THE NEW STAMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 90, 13 October 1931, Page 11

THE NEW STAMPS

COMMITTEE TO JUDGE

NUMEROUS DESIGNS

Altogether, some two hundred and fifty artists and designers from all parts of the world have forwarded entries in tho hopes that their suggestions, or some of them, may be adopted as tho basis for designs for New Zealand's forthcoming new set of pictorial postage stamps. As each competitor lias sent in on tlio average somo eight or nine designs, the total number from which to select is considerable. A committee has been set up to deal with the entries and to make choice of the prize winners. This committee will meet in Wellington next week, and it is anticipated that a two days' investigation should see their work completed. After that, it is intended to hold a public exhibition of the entries. Tho chairman of tho committee is Sir Heaton Ehodcs, who, as one of New Zealand's foremost philatelists, will be able to bring expert knowledge to bear on the aspect of what will and will not make a good stamp. Mr. Richard Wallwork, Director of the Christehurch School of Art, is the second member of the committee, and onj44pi will devolve the decision as to whether entries conform with the accepted canons of art. As Maori decorations and features enter largely into the designs, Mr. Johannes Andersen has also been placed on. the committee, and ho will havo tho task of discriminating between what is truly Maori in design and what is fanciful. The fourth member of the committee is Mr. G. M'Namara, secrotary of tho P. and T. Department. The designs received cover a very wide range.' are crude, and some artistic. Sofno are works of art, quite beautiful, but not suitable for small postage stamps. Some are imitations of tho pictorial stamps of thirty years ago, whilst others strike an entirely new note. Many exploit the Dominion's famous features, such as Mount Cook, whilst others arc original in that they depict such features as deep-sea fishing. Maori chiefs, maidens, whares, and carving are widely used in the designs submitted, sometimes appropriately and sometimes not. Some designers seem to have forgotten that tho stamps will be tho subject oE interest and comment in other countries, and have failed •1.0 make their design of any meaning to anyone not intimately acquainted with the Dominion. The committee will have little difficulty in deciding to discard at once a considerable) number of the entries, but their final choice from sucli an array of material is not going to be very easy. In all probability it will ultimately be found that the best features of several distinct designs will be incorporated into one stamp, so that Now Zealand's new set of pictorial postage stamps will bo the best possible- from an artistic point of view, ftorn tho point of view of the philatelist, and as an advertisement for the Dominion.