[Ill.u.s.tration: STAMPS]

This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.

Plate-number collecting is booming. The newest development is the issue of priced catalogues of the 1894 varieties, both with and without water-marks. As yet no one has ventured to price any of the earlier issues, but the demand for them is already greater than the supply.

A number of correspondents ask how many stamps are taken from each sheet in plate collecting. Usually three, and care must be taken that the stamps are not torn apart and that the margin is kept attached. The usual form of imprint on the sheets of the present issue is the following:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bureau, Engraving & Printing. 149]

Some collectors keep the imprints from top, bottom, left, and right sides, but most are content with one only. Plate No. 89 is the rarest of all so far.

The Pittsburg Library has set apart an alcove for philatelic literature.

The other American libraries will probably soon be obliged to do the same.

F. SCHOENTHALER.--The U.S. silver dollar of 1800 is worth $2. The trade dollar is worth bullion value only.

F. M. L.--The 1845 dime is worth 20c.

H. J. LEAKE.--Confederate bills are very common, and I therefore advise their collection, as it is comparatively easy to get a very large number by the expenditure of little money, and they are very interesting to all Americans. The dimes of 1829 and 1823 are sold by dealers at 25 cents each. Your half-dollar is worth face only.

Mexican coins are worth their weight in silver only.

GEORGE FRANCE, JUN.--The 5-cent U.S. Internal Revenue is the ordinary kind, of which many millions were used. It is sold by dealers at 2 cents.

C. E. A.--I cannot undertake to look over a large lot of common stamps when a little study on your part would enable you to fairly understand them yourself. It would not be fair to you. One of the great merits in stamp-collecting is that it trains the eye as well as the mind.

S. HALL.--I cannot advise you about joining the A.P.A. Personally I am not a member.

PHILATUS.

A GOOD CHILD

is usually healthy, and both conditions are developed by use of proper food. The Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk is the best infant's food; so easily prepared that improper feeding is inexcusable and unnecessary.--[_Adv._]

ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nTS.

Say, Boys!

We have been telling you about the

"Rugby" Watches

for some time.

=If you have not sent for the "Rugby" Catalogue, you are pretty late. It is your misfortune.=

Turn over a new leaf and send at once. You will have your eyes opened when you see the beautiful designs on the cases. The catalogue tells all about them.

The Waterbury Watch Co., Waterbury, Conn.

Arnold

Constable & Co

Children's Wear.

Corsets, Ladies' Silk Skirts, Ladies' Underwear, Children's School Dresses, Misses' Coats and Dresses, Children's Coats and Jackets, Ladies' Wrappers and Tea Gowns, Children's Frocks for Dancing-school.

Broadway & 19th st.

NEW YORK.

Postage Stamps, &c.

=1000= Mixed Foreign Postage Stamps, including Fiji Islands, Samoa, Hawaii, Hong Kong, for 34c. in stamps; 10 varieties U. S. Columbian stamps, 25c.; entire unused 5c. and 10c. Columbian Envelopes, 25c. the pair. Only a limited number were issued by U. S. Government. E. F.

GAMBS, Box 2631, San Francisco, Cal. Established, 1872.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

=STAMPS!= =300= fine mixed Victoria. Cape of G. H., India, j.a.pan, etc., with fine Stamp Alb.u.m, only =10c.= New 80-p. Price-list =free=. _Agents wanted_ at =50%= commission. STANDARD STAMP CO., 4 Nicholson Place, St.

Louis, Mo. Old U. S. and Confederate Stamps bought.