FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 3

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By Philatelist.]

Any news, notes, and items of philatelic interest will always be appreciated. Address care Editor.

In a recent number of the ‘ Wide World Magazine ' Mr Fred. J. Melville, the well-known writer on philatelic matters, has the following remarks under the heading ‘ Air Stamps Rising ’“ The immense popularity of air mail stamps is a theme about which most of the catalogue editors will have something to say. All the catalogue firms find it difficult to keep their stocks of these favourite issues replenished, and at each replenishing there is the likelihood of the stamps costing more. As for the rarer air stamps, the dealers simply cannot keep them in stock; they j have waiting lists of ..buyers whenever I they can secure specimens. 1 do not see any prospect of diminution of interest in air mail stamps proper—those that are accepted by the catalogues as bona fide Government issues. Even if there were not thousands of collectors ■ devoting themselves exclusively to air stamps they would > still be wanted by the general collector as postage stamps/’ * * * « It was originally intended that the new watermark, Crown over C of A, should be brought into use with the forthcoming Australian pictorial set. The long and unforeseen delay in preparation of this latter, however, has resulted in a premature utilisation of the new watermark for values in the King’s head design owing to exhaustion of , stocks of the old watermarked paper. As the stamps of Papua are also printed in Australia it is more than likely they will also be appearing on the Crown , over C of A paper' before very long. Collectors should thereforo be on the look-out for them.

The * Australian Stamp Monthly,’ in its February number, states: “ We believe that we are safe in predicting that this year will see the issue of a complete new series of stamps in Papua, replacing the Lakator design, which has now done service over thirty years. The new series, yrhich will be line engraved, will be bicoloured, and will show various Papuan scenes and other subjects, and will include a different design for each value.' A most attractive series can be looked for.”

The same paper states:'“ We are officially informed that the New Guinea bird of paradise commemorative stamps will be withdrawn from sale in May, 1932, when they will be replaced by an entirely new series. Although it is at present intended that this series shall comprise the bird of paradise design with the dates 1921-1931 removed, we understand that the probability is that some more definite change will take place. The new stamps will be engraved and printed in Melbourne.” \ * * * *

An attractive set comprising nineteen values has been issued by Indo-China, and it is certainly one of the best yet seen from any of the territories of the French republic. , Two of the designs ' are particularly interesting: Those of the three high values and of the 3 cents ,to 6 cents stamps.' The latter gives a view of part of the wonderful temple of Cayon, at Angkor, in Cambodia. The actual stamp design shows one of the fifty towers, each in the form of a fourfaced statue of Brahma, that are built around the main edifice. The temple dates from the ninth century—a striking reminder of the age-old culture of the - East. On the high values is a quaint figure in an even quainter attitude. This is an “ apsara,” one of the dancing nymphs of the Hindu paradise. It is told in Hindu mythology that the marriage of these sprites with gandharva (the celestial spirit of the highest sky) resulted in the birth of the first mortals. Perhaps this fact is tile reason for their appearing on the stamps, as perhaps it was the cause of their other philatelic appearance, in 1887, on the issues of Jhalawar. For the remaining designs of the postage stamps of this Indo-Chinese set conventional junk and rice gatherer subjects have been chosen, but there is also a curious and quite unique collection of dues in a bizarre design and colour scheme that should interest collectors. % ,* »•* Sydney Harbour Bridge opening will be commemorated by the issue.of three denominations-2d, 3d, ss. * * * * JOTTINGS. ' The main topic of conversation ' among English collectors and dealers seems to be “How does the fall in the pound sterling affect the stamp market? I'rom all appearances, the dealers are pleased. Stanley Gibbons, the leading house, reports increased sales in both foreign stamps aqd in colonials, ■while other firms report new business, with many inquiries and purchases from abroad. Auction firms state that more bids from America and France are^ coming in by cable and letter. kg.VP.t (306). —We understand that' the denominations of the forthcoming air post set will bo 1,2, 3, 4,‘ 5, 10, 15, 30, 50, 100, and 200 mils—eleven in all. Due to the fall in the value of the Egyptian pound the rates of foreign postage have been increased and the current 10 15, and 20 mils, stamps are to bo surcharged withi new values to meet them. The surcharges on these values will be 13, 20, and 25 mils, t in addition the 50 pi., King Fuad anniversary stamp, will he surcharged SO m/m. and the £E.I stamp of the pre- , vious issue, 100 m/m. Of the former there will be 140,000, and of the latter ’4,000 copies only. The Teutons have designed a poster stamp to be sold under the auspices of the Gennan-American Olympic Committee, to aid in bringing the German athletes to the 1932 Olympic Games. The stamp shows a representation of the American flag across the top; inscription “Los Angeles ; 1932 ” and acorn and oak leaf, including “X Olympiad? ” across centre, and a representation of the Gorman Republic flag across the bottom. „ Mexico (39).—A new issue of childwelfare stamps, inscribed “Pro In fansia,” is foreshadowed, embracing eight denominations—viz., Ic., 2c., 3c., 4c., 5c., 10c,, 20c., and 25c.—but as each, of these is to be printed in two different colours there will be actually sixteen varieties to collect. A special 10 centavos stamp commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Mexican Post Office is also foreshadowed. The design will he a reproduction of; that which appears . on the first national stamps issued in 1856, in the form of a portrait of Don Miguel Hidalgo do Castillo, Liberator of Mexico. A. New Italian Commemorative.—A series of three stamps will shortly be issued commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Naval College. Details supplied by the Unione Filatelica Nazionale S.A. are of much interest. The 20c. will be rose and will show the Tower of Meleria which stands at the entrance of the port of Leghorn. The 50c. mauve will picture the training ship “ Amerigo Vespucci.” lI.MS. Trento, one of the latest warships, will appear on tho 1.25 L blue.