50 KEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1913. 



portrait of Henry Clay, by Jean Baptiste Adolphe Gibert, was lent 

 by Mr. Watterson Stealey, of Washington. An interesting collection 

 of modern Cliinese copper and brass coins, to the number of 135, 

 was received as a gift from Prof. N. Gist Gee, of Soochow University, 

 Soochow, China. 



Having transferred to the custody of the National Museum its 

 extensive collection illustrating the various phases of the postal 

 service, in which most important and valuable is the remarkable 

 series of postage stamps, as described in the last report, the Post 

 Office Department has continued to transmit the new issues for all 

 countries as they are assembled and distributed through the medium 

 of the Postal Union. During last year there were 9 accessions, 

 including 21,242 separate stamps, post cards and envelopes, and with 

 this cooperation the Museum must soon attain a foremost position 

 in the world as regards the subject of philately. 



Of the loans to this division the most extensive was the remarkable 

 collection of nearly 500 pieces of American historical china brought 

 together by the late Rear Admiral F. W. Dickins, U. S. Navy, and 

 deposited by Mrs. Dickins. Containing many Liverpool pitchers and 

 pieces of Staffordshire ware, it is especially noteworthy on account 

 of the large number of fine specimens of Presidential china, including 

 examples dating from the administration of Washington to that of 

 Benjamin Harrison. The series of pieces decorated with views, por- 

 traits, and inscriptions relating to important events and representing 

 prominent personages in the history of the United States from the 

 colonial period to the middle of the nineteenth century is particularly 

 large and interesting. From Mrs. Henry Wells, of Washington, were 

 received a dress sword and scabbard of the period of the American 

 Revolution; a letter written by Thaddeus Kosciusko when colonel 

 in the Continental Army, dated May 24, 1779, to Ashbel Wells, 

 Assistant Deputy Quartermaster General of the American forces; 

 eight other letters of the same period written or received by Ashbel 

 Wells, and two additional documents. Four early American chairs, 

 two once owned by Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler of the Continental 

 Army and two by Alexander Hamilton, and two mahogany side 

 tables which had belonged to the latter were obtained as a loan, 

 the chairs from Dr. Allan McLane Hamilton, of New York, grandson 

 of Alexander Hamilton, the tables from Mrs. Hamilton. A number 

 of additions to the loan collection of the Bradford family of New 

 England, deposited the previous year, were made by the Misses Long, 

 of Washington, including six silver conserve spoons, a cut-glass vase, 

 five pieces of antique jewelry, a purse of silver and ivory, a vinaigrette, 

 and three lace veils. 



Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary, U. S. Navy (retired), added to his 

 loan collection the following further testimonials awarded him in 



