STAMP NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 19 March 1936, Page 2

STAMP NOTES

(By “Philatelist.”) NEW OFFICIALS. The Manawatu Piiiiateiic Society is indebted to the Post and Telegraph Department for a Philatelic Bulletin dated .March IG, which includes the announcement that as stocks of King George officials become exhausted, the corresponding denominations of pictorial stamps will be overprinted “Official” in italics reading horizontally on all values. The Id, 1-J-d, and Is denominations will be available in March and April. Presumably the overprint will be in black, but a colour (red?) will probably be necessary on the 4d value as the centre of this stamp is in black — and on the 9d. Incidentally, it was announced in the Philatelic Bulletin of Jan. 8 that the 2d 6d, and Is values of Niue and of Cook Islands would be replaced on April 1 by fresh printings' on water-marked paper. The Is bears the bead of George V. So far, nothing has been mentioned of a change in design, so if the fresh printing is made as stated, this new variety should be worth watching. AIRWAYS. In connection with the inauguration of regular air mail services by Union Airways and Cook Strait Airways, last Monday, it is interesting to record that as long ago as 1913, the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, Ltd. (of which Union Airways is a subsidiary company) included in its Memorandum of Association (which sets out the purposes of the company): “To establish, maintain, and work lines of aerial conveyances, aircraft and hydroplanes of every description between such places as shall from time to time he. selected by the company; and to manufacture, buy, sell, prepare, let on hire, and deal in aerial conveyances, aircraft, and hydroplanes of all kinds, and the component parts thereof, and all kinds of machinery and apparatus in connection therewith; and to acquire, provide, and maintain hangars, garages, sheds, aerodromes, and accommodation ior or in relation to aerial conveyances, aircraft and hydroplanes.” (See special Manawatu issue of “Wings.”) If any collectors are building up a really comprehensive Air Post collection of New Zealand one including covers, newspaper cuttings, photographs, maps, etc., making a real • study of the history of aviation in New Zealand —then the above information is worthy of inclusion. It is surprising what an interesting and informative collection can be built up in this way, with a great deal ot patience and research. And such a collection is infinitely better than just a collection of covers. How the United States do.boost things! By the last mail, “Philatelist” has received a first day cover for the new Delivery Air Mail” 16 cents stamp issued February 10. The cover is brilliantly printed in scarlet and blue, while the new stamp is quite effective being in carmine with the American Crest in blue in the centre of a hurst of light. Apparently it represents a special fee to ensure delivery by special messenger after arrival at the office of destination. SPECULATIVE ISSUES.

Gibbons’ Stamp Monthly in recent issues has contained particulars ol a “ramp” on a large scale among countries of Central and South America and the West Indies. The Sociedad Colombista Panamericana lias been sponsoring special issues glorilying the memory of Christopher Columbus. These issues are supplied from Antwerp, Belgium, apparently by the society, on the understanding that remainder stocks shall he handed back to the society after the issue is withdrawn from sale. It is presumed that these remainders, and possibly further printings from the original plates, would be disposed .of at a discount on the stamp market. Possibly the Dominican Republic has issued a set; Ecuador has already issued a set- but there is some doubt as to whether theGovernment will adhere to its agreement with the society to return to them the balance of the stock. Eiier-, getic action has stopped the whole issue in the Panama Republic. Collectors would lie helping the cause of philately by refusing to have anything to do with new “Columbus” issues, without first ascertaining the status ol the issue. The “G.S.M.” states that the recent Brazilian issue which bears the date .of the Columbus anniversary has no connection with the S.C.P. issues. ETHIOPIA. There is certainly a touch of novelty in the way collectors are being “fleeced” by the Ethiopian issue of 1919. We are indebted to “G.S.M.” for the story. It is alleged that a counsellor to the Ethiopian Government had his salary in arrears to the extent of 12,000 thalers. He entered into an agreement, arranging for the printing of this issue at his.own expense. Apparently he was to reimburse himself by keeping, for sale to collectors, a quantity of stamps equal to the amount of the expenses he incurred in printing the issue, plus 10 per cent Also he could retain the cliches and have the right to reprint the stamps, for re-sale to collectors only, alter a period of 10 years from the date of delivery of the order. All claims to the arrears of salary were relinquished. About 1931, alter the stamps had been demonetised by the Ethiopian Government, he had a further supply printed—by the original printers—and. these were disposed of to a Continental wholesale dealer, and have since been widely diffused on the stamp market. The reprints can be distinguished from the originals—but with difficulty. “Philatelist” wonders whether it matters much to the average collector whether his specimens are originals or reprints, unless he has paid fairly high prices for the higher values. URUGUAY.

Extract From “G.S.M.” : “We learn from (he Times that because of the opposition of philatelists the Uruguayan proposal to finance the purchase of aeroplanes by an issue of stamps has been dropped.” The idea of special issues seems to be reaching alarming proportions, and it is heartening to see that, at last, the opposition of collectors is growing sufficiently to prevent at least some unnecessary issues. Unfortunately New Zealand seems to lie venturing the same way, and it is to be hoped that the Anzac issue is not the thin end of the wedge, towards the too frequent issue of “special sets, perhaps at a premium. While ha vino- every sympathy with the cause “of the It.S.A , “Philatelist” considers that an issue, of this nature, sold at a premium, should be strenuously'opposed bv collectors throughout New Zealand. It is one consolation that the use of these “double price” stamps will not be made compulsory as has been done with charity stamps of Portugal, Child Welfare stamps of Mexico, and the “R. de C.” stamps of Nicaragua, which represented a compulsory tax on every mail packet for the rebuilding of the G.P.O. at Managua. (Incidentally an issue of 1932 shows, on the one stamp. Mows of the Government buildings before and after the earthquake.) QUETZAL. The quetzal, of Gautemala, mentioned in last week’s notes, appears in a new fashion on two new air mail sets —one for interior mail, the other for exterior. The quetzal, this time in flying position, is printed in green on

all values irrespective of the colour of each stamp. Quite, a fascinating set. DEMONETISED. This word was used above in connection with the notes on Ethiopia. For the benefit of those not.knowing its philatelic meaning we give the tollowing explanation, together with allied expressions. Stamps that are in use at the present time are described as current stamps. ' Those that have been withdrawn from issue are called “obsolete” stamps. Generally, it is quite permissible to use obsolete stamps for the prepayment of postage, although of course they cannot l>e bought at post offices. However, on some occasions,*a Government issues a decree that, on a certain date, certain stamps will be demonetised, that is, they are deprived of standard value, and they no longer have value for prepaying postage. As an example, the New Zealand Government, a year or so ago, issued a list of stamps that were demonetised from a certain date (the 7d trans-Tasman was one). So that now, if you post a letter bearing a 7d trans-Tasman stamp, or any demonetised stamp, it is considered as unstariiped by the Post Office, and taxed as unpaid. However, very often a Government stands behind its stamps to the extent that demonetised stamps may be exchanged for current stamps on proper application being made at any post office. ’Tis rumoured that five or six years ago a 2d “full-face Queen” (demonetised) was thus exchanged at a Post Office not far from this city for a valid 2d King George! [These notes are published with the co-operation of the Manawatu Philatelic Society. Queries and items of interest for publication should be addressed to the Stamp Editor, care “Standard” Office.]