STAMP COLLECTING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

STAMP COLLECTING

By

DENNIS BARRY

Andorra, the small republic on the French-Spanish border, has recently been in the news, as the Spanish civil war has come close to its borders. The pictorial stamps from the small country are known to many beginning collectors, but postally-used stamps are few in number, because the republic’s total population, spread in some 30 mountain villages, Is only about 5500. The country occupies 191 square miles in area.

The country has no army, and is governed by a council of 24, responsible to a joint control of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel. Therefore, both Spanish and French coinage is valid, and the stamps of Andorra are printed in the two languages. The Spanish stamps were first issued in 1928, with an overprint of current Spanish stamps for Andorra. In 1929, the first pictorials appeared, showing various shrines and a group of the council. A special delivery stamp, showing an eagle over mountains, was also issued that year. The Spanish stamps had new values added in 1935 and 1936. FRENCH STAMPS OVERPRINTED Under the French postal administration, French stamps were issued in 1931 with an overprint Audorre, aud a pictorial set was issued in 1932, showing scenes in the little -republic, independent since 1278. In 1936, a new stamp showing the coat of arms of Andorra, appeared. Newspaper and postage due stamps of France have also been overprinted Andorre, and a new postage due stamp was issued in 1935. STAMPS OF VALUE

Most collectors have heard of the more celebrated rarities in the philatelic world, but even if a collector is lucky enough to possess a “show piece” it is seldom that he has more than one or two of such a kind. A collection reputed to be valued at £150,000 discloses philatelic treasures that even specialists and experts had scarcely dreamed of; this collection, it is. reported, has been acquired privately by a London firm of stamp dealers. No event of such magnitude has occurred in the selling of stamps since 1934, when the collection of the late Mr. Arthur Hind, the American millionaire plush manufacturer, was disposed of by auction for more than £170,000. Fifty-two ■ albums contain the 100,000 stamps, which are British colonials, with the exception of some fine American pieces. Australia is not represented. A striking feature of .the collection as. a whole is it? immaculate appearafice and condition, for in its- 'accumulation everything but perfect specimens was refused.

Exact details-of its contents have not yet been announced publicly, but it is known that there are more than 1000 triangular Cape of Good Hopes, this including a fine used copy of the 4d. black instead of blue, of 1855. Hitherto, a copy of this stamp existing in the collection of the late King George V was considered unique, as no other authentic used specimen was known, xlmong ’he other rarities are copies of the’4d, Ceylon imperforate, catalogued at £llO, and a Great Britain 6d. mauve, plate 10, of about 1869, priced at £4OO. CEYLON NEW

Ceylon has become prominent recently with the arrival of the new King George VI issue, and the news that the fine collection of Ceylon formed by the late Baron Anthony de Worms is offered for sale in London. Ceylon’s pictorial issues are among the most, attractive of all the British colonial stamps.

A reminder of Cevlon’s early history is found on the new 2-rupees stamp, the vignette showing a “guard stone,” probably from the Ratna Pasada, or Jewel Palace in the neighbourhood of Anuradhapura. The palace originally was a monastery, built at the end of the second century A.D. Placed at the foot of a stairway to exorcise evil spirits, . the “guard stone” was probably erected in the eighth century. In that century the monastery was restored by King Mahinda 11. who spent 300.000 pieces of gold on the building. The stone was discovered bv an English archaeologist in 1885.

Depicted on the 3-ceuts value is a place of even more historical significance. and with even more legendary tales and romances connected with it; that is Adam’s Peak. The Temple, of the Tooth (part of which is now the Supreme Court of Justice) at Kandy, is greatly revered by all Sinhalese, and is shown on the 25-cents of the series. In 1560, during a punitive expedition, the Portugese took possession of the Tooth, which they ground to powder and burned in the market place of Gia after refusing an offer of eight lakhs of rupees as ransom. Some years later, Kandy was taken by a Sinhalese chief, who produced a tooth which, be declared to be that of Buddha. This is the tooth now resting in the temple. On the 30-cents value, a great engineering feat—an irrigation tank—is seen, and on the 10-cents value a view of Sigiriya, the Lion Rock appears. The 1-rupee stamp depicts Trincomalee harbour. On the 6-cents is a view of Colombo harbour. The 20-cents shows ■i cluster of coconut palms, which nourish in Cevlon. A native woman plucking leaves from a tea bush is featured on the 25-cents stamp. The tapping of a rubber tree is shown on the 2-cents value A large plantation of rice is shown on the 10-cents, and a view of the largest river in Ceylon, the Mahaweli Ganga, is shown on the 15-cents. The 50-cents depicts a herd of wild elephants.

LITTLE-KNOWN GREENLAND When geography is under discussion your philatelist can make rings round the man in the street, but there is one island about which even he must admit ignorance, even though it is one of the largest, in the world; Nor will the encyclopedia help much beyond giving a brief statement of the area of Greenland and a reference to its great ice sheet, writes W. Dennis Way in “The Stamp News.” With tire recent exploits of the Russian scientists fresh in our minds, we have seen many references to the island and may be have, been surprised to learn that not only Denmark, but also Norway, has settlements there. As a

mater of fact, Britain also has interests of some importance. With an area of 2,170,000 square kilometres, it is the largest island in the world, but of this area, all but 35,000 square miles is covered with “eternal ice,” estimated to average ten thousand feet in thickness and that In the centre of the island to be tens of thousands of years old. The land capable of some form of development is therefore about the same area as Portugal, but in every characteristic is more like Norway, with* deep fjiord? running far into the mountains and completely separating the variou? settlements, making communication be tween them possible only by sea in summer and sledge in winter. These settlements have an area of only a tw’enty-fourth part of the whole. It may come as a surprise to learn that the temperature compares favourably with that of northern Canada and Scandinavia, and is, in fact, warmer than Labrador. Rainfall is much the same as in Britain. As for vegetation, scores of varieties of flowers grow in abundance, while grasses, mosses and lichens, together with stunted willow trees, line the coast. No large trees grow because only a foot or so of soil softens in which the trees can take root. Owing to the brief period 01 sunshine, wheat will not ripen, but as some consolation turnips and cabbages thrive.

The population at the last census—yes, they are civilised enough for that—was 16,630, of whom 408 were Europeans with an additional 300 living in Thule and nearer to the Pole than any other human beings. Taking numbers employed as a guide, the principal industries are whaling, fishing business houses and farming. In addition many find work in the coal and cryolite mines in the south-west. . . . There is no all the year round service of ships, but a dozen or more sailings from Denmark take place from April to October each year. As all Dam ish settlers are Government officials letters and printed papers are forward, ed from Copenhagen free up to 254 grams, excess over that weight being charged. The rate for parcels is, up to

1 kilo, Kr. 1.10, 1-3 ks. kr. 1.70; 3-5 ks kr. 1.90; 5-10 ks. kr. 3.40. Newspapei rates are respectively, 30 ores, 60: S 0( and kr. 1.20 fo r the corresponding weights. The stamps used to defraj prepayment are the same in eithei direction. At the time of posting in Copen.' hagen an advice card, bearing a 2 or< stamp has also to be sent. This is bo cause the authorities do not deli vet the parcels in such a scattered area at the Greenland settlements. As thej are handed over to the addressees ii exchange for tho card of advice thli acts also as a receipt. The stamps were first issued in I.'Oq nine varieties completing the set. Thej are of large, upright format. In th< centre is a shield showing a polar beai standing on its hind legs. Above it the crown of Denmark, flanked witl three seagulls in flight on either side The words "Pakke Porto” appear al the top and the figures of value in th< lower corners. 1905-15 1 ore olive, x ores red-orange, 5 ores brown, 10 oret blue, 15 ores violet, 20 ores rod. Highex values becoming necessary, in 1V«» there were added 70 ores violet, 1 kr. orange ochre, 3 kr. brown. NEW ISSUES

The United States recently issued « new 6-cent airmail stamp to mark 2C years of airmail service. _ The stain? is iu two colours, border in blue, and eagle with outstretched wings in red. A 44-cent value, featuring the Whitt House, has been added to the nevi presidential set, and a 22-cent value; featuring President Cleveland, has resulted in some more changes in the order in which presidents will be shown on the stamps. . . . Ceylon has added a 3-cent value to the new George VI series, featuring 7360 feet high Adams J’eak. . . . Egypt has issued a three-value set for the leprosy congress meeting in Cairo last month. . . < Gibraltar has issued high value pie torials of the George VI series, showing views of the naval base, other than the fortress. . . . The Grenada ,Georg<! VI stamps above the $-penny value are similar to the current pictorials, featuring in inset George VI. A new ten shilling value shows only the seal of the colony. . . . British stamps overprinted "Morocco Agencies” for use in French Morocco will no longer be issued. They will still be used in Spanish Morocco, and in the international port of Tangier. . . . Mexico has issued new stamps for iwstage and airmail tfl mark the 25th anniversary of the revolution. . . . French , Morocco has plans for a new postage set this year, and a competition has been opened fol designs. . . . Finland issues two value* for the United States 150th anniversary of its constitution. . . . Jugoslavia recently issued a child welfar* series. . . . Madagascar will soon issut a new postage set featuring Jean Lahorde, one of the earliest French set? tiers. . . . Curacao, in the West Indies has new airmail values in its current set because of the extension of airmail service from Holland to Its possessions in North and South America.

Wilcox. Smith and Coy., 14 Manse St.. Dunedin, New Zealand .(the oldest stamp firm in Australasia). Sent} your stamps to us. Highest prices paid. Retail, and air. Buying and selling lists free. Estd. 54 years.— Advt,