Ο

NE of the classic rarities has recently been attacked and its very existence (at least as a genuine variety) has been questioned. Mr. W. B. Haworth, in his recently published work on the stamps of Chile says:

"What are usually considered to be the two rarest stamps to be found among the issues of Chile are the 10c. watermarked 20 in error, and the same value printed on some of the paper with the old narrow watermark of the 1853 stamps. I am myself more than sceptical about these so-called errors. It is, of course, just conceivable that Messrs. Perkins Bacon might make a mistake and use a sheet of the paper watermarked 20 while printing the 10c. stamps, but in a well-managed business house like that of the printers it is highly improbable.”

While Mr. Haworth does not state in so many words that he has never seen the 10c. stamp with the watermark "20," I infer that he has not. Had he ever seen a copy of the error, I think he would have found its appearance very convincing of its genuineness.

In the Postage Stamp, for May, 1920, we find an article describing wonderful displays of Chilean stamps by Mr. T. W. Hall, before the Junior Philatelic Society, and by Mr. G. H. Dannatt, before the Herts Philatelic Society; also reviewing Mr. Haworth's book. From this we quote:

"Mr. Haworth is frankly sceptical of the authenticity of any error of the 10c. of 1862 watermarked '20'; copies have appeared in the auctions described as the error many years ago, but neither Mr. Hall nor Mr. Dannatt possesses or has seen a copy, and while Mr. Dannatt is prepared to believe in its likely existence as a genuine error, Mr. Haworth is inclined to the view that the thing is bogus altogether."

It is surprising to learn that specialists of the standing of Messrs. Hall and Dannatt, both of whom have gathered and

studied the stamps of Chile for many years, have never even seen the stamp with the error watermark. It must indeed be a rarity of the first rank.

There are very few references to this stamp in philatelic literature and it may be of interest to reproduce a couple of them. Mr. E. D. Bacon, writing about early Chilean stamps in the London Philatelist for 1902, says on page 138:

"There is a curious error known of the ten centavos of this issue which is printed on the watermarked paper of the twenty centavos value. This variety was first chronicled in L'Union Postale Universelle for July, 1893, and is apparently very rare. The only specimen I have been able to examine is one that was included in Messrs, Puttick and Simpson's auction sale of stamps held on May 10th, 1899. From a note I made at the time, I find the stamp in question was used, the colour a deep bright blue, and the watermark '20' was reversed and inverted; that is, the stamp was printed on the wrong side of the paper, and in addition had the watermark inverted. As will be seen later on, no ten centavos stamps were printed in Chili after the arrival of the London supply of 1860, when paper watermarked '20' was also sent out for the first time, so the error must have been made by Messrs. Perkins Bacon and Co.'s workmen, and it is the only instance I can call to mind in which an error of watermark of this kind was made by the firm." I would ask the reader's attention to Mr. Bacon's description of the watermark as "reversed and inverted," a feature to which I shall refer later.

In Gibbons Stamp Weekly for February 12th, 1910, Mr. C. J. Phillips, in one · of his letters describing a South American trip, says: "I had the pleasure of inspecting the finest collection of Chilian stamps in Chili, and I may say in the world." Among items of special importance in the collection he notes: "10c., deep blue, error wmk. '20,' two fine specimens." And he adds: "This is one of

the finest and best-studied collections I have seen, and curiously enough it has been formed by a foreign gentleman, who has resided in Chili for less than twentythree years."

Though Mr. Phillips does not mention the name of the owner of this Chilean collection, there can be little doubt it was the property of Baron Welczeck, who was at that time the German Chargé d'Affaires in Chile. About ten years ago that gentleman visited New York and I had the pleasure of making his acquaintance. He had with him his wonderful Chilean collection and, for the first time I saw the stamps of the 185365 issues arranged according to the various printings, which I found most interesting and instructive. I took such stamps of these issues as I had and could obtain at the time and, with the kind assistance of Baron Welczeck, arranged a small reference collection, to which I have subsequently made some additions. In the Welczeck collection I also first saw the ten centavos with the "20" watermark. I was struck by the peculiar position of this watermark, which was reversed and inverted, as described in Mr. Bacon's article. It seemed a matter deserving careful notice, since, in all probability, only one sheet of the 10c. had been printed on this paper and, therefore, all copies of the error should have the watermark in the same position. I made a tracing of the watermark, notes of the shade of the stamp, the cancellation, etc. I believe I still have these memoranda somewhere, though I cannot locate them at the moment.

Some years later I was offered a copy of the stamp with the error watermark and, having satisfied myself by comparison with my memoranda that it was genuine, I purchased it. It has the shade of the last London printing, to which it should belong, and it also bears the cancellation of the period. In Mr. Bacon's article in the London Philatelist, he states that at the end of September, 1860, Messrs. Perkins, Bacon and Co. sent to Chile 1, 10 and 20 centavos

stamps, the plates for those values, watermarked paper, 200 brass cancelling dies, etc. These dies had the word "CANCELLED" with four straight bars above and below and a single curved line at each end. This is the cancellation on my stamp.

Mr. A. Lichtenstein of this city has recently acquired a copy of the stamp with the error watermark from the Rodriguez collection. It has the reversed and inverted watermark, the shade and the cancellation that it should have.

Whatever may have been the number of copies of the error stamp originally printed, there can be no doubt that nearly all of them have disappeared. Apparently even the great Tapling collection does not contain a copy or prominent English philatelists would not say they have never seen the stamp. At this writing I have record of only six copies, the two mentioned by Mr. Bacon, the two in the Welczeck collection, Mr. Lichtenstein's copy and my own. There is even a possibility that some of these six may be the same copy reported on different occasions. Quite probably others exist but it is certain there are not many of them.

We cannot blame anyone for doubting the existence of this error stamp, when specialists who have sought it for years have not even been able to see a copy. Nevertheless, it exists and I think has only to be seen to be accepted.

T

HE gradual elimination of the perfection stamp from the markets of the world, the absorption of the stamp in faultless condition by the purist, has finally resulted in a condition of affairs which tends toward elimination of the collector of modest means, should he hope to maintain his collection in up-to-date issues, at the same time garnering those of the older and perhaps more favorite stamps of yester-year.

The collector who has arrived at the parting of the ways has already taken pause. Perhaps he has reached the decision that his shall be stamps of the twentieth century, or mayhap those of the nineteenth century issues appeal, or perchance he is divided between two opinions and knows not which way to turn.

It is to this collector and to him of the older school, the man of maturer years, to whom I would address my viewpoint. He will best understand and he will forgive the personal note.

I have been a collector of the bits of paper for forty-five years, "off and on." I have had collections which passed and collections which in part have abided with me. Regretfully as I say it, my last and best collection passed from me several years ago. It was rich in the issues of the United States, British North America and British colonials. The condition of the stamps was, in the main, perfection.

Recently the latent love for stamps was fanned into life, and I again opened correspondence with friendly dealers and collectors. I learned, much to my surprise, that perfection copies of the stamps of the United States were practically unattainable, that nearly every rarity in the dealers' hands was held at prices beyond the means of any but the wealthiest of purists, and that the best I could hope for was average condition in the stamps I desired. Happily for me, I solved the problem in my own way: damaged stamps should be mine! I am

no collector for future profit. I love my stamps, and I collect them for the sole reason that I love them. I have some stamps in perfect condition, but they are of the commoner varieties. These are lightly cancelled, perfectly centered, and most desirable in every way. But they are of the later issues, as a rule. In the early issues of United States, mine are what Charles Lamb termed his books, "crippled darlings." Some have a piece gone, some are hopelessly thinned, others are rubbed or torn. With these I am content. Cannot I study them and love them? Do they not mean as much, nay, more to me than stamps in perfect condition? These are the discards of the elect. Why should I not gather them into my album and treasure them in the heart of me? Mine, then, shall be the joy, mine the perfect collection of nondescripts and discards and altogether lovable bits the purist would destroy.

The day has passed when all want lists can be filled. The hour has arrived when the collector feels compelled to say: "That blank cannot be filled. I have searched long and I have failed.” But, perhaps, somewhere there may be the very stamp he seeks, though its condition cannot win him. That is the stamp he may find amongst my beloved bits of paper.

The dealer who supplies us with our space-fillers is beginning to find that even these rejected ones have value. A friendly purveyor wrote me only the other day that stamps, unless too badly damaged to be totally hopeless, were certain to have a market value, as he has had requests for stamps in the condition designated. Perhaps the leaven is beginning its work.

Of course, I do not wholly commend the collecting of damaged stamps to those whose sense of the beauty of the bits of paper would be injured by this species of the desired "item.” Some

of us must care for perfection and some of us should not be offended at the absence of it. So long as the inevitable law of supply and demand rules the

world, so long must the collector who strives for perfection feel impelled to let down the bars and allow the crippled brother, now and then, to pass through.

J

UDGE C. E. WRIGHT, of Washington, D. C., recently called my attention to some marked differences in paper in the current postage stamps of Brazil, Scott's Nos. 200 to 211 inclusive. Broadly these paper differences may be described as a thin, soft, almost pelure paper, without watermark; a medium thick soft paper, watermarked "CASA DA MOEDA," repeated throughout the sheet, so placed that some portion of the watermark appears on each stamp; and a medium thick soft paper, without watermark, this last varying somewhat in thickness. The first of these papers to be used was the thin, soft, almost pelure paper, without watermark, and the denominations appearing thereon are as follows:

10 reis chestnut, (December 6, 1918). 20 reis slate, (April 30, 1918). 25 reis olive drab, (May 15, 1919). 50 reis green, (December 6, 1918). 100 reis rose, (April 30, 1918). 300 reis red orange, (April 30, 1918). 500 reis violet, (April 30, 1918).

All denominations on this paper are invariably perforated 122, and were distributed by the Universal Postal Union upon the dates given in brackets.

The medium thick soft paper, watermarked "CASA DA MOEDA," in single-line capitals, 161⁄2 mm. high by 10 mm. wide, appeared almost as early as the thin no watermark paper, as it was used for the first printings of the following denominations, distributed by the Universal Postal Union under date of December 6, 1918.

200 reis dull blue. 600 reis orange.

1000 reis blue.

2000 reis red brown.

5000 reis dull gray violet.

This paper is very coarsely woven and slightly yellowish, the 200 and 600 reis are invariably perforated 122, while the 1000, 2000 and 5000 reis, which are engraved, are perforated 111⁄2.

The first printings of the 50 reis green seem to have been divided between the above paper and the thin no watermark paper, as this denomination appears on both papers and invariably perforated 122.

Later the following denominations, which had first been printed upon the thin no watermark paper, appeared upon a medium thick, closely woven white paper, watermarked "CASA DA MOEDA" in single-line capitals, 15 mm. high by 8 mm. wide, and printed in slightly changed colors.

10 reis red brown.
20 reis violet slate.
25 reis gray olive.
50 reis blue green
100 reis rose red

300 reis deep orange.
500 reis violet.

These stamps are perforated either 121⁄2 or 13.

The last or current printings are on a medium thick paper, without watermark, varying slightly in thickness, and perforated either 121⁄2 or 13.

10 reis red brown. 20 reis violet slate 25 reis gray olive. 50 reis blue green. 100 reis red.

300 reis orange. 500 reis dull violet.

BERMUDA TERCENTENARY

F

URTHER INFORMATION is at hand regarding Bermuda's new series which was alluded to in this department last month. The purpose behind the issuing of this set may be judged by reading the inscriptions selected "Bermuda Commemoration Stamp" across the top in one line; and "Tercentenary of Establishment of Representative Institutions" at the foot in two lines. Bi-colored and to appear in September, these labels are of denomi

ornate label, having the device of the Russian Imperial Eagle on a shield charged with a Greek Cross, has been issued for postal and fiscal purposes. The stamp is of denomination of 50 kopecs, and is stated to be in brown, on orange, but we have not yet seen a copy."

Confirmation of this rumor would mean another illustration of the popular -and true phrase: "Philately Follows the Flag."

In the Argentine

pence and 1 shilling. "The design," we read in the London Times, "has two oval vignettes in the center, of which the one on the left contains the head of King George V, and that on the right the good ship Sea Venture, in which Sir George Somers was wrecked on the islands in 1609. Between the two panels is a large crown."

The Times article makes no mention of any part of the design showing a sword, the symbol of the Legislative Speaker's authority in 1620, or a gavel, the modern symbol. In this department last month we printed a quotation from the Bermuda Colonist and Daily News announcing that sword and gavel would be worked into the design. Perhaps the stamps will arrive before our October issue goes to press and we can state something definitely on this weighty question.

A Wrangel Stamp? ALMOST simultaneously with

the

recognition by France of the South Russian provisional government of General Wrangel, anti-Bolshevist, we read the following in Stamp Collecting, a British weekly:

"It is rumored that, in connection with General Wrangel's Provisional Government of the Crimea, a large and

story of its history with postage stamps as the medium. In June was celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the death of General Manuel Belgrano, a leader in the rebellion against Spanish rule early in the Nineteenth Century and who also designed the Argentine flag. On a number of Argentine stamps in the past this warrior's portrait has been shown. Now, in a series circulated in June and intended for use within Argentina only, we find Mausoleum of Manuel Belgrano shown on the 2 centavos, Baptism of the Argentine flag by General Belgrano on the banks of the Parana River on the 5c., and the General's picture on the 12c. The two higher values are bi-colored.