FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 2

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By Philatelist.] 1 Autographs and Stamps ’ is tlie subject of a contribution by John it. Watson to ‘ Gibbon’s Stamp Monthly.’ It reads as follows:—I wonder how many readers of ‘ Gibbon’s Stamp Monthly ’ arc collectors of autographs, or have been in their school days when it seems to become what is known colloquially as a “craze”? With some people it is a passing phase, but with others it remains a pieasuie, a hobby, and it is primarily for the latter that this article is written, though a collection such as i outline will, 1 think, prove of interest to most collectors. Several valuable additions to an autograph album may be made by the inclusion of a tew stamps, the majority of which arc inexpensive and easy to obtain. These stamps may be divided into two classes, one of the type in which the autograph forms part of tho design, and the other in which the autograph is actually signed by the individual concerned. 1 propose to deal with the former group first, and to arrange them in alphabetical order according to the persons whose signatures appear on the stamps. Bjorustjerne Bjornson (1832-1910) : Famous Norwegian dramatist and novelist, whose portrait and signature appear on a stamp of his own country, 8. G. Type 35. He is tho most Joved and best representative of Norwegian writers; the author of Norway’s national hymn; her greatest novelist; and, next to Ibsen, her greatest dramatist. The son of a pastor, h© was born at Kvikne, and was educated at Christiana University. His first novel, ‘ Synnove Solbakken,’ was published when ho was 25 years old. After writing novels ©f peasant life he turned to dramas of Norwegian history and social problems. He was also known as a politician, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903. His most famous drama is ‘ Sigurd Jorsalfar.’ Luigi Galvani (1737-1798) : This fn.m nus Italian physiologist was professor of anatomy at the University of Bologna. His interest lay chielly in “animal electricity,” discovered when he hung a dead frog over an iron rail by a copper hook and its body twitched, duo to the electricity in the frog actuating through tho copper. Lie came to tho conclusion that the frog was a naturally charged Leyden jar. The current generated by voltaic cells was called “ galvanism ” long after its discovery. Galvani is remembered today by the “ galvanometer,” an instrument which measures electrical current. The coating of zinc on “ galvanised ” iron was originally applied by galvanic methods, lienee the name. Galvani’s autograph appears on Italy, type C 67. Maxim Gorky (18G8-1936): The signature of this Russian contemporary writer appears on type 172 of that country; tho name of Gorki being his pen-name (real name Alexis Reshkof). Gorki was a natural wanderer, and was exiled from bis country for expending revolutionary theories in his writings. He developed this style, which persisted in the majority of works of all Russian writers, through the Revolution to the present day. His chief works are ‘ Comrades,’ ‘ Lords of Life,’ and ‘ Humble Folk.’

Ludwig Holberg (1684-1754); Another Norwegian dramatist, whoso portrait and autograph appear on 8. G. type 36 of that country. Holberg is called the “ Moliere of tho North,” and was a dramatist, historian, and philosopher. Ho is sometimes claimed as a Danish writer for his vast influence ever Danish literature. His chief works aro ‘Subterranean Journey of Nils Klim ’ and ‘ Letters.’

Henrik Ibsen (1928-1906): Yet again Norway remembers one _of her dramatists. This time it is Ibsen, undoubtedly her greatest artist of literature, for ho is placed next to Shakespeare in the world of drama. (See Type 25, Norway, for his portrait and autograph.) Ho was born at Skien, apprenticed to an apothecary, and after years of unhappiness spent thus, he gained entrance to Christiana University by study. Too poor to graduate, he wrote small literary works and managed a small theatre. His early plays were coldly received, and recognition of his genius only came with the publication of ‘ Brand.’ Ho continued writing his satirical works until a year or two before his death. His most famous works are “ Brand,’ * Peer Gynt,’ ‘ Ghosts,’ and ‘ Hedda Gabler.’ ‘Karl Marx (1818-1883): Marx was the son of a Jewish lawyer in Treves, and studied at a university with the design of becoming a lawyer. His thoughts, however, tunned to social and economic problems. His ‘ Communist Manifesto ’ and his famous book on political economy, ‘ Das Kapita!,’ form the foundations of the modern international Socialist movement. Unlike the Utopian Socialists, he did not believe in a sudden change to an ideal state nor in anarchy. (Russia, S.G. Type 180). President Masaryk (b. \1850) : Czechoslovak statesman, educator, and historian. He *was the leader in the struggle for independence, and was first President of tho new Republic of Czechoslovakia, a position which ho relinquished on December 14, 1935. His autograph appears on stamps, S.G. Type 54 and 55, of his own country. Carmen Sylva (1843-1916) : This was the pen name under which Elizabeth, Queen of Rumania, wrote poems and stories dealing with the lives of the peasants and their folk-lore. She was well loved by tho people. Her autograph is on Typo C 3 of Rumania. Vazov: Vazov, tho Bulgarian poet, whose signature is found on S.G. Typo 57 of that country, is the national poet of Bulgaria, but is little known in England. His ‘ Heroic Poem of Forgotten Men ’ is considered to be bis best poem. St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) : This saint earned the name of tho “ Apostle of the Indies.” Ho was a follower of Loyola, the Jesuit founder, and after studying medicine ho travelled through India and Japan, gaining many converts to Christianity through his preachings. He had made plans for the conversion of_ China, but during the journey ho died of lover. His autograph appears on Type 37 of Portuguese Inain. Other autographed stamps, some of which come in the second class to which I have already referred, may bo briefly summarised.

Great Britain: Early telegraph stamps have the printed signatures of secretaries find directors of the private

telegraph companies who issued them (S.G. Types T 3, T3A, and T 5-9). Bermuda: The signature of W. B. Perot appears on tlie stamps ot the first issue. Perot was a descendant ot the Huguenot settlors in New York, who later moved to Bermuda, and it was he who prepared and issued these famous stamps. _ , , British Guiana. —S. G. types 1 and C of this country arc found initialled by the postmaster or his clerks. There are six different signatures. Batman : In 1883 the 16c. stamp was surcharged by hand “ One dollar,' and signed by the postmaster, Mr AH. Hamilton (Type 0). Newfoundland: The unsuccessful Morgan-Raynham flight over the Atlantic in 1919 is remembered by the “ Caribou ” stamps, with their special over print and initialled by the postmaster, Mr J. A. Robinson. Pietersbnrg: The issues of Piotcrsburg, in the Transvaal, were all initialled by tho Controller of Posts before use. Colombia: Several stamps of Cauca, Barbacaos. Cundinamarch. Magdalena, and Rio Hacha are found initialled or signed by the postmasters of their respective districts. U.S.A. : The famous “ postmaster’s stamps ” of Baltimore and New Haven wore signed before issue by t their respective postmasters, J. M. Buchanan ami E. Mitchell. Venezuela: Overprints, Type 37 and 38, show the initials or signature of Mendoza, tho Minister of the Interior, or Castro, tho President. A search through tho catalogue will reveal further stamp autographs, and it is to ho hoped that others will appear in the near future to add to what is. as a subject collection, not too strong at present, hut is very interesting. !