STAMP STORIES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23131, 21 September 1940, Page 6

STAMP STORIES

I have received two inquiries this week from collectors' who ask the value of stamps of Western Australia with a hole punched through the

middle. In newspaper clippings which accompanied the stamps there is 8 statement to the effect that this punched hole was used to distinguish the stamps used on correspondence from convicts, and it has therefore been assumed that such stamps must have not only an historical but also a considerable monetary value. Unfortunately this is not a fact, as the newspaper statement regarding the stamps is incorrect. The true explanation is that the Western Australian authorities adopted the practice from a comparatively early date until 1886, of distinguishing stamps for use on Government correspondence by punching a hole in the middle of the stamps, and as the volume of official correspondence was not small such stamps are often found in collections. The holes are found in two sizes, the earlier issues having a hole measuring 3mm. across, while on the later issues the hole is 4mm. across. After the establishment of the Commonwealth official stamps . used in Western Australia were punctured either with the letters “0.5.” or “W.A.” The stamps punctured “0.5.” were used by Commonwealth officers, while those punctured “W.A.” were used by the State Departments.

After the declaration of war between Great Britain and Italy there was a

CURIOSITIES

(By R. J • G. Collins)

stoppage in the exchange of pondence between the two cotmte#. and yet, in accordance with ihteias tional law, it is still to pass between the BnUshi*;Jw‘| and one post office in Italy. SfacetS agreement between Mussolini Pope Pius XI the papacy has exertS temporal power over the ' teVritorv comprising the limits of Vatican Cfti and since 1929 Vatican City has hid » distinctive‘issue of stamps, igy,; smallest stamp-issuing country-in world. The entire area is shown in design of express delivery, stani^ With’the approach of the Presida, tial elections in the U.S.A., there hsi been much discussion regarding th, correctness of Franklin Rb'pseveit occupying the office for a third term Since Washington gave it as-Sj personal opinion , that two terms wer* enough, there has been a strong fee) ing against any man being considered for a longer period, and if Roosevelt should be re-elected he will create * record as the one to have occupied the office for the longest time. Anton? ' the 30 men who have been President! there have been two with the. name of Roosevelt, and two bearing the name of Harrison, and one of the ■' latter earned the distinction of being pr es ;. dent for the shortest period." .William H. Harrison, the ninth President, was elected in 1840, but died a month ’after taking office. His portrait appears qb the 9c value of the Presidential wt ti 1925. ,

The swastika is a very ancient kymbol and is honoured by Indian Jhiddhists. In its left-handed form it; ha* become notorious because of its adoption by the Nazis, and it has )>eeti featured on German stamps since the rise to power of Hitler. It would probably be surprising to many pebple to learn that the swastika was*,used in the ornamentation of a stamp issued by Britain’s oldest colony. In 1931 Newfoundland issued a set of air stampj and the dollar value showed a map of the North Atlantic with the 3rout« of historic aerial flights.,, In the four corners of this stamp the swastika was depicted. i