FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

Evening Star, Issue 23130, 2 December 1938, Page 3

FOR STAMP COLLECTORS

[By Philatelist.]

NEW ZEALAND PICTORIAL STAMPS. Four new plates have been used for the 2d pictorial stamps. Plate numbers 2a and 2b appear in large type in the margin below the second vertical rows, while 3a and 3b, in smaller type, arc shown below the twenty-third vertical rows. One plate number only appears on each sheet. Stamps from the new plates were issued in October, 1938. POSTAL STATIONERY. During last month a King George Vi. id die was brought into use for embossing envelopes supplied by private persons. A King George VI. Id die has also been used for embossing envelopes for sale to the public. STAMP BOOKLETS. The present Id King George VI. stamp booklet is being replaced with two booklets, one containing 18 Id stamps and 12 id stamps (2s), and the other, 18 lid stamps (2s 3d). In order to avoid confusion, the lid booklet has been printed on a light blue paper. This booklet is now on sale, and the one containing the id and Id stamps will be available as supplies of the present Id booklet become exhausted. The id, Id, and lid stamps in the new booklets were printed from plates 22, 23, and 24 respectively. The plate numbers do not appear in the booklets, however, as arrangements have been made with the printers for plate numbers to be placed with the imprint in the centre of the lower margin. This margin is removed in the process of converting the sheets of stamps into booklets. A proportion of the sheets in the booklets will be found with the watermark inverted. AMONG THE COMMON STAMPS. For the collector who enjoys searching for varieties among common stamps, in “ bank mixtures ” or cheap wholesale lots, few countries offer better opportunities than France, especially iu the middle and later issues. Although it is nearly 40 years since the long-familiar “ Peace and Commerce ” design was superseded, it had been in use for a quarter of a century, during which period many millions of stamps wore used, and in used condition they are still abundant in most of the denominations. The existence of two distinct die varieties, well known for many years, is apt to be forgotten by those anxious to find the scarcer stamps for themselves without having to pay dealers’ prices. The design by Jules Auguste Sage, a young artist employed in a painted glass factory, was submitted in an open competition and won the approbation of Meissonier, who suggested some slight modifications which were made before any die was engraved. Eugene Monchon engraved the die, in which on opening was out to receive the large numeral of value. This hole may have contributed to the subsequent accident; the first die cracked and became distorted. so that a partial re-engraving became necessary. The stamp catalogues give the dies in the reverse order from_ that which the engraver Mouchon did, but the terms “ die 1 ” and “ die 2 ” have been retained in the catalogue order in which they have so long been known. The most notable difference is in the tiny lettering of the artist’s name in the lower left base, under the word “ Repnblique ” : J. A. SAGE INV. In “ die 1 ” the N. of INV. is under the letter B; in “ die 2 ” it is under the U of REPUB. THE RARE PRUSSIAN BLUE. If M, Mouchon's memory was right it is strange that stamps from the catalogue “ die 1 ” should 'be generally scarcer than those from “ die 2.” The differences in values are sometimes negligible, but many vary as from zero to a few shillings. The rarest stamp in the whole group is the 1 centime black on a Prussian blue (instead of grey or azure) ground. This is from “ die 2,” and is quoted at £2O unused, and £ls used. Used copies have been discovered by diligent search in “mixtures.” The most exciting possibility would be the finding of a pair or strip of the 25c blue showing stamps of the two die varieties se tenant. THE “ RIGHTS OF MAN.” The “ Angel ” design for low values from 1900 onwards presents only minor varieties and shades, although slight modifications were made in the die for rotary printing. The “ Rights bf Man ” design invented and engraved by Mouchon, was first printed on the keyplate plan, the figures in the rectangular shield in the top corner being added at a second printing. Later on plates were made with the figures inserted. It is easy to distinguish between the two kinds; the stamps of the earlier issue have the numerals out of register. On^ - the 10 and 25 centimes occur in both styles. In 1902 this design was redrawn. In the horizontal oblong design by Merson, used for the higher values, the 40 and 50 centimes and the 1 franc are all known to exist with the background colour omitted. OSCAR ROTY’S “SOWER.” The late M. Oscar Roty’s “ Semeuse,” already a popular figure on a French coin, was introduced on stamps in April, 1903, and held the field for many years. The design, however, underwent a series of partial .redrawings and re-engravings. Whether the artist, or the engraver (still Mouchon) was at fault is not clear, but the first issued, with a lined background showing the sun on. the horizon, the critics complained of gross errors in the picture. The female is sowing seed against the wind, which knowledgeable folk pointed out was just “ not done.” The sun, moreover, is in the background, but it is the front of the figure that is illuminated!

CHANGES IN DESIGN. The first revision of the design removed the sun and the horizon, and made the background solid, leaving only a small patch of ground as a footr in°; for the lady. The next avatar of the Semeuse leaves her sowing in space, with no foothold on earth at all, and further small changes in the inscriptions and numerals were afterwards produced by retouching the dies. Thus the philatelic

history of the Semeuse design is a long and chequered one, on which someone may yet write a complete monograph. BELGIAN PARCEL POST ISSUE. Railway enthusiasts among readers will be specially interested in the new Belgian series of parcels post stamps. The winged wheel and simple piece of steel rail create a singularly effective impression of great speed. There is a posthorn in the bottom left corner. AUSTRALIA’S KOALA STAMP. One of the most interesting Australian issues of recent years is the 4d value, illustrating the popular Koala. This is Australia’s only native bear, and its decidedly amusing appearance and novel characteristics have made it a great favourite with children. The design of the stamp' shows the Koala in a characteristic pose, for it lives in trees and ventures to the oround only on rare occasions. On Those occasions, if approached.- it will scramble very quickly up another tree to safety. Its diet consists principally of the new shoots and leaves of the gum tree.