Mr. Brisbane is far "too good of an editor," to rashly criticize a popular pastime without first getting impressions from some friends who were players. So "How come?" The truth is that a collection of books has little informative value except for people who read them. The same is

true of a stamp collection.

The stamp collector who learns from his stamps is not "playing paper soldiers." He is gathering and questioning the eye witnesses of history.

What more informative pastime can anyone suggest?

"The Rivadavia Stamps of the Argentine Republic, by W. J. Cochrane, and their Obliterations, by H. A. Spowart."

We seldom review philatelic publications, because we find that very few of our readers are interested in such articles, also we lack space. But when a work is devoted to an important subject or to a practically new and unexplored field we feel that it deserves our attention. The book before us is a case in point.

The opening chapter refers briefly to the early issues, the reasons for desiring a change, the preliminary negotiations for the Rivadavia stamps, and the delivery of the plates, press, perforating machine, etc., etc. Then follow chapters about the paper, watermark, inks, plates and re-entries, essays, proofs, reprints, forgeries, etc. All these subjects have been carefully studied and are well presented. The specialist and even the ordinary collector who desires to know more than is needed to place the stamps in a printed album, will find the most interest in the chapters which describe the various printings of the stamps. Chapters VI to XII are devoted to the nine printings of the 5 centavos stamps. The various colors are very carefully described and reasons given for the order in which they are arranged. The changes in the inks, variations in impression, wear of the plates, re-entries, etc., are fully set forth. A collector who has a fair quantity of the stamps to work with can probably allocate most of them to their proper printings by carefully following these chapters. Chapters XIII and XIV are devoted to the five printings of the 10 centavos and chapter XV to the five printings of the 15 centavos. With all three values much care is taken in describing the imperforate

In

stamps, a very important feature. the first printing of each value some stamps are intentionally issued imperforate, because stamps were urgently needed and the workmen had not yet become adept in handling the perforating machine. In the later printings the imperforate were more or less accidental.

The concluding section of the work is given to a well illustrated article describing the obliterations used on the Rivadavia stamps. And so much attention is now paid to postal markings, this part will be welcomed by many collectors.

The ten photographic plates which accompany the work add greatly to its interest and enable the reader to follow the changes and varieties as they are described by the author and in a more satisfactory way than would be possible with an unaided verbal description.

Vol. 4. No. 4

HUGH M. CLARK, Manager

Issue No. 40

T

HE collections of six American philatelists won three grand gold, six gold and three silver medals and the writings of an American were awarded one gold medal at the International Stamp Exhibition in London, May 14—26.

The news of these Yankee successes were first received in this country in a cablegram to Scott's from John N. Luff, editor of the Journal, who was one of the Exhibition's official judges of the stamps and books entered in competition. The information contained in Mr. Luff's message was of general public interest outside of the realm of philately and was made the basis of a news story which The Associated Press sent forward on its wires to daily papers throughout the United States and Canada.

The story possessed a genuine news value because of the national prominence, not in philately alone, of several of the Americans whose collections won high honors in international competition.

The Yankee stamp owners who scored at London are:

Ackerman, Ernest R. One gold medal. Mr. Ackerman is a Representative in Congress from New Jersey and was chief sponsor, in the House, of the bill recently enacted at Washington permitting illustrating of United States stamps in a limited way. Hind, Arthur. Two grand gold medals and two gold medals. Mr. Hind is a wealthy textile manufacturer of Utica, N. Y., and has been absorbing some of the world rarities which were part of the Ferrari collection in Europe and of the Duveen collection in the United States. Kleman, John. One silver medal. Mr. Kleman is a New York stamp dealer. Knapp, Edward, New York. One gold medal and one silver medal.

Lichtenstein, Alfred F. Two gold medals. Mr. Lichtenstein is a New York importer.

Pack, Charles Lathrop. One grand gold medal and one gold medal and one silver medal. Mr. Pack is president of the American Forestry Association and is internationally known in forestry conservation effort.

The stamps and books which were awarded these honors are briefly: GRAND GOLD MEDAL CLASS

I. Mr. Pack's collection of Victoria stamps. This includes hundreds of varieties of the first issues with the full and three-quarters portraits of Queen Victoria, the stamps filling nine volumes.

2. Mr. Hind's collection of United States issues. Many of these he purchased from the wonderful collection of the late Henry J. Duveen, of New York, international art dealer and authority.

3. Mr. Hind's collection of world rarities. These include the famous British Guiana Ic red of 1856-one of the Ferrari adhesives which came from Paris to America after Mr. Hind had paid approximately $32,000 for it at auction.

GOLD MEDAL CLASS

4. Mr. Hind's collection of the stamps of Mauritius, probably the finest of its kind in existence.

5. Mr. Hind's collection of the stamps of Spain.

6. Mr. Lichtenstein's collection of Swiss stamps. This includes copies of all of the rare Cantonal issues and splendid copies of the rare double Geneva. Mr. Lichtenstein has specialized in Swiss adhesives for many years and his collection is estimated to be worth at least $100,000.

7. Mr. Lichtenstein's collection of Canadian and New Brunswick stamps.

8. Mr. Ackerman's collection of United States stamps. This includes his incomparable copies of the 5c and 10c of the first American issue, 1847.

9. Mr. Pack's monograph of the history of the stamps of Victoria. This book was published some weeks ago for private distribution.

IO. Mr. Knapp's collection of Confederate stamps.

SILVER MEDAL CLASS

II. Mr. Kleman's collection of the stamps of Greece.

12. Mr. Pack's collection of the stamps of Uruguay.

13. Mr. Knapp's plating of the New Orleans 5c.

Other American collectors placed stamps at the Exhibition, some in competition for prizes and others for display purposes only. These include former United States Senator Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, who sponsored the U. S. illustration bill in the Senate; Dr. William Carroll Chase, president of the American Philatelic Society; Mr. Luff, whose collection of Shanghai stamps, said to be the finest of its kind, was not entered in competition; and Captain Arthur Newton Pack. Also the United States Government had an exhibit, which will be described later on.

One Exhibition incident of special interest to Americans involved a "swap" between His Majesty King George of England, specialist in the stamps of Great Britain and colonies, and Mr. Hind of Utica. This trade between royalty and democracy excited the news instinct of American newspaper correspondents abroad and the New York Sun brought in a copyright despatch by cable and the New York Times brought in a copyright despatch by wireless. According to these stories the following conversation took place:

King George (pointing to a British colonial stamp which His Majesty had bid for at one of the Ferrari auctions and which Hr. Hind had obtained): "Too bad you were outbidding me for that stamp."

Mr. Hind: "I had no idea, Your Majesty, that you were a bidder. I request that you accept the stamp as a gift."

King George: "Certainly not! But I'll tell you what I'll do. I have a stamp you'd like.

We'll swap."

So "swap" they did, according to the newspaper correspondents.

It will be interesting to learn just which stamp His Majesty coveted and which stamp Mr. Hind received in exchange.

Britain's ruler showed his sportmanship by refusing to accept Mr. Hind's generous proffer of the rare stamp. The King evinced keen interest in the activities of the Exhibition throughout, and invited a number of leading philatelists to Buckingham Palace to inspect his own collection.

The value of all the stamps shown at London is variously estimated to be from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. As an indication of how rare some of the adhesives are, it may be stated that Mr. Hind's stamps alone are insured for $1,000,000.

Warren Irving Glover, Third Assistant Postmaster General, officially represented the United States Government. When he sailed from New York he took with him the Post Office Department's first exhibit ever shown at a philatelic exposition. It was not entered in competition.

"When the Department received an invitation from London to send over a set of its stamps," Mr. Glover told reporters when he boarded the steamship Homeric on his departure, "Postmaster General New considered it of such significance in the recognition of the Government's interest in philately that he immediately cabled an acceptance.

"It may be interesting to know that a special request was made to show one of the famous error airplane stamps, the first 24-cent issue with the inverted center, and a die proof of that rarity has been included. Very few of these stamps got out and they are now valued at more than $1,000 apiece."

The U. S. exhibit was shown to President Harding a few days before it left Washington and he called it an exhibit worthy of a great country. In order to assure its safe arrival in London it was stored in the specie room of the Homeric on the voyage.

More than 1,200 stamps comprise the exhibit, which is in the nature of a large frame the central feature of which is the American shield. At the top, in an ornamental frame is an engraved portrait of President Harding. At the bottom is a portrait of Postmaster General New and under this is the gold seal of the Post Office Department with blue ribbon streamers. On the four corners are engravings of the White House, the Post Office De

partment building, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing structure and the City Post Office building in Washington.

The background is composed of the new IOC yellow Monroe stamp. The other stamps forming the design are inlaid. The national colors in the shield are made by using the ordinary 2c stamps of the recently retired issue for the red stripes, the new 5c Roosevelt for the blue stripes, and paper for the white stripes. The wreath surrounding the shield is comprised of a double row of stamps-the new indigo 14c with the Indian head and the new IIc light blue with portrait of President Hayes.

Within the circle, in an ornamental panel is the entire new U. S. issue. Surrounding the shield is the familiar spread eagle with transparent rays shooting forth. In panels on either side above the shield are the commemorative Ic, 2c, 5c and 10c of the Panama-Pacific issue of 1912-15, the Ic, 2c and 5c of the Pilgrim Tercentenary series of 1920, and the 3c Victory stamp of 1919. Below the wreath are specimens of the 24c, 16c and 6c airpost issue of 1918, in

cluding the die proof of the inverted centered 24c error. A border of lathe and ornamental work reproduced from U. S. notes and bonds complete the exhibit.

Mr. Glover took with him a gift from Postmaster General New to Sir William Joynson Hicks, the British Postmaster General-a beautifully engraved leatherbound album with proof, on India paper, of all denominations of the new U. S. series.

At the Exhibition, held in the Royal Horticultural Hall, Mr. Glover was America's representative at the dinner of the Junion Philatelic Society, which had organized the affair. Other guests included Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, novelist; Sir William Berry; and Sir Bertram Mackennel, sculptor, who is the designer of the current stamps and coins of Great Britain.

Mr. Glover took advantage of his visit to London to confer with the British Postmaster General regarding the proposed increased weight in parcel post packages from 5 pounds 6 ounces to II pounds.

*83

66

Cat. No.

14 1859

1c rose

.80

.40 .30

.15 .10 6c yellow brown. .25 .18 .12 .08

1882-902c black

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