FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 21131, 17 June 1932, Page 2

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By PIIILATBLISI.]

Any uevr», notes, and items of philatelic interest will always he appreciated. Address care Editor. The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Philatelic Club was held iu the Y.M.C.A. building on Thursday evening of last week, when there was an attendance of fifty members and visitors. Two new members were elected. The programme for the evening was “ Junior Night,” the control and organisation of the meeting being in the hands of the Otago Boys’ High School Stamp Club. The secretary of that club, Master J. W. Thomson, occupied the chair. The meeting opened with a debate between the 0.8.H.5. and the John M'Glashan College stamp chibs. The latter was represented by Masters W. Moore and H. Ramsay, who upheld the proposition that “ general collecting is the best for juniors.” The negative was taken by Masters D. G. Sherriff and R. C. James, of the 0.8.H.5. Chib. After discussion the meeting decided on a vote that the weight of argument lay with the affirmative. Lecturettes were given by Master C. M'Nish (0.8.H.5.) on ‘ The Difficulties That Face a Beginner in Choosing the Type of Collection He will Make,’ and by Master R. W. Willett on 1 Stamp Clubs.’ The humorous challenges that were made by the latter speaker were replied to by the seniors in the person of Dr M. N. Watt. Very extensive exhibits on the walls were provided by the 0.8.H.5. and M'Glashan Clubs. Master W. A. M’Kellar moved a vote of thanks to the speakers and exhibitors, and the junior chairman thanked the Dunedin Philatelic Club for giving the juniors an opportunity of showing what they could do. The evening proved a decided success, and the juniors are to be congratulated on the result of their efforts. In addition to the programme outlined above, Mr Basil Howard conducted a competition, which was designed to test powers of observation in so far as these related to stamps. Mr A. Clark, the secretary of the Dunedin Club, also showed some recent Australians, prominent amongst which was an unused block of four of the new Commonwealth 6d kookaburra type, together with a first-day cover of the same stamp. These stamps were available for sale for the first time on June I.

With regard to the kookaburra 6d stamp referred to in the preceding paragraph, the ‘ Australian Stamp Monthly,’ in its issue of June 1, has the following:—“The second of the series of the new stamps to replace those at present in use will be issued by- the Postal Department on June 1. This series, of which the first was the “ Lyre Bird ” stamp, is intended to cover the native birds and animals of this country, and further issues will be made as circumstances permit. The design of the new stamp, the value of which is 6d, depicts the best-known of our native birds, the kookaburra or laughing jackass. It is an entirely new drawing, prepared by the Commonwealth stamp printer, advice being given by the ornithologist of the Melbourne National Museum, on the details of the illustration, and is quite distinct from the designs of previous issues showing a representation of this bird. Theq design depicts a male bird perched on a branch of a gum tree, and facing the right-hand side of the stamp. The leaves of the branch have been effectively treated. The words “ Australia ” and “ sixpence ” appear on the upper portion of the design, while the word “ postage ” and the value are shown at the foot. On a small tablet across the lower part of the branch is the word “ kookaburra.” The colour of the stamp is madder brown. Printing has been carried out by the letterpress method, which, although it does not give quite as good a result as the engraved process, is not nearly so costly as the latter method. In producing stamps by the letterpress (or surface) printing method, the design is engraved to a uniform depth on a steel master die. The parts of the stamp which arc to appear white are cut out and the design is formed by the parts of the die left level with the surface. The die is then hardened and a number of its impressions are made on a cylinder of soft steel by the application of strong pressure in a special transfer press. This cylinder, in turn, is hardened, and is used for rolling, under great pressure, the required number of impressions on a soft steel sheet, which is subsequently hardened, and forms the printing plate. The method is similar to that used in the engraved process, excepting that, whereas in the intaglio method the depressions are used to form the design and are cut to slight depth, to hold only a small quantity of ink, in surface printing the parts left standing give the impression, the gutters in this case being cut to a much greater depth. The “Kookaburra ” stamp is printed on the same paper as that used for the ordinary issues and bears the multiple watermark crown over C of A. The stamps are printed 120 on a sheet. The kookaburra (Dacelo Gigas), which is of the kingfisher class, is so well known that to describe it is unnecessary-. The bird feeds on lizards, mice, etc., and although not tuneful, its peculiar laughter-like call heard in the bush attracts and holds the attention perhaps even more than the musical notes of other birds. The kookaburra is endeared in the hearts of all Australians, and its appearance once again on a stamp will, it is felt, be received with much pleasure. The printer has treated the subject with much skill, which will add to the popularity of the stamp.”

A new shade of the Gibraltar Is stamp is to hand, and it is so distinct (olive and black as against the previous sage-green and black) that Messrs Stanley Gibbons have decided to give it a separate, listing.

Other British colonials that have recently appeared in new shades and colours are: Leeward Islands, id, in a blackish brown, deeper than any previous printing; l}d, in a rather paler hue than before. Gold Coast, Id, in a distinct shade of chocolate as against purple brown in the first printing. Straits Settlements, 5 cents, brown replacing orange. Mauritius, 4 cents, green, and 20 cents, blue. NOTES ON NEW ISSUES. The most important European issue is Switzerland’s series in celebration of the International Disarmament Conference. opened at Geneva on February 2. The series comprises six stamps—5, 10, 20, 00, and 60 cents, and 1 franc—ami it is intended that they shall remain in use for twelve months. Each of the live lower values has the design alighting on the blade of a broken sword, Tho design for tho 1 iranc shows the Spirit of Concord holding aloft a (laming torch. A short ah- mail set of three stamps —i-j, 20, and 00 cents, is introduced

also. The design is the same for each stamp, and shows a three-engined commercial air machine in flight. The Balkans, once the cock-pit of Europe, arc not behind-hand' in these efforts to promote international harmony, and the interesting design of the stamp issued by Turkey to celebrate the conference of the Balkan States at Istanbul shows an olive tree, superimposed ou a map of the Balkan States, and its roots spreading out to the capitals of the six States—Ankara (Turkey), Athens (Greece), Tirana (Albania) Belgrade (Jugo-Slavia), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Bucharest (Rumania). The design was the same for the nine values.

Sweden breaks new ground with a first pictorial stamp, denominated 5 kroner. The design shows the Royal Palace at Stockholm, with the River Norrstrom in the middle distance, and a sfatne of King Charles XII. Wc arc also advised officially that the 2s 6d, 55,, 10s and £1 in the Queen’s Head ” type for both Cook Islands and Nino have been rendered obsolete by the overprinted “Arms” type. Whore is the old-timer who used to prefer stamps with full gum, as it saved on hinges? An optimist is a man who expects to heat the regular mail delivery by placing a special delivery stamp' upon his letter.