CHARL(S
P. O. BOX 1706, JOHANNESBURC
'L'HE SOU'l'H AFRICAN PHILATELIS'l'.
149
AN INTERESTINC UNCHRONICLED ERROR OF THEV.R.I. PRI NTi NC OF 1900.
In the July number of the " S.A. Philaielist " an article on this sub- ject appeared, written by Mr. Emil Tamsen. 1fu this article the author quoted correspondence between Mr. Duiven l}nd Mr. Leon de Raay, in which the first named gentleman was positive thai the stamps were genuine and gave his reasons. Mr. de Raay, however, considered them forgeries.
In connection with these stamps, Mr. A. F. Johnstone has been good enough to shew us a letter received by· him from the Expert Committee of the Stamp Trade Protection Association. This letter reads : -
" We notice &n article in the July number of the "South African, Phila-telist," referring to what is dei,cribed as an interesting unchronicled error of the V.R.I. printing of 1900, on O.F.S. stamps, viz., the 3d. on 4d., Type 1.
"The Expert Committee of the S.T.P.A., and notably their sub- Committee, Messrs. Houtzamer and Pemberton, have made a close study of the V.R.I. overprints and errors, including the above variety, of which they have seen a li:rge block. They have no hesitation in stating thai this so-called error of the 3d. on 4d., Type 1, is. a forgery, and that the history given of its acquisition is worthy of the late Louis de Rougemont.
" They warn collectors in South Africa that many of the varieties mid errors of the V.R.I., both O.R.C. and Transvaal, which were not known at, or shortly after, the date of issue, but which have been put on the market in recent years, are also forgeries.
" The Expert Committee, who have gathered together a great quantity of material, are willing to expertise theses tamps at reasonable rates, also the overprints of Swazieland, and the va-rious Transvaal errors and varieties of surcharges, including the 1 PENNY on 6d. of 1879, ~nd they will be pleased to quote terms to any South African collector who desires this done.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) WM: HADLOW (Plumridge & Co.), W. HOUTZAMER,
F. H. OLIVER (Bright & Son),
P. L. PEMBERTON (Sefi, Pemberton & Co.), A. J. SEFI (Sefi, Pemberton & Co.),
Expert Committee, Stamp Trade Protection Association."
THINK THIS OVER!
The man who does not advertise may know what he hiis for sale-but no one else does !
E. B E U T H I N
EXPERT IN RARE STAMPS.
My Specialities are
CAPE TRIANCULARS and COLONIAL IMPERFORATES.
STAMPS SENT ON APPROVAL-References, please.
E. BEUTHIN, Stamp Dealer,
17, CREEN'S BUILDINCS, COMMISSIONER STREET, (Opp. Corner House),
JOHANNESBURC.
P.O. BOX 6749. 'PHONE 1953,
150 THE SOUTH AFRICAN PHILATELIST.
I SOCIETY NEWS I
I
Items of Interest from the various Centres.I
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Pretoria Philatelic Society.
Pre!!.: Mr. N. van MaJsen. Hon. Sec.: Mr. A. P. Obermeyer, Box 309.
Meetings held at Market Restaurant, 2nd and 4th Moncl!cys, 8 p.m.
In the absence of Mr. van Malsen, Mr. Obermeyer presided at the meeting held on 22nd October. A letter was reau. from the Benoni Society expressing thanks for the manner in which they were received and enter- tained at the previous me~ting. A very interesting paper on the stamps of San Marino was read by Mr. Westbrook, who also exhibited his complete collection of thia country. The prices realised a:t auction were very disappointing.
There was a poor attendance on Monday, 12th ult., when Mr. de Boom read a paper on "Forgeries," and "Stamps that are not stamps," remin- iscent of Melville's phantom philately, which wa:s exceedingly interesting and led to much discussion. Seven members exhibited Holland and Colonies with Luxemburg, all shewing great merit, but the palm must undoubtedly go to Master Dekker, who ii!! only fourteen year of age, and whose collection was sent over from Johannesburg
Philatelic Society of Rhodesia.
Pres.: Mr. L. H. w·hitmore. Hon. Sec.: Mr. C. Rogers, Box 378, Bulawayo.
Meetings held third Tuesda:y each month, Exchange Buildings.
The regular meeting was held on 19th October, Mr. Thornton in the chair owing to the absence of the President. A letter was read from Sir John Chancellor, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., the first Governor of Southern Rhodesia, accepting office as Patron of. the Society, while a similar letter from Sir Charles Coghlan was rea:d accepting office as Hon. President. A letter from the London Offices of the B.S.A. Co. was read, stating that the Society's letter on the subject of remainders of the present issue would be placed before the Board of Directors. The reply was of a non-committal nature, but contained a certlrin amount of promise.
A syllabus for the ensuing few months has been driiw11 up as follows:-- December: "Specialising and its dangers," Mr. Whitmore.
January: "Irish Free State," Mr. Thor11ton.
February: "Belgi11n Congo,'' Mr. Rogers.
March: "Beclmana,land," Mr. Seott-Russell.
April: "Stamp collecting as a. hobby," l\fr. Barbour.
During the evening Mr. 'l'hornton and Mr. Scott-Russell demonstrated deaned and forged stamps, and it was resolved that future monthly meetings be held in the Exchange Buildings, third Tuesday of ea:ch month.
East London Philatelic Society.
President: Mr. "'\V. B. Lloyd. Hon. Secretary: ,Mr. J. B. Levy, Box 372, E.L.
Meetings held in Mr. Comlander's Office, third Fridays, 7.30 p.m. Junior Society meetings held at Selborne College, last Friday each month.) The ordinary monthly meeting of the Society was held on 19th ult., Mr.
Carnell in the cha,ir. There was a good attendance, and two new members were elected. The business of the evening was the reading of five minute•
papers by members. Mr. T. Harper read at paper on the issues of Natal;
while ,Mr. Carnell read a very interesting and instructive paper on Cape Triangulars. "The Stamps of the Union" was the subject of Mr. Levy's paper, while Mr. Dalby gave a short address- on "Stamps and their value."
Various items of philiri;elic interest were then discussed.
THE ROUTH AFRTCAN PHTT,A'l'FJLTR'I'. ]51 East Rand Philatelic Society.
President: Mr. C. E. Donne. Hon. Secretary: Mr. Thos. Wood, Box 47, Boksburg.
The monthly meeting of the Society was held on 21st ult., there being a good attendance.
Exhibits of interest were made by Mr. Randell, who shewed a corner of the l½d. Union, plate 2; with wmk. inverted, while Mr. A. F. Johnstone exhibited shades and varieties of the 2½d. Union. Line engraved stoonps of British Colonies were shewn by Mr. Wood, while Mr. Bowyer exhibited a, set of Bahamas War 'rax. iMr. Donne contributed an ably prepared paper on Seychelles, and exhibited his collection of this country, also examples of lithographed stamps, and the ld. Union with "AIRIKA" variety.
At the December meeting Mr. Kent is down for a pll,per and display of Nyasaland.
Crahamstown Philatelic Society.
Pres.: Rev. E. B. Ford·. Hon. Sec.: Mr. Barry May, Box 40, Grahamstown.
Meetings are held quarterly.
By kind invitation of the Rev. and Mrs. Ford, the quarterly meeting
Wll,S held at their residence on Tuesday, 6th November. The attendance was
poor, which wa-s particularly unfortunate, since those who were unable to attend lost the opportunity of listening to a paper by the President on the stamps of the United States. The paper, which was the result of con-
&iderable study, dealt with the general issues 1870-90, and went into grel!,t detail. A comprehensive collection which was shown as the paper proceeded served to illustra-te very effectively the points of the address. Canon Ford was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks, ll,nd a general chat on philatelic subjects, together with the partaking of refreshments, brought a distinctly enjoyable evening to a_ close.
THE