"COMMEM" STAMPS.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1930, Page 11

"COMMEM" STAMPS.

AUSTRALIA'S LATEST

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 13th February. Australia is rapidly encroaching on the financial preserves of a number of- tha small nations of the world by the issua of commemorative postage stamps of attractive design. It:has been pointed out that the issue of pretty stamps is a highly profitable revenue. maker .for many of the South. American: Republics. Whenever they are short of cash, they design a new stamp—a stamp that gladdens the hearts of collectors in all. parts of the world. For their postal revenue they do not have to depend ou the letter-writing habits, of their nationals. If they did they might soon go bankrupt. ■■.'.' In three years the Commonwealth haa issued four new stamps .and within % few weeks will unload upon the philatelic world still another commemorative stamp—one to commemorate the voyage along the Murray 'River of the famous explorer Sturt, who did so much to reveal the wealth of Australia. The design will feature the explorer, whose centenary is being celebrated this year, and will be issued in 14d red and 3d blue. Commemorative stamps issued by the Commonwealth lately are, as 'fol-s lows:— : ' ■" '. ■ ' ' ' April, 1927: Canberra l^o" to BmK the opening of the new Parliament? House. ■ October, 1928: Blue 3d Kookaburra, stamp to ■ celebrate the opening of thai Melbourne Stamp Congress.June, 1929: Green 3d Air Mail stamp! to mark the opening of the East-Wesfe aero mail service. September, 1929: Swan lid. red oat the occasion of the' Western Australiaa centenary celebrations. And now comes the Sturt stamp. And so it is that the European and South. American Republics are finding the Commonwealth a lusty, rival for the pennies of small boys throughout the world, and for the pounds of the larger collectors who make the issue of ■ new stamps their particular business.; The issue of the Canberra js.t.amp has long been seld out, but. the stamps may be. purchased from collectors at double their face value. . One British dealer boughfc £5000 worth of the Canberra lid issue. The Postmaster-General, doubtless, would welcome more inquiries from the same collector in view of the Sturt; issue. ■ ..... j_