STAMP CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 7

STAMP CORNER

—By

James Montagnes.

Stamp collecting has become a part of the school curriculum in some Canadian cities, and in others it is rapidly growing as an extra time subject lor immediately after school . aours. School stamp clubs are being I formed in increasing numbers, witn I the result that phikiellists gain an added amount of Knowledge aoout the countries of which tney collect stamps. To stimulate interest as well as to check on lhe knowledge gained by stamp collecting pupils, the Crescent School Stamp society in Toronto recently held an examination in tnree pans, 'lhe first required to identify a number of stamps, the second dealt with questions about [Canadian stamps, tne tmra aoout I stamps of the world. Here are some of the questions asked boys from 10 to 14 years old: What is the colour of tne current Canadian air man stamp f What was the hignest value Canadian stamp bearing a picture ot Edward Vli.' How many words are there on the current 3-cent. Canadian stamp? On what two Canadian stamps was Queen Mary shown? How is tne name Ireland written on the stamps of tile Irish Free State? What dominion, besides Canada, issues stamps with inscriptions in two languages? What island shares stamps with Trinidad? Name the countries which issued : stamps bearing portraits of Lenin, 1 Penn, Paderewski, O’Connell, O’Higgins. What country recently issued a set of mourning stamps for its queen? What great country has never had its name on its stamps? In all there were 31 questions on the two question papers. The winning boy obtained an average of 80 per cent. Such questionnaires or tests are not only good fun for a stamp club, but they also provide a check on a collector’s observation powers. Recent issues include a 5-cent value from the Canary Islands, held by Spanish rebels, showing a ’plane in flight over an island, the first stamp issue from these islands. . . a number of stamps from both loyalist and rebel Spain showing statesmen and fascist youths. . . two triangular special de- 1 livery stamps from Czechoslovakia. . . lan error overprint in Greece which, when discovered, was printed in large quantities to give all collectors a chance to procure them. . . overprinted recent Panama pictorials with letters U P U.. .. Forthcoming issues include a new Australian issue which will show both Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth ... a Grecian set 'showing the Greek spirit through the ’ages ... a new pictorial issue for St. Lucia in the West Indies ... a six value set from each of the 22 French colonies for the Paris International i exhibition. . . Japanese stamps with a surtax for use in the building of airplanes and airports ... a commemorative set for the late Queen Astrid of ! Belgium showing her holding Prince Baudouin. . . Adolf Hitler set from

Germany to replace the Hindenburg design.

The New Zealand current pictorial issue, which has deservedly proved so popular, has undergone a few changes since its issue in May, 1935. Apart from numerous slight variations in the one penny and half-penny denominations, there has been a change in colour in the nine-penny (Maori design) and the gem of the set—the three-shilling (Mt. Egmont)—is being sold with the double-star watermark. The single-star watermark stamp, which is now out of issue, is already at six shillings. The two-shilling “Q” stamp continues to be keenly sought, and is at a premium of 5s from most dealers.