1. Sweden philatelic society reports that good quality fascimilies being illegally used to pay postage and also that the facsimilies are being offered as genuine stamps to collectors
2. Philippines
1.  Guam stamp surcharged 'Mariana Espanolas'
2.  'Insurrecto' stamp used in Visayan Islands information wanted
3. ABC Alliance in South America - Alliance of Argentina, Brazil  and Chile
4. Obituary - Professor Albert Lindstrom - Sweden Philatelist - Philatelic Society of Sweden
5. Obituary - Judge Frederick Philbrick - Philatelist - London Philatelic Society
6. Obituary - Harlow Woodward - Boston Philatelic Society
7. Modern Mint USA stamps 1893 and newer a bad investment - 1893 Colombians may never be worth more than face value
8. Additional Schermack perforated 1902 4 cent found
9. High value USA stamps not much used - or are they?
10. Sending money through the mail 1/2 a banknote at a time
11. Fiscal cancellations on used stamps should not be advertised using postally used catalog prices
12. New Issues
1. USA Postal Savings Stamps
2. USA Precancels
3. Bavaria - postal cards
4. Brazil - 1906 booklets
5. Canal Zone - postal card with 'Canal Zone' surcharge
6. Chile - demonitization of old stamps
7. Colombia
8. Egypt - Sudan - postal card - 1908 or 1910?
9. French Gabon
10. India - Gwalilor - specialized overprint varieties in 1903-1908 issues
11. Italy - 1910 Plebiscito Meridionale Issues
12. Nicaragua 
13. Northen Nigeria
14. South Australia
15. Uruguay
13. Illness of Mr. Jewett - printer of Meekel's
14. Book Review of the 1911 Lemaire Catalog
15. Great Britain stamp newspaper - 'The Postage Stamp' adopts new format
16. Gibbons Stamp Weekly closes
17. Chosing a stamp album
18. Color Shades - purple and lilac prone to fading

 

SWEDEN ACTS AGAINST FACSIMILES.

By L. HARALD KJELLSTEDT.

The Swedish Society has entered on a campaign against the manufacture of so called "facsimilies" of obsolete stamps and has been successful in securing the aid of the Swedish Postal Department. As long as the "facsimilist" confined his operations to demonetized foreign issues and the imitation of cancelled specimens, the Swedish administration saw no reason for interference, but when the officials of the Swedish Society called the attention of the administration to facsimilies of the Swedish "20-thirty" error and showed that mail matter franked with these facsimilies had passed through the Swedish mails, the postal directorate took immediate action. In a letter to its President, the Swedish Society was notified that a communication bearing on the subject had been addressed to His Majesty the King. As this communication will have to be given a place in the history of the postal issues of Sweden it is worthy of translation.

"To the King :- In several countries as Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, etc., it is customary, when new postage stamps are issued, to take steps towards the withdrawing of older postage stamps issues. The procedure is generally to notify the public that the older postage stamps will only be accepted for a short time, after which they can no longer be used for the franking of mail matter. But in addition to this a somewhat liberal period is granted in which the public has right to exchange older stamps at the post offices for stamps of the new type having a corresponding value.

In Norway, by a law of June 11, 1906, it was decreed, that postage stamps of a certain kind could be demonetized by order of the King or by his authority. Consequently, a Royal resolution of January 25, 1908, ordered that postage stamps of the skilling values and the postage stamps having the portrait of King Oscar II should cease to have franking power after April 1, 1908.

As far as Sweden is concerned, no withdrawing or demonetizing of older, obsolete postage stamps has ever taken place. On the other hand it has been announced at the time of new issues, that postage stamps of obsolete issues were, and until further notice, would be accepted for the prepayment of postage. The result is that all postage stamps issued in Sweden since 1855, can still be used by the public for the franking of mail matter. Several different postage stamps series have been replaced by new types since the time mentioned. The first Swedish postage stamps, with the value in skilling banco, have not been issued since the summer of 1858. The following series of öre stamps of the so called coat of arms, and lion types (Scott's types A2, A3 and A4) ceased to be issued in 1872. From this year appeared postage stamps of the so called figure type (Scott's A5) which in 1891, the 10 öre value in 1885, were succeeded by stamps of new designs. To this must be added single stamp values of more temporary nature which have been issued on different occasions.

The Directorate does not consider favorably a continued franking power of all these stamps which have for long time been obsolete, and will humbly advance the following reasons for its opinion.

A number of the older Swedish postage stamps are considered very desirable by postage stamp collectors with the result that such stamps have been imitated by private parties. The General Postal Directorate has obtained information that a foreign firm manufactures and offers for sale imitations, facsimilies, of older, obsolete Swedish postage stamps. According to information received, such forged postage stamps have here been used for the franking of mail matter, and a forged postage stamp, which has received a post office cancellation, may, deceivingly, be represented as having been issued by the Post Department, and consequently prove of higher value to collectors than it otherwise would. As the forged postage stamps are skillfully made and easily confounded with the genuine, it is difficult, yes, nearly impossible for the post official to discover the forgery during the rush of his duties. The General Postal Directorate consequently considers it necessary, in order to prevent forgeries of older Swedish postage stamps from being in use in the mails, to recommend the demonetizing of all such old stamp issues." The balance of the Directorate's communication to the King describes minutely the designs of the types which it is recommended should be demonetized, and these are Scott's types Al, A2, stamps for the City of Stockholm, A4, A5, A6 and A8. It is recommended that the public be given time until the close of 1911 to exchange such stamps at the post offices for later stamps of corresponding value. The communication is dated Nov. 4, 1910, and is signed by the Director General and five members of the Directorate. There is no doubt of the King's consent to a decree conforming to the recommendations by the Postal Directorate.

The Director General further informed the Philatelic Society of Sweden that the Directorate had filed a protest with the Swiss postal administration against the manufacture and sale in Geneva of forgeries of the Swedish "20-thirty" error. The Swiss administration is requested to inform the Swedish administration as to what steps can and will be taken. According to the regulations of the International Postal Union, it is the duty of the postal administration of each participating country to prevent, within its own boundaries, forgeries of another country's current postage stamps from being made, and to take such matter in hand when called upon to do so by the administration concerned.

It is difficult to state at this time what action the Swiss government will be able to take, but if it leads to the stamping out of one of the most nefarious trades in the history of philately the Swedish society will justly deserve the thanks of stamp collectors the world over.

FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

By THEODORE SIDDALL.

There is nothing new in new colors, except the Special Delivery stamp, which is out in the color of the 10 - centavo stamp already sent you. Being still in blue, it would perhaps be considered a shade, but I think it is the new issue.

I think the prices of Philippine stamps are a good deal too low, in comparison with other stamps, in the catalogues. Now there were only 10,000 special delivery stamps of the old color printed and why should it be a 25-cent stamp?

But what is the use of complaining? The catalogue seems to cut less figure than it used to anyway. I get orders for all I can supply of the old 12-cent at 6 cents each wholesale, and I think the 1911 catalogue, Scott's, prices the stamp at 5 cents. It should be at least 30 cents.

I am on the track of the old Guam stamps that were used just before the American surcharges, in 1899. I have a cover with Spanish Philippines 1898 stamps surcharged "Mariana Espanolas" addressed to a merchant in this city, and may have something for you on the subject, if I can find time to go and see him.

One of our A. P. S. members up in Canada, is after information on the 2-cent black Insurrecto stamp that was used in the Visayan Islands (Panay, Cebu, Bohol and some of the other southern islands) during the insurrection. He is digging up some other information about the insurgent stamps, too.
 

A UNION OF SOUTH AMERICA.

Clipping from F. E. Smith.

Some of the South American statesmen have a grand idea, which they are working to accomplish. It is nothing less than a union of all South America into one great republic. This, it is said, will be greatly hastened by the opening of the Panama Canal.

Some months ago the three principal republics-Argentina, Brazil and Chile - formed a sort of union which is known in South America as the A B C Alliance.

To work in harmony with this Alliance, and to become a part of it perhaps, it is now proposed to revive the old Colombian Union, consisting of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.

These three were one republic until 1832, after they won their independence from Spain in 1819. They were called the Republic of Colombia. When they separated the present republic of Colombia was called New Granada until 1863, when it adopted the name of "United States of Colombia."

This tendency of six principal republics to unite, is causing some enthusiastic South Americans to see in the near future a mighty nation - "The United States of South America" - which shall be a great rival to the United States of North America.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR LINDSTROM.

By L. HARALD KJELLSTEDT.

Svensk Filatelistisk Tidskrift, just to hand, brings the sad news that the foremost philatelist and stamp collector of Sweden, Professor Albert Lindström, died at Stockholm shortly after his return from a recreation trip to Southern Europe. Professor Lindström was born 1853, entered the university of Upsal in 1872 and graduated as doctor of medicine in 1888. From 1888 to 1899 he served as professor of anatomy at the Royal Carolinian Institute. In 1902 he was appointed professor of plastic anatomy at the Royal Academy of Art. From 1898 he was an inspector of the Dental Institute. In 1900 he was created an honorary doctor of medicine by the University of Upsal.

Professor Lindström started stamp collecting in his childhood but it was during many and long years of sickness in the seventies that he developed into an earnest philatelist. His enormous collections embracing the whole world were arranged entirely according to his own ideas. The skilling banco issue of Sweden was specialized along the line of shades and is represented by hundreds of copies of each value. A few years ago, the professor sold his collections of foreign countries. Their catalogue value run into several hundred thousand mark. Lately he specialized Denmark and his collection of this was undoubtedly unique. He had the rarest of the stamps unused in entire sheets.

Professor Lindström has been a member of the Philatelic Society of Sweden ever since the society was founded in 1886 and during the last 10 years he was acknowledged as Sweden's foremost philatelic authority and the possessor of its greatest collection. American philatelists extend their sympathy to the Philatelic Society of Sweden on the loss of a member whose place may never be filled.
 

DEATH OF JUDGE PHILBRICK.

With the deepest regret we have to record the death of His Honour Judge Frederick Adolphus Philbrick, K. C., which took place at Colchester on Dec. 25, at the age of seventy-five. This sad news will be received throughout the entire philatelic world with the most profound sorrow and appreciation of the great services rendered to philately by Judge Philbrick.

The sad intimation of his death having only reached us on the point of publication, we are compelled to defer until our next issue a full appreciation of the important role played by Judge Philbrick in British philately. As the first Vice President and second President of the London Philatelic Society, and as the acknowledged leader of the pursuit for many years in this country, Judge Philbrick's name will always be honoured and remembered as one of the greatest in the history of philately.  - London Philatelist.

Judge Philbrick was one of the veterans of our hobby. Born in 1836, the eldest son of Frederick B. Philbrick, of Colchester, he was educated at London University, became a barrister of the Middle Temple in 1860, and "took silk" in 1874. He became Recorder of his native town of Colchester, and ultimately, after a busy career at the Bar, he was appointed to a County Court judgeship in 1895.

As a philatelist, Judge Philbrick's name will live in the annals of our hobby as that of the joint author of "Philbrick & Westoby." He made many fine collections, and he had had through his hands, at one time or another, nearly all the great rarities known to the catalogue. By reason of his strong personality, his past association with the London Philatelic Society, and his connection as a lawyer with more than one of the causes cclèbres of the stamp world, he will not readily be forgotten by the philatelic fraternity.

To the International Philatelic Union the death of Judge Philbrick means the loss of an honoured and distinguished Honorary President. - Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly.
 

DEATH OF HARLOW E. WOODWARD.

Many of the older readers of the WEEKLY well remember H. E. Woodward, formerly president of the Boston Philatelic Society and for many years very prominent in philatelic affairs. His death occurred in this city last week.
 

NEWS GLEANINGS.

Under this heading we desire to publish all the news from the various philatelic centers. Correspondents' names will be given unless prohibited as we desire to give full credit for services rendered.

- I. C. Greene informs us that the work of the Mutual Stamp Exchange has prospered so well that he has been compelled to take on extra help to handle the same. This exchange is closely affiliated with our national society and its methods are well worth a careful examination.

- The Stamp & Coin Exchange, managed by the veteran dealer, W. P. Brown, has just purchased a very valuable collection which is reflected in the change of advertisement elsewhere in this issue.

- We acknowledge with thanks a very beautiful calendar from the International Stamp Co. of Columbus, Ohio. It is indeed a work of art and we hesitate about giving it its true measure of praise for fear that the company will be overwhelmed with requests for specimens. The calendar is printed in brown and mounted on two sheets of heavy brown card. A tinted river scene lends additional charm to what is indeed a very artistic calendar. It is worthy of mention that no line of advertising matter disfigures the production.

- Clippings are acknowledged with thanks from C. M. Breder (4) and Frank E. Smith.

- Will R. V. Seaman kindly send his address to this office, where a letter is awaiting him? Subscribers will kindly bear in mind that our mailing list is not arranged alphabetically, but by states, and further subdivided into cities and towns. The difficulty in thus forwarding letters will be readily understood.

EDITORIAL.

Wrong Guess - A peculiarity of latter-day philately is the manner in which it has set at nought the predictions made by those who have had the temerity to prophesy as to the future values of certain stamps. We all know how much in demand the unused United States from the 1890 issue, not to speak of the issues immediately earlier, to the one recently retired, have become, either from experience or observation of the price advances in the catalogue. We may except the Columbian issue from this ruling but it may not be long before this set may come into its own. Those who are best equipped to predict the course of prices are the least inclined to essay the role of prophet; they know that at best it is a hazardous game. It was the repeated remark that unused stamps, 1883, onwards, could never be desirable property or represent any considerable value over face because so many of the stamps were being saved by contemporary collectors in anticipation of price appreciation. The Columbian set was cited as an example of what would be the common fate of all these sets. 

The comparatively recent issues of United States stamps in unused condition have become scarce through the strong demand for them; and while collectors in many cases want duplicates for shades, blocks, etc., and thus make heavy inroads into the supply, yet there is no mistaking the scarcity of the stamps through consistent demand. These thoughts have come to us upon examining a report on a large lot of unused United States, 1883 to 1895, inclusive, that was made about 1897 by an authority on stamps, at the behest of a pawn-broker. The authority advised that no more than face be loaned on the stamps as "it would be too much to hope that we would see the time when the immense amount of recent issues in the hands of collectors and speculators would be absorbed and the stamps be at a premium in the market in consequence."

A Friend Says - When in doubt whether a stamp catalogues at ten cents or ten dollars, decide on the ten cents side; in doing so, you will be oftener right than wrong, and anyway, it is pleasanter to be surprised than disappointed.

Just Wait - We have gone to the expense of sending a night-letter to Parnassus Penflip to inform him that his lurking enemy has said in public print: "My idea of nothing to do is to collect foreign postage stamps." Watch for the explosion next week.
 

Another - Theodore C. Richards writes:

"I was much interested in the editorial in the issue of January 7th, dealing with the visible supply of the four cent, 1902 stamps imperforate and with the Schermack perforation as I have a copy of the stamp. It came on a letter from Detroit to the office at Jerseyville, Illinois, some time in June, 1908, and I reported the novelty to the new issue department of the WEEKLY, where it was chronicled some weeks later. The object of this letter merely is to add one more to the number of copies known. My specimen is badly centered; in fact, it shows parts from three other stamps."
 

No Limit - A reader who sends the following newspaper clipping makes the observation: "I thought that there was a limit to first-class mail of four pounds for any one package." The item is: "Winona, Wash., Jan. 7.-In the first-class mail which recently passed through here on its way from Oregon to Turner, Washington, was a fifteen-pound parcel covered with $4.86 worth of stamps. Including the registration fee, the package cost the sender $4.96." Any discussion of the use of high value stamps in this country is apt to show that the opinion is rather widely diffused that there is a limit of weight to first-class matter; and so, it follows that there is a restriction of the use of stamps of high denomination, if the statement is accepted. It is asked us often how the dollar stamp even is used so commonly as it is; and what demand there could be for a fifty-cent precanceled stamp, for instance.

How It Is - As pertinent to the foregoing paragraph, we quote from the postal laws and regulations: "Sec. 488. Mail matter of the first class fully prepaid (see Sec. 421), and matter of the second class prepaid at either the regular or transient rate, will be accepted for mailing at any post-office regardless of the weight thereof. 2. Single books weighing in excess of four pounds will be accepted for mailing at any post-office." It is seen that one of the immense mail-order house catalogues easily could require the fifty-cent stamp pre-canceled when the books are sent out in quantities. In many instances, heavy packages are sent through the mail under letter postage; and the parcel specified in the newspaper despatch as bearing $4.96 in stamps is scarcely exceptional enough to deserve special attention, let alone the wide publicity that has been given it. The daily domestic mail of the banks and bond houses in the large cities would be a revelation to those who think that the use of the dollar stamp is practically obsolete. Heavy letters and packages, registered, contain documents sometimes of ponderous proportions; and the first-class postage on these mounts high. It is sometimes advisable to send weighty matter first-class and by registered mail because of the favorable terms of insurance that may be obtained under these conditions. In the domestic mails alone the dollar value is evident and in the foreign mails particularly to the commercial centers of the old world, the stamp of high denomination abounds. The mail of banks, brokers, jewelry firms, certain publishers, etc., in the large cities is the principal source of supply of the used dollar stamps of the current issue.

Save Regrets - When you feel like selling your collection, place it away in the bureau drawer. You may want it again some day.

Two Halves Make One - "In an old letter found by a friend was one-half of a piece of currency of the time, about 1840, enclosed in a cover in which it was written that the other half would be sent in due course. Is not this unusual? Or is there a simple explanation to account for the seeming peculiarity ?" The custom mentioned by our correspondent no doubt was copied from a practice that obtained in Great Britain at the time. Among the suggestions of the postal authorities to the public of Great Britain and Ireland was the advice : Persons wishing to send bank notes or drafts by post, are advised to cut such notes or drafts in half, and send them at two different times, waiting until the receipt of one half is acknowledged before the other is sent.

Who Knows - Honduras has a new revolution which is of record philatelically through the new surcharges. Will a jubilee set be issued in five, ten or fifty years to mark the present "cataclasm ?"
 

FISCAL CANCELLATIONS.

Our attention has been called to the fact that occasionally an advertisement appears in MEKEEL'S WEEKLY in which a stamp is described as having a fiscal cancellation, yet the catalog price is given as indicated for a postally used copy. This practise must be discontinued, and no catalog price quoted unless the catalog gives a price on a fiscal cancellation. We ask our advertisers to see that this rule is complied with. It is sometimes possible that the receipt of a big batch of advertising copy will allow of a thing like this escaping the eye of the editor.
 

New Issues
Edited by Henry A. Kidder

Any information regarding new issues will be gratefully received and acknowledged. Address HENRY A. KIDDER, 17 Addison St., Arlington, Mass. Letters calling for a reply should contain a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot give applicants the addresses of our correspondents.

UNITED STATES. - Frank B. Eldredge has shown us specimens of the two stamps issued for the use of the Postal Savings Banks. We find that the stamps were sufficiently described in No. 1040, though the appearance is quite distinct. In the design of the 10c, the inscriptions are bunched in the centre of the stamp, "U. S. Postal - Savings" appearing in two curved lines, with "10" lying in the curve, and "Cents" just below in a straight line. In the design of the 2c, "US. Postal Savings" is in one line curved around an oval line about the same size as on the regular postage stamps. This oval, which is outlined by a colorless line, contains the words "Official-Mail," the first word being curved and the second word straight. The figures of value are arranged in the lower corners in ovals like those of the 1890 set, with "Cents" in a straight line between. The lathe-work is very handsomely done, and the stamps would appear to he very difficult to counterfeit.

Frank B. Eldredge reports the following new precancels:

No. 323, Attica, Ind., reading up and reading down; Type I.
No. 323, Milwaukee, Wis., reading down; Type I.
No. 325, Akron, O., inverted; Type III.
No. 323, Akron, O., inverted; Type III.
No. 324, Akron, O., normal; Type IV.
No. 327, Akron, O., normal and inverted; Type IV.
No. 325, Akron, O., normal; Type IV.
No. 323, Augusta, Me., reading up, double; reading down; Type I.
No. 323, Ashland, Ohio, normal; purple ink; Type V.
No. 323, Birchport, N.Y., normal; Type I. 

BAVARIA. - Mr. Schachne reports the arrival of the following with the perpendicular ruled line and date "10".

Post Cards.

5 on 5 pf. green on buff; "10."
No value; black on buff; "10."

BRAZIL. - In a recent number, Philip Wolff asked if any other Latin American country than Uruguay had issued stamp booklets. Mr. Wolff answers the question himself, and says that he has now received from Rio booklets of the 50r, 100r and 200r stamps of the 1906 issue. These booklets are sold at 1$300, 2$500 and 4$900, respectively. They are manufactured by the American Bank Note Co., New York.

CANAL ZONE. - Mr. Schachne has sent us the Panama 1c card having the surcharge "Canal Zone" in changed type. The words on the earlier card measure 13 and 10 mm. and are 7 mm. apart and the surcharge reads down. The measurements on the one before us are 10'/2 and 8'/2 mm. and 9 mm. apart, and the surcharge reads up.

CHILE. - Philip Wolff sends us a translation from the Valparaiso Mercurio which says:

"From the 16th of November on, correspondence can only be franked with centenary commemorative or "Ilas de Juan Fernandez" stamps. From this date until May 31 next, the postmasters and fiscal treasurers will exchange stamps of the old issues in order that they may be put out of circulation." Mr. Wolff thinks this decision regretable, in view of the fact that Uruguay and Brazil are the only remaining South American countries that do not demonetize their stamps.

COLOMBIA. - In No. 1031, and earlier, in No. 1021, we mentioned the fact that the 1c stamp, like type A94, had been issued, without the imprint of the printer at the bottom, in what appeared to be a lithographed printing. Hermann Focke has now shown us another specimen, this time on very thin paper, and watermarked. The watermark may possibly be the maker's name, as it is in script type, the letters showing on the stamp before us being "Sch," the letters being inverted. The stamp is roughly printed in yellow green.

EGYPT. - Soudan. - Mr. Schachne has just shown us the card, Senf No. 7, which the latter calls an issue of 1908, although his first mention of it was in the 1910 catalog. Can any of our readers give the correct date of issue? Also was this card issued without the overprint? All previous issues have been surcharged Egyptian cards but this is wholly new. There are three headlines, the second being "Sudon." The stamp is an upright rectangle (camel) 25x30, of 4 milliemes overprinted "2 Milliemes" in block capitals in two lines. Near lower edge is "Address only to be written on this side" and repeated in French and Arabic, and cancelled with two ruled lines. Why?

Post Card.
2 Mil. black on 4 Mil, brown on buff.

FRENCH GABOON. - La Circulaire Philatélique states the quantities printed of the issue which has recently so unexpectedly become obsolete are as follows:

20c, 69,000; 25c, 68,000; 30c, 12,000; 35c, 19,000; 40c, 12,000: 45c, 11,000; 50c, 7,800; 1f, 5,250; 2f, 2,700; 5f, 2,700.

INDIA. - Gwalior. - The 2 and 3 rupees stamps have at length turned up, after three years' delay, says Ewen's Weekly.

In the latest issue of stamps the horizontal perforation of the sheets is extremely fragile and most of the sheets received consisted of rows of twelve stamps only held together in the form of a sheet by the unperforated side margins.

The surcharge is of the new setting, the two words being 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 mm. apart, instead of 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 mm. whilst the word "Gwalior" is 13 mm. long instead of 14 mm.

There are some minor defects in the overprinting which we may record as of value to scientific collectors who wish to distinguish the settings.

In the 1/4 anna just received (issued 12.10) we note

No. 7 "L" of "Gwalior" broken.
No. 48 Foot of "R" of "Gwalior" without serif.
No. 61 "L" broken as on No. 7.
No. 67 "R" broken as on No. 48.
No. 102 "LIO" smaller.
No. 116 Small "W" in "Gwalior."
No. 120 "R" broken as on No. 48.
No. 131 Thick "R" in "Gwalior."
No. 173 Tail of "R" broken.
No. 178 "R" broken as on No. 48.
Nos. 218, 230 "R" flattened at top.
Nos. 219, 221 "L" broken as on No. 7.

The 1/2, 2 and 4 annas just received show the same defects as the 34 anna, but the 1, 3, 6, 8 and 12 annas are all with the old surcharge, "Gwalior" 14 mm. long. In this old setting it may be recalled that the following defects occur:

No. 11 "R" of "Gwalior raised.
No. 47 "I" of "Gwalior" slightly dropped.
No. 72 "L" has no serif at top.
No. 185 The two words are 2 3/4 mm. apart.
No. 230 Tall "R" in Gwalior."

No. 185 is a specially interesting stamp as the two words are as wide as in the new setting but the name "Gwalior" remains 14 mm. as in the 1st setting.

No. 230 is well known and usually collected as a variety.

The 1 rupee has No. 47 as above but No. 11 is normal, and No. 2 has a defective "W" in "Gwalior." The lower part of this sheet we did not receive.

The 2 and 3 rupees stamps are printed in sheets of 96 divided by margins into 8 panes in 4 rows of 2. In No. 5 of the 8th pane (No. 85 of the sheet) the "R" of "Gwalior" is indented at top.

Adhesives.
2r rose and bistre.
3r brown and green.

ITALY. - Ewen's Weekly chronicles two new stamps, issued to commemorate the growth of Italian Unity, like the Garibaldi stamps issued earlier in the year. The new stamps which are sold at 5c above the nominal face value are inscribed "Plebiscito Meridionale 1860 21 Ottobre 1910" and around the portrait of Count Cavour in the centre, "Italia e Vittorio Emmanuele."

Adhesives.

5c rose.
10c green.

Ewen's Weekly gives the following historical sketch:

"The Count Cavour, whose portrait is shown on these stamps, was one of the ministers of Victor Emmanuel, who before the unification of Italy was King of Sardinia. The northern part of Italy at that time partly formed the Kingdom of Sardinia (which included the island still known by that name), but was also largely under Austrian rule. In 1858 Cavour prepared for a fresh effort to liberate Italy, and induced Napoleon III to enter into an alliance with Sardinia against Austria. The Austrians were successively beaten at Magenta and Solferino in the following year, but Napoleon left them in possession of Venice and made peace, as although he was anxious to prevent the Austrians getting Italy, he was equally averse to handing it over to the King of Sardinia. However, in the meantime the neighbouring States of Tuscany, Modena and Parma had expelled their rulers, and now asked to l)e united to Sardinia. To obtain Napoleon's consent, Savoy and Nice were ceded to him, so that the border between France and Italy was finally fixed at the Alps.

There still remained the Southern States, and next year (1860) Garibaldi led an expedition into Sicily, liberating the island and soon afterwards the mainland. The King of Sardinia thereupon marched from the North of Italy, across the intervening Papal States, and joined hands with Garibaldi.

The Two Sicilies thus gained their freedom from Bourbon rule, but the question still remained whether they should unite with Sardinia. The question-considerably more important perhaps even than Tariff Reform-was decided by Referendum or 'Plebiscito,' as the stamps have it. Plebiscito Meridionale means 'Plebiscite of the South.' The people gave their verdict in favour of unification, and in 1861 King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia became King of Italy.

In 1866 Italy joined Prussia in the war against Austria, and secured Venice; and in 1871 the fall of the French Empire gave Italy the opportunity of taking the Papal States, thus completing the unification of Italy.

Collectors, in placing in their albums these two stamps and the two lately issued with portrait of Garibaldi are recommended to accompany them with a short explanation of their history. Such notes add greatly to the interest of a collection, especially in the eyes of the non-stamp-collecting friend."

NICARAGUA. - We agree with Hermann Focke in the opinion that we are in for another flood of surcharges from this country. Mr. Focke proves it to us by sending us three additional surcharges to those chronicled in No. 1046. The surcharges on the new ones, as well as on the 10c on 50c green, are all in the type used on the provisional officials of 1896, the surcharged due stamps. The latest three all have the American imprint. By the way we do not understand why Scott lists the 15c of this series as being in slate, when as a matter of fact it is in a jet black, and a bright, almost brilliant, at that.

We are also indebted to A. C. Roessler for information regarding these new provisionals. The surcharges are all in dull black in two lines, thus, "Vale - 1 cts." Mr. Roessler writes that a new set of stamps is being prepared, and is expected in April.

Provisional Adhesives.

2c on 3c orange red.
10c on 15c black.
10c on 50c green. 
10c on 1p orange.

NORTHERN NIGERIA. - The New England Stamp Co. has shown us the new 2 1/2d in solid color on chalky multiple paper.

Adhesive.
2 1/2d ultramarine.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. - The New England Stamp Co. has shown us the 2sh 6d stamp, large form, perforated 12 1/2, with small holes.

URUGUAY - Philip Wolff reports number of novelties from this country and new values in the new series, including the 1c and 5c, recently chronicled, and the 8c, and 20c, which have not previously been reported. The two last are in the Artigas type already described, but the 1p is in an entirely different type. Mr. Wolff describes it as showing a young girl leaning on a broken column, with a winged sceptre, and an American locomotive and a factory in the distance. The series was issued Dec. or earlier. Hermann Focke also reports the 2c and 8c values of the Artigas type.

Just as we go to press, we find in Champion's Bulletin, a chronicle of the new series, which shows that there is a 5m stamp in the Artigas type, and 23c and 50c values in the type of the 1p, Champion illustrates the latter, and we find it is a handsome design, much superior to the Artigas type. We give the full list of the stamps reported to date from all sources:

Adhesives.

5m violet.
1c green.
2c red brown.
5c blue.
8c slate.
20c brown.
23c blue.
50c orange.
1p vermilion.

Supplementing the information previously sent us regarding the new stamps, Philip Wolff sends us a translation of an article in the Uruguay Postal, from which we learn that the portrait of Artigas, which appears on the low values from 5m to 20c, inclusive, was copied from the picture by Blanes, and the statue in the building of the American Republics at Washington. The allegorical design represents the Arts, Science and Industries, surrounding the Republic. The stamps were printed by Waterlow Sons & Co., Ltd., London, the imprint appearing on each stamp, the following quantities being printed on the first order: 5m, 8,000,000; 1c, 4,000,000;  2c, 4,000,000; 5c, 12,000,000; 8c, 2,000,000; 20c, 300,000; 23c, 300,000; 50c, 100,000; 1p, 100,000. The allegorical design appears on the last three stamps. The contract price for printing, signed with the Waterlow agents, J. J. Hore and Cia, is 206 milesimos per thousand, when the amount printed reaches 3,000,000 stamps, and 223 milesimos, when the amount is less than 500,000 stamps.

The New England Stamp Co. has now shown us the whole set of these stamps. and we find that the allegorical design is very handsome, and the high value stamps beautifully printed. The size is 21 x 26 mm., the stamps being an upright rectangle. The woman's figure fills the left half of the stamp, "Republica-Oriental-del-Uruguay," being placed in the upper right directly on the lined background. The figures of value appear in a small circle at the lower right, superimposed on a tablet containing the word "Centesimos." The whole appearance is very beautiful.
 

ILLNESS OF MR. JEWETT.

During the past eleven weeks the WEEKLY has been very much handicapped by the severe illness of Mr. Jewett of the Jewett Printing Co., and no one but the writer of these lines can fully sense the difficulties under which we have labored. In our previous mention of Mr. Jewett's illness we expressed our great satisfaction at the manner in which the WEEKLY had been cared for in his enforced absence, but "there is no friend like the old friend."

The many friends of Mr. Jewett will be pleased to know that he has been able to get to the office the past week and unless something unforeseen develops he will soon be able to take up with his work again. This will explain the late arrival of the WEEKLY in the homes of our subscribers during the past three months.

OUR BOOK REVIEW.

We have received from Th. Lemaire, 16 Ave de l'Opera, Paris, France, the Lemaire Catalogue for 1911. It is published in two volumes, the 20th century already taking on good proportions consisting of 170 pages. The catalogue is uniform with previous issues and will commend itself to American collectors because of the many illustrations of United States stamps. The illustrations are life-size and uniformly good. The prices of the two catalogues are 25c and 12c respectively and may be obtained at the address as above.

- Vol. 1, No. 1, of the Collectors' Review reaches us from Prosser, Wash.  It is published by Alfred Boyle at 25c per year and a sample copy will no doubt be obtainable upon request. We wish the new paper every success possible.
 

A JOURNALISTIC UPHEAVAL.

The Postage Stamp has thrown to the winds the time honored British makeup and henceforth advertising matter will appear side by side with reading matter. Some British philatelists will stand aghast as they look upon the new Postage Stamp, but Mr. Melville may safely be trusted to take the craft safely into port.

We have a great respect for Mr. Melville's sagacity and have all along felt that the Postage Stamp would some day respond to his touch along lines that would make the paper more of a success from a business standpoint. Hereafter, the Postage Stamp will take its place with those papers that cater for advertising patronage.

Naturally the WEEKLY feels highly complimented that its own newspaper policy is to be, in a measure at least, reflected in the most representative of English papers. We count it a substantial endorsement of our attempt to create a live, cleanly printed and well edited newspaper.

Upon this side of the Atlantic, only recently, there appeared a weekly stamp paper, which in itself was a marked tribute to MEKEEL'S WEEKLY. It had the same number of pages, same number of columns to the page, same makeup as to arrangement of advertising, same form of business notices and upon the same page were these notices printed. Imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery.

The early demise of Gibbons Stamp Weekly is a severe blow to philatelic journalism in the British Isles and if the great house of Gibbons could not successfully float a weekly newspaper or magazine then no purely literary weekly can hope to succeed, certainly not for many years to come. Evidently the Postage Stamp is determined to popularize advertising and its further steps in this direction will be awaited with interest.

By the way, what does Editor Fuicher, F.R.P.S., etc., think of the departure? That reminds us that the Philatelic Record has been giving us some Dr. Dryasdust articles lately that serve as a splendid offset to the breeziness of Editor Melville's magazine.
 

ON THE CHOICE OF AN ALBUM.

By CHAS. E. JENNEY.

In the days of my early collecting, when the period arrived for graduation from blank book and from the small 1,000 space album, there was no necessity for deliberating in the selection of an album. There was only one, the International, and that was not a very fat book, either. It contained spaces for all the regularly issued stamps of the world and satisfied all the demands of the advancing collector.

Today a similar album, including all countries and all stamps, has to be issued in two volumes, either of which is larger than the old one. It is divided into the ninteenth century and the 20th century albums. Here the necessity for a choice arises, and is often puzzling to the collector and even to his older advisers. They each cost about the same and as a rule he cannot afford both at once, and even if he could they are rather too much for him at one time. Which shall he choose?

He naturally wants to get the album that will have spaces for the greater number of stamps he is apt to get; and finds that while the greater part of what he has goes in the older album, perhaps the larger number of what he is picking up from day to day are current issues and belong in the 20th century volume. The question is one for considerable deliberation. If he takes the later volume, he will naturally lose to considerable extent the interest in obtaining the older issues; if he takes the older volume, the new issues will have little interest for him and when he begins to find it difficult to obtain the older ones his interest lapses altogether.

In both cases there are disadvantages, for the interest in stamp collecting can-not be well separated by an abrupt break in the middle.

The best way seems to be this; let the collector buy the 19th century album, and treasure therein his old issues. But let him not on that account discard all newer issues. His blank book can still serve him for them, until such time as they make a large accumulation and he can afford a 20th century album. Or better still, sheets of some stiff blank paper of uniform size can be ruled into squares, using one sheet for each country; and these sheets kept loosely, arranged in alphabetical order, between stiff board covers, with a rubber band around. This will serve as a temporary album, and then when the proper time arrives, they can be transferred to a new printed album; or if he has advanced sufficiently, they will serve as the nucleus of the blank album to which all advanced collectors arrive at length.
 

SHADES AND FADES.

A New York reader writes to enquire if the current 3c stamp has been printed in a lighter shade than the purple mentioned in the catalogues as he has come across a copy in a very pale tint. We have no doubt there have been several printings of this value since it was first issued in 1908 and so it is quite probable some of these vary in shade as do most other United States stamps. We would, however, advise the beginner not to pay too much attention to shades-there are plenty of straightforward varieties to collect without indulging in such luxuries as differences of tint. It is often a difficult matter in the case of stamps printed in violet, purple, lilac or kindred colours to say whether the differences are actually due to variations in the shade of the printing ink or are due to fading. Light will play strange tricks with some colours and purples and violets seem more sensitive than others. We have seen a copy of the 6 cents, Columbian issue, which had turned quite blue from exposure to sunlight and another which had faded to a dull grey from the same cause. The colour question presents many difficulties even to advanced collectors so that the novice will do well to steer clear of it. It will be quite soon enough to worry about shades when he is well versed in ways philatelic.