STAMPS

Southland Times, Issue 21832, 8 October 1932, Page 9

STAMPS

THE COLLECTORS’ COLUMN.

(By

Star N.Z.).

The Increasing use of postal franking machines makes one wonder what the end is going to be. These are now used by many of the larger firms in New Zealand, as they undoubtedly save a good deal of the office boy’s time, and furthermore the risk of having stamps pilfered is minimized. If one takes note of his correspondence he will find that probably nearly 50 per cent, of it is enclosed in franked envelopes.

These franking machines are probably used to a larger extent in New Zealand, than in any other country in the world, but their use is extending in Australia and also in Great Britain and on the Continent of Europe. Are they going to oust the adhesive stamp altogether? I think this is very doubtful for several reasons. In the first place it would probably mean the establishment of "penny in the slot” franking machines in all sorts of out of the way places, as people not having franking machines of their own could not be expected to wait for the opening of the Post Office if they had an important letter to post. This spread all over the country would entail a large expenditure. In the second place the risk of forgery would be greatly increased. About two or three months ago forgery of the Commonwealth Stamps of Australia was attempted upon a fairly large scale, but was almost instantly detected. The detection of a forged "frank” stamp would probably not be so easy. Then most countries would hesitate to face the loss of the revenue derived from philatelic sources or even the loss of publicity incurred through the abolition of commemorative isues which would follow as a natural sequence. However, there is an undeniable trend towards the convenience of the franking machine, especially by large users, and it will be interesting to see where it will all end.

Last week’s notes contained some hints to young collectors dealing mainly with the equipment required. Having obtained this, the beginner’s real task begins. Individuality and originality are very desirable in the lay-out of a collection, but if he has no special ideas of his own, the collector can at least be a -mod copyist.

The collection can be mounted in chronological sequence, in accordance say, with Stanley Gibbons’ catalogue where the whole of the different values of each issue are grouped together. This method is the most usual and has many advantages. Where there are eight or more stamps in an issue with varying shades of colour, a page, at least, should probably be devoted to the mounting of the relative stamps, but this is a matter entirely for the collector’s own judgment. Another method of arrangement, which was adopted by Rosenblum in his handbook on the stamps of the Australian Commonwealth, has much to commend it. In it, the stamps of each value are grouped together in the order of their issue, where, as in the Commonwealth of Australia, there are many flaws, errors and plate varieties in each value, this method will be found of great advantage to the more advanced collector, although he will probably have to do considerably more “writing up.” Whichever method is used the collector should leave ample space for the stamps he has not got, but which he may hope to get in time. He should go carefully through the stamps he has on hand with the aid of a catalogue, and mount into his album those he intends keeping for his collection. Some junior philatelists do not take stock of minor differences such as perforation, watermark, etc. but if anything like a complete collection is in contemplation these should be considered. Particularly do these remarks apply to a collection of New Zealand stamps where there are so many of these differences and where many of these varieties are obtainable at a very moderate cost at the present time, but are likely to become dear later on. The approved method of mounting stamps is, of course, to use stamp mounts (cost in Invercargill 9d per 1000). These should be doubled into half with the gummed surface outwards. The mount should be moistened for a quarter its length and affixed to the stamp, then moistened for a similar distance at the other end and affixed to the page. No portion of the mount when affixed should be showing above the top of the stamp. If this system is followed and the middle of the mount is affixed neither to stamp nor page it enables the stamp to be turned over and the watermark seen without detaching the stamp.

The latest bulletin from London contains no new issues of any importance. Barbados has issued a new value, viz., IJd (orange) and Bermuda a 12/6 stamp (grey and orange). Palestine has issued a new value 15 milliemas and altered the colour of the 13 mils. Next week I shall revert to a description of some of the New Zealand stamps. The monthly meeting of the Invercargill Philatelic Club will be held in St. Paul’s Schoolroom this evening when it is hoped there will be a full attendance of members.