Stamp Stories

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22593, 24 December 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Stamp Stories

(By R. J. G . Collins)

Commnnicaciones: This inscription, which appears on many of the Spanish stamps, means literally “Communications.” Compound: See perforations. Comoro Islands: See Grand Comoro.

Confederate States: The States of Virginia. Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama. Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, and Texas seceded from the United States of America in 1860, and were known *as the Confederate States to distinguish them from the Federate States of the north. After the outbreak Of the Civil War money and stamps had to be provided for the Confederate States. At first many of the postmasters in the south produced their own issues of stamps, and some of these are extremely rare. In September, 1861, stamp issues for the use of the Confederate States generally were made available • and were used until the end of the war. Congo: A huge territory in Central Africa. The largest part of this territory which was opened up as a result of the explorations of H. M. Stanley, was originally formed into the Congo Free State, but was transferred to Belgium in 1908. The northern part of the Congo was claimed by France, and was originally known as French Congo, but part of this territory has now been incorporated into the districts of Tchad and Oubangui-Chari and the remainder is known os Middle Congo. An area on the coast became Portuguese Congo, but this has now been absorbed by the Portuguese colony of Angola. Stamps for the Congo Free State were first issued in 1886, and were inscribed. “That Independant Du Congo,” but

in 1909 the inscription was altered to Belgium Congo, which was at first inscribed in French only, but since 1910 the name has appeared

A PHILATELIC ENCYCLOPAEDIA—(Part 11)

on the stamps in both French and Flemish. . Stamps for the French Congo first appeared in 1891, and were inscribed “Congo Francais.” After the division of the territory in 1906 stamps for the Middle Congo (“Moyen Congo”) appeared, and the issues of Gaboon later had the inscription “Congo Francais Gabon.” Distinctive issues for Portuguese Congo were in use from 1893 until 1920. Congress: In 1895 Spain issued a special stamp for the use of members' of the Chamber of Deputies, and this was inscribed “Congreso De Los Diputados.” In 1916 a beautifully-produced set to commemorate the tercentenary of the death of Cervantes was provided for the use of the deputies, and a similar set for the use of members of the Senate appeared in the same design, but in different colours. A feature of* these stamps is that no value is expressed. Congresses of societies interested in the sciences and in the arts have been responsible for the issue of special commemorative stamps or for the provision of distinctive postmarks. Interesting examples of special Congress issues are to be found among the modern stamps of Egypt.

Connell. Charles Connell was Postmaster-General of New Brunswick in 1860, and the 5 cent value of the set of stamps issued in that year contained his portrait. This was considered a breach of privilege, as no living person outside the Royal Family may be featured on a stamp of the British Empire. The Connell stamp was withdrawn soon after issue, and is therefore very rare. Constantinople: Italian, Rumanian, and Russian stamps were issued in 1909, 1919, and 1909 respectively with the overprint “Constantinople” for issue at the special post offices maintained by the three Powers. Control: A letter, or number, or both, printed on the margin of a sheet of stamps—and in the case of certain Spanish issues, on the back of the stamps—as a means of checking the supplies. Cook Islands: The Cook Islands, which form a dependency of New Zealand, were provided with distinctive stamps in 1892. From 1903 to 1932 the island of Aitutaki, one of the Cook group, had distinctive stamps, and from 1919 to 1932, the issues for the other islands of the group were inscribed “Rarotonga. Since 1932 issues with the name Cook Islands have been in use throughout the group, and the stamps for the island of Niue,

though not one of the group, have also been inscribed with the name Cook Islands. Cordoba: A province of the Argentine Republic for which stamps were provided in 1858, but the set had a short life.

Corea: In 1885 distinctive stamps were produced for this former kingdom in Asia. The name was originally spelt “Corea, but from 1895 .to 1901 it appeared as Korea, and from 1902 to 1905 as “Coree.” Stamps of Japan with overprint were in use at the Japanese post

office from 1900 to 1901. In 1905 the Coreah postal service was taken over by the Japanese, and subsequently ordinary Japanese stamps have been used. (To be continued.)