the British
Museum, in this country. It is celebrated not only for the beauty of
its specimens, but also for its completeness, neatness, and scientific
arrangement. The value of the collection is probably close on L80,000.
It is enclosed in seventy handsome Oriel albums.

Mr. W. B. Avery, head of the well-known firm of scale-makers of
Birmingham, has one of the finest general collections. It is justly
celebrated for the large number of great rarities that it contains,
amongst which are the two rare "Post Office" Mauritius in superb
unused condition. The collection cannot be worth at present far short
of L50,000.

Mr. M. P. Castle, the Vice-President of the Philatelic Society of
London, who succeeded the late Mr. Tapling in office, is one of the
keenest of keen collectors. His general collection became so large
that he parted with it in 1877, and then specialised in Australians.
This latter collection he sold, in 1894, to our publishers for
L10,000, at that time the largest sum ever paid for a single
collection. He subsequently made a grand specialised collection of
Europeans. This, arranged in sixty-seven volumes, he sold, in 1900,
for nearly L30,000, and he has now returned to his love for
Australians.

The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres is a collector of only recent date,
but he has already formed a really magnificent collection based on
broad historical lines. He confines himself mostly to the stamps of
the British Empire, the United States, and the Italian States. His
lordship is a member of the Council of the Philatelic Society of
London, and, when in England, a regular attendant at its meetings.

The Earl of Kintore is also the possessor of a very fine collection of
English Colonials, etc.; among his greater rarities being the "Post
Office" Mauritius, the complete set of Hawaiian Islands (first issue),
the 2 cents, rose, British Guiana, and many other gems. He also is a
member of the London Philatelic Society.

In France the place of honour, after M. la Renotiere, is deservedly
taken by M. Paul Mirabaud, the well-known banker of Paris, whose
magnificent collection of Switzerland was shown in the last Paris
Exhibition. It forms, however, only a small portion of his fine
collection.

In Italy probably the most famous collection is that of Prince Doria
Pamphilj, which is exceptionally rich in the interesting issues of the
Italian States.

In the United States of America there are many notable collections,