STAMP STORIES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23191, 30 November 1940, Page 4

STAMP STORIES

CRETE

It was to be expected when Italy came into conflict with Greece that this island would be in the news and it is perhaps indicative that the Italian iampffgn has not gon. to plan that Crete has been men tinned in the cables only because of the landing of British troops. Crete was the centre ot ve y ancient pre-hisloric civilisation, and occupied P an important position £ Greece was the dominant Power m the Mediterranean During th< ic of the Crusades, it was strategic point on the sea route to Palesti but in 1645 it was conquered by the ssfiwiss fSfon'ot'K St powers. Turkish troops having been withdrawn in 1898. Great Britain, France, Italy, ana u„c<;ia set up a provisional Joint Aa Kussid sei. up y hj following ministration, ana in i r was ..r: uSTSK"’* lhe ™- n revolted and a provisional government was set up by the Revo - tmnaries under the control of Veneze lo " wfo wS. I.te> to hhcome Pnmf Minister of Greece. A form of local E p°„w e ™s m a wa/temally annexed by Greece.

. The first stamp for .Crete appeared in November, 1898. and was issued by the British authorities for use in the British sphere of administration a Candia. This stamp c f s ' ste4 .°‘ locally produced issue of the vaine oi 20 paras, struck by means of stamp and used on correspondence for a penod of eight days only, when a second issue, printed at Athens, *was made available. The Russian sphere of administration was ; centred at Rethymo and the Russians followed the precedent established by the British. The first Russian issue - was placed on sale m May, 1899, was handstruck loci Hy and was superseded the next month by an issue printed at Athens. France and Italy established

(By B. J. G. Collins)

consular post offices in Crete, provided distinctive stamps by over printing their own issues. Austria' although not one of the Powers repre. sented in the original joint adminiv tration. also operated a post office and’ provided special stamps from 1903 until 1914

Following the appointment of Kins George of Greece as High Cotruuis. sioner, definitive stamps were issued in 1900 There were six designs and the highest value is of particular Interest because the central portion of the design showed St. George and the Dragon and was copied from th§ British gold coins.

A second pictorial issue of 1905 wa equally attractive and the two sets to. gether provide representations of characters famous in Greek mythology, ineluding Hermes, Hera, Tales, Minos, Rhea, Europa, Miletus, Ariadne* and Triton. ■

The revolution of 1905 was respon* sible for a set of pictorials and later for a definitive set familiar to many collectors. These showed an allegorical figure of Crete enslaved and a portrait of King George of Greece. Another pictorial issue of 1905 included a roughly-drawn outline map of the island. Two stamps of 1907 showed the High Commissioner and the landing of Prince George of Greece at Suda. in 1898. In 1908 the adherence of the Cretans ta Greece was signified by the overprinting of the contemporary stamps with an inscription meaning “Greece," After the formal annexation, ordinary GreHc stamps were used throughout th<Tlsland. ■ A simplified collection of the stamps of Crete not only illustrates some.of the island’s history, but also adds to one’s knowledge of Greek mythology. Plaza Birthday Competition' If your birthday comes during next —noth you may enter for the Birthday tmzzit. Tickets for the Plaza will be awarded those sending in correct solutions. Mark your letter "Birthday Competition." and enclose an addresfi envelope with a Id stamp on It for yoiit ticket. . ~