“COMMEM” STAMPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20959, 24 February 1930, Page 13

“COMMEM” STAMPS

AUSTRALIA’S LATEST. PROFITABLE BUSINESS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) > SYDNEY, February 13. Australia is rapidly encroaching on the financial preserves of a number of the small nations of the world by the issue of commemorative postage stamps of attractive design. It has been pointed out that the issue of pretty stamps' is a highly profitable revenue maker for many of the South American Republics. Whenever they are short of cash they design a new stamp—a stamp that gladens the hearts of collectors' in all parts of the world. For, their postal revenue they do not have, to depend on thfe/ letter-writing habits of ■ their nations. If they did they might soon go bankrupt. In three years the Commonwealth has issued four new stamps, and within a few weeks will unload upon the philatelic world still another commemorative stamp-r-one to commemorate the voyage along the Murray River of the famous explorer, Sturt, who did so much to reveal the wealth of Australia. The design will feature the explorer, whose centenary is being celebrated this year, and will be issued in IJd red and 3d blue. Commemorative stamps issued by the Commonwealth lately are as follows: /

April, 1927: Canberra to mark the opening ofthe new Parliament House.

October, 1928: Blue 3d Kookaburra stamp to celebrate the opening of the Melbourne Stamp Congress, June, 1929; Green 3d Air Mail stamp to mark the opening of the east-west aero mail service.

September, 1920: Swan 14d red on the occasion of the West Australian centenary celebrations.

And, now comes the Sturt stamp. And so it is that the European and South American Republics are finding the Commonwealth a lusty rival for the pennies of small boys throughout the world, and for the pounds of the- larger collectors who make the issue of new stamps particular business. The issue of the Canberra stamp lias long been sold out, but the stamps may be purchased from collectors at double their face irnnn c ®dealer bought foOOO worth of the Canberra IJd issue. The Postmaster-general, doubtless, would welcome more inquiries from the same collector in view of the Sturt issue.