M.A., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. WITH SIXTEEN FULL-PAGE PLATES CONTAINING 163 SPECIMEN STAMPS IN BLACK AND WHITE A. & C. BLACK, LTD. 4, 5 & 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W. 1915 OTHER VOLUMES IN THE PEEPS SERIES PEEPS AT MANY LANDS AND CITIES 57 Vols. PEEPS AT NATURE 12 Vols. PEEPS AT HISTORY 9 Vols. PEEPS AT GREAT RAILWAYS 5 Vols. PEEPS AT MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 14 Vols. Heraldry; The Heavens; British Army; Royal Navy, etc. Published by A. & C. Black, Ltd. 4, 5 & 6 Soho Square, Lo

Every boy and girl—and, we might add, man and woman—should collect stamps. Our reasons for making this statement are many. First, stamp-collecting is a highly fascinating pursuit, which helps to while away countless pleasant hours. On this score alone it is worth following. Secondly, it encourages methodical habits. We examine our stamps carefully, we discriminate between the good and the bad specimens, we keep a watch for minor varieties, we marshal our treasures in correct order, and so on. Th

PHILATELIC TERMS EXPLAINED Adhesive. —A stamp which is kept in position by moistening the gummed under-surface. Most stamps are adhesives. Postcards, envelopes, and wrappers which have the stamp printed on them, are not adhesives. Block. —A number of stamps not torn apart. A strip of stamps and a number of stamps forming an odd shape are, however, not considered as blocks. Chalk-Surface. —A surface given to stamps by means of a preparation of chalk, in order that obliterations may not be cleaned

HOW TO FORM A STAMP COLLECTION Most philatelists drift into stamp-collecting—that is to say, the start is made unconsciously, and without any definite planning. Probably the first specimens are obtained through the generosity of a friend who possesses a few duplicates, or may be the letters coming regularly from a relative living in some remote part of the world supply the earliest treasures. But however the beginning is made, progress will be slow unless friends are very generous or a little mo

SPECIALIZING As a rule it takes but a few months for the young collector to discover that he much prefers the stamps of one particular country, or group of countries, to any of the others figuring in his album. When such a preference manifests itself, it is a good plan to specialize in the favoured country or group. By this we do not mean to say that the general collection should be discontinued, or even neglected, but merely that special attention be given to the stamps which have made the grea

THE STAMPS OF GREAT BRITAIN So far these talks have dealt almost entirely with ways and means of stamp-collecting, but now our attention must be centred on the stamps themselves. We naturally turn to the issues of Great Britain, the first specimen to be considered being the "penny black," bearing a portrait in profile of Victoria the Good. Not only was this stamp the first to be issued within our kingdom, but it was also the pioneer stamp, of the whole world. It is thus one of the most interesti

STAMPS WORTH FORTUNES What a curious thing it is that some stamps—mere scraps of paper—cost over a sovereign apiece to buy! It is still more wonderful, however, that quite a number sell for over £100 each, whilst a select few command prices running into four figures. Probably the reader will never possess any of the more costly rarities, and as likely as not he will never see copies of them, unless he has access to the Tapling or other public collections; but, none the less, it is interesting fo

COMMON STAMPS Probably the twelve commonest stamps which have ever been issued are the following: 1. Great Britain, Queen, 1d. lilac, 1881. 2. Great Britain, King Edward, 1d. scarlet, 1902. 3. Germany, 1880, 10 pfennig (without the final "e") rose. 4. Germany, 1889, 10 pfennig rose. 5. Austria, 5 kr., Francis Joseph, 1857, red. 6. Austria, 5 kr. rose, 1883, double-headed eagle. 7. Austria, 5 kr., Francis Joseph, 1890, red. 8. Belgium, 10 c., Leopold II., 1885, rose. 9. Belgium, 5 c., arms, 1893,

STAMPS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Most stamps as they repose in their rows on the pages of the album look very sober, matter-of-fact, little squares of paper. Some appear travel-stained, others are in the pink of condition, but all have undergone an experience—we are speaking of the used copies—which, could it be related, would make reading matter of a highly interesting nature. One specimen which lies in the album did duty, say, in the backwoods of the United States; another carried a letter across th

FORGED STAMPS Stamps are forged for two purposes, first to cheat philatelists, and second to cheat the postal authorities. The former kind of trade is fairly lucrative, but in England, at any rate, the production of fictitious stamps for postal uses seldom enjoys more than a short-lived success. The forger hardly ever takes up his abode in the Home Country, for the pains and penalties awaiting him, when apprehended, are severe. He far prefers a Continental existence, where he can work his printi

PIONEERS OF POSTAGE In a previous chapter we spoke of the penny black of 1840 as the first postage label to be given to the world. The reader must not suppose from this remark that the appearance of the stamp coincided with the commencement of an organized postal system in Great Britain. Such a thing as a post was known to exist in this country as far back as the year 1609, but not until some thirty years later were its operations extended to the public in general. Across the sea, in France, the

COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS In recent times it has become fashionable, in certain countries, to celebrate national events by means of special issues of stamps. The idea is a very acceptable one so long as it is not abused. Unfortunately, however, we must say that many countries do abuse this interesting way of commemorating their historic achievements. The consolidation of an empire, the discovery of a continent, the centenary of a great victory, are all matters of history which we are glad to see reco

INTERESTING PICTURE STAMPS That the picture stamps reposing in our collections are highly instructive as well as interesting needs little argument. We can sit in an armchair and learn the geography of half the world by means of the stamps bearing maps; we may wander, mentally, as far as the Antipodes, thanks to the stamps bearing views; we may learn about the birds of the air and the beasts of the forests from the stamps bearing animals. Matters of architecture, heraldry, local customs, mytholog

STAMPS AND HISTORY What a wealth of history is recalled by a glance through the pages of our stamp albums! The romantic changes which France has undergone, the efforts made by Germany for securing a wider empire, the ups and downs of Spain, the gradual growth of Italy, and a hundred other indications of progress and decay are all reflected therein. Let us take, first of all, the case of Germany. In the earliest years we find stamps issued by a multitude of little States— i.e. , Baden, Bavaria, B

WAR STAMPS Among the most interesting stamps which figure in our collections are those which owe their origin to the stern necessities of war. Stamps which fall into this division are of two main classes: those needed for the use of troops fighting outside their own territory, and those called into being by the subjugation of the enemy's country. The Great War of Europe, as the conflict of 1914-15 has been called, has naturally provided many additions to the list of war stamps. 1. Germany has ov