Book Review

Their coin department was being closed out and two auctions were going to be held on January 1st. and April 1st.1896 to dispose of any left overs.
You could order any stamp listed at the cat. price and approval service was available.
They announce that they are prepared to examine stamps for collectors as to genuineness, etc. on the following terms: $2.00 for each 100 stamps, the minimum fee being 25 cents for twelve stamps and under. The stamps should be mounted on sheets with sufficient space for their marking an opinion on each. They are also prepared to examine collections for forgeries at the rate of $1.00 for each one thousand stamps. The minimum fee to be $1.00.
Available are large photographs of rare stamps for 50 cents each.
The following are images of the Standard (US) album for sale and prices.
(Bound in full cloth for $1.50) with the album bound in Half Morocco, Library style, full gilt, on 200 lb. linen paper, 150 leaves for $15.00.
Among other catalogs etc,. offered are: An advance catalogue, the American Journal of Philately, autotype plates of stamps, a catalogue of Envelopes, wrappers and sheets, a list of the US envelopes etc., a catalogue of Mexico, US revenues, gummed paper (hinges), electrotypes of stamps, a de-oxideser for "restoring permanently the original color of discolored stamps", philatelic maps, surcharge measures, perforation gauge, millimetre scale, and tongs (ten cents).
Besides the above they offered US and foreign stamp packets. The complete mint set of columbus issue for $28.00 (today over $6,100.00) (but not all listed in their catalog!) 1,500 different foreign stamps for $25.00 post free no less. 150 diff. stamps of Mexico that that contains the "rare" stamps for $15.00. etc.
The catalog numbers are different then presently assigned and continue throughout. IE: The first two general issues, the five cent Franklin and ten cent Washington were cat. numbers 26 and 27. Your cost was $5.00 and $15.00 for mint copies. Listed in their 2005 catalog prices are $6,500.00 and $30,000.00.
The Columbian issues are only listed up to the ten cent values. They list a five cent Chocolate at ten cents your cost and also a five cent Slate Brown? at $15.00.
Including in the US listings are Wrappers, Letter Sheets that are not now listed.
In many of the foreign country listings are listed Wrappers, Letter sheets, Postal cards, and Envelopes that are not now. (helpful in identifying these items now if you run across any if you have one of these of old catalogs.)
Images are included for the Provisional issues in the United States section. There are no images of any of the General issues. Images start again for Telegraph, Local stamps. None for Revenue stamps, start again for Confederate states both Provisional and General issues. Images are included for all Foreign sections.

This page viewed 1683 times since April 9, 2005

RETURN TO HOMEPAGE