STAMP COLLECTING

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 22, 1 December 1906, Page 38

STAMP COLLECTING

The new 1 cent stamp of Panama, of the permanent design, is bi-coloured, and resembles the current stamps of Chili. In the centre is a portrait in black of Vasco Nunez de Ballao, who established the first Spanish settlement i>n the continent of South America. The colour of this stamp is green and black. e e e The use of Natal official stamps except by the Government Railways has now. it is reported, ceased. The remainders were burnt in the furnaces at the back of the Colonial Office at Pietermaritzburg. • • • A threepence stamp. King Edward type, is reported as issued in Lagos. The colour is lilac and brown. • • • The annual report of the British Guinea Post Office shows that during ■the year the number of letters despatched was as follows:—Ordinary, 2.001.740. as against 2.114,990 the previous year: On Service. 248,820. as against 202.031 the previous year. • • • The price quoted by a London firm for a pair of red 1/- N.Z. stamps, surcharged "Aitutake,” with no stop after the word “Tiringi," is no less than 30/-, and the 2Ad N.Z. overprinted 0.P.5.0. (postallv used), is quoted at 15/ . • • • Cayman Islands stamps.. King Edward type, on single water mark paper, are rapidly rising in price. The one shilling orange is catalogued at 7/G unused. and for the set. Ad. Id. 2Ad, 6d, and 1/-. dealers ask 12/3, a good rise on stamps of the face value of 1/10. ■ • • The new stamps to be issued this month for use in Bosnia and Herzgovina. are reported to be beautifully executed, showing picturesque views of the country. There are sixteen varieties. The highest value. 5 h. bears the picture of the Emperor Franz Joseph. • • • To the query, “what is there in collecting post cards?” the “Post Card and Stamp Collectors’ Annual” (Adelaide), replies in the following paragraph, which it may be said applies equally to stamp collet ting:—To the leisured it affords a stimulating occupation, with a spiee of competition: to the busy it yields the delight of a recreative change: to the studious, an inexhaustible scope for profitable research; to the traveller a means of corresponding with a largo circle of friends at home, and more explanatory than the usual note “arrived safely;” to the old, the -sociability of a pursuit popular with old and young alike; to the young, a .hobby- prolific of novelty, and one, moreover, that harmonises with school studies in historical, and geographical directions.” ‘ ' • • • While the Tourist Bureau and the Exhibition at Christchurch are both in their way aiming at advertising this colony, there is a series of post cards that are being sent out of New Zealand which are not calculated to do much in the way of attracting people here. One has on it the following verse:— “Things have come to a terrible pass. Crops are bad anil there ain't no grass; Winter lias come a month too soon, And trade is playing a very dull time. I'm sorry I can’t afford n good card. So please accept this as "Things are so hard.’” The fact that last shipment of butter from Auckland was a record one, does not accord with the above rhyme, about “there ain’t no grass,”

“Too many of the so-called comic cards published lately have been either vulgar or nonsensical, often both.” Thus comments a stamp journal. It is pleasing to note that in Adelaide recently a man was fined £l5 and costs for having post cards that were worse than vulgar. • • • “There are indications that collectors will have a somewhat rough time in the future. A twentieth century revision of the authorised version of the New Testament has not long been published, and the eleventh verse of the ninth chapter of St. Matthew, which formerly read: “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners’” is changed to “Why eateth your Master with collectors and outcasts’” In future collectors are to classed with outcasts. So far no large body of collectors has protested, but if the revisers would only- alter it to tax collectors, as before, they might save a deputation.”— (“Post Card and Stamp Collectors’ Journal.”)