STAMP COLUMN

Southland Times, Issue 25306, 8 June 1935, Page 11

STAMP COLUMN

OLD AND NEW ISSUES

(By

Hinge.)

While you are still in the early stages of collecting you can obtain good values in packages of stamps listed under special heads, giving associated varieties. Your first purchase should be as large a general packet as possible—one containing 1000, if possible, or packages in those series in which a guarantee is given that there is no duplication of stamps in other envelopes. When you have passed this stage you will find duplications worrying you, but some of the general packets will still yield many stamps you require and give you duplicates to use for exchange purposes. At this time, however, you will find yourself attracted by envelopes devoted to one subject or to one country. In those you will find splendid values, while you can build your collection systematically. You will purchase individual stamps to fill in the blanks. Aim at completing sets, and when you have all the varieties of a particular issue you should date it in your book and distinguish any special variations. Two designs were issued in the 1934 Costa Rica set of 13 values. For the 9 centime values an aeroplane is shown flying over a Costa Rican village. For the 4 colon values the design shows an allegorical figure of flight. The enthronement of His Majesty Emperor Kang Teh was honoured last year by a set of four stamps in two designs. The ljf and 6f show a view of the Imperial Palace, and the 3f and lOf show a pair of the Phoenix birds, denoting happiness. A new special Mexican delivery stamp of attractive design was issued last year. The stamp is printed in two colours and the design shows a native messenger running and carrying the message in his right hand. A native sun temple and snowcapped peak form the background and in the foreground on either side are specimens of Cacti. Another value of the 1927 pictorial set was issued by the Union of South Africa in 1934. This is the ssh dark green and gray printed by the rotogravure process and the pair of stamps are inscribed in either English or Afikaans. The design shows one of the trek waggons used in. this section of the country.

Afghanistan issued a 50 pools light ultramarine stamp of exceptionally large design, showing a gateway, last year. The 2p and 5p King George and 6p Kookaburra stamps with “C of A” watermark are perforated with the initials “WA” for use by the State Government of Western Australia. Austria honoured eminent Austrian architects oh this year’s charity set. A new value, IJp brown, was last added to the Caravel set of Burmuda. New Zealand Issues.

The first New Zealand Id, engraved by Humphreys, was printed by Messrs Perkins Bacon and Co, London. It was issued on July 18, 1855 and it shows the young Queen Victoria, full-face, in a circular against a dark background with “New Zealand” shaped to synchronize with the circular centre, and i below the words “Postage” and “One Penny.” In dull carmine and on white paper, no perforations, these are worth £3OO unused and £3O to £l5O used. The 2d in blue and on blued paper is worth less (£9O unused and 45/- to £l4 used), a blue 2d on white paper is listed at from £3 to £2O. A yellowgreen 1/- on blue paper is worth £250 unused, and from £lO to £45 used, while the series on white paper ranges from £350 unused to £35 used. There is a novelty here. The 1/- was cut in half and used as a 6d—these are worth £7O used. In November 1853 the same series was printed in Auckland by J. Richardson. These show no watermarks, and no perforations—and are all on Blue paper. The 1/- is a full green and again it is cut in half for the 6d value. The issue of January 1857 is on white paper with a large star watermark, but the designs are the same. In this issue the Id is a dull orange and that is the most valuable of New Zealand stamps—£soo. There is a similar stamp printed by Richardson in 1856, but though it is of precisely the same shade, the paper shows no watermark.

Between 1856-59 the stamps were printed on white paper by Richardson, and except for the 1857 Id already mentioned showed no watermark. There are three blues in the 2d—pale blue, £l2 unused, 15/- to 60/- used; blue (1856) £ll unused, 15/- to 60/- used; deep blue, 20/- to 80/- used. There appears for the first time a 6d, and at different times the brown changed—-bistre-brown 1859 (£2O unused, 30/— to 100/- used), brown, (£l5 and 20/—9O/-), and pale brown £l6 and 35/--120/-). In 1856 the 1/- was dull emerald green and is now listed at £BO and £s—£3o) and blue-green (£lOO and £ls—£3o). Another issue, the first perforations—pin-type—covers the same values and the list prices range from £45 to £75 for used. Then there is a series, including a chestnut 6d, with serrated perforations, gauge 16, listed at from £5O to £7O for used; and the rouletted set with two shades of shillings, listed from £4O to £BO. The blue 2d unused is worth £l2O. In 1862 perforations, 13 gauge, the 2d pale blue is worth £l5O unused and £5O, and 6d pale brown, £2OO used. (To be Continued.)