STAMP COLLECTING

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAMP COLLECTING

By

Dennis Barry

Are there too many new stamps? It has 'been strongly claimed by some of the greatest authorities in the world that there have been too many new issues even within the British Empire in recent years. If one tries to cover the Empire one is very ready to agree with this contention since drawers and the best filing system in the world—if you have one —can barely keep pace with developments. During the past few years it has become difficult for the average collector to keep pace with the constant streams of new issues, and, after years of glorious courage in resisting the stream of “stamp fire,” the George VI issues are coming thick and fast on both flanks! I do not know what the general view is in the Wellington district and sur roundings, but I am certain that every stamp collector would be glad, of some arrangement under which there could be a “new issue truce” as the result of which 1939 could be devoted in great part to filling up spaces—the spaces left as the harassed collector was swept on from place to place keeping up with portions of each new issue. If my words are to be marked I would like to go on record as forecasting that in the confusion of new issues during the last two years—and a little more—so much has been missed by the ordinary or average collector that some of the real joy of collecting nas been destroyed. In fact, I know of some who have given up serious philatelic work as a result. After all, collecting must be complete to give real joy, and in addition few people—for which all must be truly thankful —become so “stamp-crazed” as to turn a hobby into a mania.

A YEAR OF RESPITE IN 1939 There should be some respite in 1939 in the British Empire if the wind continues to blow from its present quarter. Part of the year may be devoted to deciding whether or not it will be a good idea to make a big splash with issues to commemorate the I’enny Black Centenary which falls in 1940. The British Empire has been extremely busy. First came the gradual changeover from the George V key-plate types to pictorial designs, and then, in 1935, more than 200 stamps for the Silver Ju■bilee. Then came’ the death of George V, which was followed by the issue of Edward VIII stamps for Great Britain and the Morocco Agencies. These were followed by another 200 for the Coronation of George VI, and as soon as these were disposed of all the colonies issued new George VI stamps. These have been issued in something like record time. WHAT ABOUT N.Z. EXHIBITION? It has been stated in England that it is expected that there can be no possible excuse for the issue of new stamps within the Empire tiil the issues of 1940 for the Penny Black Centenary. Perhaps they had not heard of the New Zealand Exhibition opening in 1939. Many collectors will have seen this subject refei'red to in the 1939 Gibbons catalogue. In the introduction to that catalogue—how many collectors ever bother to read the general preamble matter in this very weighty and interesting volume? —appears the following:— “. . . . We are not, of course, suggesting that the New Reign stamps ' were unnecessary, for obviously stamps bearing the likeness of King George V had to be replaced. We do feel, however, that a little cooperation and planning on the part of various colonies would have enabled the issue of these stamps to be spread over a couple of years, with benefit to collectors and to the Colonial Exchequers alike. We are also convinced that another general issue of colonial stamps in the near future would go near to dealing a death blow to the collecting of Empire new issues. We warned the responsible authorities that philatelic revenue would decline if the New Reign issues were not 'staggered.’ The warning was ignored, and the decline (as compared with new issues brought out under normal conditions) has certainly taken place. . . . . If we now have a couple of vears of quiet, so far as Empire issues are concerned, collectors will be able to make up arrears, but

those quiet years are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL if the collecting of new issues is rot to receive a severe set-back." , \Ve will agree with Gibbons that a period of rest is necessary. How long that rest should be remains to be seen. The year 19-10 will probably see another great rush of issues. PHILATELIC LANGUAGE

The fact that there are too many stamps seems to lead naturally enough to the discussion of language—the language of philately. There lias been much discussion at various times for the last 50 years and more as to what this word means —applied to stamps - and what that word means. Some words have become archaic and others are new. but many collectors either do not know that there is a language of philately, or have not bothered to secure a "Glossary of Philatelic Terms” which was prepared in Great Britain some time ago.

Between experts, and in scientific and technical papers, the use of language and terminology is highly developed. For the average collector the philatelic vocabulary may lie limited and is, in most cases, likely to remain so. The most important thing in this, as in other branches of speech, is to use words correctly. Naturally few of us require the whole dictionary to express ourselves. When wo use special words we should all mean the same thing, however. Too often are terms used loosely or incorrectly, and the chief abuse is to continue misuse till there is general confusion among average collectors when they refer to any standard work dealing with the subject.

GLIMPSE OF THE FIRST ' SWOPPING'* Stamp collecting took rise in the middle ’fifties of last century, but there was no great interest till the ’sixties. The development then .widened in its general scojie and enthusiasm spread in Great Britain. France, Germany and the United States. Right from the start, as is seen from comment of the time, a jargon grew up peculiar io stamp collectors. , A writer gives a good glimpse of this in describing one of the earliest stamp “swops” about IS6I: — “Have you a yellow Saxon?” “Yes. I want a Russian.” “I’ll give you a yellow Brnnswicker for Red Prussian.”

“Will you exchange a Russian for a black English ?” “No. I wouldn’t give a Russian for 20 English!” Seemingly high-handed talk of that nature was. being exchanged in Great Britain and the Continent, and . yet international situations were avoided. Nowadays a man who wants to prove his manliness in Russia would probably have his chance if he told his nearest Russian neighbour in good Volga dialect that “I wouldn’t take 20 Russians for one Englishman.” The main reason for this—diverging for a moment from the main theme —is that Russians seem to have forsaken philately, judging by the number of letters to which one can secure a reply from Russia. A shrug, and “It is the censor,” settles all that, apparently. FRENCH HUMOUR IN FIRST NAME But to return to the theme. The conversation set out above would be commonplace last century. Particular stamps acquired a nickname, and that nickname stuck (pun purely unintentional and therefore does not count full points). In France things were carried to a pretty pass when the new hobby of stamp collecting was named Timbromanie and the first of the stamp language already included the terms “locals” and “essays.” Timbromanie w-as the first special name. Perhaps it was so labelled ns a joke as the word had a sting in it. To collect stamps was regarded as being the desire born of much bad wine —I this is directly in line with modern comment of a certain type) and with typical French subtlety Timbromanie was decided upon. Why subtle? Well, “timbre,” as a noun, means “a stamp.” and add an “r” to it, and it means "to stamp.” The adjective “timbre”—if the linotype could manage it I should have an acute accent over the “e” —is a colloquial expression for a person who is a bit cracked or dotty.

INVENTION OF "PHILATELY” The name did not stick. Many have not heard it today, probably. A Parisian collector invented the word “philately” and though I would still like to register my objection against such a clumsy combination of two Greek words, the name has stuck. Peculiarly enough, the term philately, and its derivatives, philatelist • and philatelic, was accepted far more readily outside France than in France. For many rears there were two schools of collectors there—one calling themselves timbrologists and the other philatelists. Not till 1933 did the French Academv admit the word philately to the standard dictionary of the French language.

WHEN 15 A MOUNT A HINGE? Naturally, as the language of philately is a living language, there are many changes,: and words are apt to acquire new meanings by usage. French, words have always had a big bearing on terms used, but there is a tendency today to find words in our own lan"ua"e. When is a mount not a mount, is it a hinge. According to the authorities on the subject a mount is not a hinge till it is folded. o ever, that is partly blasted by the tact that manv mounts can now be bought folded. Do you ask for hinges or tor mounts? 1 do not think it matters now. In the glossary it is set out that t.ie term surcharge should be used only when an overprint alters or confirms the face value of the stamp. That is correct. Most people who handle stamps a <r ree among themselves that anything printed over the stamp is a surcharge. That lets the real pedants come m and argue. I will leave them arguing. If you look it up in the Oxford dictionary vou will find that to surcharge is “to print an additional mark on the face (of a postage stamp (specially for the purpose ot' changing its value.” That gives both sides for gracious agreement.

Where does “overprint" come in. you ask? This comes as a shock to many average- and even advanced collectors. An overprint is created when there is, to us? the language of printing, an "overprint plate.” That is equivalent to the philatelists’ "'duty plate,’ and means that a partly printed sheet of stamps is put through the press a second time to add something to that which was printed in the first instance. The first stamps of St. Helena are considered to be perfect examples of overprinting. The catalogue calls them surcharges. but even catalogues can be wrong.

In that case to describe the catalogue as wrong is to become pedantic in my opinion. In short a surcharge is something other than a post mark which is added to a completed stamp whether it has ref’.ence to value or not. A surcharge is made by overprinting but an overprint must also be part of any stamp that requires two printings to complete it. I take the risk of having letters telling me that usage has made surcharge mean that which is a'dded to a completed stamp "to change _ its value. Usage has brought about just the opposite situation. That is—correct