FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 21711, 4 May 1934, Page 2

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By Philatelist.]

The Dunedin Philatelic Club held its monthly meeting last Thursday evening in the’ Y.M.C.A. building, thirty-five members being in attendance. The syllabus for the current year was handed to those present. Mr A. Mac-, douald read a very interesting paper on the Commemorative Stamps of Australia, which bore evidence of careful preparation. He dealt with the historical background that was responsible for each issue, and then referred to tho stamps themselves, giving full details as to the method of production, paper used, watermarks, perforations, and plate numbers. His remarks were illustrated by an excellent display of the stamps. The exhibit comprised some fine blocks, which included various plate numbers and most of the prominent reentries. Stamp sales as between members brought tho evening to a close. The huinblo postage stamp has to contend with much opposition these days for, in spite of a constant stream of alluring and attractive new issues, collectors have turned to the consideration —and exploration—of other fields, more or less —and frequently excessively less —philatelic. This departure from orthodox philately is particularly noticeable overseas. One of the most striking features of present-day American philately is the prevalence of the cachet craze. A Canadian or a United States first flight cover is not considered complete unless it is decorated with one or more ornate cachets. In addition, all kinds of local events, such as the opening of an aviation field, celebrations in connection with a railroad and other similar functions invariably bring a lloclj of cachets into being upon specially prepared covers This cachet business has been worked almost to death and has acted to the detriment of aero-philately particularly. Foreign collectors, as a whole, show little interest in American flown covers, for thev realise that many of the flights are of a nature that does not call for any special commemoration. „ , , The collecting ot covers, posted on United States naval vessels, is another phase of sub-philatelia that has assumed large proportions in the United States. Cachets have likewise been considered the correct thing in these cases, and each warship produces new cachets and postmarks at frequent intervals. Marine commatology, otherwise the study of ship postmarks, is another phase that is attracting much attention overseas. There has even been an awakening of interest in the old local ship stamps, aad some of - these are changing hands at astounding prices. Almost all countries have at various times issued local postage stamps, and European specialists have been studying the prolific local issues of such countries as Norway and Germany. The studv and collecting of covers and letters carried by the early express companies is another strong American feature and the 1 Collectors _ Club Philatelist ’ has published many interesting histories of these Express Companies, which played such an important part in United States history. Keen interest is also being displayed in the records of early postal services, and this tendency is likewise marked in Europe. Much now matter relating to the early English and Continental posts has been brought to light by the researches of prominent collectors. In this they have been aided by the popularity of pre-stamp postmarks, for students of early postal markings (used long before the advent of the adhesive stamps) have discovered much data of extreme importance concerning the functions and scope of hitherto almost unknown postal services. Postal stationery has its,devotees, and in Europe and America special societies exist for the study of this branch of philately, and journals are published for this special subject Meters are a comparatively new development. Unfortunately, like postal stationery, they are inclined to bulk large in collection form, and for this reason are not as popular as they might be. Registration labels attract some interest, and other groups which have a small following include fiscal and railway stamps. Truly there seems no limit to the collecting habit, and the orthodox philatelist must realise that times are changing. In these days everything seems to be collectable and to have a considerable following.

THE APPROACHING CENTENARY. The approaching centenary of the postage stamp and the prospect of an early improvement in our own British issue have already led to a strong revival of philatelic interest in the stamps of Great Britain (says ‘The Times’). This movement among collectors is calculated to receive fresh stimulus from the publication at the end of this month of the first part of an English edition of the Glut Britain section of the monumental “ Kohl Briefiuarken-Handbuch,” which will appear by arrangement with the Royal Philatelic Society, London. It may seem curious that the first intensively specialised catalogue of British stamps should reach Englishspeaking philatelists by way of Germany 7, but it is well known that Dr Munk, the erudite editor of the ‘ Kohl Handbuch,’ had the whole-hearted collaboration of Mr J. B. Seymour, F.R.P.S.L., owner of the championship collection of postage stamps of the United Kingdom, in compiling this important part of his ambitious work, and that it was ultimately intended to bo made available to the collectors of this country. Translation of the English edition has been undertaken by two members of the council of the Royal Philatelic Society, Messrs J. Ha'll Barron and I. J. Simons, and it is understood that a number of noteworthy additions and revisions have been made to the original German text. THE LIN DEN BERG MEDAL. The postage stamp was born in Great Britain ninety-four years ago, and the issues made by H.M. Postmaster-Gen-eral during that period are second to none in philatelic interest and fascination. Nevertheless, there has not been, until now, at the service of collectors a highly specialised and annotated catalogue upon which to base their classification of these intriguing varieties, although such works have long been available to philatelic specialists” of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United States, etc. Now that the deficiency is to be supplied there can bo little" doubt that the collecting and study of British stamps will advance still further in the favour of philatelists, both at Home and overseas. That much coveted award, the Lindonberg Modal, for conspicuous service

to philately, which is presented annually by the Berlin Philatelic Club in honour of its founder, Judge Lindenberg, has been conferred this year upon Mr Thomas William Hall, one of the vice-presidents and a past president of the Royal Philatelic Society. A leading authority upon the somewhat intricate emissions of the South American States, Mr Hall has contributed extensively to the sum of philatelic knowledge in published papers and private research, and is already a member of the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists. On account of their association with the romantic story of the Brooke family, who have ruled as White Rajahs over the territory for close upon a century, the postage stamps of Sarawak stand high in the esteem of collectors. A new issue is announced by the Sarawak Government, to appear in May, bearing an up-to-date likeness of the present Rajah, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke (after the portrait by Hugh Cecil), flanked by specimens of native carving upon a bamboo case used for holding betel nut (taken from Henry Ling Roth’s book, ‘ The Natives of Sarawak and British North Borneo ’). Finely engraved and recess printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson, and Co., Now Malden, the set embraces twenty denominations ranging from 1c to lOdot, and, unlike the series of 1929. which it replaces, is without watermark.