STAMP COLUMN

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 19

STAMP COLUMN

OLD AND NEW ISSUES

(By

Hinge.)

The new Manchukuo stamps are now issued in a smaller format, and on paper watermarked in the sheet with Chinese characters meaning, “Manchoutikouo Postage.” The design now measures mm., instead of 18jx22£. The first value to be issued in the new form is the 10 fen blue. Bulgaria has put out another commemorative issue. This appeared in September, dedicated to the memory of Hadji Dimitii, a revolutionary leader. The issue covered the following denominations and quantities:—l leva (90,000), 21., (80,000), 41., (30,000), 71., (30,000), 141., (30,000). On the left-hand side of the German “Handel”, memorial stamp, 25 pfg., an error has been discovered. This stamp shows a full-faced portrait of the composer, and in the inscription below it occurs the date ‘1685,” but on the sixtieth stamp of each sheet this date is “1585.” The German authorities have removed as many as possible of the misprints, but a good number of them have gone into circulation and these will be valuable in days to come. The New Guinea Id. in green and the 2d. in red, showing the Bird of Paradise design and the dates 1921— 1931, were overprinted “His Majesty’s Jubilee, 1910-1935” as part of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations. They were printed for the first time on unwatermarked chalk-surfaced paper, which is to be used in future in the territory. The Australian Stamp Journal says that it is proposed to replace the overprinted 2/- and 3/- New Zealand stamps in the “Admiral” type with new stamps depicting characteristic local scenes as regards Niue and Rarotonga. Competitive designs have already been received. These stamps will conform to the present pictorial issue, in that the same centre will be adopted but with separate borders for Cook Islands and Niue. They will depict island scenes, with native implements and utensils worked into the borders. It is also proposed to transpose the values of the Id. and 2d. Cook Islands (and Niue) stamps, as it is considered that the present Id. stamp (Capt. Cook) is the least, and the 2d. (Migratory Canoe) the most attractive of the issue. When the issue was brought out 2d. was the ruling letter postage rate, but this has since been reduced to Id. It will be some time, however, before these changes are carried into effect. A re-entiy on the plate of the Geor-gian-New Zealand Bd. stamp is reported in both the indigo-blue and red-brown colours. On the third stamp in the sixth row there is a doubling of the top line of the value panel on the right-hand side, whilst the sixth stamp in the same row shows the frame line on the righthand side. It is now revealed that the weeping princess” of the Canadian Jubilee issue is not a constant error. It may have escaped the notice of many, but the stamps issued on June 1 by the Canadian Bank Note Company are all dated 1935. Bc.: this date occurs in the lower left-hand comer, where the Maple Leaves cut the frame line. The date is in the frame line, and reads from the bottom up. In all the other values from the 10c. to the 1 dollar, including the 6c. Air Mail and 20c. Special Delivery, the date will be found in the bottom left _or right-hand corner. The only exception is the 20c. Niagara Falls. In this stamp the date occurs in the Maple Leaves in the upper right-hand corner. Speaking of the 20c., reminds me that this stamp is a companion of the 25c. U.S.A, stamp in current use. Peculiar that practically the same view of the famous Niagara Falls should be shown on both postage stamps. The collector is always on the lookout for differences. There are many in the older stamps, which always should be carefully scrutinized. There are, for instance, two common sets of Norwegian stamps. The design is the post-horn in middle carrying large numerals in the centre. On the upper part of the oval band the word “Norge” appears. In one set this word is printed in letters with serifs, or projecting ornaments at the ends of capital letters, like the capitals used in this column; in the other set block capitals, sansserif capitals, are used. From 1899 to 1918 the Russian stamps had added to the link post-horns at the foot of the oval containing the Imperial Arms (Charlemagne’s double eagle) two thunderbolts or lightning flashes emblematical of the telegraph service. Therefore, you should examine these Russians to see whether they carry thunderbolts or not.