STAMP CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 78, 2 April 1938, Page 11

STAMP CORNER

—By

James Montagnes.

India issued new high values up to 25 rupees with the head of George VI late in December, as shown at the top left, along with the Irish new constitution stamp, and Brazil’s commemorative for the 150th anniversary of the United States constitution. Below are two values of the 400th anniversary set for the f ounding of cathedral Comayagua, issued by Honduras, with Newfound land’s new top value stamp issued on January 1 in centre.

Air Mail Routes. With the completion in January of the first air mail flight from New Zealand to the United States and Canada by Pan-American Airways, the number of first flight covers still to be issued was diminished by an important one. Now that the Pacific is spanned southward with the carriage of regular air mail, there are few important long distance routes left for the collector of first flight or air mail covers. To show the the growth of air mail routes a letter may be sent from Canada by air to United States air lines and fly it south on a continuous route to Argentina and Chile, or westward across the Pacific ocean to Hong Kong, where it can be taken to Europe by the Imperial Airways across India, or southwestward to New Zealand and by Imperial Airways from New Zealand to Australia and so to England. From England air mail postage at regular first class, not air mail rates, will take letters to South Africa. Other longdistance air mail runs include the Holland-Dutch East Indies run; the France, Germany, Italian and Spansh routes across the South Atlantic to Brazil and South America; the American and Japanese routes in China; the Belgian routes to the Belgian Congo in Africa ;the Russian routes across the Soviet Union. Air Mail Stamps. While air mail stamps are still being issued, and in some countries must be affixed to mail going by air, mere is a growing tendency for ordinary postage to be used on air mail, with the result that the collection of air mail postage must also include such stamps as have been postally used on air mail. Great Britain, for instance, has never issued an air mail stamp, yet more mail leaves by air from the United Kingdom for all parts of the world than probably from any other country In the world. In fact, it is Britain’s policy to carry as soon as possible all first-class Empire mail byair, which has already started to and from South Africa and is being ex-

tended this year to India and possibly Australia. In Canada air mail postage Is required on very few of the contract air mail routes, most of them being the only routes into the districts, and therefore being operated at regular first-class rates. Inter-city and international air mail, however, nearly all pays air mail postage in Canada, but need not use special air mail stamps. A Useful Hint. Do not tear stamps from envelope paper; soak them in warm water till the paper separates from the stamp, then dry between white blotting paper or newspaper under weights as books or magazines. This saves the stamps from being damaged and keeps them flat. New Issues. In January Central American countries feature in the news with most new issues. Guatemala’s commemorative set marking the 150th anniversary of the United States constitution portrays Presidents George Washington and Franklin Roosevelt, and was issued early in January. Nicaragua’s post office was 75 years old and the occasion for a souvenir miniature sheet. The fourth Central American Olympics in February at Panama City was marked with a Panama Republic fivevalue air mail set, featuring sports. Estonia issued a miniature sheet on January 2, at a charity ball. Rebel Spain has overprinted for air mail a number of regular postage issues with the names of cities.