Of National collections, Great Britain possesses the finest, in the bequest of the late Mr. T. K. Tapling, M.P. Mr. Tapling died in 1891, and since then the great collection which he had formed of the postage-stamps and postal stationery of the world has been arranged for exhibition purposes, in specially constructed cases, in the King's Library of the British Museum. It is estimated to contain 100,000 specimens, the total market value of which would probably not be much short of £100,000. Since the complete collection has been available to the public for inspection, there has been no one feature at the Bloomsbury institution which has attracted more visitors; and it is good to know that philatelic students are freely using the magnificent opportunities the collection offers for study. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive official guide to this important collection, but by the courtesy and assistance of the officials I was able to compile a fairly detailed index[23] to its beauties, which was published, together with a history of the formation of the collection, by Messrs. Lawn & Barlow. To detail the gems is but to recount the Mauritius, the British Guianas, the Hawaiians (these are particularly fine), the Moldavias, Newfoundlands, Reunions, &c., to most of which frequent reference has already been made in these pages. There is here one of the copies of the famous Fourpence blue of Western Australia with the centre inverted. Unfortunately the copy is a damaged one, but the stamp is rarer than the Mauritius "Post Office," and a celebrated and fine copy fetched £400 at auction. It is a very real misfortune to Philately that the Trustees of the British Museum have taken no steps to continue the collection beyond 1890, or to add items which are lacking prior to that date. It is, I understand, simply a question of money, and the Trustees would not be unwilling to allow the necessary space for the growth of the collection if money were forthcoming for that purpose. It is now twenty years since Mr. Tapling died, and the loss of that period in the collection is almost irretrievable. Yet the collection as it stands is the most comprehensive treasure store of the first half century of stamp-issuing, and students in this country are fortunate indeed in having such a wealth of material at their disposal for comparison and for reference.