F. E. WELSH, JUN.--"Regular" perforations cut out little circles of white paper between each stamp on the sheet. "Pin" perforations are simply holes punched into the spaces between the stamps without removing the little circles of white paper. Saw-tooth perforations are simply cuts into the spaces between the stamps somewhat like this--v v v v v v. When the stamps are torn apart the margins look just like the teeth on a saw. The Columbian stamps are rapidly advancing in value. The 8c. Sherman has dropped in value during the past year from 4 cents to a 1/2 cent each.
JAMES F. ANDERSON.--The stamp you describe is the New Orleans local. It is worth at least $1.50.
A. W. DUNCAN.--The 1830 half-dollar is not at a premium.
R. B. H.--The 3c. green U.S. is worth 1 cent.
F. LOCKE.--The 1853 dime is worth face value only.
GEO. H.--We cannot answer questions regarding dealers in this column.
B. W. LEAVITT.--The 50c. revenue-stamps mentioned are sold by dealers at 2 cents each.
C. C. COONER.--The 1c. blue 1861 is worth 3 cents; the others are worth 1 cent each.
It had been a very dull winter at Colby, and when we college boys came home for our Christmas vacation we determined we would liven it up for the village.
As it happened, curiously enough, a funeral was the cause of the lively time that followed our determination.
Old Father Colby, one of the original settlers, had died the week before, leaving a wife and three orphaned grandchildren in the old homestead, and, as it turned out, very destitute. So the idea occurred to us to get up a benefit entertainment, and turn over the proceeds to the widow Colby and her family of grandchildren.
The idea took with the neighborhood. And we at once rented the Town-hall, and proceeded to bill the village and every barn in the township with the notices of our performance.
There were three of us: Tom Chandler, Jonas Willitts, and myself, Peter Samuels. We were the only village boys who had ever been to college, and we were the envy of all the farmers' boys and the admiration of all the village girls. So we made the most of our brief vacations to get into public notice.
We determined to give a sleight-of-hand performance. Tom sent down to Boston for materials, and we all practised diligently, keeping everything as secret as if we were in a conspiracy against the United States.