FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 21991, 29 March 1935, Page 2

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By Philaviust.] The January number of ' Gibbon’s Stamp Monthly ’ contains the following article by Frederick Wall on the new Sudan stamps:—l have not seen the new General Gordon stamps, which are issued to-day, and I do not have to tell you that their designs are really good—the advance photographs in last month’s G.S.M. will have done that already—but here is their story. The set commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the death, on January 26, 1885, of “ Chinese ” Gordon, the brave defender of Khartoum. Gordon, whose connection with the 1860 Chinese Expedition had earned him his soubriquet, had been sent to the assistance of Egyptian forces trapped in the Sudan through the fanatical Mahdi’s rebellion. But Gordon himself became trapped in Khartoum, and when relief arrived, after nearly a year’s siege, it was discovered that he had been killed only two days before the British force entered the town. Gordon, wearing the Egyptian tarboosh, is shown on the lower values of the series. The scene which appears on the 20 and 50 pi. stamps took place thirteen and a-half years after Gordon’s death. Lord (then Sir Herbert) Kitchener, Sirdar of Egypt, had finally vanquished the rebel Sudanese at Omdurman, and upon entering Khartoum one of his first acts was to hold a memorial service for the hero in front of the ruins of Government House—a suitable place, since it was on the steps of the palace that Gordon had died. On the stamp design we see Kitchener in the centre (the foremost figure of the group of soldiers which stretches to the right of the picture), while on the left are the four army chaplains—-Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, ahd Wesleyan—-who together conducted the service. Kitchener, who figures so largely in this story, was responsible for the founding of the Gordon Memorial College, which appears on the 2, 5, and 10 pi. stamps. This, 1 am told officially, was, in his view, the most fitting memorial to a man who had striven single-handed to help a people oppressed by a burden of ignorance and fanaticism—a school which “ would give most practical, useful education possible to boys for their future in the Sudan.” Kitchener appealed for £IOO,OOO, and the sum was subscribed in less than a month. The building was opened by him in November, 1902, and has proved a very great success. More than thirty years’ solid tradition is now behind it, ahd two generations of educated natives have been made available for the local government. On the stamps we see the south front of its imposing mass. The stamps referred to in the preceding paragraph comprise nine values in three designs. The 6, 10, 13, and 15 mils show a portrait of General Gordon; the 2,5, and 10 pi. the Gordon Memorial College; the 20 and 50 pi,, the 1898 memorial sendee. The stamps were issued on January 1, and are to remain on sale until March 31. They are recess-printed on paper watermarked multiple S.G. Western Samoa.—The colour proofs of the accepted designs for Western Samoa have been submitted to the department controlling this dependency, and after much careful study of each individual design and the colour that wquld be»t portray it, a very imposing collection should result. The issue is being well handled, and, judging by the progress already made on it, should make its appearance about the end of June. New Zealand Full Paces.—At recent sales held in London an 1855, London print Is pale yellow green brought £29, and a similar cbpy on blue paper £27.

Great Britain.—ln a recent English journal some interesting varieties oi the 1934 photogravure issue are reported. The id green has been doubly printed. The Id and .the lid have been printed on the gum side. The lid has appeared with varieties and errors in perforations and also impcrf. between. Australia.—Postage due, 4d green and carmine. Air mail, Is 6d, claret. Brunei. wmk. has been added to the current series.

Cayman Islands.—A complete new set of stamps in values from id to 10s, is now in course of preparation. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika.— The contemplated combination of a new unified issue for these three countries is now an assured fact. The complete set will comprise values from 1 cent to £l. Although there will be fourteen values in the set, only six designs are being used. New Guinea.—The current 3Jd is now appearing in a bright green shade. Seychelles.—The current 6 cents stamp is now appearing in a new violet shade. Straits Settlements.—A complete new issue is announced, containing fifteen values, ranging from 1 cent to sdol. Trinidad.—The new series has now been prepared and despatched to the colony.