FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 20961, 27 November 1931, Page 2

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By Philatelist.]

Despite various unavoidable delays in the earlier stages in connection with the new pictorial issue of the Australian Commonwealth, everything is now running smoothly, and it is safe to predict that the first values will be ready for issue early in the new year. These will bo in a lyre bird design, and will probably be followed by other values in a platypus type, after which the other designs will be introduced. As the lower values of the new series are to bo surface-printed it has been necessary to select designs suitable for this type of work. In view of the anticipated early arrival of these stamps, tho few values that are now being issued on tho now watermarked paper, and to which reference was made in last week’s notes, should be worth watching, as some of them may be very short printed. The new 6d brown air mail stamp is also one that collectors should secure as soon as possible. Rumour has it that this is likely to prove a good stamp. Tho new Wink Crown over C of A Reef 13£ x 12J Id green will be on.display at next meeting, also the now air mails.

According to the * Australian Stamp Monthly,’ postage duo stamps are no longer in use in Fiji, and all stocks on hand have been destroyed. The postage due stamps of Fiji are something in the nature of a romance. They were only introduced as late as 1917, and the first issue, locally printed, proved a splendid investment for those who were fortunate enough to secure any or all of the stamps comprising it. The second and last issue was brought into use on June 1, 1918, and as the remainder have been destroyed the stamps should from now on improve in value, particularly the higher values. As they have been in use for thirteen years they can never be rarities, but postage due stamps are not so common as those used for purely postage, and this applies particularly to the high values. It has to bo remembered also that very many collectors do not take cognisance of postage-due stamps, consequently the number of these stamps that find their way into collections is relatively small compared with postage stamps. Space will not permit of a dissertation on the merits or otherwise of postage dues. Suffice it to say that so long as they continue to bo listed in the best catalogues they should be worthy of inclusion in any collection As evidence of the popularity of and widespread interest in air mail stamps it is planned to hold a big international exhibition in Danzig in July of next year, which will be confined entirely to exhibits of air mails. A strong committee is at present organising the exhibition, and promises of support already received point to a large and successful function. • * * * A new pictorial issue is promised front Jamaica, the 2Ad and Cd values having already been‘delivered to the island by the printers. They are not, however, to be released until the supplies of the current issue have been exhausted. The 2)d comprises a view near Castleton,, St. Andrew, and the colours are green and blue. The Gd, in grey-black' and purple, depicts a view of Pricstman’s River, Portland.

SOME NOTES. Aitutaki.—Apart from tho pairs of mixed perfs., some of which are exceedingly difficult to find, tho “no stop” varieties of the first overprint are tho items which are calculated to give the most trouble. Niue.—The New Zealand paper varieties occur in the stamps of this island, but as tho watermarks differ they present no sorb of problem even to the novice. The first stamp of all, which was overprinted with a hand-stamp, should never be bought without a guarantee. Many of the later issues are elusive, and the 3d K.G., overprinted and surcharged, is really scarce. Penrhyn Island.—Here, also, “no stop” varieties will cause the seeker after completion a search, for they are by no means readily acquired. Rarotonga.—Presents less difficulty than any of the other three, as there are no recognised overprint or surcharge varieties. All the above have the same typo of pictorials, and with each there are one or more items with inverted centres, most of which I fancy are in New Zealand. Tonga.—This country is a study in itself, and although over hero it is not in tho first flight so far as popularity is concerned, it is, I think, gaining in favour. I can strongly recommend it to the man who wishes to indulge in limited specialism. Completion is possible, but is anything but easily attained. The market in Tongans is very spasmodic. Stamps and Sterling.—New Issue service subscribers will have some surprises and possibly a few shocks when they receive their next distributions. The average stamp collector is' rather a happy-go-lucky sort to whom it has possibly never occurred that tho fluctuation of foreign exchanges following the abandonment of the gold standard by Great Britain is going to affect him personally. A moment’s reflection will show, however, that with Continental and American exchange rates definitely against the pound New Issue importers cannot obtain their supplies at the same rates as before. For example, tho U.S.A. cent can no longer be reckoned at Jd, the French franc at 2d, the mark at Is, or the Swiss franc at 9)d. Even South Africa, by adhering to the gold standard, has reduced the value of the English pound to 17, 5, which means that £IOO will to-day buy only £BS 5s worth of South or South-west African stamps. London stamp dealers are suffering from the depredations of a now type of thief who asks to see books of stamps, makes a purchase, and departs. After lie lias gone the dealer finds that quite a number of stamps which were not paid for have been taken from tho book.

Wise Spending.—The Premier’s call for “ wise and courageous spending ” is particularly applicable to stamps at the present time. There is no better or sounder investment than line stamps at to-day’s prices. In contrast to the falling values of almost every other form of .security, stamps remain not merely steady, but actually rising in the world market of which Loudon is the acknowledged centre. Nor is there any reason to suppose that the upward movement will do otherwise than continue in face of the prospeels of inincreased international trading. In times of inflation the tendency has always boon for the public to invest more freely in tangible securities, and t!ie-investment potentialities of a good collection of stamps arc daily coming

more and more to bo appreciated. Therefore, wo say, buy now wisely and courageously of tho best stamps you can afford, in tho sure and certain knowledge that by so doing you will be laying up a sound nest-egg for the future. Alternatively, if you cannot afford to sink capital in the more expensive items, there is plenty of fun to be had out of tho cheaper lines in stamps for very little money. U.S.A., Yorktown Centenary issue, 2 cents.—l have received tho above in singles, pairs and blocks, and Ist day covers, and my correspondent writes mo that the issue seems limited, as they were only allowed one sheet of fifty. You should have seen the scramble; but, ns far as I know, most of them were out of luck. These will be on display next stamp meeting. Great Skill Required.—lnfinitely skilful fingers have the makers of stamp portraits. The product must baffle tho counterfeiter as well as satisfy the art critic. E. J. Hein, their supervisor, became so interested in the Washington series that ho did two of them. Ho said no one with less than fifteen years’ experience was allowed to try his hand at a stamp portrait. So difficult is this unusual vocation, ho added, only about one in a hundred who show seeming promise ever “stick it out.” “ It takes a thorough art training, plus a high degree of manual dexterity,” he said; “and to that must be added infinite patience. It’s the kind of a job you’ve got to love—and that’s why you do it.” Yet Americans, usually considered impatient, have led the world in this most painstaking of arts, Hein asserted.

WHAT SHALL I COLLECT?

As I have frequently pointed out, the question “ What shall I collect?” is one which I must resolutely refuse .to answer; tho most that I can do is to make suggestions, and without knowing the would-be collector personally it is somewhat futile to do even so much, because so many considerations are involved (says a writer). In a somewhat different category, however, comes the query, “ In what group can I specialise?” and where thd reader gives me some indication of _ his leanings, his means, and tho various other things which must affect a reply I am always ready to do my best to help. The reason for this preamble is because a reader has written to mo as follows: —“Will you be so kind as to recommend a small group of colonials which lend themselves to specialisation which is not -too complicated. If possible I should like tho group to consist chiefly of modern stamps so as to ensure that few, if any, of them are so prohibitive as to be almost unobtainable ; at the same time, I would rather welcome varieties of paper, perforation, and perhaps overprint, provided that they were not too difficult. As I am not in the happy position of having an unlimited income, it would bo an advantage if the group did not contain many stamps above the £5 limit. I have no well-defined preferences, but if the group contains stamps which are well produced and a pictorial issue or two, so much tho better.” That is an excellent letter because it tells me clearly and concisely what the reader wants, and in those circumstances it is up to me to suggest a suitable group. Incidentally, this writer added that although financial profit was not his main object, ho would like the group to embrace stamps which had a fair prospect of appreciating. Probably my reply will come as a surprise to many of my readers, but if they can name a better group which satisfies all tho conditions I shall be glad to know what it is. My suggestion was to collect tho New Zealand group of islands, together with Rarotonga (not Cook Islands) and Tonga. With the exception of the last named all of those countries belong, philatelically, to the twentieth century, while if some do exceed the £5 mark there are not enough to matter. The suggestion to embrace Tonga ought not to call for any explanation; it is a country which offers any amount of scope, the earlies and their varieties are exceedingly interesting, while the pictorials are the last word in colourful art and beautiful production. Before now I have expressed tlio view that tho financial prospects of this group are much brighter than is generally thought. In Now Zealand and Australia the demand for these island stamps is rapidly increasing, and I am convinced that sooner or later they will have a vogue on the other side of tho world as well. Once that happens tho appreciation of the obsolete issues is bound to he rapid, for the market is anything but overstocked with them. Indeed, I venture to think that even some of tho minor and modestly catalogued stamps will give my correspondent a good run for his money._ They are not all to he had for tho asking.