Stamp Stories

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22347, 10 March 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Stamp Stories

EIRE

The adoption of the portrait ol Queen Victoria for the first adhesive stamps of Great Britain, established a precedent, and every subsequent British postage stamp iha-; contained, within the design, a portrait of the ruling sovereign. While this was generally' welcomed members of the Republican Party in Southern Ireland disliked having to frank their letters with stamps containing the sovereign's portrait, and numerous attempts were made to have special stamps for Ireland. When the Fenians, the forerunners of the Sinn Feiners, rose in rebellion in the sixties of last century, a "cabinet" was set up in .America, and the party hoping for success produced three labels of the values of 3, 10 and 24 cents, which they intended should become Irish stamps. In the middle of the design there appeared the Irish harp surrounded by an oval band bearing the Latin motto, "Libertas et. Nataie iiolum." The word "postage" was at the top; the value at the bottom, and the inscription "Republic of Ireland" at the sides.

The first republican labels produced in Ireland itself were brought out by the Sinn Fein party in 1907, printed exactly in the form of postage stamps. These were intended to be propaganda labels, and contrary to postal regulations many of them were placed on the face side of envelopes. One of the designs is particularly interesting as it contained the Celtic cross, with the -inscription "Eire," and with shamrocks between the arms of the cross. There was very little difference between the design of this label and the design of the present 3d and lOd Irish stamps. The design for the 2d label again contained the Irish harp. During the period of the rebellion of 1916, another propaganda label was widely used. The design consisted of a large shamrock with the Irish harp in the middle and the portraits of three prominent republicans Larkin, Allen, and O'Brien—in the three branches of the shamrock. Broad strips of green, white, and orange colours to resemble the republican flag appeared on the face of the label and at the bottom was the inscription "God Save Ireland."

When a provisional government was established one of the first *?FM* ei * w as the provision of dis2JSSSi e ! ta^ ps » u »tP such time as special designs could be prepared the stamps of Great Britain were distinguished by means of over* prints. The first inscription used ■was of the words "Rialtas Sealadac rta heireann," which means "Provisional government of Ireland," and this, insciription in Celtic letters, with the date, 1922, was over-

(By /?. J. G. Collins)

printed at Dublin. All' values of the British stamps from Jd to 10s received the overprint. In December, 1922, there was a second type of overprint consisting of the words "Saorstat Eireann," which means "Irish Free State."

Much has been made of the report that Mr De Valera has decided to alter the name of that part of Ireland controlled by him, from the Irish Free State to Eire. Stamp collectors, though, are aware that Eire has been the official title appearing on all the stamps since the lirst value of a pictorial issue came out in December, 1922. This pictorial issue contained 12 values, from Jd to Is, in four designs. It ha-3 already • been mentioned that one of the designs consisted of the Celtic cross. Two of the designs caused some heart-burnings in Northern Ireland, because the Irish map and arms used included Northern Ireland in the one case, and Ulster in the other.

The fourth design was symbolical, with the sword of light.

In 1929, there appeared' the first of the Irish commemorative issues. This year ther* was the centenary of Catholic Emancipation, and a set of three stamps was placed an saV-j oh June 22. The design contained the portrait of Daniel O'Connell, an Irish patriot. A great engineering work was finished in 1930, when electricity from the Shannon hydro-electric works was made available. A 2d stamp to commemorate the event was issued on October 15; it showed a view of the dam built to control the waters of the Shannon River. In June, 1931, the two-hundredth anniversary of the Royal Dublin Society was celebrated, and a rather unattractive stamp, again of the value of 2d, served to recognise the event. The design depicted a farm labourer with a scythe.

The years 1932 and 1933 were important for the Roman Catholic Church '. in Ireland. Ah Inter-

national Eucharistic Congress was held in the former year, while 1933 was declared a holy year. In both Instances sets of two stamps of the value of 2d and 3d were issued. The earlier design comprised the Cross of Cong, a Celtic ornament made in the twelfth century for the King of Connaught, while the latter was of symbolical nature, depicting the "Adoration of the Cross." In 1934, the Golden Jubilee 'of the Gaelic Athletic Association was held, and the commemorative stamp, which was of the value of 2d 'showed a hurley player. Hurling is an Irish game not unlike hockey.

Finally, on December 29, 1937, there were two stamps issued with the adoption of a new constitution. The design shows a figure representing Eire, resting her right hand on a harp, and with the first words of the new constitution shown on a book in which she has just written. The arms of the four provinces, including Ulster, are again depicted. GREEN BROOM

There was an old man livdd out in the wood, His trade was a-cutting of broom, green broom: He had but one son without thrift, without good, Who lay in his bed till 'twas noon, bright noon.

The old man awoke one morning and spoke, He swore he would fire the room, that room, If his John would not rise and open his eyes, And away to the wood to cut broom, green broom.

So Johnny arose, and he slipped on . his clothes, And away to the wood to cut broom, green broom, He sharpened his knives, for once he contrives To cut a great bundle of broom, green Droom.

When Johnny passed under a lady's fine house. Passed under a lady's fine room, fine room, She called to her maid. "Go fetch me," she said, "Go, fetch me the boy that sells broom, green broom."

When Johnny, came into the lady's fine house, And stood in the lady's fine room, fine room; "Young Johnny," she said, "Will you give up your trade, And marry a lady in bloom, full bloom?" Johnny gave his consent, and to church they both went, And he wedded the lady In bloom, full bloom, At market and fair, all folks do declare, There Is none like the boy that sold broom, green broom.

. Jim Norton, 24 Brittain terrace, Lyttelton, wants a good pair of head-phones. Will someone who could make an exchange write to him. ' j