4th. The clouds are represented by about 14 lines of different lengths.

5th. The G in SIGILLUM is a c.

NOTE. All these five points are seen in this forgery, but there are several varieties of the genuine which exhibit one or other of the first three.

PERU.

peso yellow.

There are two tolerably-well executed forgeries of this very rare stamp. From its rarity, it would appear as if the imitators had had no genuine specimen to copy from, and they have therefore fallen into an error which renders them easy of detection.

The best executed of the two has been copied from the wrong issue, and has laurel branches, instead of flags, at the sides of the shield. The other has the flags represented correctly, but on the two lower and larger the laurel branches are depicted with too much clearness; these, in the genuine, are rather indistinct, and appear almost like lines of shading; in this forgery, also, the two upper divisions of the shield, which, in the genuine, are occupied by the llama and tree, are filled by some objects, the nature of which it is impossible to determine.

The colour of both is rather a buff than a yellow.

1 peseta, rose and red.

These are very-well executed forgeries;

but the same error has been committed as in the first of the peso just mentioned, viz., laurel branches are represented at the sides, instead of flags, as found in the genuine stamps of this value.

PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

The whole set are forged, and better than the generality of such, although they will not bear comparison with the genuine. I should not have noticed these, but to correct an error into which Mr. Stourton has fallen in his description of them he says, "the ship is going the wrong way, i.e., to the left-in the genuine it sails to the right." Now, it is true it does sail to the right in the stamps of 1 oz. 2 rls., but in those of oz. 1 rl. it sails to the left. It follows, therefore, that although the 1 oz.

The only forgery of Russia (proper) that I have met with has been a very-badly executed lithograph of the 1 kop. yellow, 1864, bearing but little resemblance to the real stamp, and not likely to deceive anyone. Those of Finland, on the contrary, are very numerous; the older ones, having been repeatedly described, I pass over. The genuine stamps of the issue of 1866 are 5 pen., brown on lilac; 10 pen., black on buff; 20 pen., blue on blue; and 40 pen., carmine on rose paper. The stars in the four corners have all eight points; but in the forgeries they have only six or seven -none eight.

ST. LUCIA.

Red, blue, green, black, yellow, lilac. These are close imitations, and very superior to the other West Indian forgeries already noticed. The chief defects appear to be, that the shading of the face, which is composed of dots, is rather coarser than the genuine; the mouth and upper-lip are not

Amongst the many forgeries of the stamps of this country, the latest and best is the set of

1, 2, and 3 cuartos (bronze), Madrid.

These may be detected by observing the little lines which run down the centre of the leaves that compose the wreath on each side; these, in the genuine, are irregular, and have small side projections their whole length, some (especially at the two upper bunches) are broken up into dots; in the forgeries, these are all plain lines.

SPANISH POSSESSIONS.
CUBA.

1857.--1 rl. plata f., green.

In the genuine, the ends of the ribbon which tie the wreath are seen on the side of the neck; in the forgery, they appear to hang behind.

1863.-Head to left, rl. plata f., black. There is a coarse lithographic imitation of this stamp, a dull blue on buff; the value, 1 rl. plata f. This is a nonentity, and requires no further description.

SWITZERLAND.

The Swiss forgeries have been so fully exposed, that it would almost appear a work of supererogation to add anything; still there is one of which I have not as yet met with a good and satisfactory description: some, indeed, that I have seen would rather serve to point out the forgery as the genuine stamp. I allude to the 10 c. Port Cantonal double stamp of Geneva, probably the rarest of European stamps; there are several forgeries, but attention to the following

1st.-G in GENEVA, in the left-hand stamp, does not touch the top line, but does so in the right.

2nd. The letter L in LOCAL, in the left hand, is to the left of the division of the shield, and therefore comes under the division containing the half eagle; on the right, it is exactly under the line of division. 3rd. The L in LOCAL does not touch the bottom of the shield in either.

NOTE. The 5 c. small post local is much oftener met with, and this being formed from one half of the double stamp, it follows that the foregoing differences will be found amongst them, according as they may be from the right or left side.

LETTER FROM AN INFANT PRODIGY. THE following, purporting to be from a very promising sprig of the rising generation, just three weeks old, has been handed us, says the Orleans Republican, with assurance that it is genuine as well as good, which we do not presume to doubt. If anyone has a smarter baby, let it be exhibited.

Dear old Untle,
I dot oor letter;
My old Mammy
She ditten better,
She every day

Little bit stronger,
Don't mean to be sick-
Very much longer.
Daddy's so fat

Can't hardly stagger,
Mammy says he jinks
Too much lager!
Dear little Baby
Had a bad colic,
Had to take tree drops
Nassey paragolic;
Toot a dose of tatnip,

Felt worse than ever;
Shan't take no more
Tatnip-never!
Wind on somit,
Felt pooty bad;
Worse fit of sitness

Ever I had!
Ever had belly ate,
Ole Untle Bill?
Taint no fun now,
Say what you will.
I used to sleep all day
And cry all night;
Don't do so now,
Cause taint yight!

But I'm growing,
Getting pooty fat;
Gains most two pounds,
Only tink o' yat!!
Little femnin blankets
Was too big before,
Nurse can't pin me
In 'em no more.
Skirts so small,

Baby so stout,
Had to let the plaits

In 'em all out.

Got a head of hair

Jess as black as night,

And big boo eyes

Yat look mighty bright; My Mammy says, Never did see Any ozzer baby

Half as sweet as me.
Grandma comes often,
Aunt Sarah too;

Baby loves zem,
Baby loves '00-

Baby sends a pooty kiss
To his Uncles all,
Aunties and Cousins,
Big folks and small.

Can't yite no more,

So good-by,

Jolly ole Untle,

Wiz a glass eye!

LESLIE.

POSTAL CHIT-CHAT.

BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE POST.-It is nonsense to suppose that the postmen in the East Central district are over-worked. Their labours cannot be very difficult, for however many letters they have to deliver, they' always take them E.C.-Fun.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.-Until 1765, parcels and packages were conveyed by post, to the weight of which no limit was assigned. It was required, however, that they should not be above the value of ten pounds; from which it may be inferred that the office was held responsible for their safe delivery. By the 5th, George III., cap. 25, it was enacted, "that no packet exceeding the weight of four ounces should be carried by the pennypost, unless it had first passed, or was intended afterwards to pass, the general post.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY AND THE POST-OFFICE.-The Daily Express informs its readers that, on the Saturday and Monday preceding the 17th March, "large numbers of letter packages, containing shamrocks, and addressed to all parts of England and Scotland, for Irish relatives and friends to display, as emblems of nationality, and the patron saint of Ireland, on Patrick's day, passed through the Limerick post-office. For Manchester, some large and tastefully made up packages were transmitted, to be delivered to respectable parties. During the early part of the month, similar letters were sent, in large quantities, to America, containing the native shamrock imbedded in its own soil."

CAUGHT NAPPING.-M. Moens, the well-known vendor of" April fish," has himself been, to use the common but expressive term, "sold." He has gone to the expense of engraving a Birmingham manufacturer's trade label, which he gives in an article published last month on Italian essays, as one of the designs proposed in 1863; on what grounds it is hard to say. In the centre is a mer

maid; above, the name, JOSIAH MASON; below, TRADEMARK; and in the angles the letters, P. E. N. s.-mysterious letters, to the writer of the article perfectly unintelligible. He wonders why the strange device was offered, and we should share his surprise if we had the least reason to suppose had been offered at all. The outstanding balance to the credit of M. Moens' ingenuity on account of the Moresnet stamps is now quite cleared off. "FUN" ON STAMPS.-Stamps are very necessary in commercial matters, legal forms, &c., and some very trivial transactions require one: even a black-beetle should have a stamp. Many receipts and other matters are not recognised without a stamp; and some women and children recognise husband and father by his stamp.-When a man makes a will it must have a stamp; and some persons, when they can't have their will, get into a passion, and then they have a stamp.-There are persons who collect, for some curious purpose or other, used or worn stamps. Now, if these indefatigable collectors were to go to many of the cheap theatres they would assuredly find plenty of worn stamps on the gallery stairs.-Although a paid bill should be stamped when it is receipted, it is not necessary that an old cane chair should be stamped on when that is reseated.

CONVEYANCE OF MAILS.-The total sum spent in conveyance of mails by railway amounts to £405, 192; by road, to £102,000; and by private ships to and from places abroad, to £5400. The post-office packet service now costs £1,089,349; £96,653 of which is spent in contracts for the United Kingdom; £13,000 for Europe; £382,948 for America; £43,700 for Africa; and £541,331 for Asia and Australasia. The chief increase is on account of the lastnamed item; and the net increase, as compared with the previous year, amounts to £280,705. It should be remarked, that the estimated increase of extra receipts in the year ending March 31st, 1869, on account of the packet service, is calculated at £237,906; £108,700 of which will be paid by the Indian Government; £30,000 by the United States post-office, for conveying United. States' mails to this country in the packets of Messrs. Cunard & Co.; £25,316 by the Australian colonies; and £64,750 for a moiety of the subsidy for the mail-packet service between Point de Galle and Sydney, for which the Australian colonies are also responsible.-Times.

AN OCEAN POST-OFFICE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENT CENTURY.-Immediately after doubling Point Anne, you see, on a rock, a hundred feet high, a great post with a barrel suspended from the top. This barrel is the letter-box. The English sailors must needs go and write. up there, "post-office." What have they to do with it?. It is the ocean post-office. It isn't the property of that worthy gentleman, the King of England. The box is common to all. It belongs to every flag. Post-office: there's a crack-jaw word for you. It produces an effect on me as if the devil had suddenly offered me a cup of tea. I will tell you now how the postal arrangements are carried out. Every vessel which passes sends to the post a boat with despatches. A vessel coming from the Atlantic, for instance, sends there its letters for Europe; and a ship coming from the Pacific, its letters for New Zealand or California. The officer in command of the boat puts his packet into the barrel, and takes away any packet he finds there. You take charge of these letters, and the ship which comes after you takes charge of yours. As ships are always going to and fro, the continent whence you come is that to which I am going. I carry your letters; you carry mine. The barrel is made fast to the post with a chain. It has a good lid, with a hinge, but no padlock. You see a fellow can write to his friends this way. The letters come safely.-Toilers of the Sea, by VICTOR HUGO.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SO-CALLED "BRESLAU" STAMPS. To the Editor of "THE STAMP-COLLECTOR'S MAGAZINE." DEAR SIR,-I beg to warn stamp amateurs against the so-called Breslau express stamps. A few days'

residence in that town has led me to the conviction that these labels are fictitious. They never were in circulation; nor does the Prussian government allow private establishments to issue postage stamps. I have ascertained the place where they are manufactured, with the sole intention of speculating on the ignorance of foreign collectors, -nay, I have witnessed the operation.

Hoping this information will bring some good to English collectors,

I beg to remain, dear Sir, yours respectfully, Breslau. SILEŠIUS.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H. E. P., London.-Both the stamps you send are fiscals; the large one (green on buff') is an old Spanish; the other an old Prussian.

G. W. L.-Of your stamps, No. 1 is one of the provisional issue for the Straits Settlements; No. 2, Sardinian; No. 3, genuine Parma; No. 4, obsolete Finnish adhesive. H. F., Barnsbury.-The first stamp you describe is one of the series for Roumania, issued in 1866, and bearing the head of Prince Couza; the second is one of the current Belgian set.

T. J., Malta.-We think your French "Chiffre-taxe," No. 1, is lithographed, but No. 2 is the ordinary one in use. The green stamp is a well-known proof for the English sixpenny (first die), produced by De la Rue. The obliteration was a "cancelled" stamp, in lieu of "specimen," or an essay at obliteration: we do not know which. H. B. M., Ballymena.-We shall be happy to add your name to the list of subscribers, on receipt of four shillings" in stamps, being the amount of subscription for one year,. but cannot do so on the strength of any custom with which you may formerly have favoured our publishers.We shall also be obliged by your prepaying your letters. MARTIN B., Colchester, wishes to know what telegraph

EMPIRE

256

FRANCAIS

CUDINE

stamps are like, and whether they ought to be collected or not. For his information and that of other readers who may be curious as to the appearance of these labels which occupy a middle ground between postal and fiscal emissions, we give engravings of two which have been lately emitted. The first one came into use in the French 25 empire at the beginning of the present year, the other was

emitted for use in Switzerland somewhat earlier. The colour of the French is red; of the Swiss, grey.-As to our correspondent's second question-should they be collected? we must leave that to his taste; all we would say being that it seems unwise to place them side by side with postage stamps. They should have a separate album, or a separate place in an album, allotted for them.

+

250

THE STAMPS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

BY FENTONIA.

PERHAPS there are no recently-issued stamps more interesting, more varied, and demanding more careful thought and research as to the meaning of their devices, than the stamps of the Virgin Islands. No sooner had the

penny green and sixpenny pink appeared (which, except as regards background, are identical in design), than speculation became rife as to the signification of their common device.

The writer of the first description of them in this magazine (vol. v., page 9), ventures on an hypothesis that the parable of the ten wise and foolish virgins was intended to be symbolized by the twelve lamps, and though rather puzzled how to reduce the number 12 to a decimal, arrives at the somewhat arbitrary conclusion, that the solitary individual skipping along so blithely, must decidedly be a wise one. Six months later, information obtained from the postmaster at Tortola (see vol. v., page 121) completely explodes his theory. He states that "the Virgin Isles were discovered by Columbus on the Virgin's day (does he mean Lady-day, the 25th of March ?), and that he accordingly named them after the Virgin. The twelve lamps," he adds, "represent the twelve primitive Christian charities." Now what are these twelve primitive charities? The word "charities," as including a dozen attributes, is of itself ambiguous. I have heard of the three Christian graces-faith, hope, and charity, and I have heard of the Graces in mythology being called charities (erroneously of course, as the name should be spelt "Charites and the ch should be pronounced hard), but twelve charities or graces, if ever acknowledged in early symbolism, are certainly "things not generally known." The word primitive, as applied by the worthy postmaster, is also most unfortunately obscure. What can be the difference between primitive and mediæval or modern charities?

And

*[As the proposer of the hypothesis at which our contributor makes merry, we would just ask whether, assuming that the parabolic virgins were intended to be symbolised, a foolish one would be likely to be chosen for special representation ?--ED.]

why does the Virgin patronise only one of them, leaving the other eleven to float around her in the ambient air?

Again, on what authority is it stated that Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands on the "Virgin's day," whichever that may be? According to an old Spanish calendar, given in Husenbeth's Emblems of the Saints (1860), there are no less than fifteen days set apart

during the year for commemorating various

events in her life, from her "nativity" to her "desponsation" and "assumption;" but on referring to Washington Irving's Life of Columbus (no mean authority), it appears that not one of these commemorations occurred during the short cruise among the Caribee Islands, in which he discovered and named these islands. Besides, the Virgin Mary is never represented carrying a lamp of any sort, though she is certainly frequently found bearing a lily; but so also are a score of other saints and martyrs. Washington Irving says that Columbus, having sailed from Cadiz on Sept. 25, 1493, on his second November on an island, which he named voyage of discovery, landed on the 4th of Guadaloupe, in honour of a convent of that name in Estramadura; that he again weighed anchor on the 10th, and that, after passing and naming various small islands, he soon came in sight of a great cluster of islands, to the largest of which he gave the name of St. Ursula, and called the others the Eleven Thousand Virgins; and that he reached Hispaniola, or Hayti, on the 22nd of the same month; consequently the Virgin Islands must have been discovered early in November, when, according to Husenbeth, there was no day set apart in honour of the Virgin. Washington Irving gives these particulars on the authority of Peter Martyr, the contemporary, the correspondent, and the biographer of Columbus; therefore the origin of the name (hinted at, Stamp-Collector's Magazine, vol. v., p. 46) may be conthere is now an island named St. Ursula, sidered as indubitably settled. Whether seems doubtful, but as most of the islands discovered by Columbus have since changed names, probably St. Ursula has shared the same fate. For the benefit of juvenile readers, it may be as well to state here,