STAMP NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 26 November 1936, Page 2

STAMP NOTES

CHRISTMAS. (By “Philatelist.”) Just at this period of the year very many countries make special appeals by issuing charity stamps, sold at a premium, for use on Christmas mail, iliey have developed from tho original Christmas seals of Denmark, which were sold at a sot price, but were not stamps as they have no Iranking value and were not issued by the postal authorities. There is great scope for a most interesting and novel collection in the charity stamps of the world. As a general rule, their use is rather limited so that they are rather uncommon; they are usually in special designs, often of more than usual interest; and there is the satisfaction that part of the cost is being devoted to some worthy charitable object. One of the earliest countries to adopt the system of a regular charity issue was (Switzerland (Helvetia is the name inscribed on Swiss stamps). A 5 centimes stamp was issued m 1913, and from 1915 to the present time, a set has appeared each year, all being inscribed, “Pro Juventute,” which probably has a meaning akin to “lor the children.” The 1913 stamp depicted the symbolic figure of Switzerland and a view of the very famous peak, the Matterliprn. Sets for 1915 to 1917 depicted ' national costumes. Then, in 1918, a most unusual idea was adopted, and continued until 1926. Printed in several bright colours, the stamps depicted the arms of the various cantons (or states) of Switzerland —Uri, Geneva, Nidwalden, Vaud, etc. But the artist, R. Munger, gave added interest by introducing into tho border design, some small pattern of something typical of each canton —for instance, with the arms of Zurich, is a cog-wheel background; Zug has fish, Neucliatel has watches, and so on. From 1927 onwards, designs generally included portraits of men who had worked in the cause of charity-—the 30c. of 1928 is particularly outstanding, depicting Jean Henri Dunant, who bears a strange resemblance to Father Christmas! , , Holland now has regular yearly sets of charity stamps. A set appeared in 1906, sold at double face-value to raise funds for the Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. Another set appeared in 1923. Then, since, 1924, regular child welfare sets have appeared in unique, and modern designs. The 1929 set is most unusual, depict* ing in futuristic style a baby riding on a big fish —“Friendship and Security.” Tiie 1930 set of four values is composed of very clever allegorical representations of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The 1931 set is rather pathetic, depicting a blind girl,” “a deaf mute,” etc. 1932 issue again depicted the seasons by flowers—gorse, cornflower, sunflower, Christmas rose. , . „ . . , Of the Dutch colonies. Surinam has issued several “Green Cross” charity sets —but the Dutch East Indies have provided remarkable interest with sets for various objects —child welfare, lepers’ colony, Christian Military Association, etc.; while the 1932 set was for Salvation Army charities and includes tho badge of the Army; and the 1933 is a Y.M.C.A. set, one stamp depicting the Y.M.C.A. emblem, but one wonders what the “woman and lotus blossom” on the 2 cent has to do with the Y.M.C.A. „ , Belgium, too, lias offered some remarkably fine charity designs, generally for the Anti-Tuberculosis Fund, and incorporating the double-barred cross which seems to he an inter national anti-tuberculosis symbol. (It was used on the 1929 and 1930 stamps of New Zealand.) From 1926 to 1931, the annual child welfare sets of Luxemfoourg carried portraits of tho cliilclien of the Grand Duchess Charlotte——Prince Jean, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Marie Adelaide, Princess Marie Gabrielle, Prince Charles, and Princess Alix. Charity stamps are few and far between in the countries of the British Empire, the most noteworthy example being the child welfare stamps oi Jamaica first issued in 1923 and reissued annually from November 1 to January 31, until January 1927. No wonder they were unpopular, being reissued on three occasions 1 For anyone looking for an idea for an interesting novelty collection, try charity stamps. MAORI ART.

On the left side of the l£d Victory, beside the fine tattooed head, are two small carved heads such as were usually found on the gables of the whales, and they represent various tribal deities and ancestors who had some claim to be immortalised. Other such carved heads occur on the Is Victory, on the Dunedin Exhibition set, and in the top corners of the current 3d pictorial. Larger types, which are usually found ornamenting and forming part of the interior walls of the native houses, are shown on the present Express Delivery stamp, and at the sides of the current l]d pictorial. In the G.S.M., Dr. Watts, commenting on these figures, states: “Not that such ancestors looked anything like these grotesque figures, though sometimes the tattooing was faithfully copied, but to be represented in this form was traditional. The protruded tongue is a fine gesture of superiority and defiance. Note that these figures, and that of Tano (mentioned in earlier notes) have only three fingers to each hand. All the genuine Maori carved figures show only three fingers; this again is tradition, as to the origin of which we are still quite in the dark, though there are a number of pretty but quite unauthorised stories concerning it.” Stamps required to illustrate the above phases of Maori art —lid and Is Victory, Dunedin Exhibition stamp, current lid and 3d pictorials, and current Express Delivery stamp.

[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.]