The Laid Czar's Postage Stamps Collection.

Manawatu Herald, 26 January 1895, Page 3

The Laid Czar's Postage Stamps Collection.

in philatelic circles much surprise is expressed as to what Is to become ot the extensive and valuable collection of postage stamps of the late Czar Alexander 111., and what his successor, who is no amateur of stamps, will do with it. It is believed, that Grand Aleiis BlichaiN ovitch, who has recently joined the Philatelists, may inherit the whole collection. Xt- is known that the late C2ar personally had no time to give to this expensive pastime* bltt that his secretaries ■, and more particularly one, Retroloff, by name, attended to and catalogued the constantly increasing collection j which,- among other very rare stamps, cohtairis & number of old Mauritius stamps— at present the most costly of any of the earlier specimens. Among the chief purveyors of the Czar, was an agent in Hamburg, as the Imperial attlateur rarely* if ever, applied to his diplomatic representatives. A good story is told of a tVinconsin boy, who took his pocket ttion'e^ to buy and send to the Czar a cotiiplete set of uncancelled Columbian stamps. The Czar received it, was highly pleased, and, in return ior the boy's attention and polite letter, Sent him a complete set of uJicancelled Russian stamps from the first to the last issue— an acquisition which very few; even of the rich collectors, cafl toast of;