Or/ LITERARY NUMBER VOL. XXIII MAY. 1910 NUMBER 3 Cfye Ctmencan philatelist CONTENTS Editorial : page Progress 1 The Convention Habit. 2 The World's Greatest Stamp Errors 4 American Expansion and Philately (Concluded) 10 The Blueing of the Penny Reds of Great Britain 13 UARTEBLY JOURNAL PUBLISHED BY THE JUN 10196ft«felCAN PHILATELIC SOCIETY Ml HAiH I AOAIft PRinriHG CO., COLUMBUS, 0. id&^3ai^itS^e for Entry as Second-Class Matter at Post Office, Columbus, Ohio. The American Philatelist A Quarterly Journal Published by the American Philatelic Society Subscription Price 60 cts. Per Year. Single Copies, 25cts. Published at 108 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio HENRY S. ADAIR, Editor, P. O. Box 691 Advertising Rates On Yearly Contacts, per issue, page 810.00; half page. 86.00; quarter page, S3. 50; ess than quarter page, $1.00 per inch. Advertising Rates — Continued .Less than Yearly Contracts, per issue, page. 812.00; half page, 87 00; quarter page, 84.00; less than quarter page. 81.00 per inch. 12 lines nonpareil to inch. Page, 16 inches; Vi page, 8 inches; lA page, 4 inches. Typewritten or printed copy should be fur- nished, otherwise the publishers will not be responsible for errors. VOL. XXIII MAY, 1910 NO. 3 EDITORIAL PROGRESS In the second number of the Quarterly, Vol. XXIII, No. 2, of The American Philatelist, the membership were taken behind the scenes and given an idea of what is go- ing on during the "working hours" of the Society between conventions. In that visit, there were some matters that had to be merely glanced at, but it was inti- mated that at another time it would be of interest to note what the Philatelic Index Committee were weaving into shape; in harmony with which thought the following letter, from the chairman of that committee, and which is self ex- planatory, is presented: Mr. H. N. Mudge, President of A. P. S., Chicago. Dear Sir: — In order to place before the Society some idea of the method on which the "Index" which your committee has been at work upon, is compiled, we give here- with a list of the general subjects under which the references are given for any one country: Subject Headings. (Gen) — General, includes all general re- ferences. Beginners — Includes all articles, etc., for beginners. Bisected — Includes Split Provisionals. Collection — Includes all articles on Col- lection. Collecting — Includes all articles on Col- lecting. Commemorative Issues — Includes all ar- ticles on Jubilee Issues. Curiosities — Includes all articles not in- cluded under Minor Varieties. Envelope Stamps — Includes all articles on Entires. Errors. Essays. Forgeries. Hand Stamps. History. . Locals. Manufacture of Stamps. Minor Varieties — Includes all articles on Varieties (Die, Type, etc.). Miscellaneous — .Includes all articles gen- eral in themselves but pertaining more or less to stamps. Newspaper Stamps. Official Stamps— Numbers issued. Paper. Penny Postage. Perforations. Plates. Plate Numbers, ^rtraits on Stamps. Postal Fiscals — Includes articles on Rev- enues used for Postage. Postal History. Postal Rates. Postal Service. Post Cards. THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. Postmarks — Includes all articles on Can- cellation. Post Office. Post Office Reports. Prices. Railway Stamps. Re-Engraved Stamps. Registered Letter Stamps. Reprints. Repudiated — Includes all articles on De- monitized, Obsolete, etc. Revenue Stamps — Includes all articles on Fiscals. Shades. Special Delivery Stamps. Stamps of. Stamps of, Notes on. Value of Stamps. Specialism. Surcharges. Telegraph Stamps. Uncatalogued Varieties. Wrappers. Of course in certain countries other headings must be added, viz., "United States," Department Stamps, Grilled Stamps, etc. As far as possible the above headings have also been used for general articles throughout the work. General Plan of Index. UNITED STATES, (Gen)— LP XVIII (08) 281; PS (L) II (08) 97-157; GSW IX 340. Adhesive Stamps, An Explanatory Cat- alogue of (Capen C) PtOf IV (94-5) 89-105-121-137-153-169, V(95-6) 6-13. Adhesive Stamps, C. for A. C. (Collins & Callman) AmJP (2) XI (98) 1-41- 89-137-221-261-303-347-391-429-479. Carrier Stamps, (Gen) MWSN XXII (08) 294; (Roselle, L. D.) CLed IV (88-9) 160. Carrier Stamps, Charleston, SL (L) II (09-0) 15. Department Stamps, PWor (L) I (08-9) 90. Department Stamps, Errors, PR (L) XXX (08) 196. The name of the country to be in capi- tals, subject in italics, rest of title in regular type. Yours very truly, (Signed) W. R. RICKETTS. The purpose for which the Philatelic Committee exists is clearly enough set forth in Sec. 13, Art. Vlf, of our by-laws; but for the information of many of our members who have joined the Society in recent years, and to refresh the memor- ies of some of the older stockholders, the following will be of interest concerning it: The publication of an index of phila- telic literature by the American Phila- telic Society first took definite shape at the convention at Springfield, Mass., in 1902; the desirability of the matter being there discussed and officially sanctioned by vote, as shown in the Society's "Year Book" for that year. Subsequent Year Books reveal that the next year it was incorporated in the by-laws in the shape in which it now stands and a report of progress was made, followed in 1904 by a statement of work done, since which time reports, when made at all, have not been of a nature to throw much light on the real status of the index. Hence the above communication from Mr. Ricketts will, to those interested in such a work or in the credit of the So- ciety, be hailed as an indication of real progress in this field of endeavor, in the interest of philately and philatelists, to which the Society has so long stood com- mitted; particularly as, in its proper time and place, it will be shown that much more progress has been made than the foregoing letter suggests. H. N. MUDGE. THE One of the objects of CONVENTION our Society as set forth HABIT in its articles of incor- poration is "to cultivate a feeling of friendship among philate- lists." The other objects are all well enough in their way, and possibly appeal more directly to the majority of our members, but to me the above has al- ways been one of the strongest attrac- tions. The true collector is a social in- dividual, and always likes to meet others who are interested in his particular hob- by, and to compare notes with them con- THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 3 ceruing their pets. Prior to the organi- zation of our society, collectors in this country had but little in common with those outside their own locality, except by correspondence and occasional visits to the large cities, where they seldom stopped long enough to get fully in touch with their brother collectors. Local so- cieties flourished to be sure but they did not satisfy. Personally, I knew not more than half a dozen collectors or dealers outside my own city except by corres- pondence until at the Chicago convention of 1887 I came in contact with philate- lists from eight or nine states, some score or more in number, with whom I had never met although in correspond- ence with one at least for ten years. From that day to this, I count it a loss when I am not able to be present at the annual gatherings and to renew my old friendships and to commence new. Tiffany, Wolsieffer, Bradt, the Mekeels, Krauth, Rode, Johnson, Bartels, Batchel- der, Caiman, Sterling, Scott, and many others are among those whose acquaint- ance are due to the annual gatherings of our society. Now it may be impossible to attend these conventions with regu- larity but go when you can, and make it a point to make an extra effort to go as often as circumstances will permit. At the last convention there were about one hundred persons in attendance, repre- senting twenty states, and among them were at least forty whom I had never met before. At the gathering in Detroit this summer there will undoubtedly be fully as large a number, and while we shall miss many whom we met at Atlantic City we shall see others who were not there. And so it goes. Some new friends made every year. Some new bits of philatelic lore picked up, or some new specimens added to our collections. Rumor says we are to have an exhibition of stamps at the convention this year. If so, that in itself will be well worth going for. Whether there is a formal exhibit or not, many an attendant will have a "few things" in his pocket to flash on us, as Charles Mekeel did the major part of the great Louisville find of St. Louis stamps at the Clayton convention. I have never quite gotten over the effect of having them passed over to me as quietly as if they were a lot of fifty per cent discount stuff with the remark "Perhaps you would like to see these." From its central location Detroit should draw a goodly number from both the West and the East. Make up your mind now, those of you who read these lines, that you will be on hand to enjoy the good things General Coolidge told us were in store for us. After the conven- tion is over, you will be surprised how much more interest you will take in your collecting, and in the Society, through your recollections of acquaintances made on the occasion. If you are a stranger to the writer hunt me up and introduce yourself, for I not only want to know you all, but will take pleasure in intro- ducing you to others. WM. C. STONE. THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. THE WORLD'S GREATEST STAMP ERRORS. By Alvin Good. Since that memorable day on which the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club celebrated the Twentieth Anniversary of its organization, I have been requested by many philatelists to write an article describing the "Worlds' Greatest Stamp Errors," as illustrated on the souvenir menu card presented to those attending the banquet on the above occasion; but never having done anything in the way of philatelic journalism (or any other kind for that matter) it was with much reluctance that I consented to pen these few notes. Of course my description of these errors will simply consist of what has been published and republished in years gone by in various journals and catalogues. In casting about for something unique which could be used as a suitable souvenir for those attending the above mentioned affair, the Committee had almost dispaired of being able to furnish something in the philatelic line which would at least equal the souvenir used at the 19th Annual Banquet, and it was just by chance that the writer in rummaging through his desk came across two pages clipped from the London Philatelist, probably in 1904, in which there appeared an article by the editor entitled "The Rarest Stamp Errors," which was a review of several articles on the same subject which appeared in the Stamp Collector. The Illustriertes Briefmarken Journal, and various other journals as regards the approxi- mate degree of rarity of stamps with inverted centres and errors of color. The writers of the above mentioned articles appended a list of errors in the order they -should be placed, according to their opinion. I noted with a great deal of pleasure that Mr. Worthington possessed most of these errors, and therefore the idea of a souvenir menu card at once presented itself. As there appears to be but little difference of opinion 'n the first fourteen stamps of the lists referred to above, I reproduce it, but also with a few slight changes, the most noticeable of which is that I have eliminated the U. S. 1901 inverts and inserted the 15c 1869 Inverted centre: 1. Spain, 1851 2R Blue. 2. Austria 1867, 3kr red, 3. Baden, First Issue, 9kr Green, 4. Western Australia 4d blue, Swan Inverted, 5. Spain, 1876, 25m blue & rose, Inverted Frame, 6. South Australia, 1870 4d blue with sur. "3 Pence." omitted, 7. Saxony 1851, y2 ngr. Blue, 8. U. S. 30c 1869, Inverted Centre, 9. India 1854, 4a Inverted Frame, 10. Cape of Good Hope, 3d blue Woodblock, 11. Cape of Good Hope, 4d red Woodblock, 12. Finland 1891, 3R 50K Yellow & Black, • 13. U. S. 1869 15c, Inverted Centre, 14. U. S. 1869 24c, Inserted Centre. I will not use up any space in discussing the relative degree of rarity of the above list, as my article has most to do with the errors on the Souvenir Card. In this photo are four stamps which come a little further down on the list, but never- theless they are very interesting and curious, and for that reason were illustrated along with those of a greater degree of rarity, viz.: St. Helena 6d red without THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. j 1 m ' "ft Bt ■> e" ^ "*:^° yy j surcharge "ONE PENNY;" Philippine Islands 1855 1R "Corros;" Sweden 1872 "Tretio Ore" instead of "Tjugo Ore;" and Russia 18S2 14 k blue and rose, centre inverted. Western Australia 1854, 4d, "Inverted Swan." This is one of the most famous of Australian Stamps, and one of the rarest stamps in the world. The position of this variety is probably the first stamp of the eighth row in each pane of sixty. The Philatelic Record for March gives the most 6 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. complete and latest theory regarding this error. 1 quote from it the following: "Mr. Bacon's theory was that it was the frame and not the swan that was "inverted. When pasting on the transfers of the central portion of the design, the "workmen would not fail to notice if one was upside down. It would be quite another "matter with the borders. The lettering was small and it would be a very easy thing "to make a mistake. Assuming this theory to be correct there would have to be at "least four Inverted Frames on the entire sheet, as it was made up of four transfers "from the group of sixty in which the error occurred; and this would mean that four "impressions would have to be removed from the stone, and new transfers laid on "in their place. The other alternative would be to correct the error on the original "group of sixty, and place four new transfers from the whole sixty on a clean stone. "The latter process would mean a great deal more work, and careful examination of "the entire sheet seemed to prove the former plan was adopted." South Australia 1870, 4d Blue, without surcharge "3 Pence." This Provisional was issued in August, 1870, and was first surcharged "3-Pence" in red (only one printing) and afterwards in black. It is possible that the error is due to want of care in "feeding" the sheets into the surcharging press, and that either the top or bottom row escaped the over-print. I have seen interesting illus- trations of similar errors which occurred in this manner in the stamps of Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena and Hawaiian Islands. I understand that only about six copies of this South Australia error exist, two used and four unused ones; hence they must be very rare. Cape of Good Hope 1861, 1d Blue, 4d Red, Woodblock. I think it best to quote word for word the article which appeared in Vol. 5, No. 2 of The Postage Stamp, which I think is about the most interesting history of these stamps I have ever read: "It reads like a fairy tale, but it has often been recorded how Mr. E. S. Gibbons— "sackful of 'triangular Capes,' about two millions of them, including hundreds of the "sackful of 'triangular Capes' about two millions of them, including hundreds of the "so-called 'woodblocks.' The normal copies of these latter were sold at 3s to 10s a "dozen, and the above errors at 4s to 15s each. Nowadays the prices run from £3 "for the 4d pale blue, to £85 for a copy of the same value in vermillion. It is almost "needless to say that the errors are very rare. "Early in 1861 there was a shortage of these two values, and Messrs. Saul Solo- "mon & Co., of Cape Town, were instructed to provide a supply. They engraved "a separate steel block for each value, and from each of these the necessary number "(64; of stereos was taken to form a plate; but inadvertently the last stero to be "mounted on the wooden base was in both cases of the wrong value — a One Penny "with the Four Pence, and vice versa. "According to official information, there were not issued more than 201 of the "One Penny Error, and 386 of the Four Pence error; but there is no reliable record "as to how many sheets were actually printed. It would seem that the official figures "of 24,660 of the One Penny and 12,840 of the Four Pence are much under-estimated, ''unless we are to assume that Mr. Gibbons' famous sack contained a much greater "proportion of the actual issue than has in most cases survived to modern times "from the early days of philately. "The Four Pence is known unused— one copy, only, which fetched £500 at auc- "tion— and used in singles and se tenant with the One Penny; and the One Penny "has been found in used condition only, in singles and in pairs with the Four Pence. "The lower value is known in two shades (pale- blue and blue) out of the four in "which the Four Pence is found; and the higher value likewise exists in two shades "or colors (vermillion and carmine) out of the three of the One Penny." THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 7 These two errors are quite rare and bring good prices when in good condition, hut when found in a pair se tenant with the normal stamp as per illustration, it is doubly rare, and few exist in such condition. The Error 4d red in the block of four is unique, although it is known in a pair similar to the Id blue, but there is no other block known, moreover, it is in matchless state, being of the very earliest impression as you will see by the date (March 26, 1861) a month prior to having been chronicled. St. Helena, Six Pence Red, without surcharge ONE PENNY. This stamp was issued in 1863. This is another error similar to the 4d blue of So Australia, and was no doubt caused in the same manner. I have seen a sheet of the Six Pence green surcharged "One Shilling," the fifth row from the top was double surcharged, while the bottom row (or tenth row) had escaped the surcharge entirely. This would indicate that the surcharge had been set up to cover half a sheet, but through carelessness in feeding the sheet into the surcharging press the lower row escaped the over-print. Saxony 1851, i/2 "9r- Li9"t Blue, instead of grey. Only 120 of these errors have ever been printed, 63 are said to have been sold as 2 ngr. stamps and used as such before the mistake was discovered. The remaining 57 were returned to the Department of Finance in Dresden. Thirty-three of these were said to have been destroyed, and the other 24 have since been in circulation. There is a block of four in existence; a strip of five was exhibited in London in 1890, and the majority of the others are probably owned by collectors in Europe. A copy recently brought £220 at auction. Finland 1391, 3R 50K Yellow and Black. The correct color for this stamp is Yellow and Grey, but in some manner a number were printed in the color of the 7R which is black and yellow. It is said that only part of a sheet got into circulation. This must be true for the stamp is very scarce in this country, and had any one been holding back a supply it is almost certain that they would have appeared by this time. About a year ago I saw a forgery of this stamp. It was evidently made from the 3%R of Russia, No. 39 in Scott's catalogue, as the paper was vertically laid instead of horizontally, and had an additional outer line around the stamp. Whoever made it was an artist with the brush, and it would have deceived most anyone not familiar with Finland and Russian stamps. United States 1869, 15c and 30c Inverted Medallions. Two theories have been published giving the probable cause for these errors. For the first I quote from Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the IT. S.: "The error is not, as is sometimes supposed, an error of printing, but in the "plate. Two plates, one for each color, had to be used. Originally there were 150 "stamps, as in the smaller values, but upon the plate for printing the picture, it is "said one picture was reversed, and the error once discovered, the plate was cut "down to print only 100 stamps, as stated in the circular. It is probable that no "copies With the error were ever circulated." Mr. John N. Luff, in his history of our stamps, I think knocks this theory all to smithers, and to get the full benefit of both sides one should turn to page 112 in Luff's work. Mr. Luff's theory is, simply a misprint, and in that I believe most of us agree with him. Most of the copies known are used. A collector in this country has a block of four of the 24c Inverted Centre, used, and Mr. Luff speaks of a pair of the same stamp. I know of just one copy of the 15c unused and two copies of the 30c. S THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. Philippine Islands 1854, 1R Blue "Corros." The stamps as issued were line engraved. The sheets show 40 varieties in eight horizontal rows of five. On the plate of the 1R the first stamp in the sixth row has "'Corros" in the label instead of "Correos." The error was never corrected and therefore exists in all the shades of the normal stamp. It therefore should exist over- printed "Habilitado Por La Nacion" but if so I have never seen a copy or heard of one. The normal stamp so surcharged is itself a rarity. Sweden 1872-76, 20o Red, "Tretio." I again quote from The Postage Stamp in describing this error, Vol. 5, No. 24: "This is a rare and curious error, of the same kind as the 2 ("zwei ein halb") "Lubeck. One of the cliches in the plate of the Twenty Ore was accidentally broken "or damaged, and it became necessary to replace 4t To save time, an old cliche "of the 30o was used, the central figures being removed and replaced by "20;" but, "either by mistake or because it was found impossible to make a further alteration, "the inscription of "Tretio Ore" was allowed to remain — the correct wording for the "Twenty Ore" is "Tjugo Ore." The stamp is perf. 13. "I find the position of the error on the sheet described as 'the fourth stamp on "the fourth row to the left from the top.' Four good forgeries of this stamp have "been discovered and described." India, 4 anna Red and Blue, Head Inverted. The following from the London Society's work on India speaks of this stamp as follows: "Although up to the present time it is not definitely known to which printing "the well-known error, usually called the 'inverted head' variety, belongs, it is toler- "ably certain that it occurred in one or more sheets of the first arrangement with "blue dividing lines. Some seven years ago two copies were found on part of the "original cover, on which was written in pencil, 'December 1854.' (This is described "and illustrated in The Monthly Journal, Vol. X, p. 167.) It is no positive proof, but "the evidence was in favor of the supposition that the variety belongs to an early "printing, and further proof is afforded by the fact that the head in this variety is in "the first state of the die, and therefore the error must have occurred in either the "first or second transfers of the setting with the blue dividing lines. "It is sometimes imagined that the 'inverted head: was a variety occurring once "in each sheet. This would mean that one of the transfers of the head or of the "frame was inverted on the stone, but that would be an error which would at once "be noticed and corrected. It would be quite an easy mistake to place the sheet "upside down on the stone for the second printing, and the effect of this would be "that all the stamps on the sheet so treated would show the variety 'inverted head.' "The above mentioned discovery of two copies on the same cover is additional evi- dence against the theory of there being only one on each sheet." Spain, 25m, 1876; Inverted Head. 1 have been unable to obtain any information regarding the history of this stamp. The work of the London Society does not even mention it, but of course that work was published a great many years ago. Moen's book merely lists it, but says nothing about its history. I have a memorandum that there are onlv five copies known. Russia, 14k Blue and Rose, Centre Inverted. Not being able to discover any data on this stamp, I appealed to that storehouse of information, Mr. John N. Luff, who writes as follows: THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 9 "I have no books about Russian Stamps except one on Russian Rurals, and I do "not find any remarks in any catalogue. The only thing I can say is that it is well "known that the Russian Printing Office is extremely careful and that errors of "this nature are very rare with them. I think it is only in recent years that any "have been known. If I remember rightly, quite a number of years ago an invert "was reported in philatelic papers; that the late H. S. Mandel, who has been "through the Stamp Printing Office in St. Petersburg, insisted it could not exist, "because their machinery was such it was impossible for any inverted center to "occur; but it exists just the same." I regret not being able to present anything of much interest regarding the last two stamps, and should these notes meet the eye of some one who has the desired information, I am sure there are a large number of philatelists who would be glad to hear from him. 10 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. AMERICAN EXPANSION olitical future should be in the hands of the United States, or at least very largely influenced by it. Already, many years since it lost half its territory in Texas, now one of the United States. The United States is on its northern border, and the Canal Zone is only separated by some inconsiderable Central American Republic on the South. Cuba under American influence is a key to the gulf on the East, and a THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 11 useful watchdog to ward off European association with Mexico. The country is said to be filled with Americans, and just so long as the stable government, which has been due to a solitary but remarkable statesman, can be maintained there is perhaps little likelihood of change. But after President Diaz ? In any case the stamps of Mexico present a great field of interesting research and are deservedly on the increase as regards their popularity with collectors. That the country itself is one of great promise, whether the fulfillment of the promise be in the future of the United States or no, makes for philatelic stability and security of one's investments in the stamps. The stamps of the Canal Zone must make their way by the sheer force of the universal importance of the Canal undertaking, provided that there is not too much of the pandering to collectors in the way of unnecessary issues. The Republic of Panama itself may not hereafter be the Cinderella of stamp issuing American states that it at present is. Possibilities of the extension of United States influence in South America we cannot enter into here. They will be more readily discerned by the student of American politics within the Republic. But there are signs of increasing attention in Great Britain to the States which bear cleaner records financially and philatelically. It is noteworthy that the records in the money market correspond fairly close to the records in the philatelic world. A progressive and stably governed country like Chili enjoys and has long enjoyed the esteem of the collector. The Argentine Republic and Uruguay are both growing in stampic favor, and it is notable that the former, at least, is becoming an excellent market for old stamps, notably those associated with its own country and with the more reputable of its neighbors. There are other possibilities (equally vague with those referred to in South America) of the extension of American political interests, which may affect in course of time the stamp market. In the West Indies Cuba, as has been said, has been given a freedom, the value of which may be doubted. Puerto Rico is under the jurisdiction of the U. S. Government. It has been fairly clear that the West Indies have been under the watchful eye of Washington statesmen by their efforts to acquire Cuba in the old days by purchase, and other islands from European powers by similar means, all without success, until the trouble with Spain enabled conquest to do what wras denied to purchase. But there languishes in the Caribbean Sea one island whose independence is little less a sinecure than that of Cuba. Toussaint L' Overture, the liberated slave who led his fellow negroes against the French, made a savage call to arms which has surely redounded with dire punition on all his successors in Hayti. "My children," he cried, "France has come to make us slaves. God gave us liberty France has no right to take it away. Burn the cities, destroy the harvest, tear up the roads with cannon, poison the wells, show the white man the hell he comes to make." And what a hell the liberated blacks have made of an island of natural charm and beauty! The poverty and wretchedness of the bulk of the inhabitants of Hayti w re brought out forcibly in a recent (British) Consular report. The state of affairs muct have been considerably aggravated by subsequent cyclonic and seismic dis- turbances But the real trouble with Hayti is instability of government, revolutions being the order of the day. So uncertain must be the life of a Haytian government that one hesitates to write down the name of the President except under the proviso of "at the time of writing." President Simon, by the latest report, was setting out on a "peace mission" to induce General Jean Gilles, of the Department of the North, to hand over the command of a couple of war vessels, about three thousand troous. and some ammunition. But although this mission may be successful, the Firmimst 12 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. parly is ready to make things warm for President Simon at its first opportunity. The negroes may be proud to display on their arms, reproduced on their stamps, the motto "L' Union fait la Force," but the fact remains that they are divided amongst themselves and that there is no health in them. Strategically the possession of the island of Hayti (involving the Dominican and Haytian republics) would appear to be of greatest value to the United States. It would be a link in the cordon of islands guarding the Mediterranean of the Americas, and would possibly be an additional protection (.to that afforded by Cuba) to the Atlantic approach to the Isthmian canal. The United States may not want a broken and battered possession like Hayti, but it seems quite on the cards that something must be done before many years have passed to wipe out this blot in a fair sea, and the United States is perhaps the most interested party, even though it may not be anxious for the responsibilities involved. In the event of American intervention in Hayti, the early issues of San Domingo and the Haytian Republic must come in for a share in the popularity of stamps of the United States possessions. The issues of the former republic typographed at San Domingo afford a splendid study for the more advanced collector. The issues of the Haytian Republic up to 1898 are of great interest, and in the present state of the market in those stamps there is surely an opportunity for the reconstructor of plates to set to work and accomplish something without extravagant expense, and with an excellent prospect of substantial increment. The later philatelic records of both republics are, we need hardly say, as black as the negroes themselves. We are aware that we have discussed some subject little comprehended in Europe but which must be "familiar as household words" to the American citizen. Our purpose has been to show that there is a field for philatelic enterprise within the limits of the American continent, and the spheres of influence of the United States, as great, as fascinating, and in these days of low prices more promising of financial benefit of the American investor as there is in the avenues through which much of his time and money has been spent in the past; and above all a field which is in keeping with an independent nation working out its own future on its own lines. Finally there are one or two oft-repeated generalities • without which, however, any discussion of the investment question would be incomplete. Collect only stamps which are perfect copies, complete in every respect, with the design well centered between the perforations; or if they are imperforate stamps should have good margins around the design (where possible). Stamps that have been through the post should only be selected if cleanly cancelled and not heavily smudged. Some postal clerks are given to postmarking stamps out of existence from the collector's point of view. Old stamps are on the whole better investments than new, though while the old stamps are the safer for the wealthy there is still security for the collector of modest means in the issues of recent times. THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 13 THE "BLUEING OF THE PENNY REDS OF GREAT "BRITAIN Was Mr. H S. Hodson Correct ? A Paper Read before the Detroit Philatelic Society, April 8th, 1910, by Sol. E. Heineman. In tracing the history of the manufacture of the early Postage Stamps of Great Britain and Colonies, much attention has been devoted by authors to explain every detail connected therewith, from the earliest inception of the design through the various steps necessary to complete the finished product. Thus the peculiar unin- tentional blueing of the paper in some of the earlier issues, notably those printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co., has been variously commented upon by several writers, more recently in Mr. Fred J. Melville's excellent publication on "Line Engraved Stamps of Great Britain." The opinion of Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., is that the blueing was probably caused by alum in the printing ink forming some chemical reaction with the gum on the back of the stamps. Also, there is mentioned Mr. H. S. Hodson's opinion, that the blue tint was caused by the Ferric Oxide of the printing ink combining' with other impurities (probably in the paper) to form a blue prussiate. This quoted opinion of Mr. Hodson appeals to me as being the correct solution of this much speculated upon peculiarity. In the manufacture of Empty Gelatin Capsules, (a business in which I have been interested for some years) it was the usage until about twenty years ago to employ steel mould pins. These were dipped into an aqueous solution of gelatin, such adhering to the pin in a coating of sufficient thickness to form, when dry, the shell from which the finished capsule was evolved. During this drying operation a slight film of Protoxide of Iron, formed by the contact of the moist gelatin with the steel mould pin, adhered to the gelatin shell. This film in time formed sesquioxide of iron (iron rust), giving the capsule an objectionable brownish tinge. This diffi- culty has since been overcome by using pins made of non-corrosive metal. In order to counteract this darkening of the gelatin, our chemist suggested adding to the gelatin solution a slight amount of Yellow Prussiate of Potash (Ferrocyanide of Potassium) in order to neutralize the Ferric Oxide above mentioned. It was found •that when the combination was perfect, the gelatin retained its brilliancy. We shortly discovered, however, that the chemical combination did not always work exactly right, and in due course of time our firm was asked to redeem lor more saleable goods a quantity of more or less "blued" capsules, which same goods ap- peared perfect when shipped from our works several months previous. From Postage Stamps to Gelatin Capsules seems a far cry, but this incident possibly may furnish the clue towards definitely clearing up the question of 'blued paper" varieties. That the blueing of the stamps was caused by a reaction between the printing ink and the paper and not between ink and gum seems clear. Fifty years ago or more glue and gelatin, this latter being only a finer grade of glue, was prepared in iron vessels, now superseded by utensils made of non- corrosive metal, principally tinned copper. Such products prepared in iron vessels naturally absorbed more or less Ferric Oxide and developed thus the objectionable brownish color. In the endeavor to overcome this discoloration, may not the gelatin maker who furnished the material for sizing this stamp paper have bethought him- self of the same expedient as did the capsule chemist? All paper makers use gelatin or glue to size their papers, but no paper makers manufacture their own gelatin. This is a branch in itself, and if the gelatin maker of that day used a bleach for his product he would have been very apt to keep the process a secret. The One Penny red stamps of Great Britain, 1841, and subsequent printings, 14 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. until the change was made to the rose color, were printed with a Ferric Oxide pig- ment. We find that the blued paper of these stamps is turned brown by Sodium Hydrate, and when a drop of acid is added to this brown spot, that the brown discoloration again turns to blue. This surely indicates the presence of Prussian Blue. That glue may contain Yellow Prussiate of Potash in slight amount is known, but it is not the case that this chemical is present in Ferric Oxide pigment. If the normal slight amount of Yellow Prussiate of Potash in the glue sizing is neutralized by the Ferric Oxide in the pigment, then no bluish discoloration ensues in the paper, but if the Yellow Prussiate of Potash is present in excess in the sizing, then the Prussian blue tint will be developed in the paper. This reaction would satisfactorily explain the partial discoloration of the stamps, lesser in degree where the pigment was applied less heavily. That this discoloration is common to early printings by Perkins, Bacon & Co., of Colonial stamps, such as Cape of Good Hope, Barbados, Trinidad, etc., must make it evident that the blueish reaction is the same as in the One Penny Great Britain, and that this reactioxi is one of Ferric Oxide and Yellow Prussiate of Potash, as in no other way can true Prussian Blue be formed. As soon as the Ferric Oxide pigment is abandoned by P. B. & Co., it is noted that the blueing of the paper no longj&r appears. Now, the 3 cent red United States stamp of 1851 is printed also with a pigment containing Ferric Oxide, but we never see any blued paper specimens of this stamp. The paper maker who furnished the stock for these stamps also used gelatin or glue size, but it is evident that the American glue maker did not add any Yellow Prussiate of Potash to his product, and as there was no excess of this chemical in the glue sizing there could be in consequence no forming of visible Prussian Blue. Conceded, that this explanation is plausible as regards the stamps printed with Ferric Oxide pigment, how about the blueing of the paper of those stamps which were printed with Blue, Green, or Plum colored inks? The early blue stamps of Great Britain and Colonies were printed with a Prussian Blue pigment. Prussian Blue is made from Ferrocyanide of Potassium (Yellow Prussiate of Potash) and Protoxide of Iron, or Copperas, as it is generally known commercially. The precipitate which is formed when these two chemicals are com- bined in solution is then oxidized in the presence of an acid. The resultant product is then washed repeatedly to remove the uncombined elements. It is, however, the custom of the manufacturers to use an excess of Ferric Oxide in preparing the color, and part of this Ferric Oxide still remains in the finished Prussian Blue, for if the color were over-washed it would become water soluble. The Prussian Blue, thus containing an excess of Ferric Oxide is used as a base for compounding greens, with orange or yellow, and in making Plum, Red Brown, or Brown Violet shades by adding lakes, reds, or madders. To sum up: We have Ferric Oxide in the printers ink. We also form a Ferric deposit over the surface of the moistened paper during the act of printing by reason of contact with the steel plates; the very sensitive gelatin sizing in the paper holding the slightest film of iron. The slight acidity of the atmosphere is ready to do its part, and all that is needed is the Yellow Prussiate of Potash. Did the English glue maker use it? If circumstantial evidence goes for anything, it must appear that he did. The chemically blued stamps generally show the discoloration in a greenish tone of blue, if such a term may be used. Many stamps that show blue discoloration, (not greenish blue) especially on the face, are merely cases of where the Prussian Blue has become water soluble. In concluding this article I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to The Ault & Wiborg Co., large printing ink manufacturers, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for valuable data kindly given me, and also for identifying the pigments in a number of specimens of stamps submitted to them. THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 15 The Leading American Dealers Send Us Your Want List NEW ENGLAND STAMP CO. 12 Bromfield St., Boston, Mass. THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. THE B. L. VOORHEES Auction Business has been bought and merged in the well=known CLARK'S AUCTIONS. "Clark's Auctions" Are Held Monthly on the First Saturday in Every Month. TERMS Over fifteen hundred bidders know my "selling to" terms, but compara= tively few of them know my "selling for" terms. I have two scales of terms, depending on whether you or 1 make up the lots. They are : 20% commission when I do all the work of catalogu- ing and dividing into lots. 10% commission (minimum charge 35c per lot) when you mount the lots on slips which I lurnish free for that purpose. My Catalogues are written with the utmost care for the interests of both buyer and seller; my mailing list contains over 2,500 selected names; the sale is conducted by a state=licensed auctioneer; in short, everything is done that can be done to make success certain. If You Have GOOD STAMPS to Sell, WRITE ME. HUGH M. CLARK, 536 Postal Telegraph Building Chicago, Illinois Clark's Approval Selections are Noted for Snperb Condition and Reasonable Price. Write He for a Selection of the Class Yon Collect. THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 17 WE WISH TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION To the several important improvements recently made in REDFIELD'S STAMP WEEKLY. First: All reading matter is now set in 8 pt. type instead of 11 pt. as formerly. Second : A much higher quality of paper is now being used. Third: A New Issue department has been added. We invite comparison between our paper and other weekly stamp publications. We are putting out a first class paper and merit the support of all A. P. S. members. 50 cents pays for the next 52 issues The Redfield M. Co. 598 Main St. SMETHPORT, PA. Auctions=Buy or Sell We can give you the best of service in either instance. Did it ever occur to you that buying stamps in auction sales is the real and only way to buy your stamps. All live and up-to-date col ectors are using this method; and we find that this is the best way a collector can get the finest stamps at his own price and be satisfied. We hold auctions as frequently as twice a month, with many good desirable stamps that the average collector is looking for. Every collector who does not receive our catalogue should drop us a postal at once. NET BOOKS For those who do not buy at auction we have made up a fine lot of stamps which average from 60%, 66%%, and 75% from catalogue. These books contain some fine bargains. "WE AIM TO PLEASE." United Stamp Co. 1151 Marquette Bldg. CHICAGO, ILLS. 18 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. WARREN H. COLSON Offers one of the largest and most comprehensive stocks held by any professional in America and he will be pleased to enter into correspondence with all SERIOUS COLLECTORS. Thousands of varieties from a few cents up to the very greatest rarities, worth into the thousands of dollars each, are constantly on view; but throughout this stock, — without exception the choicest in America, — there is but ONE quality — the very best. Here, the collector following almost any line of philatelic endeavor will find many pieces that are not only beautiful but, as well, unusual, to delight and satisfy the philatelic craving. Sole Agents in America for the PHILATELIC RECORD (London.) This paper is now in its 31st consecutive year of publica- tion and is the oldest and best periodical in the English langu- age, devoted to Philately. Subscriptions are received at $1.25 per year, for twelve numbers, and remittances may be made by Express or P. O. money order. Personal cheques on any point in North America accepted at par. Single sample copy will be mailed on request. Advertising rates furnished on demand. 184 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE "BACK BAY 3502/' THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 19 The U. S. STAMPS have been increasing in demand and appreciating in value. We have a fine stock of these, in- cluding a splendid line of shades and blocks of four. No less than 53 different selection? of U. S. stamps alone are now ready to be sent on approval to reliable collectors, willing to spend not less than $2.00 at a time. Send for circular describing over 160 choice approval selections, including foreign countries, for medium and advanced collectors. References if unknown to us. UNUSED STAMPS 1 1847-69, good selections at liberal discounts. 2 1847-73, rarities in finest condition, none listed under $5.00. 3 1847-82, selected, well centered, o. g. copies for those who appreciate condition. 4- 1847-88, special bargains at very substantial dis- counts. 5 1870-82, nice lot, strong in shades. 6 1879-88, shades, fine lot. 7 1899, fine range ot shades. 8 1893, as last, Columbian issue. 9 1893-*98-'01, commemorative Issues, fine line of shades. 1 9 1 894-98, regular issues, fine shades. 1 1 1898-'01, commemorative, 1-lOc. 12 1901-'07, lc to $1.00, many shades. 13 Department Stamps, unused and used. 14 Same, selected, especially fine copies for those who appreciate condition. 15 Postage Due Stamps, fine shades. 1 6 Newspaper Stamps, fine selection, all issues. 1 7 Pairs, of regular issues, 1851-90, shades BLOCK OF FOUR 21 1851-79, many choice pieces. 22 1879-88, good shades. 23 1890, fine lot of shades. 24 1898, lc to 30c in shades. 25 1894, lc to $5.00, splendid shades. 26 1895-98, regular issues, as last. 27 1898-01, commemorative issues. 28 1902-07, fine lot of shades. 29 Departments, splendid selection. ■SO Postage Due, many shades. 31 Newspaper Stamps, a rare lot, all issues. PROOFS, ESSAYS, ETC. 49 Plate Proofs on India paper or card. 50 Die Proofs, mostly mounted on large cards, as issued. 51 Essays. The 1861-57 issue finished and partly fin- ished in beautiful colors. Low prices. Also other interesting things. J. M. BARTELS COMPANY, ZPZ&Tl: 20 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. Wolsieffer's Large Selections BEST APPROVAL SYSTEM IN VOGUE. LEAFLET ABOUT IT ON REQUEST. Wolsieffer's Approval Cards. 20C. PER DOZ. $1.50 PER 100 DO YOU USE THEM? P. M. WOLSIEFFER. STAMP AUCTION SPECIALIST. 401 FT. DEARBORN BLDG. CHICAGO. Headquarters for U. S. Wise Collectors are paying attention to the Stamps of the U. S. The boom is on. Here are some fillers for your empty spaces Scott's No. Scott's Price My Price 334 1909 81.00 purple (initials) .35 .16 334 1909 81.00 purple no initials ■ 35 .25 333 1909 50c lavender (initials) .15 .07 331 1909 13c sea green, mint .18 312 1902 82.00 blue 81.75 81.40 311 1902 $1.00 black .40 .18 310 1902 50c orange -18 .08 292 1898 81.00 Omaha 81 50 .90 292 1898 81,00 Omaha mint 82-50 81.50 291 1898 50c Omaha .35 ■ 20 277 1895 82-00 blue 82.00 81.75 276 1895 81.00 black .50 .20 275 1895 50c orange .18 .09 240 1893 50e Columbian .50 .28 238 1893 15c Columbian .30 .16 228 1890 30c black .10 .05 189 1879 15c orange .20 .10 162 1873 12c vielet .50 .28 153 1870 24c purple 81.50 .75 13 5 1870 2c brown grilled .18 .10 121 1869 30c blue and carmine 83.00 81.50 100 1867 30c orange, 9x13 84.00 81.95 78 1862 24c lilac .60 .30 76 1862 5c brown .50 28 50 1857 10c green .50 .25 43 1857 3c rose, type I .25 .12 All Good Conditioned Copies Postage Extra. Want lists solicited from A. P. S Members WENDOVER NEEFUS, Established 1894. Hudson, N. Y. MEMBER A. P. S. THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 21 SCOTT STAMP & COIN CO. Established 1860 FIRST PUCE AMONG AMERICAN STAMP DEALERS Publishers of the Scott Stand- ard Catalogue, Postage Stamp Albums for all classes of collect- ors, and Philatelic Books of Ref- erence. An immense stock of United States and Foreign Post- age Stamps. Illustrated price list of publica- tions, packets, sets, etc., sent free on application. SCOTT STAMP & COIN CO. 127 Madison Ave., NEW YORK ti THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. WE ARE NOW SELLING The P. F. Bruner Collection (Cataloguing over $100,000.00) at PRIVATE SALE DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY To Fill Your Vacant Spaces SEND US YOUR LIST Nassau Stamp Co., Ltd. 231 Broadway, New York City United States Our Specialty We have a complete stock of United States Postage, Revenues, Departments, Dues, etc., and we solicit your want lists and or- ders. We are especially strong on issues 1890 to date in mint condition in a fine range of SHADES, uncatalogued varieties, and now is the time to fill in on them while they can be had reasonable. We also have a fine line of Blocks. Send us a trial want list. Price list of United States and Foreign Stamps and Sets Free on request, 1910 edition. It in- cludes many U. S. Shades. 2c Green paper, inverted head Washington, Scott's No. 2966, finest copies $2.25 each. U. S. 2c varieties 1890 to 1903. 16 var. classified, 35c. Sizes %x % Per Per 1000 5000 $0.05 $0.20 .10 .45 .15 .65 ECONOMIST HINGE THEBEST PEELABLE HINQE MADE ECONOMIST STAMP CO. 79 Nassau St., New York City THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 23 When in Chicago visit FRED MICHAEL & BRO. 72 Dearborn St. Chicago's only store devoted to stamps and coins exclusively. Can we send you some on approval. "BEST BY TEST" The International Stamp Co. 18 WEST LONG STREET, COLUMBUS, OHIO. ALL FIVE DIRECTORS A. P. S. MEMBERS. Results Count Book No. 467, Value $38.36, Sold $34.53. Book No. 199, Value $ 9.25, Sold $ 8.72. Book No. 126, Value $ 6.98, Sold $ 6.20. Book No. 23, Value $ 4.82, Sold $ 3 64. Book No. 204, Value $ 3.37, Sold $ 2 23. Book No. 27, Value $58.53, Sold $43.05. These Books were all circulated in Mutual Stamp Exchange to A. P. S. Members, and the above re= suits were obtained. Why don't you use this Exchange? It is for A. P. S. Hembers only, so send in for rules, or better still, send 25 cents for 6 blank books. C. I. GREENE, box 142. LEOMINSTER, MASS. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 3 9088 00822 7647