t proclaiming it begins by quoting from the
McKinley law, by which it is authorized, and recites that we, having
agreed to let in free of duty sugar, coffee, molasses, and hides from
Brazil, are entitled to send to Brazil, and have admitted to that
country free of duty, a long line of products of the United States.

"At the bottom of the third page--proclamations, unlike laws, are
written on both sides of the paper--is the Great Seal of the United
States, and near this seal is the signature of President Harrison,
preceded by the words, 'By the President.' At the left, and just beneath
the great seal, is the signature of the Secretary of State, James G.
Blaine.

"Mr. Blaine's writing, like Mr. Cleveland's, was small, regular, and
easily mistaken for a feminine one. His signature to this reciprocity
proclamation is so small and effeminate that it does not seem to stand
for the stalwart man who wrote it. Even less does President Cleveland's
womanlike signature hint the giant in stature that he is."

[Illustration: 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.

[Illustration: Perforation sizes are determined by the number of holes
contained in the space between the two vertical white lines.]

Last week we printed an illustration of the different kinds of
perforations. This week we illustrate the scale of regular perforations.
If you will look at your U. S. stamps of the 1857 issue you will see
that the scale is "perforated 15." The Baden stamps of 1864 are
"perforated 10." To find the scale take the stamp and lay it face
downward on the scale, and when the perforations on the stamp correspond
exactly to those on the scale you have the required scale of
perforations. Take the common 2c. of the current U. S. issue, lay it on
the line of dots marked 12 on the scale, and you will find it just fits.
By moving the stamp just one-half the distance between two dots, and
placing the stamp just a little below the row of white dots, you will
get a series of black circles, the top of which is made by the row of
white dots on the scale, and the bottom by the row of perforations on
the stamp. This is a very important matter, as a stamp perforated 12-1/2
may be very common and cost little, while the same stamp perforated 15