Question On Cover With Gustave B. Calman Return Address

I acquired this cover in a lot of 60+ covers a few months ago. It was sent from New York City on 26 Feb 1901 and arrived in Germany on 8 Mar 1901. It is franked with a US Scott #234 (5-cent Columbian), which was the UPU letter rate in 1901.

The recipient was Alfred Krolik, a German stamp dealer. The return address is from G.B. Calman. That would be Gustave Calman, a noted wholesale stamp dealer in the late 19th century.

I'm curious to hear any thoughts on two features of this cover. First, would it have been unusual for a Columbian to have been used 8-years after its initial issuance? I suppose like today, excess old postage stamps could have been used by dealers to send correspondence.

Second, Gustave Calman died in 1898 at age 37. It strikes me as odd then, that someone would send a letter with his return address in 1901. His brother Henry dealt in stamps, as well, so maybe he continued to use Gustave's surplus stationery.

The cover seems genuine enough. Anyone have any insight or seen similar covers?

Thanks much!

Weren't dealers using up the Columbus stamps into the 1920s?

If that was the case, that would answer one question.

As for using GB Calman stationary after his death, I found this very attractive cover of Trans-Mississippi issues with a GB Calman return address postmarked 18 Jul 1898, six months after his death.

So it may be that neither the use of the stamp nor the use of the stationery was unusual.

From my article in the October 2019 issue of Nicarao:

"Gustave B. Calman died January 25, 1898, at
age 38. His brother Henry purchased the stamp
assets from Gustave's estate and gradually sold
them off."

I have a different postal stationery envelope used in 1903 with Gustave Calman return address.

Henry L. Calman lived 1863-1937.
Gustave B. Calman lived 1860-1898.

Thanks to you both. That's good information.

Yes, the Columbian high values were actually discount postage for a time. You'll find Columbian covers to German stamp dealers well after when you'd expect, overpaid like the Trans-Miss cover shown. This then provided used copies for sale, well-collected and even preferred back in the day.