Stamp Stories

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22459, 21 July 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Stamp Stories

(By R. J. G. Collins)

i think it must be about two years ago since I had an inquiry from a reader who asked whether attention should be paid to postmarks on stamps. Just lately I have had two more inquiries on the same subject, and as it is one that may be of general interest, another reference may be helpful. Largely because of the interest in envelopes carried by air and in the growth of the collection of the envelopes posted on the first day of issue of a new stamp, there has been a tremendous increase in the study of the postal marking on envelopes. In Great Britain, Europe, and America there are to-day philatelic

societies formed specially to study postmarks, and in the last two years books and monthly papers have appeared dealing solely with the subject. Postmarks help to throw an interesting light upon historical matters and New Zealand collectors are now keenly seeking for postmarks connected with the Maori wars. For example, some of our early stamps are found with the postmarks inscribed "Queen's Redoubt" and "Headquarters." These particular postmarks were used only during the period of the Maori war in the Waikato. The field headquarters of the troops was situated at Otahuhu, where the headquarters postmark was employed and the advance postmark was at Pokeno, where the fortification known as Queen's Redoubt was then situated. There have been numerous instances in New Zealand where post offices have been opened before postmarks have been available, and the stamps on letters posted at these offices have been cancelled by having the name written in ink. During the erection of the bridge over the Rangitata River, mail handed In at the office at the bridge site had the letter R written on the stamp. At some of the smaller Canterbury offices in the early days, post..tasters made their own cancelling stamp by cutting a design out of cork, and some rather crude but interesting marks resulted. This method was also used at some of the small offices in the United States of America, and as some of the officers had imagination we find marks in the form of the skull and cross-bones, a kicking mule, and a more elaborate one showing the

POSTMARKS

conventional figure of the devil, | complete with pitch fork. During the last 20 years postmarks have been largely used for advertising purposes and an interesting collection of the ones used in New Zealand can be got together. At most of the larger exhibitions and congresses held in various ■countries the authorities have commemorated the events by the use of special postmarks. Germany has been one of the countries to exploit the postmark and just before the plebiscite was held on a question of whether Austria should join Germany the voters in both countries could not fail to be impressed by the ,post-

marks on their letters which told them to vote "Yes." Certainly one of the most curious instances of the use of a postmark to advertise an event is illustrated.

On May 14 and 15 last, Association football matches were played in Berlin between representative English and German teams and between the famous English Aston Villa team and a German team, and the special postmarks were used at Berlin on these days. An earlier curiosity from Germany is a letter posted at the twelfth second after the twelfth minute past the twelfth hour of the twelfth day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of the century and at the twelfth post office, which was situated at Leipzig. Each figure in the postmark shows as 12, and special envelopes were also prepared for use at this time. SHINE, LITTLE STAR (By Jane Birkinshaw; aged 9) Little stars, shine bright In the dark of the night. And shine in the sky While asleep I lie; Look down upon me. The earth, and the sea, And crmfort my heart With sleep's soft dart. Little star, shine bright s In the dark of the night.