PHILATELY.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 36

PHILATELY.

By Old Stamp.

THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Last Thursday, true to promise, the inaugural exhibition under the auspices of the Dunedin Philatelic Society was held in Dunedin. I always thought the idea was a rather ambitious one, but am now glad to admit that the show justified the attempt. It is over two months since the society determined to have this exhibition, and once decided on one and all did their level best to bring the affair to a successful issue. It had been determined that there should be a short address to inaugurate the proceedings, but it was subsequently thought the time could be otherwise better employed, consequently there was no ceremonious opening. No charge was made for admittance, each member having three tickets at his disposal, and these, I am pleased te note, were nearly all used. There were just enough ladies and gentlemen present to make it apparent that considerable interest was taken in it, while there were not too many to make it inconvenient for each othar. Aa the society's meeting room was scarcely large enough for their accommodation on this occasion, the Germania, who occupy the adjoining room, kindly placed it at the society's disposal for the evening. This room is always in holiday attire, festoons in galore hanging from the ceiling, while round the walls were all manners of devices and designs, thus adding considerably to the general effect. The committee appointed to carry out the details, assisted in a large degree by their hon. secretary, Mr 0. H. Roberts, had used every exertion to render the affair successful, and this being so it was no surprise to hear the warm approval expressed by one and all, both ladiei and gentlemen, at the excellence of the show, and at the munner in whioh the arrangements wore carried out. The lady friends of the members kindly provided tea and coffee and light eatables, and these, as they always do, assisted to introduce one another, and materially assisted to make the affair the success it undoubtedly was.

The main object the society had in view in holding the exhibition was to indnce a larger membership to the society, as it is known there are many advanced collectors in and near Dunedin who do not belong to it. Every collector knows that it is by a large membership that opportunities are given to all to increase their collections ; therefore it if for the benefit of all that all collectors should belong to it. Naturally, therefore, the members distributed their tickets among those who took an interest in the science, but who did not belong to the sooietyj Coming to the exhibits themselves, I can Only echo the remarks made by all with whom I came into contact, and which was that the show was a most meritorious one, indeed considerably ahead of what I had expeoted. There was, however, a slight fault in the arrangements, and that was a want of understanding before the show came off as to what each one would show. The result of this was that no less than four members exhibited postoards. These naturally contained many of the same articles, whereas a greater variety might have been shown had the members consulted one another beforehand, and exhibited accordingly. I am not in any abuse finding faulty but simply mention it that £it may be avoided in the future. The members had spared neither trouble nor expense in their exhibits, and the general turn-out was most creditable. Of course I know that to exhibit separate countries entails a lot of trouble to take the stamps out of the albums, besides the risk of damaging them. The exhibitors of frames and albums were all members of the society excepting two —Messrs E. R. Smith and A. B. Thomson, both of J)ttaedin-»rtha forme* ot Jrhom phpwfld ,

* stamped letter sheet despatched from P«xl« by balloon post during the time that city waa h«ld by the German army in 1870, and the latter exhibited an unused pair of eaoh of the Columbian issue of the United States stamps from lo to sdol, this latter being much admired.

First in impertanct undoubtedly were the eight frames exhibited by Mr W. L. Hooper. This gentleman has long mad* a specialty of the Australasian colontei, and from tha reputation he had of possessing a fine lot, it was no surprise to see the grand display be made. New South Wales, Viotoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Fiji were all represented, and well, by the chief rarities of each colony. No attempt was made in this exhibit to show anything modern or common ; they were. all good. There were perforated and unperforated, many in pairs and fours, and in all varieties ojf shades— ln fact, many were the envious eyes cast on this really grand exhibit. Mr W. L. Hooper's collection comprised eight frames. In one were fine copies of the Sydney View, Laureated, and Diadem stamps of New South Wales ; in another, some of tha first Victorians, inoluding the " too late " and registered, besides all the earlier varieties.; the third obnteined nearly everything in New Zealand goods— blue paper, pelure, and roulettes { the fourth, South Australia, nearly every variety; the fifth, Tasmania, nearly all the varieties; the sixth, Western Australia, the rare octagon of the first issue, also many early Fiji stamps ; the seventh, unperforated Queensland ; and the eighth, envelopes and cards, Mr B. T. Ringer showed two frames— one of postcards and ones of envelopes— both being tastefully arranged. Mr C. H. Roberts showed five frames containing postcards, and stamps of India, France, Qreat Britain, New Zealand, and the United States. He also showed the Mulready envelope, whioh attracted considerable attention. Among the New Zealands was a printer's proof in black of the present 2£d stamp. Mr G. Turton showed one frame of posboards. Mr J. Aris showed four frames— one containing United Sbates periodical stamps ; another, United States postage stamps ; a third, old issues of British colonies other than Australasian ; and the fourth, the first issues of New Zoaland worked into a tasteful design. Mr O. Athya showed one frame of postoards. The Dunedin Philatelic Society showed a frame containing a oolleoMon of forgeries, and other papers belonging to the society. Messrs B. W. White, F. H. Goy, B. T. Ringer, T. S. Payton, and O. Earland exhibited their collections, personally attending and showing the same to the visitors. To sum up, the sooiety may certainly be con* gratulated on the suocess of this their initial attempt at a show. What I sheuld have liked to have seen would have been the keeping of the exhibits on view throughout the following day, co that those of the public who desired might drop in and mspeot them. I know the members are averse to losing sight of their collections for divers reason*, but the exhibits io frames would have been quite safe so long as there was a representative of the sooiety in charge of them. Perhaps the society may take the hint on a subsequent ocoasion.