THE SCIENCE OF PHILATELY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19737, 13 March 1926, Page 7

THE SCIENCE OF PHILATELY.

THIRD NEW ZEALAND

EXHIBITION

CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC INTEREST

From the moment the doors of the Art Gallery wing, containing the New Zealand Philatelic Society’s third exhibition of postage stamps, were opened yesterday, the crowds of visitors who streamed in throughout the afternoon and evening proved the public interest that is taken in the unique display of postal stamps that was again on view yesterday. Samples from collections sent from all parts of Australia and New Zealand have been arranged in a manner that offer the greatest appeal to the uninitiated, and every endeavour has been made to produce an educational exhibition that is worthy of the closest examination by amateur collectors both beginners and experienced devotees of the fascinating hobby. Amongst the many interesting groups is the collection of New Europe issues from the post*war reconstruction period. The first award in this section went to M A F. M. Paterson, from whose collection a particularly valuable exhibit of the issues of obscure European countries and States is shown. The second award wes gained by Mr E. G. Pilcher, whose collection is also worthy of an important place in the exhibition One of the many attractive varieties in Mr Pilcher’s collection is thafc of Jugo Slavin, a first issue showing a symbolic figure breaking the Austrian fetters. Two of the collections in the same section include a number of stamps from the Rogues’ Gallery of Socialist leaders in Hungary—Karl Marx, Martinovus, Engels, and Dozia. There are many samples of stamps struck to celebrate the victory of the Allied forces at the close of the Great V\ ar, not the least beautiful of these being the Japanese issues, designed with the dove of Peace. In this section Mr E. G. Pilcher has an interesting collection of New Zealand Victory stamps in seven varieties. Mr Pilcher also gained first award in the section devoted to any one British dominion, with a valuable cmlection ot Ceylon stamps containing practically every issue from 1855 to the present day. which is one of the outstanding displays in the exhibition. They comprise used and unused—in perfect condition —and the eollection as a whole is an exceedingly valuable one. Beside the Ceylon stampers a selection of the famous Cape of Good Hope triangles exhibited by Mr J. r Amongst the sections in which Mr A. L. Chappell, of Christchurch, has exhibited is that devoted to novel and curious varieties —freak stamps, the values of which he in their unique treatment in the countries of origin. There are 12 clever forgeries, some patent even to the layman, others so cleverly perpetrated that the deception can be discovered only by a trained and experienced collector. There are stamps overprinted with pen and ink, and stamps bisected to double the face value, enabling one stamp to be divided and used on two envelopes, and consequently save further printing Although they are not m the collection shown by Mr Chappells, the Serbian “death head” stamp may be numbered in this class, and is one of the most interesting in the exhibition. As it was printed, it contained the busts of knb Peter and Kara George but when reversed, another head, apparently badly battered, is plainly discernible. As the stamp was issued after the assassination of King Alexander, the people of Serbia r . e K a /U: f ' the phenomenon as an omen, and in .otne quarters it is still alleged that the French engraver who designed the stamp, manufactured the grim picture puzzle with a definite object. That, however, has never been established.

A SOCIAL EVENING. . At 3 o'clock last evening the.; visiting delegates to the tfhilateua Congress were entertained at an enjoyable snjOßacmi in the Wentworth rooms by the me.libera of the Dunedin Society. The President. Mr J. M'Ara, was in the chair, and theie was an attendance of twenty-live members •"iVproSing the toast of the "Confess and the Exhibition," the president of the Now Zealand Society, Mr A L. said it had occurred to him that times had changed in philatelic circles. Once a philatelist hid his light under a bushel and as a man who collected little scraps of paper, did it "round the corner Now they had come out into the open through the' benefits of organisation. .To-day "° town of any size was without its philatelic club, and throughout the country philatelists were becoming more prominent every day. Yet there were still thousands of coilectois outside the clubs in New Zealand, and it behoved every member to do his u«™=st to make collectors realise the value of the science. The organisation had shown its progress in Dunedin by organising an excellent exhibition of postage stamps, the Dunedin society had offered an open-handed and hospitable welcome to all delegates, and in every way the exhibition in the Art, Gallery was designed to shew visitors tne value >f the hobby. Ihe exhibition should be kept well before the public, for it was worthy of close study and examination by * the speaker also detailed the method of allotting points in the exhibition competitions, and said that the points had been given on an international standard. "I should like to congratulate the Dunedin society on the great success ot the congress and the exhibition." he concluded. "Mr J M'Ara and his committee have doneexcellent work, and success has attended their efforts." ~,.•■ In reply. Mr M'Ara thanked the previous speaker for the kind things he had said about their efforts, but he felt that a good show had been put up. It had been extremely interesting to the committee, the members of which all enjoyed the work, and the members were delighted at the opportunity given to meet philatelists from all parts of the Dominion. Mr Basil Howard proposed the toast ot "The Exhibition," and in doing so endorsed Mr Chappell's remarks as to the fallacy of a collector being an apologist, the Dunedin- society was greatly indebted to the exhibition, for the exhibition was an important milestone in the progress of philately, and the devotion and interest taken by exhibitors was resnonsible for its success. The work of judging was also heavy, and the Dunedin Society was fortunate in having the services of capable men from the north. He coupled his toast with that of "the Judges." Messrs R. J. G. Collins (Christchurch), R. L. Jovce (Christchurch). and E. G. Pilcher (Wellington) replied to the toast. "Our Friend the Post Office." was proposed bv Mr E. Vernnzoni (Christchurch) and replied to by Mr R. J. G. Collins. An excellent musical programme comnl«f«/I n vtxrv siip<-nssful evening.