Stamp Collecting As A Pastime - free ebook by Edward J. (Edward James) Nankivell

EDWARD J. NANKIVELL

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PREFACE

any people are at a loss to understand the fascination that surrounds the pursuit of stamp collecting. They are surprised at the clannishness of stamp collectors, and their lifelong devotion to their hobby. They are thunderstruck at the enormous prices paid for rare stamps, and at the fortunes that are spent and made in stamp collecting. The following pages will afford a peep behind the scenes, and explain how it is that, after nearly half a century of existence, stamp collecting has never been

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I. As a Pastime.

ccording to the authorities, the central idea of a pastime is "that it is so positively agreeable that it lets time slip by unnoticed; as, to turn work into pastime." And recreation is described as "that sort of play or agreeable occupation which refreshes the tired person, making him as good as new." Stamp collectors may fairly claim that their hobby serves the double purpose of a pastime and a recreation. As a pastime, it certainly makes time pass most agreeably; for the true student of the po

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II. The Charm of Stamp Collecting.

is Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in a letter to a correspondent, referring to stamp collecting, wrote: "It is one of the greatest pleasures of my life"; and the testimony of the Prince of Wales is the testimony of thousands who have taken up this engrossing hobby. The pursuit of a hobby is very often a question of expense. Many interesting lines of collecting are practically closed to all but the wealthy. But stamp collecting is open to all, for the expenditure may in its case be limited a

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III. Its Permanence.

ver since the collection of postage stamps was first started it has been sneered at as a passing craze, and it has been going to die a natural death for the past forty years. But it is not dead yet. Indeed, it is very much more alive than it has ever been. Still the sneerers sneer on, and the false prophets continue to prophesy its certain end. To the unsympathetic, the ignoramus, the lethargic, the brainless, everything that savours of enthusiasm is a craze. The politician who throws himself he

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IV. Its Internationality.

herever you go you find the stamp collector in evidence. The hobby has its devotees in every civilised country. Its hold is, in fact, international. In Dresden there is a society with over two thousand members upon its books; in out-of-the-way countries like Finland there are ardent collectors and flourishing philatelic societies. The Prince of Siam has been an enthusiastic collector for many years, and even in Korea there are followers of the hobby. Australia numbers its collectors by the thous

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V. Its Geographical Interest.

few years ago many heads of colleges prohibited stamp collecting amongst their boys. They found they were carrying it too far, and were being made the easy prey of a certain class of rapacious dealers. Now the pendulum is swinging in a more rational direction, and many masters themselves having become enthusiastic collectors, judiciously encourage the boys under their care to collect and study stamps as interesting aids to their general studies. They watch over their collecting, and protect th

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VI. Its Historical Finger Posts.

hen considered from the historical point of view, postage stamps attain their highest level of educational value. They are finger posts to most of the great events that have made the history of nations during the last fifty years. Here are a few out of many examples which might be quoted. The introduction of adhesive stamps for the prepayment of postage found France a Republic. A provisional government had just been established on the ruins of the monarchy which had been swept out of existence i

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VII. Stamps with a History.

here are numbers of stamps that have an interesting history of their own. They mark some official experiment, some curious blunder or accident, some little conceit, some historical event, or some crude and early efforts at stamp production. What is known as the V.R. Penny black, English stamp, is said to have been designed as an experiment in providing a special stamp for official use, its official character being denoted by the initials V.R. in the upper corners; but the proposal was dropped, a

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VIII. Great Rarities.

f the many stamps that are set apart, for one cause or another, from the ordinary run, as having a history of their own, those that by the common consent of collector and dealer are ranked as great rarities are the most fruitful source of astonishment to the non-collector. They are the gems of the most costly collections, the possession of the few, and the envy of the multitude. In a round dozen that will fetch over £100 apiece there are not more than one or two that can lay any claim to be cons

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IX. The Romance of Stamp Collecting.

he story of the development of stamp collecting, and of the trade that has sprung up with it, is full of romance. Our publishers' business, with its world-wide ramifications, was begun by young Gibbons putting a few sheets of stamps in his father's shop window. The father was a chemist, and it was intended that the lad should follow in his father's footsteps; but the stamps elbowed the drugs aside, and eventually yielded a fortune which enabled this pioneer of the stamp trade to retire and indul

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X. Philatelic Societies and their Work.

ost of the great cities of Europe, the British Colonies, and the United States have their Philatelic Societies. They are associations of stamp collectors for the study of postage stamps, their history, engraving, and printing; the detection and prevention of forgeries and frauds; the preparation and publication of papers and works bearing upon postal issues; the display and exhibition of stamps, and the exchange of duplicates. The premier society is the Philatelic Society of London, which was fo

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XI. The Literature of Stamps.

ew hobbies, if any, can boast of such a varied and extensive literature as stamp collecting. Expensive works have been published on the postal issues of most countries. They have been published in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, and Swedish. Those published in English alone would make a library of some hundreds of volumes. From its foundation, in 1869, the Philatelic Society of London has set itself the task of studying and writing up the postal history of Great Britain

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XII. Stamps as Works of Art.

ome artists scout the idea of attempting anything that may be considered a work of art in the ridiculously limited space of a postage stamp. The restriction of a postage stamp when viewed alongside a canvas measuring several yards in length and height is probably hopeless enough. Nevertheless, many a stamp collector who is not devoid of art can find stamps which seem to him to be entitled to rank high even in the art world. In beauty of design, in the exquisite workmanship of the best modern ste

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XIII. Stamp Collecting as an Investment.

hen a stamp collector is charged with being extravagant, with spending money lavishly and foolishly on a mere hobby, he may very justifiably reply that even his most extravagant spendings may be regarded as an investment. The ordinary investor in, say, industrial securities is fairly content if he can, with a little risk, secure a steady six or seven per cent. If he launches out into more speculative shares, yielding higher rates of interest, he must be content to face a much greater risk of the

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XIV. What to Collect and How to Collect.

he questions, "What to collect?" and "How to collect?" are much more easily asked than answered. Each individual will differ in taste, in inclination, in method, in time at his disposal, and last, but not least, in the depth of his pocket. The most that can be done is to outline a general plan, founded upon general experience. Collectors are divided into two classes—the general collector and the specialist. The general collector takes everything that comes in his way, and knows no limitations, n

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XV. Great Collections.

reat collections of postage stamps, like great collections of pictures, in these days acquire an international rank and reputation. The great stamp collections of to-day are in a few hands, and have been built up by lavish wealth and lavish industry. Wealth alone will not suffice to gather together a really great philatelic collection. There must be patient research, and there can be no research apart from that full knowledge which comes only to the industrious and painstaking Philatelist. The g

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Stanley Gibbons, Ltd.

CAPITAL, £75,000. ESTABLISHED 1856. The above-mentioned high rewards gained by the Firm have been awarded for the perfect condition and completeness of Stamp Collections, and for general excellence in Stamp Albums, Catalogues, and Handbooks....

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Rare Stamps

Bought, Sold, or Exchanged....

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STANLEY GIBBONS,

New Announcements . ANNUAL SALE OVER THIRTY THOUSAND PACKETS. NOW READY, the following Popular Series of PACKETS OF FOREIGN POSTAGE STAMPS All the Stamps contained in the following Packets are warranted absolutely genuine, free from reprints. They are also in good condition and perfect. These Packets cannot be sent by book post to Postal Union Countries. The cost by letter rate is 2-1/2d. for every 100 Stamps. The amount required for postage can therefore be reckoned, and should be added when re

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Collections of Stamps.

NEW SHEETS OF STAMPS FOR BEGINNERS AND MEDIUM COLLECTORS. We have just been arranging our Approval Sheets of Stamps on an entirely new and much simpler plan than formerly. The Stamps are mounted on Sheets, containing an average of 100 Stamps per Sheet . They are all arranged in the order of our New Catalogue. First, Great Britain and the Colonies, then all Foreign Countries. These Sheets contain about 5,000 different Stamps , and a Sheet of any particular country will be sent on demand. The Shee

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Grand Collection Packets.

No. 64 CONTAINS 100 VARIETIES, Including used and unused. Price 6d.; post-free, 7d. No. 65 CONTAINS 250 DIFFERENT VARIETIES, Both used and unused Stamps, Envelopes ☐ and Post Cards ☐ and is well recommended as a capital start for a collector. Price 3/-; post-free, 3/1. No. 66, 500 VARIETIES, And is strongly recommended as the cheapest collection of 500 different Stamps ever offered—the Stamps could not be bought separately for three times the marvellously low price at which it is now offered. Th

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Grand New Variety Packets.

In order to meet the wishes of a great number of our customers, we have prepared a series of packets, as under, entirely different from one another, no stamp in any one packet being in any of the rest of the series; and the purchaser of the series of eight packets will have 1,305 extra good varieties, and no duplicates. These packets do NOT contain any Post Cards, cut Envelopes, Fiscals, or Reprints, and are well recommended as good value, and are only a small proportion of the Catalogue value o

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British Colonial Stamps.

NO DUPLICATES . Every Packet of this series contains different varieties, no Stamp being included in two Packets, and purchasers will by this novel method be saved the inconvenience of acquiring duplicates, which is as a rule the bane of most packet buying....

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European Stamps.

EVERY Packet in this series contains different varieties, no particular stamp being included in two Packets, and purchasers will by this method be saved the inconvenience of acquiring duplicates....

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THE 20th CENTURY PACKETS

ALL UNUSED, ENTIRE, AND GUARANTEED GENUINE ORIGINALS. NO DUPLICATES. Every Packet of this series contains different Envelopes, etc., no piece being included in two Packets, and purchasers will by this novel method be saved the inconvenience of acquiring duplicates, which is as a rule the bane of most packet buying. The prices of these new Packets are wonderfully cheap, as we are clearing off our stock of entires. These Packets cannot be sent by book post abroad. The average rate abroad by letter

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ENVELOPES.

Section II.—FOREIGN COUNTRIES. No. 610. —Contains 20 common varieties . Price 1/- ; post-free, 1/1 . No. 611. —Contains 21 scarcer varieties . Price 2/6 ; post-free, 2/7 . No. 612. —Contains 21 varieties , including Argentine, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, etc. Price 4/6 ; post-free, 4/7 . No. 613. —Contains 24 varieties , including Persia, Russia, Shanghai, Uruguay, etc. Price 6/6 ; post-free, 6/7 . No. 614. —Contains 41 scarce varieties of Argentine, Austria, Austrian Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Bo

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THE 20th CENTURY PACKETS

ALL UNUSED, ENTIRE, AND GUARANTEED GENUINE ORIGINALS. NO DUPLICATES. No. 650. —Contains 13 common varieties . Price 1/- ; post-free, 1/1 . No. 651. —Contains 13 common varieties , different from the last. Price 1/- ; post-free, 1/1 . No. 652. —Contains 16 common varieties , all different from those in the other packets. Price 1/3 ; post-free, 1/4 . No. 653. —Contains 24 scarce varieties of Cards , including Bangkok, Barbados, British Central Africa, etc. Price 4/6 ; post-free, 4/7 . No. 654. —

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The Improved Postage Stamp Album,

No. 0. THE BEST AND LARGEST SHILLING ALBUM EVER PUBLISHED. 176 large pages. Spaces for 4,700 Stamps. 48 extra pages added in this Edition without extra charge. This Album is now selling at the rate of over 1,000 copies a month . The demand for this Album has simply been phenomenal, and it gives universal satisfaction—not a single complaint has been received. The last Edition had nearly 20 extra pages added , and now another 48 pages have been added , and all the Geographical and Historical Notes

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THE Improved Postage Stamp Album.

Stamp Album FOURTEENTH EDITION . Greatly Enlarged and Re-written. Size of Page, 10 by 7-3/4 ins . One Hundred Stamps, all different, are presented with each Album sold . This new Edition is printed on a superior quality paper, especially made for it. The shape is oblong, and spaces are provided according to the different requirements of the various countries. A large number of guards have been provided so that the Album shall not bulge when full. The Album is divided into Continents, and the n

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NEW EDITION.

☛ 100 POSTAGE STAMPS, all genuine and different, and of a catalogue value of over 8/-, are presented with each STRAND ALBUM ....

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THE STRAND POSTAGE STAMP ALBUM.

Well arranged, reliable, and thoroughly correct . The book, which is printed on an unusually good quality paper, is bound in a new and specially designed cover. The shape is as illustrated, and the size a new and convenient one, viz. 9-1/2 in. by 7-1/2 inches. Sufficient guards have been inserted so that when the Album is full the covers shall be level with each other, and not bulged, as is often the case in imperfectly constructed books. Stamp Album Concise Geographical and other particulars wi

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Postage Stamps of the World.

This Album is produced in a very large edition at a cost of between £2,000 and £3,000, and will be found to fulfil a long-felt want for an Album in One Volume , of high-class style, and on thoroughly good and highly surfaced paper, well and strongly bound. The Century Album is printed on one side of the paper only, catalogue and illustrations on the left, and numbered spaces to correspond on the right-hand pages. All minor varieties of perforation, watermark, and type are omitted, and only such

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THE IMPERIAL ALBUM

( OPEN), SHOWING GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS. Stamp Album The Sale of these Albums averages over 6,500 per annum ....

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IMPERIAL ALBUM.

Since the publication of the previous edition of this Album, we have published the "Century" Album, designed for those who desire to collect in the simplest form, without regard to perforations or watermarks, and who desire a complete Album in one volume. In order, however, to further the wishes of those who collect on more elaborate methods, the present edition has been prepared and very considerably enlarged, and for all practical purposes runs parallel with our current Postage Stamp Catalogue

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IMPERIAL ALBUM.

NOW READY. NINTH EDITION, 1902. . Decorative Image 870 pages, measuring 8-3/4 x 11-1/2 inches. About 2,400 Illustrations. This Album is issued in FOUR qualities only of paper, binding, &amp;c. (No. 66 has been discontinued.) No. 65 .—On extra stout paper, bound in embossed cloth, gilt lettering, sprinkled edges. Marone-colour covers . Price without postage, 15/-; post-free in Great Britain, 16/-. No. 67 .—On extra stout paper, handsomely bound, extra gilt, bevelled boards, gilt edges, and pa

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The PHILATELIC ALBUMS A to E.

As described on page 20 . Stamp Album The "ORIEL" Albums are of a similar style, but more portable and in a superior binding. See page 21 . The leaves in this Album are retained in their places by an original and newly patented plan, entirely doing away with the unsightly screws hitherto necessary on the outside of books of this class. Pronounced by all who have seen it an ingenious and admirable arrangement, pre-eminently adapted for the purpose, and completely solving a difficulty experienced

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THE PHILATELIC ALBUM.

The most suitable Album published for Advanced Collectors. Several important improvements have been introduced into this New Edition, suggested by increased experience, and greatly enhancing the use of this Work. Especially produced in answer to numerous inquiries for a really permanent blank Album. It will be found suitable for the reception of the most extensive and complete collection possible. It is also adaptable for Post Cards, Revenue Stamps, or entire Envelopes. Collectors using Albums

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Postage Stamp Album.

This new album has been based on a special order from Mr. M. P. Castle , Vice-President of the Philatelic Society of London, to whom we have supplied 60 of these books, and to whom reference is kindly permitted. It has met with such an unusually favourable reception from those Collectors who have already used it that, on account of its general adaptability, it must undoubtedly quickly take a front rank in this class of publication. Amongst its numerous advantages, one especially may be named, an

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THE PHILATELIST'S COLLECTING BOOK.

FOR THE COAT POCKET. With Patent Fastening to Flap. Size, 6-1/2 by 4-1/4 inches. Handsomely bound in Art Cloth. Each book contains 12 pages, having four strips of linen, 3/4-inch wide, arranged horizontally, glued at the bottom edge and with the upper one open, for the safe retention and preservation of recent purchases or duplicates. A large pocket is also provided at the back for Envelopes or Stamps in bulk. In daily use by leading London Collectors. No. 17. —As illustrated. Price 2/6 ; post-f

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THE MONTHLY JOURNAL.

Edited by MAJOR E. B. EVANS. Published on the 1st of each month, and chiefly noted for:— 1st.— Verbatim Reports of all Law Cases of Interest to Philatelists. 2nd.— Earliest Information on New Issues. 3rd.— Largest Stamp Journal Published : recent numbers containing from 50 to 72 pages. 4th.— Quality of its Articles ; with Major Evans as Editor this can be taken for granted. 5th.— Entirely Original Articles by the leading Philatelic Writers of the day. SUBSCRIPTION—2/- per annum, or 5/- for three

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The Stamp King.

A PHILATELIC NOVEL. By Messrs. Beauregard and Gorsse. Translated from the French by Edith C. Phillips . The story commences at the New York Philatelic Club, and traces out in a most amusing manner the struggles of the two leading members to secure the rarest stamp in the world. The chase leads these collectors to London, Paris, and Naples, and ends, after many curious adventures, in New York. The Daily News says: "A delightful addition to modern books of adventure.... Incidentally, there is a ma

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The Stamp Collector.

By HARDY and BACON. This well-known and most interesting handbook was published in 1898 by Mr. George Redway in his Collector Series . On the failure of this publisher lately, we purchased the balance of the edition—about 1,200 copies—and are now able to offer the work at a great reduction on its original price. The chief contents are as follows: The Issue of Postage Stamps. Collecting—Its Origin and Development.—Stamps made for Collectors.—Art in Postage Stamps.—Stamps with Stories.—History in

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The “Philatelists' Vade Mecum.”

(SECURED BY LETTERS PATENT.) Is an entirely New and Original Invention for enabling Collectors to Mount Stamps without handling them, and is a multum in parvo of Philatelic requisites. It consists of a pair of broad-headed flat metal tongs, one of which is fitted with a solid wedge. The object of this is to permit the free end of a mount held by the tong to be bent over, moistened, applied to the back of the stamp, and pressed down, and the mount can then be released, the stamp lifted, the other

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Stamps and Stamp Collecting.

This Work is intended to fill a void which has hitherto existed in the Philatelist's Library. It will be found invaluable as a most useful and indeed a standard book to refer to in all cases of doubt or obscurity appertaining to Postage Stamps and their surroundings. The Collector is not infrequently perplexed by the various terms employed, and the fullest explanations are here given of such. Much interesting information is also included as to the various classes of and the manufacture of the pa

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A COLOUR DICTIONARY,

Specially prepared for Stamp Collectors by B. W. WARHURST. Useful for many businesses in which coloured articles are bought and sold, and to give a more definite idea of the colours represented by certain names in common use, which are very frequently misunderstood. SUITABLE FOR USE IN SCHOOLS. Printed in TEN differently coloured inks on as many different papers, and further explained by diagram and ILLUSTRATED IN FIFTY-EIGHT COLOURS . Price 2/6 in strong Paper Cover, 4/6 in Gilt Cloth; postage

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POCKET MAGNIFYING GLASSES.

After examining some scores of different sorts, we have been able to get one combining the greatest power with the largest field obtainable for pocket use. These glasses are mounted in handsome vulcanite frames, and are very compact. There are two lenses in each, which may be used singly, or if a very strong power is desired, may be combined. Price 7/6; post-free, 7/7; abroad, 8/4....

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SURCHARGE MEASURER.

Surcharge Measurer The accompanying illustration will give the best idea of what this is. It consists of a pair of needle-pointed spring compasses, capable, by means of an adjusting screw, of measuring with the greatest accuracy all surcharges up to 40 millimètres in length. In addition to the measure a millimètre gauge is obtained by running the head of the screw along a piece of paper, a series of lines exactly a millimètre apart being thus indented in the paper. For measuring surcharges on su

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Prepared Stamp Mounts.

Stamp Mounts For affixing Stamps in Collections neatly and expeditiously. Far superior to the old plan of gumming the Stamps, and inserting them so that it is only with great difficulty they can be withdrawn. These Mounts are made of a thin strong white paper, and are ready gummed. By their use, Stamps can be removed at any time without injuring them, or in any way disfiguring the Collection. They are invaluable to those who collect watermarks. They should be used on the hinge system; thus, Mois

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CARD CASES.

Each of the following New and Useful Specialities has separate compartments provided for Postage Stamps, consisting of strips of thin celluloid protecting the stamps, and enabling them to be seen at once, and arranged so that the stamps can be put in or withdrawn in an instant without damage....

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New Stamp Catalogue.

5,000 NEW AND ENLARGED ILLUSTRATIONS. POCKET SIZE, IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. contains all ADHESIVE STAMPS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE BRITISH COLONIES. New and Enlarged Edition. Price 2/-; post-free, 2/3. VOL. II. contains the POSTAGE STAMPS OF THE REST OF THE WORLD. Price 2/-; post-free, 2/3. Orange River Colony , Transvaal , and Mafeking Siege Stamps are transferred to Part I., being now English Colonies. Particular attention has—in both volumes—been given to the production of enlarged illustration

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REAL MARKET PRICES.

It is, above all things, highly important that Collectors and Dealers should know the exact and real market values of all Stamps. This Firm has taken the greatest pains to arrive at these prices, and the prices quoted in these Catalogues are those at which Stanley Gibbons will supply the Stamps if unsold at the time of the order. To facilitate business in all parts of the world, an Introduction, Details as to Approval Selections, Glossaries of Philatelic Terms , etc., are given in English, Frenc

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