STAMP CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 247, 18 October 1937, Page 9

STAMP CORNER

■By

James Montagues.

Warlike nations of to-day boast of their military and naval preparedness on their stamps. Italy has issued num-’ erous stamps to her navy and army since 1930. Now Japan, having taken part of China to make Manchoukuo, prepares for a war with China for another slice of that vast country, and shows her warlike plans on recent stamps. China, like Ethiopia conquered by Italy, has not issued any stamps marking her prowess as a warlike nation, for the Chinese, like the Ethiopians, do not plan aggressive wars.

Japan, as far back as 1906 featured her armaments on stamps to commemorate a military review. In 1921 two of her battleships were shown on an issue to commemorate the return of the present emperor, then crown prince, from a visit to Europe. In 1935 another battleship appeared on a stamp issued to commemorate the visit to Japan of the Emperor Kang Teh of Manchoukuo, placed on the throne by Japan after her conquest of Manchuria. This year the Japanese post oilice issued a threevalue set of stamps with a surtax, the proceeds of which were to go to Japan's military air force. Also this year, two stamps were issued to honour two war heroes, Admiral Togo and General Nogi, of the Russo-Jap-anese war. In striking contrast are the peace stamps issued in 1919 at the close of the world war, both stamps featuring the dove of peace. China’s stamps have shown not only temples and native scenes, but a number of statesmen, including a number of generals who have held or are still holding high posts in the administration of the country. There have been no stamps showing heroes of foreign wars or of armament.

Before the end of the year commemoratives will be issued by U.S.A, for Alaska. Hawaii, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The Hawaiian stamp will portray King Kamehameha I, whose statue appears on numerous Hawaiian stamps. . . France issued three commemoratives last month one to the opening of the highest motor road in Europe on the Iserian Pass, and the other two to portray the Winged Victory of Samothrace for an unannounced commemo-

ration. . . Latvia has issued a sevenvalue set of pictorials. . . Both Syria and Lebanon have issued new air-mail stamps featuring their pavilions at the Paris International Exhibition. . . • Poland has issued a set featuring Army Chief Smigly-Rydz. Ecuador has issued a triangular national defence stamp. . . Hungary will issue a four-value set of stamps featuring a regent Admiral Horthy, this month, and in January a set for the eucharistic congress to be held in Budapest. . . . Belgian Congo will issue a new pictorial set shortly. . . Princess Marie-Louise of Bulgaria had a birthday on August 19 and a new issue of stamps appeared in her honour. . . .

Italy will have three new commemorative issues soon, including one to the glories of the Roman Empire. A fine collection of New Zealand stamps, the property of Miss I. Johnson, was displayed at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Philatelic Society on Wednesday night. From the first “side-face queens’’ on the current issues the collection was a very strong one, the stamps, in blocks and singles, being in excellent condition and very attractively arranged on the sheets. Several members remarked after seeing the neat display, that they would have to scrap their albums and find time to remount their collections.