may be a very rare and a very valuable stamp. All U.S. stamps since 1861
are perforated. One of the chief merits of stamp-collecting is that it
strengthens the powers of observation in so many different directions.

Copies of the "Bismarck celebration postal-card" are now on sale with
the dealers. There are a number of varieties, some printed in tint,
others in three or four colors. It has not been established whether
these cards were good for postage without any stamp being affixed or
not.

The orange special delivery stamp will probably be the most valuable of
this class, as it was in circulation a short time only. Some of the
previous issues can still be had at the smaller post-offices.

It is rumored that the $1 black of the current issue will soon be
printed in another color. Collectors should secure it now.

The eight-cent current issue it is said will soon be issued with the
"white line" triangles.

MELBOURNE S. MAYER.--The stamp you have is probably one of the
first lot printed under the present contract. Most collectors
consider it a distinct variety.

AMY LINCOLN.--You probably have the 3c. rose of 1861. The pink is
very rare, and of a peculiar shade on a bluish ground.

HENRY L. WATSON.--The Tuscany stamps are worth 30c. for the one
crazie, 12c. for the two crazie, 15c. for the six crazie. The San
Marino stamps are worth 25c. and 50c. respectively. If used on the
original envelope probably twice as much.

GARDNER B. WEEKS.--Postal-cards are collected entire only. Cut
copes have no value.

E. G.--I have never seen the 3c. embossed stamp mentioned by you.
Probably it is blurred in printing. The German stamp is a local,
the Italian a revenue.

J. S. GREEN.--There are two kinds of 10c. Confederate blue which
are very common. Stamp dealers sell them at 10c. and 25c.
respectively.

A. GRANT.--As the date cannot be seen on the coin it has no value
for collection purposes.

J. G. W.--There is no 25c. Columbian. The stamp you mention is
twenty-five centavos Venezuela, which looks just like the
Columbian issues.

LAWRENCE.--Blood's Despatch, gold, is worth from $2 to $3 if on
the original letter. Bouton's Rough and Ready is quoted from $5 to
$25 if on original envelope. Boyd's have been reprinted and
affixed to old letters so much that genuine copies have suffered
in