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STAMP COLLECTING
Stamp collecting today is far removed from the artless game of filling up ruled
spaces in a printed book such as you give to your small child. It has developed in
many directions, cultural, artistic and technical. It opens a wide outlook on a world in
which international affairs have become immensely important to people throughout
the world and also to their governments.
It has always been a mystery to non-collectors that postage stamps, old and new,
weave such a binding spell upon those who collect them. What is it that marks these
small bits of paper for so much attention.
I will try to convey to you something about the interesting side of stamp collecting
and in doing so, trust that you will not be too bored but that you will gain a further
interest in those letters which come to your letter-box. Just you remember, any letter
you receive through the mail may have a very valuable stamp on it!!!
Let us have a look at the first postman and his demands;
Before 1840 the postman was a rare visitor and not always very welcome. He brought
then, as now, good or bad news but the postage rate was high and had to be paid
to the postman on delivery of the letter. In 1838 a single sheet-letter from London
to Edinburgh cost 1/1½, if there were two sheets it cost double and if the
packet weighed an ounce, it was charged as four single letters. Thus the postman
could demand 4/6 for a letter and in those days, that was a lot of money. I guess
that the equivalent of 4/6 today would be in the vicinity of more than $10. I will
leave it to you to make the comparison.
In 1840 the British Parliament brought into being Id. postage and thus set in
motion the world-wide postage system under which we now send our letters. Other
countries very quickly saw the advantages of this system so it was not very long
before it became universal.
However, it is interesting to note that in 1838 embossed postage covers were
introduced in Sydney for 1/3 per dozen. This was the first time in the world that a
system of pre-payed postage became available. I have a facsimile of that cover which
has a photo of postmen of the 1890's.
Within 10 years of the introduction of the penny Post, collectors began gathering
stamps and in 1861 the first published catalogue of postage stamps was issued by a
frenchman and he was able to list 1080 adhesive postage stamps.
Stamps tell wonderful stories. Look at the famous 1949 Australian stamp with
the Aborigine on it. He was called £1 Jimmy because whenever he did a job he asked
for £1. Following this stamp, the publicity became too great for Jimmy. Indeed, one
American philatelist secured his autograph - a thumb print, for Jimmy couldn't read
or write. In desperation Jimmy shaved off his beard and took an out-back job far
away from the unwelcome glare of the limelight.
When a new stamp appears, collectors all over the world examine it very closely for
errors and flaws in printing. Even technical errors are looked for. In 1927 a set of three stamps
was issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Newcastle. Two errors
were made by the designers of the stamps. First, on the 2½d. stamp Lieutenant Shortland, the
discoverer of Newcastle was wrongly shown! There were two Lieutenant Shortlands, father
and son. Inadvertently a picture of the father was submitted - thus they refer to this stamp as
"the man who was his own father!" In the 5½d. stamp one of the cranes has an important jib
missing which could result in collapse were the crane to be used as intended.
Two stamps in the Sports series issued in 1974 show two errors. In match play, opposing
footballers wear contrasting colour shorts but the footballer stamps shows both players in white
shorts. Lawn bowls has become a very popular sport and is frequently shown on TV. Now, if
you were to go on to the greens wearing shoes with heels you would very quickly be told to get
off the green. The lawn bowler on that stamp is wearing shoes with heels.
Symbolism, too, is used to good effect and this is shown on the Bible
Society stamp issued in 1967 where several colours used on the Bible cover is
intended to represent the many languages into which the Bible has been translated.
There are many facets to Stamp Collecting. Pure philately is the hobby of collecting
particular countries. Another facet is THEMATICS which is collecting particular
objects on stamps, i.e., Butterflies, trains, war, peace, indeed there is no limit to what
can be collected in the thematic field.
Unfortunately postal officials of all countries are making it very difficult for new
collectors to commence the hobby. They are issuing too many stamps at too great a
cost and this is certainly eliminating the junior collector. It is very sad that this
should prevail. However, THEMATICS could be the answer for the junior
collector.
An American owned a small island off the coast of England and saw possibilities
for revenue by producing his own "Postage Stamps". However despite being
called postage stamps they have no postal validity at all, nevertheless the Puffin Bird
stamps are sold world wide.
We have the equivalent in Australia, for in April 1970, Len Casley decided to
declare his land in West Australia an independent state so he formed the Hutt River
Province, about 370 miles from Perth. Of course it is not officially recognised,
however Len Casley issued the first stamps for his Province on 15th November
1973 and has made other issues since then. These stamps, too, have no postal
validity whatsoever and cannot be used on mail in Australia. It is interesting to
note that Len Casley decided to give himself the title of Prince Leonard and has
formed a full peerage amongst his employees.
If you have a flair for design you might get some ideas from the Greeting Cards I
am showing. The gentleman who made these was 80 years old at the time and his
artistry is very clever. He sold them for 1/- each, the money going to
missionary work. He made a special one for me and it is superb. For a man of
eighty years his hand-writing is particularly good.
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