PHILATELY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 23

PHILATELY.

By Peldbe.

MUSICAL STAMiPS. Among the nations of Europe, Austria, now only a shadow of its pre-war seif, devoted a special series of stamps, issued m 1922, to the memory of famous composers. The engraving and printing of these stamps is very beautiful, the portraits are full of dignity, and the whole series is so attractive that many people not stamp collectors, but interested in music, have bought them as souvenirs of their musical idols. The series include portraits of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. Schubert, Buckner, J. Strauss, and Hugo Wolf, and is the most important tributo_ yet offered by the stamp: album to music, as the appearance of Paderewski on a stamp of Poland is more concerned with his political activities after the war, than with his fame as a musician. Poland, which had displayed a rather belligerent spirit after the war, gave evidence of. at any rate, a peaceful past, by means of stamps showing portraits of Kopernik (Copernicus) and Konarski. Copernicus, who was born in 1473, is worldfamous as the first exponent of the theories on which modern astronomy is based, the foremost being that the sun is the centre of our planetary system,—the theory which later was to get Galileo into trouble in Italy. Konarski is nationally famous as a man of letters. It is astonishing the way philately has taken hold in Japan. Every month we see evidences of increasing interest in the land of chrysanthemum and cherry blossom. We are constantly receiving philatelic publications from that country, and not only do they publish some very .creditably appear--ing journals, but they are of as many as from thirty to forty pages, well illustrated and full of advertisements. Of no other hobby can it be said that all classes collect. Of stamps it is a notable characteristic; from, the boy who goes in for penny packets to the millionaire who takes choice copies of the rarest varieties, all collect, each according to his means, and each taking his fill of pleasure from the same fascinating pursuit. King George once said it was one of the greatest pleasures of his life. For the young it teaches order and neatness, two very necessary adjuncts to one’s qualifications. It gives them a study of colour, so very necessary later on when deciding shades, and it also provides them with a very pleasant occupation. Philately is adaptable to all pockets. Few can afford to collect precious gems, paintings, coins, old china, or antique furniture, but anyone may collect stamps according to his means, for there are thousands of stamps that can be purchased for a penny or less, as well as rarities that run into hundreds of pounds. Rumours are still current regarding the probability of new issues of Commonwealth stamps. Although nothing is known officially, there is now strong reason to believe that the proposed Canberra issue is still very much in the wind, and that there is every probability of the work on its production being executed by one of the wellknown stand]# engravers in England. Authoritative information is most difficult to come by at the moment, but our readers may rest assured that as soon as anything definite is known, they will be informed through these columns. NEW ISSUES. Trans Jordania.—The new issue of Hejaz stamps have been overprinted in Arabic “Hukumat il sharq i Arabiyeh” for use in this territory pending the issue of the permanent stamps now being printed in London. Bulgaria.—A Charity label has been issued for this country and is used on Sundays and holidays only, letters posted without this label attached to the envelope are not delivered until the next day. The proceeds of the sale of these labels go towards the sanatorium for the Post Office employees. The labels are not postage stamps in any way, and are not recognised at the International Bureau of Posts at Berne. One leva is charged for the label, which is printed in black on green paper. France. —A new denomination —namely. 3 francs, was added to the existing series last month, printed in the familiar “Oliver Merson” type. A 1 frano blue in the “sPasfeur” design is also on sale. New Postage Due stamps of 40 and 60 centimes are to hand from Mr R. Roberts. Monaco. —A new denomination has made its appearance in the surface printed typo showing a view of the railway viaduct and Church of St. Devote. Peru.—We chronicle three values of a commemorative set bearing the inscription “Fro Plesbiscito Tacha Y Africa 1925,” of large format and different subjects. The values and colours are 5c blue, 10c brown, and 50c green, Italian Colonies.—ln connection with the impending proclamation of the Italian Empire it is proposed to introduce some colonial propaganda stamps in denominations 5, 10, 20, 50 50 centesimi and 1 lira, each of which will be sold for a surtax of sc. Two houndred thousand sets are to be allotted to each of the Italian Colonies. The design common to all values is the work of Prof. Calcagnadoro, and depicts Italia launching her ships upon the teas and indicating by means of a reversed sword and spade in hand the peaceful nature of her colonial enterprise.