252

NEWNES' PICTORIAL KNOWLEDGE

demand for Air Mail Stamps of all kinds,
as representing the newest method of
mail transport. Such stamps would be
a particularly' interesting subject for
specialising, and offer good chances
of getting together a really valuable
collection.

How to Collect.

Ninety-nine out of a hundred collec-
tors have to start their collections with
stamps bought in packets from dealers.
It is wise to trade only with good firms,
which may be relied on not to foist any
rubbish on to the purchaser.

The price of a packet increases out

of proportion to the number of different
varieties in it. Thus, one of 1,000
kinds will cost much more than ten
times the price -of a loo-kind packet.
To avoid duplication, it is better to
save money till a large packet can be
bought, rather than to buy a series of
small, cheap packets.

After some experience with
" general " packets, the collector may
proceed to geographical packets, each
containing so many stamps of one
continent or country only. There will
be some duplication of specimens, no
doubt, but this will give him the chance
of replacing imperfect specimens in his

COUNTRIES OR STATES WHICH NO LONGER ISSUE STAMPS
i. Bremen, 1861, 5 s.gr. 2. Modena, 1859, 20 cents. 3. Sicily, 1859, I gramo. 4 Brunswick,
l853» t s.gr. 5. Nova Scotia, 1863, 5 cents. 6. Saxony, 1863, 3 n.gr. 7. Parma, 1857, 40 cents.
8. New Brunswick, 1860, 5 cents. 9. Shanghai, 1867, 60 cash. 10. Western Australia, 1861, id.
ii. Heligoland, 1875, i pfennig. 12. Ltibeck, 1859, 2 schilling.