STAMPS AND THEIR DESIGNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 34

STAMPS AND THEIR DESIGNS.

The designs used by variouß countries for their stamps have rapidly been improving in quality. The designs of 50 years" ago were wretched specimens of art and of printing. Now they are in the highest style of art. Each country apparently tries to vie with the other in the production of the handsomest stamp. It would be tedious to my readers to attempt to give anything like a description of all the stamps that have been and now are in existence. These (the older issues) are generally familiar enough to all advanced collectors. So also are the current stamps to beginners ' Many countries ha7e adopted designs on their stamps representing some animal, scene, or thing closely connected with that country.. With the view of giving some slight information on this subject I have carefully collected from Stanley Gibbons's appendix to their catalogue a list of the stamps which represent more or le«s the subjects before referred to. I may here say that the last edition of this catalogue (just issued) contains diagrams to the number of about 3500, descriptive of every stamp th»t has been known to exist, and is of immense value to tbe collector. I do not infer that all stamps of the countries named have adopted the designs throughout,- but simply that they have issued a stamp or stamps bearing the special design named. Here are a few of the specialties referred torCanada, a seal ; China, a dragon ; Columbian States, an eagle; Egypt, the Pyramids and Sphinx; Guatemala, a parrot; New Brunswick, a ship or a train ; Newfoundland, a codfish, a salmon, a seal, a ship ; New South Wales, a lyre bird, an emu, a kangaroo ; Nicaragua, mountainous scenery ; Norway, a reindeer; Orange Free State, an orange tree; Panama, a map ; Paraguay, a lion rampant ; Persia, the sun; Peru, the llama; Russia, a bear, a wolf ; Salvador, a volcano ; Suez Canal, a steamer ; Turkey, a star and moon ; Tußcany, a lion; United States, an eagle, a ship, a train, a horseman, pony express ; Venezuela, an eagle ; Western Australia, a swan. ,1 have only given a very meagre list, but it may serve as a slight bit of information. Great Britain and her colonies have almost universally adopted the familiar head of our good Queen, though there are many exceptions. Many other likewise adopt the likeness of the reigning sovereign. Others, again, adopt the arms of the nation. Some of the less-civilised countries, notably some Asiatic States, some South American States, and some of the South Sea Islands had in their first issues some most primitive-looking stamps, but even these are constantly improving in quality. Many, of course— such as Afghanistan and the surrounding States — have simply a, design which it would puzzle Father Peter to tell the meaning of. Many of the semi-civilised States are content with a crude picture of a savage. All, or nearly all, bear the name of the country issuing them, together with their value in the language of that country. So great is the variety in design of the various countries' stamps, that it is impossible to name any one, or even a dozen, or 20, or 100, that are better than the others.