as there is
no lack of these among the component members we hope that even this
record will soon be " broken."

A TONGESE VIEW OF THE USES OF STAMPS.

IT will be recollected that a description was given in our last volume of
a room entirely papered with unused postage stamps. At the invi-
tation of its owner, Mr. C. Whitfield King, we recently had an opportunity of
inspecting this Philatelic chamber, and can but express our complete satis-
faction with the result attained. The photographs taken by Mr. King give
but an inadequate idea of the effect, which is extremely beautiful, and has
the appearance of a delicate mosaic, in which colour and design are most
harmoniously blended. It appears that Mr. King, in his own words, "sent
to the Postmaster at Tonga one of the illustrations of this room papered
with stamps, who showed it to some natives who happened to be in his office.
He tried to explain it, but it seems they have an idea the house is built
of stamps. They expressed a wish to send me messages, and the postmaster,
Mr. Gamier, very obligingly took them down verbatim in the native tongue,
and translated them for my benefit. They are certainly the oddest com-
munications I ever received, and I have had some funny ones at times, as
you have seen. They are of course all sent in perfect good faith, but I must
decline their invitation, either to marry any of them or be fired out of a
cannon! I fear also I should not look well dancing on a rope, dressed in
my paper clothes. I shall send a message in return, and a present for each
of them—some coloured pictures such as are given away with the Christmas
Numbers."
We have been kindly allowed by their owner to take a copy of the
cards containing these curious invitations and suggestions, which are con-
veyed in the native and apparently mellifluous language, and translated by
Mr. Gamier, and we venture to think they will be found worthy of perusal,
bearing as they do the strongest stamp of originality.
"Come and see us, O Mr. Whitfield and Mr. King and Mr. Co., and dress
yourselves in the clothes you make of postage stamps. Such clothes would not do
here in the rain, as they would fall off you. Mr. Gamier says your paper clothes are
very beautiful; but come to us, we will give you strong clothes and plenty of food."
" The new stamps have come. The likeness of Queen Makia is very good. Long
may you live. Come and see us in Rarotonga."
"It is I, Kakaiia, who speaks to you. Mr. Gamier says I must send you a
message over the long, long sea to the land of our Mother Victoria. She will protect
 REVIEWS. 21

us from the power of other nations. We all love Victoria, and would fight for her.
We want to be English, so do the people in Tahiti, but the French won't allow
them."
"It is I, the Tropic-bird, who sends this message to you three—Come in your
paper clothes. You must be like the men in the circus that is here. If you buy a
circus and come here too, we will all go and see you dancing on a rope, and being
fired out of a cannon, and we shall all want to marry you."
" To the man who lives over the sea in England, and has his house built of post
stamps, are you not foolish to build a paper house? If a storm comes it will be
blown all over the land, and you cannot gather the pieces. Come to Rarotonga that
we may look on the man who lives in a paper house. Salutations, my pets !"
"Oh, Rarotonga, beautiful land! Our waters and our skies for ever blue and
warm, our fruits for ever ripening; our mountains high and green, ascending towards
the heavens. Come and see us here, O Mr. Whitfield and Mr. King, in our homes,
and bring us a little present in your hand for writing this, and we shall give you a
present in return, that you may not forget us."
"Oh, Mr. Whitfield and Mr. King, our love to you both, and to Mr. Co., send us
some nice cards of the Easter time, so that we may not forget you in your paper
house. This is all from your friend Vavia.
" Light in the darkness, sailor, day is at hand !
See o'er the foaming billows fair Heaven's land.
Drear was the voyage, sailor, now almost o'er ;
Safe within the lifeboat, sailor, pull for the shore !
Pull for the shore, sailor ; pull for the shore !
Heed not the rolling waves, but bend to the oar !
Safe in the lifeboat, sailor, cling to self no more :
Leave the poor old stranded wreck, and pull for the shore !"

Reviews.
M. MOENS' NEW CATALOGUE*
WITH the instalment recently received by us this colossal
work has achieved its consummation, and its distin-
guished author has earned the renown of having
probably created a record as to the time involved in
the production of a universal catalogue. The additions
to the first volume of adhesives, already reviewed in
these columns, comprise—
Envelopes and Wrappers . . . 177 pages.
Post and Letter Cards . . . . 179 „
Fiscals . . . . . 352 „
Each portion of the work being illustrated with all the types described.
It can therefore readily be seen that the adjective we have previously applied
to this catalogue is appropriate, as also that anything like a detailed review
would transgress the limits of our space. A useful feature in the envelope
portion is the delineation of the several " cuts" and shapes, as also of the
pattes, and it will be seen that the Mulready caricatures are copiously
* Catalogue prix-courant de Timbres-posts, &c. J. B. Moens, Rue de Florence, 42, Brussels. 1893.
22 REVIEWS.

illustrated. The lists of the rare German envelopes seem to embrace all that
is known up to date, and will be found invaluable. There is, of course,
much chronicled that it may be advisable to sell—but which it can hardly
be of advantage to collect—in the guise of envelopes and bands stamped to
order, as in the cases of Great Britain, Germany, and some of the Australian
Colonies. These unofficial varieties have two merits, prettiness and cheapness
(generally), but this exhausts the sum of their virtues. The portion dealing
with the post-cards has a useful prefix in the shape of a table giving the
different shapes of the two halves of the reply-cards, as well as the various
methods of puncturing the letter-cards. The difficulty of cataloguing a
complete list of cards—not to say collecting them - will be fully borne upon
the philatelist's mind when he refers to the lists of such countries as
Roumania, Finland, and Ceylon. The money-order cards and envelopes
(mandats timbres) have a separate department assigned to them, and there is,
in fact, no domain of philately that has not been laid open to the explorations
of the collector. A perusal of the work, coupled with the knowledge that
each specimen catalogued can be amplified by minor varieties of shade,
paper, &c., will convince the fin de siecle philatelist of the impossibility of
trying to collect " all the world." The illustrations to the cards and envelopes
extend to no less than 208 pages, and those of the fiscals to eighty, many of
which will be found of the greatest service. It is, perhaps, to be regretted
that the not superfine quality of the paper has rendered in some instances
the illustrations in a defective manner. As may be remembered, this remark
was made as regards the illustrations in the first volume of adhesives, the
impressions in blue, by some unknown process, being in many cases utterly
useless. It is a pity that so much splendid philatelic work should be marred
by these typographical failures; but beyond this, and the slight errors and
omissions that are incidental to most catalogues, we have nothing but
praise to bestow upon the volumes that are now completed. The name and
fame of the house of M. Moens have long and deservedly attained the
highest esteem from stamp collectors the world over, and it has set the seal of
its success by the compilation of this splendid and voluminous work. It
is the veriest truism to say that no real philatelist can afford to dispense with
it in his library, while it will be an enduring monument of the consummate
philatelic knowledge and marvellous industry of the celebrated Brussels firm.

THE AUCTION EPITOME*

We have received from the publisher, Mr. William Brown, the second
edition of The Auction Epitome, compiled by Mr. S. C. Skipton. This
volume consists of 143 well-printed and concisely-written pages, giving the
description and prices of every lot sold by the various stamp auctioneers
during the years 1890, 1891, and 1892, and is a distinct advance on Mr.
Skipton's previous effort. A list of the auction sales and the principal lots
is given for each year. Altogether this book will be a most useful addition
to the philatelic library of those collectors who look at philately from a
financial point of view—a large majority.
* The Auction Epitome, by S. C. Skipton. Published by William Brown, 139, Castle Street,
Salisbury.
 MEW ISSUES.

THE STAMP NEWS ANNUAL*

The fourth appearance of this seasonable volume fully entitles it to the
cognomen of " a hardy annual," and we can at once compliment the
publishers upon the excellent way in which they have again sustained the
reputation of its predecessors. Obviously in a publication of this nature
articles of lighter vein will be found interspersed, and to these we need
hardly call especial attention, beyond stating that they are all readable and
mostly amusing. From a scientific aspect the most important articles are
on the stamps of Greece by Lieutenant Napier, R.N. (like all this writer's
work evincing great philatelic knowledge), with—may we say—a tendency to
over elaborate and sub-divide the issues; the stamps of "Alsace-Lorraine,"
by Mr. J. W. Anheiser, giving most interesting details about these stamps,
and also correcting existing erroneous ideas as to the length of the inscrip-
tions, &c. ; and the " Catalogue of English Philatelic Literature," by Mr.
J. K. Tiffany. Mr. Levy has also a good article on South Australian
perforations; while Captain Norris-Newman's notes from the "Dark Continent"
are, as usual, full of interest; and the articles of a statistical nature, by
Messrs. E. J. Nankivell and R. Pearce, are both eminetltly readable, despite
the foregoing ominous adjective. There is one element—Philatelic poetry—
which we are unable to appreciate; except that each word begins with the
same initial we fail to see how they can be " mixed " to any good purpose.
The preface consists of an admirably written precis of the Philatelic situation
at the end of the year, and taken in its entirety, the Annual is worthy of
that which it doubtless already possesses—a wide circle of readers.
* The Stamp News Animal, Theodor Buhl & Co., II, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.G.

New Issues.
Under this head will be found notes of the neiu, and variations of the current issues. We do not
profess to chronicle everything, but with the kind help of correspondents, are desirous that all
the important novelties may be included. Speculative stamps—i.e. those not really required for
postal purposes—will be considered on their merits, and Jubilee issues will not be chronicled.

GREAT BRITAIN AND COLONIES. GOLD COAST. —Messrs. Ridpath & Co.
BRITISH BECHUANALAND.—Captain send us a set of the Registration Envelopes
Morris-Newman writes as under, enclosing with surcharges varying in length as under,
specimens of the stamps mentioned ; i.e. id., the small type being scarce.
current type, wmk. foul Anchor ; perf. 14, Registration Envelopes.
the surcharge in block lower case, rather ad., blue ; size G ; surcharge 4 mm. high, 66 mm. long.
,, „ F&G „ „ 64 „
clumsily printed : " Herewith enclosed please „ G „ „ 63 „
find a couple of specimens of new Cape „ „ G „ „ 61 „
,, ,, F „ 3 mm. high, 64 „
surcharge, with vertical surcharge reading
GREAT BRITAIN.—Messrs. Whitfield King
from right to left, of which only a few sheets
& Co. send on the following letter referring
were printed, and none were issued, as the
authorities are using up the English sur- to the recently-described Registration Cards:
charge in preference. I have a few sheets, "GENERAL POST OFFICE, LONDON,
January \st, 1894.
and there is only one error ! On the third " GENTLEMEN,— With reference to your further letter of
row from the bottom, in the right-hand lower the 28th ultimo, I am informed by the Controller of Stamps
that, by mistake, 14,976 of the old pattern of Registered
pane, the second stamp from the left has Lettered Envelopes, size "G," were stamped with the new
defective ' i' in ' British.' The surcharging die, and that all of them had been issued for sale to the
public.
for use in the northern Protectorate above "The specimen envelope which was forwarded with
British Bechuanaland is now done away your letter is returned herewith.
"I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
with, and British Bechuanaland stamps are "(Signed) G. D. SMYTH.
used throughout the whole territory." "MESSRS. WHITFJELD KINO & Co."
 NEW ISSUES.

NEW ZEALAND.—We have seen speci- BULGARIA.—There are some varieties of

mens of other current stamps, showing the letter card, i.e., with "3" instead of "6"
further advertisements on the reverse side. in the second line of inscription on reverse.
No Philatelist will, of course, collect such Both this and the lower values have suffered
rubbish. We can only wonder that the a re-set type, and appear also with larger
New Zealand authorities can allow such an perforations on a more highly-glazed buff
advertisement—of their want of money ! surface. We are indebted to the Carle
SAMOA.—Mr. W. A. Cooper sends us the Postale and Revue Philatelique for the
current fourpence, with value barred out by information.
Letter Cards.
a thick and a thin line, and surcharged 15 stot, orange OH yellow; "3" on reverse.
"FIVE PENCE" in small block black capitals. 5 ,, pale green on buff; new type.
15 ., .. » »
The specimen, which seems to have done
postal duty, arrived, says Mr. Cooper, by a GERMANY.—Mr. Ehrenbach has shewn
recent mail in San Francisco. We have, us a pair of the current 3 pf. perforated only
however, a limited faith in the necessity for on the right-hand side, and being a corner
its creation. of the sheet. The Timbre-Paste, alluding to
5d., current type, surcharged on qd,, dark blue. the appearance of imperforate specimens of
SEYCHELLES.—The following varieties of current values, states that some imperforate
new values of the current type are variously sheets were received by the Post-office from
announced ; the second colour being that of the printing-office in 1889, and were handed
the tablet of value ; wmk. C A ; perf. 14. over by the former to the Postal Museum at
3 C., violet and orange. Berlin, which institution has recently been
12 c., grey and green. endeavouring to make a profit thereby ; and
15 c., olive and lilac.
45 c., brown and carmine. as it is stated that the Post-office allows
Post Cards. 6 c., blue on buff.
6+6 c., „ „ them to pass for postage we presume they
SIERRA LEONE.—The Timbre-Poste an- must be chronicled, however reluctantly.
nounces cards of the current type as under: 3 pf., brown ; imperforaU.
3 ,, ,i perf. at right only.
Post Cards. id., green on buff. 25 „ orange; i?KJ>er/t>rate.
Hid. „ „ 50 ,, red-brown ,,
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.—Perak. The PORTUGAL.—The Post Card notes the
cards for internal use, says the Titnbre-Poste, issue of the 20 reis of 1887 with the Gothic
have been issued. The design of the "stamp" surcharge "VALIDO 1893," similar to that on
is that with the tiger, otherwise they resemble the 10 reis of 1890, noted previously in this
the ordinary current cards. journal.
Post Cards. i c., green on buff (Tiger),
t + i c. „ „ Post Card, so reis, carmine on buff; black surcharge.
VICTORIA.—Mention is made in various ROUMANIA.—Messrs. Ridpath & Co. wish
journals of a doubly-impressed envelope of us to correct the announcement made last
the id. value ; these are, of course, un- month as regards the error on the 10 b.
officially issued as their congeners in this card. The normal spelling of the country's
country. The Philatelic Record describes a name is " ROMANIA," -while that of the error
new issue of the id. card, having the arms is " ROUMANIE."
larger, and without the lion, the lines of
WURTEMBERG.—Mr. R. Ehrenbach has
inscription varying, and the inscription DIEU
ET—MON DROJT.
shown us the new value adhesive and card
Post Card, id., light orange-brown; new type.
issued in order to facilitate the special re-
duction of 25 pc. on official intercommuni-
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.—We read in Vin- cation. Both are of normal and current type.
dirfs Philatelic Journal that the " Internal 2 pf., dull blue-grey.
Revenue" stamps are now allowed to be Post Card. 3 pf., brown on buff.
used postally, and that the id. has been
already so seen. The collection of these is, AMERICA.
of course, a matter of choice. ANTIOQUIA.—The 10 c. has appeared in
EUROPE. somewhat altered type, and in a new colour.
10 c., pale brown ; new type.
BELGIUM.—Mr. J. A. Tilleard has shewn
us the cards with the senseless added UNITED STATES.—Mr. Oliver H. New
inscription alluded to last month. writes ; " Under the heading ' New Issues'
Post Cards. in the December number of your magazine
5, green on buff; non-Sunday delivery. I notice that a variety of the 6 c. adhesive
5+5 „
Letter Cards. stamp U.S.A. Columbus series is noted. I
10, orange-brown on pale blue ; non-Swtday delivery.
10+10 „ „ „ „ am very glad to find this is brought to light,
 NEW ISSUES.
as I possess a specimen of the dull blue FRENCH COLONIES.—Monthly bulletin!
colour alluded to, and have never seen New Caledonia.—Two new surcharges.
mention made of it before. I enclose it Obock.—z francs, black, triangular ; of
for your inspection, and you will see it is Camel Type (Messrs. W. King & Co.).
on the envelope as it came to me on the Tahiti.—Many new surcharges.
igth April last." Vathy (Turkish Asia).—Six new sur-
charges.
VENEZUELA.—Mr. Walter Morley has sent Zanzibar.—Five new surcharges.
us curious varieties of perforation, &c., of
the 1888 to 1892 lithographed series, which LIBERIA.—Mr. H. L. Hayman, in sending
are new to us. The 5 green, 25 brown, and us specimens, writes: " I enclose the Liberian
25 orange, whose normal state, we believe, registration stamps, which will supersede the
is rouletted, seem to have been partially registered envelopes now in use. There are
pin -perforated—both in very small and four varieties for the individual counties as
medium gauge—on one side or the other, designated on the stamps. The permanent
or top and bottom, according to the "dis- set of postage due stamps will be issued in a
cretion" of the operator. The red circular few days," which we now have.
surcharge with the Arms is also shown as The registered stamps are of fancy design,
inverted in two values. oblong in shape, with a large "R" to left,
1888-92. 5 c., green, compound roulette and pin-perf. and No. to right, and overprinted in
„ 25 c., brown „ „ black " 10 CENTS 10."
„ 35 c., orange „ „ 10 c., green on salmon, for Harper.
1882. 250. ,, engraved and perf., surch. inverted. ioc., vermilion on yellow, for Monrovia.
„ i bolivar, vermilion ,, ,, 10 c., pink on blue, for Robertsport.
10 c., blue on rose, for Buchanan.
The Philatelist notes also further varieties
as follows, the first being of the 1882 issue. The Unpaid Letter Stamps are of simple
25 c. on 5 c , green, Escuelas, violet surcharge, design—an oval with network, within a circle
i bol. „ 50 c., blue ,, „ inscribed " Postage due, Republic of Liberia,"
i ,, „ 25 c., brown, Correos ,,
the value being in each case superimposed
in large figures and small capitals in the
OTHER COUNTRIES.
centre. The paper of both sets is wove, and
AFGHANISTAN. — Two values of a new the perforation varying.
design have been issued. Within a circle 2 c., black and orange on straw.
there is a representation of a mosque or 4 c. carmine rose.
6c. brown buff.
gateway with a flag on either side, the 8c. blue blue.
10 c. green pink,
balance of the design being occupied with 20 c. violet grey,
Oriental inscriptions upon a floreate back- 40 c. brown white.
ground. TheMonMyJ'ourna/ihus translates We sincerely trust that this Republic—
the inscription, and adds that the green stamp being well set up with a handsome new set
is for letters from Cabul, and pink for those to of stamps—will " rest and be thankful!"
that place: " The characters read as follows: NOVA POTUCA.—This pseudo issue is a
' Mahsul Kaghasi dak Khana dowlat myth !
Afghanistan Miskal yak abasi. 1310' =
'Paper Duty of the Post Office of the MOROCCO.—Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
Kingdom of Afghanistan—per miskal, one send us an envelope apparently franked by an
abasi. 1310.' A miskal = 54 grains troy, octagonal violet hand-stamp, with Moorish
or rather less than one-eighth of an ounce inscriptions, on a ground of colour, and
avoirdupois. The year 1310 commenced write: " The enclosed envelope bearing a
July 26, 1892, and ended July 14, 1893 ; so blue octagonal hand-stamp was posted at
these stamps were probably issued during Morocco City for Mogador. This stamp
the first half of the current year." is used by the Moorish Government in a
i abasi, black on green.
courier service between the above-named
i „ ,, pink. two cities, and marks the first step towards
BHOPAL.—Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. the establishment in Morocco of a Govern-
send us the new 8 anna stamps, one sheet ment postal service. We do not know its
(10 varieties) perforated, and the other value, but have written for particulars and
imperforate, of current design. translation."
8 a., dark blue-green, ivove paper ; perf, 7 (about). TIMOR.—The 300 reis of Timor, with
8 a. „ ,, imperf.
embossed head, has been surcharged
EGYPT.—The i piastre envelope is noted "TIMOR 30. 30," in large black type.
by the Timbre-Poste as follows: (Monthly Journal.)
Envelope, i p., blue on blue laid paper, 146X111 mm. 30 reis, orange, black surcharge, on 300 reis of Macao.
 C 26 ]

PhilatelicSocieties'Meetings.
. m"*"»

THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

Honorary President.—H.R.H. DUKE ALFRED OF SAXE-COBURG GOTHA.

Hon. Vice-President.—H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK, K.G.

Council for the Year 1893-94 :

President.—THE EARL OF KINGSTON.
Vice-President.—M. P. CASTLE.
Hon. Secretary.—D. GARTH. | Hon. Assistant Secretary.—J. A. TILLEAKD.
Treasurer.—C. N. BIGGS. | Librarian.—T. MAYCOCK.
E. D. BACON. T. WICKHAM JONES.
A. W. CHAMBERS. E. J. NANKIVELL.
E. B. EVANS. R. PEARCE.

AT the tenth meeting of the season 1893-94, of considerable assistance in elucidating the
held at Emngham House, Strand, on Friday, difficult questions referred to the Committee.
the 15th December, 1893, the business of On the motion of the Vice-President,
the evening consisted of the revision of the seconded by Mr. Tilleard, a hearty vote of
Society's reference lists of the stamps of the thanks was accorded to the Committee for
new British Companies in South, Central, the able manner in which they had fulfilled
and East Africa, which were proceeded with their task, and it was directed that the report
and completed. should be published in the London Phila-
telist, in the hope that collectors possessing
THE eleventh meeting of the season was dated copies of the stamps in question may
held at Effingham House on Friday, the 2gth be induced to send particulars to supplement
December, 1893, at 7.30 p.m. The Vice- the information already obtained.
President occupied the chair, and the follow- His Imperial Highness The Grand Duke
ing members were also present; viz., Messrs. Alexis Michaelovitch, proposed by H.R.H.
E. D. Bacon, C. N. Biggs, R. Meyer, H. R. The Duke of York, and seconded by the
Oldfield, W. Silk, T. Maycock, A. G. E. Assistant Secretary, was unanimously elected
Driver, G. B. Routledge, R. Pearce, E. J. a member of the Society. In proposing the
Nankivell, J. A. Tilleard, and F. E. Horton. name of the Grand Duke, Mr. Titteard
The minutes of the last meeting having explained that it was understood that His
been read and confirmed, the Assistant- Imperial Highness preferred to seek election
Secretary reported the receipt, from Messrs. as an ordinary member, an honour which was
Theodor Buhl and Co., of a copy of the highly appreciated by the members present.
Stamp News Annual for the Society's The next business on the agenda con-
library, which was directed to be acknow- sisted of Mr. Bacon's motion in regard to
ledged with the thanks of the Society. the appointment of an Expert Committee.
The committee appointed on the gth The objects of the motion, which was
December, 1892, to investigate the question seconded by the Vice-President, were ex-
of the dates when the various imperforate plained by Mr. Bacon ; and after some
stamps of New Zealand were in use, brought discussion it was resolved : " that, taking
up their report, which was read by Mr. into consideration the enormous increase in
Maycock, who acknowledged the assistance the number of highly dangerous imitations
derived from most of the principal dealers, of postage stamps that have appeared of
who had placed their stocks at the disposal late years, and bearing in mind that one
of the committee. A list compiled by a of the objects of the Society is ' the detec-
leading philatelist in New Zealand was tion and prevention of forgeries and fraud,
appended to the report, which will prove an instruction be given to the Council to
 PHILATELIC SOCIETIES MEETINGS.
appoint an Expert Committee, who shall President, the minutes of the last meeting
adjudicate upon any stamp or stamps sub- were read and confirmed.
mitted to them for their opinion, such Before proceeding to the business of the
Committee to be empowered to charge a meeting the chairman congratulated the
fee for each specimen examined, with the Society on the large attendance of members,
object of defraying expenses incurred in and on the great interest which was evidently
connection with its work, and to make taken in the study of the stamps of our own
whatever arrangements it thinks best for country.
the carrying out of this resolution in the Mr. Hastings E. Wright then read a paper
most effective manner." upon " The Stamps of Great Britain." After
Mr. Bacon then read his paper on the explaining some of the principal difficulties
"Fiji Times Express Stamps," illustrated by to be encountered in the collection of these
engravings of a re-constructed plate, which stamps, and that in view of a more extended
were handed to the members to enable work on the subject, which was in course of
them to follow the paper. The various preparation, the paper had been confined
types with their positions on the plate to notes intended only for the guidance of
were fully explained ; and, on the motion collectors in forming a collection, Mr. Wright
of the Vice-President, seconded by Mr. went through the various issues seriatim,
Biggs, a cordial vote of thanks was accorded explaining the chief varieties to be sought
to Mr. Bacon for his most interesting contri- for by a student of English stamps. The
bution, which with his consent it is proposed paper was illustrated by a very choice selec-
to publish in the London Philatelist, tion from his own fine collection, kindly lent
In the course of the evening Mr. Maycock by Mr. Wright, and left by him for exhibition
showed a photograph, sent by Mr. H. J. in the Society's rooms during the past two
Knowles, of Wellington, New Zealand, show- days. After a discussion on the points raised
ing the unused stamps of that Colony in his by the paper, in which several of the members
collection, comprising many stamps very present took part, a hearty vote of thanks
difficult* to obtain in an unused condition, was, on the motion of Mr. Philbrick, secon-
and including the is. stamp on blue paper. ded by the Vice-President, accorded to Mr.
Wright for his most interesting paper, which
AT the twelfth meeting of the season, held with his consent it is proposed to publish in
on Friday, the 5th January, 1894, the busi- the London Philatelist.
ness was confined to the settling of the The remainder of the evening was occu-
reference list of the Stamps of Malta, pied in the inspection of a beautiful collection
which was completed. of the Postage and Telegraph Stamps of
Great Britain, recently acquired by the
THE thirteenth meeting of the season was Honorary Vice-President, comprising up-
held at Effingham House, on Friday, the wards of eight hundred stamps in an
12th January, 1894, at 7.30 p.m., and proved imperforate state, kindly sent by His Royal
to be one of the most successful meetings Highness for production at this meeting.
ever held by the society. The members The Assistant Secretary stated that he
present were the Vice-President, and Messrs. was the bearer of a message expressing
D. Garth, C. N. Biggs, T. Wickham-Jones, the great interest taken by His Royal High-
E. D. Bacon, R. Ehrenbach, R. Meyer, F. ness The Duke of York, in the work of
West, Gordon-Smith, W. T. Wilson, W. J. the Society, and the pleasure which it
Hardy, W. Silk, T. Ransom, W. N. Usher, afforded to His Royal Highness to be
G. H. Rayner, L. S. Wells, P. de Worms, able to co-operate in the work by the
C. J. Dann, F. E. Horton, W. Barnard, B. loan of stamps from his collection.
W. Neave, G. B. Routledge, W. Simpson, On the motion of the Vice-President,
G. Churcher, C. J. E. Mumby, A. B. Creeke, seconded by Mr. Wright, it was resolved,
R. Pearce, E. J. Nankivell, H. F. Lawe, F. "That the cordial thanks of the Society
A. Philbrick, Q.C., T. Maycock, J. A. Tilleard, be accorded to the Hon. Vice-President,
Hastings, E. Wright, and W. T. Willett. H.R.H. The Duke of York, for the great
The following gentlemen were also present interest evinced by His Royal Highness in
as visitors ; namely, Messrs. W. J. Middle- the Society's operations, and for so graciously
ton, W. J. Ebbetts, E. A. Fitch, E. W. Fitch, placing at the disposal of the Society the
L. G, S. Raynor, J. W. Jones, D. Duncan, magnificent collection of stamps, which the
and Baron de Worms. members have been privileged to inspect
The chair having been taken by the Vice- at this meeting."
28 PHILATELIC SOCIETIES' MEETINGS.

MANCHESTER PHILATELIC SOCIETY.

President.—VERNON ROBERTS. Vice President.—F. BARRATT.

Hon. Sec.—W. DORNING BECKTON. Assistant Hon. Sec.—C. H. COOTE.
Hon. Treasurer.—G. B. DUERST,
Hon. Librarian.—J. H. ABBOTT.
E. P. COLLETT. [ W. GRUNEWALD.
G. F. H. GIBSON. | W. W. MUNN.

THE sixth meeting of the session was held blue, 1861-64 issue, rouletted horizontally,
at the Blackfriars Hotel on Friday, the 8th and undoubtedly perforated vertically.
of December, 1893, the Vice-President The Hon. Treasurer then, referred, to the
occupying the chair, supported by the paper read by him last session on the stamps
Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Messrs. Munn, of Heligoland, and an epitome of which had
Collett, Grunewald, Petrie, Beazley, Blocky, been included in the publication of the
Pemberton, Batty, Fildes, Ranck, Gibson, Society. Since reading the paper he had
and one visitor. had the opportunity of examining entire
The minutes of the last meeting having sheets of all the values, including entire
been read and confirmed, the Hon. Secretary sheets of the originals, and three different
read the correspondence, including a letter printings of the reprints of the schilling
from the Philatelic Society of South Aus- issue. He pointed out that the latter fact
tralia. was not generally known. The perforation
A sub-committee was formed to report of all the three reprints and the originals
and carry out, if advisable, arrangements for are identical. Of course, it is established
the Annual Dinner of the Society before the that the 2s. and 6s. do not exist perforated
close of the year. as originals. The rouletting of the originals
and the reprints is likewise no guide. The
Mr. Duerst then read a paper on the first reprinting was done at Berlin, where
stamps of Prussia, informing the members the stamps were printed, and it is difficult
that when the postal authorities determined to distinguish these, the most dangerous
to issue stamps, the King of Prussia drew reprints, from the originals; the paper is
a design for the stamps, which consisted slightly thinner, and the tone of the colours
principally of the Arms of Prussia. The slightly different. The second set o/ re-
authorities did not consider the design prints were done at Lubeck, the paper in
satisfactory, and prevailed upon the King to this instance being appreciably thinner, and
allow his portrait to appear upon the stamps. the gum whiter. If these reprints are
On the succession of King William I. the placed face downwards, all the lettering
design was altered to the Eagle of Prussia, can be read from the back of the stamp.
which remained on the design until the The third reprints were manufactured at
foundation of the German Empire. Mr. Hamburgh on still thinner paper, very
Duerst read the decree authorizing the use different indeed from the originals; the
of the octagonal envelopes cut for adhesive gum is thin and pure white, while the
purposes, but pointed out that the cut embossing is not nearly so good. These
envelopes were not sold to the public, but last reprints are the common ones, and
had to be placed on the envelopes by the not at all dangerous.
officials of the Post Office, by whom alone
The meeting closed with the customary
they were allowed to be used as adhesives,
votes of thanks.
and principally for registered letters. W. DORNING BECKTON.
Mr. W. Doming Beckton showed the 2 sgr., DAISY BANK, SWIMTON PARK.
 PHILATELIC SOCIETIES' MEETINGS. 29

BRIGHTON AND SUSSEX PHILATELIC SOCIETY.

Honorary President.—BARON DE WORMS.

Committee for the Year 1893:
President.— M. P. CASTLE. | Vice-President.—]. H. REDMAN.
Hon. Sec. and Treasurer.—A.. DE WORMS.
W. T. WILLETT. I H. STAFFORD SMITH.
J. W. GILLESPIE. I R. J. WOODMAN.
THE fourth meeting of the season was held being unused; also a copy of the" Registered,"
at MarkwelPs Hotel, Brighton, on Monday, unused. A vote of thanks was passed to the
December 4th, at 7.45 p.m. Present— President for his very interesting notes.
Messrs. M. P. Castle, W. T. Willett, O.
Pfenninger, J. W. Gillespie, H. Stafford THE fifth meeting of the season was held
Smith, P. de Worms, A. de Worms, W. at Markwell's Hotel, Brighton, on Monday,
H. G. Cruttwell, and one visitor, Mr. F. December i8th, at 7.45 p.m. Present—
Williams. The President in the chair. After Messrs. W. T. Willett, O. Pfenninger, J.
the minutes of the previous meeting had W. Gillespie, R. J. Thrupp, P. de Worms,
been read and confirmed, the Secretary and A. de Worms. In the absence of the
intimated that the Rev. Rogers and Mr. President and Vice-President, Mr. Willett
Escolme both tendered their resignations as took the chair. The minutes of the previous
members of the Society, which were accepted meeting having been read and confirmed,
with regret. Contributions towards the the Secretary read a letter from the Assistant-
"Forgery" collection were received from Secretary of the London Philatelic Society,
several members, and were accepted with conveying the best thanks of its members
best thanks. The President presented to for the picture presented to them by this
the Society's library a bound copy of the Society. Mr. E. Mainwaring, proposed by
"Philatelic Chronicle and Advertiser," vol. Mr. G. G. Hodgson, and seconded by the
i., from the proprietors, and the "Auction Hon. Secretary, was duly elected a member
Epitome," vol. ii., from Mr. W. Brown, of of the Society. Mr. Willett then presented
Salisbury. A cordial vote of thanks was a very fine album for the Society's collection
accorded to the donors, which the Secretary of " Forgeries " ; also an interesting proof of
was requested to convey. The President the notorious forgery of the Indian i rupee.
also exhibited the second portion of his A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr.
collection of Victoria, containing all issues Willett for his gift, proposed by the Secretary,
from 1854 to 1862, and giving at the same and seconded by Mr. R, J. Thrupp. The
time a graphic description of the numerous Secretary showed his collection of Antigua,
varieties of watermarks, perforations, etc. Montserrat, and British Honduras, and read
Among the most notable specimens were some notes on the same, for which he was
the "specially-fine "Emblem" series, many accorded a vote of thanks.

THE BRITISH GUIANA PHILATELIC SOCIETY.

A MEETING of the above Society was held The minutes of the meeting held on the
on the 7th November, 1893, when the 7th November were read and confirmed.
following members were present: Messrs. The proof sheet of the rules was read,
J. Rodway, President; T. A. S. Quail, Vice- and an addition made admitting members
President ; J. Markland Lovell, Secretary; under the age of sixteen, providing their
F. das Neves e Mello, Treasurer ; E.-McLeod, application is signed by a guarantor.
M. P. Jorge, and A. Pinaud, Councillors; A report of the Council was Submitted
John Dalzell, J. Weber, W. Kaufmann, E. to the members, showing the revenue and
N. Clarke, W. Armstrong, G. P. W. Greig, expenditure of the Society up to date.
J. Rodrigues, J. A. Santos, D. Prince, and The President then announced the resig-
Clinton Greig. nation of Mr. Norman A. Foster, Secretary,
 THE MARKET.

and the appointment of Mr. J. Markland AT a subsequent meeting of the above

Lovell as Secretary, and Mr. W. C. De Silva Society, Mr. J. Rodway presiding, there
as Librarian. were present: Messrs. T. A. S. Quail,
It was moved by Mr. T. A. S. Quail, and Vice-President ; F. N. Mellow, treasurer^
seconded by Mr. F. das Neves e Mello, that W. H. C. De Silva, Librarian ; A. Pinaud,
the Secretary be instructed to write Mr. B. V. Abraham, jun., J. M. Lovell, Secre-
Norman A. Forster thanking him for his tary ; and Councillors W. Abraham, U.
services rendered during his short term of R. White, G. Hughes, D. Prince, W. H.
office, asking him to canvas for members in Hinds, W. P. Kaufmann, A. Rodway, J.
New York, and sending him some application
Webber, and E. Savory.
forms and a few copies of the rules.
After an interesting paper on the Postal
The President then gave a lengthy address
on the working of the Post-office from the Reform of England had been read by Mr.
first settlers to the present time, which proved Quail, the Secretary also read a paper on
very instructive. the Reminiscences of Philately, which was
Mr. Quail then addressed the meeting on loudly applauded, and
the stamps of British Guiana from the first Mr. B. V. Abraham had great pleasure
to the present issue, showing the value of a in thanking the gentlemen for their instruc-
complete collection of British Guiana stamps. tive and interesting papers. He also asked
Several collections were exhibited, showing that the manuscripts be handed over to the
some rarities, among them being a Lady Society for further reference. The gentle-
McLeod, on original cover—a fine specimen. men gave them over to the Society.
Mr. Lovell exhibited a set of Columbian The most interesting business of the
envelopes, unused, and a complete series of meeting was the sale of stamps conducted
the Columbian souvenir postal cards ; also by the President for the benefit of the
the two last issues of Barbados complete. Society.
There being no other business on the Several stamps were exhibited by the
agenda, the meeting terminated. members.

TheMarket.
MR. D. A. VlNDIN. stamps is certainly not on a par, the
THE above name is well known on both European being far away the least fre-
sides of the Great Waters as a prominent quently met with. The quondam head of
dealer in Australian stamps, and we are the firm above named must however still
glad to find that Mr. Vindin has now remember with a sigh the days when he sold
settled down in business in London. Like the " woodblock errors at 42/- per dozen " \
so many others, the Strand has seemed to It is a pity that the old stamps were not, like
him the Philatelic Highway, and accord- old wine, laid down and bricked up to ripen
ingly he has taken an office close to for posterity. They would have paid better!
Waterloo Bridge. The rooms, on the first
floor, are not only luxuriously fitted up, but AUCTIONS.
have excellent accommodation and light for MESSRS. VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER.
the examination of stamps. We can only THE following were the most noticeable
hope that Mr. Vindin may import large lots at the sale of November 8th :
£ s. d.
quantities of Australian stamps, and rapidly Oldenburg, 2nd issue, J gr., black
dispose thereof. o n green . . - 3 5 °
EXPENSIVE STAMPS. Oldenburg, another, unused . . 2 1 2 6
Tuscany, 60 crazie, red (fair) . 4 10 o
WE are informed that a fine copy of the „ 3 lire, yellow (medium) 1 8 1 5 o
81 p., Roumania, was recently sold to a Ceylon, 8d.,brown,impf. (very fine) n o o
customer of well-known name by Messrs. India, ^ anna, red . . . 6 10 o
Stanley Gibbons, Limited, for the sum of British Columbia, 2jd., pink, im-
£66. In view of the ,£100 recently paid perf., unused . . .17100
New Brunswick, "Connell," unused 12 5 0
for the Cape error se-tenant, this amount is „ is., violet . . 7 5 0
not so astonishing. Allowing for the value Baton Rouge, 5 c., green on red,
of the pair, the relative rarity of the two o n original envelope . . 6 0 0
 THE MARKET.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Baton Rouge, another . . 6 0 0 Mauritius, 2d., blue, 2 at . 6 6 0
Lenoir, 5 c., blue and orange . 715 o „ „ „ fillet . . 13 10 o
Mobile, 3 c., black, unused . . 4 lo o Natal, is., green,"Postage,"capital
British Guiana, 2 c.,blackon yellow, "P" and small letters, unused II 10 o
grape borders . . . 5 1 5 0 Cape, woodblocks, error, pair of
British Guiana, 4 c., black on blue, id. and 4d., blue . . too o o
heart border . . - 5 7 6 Vancouver, 1856, large oblong . 7 10 o
And at the sale of November 28th : New Brunswick, is., violet . . 7 15 o
Vancouver, 5 c., rose, imperf. . 8 1 0 0
Great Britain, id., V.R. . . 9 9 0 Newfoundland, is., vermilion, on
N e w Brunswick, is., violet . . 7 0 0 laid paper, unused . . 11 o o
„ "Connell,"unused u 5 0 United States, 1869. . . 3 0 0
Newfoundland, is., vermilion . 9 10 o Nova Scotia, is., violet . . 8 0 0
„ 6d., vermilion (fine Mexico (Eagle), 3 c., brown, unused 5 0 0
copy) . . 5 0 0 Nova Scotia, is., plum . . 8 0 0
Nova Scotia, is., violet (fine copy) 9 9 0 New Zealand, 2d., pelure, imperf.,
Turks Islands, is., prune . . 4 10 o unused . . . 4 4 0
Bolivar, small type, 10 c., green . 4 0 0 New Zealand, is., no wmk., pin perf. 4 4 0
At the sale of December I4th and I5th : THE South Australian Departmentals
Great Britain 4d., small garter, un- certainly achieved a record, the highest price
used, f i n e . . . 9 0 0 attained, being for 3d., blue and black, N. T.,
Austria, Mercury, yellow, unused . 3 17 6 £6 6s., while the lots realising ,£3, £4, ar. J £ 5
Spain, 1852, 2 reales . , . 5 10 o were very numerous. Tempora mutantur!
Geneva, 10 c. . . . 1 5 0 0
Turks Islands, is., prune (a rising At the sale of December I2th : £ s. d.
favourite—deservedly) . . 5 12 6 Zurich, 4 rappen (poor) . . 5 10 o
Levant, 10 p., blue and brown, a
A good lot of Australians were also dis- pair, used (on piece of letter) . 7 0 0
posed of at somewhat uneven prices. New South Wales, id., Plate I., a
MESSRS. CHEVELEY & Co. pair (very fine) . . . 5 10 o
South Australia, 3d., red on blue,
THE sale of November 22nd and 23rd by unused (and very cheap) . 4 0 0
this firm was noticeable by the inclusion of ON January I7th and l8th, appropriately
the collections of the late General Main- called the " Jubilee Sale," an especially fine
waring and Mr. Krichauff (South Australian lot of stamps were submitted, and as will
Departmentals), and other well-known phila- be seen from the few only of the desirable
telists, and from Messrs. Cheveley's remarks, among rare specimens that our space allows
as under, some idea of its importance may for quotation, there were "gems" in each
be gathered : " Allowing for unsold lots, the quarter of the globe. Messrs. Cheveley's
amount actually realised was a trifle over reputation will be enhanced by this success-
£1700—the highest total of any stamp sale ful auction, and we wish them, on behalf of
yet held in England. We need scarcely tell our readers, an even better result when their
you that the ;£ioo which we obtained for the centenary sale takes place.
pair of blue woodblocks containing the error Great Britain, 8d., brown, strip of £ s. d.
was also the highest sum yet realised on a three, with gum intact, unused 16 o o
single lot, the previous 'record' being our Ditto, 2s., salmon, a block of six,
,£64 for the strip of three 2d. Queenslands unused . . . 1 8 0 0
in Hammersley's collection. It may be well Tuscany, 3 lire, yellow, " a match-
to point out, in explanation of the low price less specimen" . . . 25 10 o
Ditto, 60 crazie, veryfinespecimen 6 0 0
of ,£26 for the single red woodblock error, „ 9 crazie on white, unused . 5 0 0
lot 296, that we discovered, and announced „ 2 soldi, " a brilliant unused
at the sale, what had escaped our notice specimen" . . . 14 o o
when lotting them up by gaslight, namely, Vaud, 4 c., fine . . . 13 o o
that this stamp was cracked in the centre Zurich, 4 rap., very f i n e . . 8 5 0
British Guiana, circular issue, 4 c.,
and mended. We 'broke the record' in lemon-yellow, corner mended,
several instances, notably with a 3 centavos but fine . . . 25 o o
(Eagle) Mexico at ,£5, and a Nevis CA, 6d., Ditto, same issue, 8 c., green, cut
green, at £2 123. 6d., and ,£8 55. for a 6d. round, on original envelope . 1 3 o o
beaded oval Victoria." Canada, i2d., black, very slightly
£ i. d. mended . . . 23 o o
Labuan, "6," in red, on i6c., blue 12 10 o Antioquia, istissue,2^c.,blue; fine 12 o o
Ceylon, 2s., blue, imperf . . 4 10 o Ditto, 5 c., green, unused, fine . 1 1 o o
„ CC, 2 rps. 50 c., unused. 3 3 ° „ same issue, 10 c., lilac," some-
Cape, woodblock, error, 4d., red . 26 o o what faded" . . 13 10 o
Mauritius, 1848, id., red . . 3 10 o „ i peso, rose-red, fine . . 5 10 o
 TO CORRESPONDENTS.
& s. d. £ s. d.
Nevis, 6d., lithographed, unused . 5 2 6 Beunos Ayres, 5 pesos, orange,
ditto 4 12 6 "grand colour" . . . n 10 o
used 3 12 6 New Brunswick, the "Connell,"
is., pale green, entire unused original, perforated, unused . 20 10 o
sheet 9 IS o Buenos Ayres, steamship, 3 pesos,
a similar sheet, in full green II 0 0 green, f i n e . . . 3 1 2 6
CA, 6d., green, fine, used . 3 3 o Ditto, 4 pesos, scarlet, fine . . 9 0 0
Peru, medio peso, rose, very fine . II 10 o British Columbia, 2jd., pink, im-
„ ditto . . . . ii 15 o perforate, fine, unused . . 15 10 o
United States 1869, 15 c., brown British Guiana, 1862, 4 c., blue, on
and blue, inverted centre; fine 17 o o original envelope, fine . . 8 10 o
Ditto, 24 c., green and lilac, with Ditto, same issue, 2 p., yellow, with
inverted centre, very fine 18 10 o pearl border, cut a little
St. Louis, 5 c., black, very slightly close, b u t f i n e . - 3 5 °
mended 6 0 „ another, with grape border,
Ditto, 10 c., black, very fine, on slight tear at one corner,
original letter 15 o but a good specimen . 3 3 °
Cape, woodblock, 4d., deep blue, a „ same issue, i c., with grape
superb unused specimen, with border, medium . - 5 5 °
large margins IO O O South Australia, the extremely rare
Mauritius, 1848, id., red on bluish, 2d. (first type), perforated, un-
very early, showing all lines, used (a curious price for a
f i n e . . . 6 6. 0 unique stamp) . . . 4 4 0
Ditto, 3d., no margins, but superb Victoria, 6d., orange, serrated at top
colour, and earlier state and sides, serpentine at bottom 8 0 0
of the plate . . 5 o o New South Wales, 3d., Sydneys,
„ id., red on white, "superb f i n e strip o f three . . 4 7 6
specimen" . . 4 15 o Ditto, emerald-green, pair . . 4 7 0
„ 1848, 2d., blue, early state „ 2d., Plate I., very fine - 3 3 °
of plate, showing -traces South Australia, iod., yellow, sur-
of vertical lines, a fine charge inverted . . . 6 10 o
specimen of the "Pence" New Zealand, a complete set of
error; very large margins 10 o o the " Duty Stamps," 45, " Speci-
„ a very fine dark shade . 5 5 o men" . . . . 25 o o
Cape, woodblock, errors, id., blue, West Australia, CC, 2d., mauve,
slightly mended . 26 o o error, unused . . .1000
Ditto, ~4d., red, "very slightly MR. HADLOW.
damaged" . . . 1 8 IO O
Natal is., green, with curved sur- AT the sale of December 8th :
charge in black . . . 5 10 O South Australia id., green, pair,
Nevis, No. 2, fine, deep yellow- imperf. . . . 2 12 6
green shade, unused and gum 3 3 o New Zealand 2d., lozenge water-
Ditto, lithographed, perf. 15, id., mark, perforated twice (cheap) 2 10 o
red, entire unused sheet, Western Australia 66.., bronze,
with original gum . . 2 18 o rouletted (medium) . - 3 7 6
„ a similar sheet; darker shade 3 7 o New South Wales, Sydney 2d.,
Newfoundland, I s., orange-vermilion, Plate V., unused . . 4126
" very fine, fair margins" . 7 10 o New South Wales, Sydney, pair
Ditto, vermilion, cut close right, id., used . . . 3 0 0
otherwise fine . . . 7 5 o South Australia, P.S., iod., yellow 5 10 o

Correspondents.
COMMUNICATIONS.—All communications on Philatelic matters or Advertisements should be addressed
to the Editor of THE LONDON PHILATELIST, Kingston Lodge, Richmond Place, Brighton. No
anonymous contribtitions can be noticed.
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of -whom also bound copies of Vol. I. can be procured. Half morrocco, gilt edges, £1 Is.,
postage 9d. Abroad extra. .-»-. •
"X."— Many thanks for note as to the POST CARD.—See editorial communica-
omission, which we have rectified as far as tions.
possible. MR. W. H. BROUSE.—Your valued con-
W. D. B. —We hope that the answer to tribution will appear in our next number,
your complaint will be found in the present with illustrations of the stamps referred to,
number. if we can procure same.