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The ninepence is wanting at present, but will doubtless soon be issued. When this appears the whole series on the watermarked paper will be completed.

It would leave the matter incomplete if we passed by, unnoticed, the

ENVELOPES.

These are of three values, and four in number, viz., two sixpenny, one ninepenny, and one shilling. They are embossed with a device, head of Queen Victoria to left, and each value varies in design. The earliest were issued in 1862-3.

Sixpence.

One shilling.

The head of the Queen is placed in a circle, surrounded by an octagon, the whole again surrounded by a circle. Impression in reddish purple. Head of the Queen in an oval. Impression in yellow. Both these envelopes are of large foolscap size, the paper thin and of a bluish tint, such as is ordinarily used for foreign postage. Neither are very common; the shilling, uncut and entire, is rare, and fetches a high price: a copy recently made 75 francs in Paris, but this we think outrageously dear. The shilling envelope is no longer in use; none have been printed since 1863.

To our

thinking the die of this envelope was never properly perfected, and if an impression be compared against the present sixpence, the superior execution and effect of the latter will be apparent. No doubt the thinness of the paper has somewhat to do with the imperfect result.

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EXPLODED ERRORS.

THERE comes a period in every pursuit when it is permissible to halt for a moment-to 'rest and be thankful,' in fact, and note the difficulties which have been overcome, and the progress which has been made. It may be some encouragement to new collectors, and must certainly be a pleasing employment for older ones, to take a retrospective glance at, what an able writer recently termed, 'the dark ages of stamp collecting.' It is now

more than three years ago since this magazine began its existence. At that time little effort had been made, in this country at least, towards a systematic study of stamps. Continental amateurs were somewhat more advanced in their knowledge of these interesting productions. M. Moens' Illustrated Guide Manual was already published, and the excellent engravings it contained were of great service: his journal appeared about the same date as ours. In England Dr. Gray's Handbook was in circulation, and also Mount Brown's Catalogue, which assisted so much in giving permanency to the movement. But in those days, when 'philately' was still termed 'timbromania,' how many stamps were believed in, which have since proved mythical; how much misunderstanding existed upon points which are now clearly settled!

Those were the times when 'Ocean Postage' labels were freely bought or exchanged, and collectors inquired for the mysterious Cayenne essay, which has never yet been forthcoming. The Utah stamp was then sought for, and a place of honour given to all the Hamburg local sets. Now-a-days collectors are more chary in admitting them, and the merest tyro would not place the Berlin express stamps, which there was then a ready sale for, on his Prussian page. character of the Irish petty sessions stamp is now well ascertained, but at that time English philatelists believed, against all reason, that these judicial labels were, in some remarkable way, connected with the prepayment of letter postage.

The

Amongst the hundreds of Sydney stamps which have since been imported, there have been plenty with the motto plainly visible,

but clean specimens were unattainable when Dr. Gray, with some hesitation, suggested in the first number of the S. C. M. that it should be read sic fortis Etruria crevit, and not as a foreign author had it, sic fortis curia (or et rudis) crevit. We now know that the United States inland revenue 'express' stamps were to be fixed to every receipt or acknowledgement given for any package or box forwarded by any of the American express forwarding companies, but in the early numbers of the S. C. M. their employment was a 'moot point.' It was also at one time a general opinion that the New York post-office (bighead) stamps were locals, but it seems now pretty clear that they were an early government issue. As the late lamented Mr. Lesley justly observed, 'It seems scarcely probable that any private individual would venture on so bold a proceeding, as to usurp directly the name of a government office. It is still more unlikely that private individuals could issue stamps which should pass unchallenged through the government mails and be considered as the evidence of prepayment. Of the latter fact, so far as it applies to the New York stamps in question, I can vouch from my own knowledge;' and on this point his evidence is confirmed by Mr. Pemberton, who states, in a letter in the correspondence of the last number, that he has taken postmarked specimens of these stamps from letters received from the United States so long since as 1843. On the entire question of the date of issue of the United States stamps, the stamp-collecting public was in error through Mount Brown giving it as 1857, instead of 1847.

Even ou points connected with the emissions of English stamps, English collectors were long in the dark. It is but a few months since that Mr. Pearson Hill (than whom no one has better means of knowing) plainly stated that the embossed sixpenny and shilling without date, and the tenpenny were never placed upon envelopes. The same gentleman has also, by omitting any mention of the black twopenny, removed all ground for belief in it. Stamps of this value in black were originally blue, and their change of colour is doubtless due to some atmospheric or other external agency. We have

seen specimens in which one half of the groundwork had become black and the other remained blue, and we have been shown penny stamps in a similar state of change. Some of them were on letters postmarked with the date 1862, and the unaltered portions were still of a brilliant colour. Of the same class are the blue 5 c. New Brunswick, 12 c. Canada, and 10 c. United States, which are now generally considered to be metamorphosed green ones, but which at one time were thought to be very valuable.

Envelopes for France and for Norway were eagerly expected in the early days to which we have alluded. It was even said that they were already prepared, but still they come '-not; though it is once more stated on reliable authority' that 1867 will witness the emission of a series for the former country. The halfpenny Newfoundland, and the two values formed by dissecting the Vancouver's Island twopence halfpenny, were errors into which our continental friends fell, but we shared their bel ́ef in the 4 and 5 pesos blue of Buenos Ayres, which M. Moens ultimately proved to be unfounded. The researches of French amateurs have also disproved the existence of a 50 c. French stamp, though now and then discoveries still occur of poor fabrications of this unissued value, and even of the bonbon labels which once puzzled many a thoughtful collector. The phantom of a tenpenny Van Diemen's Land long haunted foreign amateurs, but the emphatic denials of the colonial officials have, we trust, finally laid it; and at the same time a satisfactory history of the unique existing specimen has been given. Amongst the few questions which all effort has been vain to settle, that of the actual locality of the so-called Dutch Guiana stamp is the principal, but we are encouraged to hope that this will be ultimately ascertained. The position even of a given country-Livonia-was once unknown, but, as may be supposed, did not long remain

So.

And now collectors must apply themselves to discover in what part of Switzerland 'Rigi' or 'Kaltbad' is situated, for postal guides and gazetteers afford no information concerning a place which has arrived at the dignity of having a postage stamp of its own.

The exploded fallacies to which we have alluded, are but samples selected almost at random from a much larger number. That they no longer receive credence is due to the careful manner in which every asserted fact connected with stamps has been tested. This persevering study has also brought to light many interesting particulars previously unknown, and has settled one important circumstance concerning the emissions of many countries, namely, the date of their issue.

[Pendant to this interesting communication we may make a few pertinent remarks. In allusion to the Illustrations of Mons. Moens, above mentioned, we would recommend all philatelists to provide themselves with a copy, especially as it can now be procured at a reduced price. We have possessed specimens of what has been named the Cayenne essay for several years; it is described in last year's January number. Essays for French envelopes were printed off by M. Barre three years since. We have seen them in a few Parisian collections, but they are exceedingly rare, for even the copious albums of Dr. Magnus, mentioned in our last number, do not contain a single individual. The Iceland and Garibaldi stamps, both of which fetched high prices, may be added to the list of impostors. There can be no doubt of the whereabouts of the well-known Rigi mountain one of the sights of Switzerland; and a cold-bath establishment exists there. The stamp figured in our May number turns out to be simply an advertisement thereof; and the floral emblem depicted thereon is the Azalea Alpina, or rose of the Alps.-ED.]

THE SOCIÉTÉ PHILATÉLIQUE. COLLECTORS were informed some months since of the establishment of a Philatelic Society in Paris. The details of its creation have not, however, hitherto been given. The following abridged extract from Le Timbrophile will therefore, we doubt not, prove interesting.

'In the month of January last (1865) the principal amateurs of Paris being desirous of uniting together for the study of stamps, M. Bécourt obligingly offered his saloon to his confrères. At the meeting which was held a number of persons attended, and a letter was addressed to all the known collectors in Paris inviting their assistance in this reunion. Those present united themselves into a permanent society, and resolved to meet on the second Thursday in each month. M. de S., member of the Institute, was unanimously appointed honorary president, and that gentleman accepted the appointment, promising

to attend as often as his numerous engagements would permit; M. H., was with equal unanimity appointed (working) president, and M. R., secretary. A committee was also nominated to prepare the rules of the society. At the next meeting the rules were proposed and accepted with little discussion. The society further resolved that it would set about the arrangement of a catalogue of all known stamps, and another of essays. At the meeting in June, several of the members gave in papers stating the results of their studies on the subject. In view of the small number then present, however, the society decided to postpone the preparation of the catalogue, but hoped, relying on the zeal and activity of its associates and the able direction of its president, to bring the work to a successful conclusion.

"Thus France has had the honour of constituting the first society of postage-stamp amateurs, whose earliest occupation is to draw up a reliable catalogue of stamps and essays. It is their desire that all the philatelists of France and of the world unite with them, either by forming local societies affiliated to that of Paris, or by the individual adhesion of every collector.'

The society whose formation was thus announced seems hardly to have answered the expectations of its founders. The journal from which the above account was quoted stated that it would publish a report of the meetings. In September, 1865, it announced, that owing to the absence of several of the members, the sittings had been suspended during August and September, but it is now April, and there is no further notice of the Society, which we fear therefore has proved a failure. If this is the case, it is much to be regretted; the effort was a worthy one, and had it been successful, must have resulted in great benefit to collectors. We are not without hope that a similar society on this side of the water might have a longer life.

NEWLY-ISSUED OR INEDITED
STAMPS.

THE announcements of forthcoming novelties, changes of hue, local accessions, &c., being sufficiently numerous to necessitate economy

of words, we will, without further preamble, produce our first engraving.

UNITED STATES.-It is that of a hitherto

unrepresented value for the United States. The cut sufficiently realizes the general appearance of the stamp, but the likeness is not so perfect as that of the original. It is possible the broken or unfinished pillars may be intended as typical of the late President Lincoln's untimely end. The impression is black, on unwatermarked

paper.

FRANCE. We have been favoured with a sight of some of the French envelopes offered for adoption, either of which, both for design and execution, are what the Scotch call a sight for sair een.' One was printed green on thin foreign paper, with crossbarred watermark. The impression is oval, centre bearing emperor's head crowned with laurel to left. An encompassing oval border has a shield bearing an eagle, surmounted by the imperial crown above, and ooc in scroll intended for value below. On the left side is EMPIRE FRANCAIS, and on the right TIMBREPOSTE. A similar stamp is impressed in bright-orange on excessively-thin tissue paper. Another, but very similar design, is on thicker paper.

The oval is rather wider,

has the same inscription at the sides, and value beneath, but the imperial crown is without supporting shield. This, as well as the profile of the emperor, is embossed in white on a bluish impression; but we understand the same pair of designs are repeated in a multiplicity of colours, and on various sorts of paper.

THURN & TAXIS, NORTH.A representation of the newly issued low-priced envelope, for what is termed North Germany in postal parlance, follows. The impression was described in our last month's number.

HAMBURG. In our enumeration of the 'names and colours' of the newly-issued envelopes of that city, the 7 sch. was erroneously described, from hearsay, as

magenta, in lieu of mauve, which ocular inspection proves it to be.

BRITISH HONDURAS.-We have just received a consignment of stamps from this country, and find the shilling to be light, not darkgreen. The sheets of paper on which they are printed are not only unwatermarked but destitute of any inscription denoting value or country, which is sometimes printed, sometimes watermarked, round the margin; these simply bear the coloured cross so frequently seen. The penny stamps are in two blocks of sixty each, making one hundred and twenty in all; but the sixpenny and shilling occupy the same sheet, one half of which is assigned to each colour.

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PREUSSEN

30

PRUSSIA. The second fac-simile is that of one of the elaborately-designed pair of stamps chronicled at page 57 of the present volume. It will be seen that the bordering is filled in with shields bearing the Prussian eagle, and the central groundwork with no fewer than fortytwo minute repetitions of the value in words. This stamp and its fellow are said to be purposed for other official monetary transactions besides that of registering letters.

SILB.CR

sgr.

BREMEN.-Le Timbre-Poste says the 5 of this city are now bright yellow-green; that SPAIN has changed the hues of its 2c., 4 c., and 12 c., which are respectively brightrose, bright-blue, and yellow; that

ITALY will emit a new 20 centesimi, on the 1st July, that its 40 c. is now violet-rose; that

PORTUGAL, for the same day, is preparing a new series, values 5, 10, 80 and 120 reis, the first of which will be black, and the last blue; and that

BELGIUM launches its new 1 centime on the 1st of June.

NEW ZEALAND.-The rose-coloured fourpenny of this colony has enjoyed but a short reign, being now superseded by one of a vivid yellow, same hue as the Swan River twopenny, and St. Lucia fourpenny.

ROME. If report be true that a decimal coinage is about to be substituted for the current coinage of the Roman States, we may anticipate the supercession of the ex

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UNITED STATES LOCAL, circular, with very rough black xylographed impression on greenish paper. The device is a pigeon, with letter attached to its wing, flying to the right over mountains. This is encompassed by an inscription, OVERTON & CO., LETTER EXPRESS. We understand it was a Philadelphian.

BARBADOS.In the November number for last year (page 171), 'from information received,' we notified the change of the fourpenny of this island, no value marked, from rosy to brick-red. It seems now to have reverted to its original tint; those we have just received being precisely as before, but the six penny is a vivid brick-red.

VICTORIA.-A correspondent informs us that the tenpenny stamp of this country has changed its dingy-green for brownish-red.

SCOTCH LOCAL.-We are indebted to the attention of several correspondents for specimens of various individuals of the now overwhelming genus of railway and other local emanations, both Scotch and English, of which one of the former is here represented, which sufficiently tells its own tale, except that it exists both

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perforated and otherwise, that the colour is red-brown, lithographed on white; and that it is accompanied by a yellow twopenny.

ENGLISH RAILWAY LOCALS.-The North Eastern Railway affords us an ugly set, printed black on poor paper and perforated. The groundwork, 24 inches by 12 inches, is formed by waved diagonal lines with a narrow border; a scroll above bears the name, and another below the words PREPAID NEWSPAPER PARCEL. Three shields meet at their bases, and bearing, we conclude, the amalgamated armorial bearings of the represented counties or companies, occupy the centre, on which is the figure of weight, not value; in the specimen before us this is a 3 followed by the LB., and preceded by the figures 502075. Our informant gives the additional representatives of 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 LBS., respectively.

CONFEDERATE LOCALS.-Having enjoyed the privilege of inspecting a choice private collection, containing several specimens of peculiar rarity, which we had never before met with, or even heard of, we give a description of a triad of individuals. The first is a small square; double-lined border with corners slightly rounded; black, type-printed, on light-green; inscription, POST OFFICE, FIVE CENTS, MACON, GA. A second is an upright rectangle; an ornamental pattern formed of printers' bordering, same device as that of the so-called dotted ovals of blue provisional British Guianas, combined in various ways, forms the groundwork of the stamp, which is printed red on white; inscription, PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, POST-OFFICE, 5 W. E. BASS, P. M. The third specimen is a

A second stranger, unintroduced in our list given last month, is as large as the preceding, but not perforated, and has the corners cut off by curves. Green lattice-work makes the ground, which has a narrow white border dotted with the same colour, and a white circle in the centre, obscurely figured with armorial insignia, the figure 2 and a small D in an undescribable frame, and surmounted by a griffin. MIDLAND RAILWAY above, LOCAL

PREPAID PARCEL ON CORN OR COAL BUSINESS

below, printed green; and on the left side a

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