  Jules L. Steele: One competitor in the poem contest may send only one poem. The rule is so made because it is better for competitors to put their efforts upon one production than to attempt to pen two or more. Harry H. Luther thinks the Order should hold a reunion every year. Other members say they think the same way. A.F. McC.: You may send only one poem in the prize competition. It may be the one mentioned as having been printed in a local paper. Send it in manuscript, however. This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department. Interest in the newly discovered varieties of the U.S. stamps continues, and has led to the closer examination of all other U.S. stamps, resulting in the discovery of still other varieties. The latest is the 10c. green of 1861, a stamp catalogued at 5c. only, as it is to be found in large quantities, and almost every collector has or has had many duplicates. The first die was made with the five stars at the top of the stamp in white on a background composed of fine perpendicular lines. It seems the plate soon showed signs of wear at the top, and a new die was made in which the perpendicular lines ran into a solid curved line, something like this. The stamps printed from the original plates are quite rare, one dealer finding three only out of a lot of nearly five hundred. The new variety is selling at various prices, from $5 upward. A curious result of the new discovery has been the find of some copies with the 1868 grill. Of course the grill is counterfeit. New recruits are made daily to the ranks of those who are devoting themselves to the collection of unused U.S. stamps in blocks showing the imprint and plate numbers on the margin. Some of the scarcer 1890 and 1894 plate numbers are to be sold at auction in New York within a few weeks. This branch of collecting offers special facilities to those living in the smaller towns, as the post-offices in such towns frequently have sheets of stamps issued many years ago, whereas in the large cities the stamps on hand are usually of the very latest printing only. The Duke of York is reported to have sold his collection of postage-stamps to Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild for $300,000. F.L. Potts.—Dealers offer 1857 half-dime at 10c. E.V.G.—Oiled paper, or paraffine paper, will prevent stamps from sticking to each other. But the ordinary "hinges" or "stickers" will not adhere to such paper. A.L. Evans.—U.S. cents are quoted as follows: 1817, 10c.; the variety with fifteen stars at 50c. The other cents mentioned from 5c. to 15c. each. Half-cent, 1851, 10c. Half-dollar, 1830, 75c. W.F.T.—There are three varieties of the 1799 silver dollar, worth $2, $3, $4 respectively. Ram.—1842 dimes are quoted at 20c. The 1799 and 1858 cents at 5c. each. C.E. Steele.—See answer to "Ram." B. Magelsen.—Perforated stamps from the centre as margin of a sheet, thus showing one side without perforations, are not so desirable as stamps having all four sides perforated. As a rule stamps should have all paper soaked off the back. The only exception is in the case of valuable stamps, when the entire envelope should be kept. Philatus. Copyright, 1894, by The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.Elisabeth Robinson Scovil, Associate Editor of The Ladies Home Journal, and a Hospital Superintendent of experience, in her book, "The Care of Children," recommends the use of Ivory Soap for bathing infants, and says: "There is no particular virtue in Castile Soap which has long been consecrated to this purpose." CARD PRINTER FREESets any name in one minute; prints 500 cards an hour. YOU can make money with it. A font of pretty type, also Indelible Ink Type Holder, Pads and Tweezers, Best Linen Marker, worth $1.00. Sample mailed FREE for 10c. stamps for postage and packing on outfit and large catalogue of 1000 Bargains in household articles and novelties. COMICAL RUBBER STAMPS.More fun than a barrel of monkeys. A complete set of SIX grotesque little people, Policemen, Dudes and Devils, with everlasting Ink pads. With them a boy can make a circus in a minute. Postpaid for 10 cents. Address R.H. INGERSOLL & BRO.Dept. No. 27. 65 Cortlandt St., New York. |
|
