THE STAMP CLUB

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 12 May 1944, Page 3

THE STAMP CLUB

Conducted by the Stomp Man. Dear Boys and Girls, A number of von boys and girls, as well as adults, have been asking lately the difference in value between used and unused stamps, so I thought I would write about this subject. Of course some people prefer to collect only unused stamps because they consider they can then sec the full design without it being hidden by a postmark, while the majority of collectors prefer used issues as they hold that, by having been through the post, the stamps have fulfilled the purpose for which they were intended, as well as being a guarantee that the stamp is genuine. Briefly, the difference in value between a used and unused stamp depends entirely on the actual stamp itself. For instance, at the time when our New Zealand Centennial stamps were planned, there was a posta.se rate of 7d on parcels, so a stamp to this value was issued. However, shortly afterwards, owing to the war, the postage rate on parcels was increased by one penny, so the 7d stamp had to be withdrawn, and an 8d value in the same design was issued. The 7d stamp had not been in use very long, and when it was known that it was being withdrawn, collectors and others thought it would become valuable. So many thousands of this stamp were bought and kept. This means that there are more of these stamps unused than have actually been used for postal purposes; consequently, the used ones are scarcer and are more valuable. I have mentioned this 7d stamp as an example of what I meant when I said the difference between used and unused stamps depends on the actual stamp itself.—Your friend, THE STAMP MAN. Thank you for stamps: “The Yodelling Cowgirl". Ruth Davis, Pakawau.