stamp news australasia august 2008

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Stamp News - 5

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ContentsArticlesAustralia in Depth: Simon Dunkerley ....................................... 14Philately of Epic Proportions: Rod Perry.................................. 18Woodchip Free Zone: Rod Perry ................................................ 20Australian Stamp Variations: David Mallen ............................ 24The Mummy - Curse or Con?: Angie Testa .............................. 28Personalised Stamps: Craig Chappell ....................................... 32Cinderella Corner: Tony Presgrave ............................................ 34Revenue Review: Dave Elsmore ................................................. 40Australia in Depth: Simon Dunkerley ....................................... 42Market Matters: Glen Stephens .................................................. 44De-mystifying the detail: Andrew McEachern ...................... 50Timbuktu - Africa's Cultural Treasure: Christer Brunström 54Stamp Conservation: Scott Starling .......................................... 56Letters from the Past: Eunice Shanahan .................................. 60

InformationNews...................................................................................................... 6Mailbag ..................................................................................................8Auction Diary .................................................................................... 61New Issues ......................................................................................... 64Internet & Email Directory ............................................................ 68Clubs & Societies ....................................................................... ......70Calendar .............................................................................................. 73Products & Services Directory ............................................... ......74Trading Post ................................................................................. ......78List of Advertisers .............................................................. ..............82

Stamp News Australasiais published monthly by: Stamp News Pty LtdACN: 099-565 223http://www.stampnews.com.auPhone: 03 9752 2677Fax: 03 9758 2488Editor & Advertising Manager: Kevin [email protected] materials & editorial submissionsemail: [email protected]: Stamp NewsPO Box 1290, Upwey, Vic, 3158, Australia

Assistant Editor, Layout & Design:Máirín Holmes [email protected]

Scanning & editorial assistance:Sebastian & Alexandra Holmes-Morgan

Subscriptions Manager:David Woodberry

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The Sierra Leone History of the Olympic Games Melbourne 1956 miniature sheet illustrated on the front cover was kindly provided by Max Stern & Co.

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philatelic news

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6 - Stamp News

Penguins on StampsThe Penguins on Stamps Study Unit is one ofthe lat-est groups to be affilited with the American Topical Association.

The unit publishes a journal and offers other services to aid the study and collection of stamps and covers featuring penguins.

The cost to join is low and is used to offset the cost of newsletters and other mailings. Please visit www.penguinstamps.org for further information. email at [email protected]: One of the attractive penguin postcards be-ing sent to prospective members by the Penguins on Stamps Study Unit

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philatelic news

Stamp News - 7

Australia Post delivers Living Green message!The role that individual Australians can play in helping to build a greener and more sustainable future is the subject of a new stamp issue from Aus-tralia Post, called Living Green.

Each of the four new 50 cent stamps, which were designed by Hoyne Design of Melbourne, feature a two word message to highlight a key way that Aus-tralians can reduce unnecessary energy and water use.

“Australians are all becoming more aware of the role we can each play in helping to build a bet-ter future and the clean and simple design of these stamps reinforces how straightforward our indi-vidual contributions can be,” said Mr Noel Leahy, Group Manager Philatelic, Australia Post. The four tips shown on the stamps are:

Save Water• – A yellow rub-ber duckie rides the wave out of a watering can on this stamp to illus-trate the message of saving water. Using recycled or “grey” water to water our gardens is one way we can reduce our water usage.Reduce Waste• – This stamp features a hand holding a miniature garbage bin to visually represent the message of reducing waste. Australians are some of the best recyclers of newspapers and maga-zines in the world, with over 90 per cent of households having access to kerbside recycling, but we can always do more by being conscious of what we consume and buying reusable goods.Save Energy• – In this stamp the moon is shown as a lamp with a chord to illustrate one simple way we can save energy - by turn-ing off lights when we don’t need them on. Around 20 per cent of

greenhouse gas emissions are generated through every day domestic activities.Travel Smart• – This brown and gold stamp features a bus and walking legs to display two alternatives to car travel that can help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One third of house-hold gas emissions are generated from transport.

The “Living Green” stamps were available from 8 July 2008 at participating Australia Post outlets and via mail order on 1800 331 794. Stamps are available in several collectible formats including first day covers, stamp packs, maxi cards, and pres-tige booklets.

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Letters to the Editor may be submitted by email to: [email protected]; or to PO Box 1290, Upwey, VIC., 3158

Editor’s Mailbag

Dear Editor.

Like Many I am appalled at the

changes to eBay and how they will impact on our small but vibrant philatelic community who trades on the auction site. Forc-ing us to use Paypal and denying us the right to use other, just as 'safe' alterna-tives as of June 16th is offensive. I for one plan to subvert this rule. I prefer to use a direct bank deposit as it is free and as far as I am concerned just as safe. I only use Paypal for international transactions, or where the seller wants it that way. As a buyer I am now going to contact each seller immediately after the auction ends and offer to make a direct deposit. Then on eBay, I'll simply use the 'Pay on Collection' option. I know 90% of the

local (Australian) sellers from past purchases any-way, and I know who to trust. I'll 'risk it' with the others. After all, there re-ally isn't any risk. For me, in seven years of buying (mostly stamps) on eBay with a feedback of 369, only one item has failed to turn up, and that was some car parts from England, I bought using Paypal! I urge all Australian e-bay buyers to help out the dealers struggling to make a profit listing their items on eBay. Avoid Paypal for deals within Australia. Bid, then offer to make a direct deposit. If they say 'No thanks', OK use Pay-pal. But I think many will say; Thanks, that would be great, now I earn $1.50 on your $4.00 cover instead of $1.25." Then get their bank details via e-mail and deposit the money. They will then post your stamp(s) when the money shows up in their account. Then complete the eBay process using the COD, or pay on collection op-tion. All eBay needs to know is that you jumped on a plane from Perth to Brisbane to collect your cover or stamps.... Well, of course tell them noth-ing. But seriously, if e-Bay gets away with this, I doubt anyone will bother listing real bargains on the site. All we will be left with is listings of fake over-prints and perfins knowing that any sale, regardless of the fees they pay to e-Bay is still 100% profit to them.

After all, all genuine sellers have to pass on their costs to the buyers, that is basic economics. So unless we the consumers don't act to make e-Bay reverse their decisions, we are all stuck paying more. If e-Bay isn't forced to backdown by the end of the year, I for one am closing my account in protest. After all, there are other auction sites.... Hmm, I might practice my New Zealand accent. TreedMee.com.NZ. No I'd better not.

Paul RobertsMelbourne.

Received prior to the recent ACCC ruling. Ed

Dear EditorEunice Shanahan writes an inter-

esting article on page 52 of June edition of Stamp News concerning "Letters from the past".

On the back of a let-ter dated 1846 posted in London to an address in Edinburgh, are two date stamps and the letter car-ried a postage charge of 2 x 1d. red Victoria stamps, both Imperf.

The question was, why 2 x 1d stamps were used for what amounted to one small letter, following the introduction of 1d. postage in 1840?

I have a similar let-ter folded to form its own cover and with 2 x 1d. black stamps cancelled with an earlier date to the item Eunice refers to. The

letter I have was from Congleton in Cheshire to Liverpool via Manchester, a total distance of about 70 miles and much less as the crow flies.

Searching Postage records in UK, I find no satisfactory answer to the question about the total charged (2d.), but I did find suggestions (not proven) that the initial 1d. postage, covered only local deliver-ies from within a radius of 30 miles from where the item was posted. A further 1d. may therefore have been charged, for deliveries to the nearest destination Post Office. Hence 2d. postage. This may ex-plain why the introduction of "Post Restante" became so popular, because it involved no delivery charge to a receiver's address.

A dealer has suggested to me that the second 1d. stamp may be for a "Late Fee".

A third opinion, simi-lar to the first suggestion, was that each Mail carrier involved with the delivery from sender to a receiver, was entitled to charge 1d. for the use of their serv-ices or part there of. Two Mail carriers equates to 2d. charged.

What I also find inter-esting is that the English basic wage in 1840 was 4d. per week ! 2d. would have been a very expensive letter. SincerelyPeter Manuel

8 - Stamp News

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Australia in DepthSpectacular KGV items come to light

One of the great joys of being immersed in the philatelic market is that surprises are often just around the corner. Being fortunate to travel widely to attend auctions or visit exhibitions, I am often pleased to be able to examine, and indeed sometimes buy items that I once dreamed of owning as a schoolboy, or perhaps even better, come across a totally new discovery.

(1) Single-line perf ½d green on coverUntil recently there were no examples of the single watermark 1/2d green single-line perf recorded on cover, nor even a large piece. A couple of years ago, the vertical pair illustrated in figure 1 was found in a mixed cover lot sold at auction. It was subsequently sold as a single item by Prestige Philately for $17,000 plus buyer’s premium and GST; a total price of $19.805. A very healthy price for an extremely rare and important item with immense appeal to either the serious KGV or cover collector!

Figure 1 ½d single-line perf pair on cover

Figure 2 ½d single-line perf cover front

Earlier this year, an Australian collector was fortunate to discover the attractive front illustrated in figure 2. The initial postal rate for sending this as a standard letter to USA was 2 ½d, however, before being sent it was uprated to cover the imposition of a ‘late fee’ charge – a total of 5d comprising two ½ single-line perf stamps and four 1d reds. Despite being reduced to a front, this item also offers plenty of interest to the serious KGV collector. I was indeed fortunate to be able to recently sell this item on behalf of it’s owner.

If you have any KGV ½d green covers, there is no better time to check them for single-line perf stamps. Indeed, if you are the fortunate finder of such an item, I would be very pleased to receive further information, so that it can be recorded.

The discovery of such items has lead me to consider what are my favorite KGV ‘covers’. The first is an example of the CofA watermark 2d overprinted ‘OS’ inverted together with a normal stamp on a front from Ardlethan to Sydney. There is no doubt that this is one of the great Australian Commonwealth items, and is currently catalogued at $75,000 in the ACSC.

Figure 3 ‘OS’ inverted with normal stamp on cover front

Figure 4 Detail of the two stamps

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Simon DunkerleySpectacular KGV items come to light

The second is an example of the large multiple watermark Cooke printing 1d carmine-pink with watermark inverted, on cover from Rochester to Fitzroy – previously written up in this column. With only two examples of this variety recorded in private hands, it is astonishing that one has survived intact on cover. This item is currently catalogued at $35,000.

Figure 5 Cooke printing 1d carmine-pink wmk inverted on complete cover

(2) Single watermark 1 ½d scarlet on unsurfaced paper in pair, found in a new format

As previously reported in this column, the original discovery of this issue in pair showing unsurfaced (‘rough’) paper and surfaced (smooth) paper in combination is shown in figure 6. As with the 1½d green, the 1½d scarlet was previously listed in the Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue (ACSC) on ‘very coarse mesh paper’. The latter is actually quite different in nature, and is now listed as ‘unsurfaced’ paper. These were both formerly called rough paper, however these should not be confused with the rough paper of the 1d red and the 5d bright chestnut. The term very coarse mesh paper is a better description for the 1½d green stamps as it has a different character and appearance to the traditional rough papers of the other values. They are generally a little more subtle in that they are less visible from the front of the stamp particularly in mint examples, and when looked at to the light as if you were looking at the watermark, the vertical

mesh or grain of the visible is significantly more apparent than usual. In the case of the 1 ½d scarlet listing, it is not so much a coarse mesh variation, but rather a true case of the paper being unsurfaced. These characteristics can cause some problems in classification, and examples are often incorrectly offered. However, in the case of the left stamp in the horizontal pair, there is little subtlety, as the difference is highly visible both in real life, and indeed in a scan. This is an extreme example of an unsurfaced paper variety, and it really shows!

Figure 6 1 ½d Unsurfaced and surfaced paper

Figure 7 Original report of the horizontal pair

Stamp News - 15

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Australia in DepthSpectacular KGV items come to light

Apparently discovered in 1956, as shown in figure 7, this item was apparently first written up in Philately from Australia, the journal of the Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria. I first saw this item about thirty years ago, and was fascinated by it at the time. Having wondered where it might be residing several times over the years, it finally came to light recently when the owner decided to sell.

You might be asking ‘how can such a variety occur?’ At first glance, it might seem impossible; however, in the production stage of the paper, an error has occurred, possibly due to a fold in the paper as noted in the extract shown, although it could also possibly be due to a sudden stop in the surfacing of the paper during that stage of the process. This may have occurred in a similar way to many of the genuine missing colours in that the surfacing process was stopped abruptly for some reason, and then resumed with the slack being taken up, creating a gap in the surfacing of the paper. The fact that the lower margin at left has a fold may be evidence that the paper had turned, however, that cannot be verified, and there is no evidence of anything different or unusual on the reverse of the item.

In addition to the technical aspect as to how the variety may have occurred, what is remarkable is the degree to which the same ink has printed differently on the two stamps as a result of the difference in the paper. Except for a very small portion at the right edge where the surfacing commences, the left unit has printed very poorly with the ink not taking well to the paper. The right unit has printed both strongly and clearly together with a lot of depth to the colour. Casting our minds back to the study of shades, this is a perfect illustration of how the same ink can print very

differently on different papers. Those with a strong interest in the shades of the KGV 1d red will be well aware that the same ink printed quite differently on the smooth and rough papers of that issue, resulting in stamps that look quite different to the eye.

Figure 8 (Left) 1 ½d surfaced and unsurfaced paper in vertical

pair

The very recent discovery of a vertical pair showing a similar variety confirms all of the above with the exception that the variety has occurred vertically rather than horizontally. In this instance, the upper stamp is partly surfaced ad partly unsurfaced, whilst the lower stamp is completely unsurfaced. If it could be proven that both items were from the same sheet, this may be evidence of a piece

of foreign matter on the paper prior to surfacing, rather than the ‘stop start’ process in surfacing as hypothesized above.

As far as I am aware, these are the only known examples of such a variety in combination with a normal stamp on any issue of Australian Commonwealth, making them extremely rare, interesting and important items. It is important to note that these items each carry a recognised certificate of authenticity.

If you happen to own or come across an item similar to these, or something else out of the ordinary, I am always very interested to be able to record it, and if suitable, write it up in this column so that other readers of Stamp News can be informed. In such instances, if you would like to send an item for examination, please contact me in the first instance in order to make suitable arrangements for a safe journey for the item.

16 - Stamp News

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Philately of Epic Proportions : Rod Perry

The Eagle lands, in Vaucluse, no less.

This month we visit Austria, in our round-the-world quest to locate the highest franked (“record franking”) postal articles addressed to Australasia. We’re seeking-out articles from two distinct time-zones: pre-war to 1945, and post-war.

On this occasion, from Vienna, we have a parcel-wrapping portion, apparently inclusive of the philatelically essential elements. Firstly, the stamp franking appears to be complete, at a whopping 311 Schillings 2 Groschen. This is far and away the highest aggregate franking for a postal article of this era to Australasia that I’ve noted. The dominant franking is the appealing 20s Golden eagle (x15), from that superb airmail series of 1950-53, featuring birds. The address label is inscribed “Drucksache”, so we know the package contained printed matter (from an Antiquarian Bookshop). The weight is conveniently shown as “7200g” (7.2 kgs).

The article was sent by registered airmail from Vienna on 1 November 1961, addressed to posh Vaucluse, Sydney, Australia. Sadly, I don’t have an Austria rate table to tell readers the composition of this substantial franking. I assume printed matter had a concessional rate of postage, although this may not have applied if an article was sent by airmail. I have contemporary airmail covers to Australia rated 7s (5gms) and 11s (10gms), so reasonably assume the weight steps were 4s

per 5gms? I have three questions, probably best directed to our Austria

specialists:

Where do I get detailed Austria rate tables! (please)1. Has any reader seen a higher franking to Australasia 2. in the 1945-1960s eraFor 20 years I’ve sought confirmation of the existence 3. of the celebrated 1936 10s Dr Dollfuss stamp on any type of postal article to Australasia. Does such exist? I’ve seen the contemporary 1935 10s airmail on cover to Australia.

I’m pleased that a number of readers have taken the trouble to send me scans/photocopies of highly franked postal articles to Australia. Some have confused “highly franked”, ie high aggregate postage rate, with “multi-franked”, ie many stamps, not necessarily amounting to a significant aggregate postage rate. The latter category can be interesting, however it’s not the within the scope of this column, which, repeat, is dedicated to the pursuit of the highest franked, or “record franking” to use the buzz-term, postal articles from overseas countries, addressed to Australasia. Keep up the search!

18 - Stamp News

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PO Box 1785, Hervey Bay. Qld. 4655.Ph: (07) 4128-8168

[email protected]’S StAmpS

POB 89, Summer Hill NSW 2130Ph: (02) 9743 4659

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54/18 Moore Ave, Lindfield West. NSW. 2070Ph: (02) 9880-7849 Fax: (02) 9880-7325

[email protected] www.nrgphilatelics.compACifiC rim CoinS

POB 5, WENTWORTH FALLS NSW 2782Ph: (02) 4784 1470 Fax: (02) 4784 1470

[email protected] BAnnon

POB 322, SWANSEA NSW 2281Ph: (02) 4971 3483

pittwAter philAteliC ServiCePO Box 259, NEWPORT BEACH NSW 2106


www.ozemail.com.au/~pittwaterstamps/

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You can deal confidently with dealers displaying the Stamp & Coin Dealers’ Association of Australia Inc. logo, as that are bound by our

code of practice.

pk StAmpSPOB 4284, WINMALEE NSW 2777

Ph: (02) 4754 [email protected]

pretty ColleCtABleSPOB 89, PADDINGTON NSW 2021


proSpeCt StAmpS & CoinSStation Arcade, Shop 18,

24 Main Street BLACKTOWN NSW 2148Ph: (02) 9622 1399 Fax: (02) 9622 6634

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rennikS puBliCAtionS p/lUnit 3, 37-39 Green St, Banksmeadow NSW 2019

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ron BAker StAmpS & CoinSPOB 833, RUNAWAY BAY QLD 4216

Ph: (0418) 644-723 Fax: (07) 5537 [email protected]

runDle CoinS214 Rundle St, ADELAIDE SA 5000

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SupplieSPOB 285, PAMBULA NSW 2549

Ph: (02) 6495 7382 Fax: (02) 6495 7382StAr StAmpS

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Shop 53, Strathfield Plaza. NSW. 2135.Ph: (02) 9764-3034

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tAlliSker StAmpSShop 17, Baileys Arcade, Canberra City, ACT 2601

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trevor wilkin BAnknoteSPOB 182, CAMMERAY NSW 2062


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sn august 2008.indd 19 19/7/08 11:22:38 AM

20 - Stamp News

I’m often asked by collectors to suggest topics for usage collections. I’m always happy to oblige, and rather encouraged by the enthusiasm developing for collections based upon the many ways in which given stamps can be used on postal articles.

This month I’ve selected an eclectic group of ten subjects suitable for a usage collection study. These items are in fact from a larger number of embryonic usage collections, formed by a Philatelist who, in downsizing his holdings, has consigned collections to me for sale. The selected ten are predominantly post-war subjects, generally falling within the budget of most collectors. One of the many attributes of usage collecting is you don’t have to be rich to form the world’s best of a given subject!

Hong Kong: 1962-73 QEII Annigoni portrait

Figure 1. Always tempting to “do” a usage study when one has the top denomination!

I was attracted to the QEII portrait by Annigoni from the time I first laid eyes upon it. Most would agree the portrait admirably captures the charm of Her Majesty. Hong Kong embraced this portrait for it’s series of definitive stamps commenced in 1962. Fifteen denominations from 5c to $20 form the series, which remained in use until replaced in 1973 by the “coinage” design, another attractive subject for a usage collection. A change of watermark occurred for the Annigoni’s from 1966, although these are virtually impossible to distinguish when on cover, or other postal article. One can be certain of the original watermark only if used before the date of appearance of the replacements; the $10 was issued only with the first watermark. There are some paper variants, which are well worth the hunt. Figure 1 features the series’ two size formats, the $1 and 40c smaller, and $20 and $5 larger format. The total franking of $26.40, which is quite high for the 1967 date of use, represented the $1 per ½oz airmail rate to U.S. x26 plus 40c registration fee.

When tackling a usage collection such as this, I usually recommend including also those commemorative and other special issues contemporaneous with the subject series. This is logical, as the various series’ are often found used in combination with one another. Following this principle, a usage study of the Hong Kong Annigoni’s would also encompass other stamp issues from 1963 Freedom from Hunger (the first issue following appearance of Annigoni’s) to 1973 Chinese New Year (last issue prior to Annigoni replacement definitive series). And what a most attractive collection this can comprise!

Hong Kong is one of the world’s “hot” countries, yet stamp usage by my observation is relatively undiscovered by H.K. collectors. I’m surprised at just how inexpensive quite scarce usage items are, from 1930s onwards, when offered in the market place, such as on eBay. A window of opportunity, in my opinion.

France: 1946-47 Airs

Figure 2. France with an Aussie flavour

The four airmail stamps issued by France after WWII, the so-called Série mythologique, are a suitable subject for a one-frame (15-page) usage study. I like this series for a few reasons: the designs are striking and original, they are recess-printed (a favourite process), and they are airmails (another favourite). The denominations are 40f, 50f, 100f, and 200f, the last the highest denominated stamp of France at time of issue. The stamps are worth very little used off cover, and even on intact postal articles are generally very inexpensive. A useful subject for collectors of more modest means. Figure 2 shows the 200f together with 1946 Peace Conference set in pairs, used to Australia 1 Oct 1946 from the Conference Post Office in Paris. The notations “30gr” and “226” indicate weight and postage charge. My French rate tables indicate the postal rate was 35f per 5gms, therefore 210f for 30gms. The sender was with the Australian Delegation to the Conference, writing to family, so perhaps was sending the additional franking in the form of the Conference stamps home as a souvenir.

French airmails in general make for attractive usage studies, and the same could be said for airmail stamps of many other countries.

sn august 2008.indd 20 22/7/08 8:06:21 PM

Stamp News - 21

British Solomon Islands: 1939-51 KGVI Pictorials

Figure 3. Short-lived 4½d the “star” of the series

In the January 2008 column, the topic was British Empire KGVI. Great Subject for a Usage Collection. I briefly mentioned the Solomon Islands set as being a good subject for that purpose, and will now provide more detail in support of that recommendation. The set of 13 Pictorials, issued in 1939 and 1942 (the 10/-), with a couple of perforation changes in 1951, is amongst the more attractive stamp series of the reign of KGVI. Colourful, local scenes, recess-printed by De La Rue and Waterlow. Importantly from a usage perspective, the stamps did see a reasonable amount of commercial use, which often can’t be said for other Empire countries of this period. I’ve seen every denomination on intact postal article, mostly covers, although the 4½d, 5/- and 10/- are very scarce in that format. The 4½d was withdrawn well before the other denominations. Figure 3 is one of two solo frankings of the 4½d I’ve noted. Sent from Tulagi 20 Nov 1939 to Canada, 4½d paid 1½d Empire rate plus 3d registration fee.

United States: 1965-81 Prominent Americans

Figure 4. Parcel tags seldom so neat and attractive

The U.S. unsurprisingly is one of the great usage study countries. Suitable subjects abound, and some of the definitive series are amongst the most popular usage

collecting fields in the world. The 1938 Presidential (“Prexies”), 1954-73 Liberty, 1980-98 Great Americans, and 1981-95 Transportation, for example, are terrific study subjects, and justifiably very popular. Scarcer usage items are out there for the informed to find, often unceremoniously reposing in Trader’s “Dollar boxes”. Within the above time-span sits the 1965-81 Prominent Americans series. Denominations from 1c to $5, potentially almost unlimited usage configurations for the enthusiast. Figure 4 is a nice place to start! This parcel tag originated at Berkeley, California. The franking is a fairly hefty aggregate $21.93, including no less than four of the $5 Moore, which is very desirable on any form of “entire”. There is no indication of when the article was sent, or to where. It turned up in New Zealand, to where it can reasonably be assumed it was addressed. The 30c and $1 stamps also present were issued in 1979, as was the $5 Americana issue which replaced the $5 Moore. A c1979 date of despatch therefore is probable. I’m afraid I don’t have enough information to compute the postage rate. Can any reader help?

Israel: First Decade of Stamp Issues 1948-58

Figure 5. 1949 Ham Radio enthusiasts globe-hop

Israel may come as a surprise selection for a usage study, some may consider. However, I like many of the designs, and on commercial cover, etc, they particularly appeal to my philatelic taste. And stamp issuing commenced in 1948, the year I was born! Many Jewish folk settled in Australia before and after WWII, and correspondence from Israel is reasonably available locally. Later issues also have appeal, but it is the first decade that the collection I have under review encompasses. The Bale Israel Catalogue prices stamps to 1960 on commercial cover, and other postal history elements, which is quite useful to anyone contemplating a usage study. Figure 5 is an attractive franking 1949 airmail postcard Tel Aviv to Australia, at 80 mils rate. The airmail letter rate was 160 mils. This item is unusual in that it is not of an inter-family or business-related nature as are most of the items Israel to Australia I’ve seen in the subject period. Rather, it was between two Ham Radio enthusiasts, the

sn august 2008.indd 21 19/7/08 12:40:21 PM

22 - Stamp News

reverse side in particular with enough radio frequency information to keep the recipient bunkered down for some time in his communications den.

Great Britain: Machins

Figure 6. 1974 4½p Forces concessional airmail rate to Australia

GB’s Machin Head series, introduced in 1967, generally evoke a “Love ’em” or “Hate ’em” reaction amongst Philatelists. In terms of usage study appeal, I’m very much in the former camp. The series is a vibrant goldmine for usage aficionados. Australia is an excellent place to source Machin usage material, and a lot of interesting items can be assembled in a comparatively short period of time, for generally very modest sums. Many uncommon to rare usage items are awaiting discovery by the informed and patient, Figure 6 being one which didn’t get away, a 20 Oct 1974 use of the 4½p grey-blue to Australia. The sender was an Australian Defence Forces Gunner stationed in Hong Kong, serving with British Forces. The FIELD POST OFFICE / 146 cancel confirms the location. Australian Forces were entitled to the 4½p concessional airmail rate when writing home. This is a very scarce solo rate; I’ve noted only one other cover. This 4½p was also used for the U.K. Inland first class mail rate from 24 Jun 1974, which of course is a common solo usage.

A usage study of all Machin issues is a tall order, although I know I’m not the only one attempting the challenge. An alternative suggestion would be to attempt just the £SD Machin stamps, and to include those commemoratives which were contemporaneous, ie 1967 Paintings to 1970 Christmas. This would be a similar usage collection blueprint to that suggested for the Hong Kong Annigoni’s above.

Rhodesia: 1965-78

Figure 7. 1967, Zimbabwe when it was Rhodesia

Zimbabwe, as we sadly know, is not the place it once was. A portrait of the once prevailing peace and prosperity can be glimpsed in the stamps of the former Rhodesia. Stamps

bearing that singular country name, Rhodesia (renamed from Southern Rhodesia in 1964), were issued for a comparatively short period, from 1965 (ITU Centenary) to 1978 (Anniversary of Powered Flight). On 18 Apr 1980 Rhodesia became the independent Republic, Zimbabwe. A usage collection of the stamps prior to independence is the suggestion. The stamps are generally attractive; reflective of an era which largely has been relegated to history. Figure 7 shows the colourful 2/6d and 1/3d from the 1966 Pictorial series, added to the Rhodesia formular Registered Letter stationery. Registered at Sinoia to Australia on 27 Oct 1967, the 3/9d combined franking paid 2/6d airmail rate plus 1/3d registration fee.

Austria: 1948-52 Provincial costumes

Figure 8. 10s Vienna, 1850. Handy year to have bought Sydney Views and Half-lengths as New Issues.

From a man who unashamedly allows his wife to exclusively maintain his wardrobe, a series featuring costumes may appear on odd suggestion for a usage collection. However, understand the subjects are generally rather attractive young women, superbly attired, and there are 37 varieties in the series! I know, call me sentimental, it’s also another stamp series commenced the year I was born. This is of course a charming stamp series, with universal appeal, irrespective of one’s gender. As a usage subject they have much to offer: 33 various denominations from 3g to 10s, a reasonable

sn august 2008.indd 22 19/7/08 12:41:04 PM

Rod Perry has been a philatelic trader since 1962 and a Stamp News advertiser since the 1960s . He founded Rodney A Perry Auction Galleries (now Millennium Philatelic Auctions) in 1971. As a collector he has exhibited nationally and internationally. Rod prefers his used stamps on cover and likens taking a stamp off its original cover to converting a tree to woodchips. Past editions of this column may be accessed on Rod’s ‘rap.com.au’ website.

Stamp News - 23

issue time-span to encompass rate revisions (some printings were made as late as 1964), and wonderful colour variation, to name but a few attributes. Interestingly, it is the lowest denomination, the humble 3g, which appears to be the scarcest on postal articles. I don’t have a rate table for Austria (can any reader help? – see also my other column this month), so unfortunately cannot say what a 3g was intended for, other perhaps than as a make-up rate? Figure 8 shows a dominant franking of the highest denomination, the 10s Vienna 1850 (x7), with 70g, and 40g and 5g, the last two on reverse. This rather high 71s 15g franking was sent Express airmail, registered to Australia on 28 Jan 1957. The collection which contains this item has a 1957 6.40g airmail to Australia; this may have been the basic 5gms airmail rate? A wax seal on the reverse is that of the Austrian Consul, Belgrade, so postage cost was probably meaningless to the sender.

New Zealand: 1960-66 Pictorials

Figure 9. £1 geyser, to a geezer in U.K. (pardon the slang)

Closer to home, an attractive photogravure series, with denominations in the classic British Empire ½d to £1 formation. Reasonably accessible material in Australia, and generally modestly priced, although the 10/- and £1 are hard-to-find, and can be priced accordingly. There are of course many “sleepers” to be found amongst the lower denominations (faithful to the “uncommon use of the common stamp” principle). Figure 9 is an attractive use of the 3/- multicolour and £1 uprating the 1/4d Registration envelope for 7 Jul 1967 (three days before intro of Decimal currency) airmail Wellington to U.K. One day, one day, Campbell Paterson will price NZ stamps on commercial cover, as we did for Australia in Brusden-White. Watch NZ usage take to the skies as Australia has done when that revelation occurs!

British Empire: 1949 Universal Postal Union Omnibus

Figure 10. Malta UPU 1/- and 3d to Australia

The British Empire Omnibus sets of the 1930s, 1940s, and later, are readily available mint, and to a lesser extent used. No challenge there. Many of the 1935 Silver Jubilee and 1948-49 Silver Wedding (high value) series are virtually impossible to find on commercial postal articles, but one has a reasonable chance of success, or near success, with the 1937 Coronation series. I know there are a number of enthusiasts worldwide attempting the Coronations. The 1949 U.P.U. series would be a worthy challenge, and I doubt that there are more than a handful who have taken it up. The very brave would, of course, include the stamps issued for the U.P.U. 75th Anniversary by foreign countries! Figure 10 shows the 1/- and 3d issued by Malta, on 22 Dec 1949 inter bank correspondence to Australia, 1/3d being the then prevailing airmail rate.

These are just ten usage collection suggestions from an almost limitless reservoir of possibilities, limited only by the imagination. Of the many facets of Philately I’ve delved in, I find Usage the most fulfilling. It also satisfies my principal essential: Pleasure and Profit. Do I believe the concept of usage collecting has a bright and enduring future? You bet, and I’m putting my money where my mouth is. A number of the above collections, from which the illustrated subjects derive, have been acquired for my Self-managed Super Fund.

sn august 2008.indd 23 22/7/08 8:07:45 PM

Australian Stamp VariationsDetails of the main variations in recent stamp issues

24 - Stamp News

Stamp Gives Birth Underwater!I was soaking some stamps off the paper the other day. With so many peel & stick stamps I had to use fairly warm water. As I was removing the special 45c self-adhesive high-gloss 2007 Christmas stamp from the paper, the small picture of the 1977 Christmas stamp separated from the rest of the stamp and floated off. To remove it completely I had to destroy the ‘mother’ stamp. The same thing also happened to another one of these stamps a few minutes later. It was a shame that the ‘mother’ stamps ‘died’ in the process.

Having seen one stamp ‘give birth’ to another, I wondered if the ‘child’ stamp was valid for postage. Did I have another stamp variation? Closer examination revealed that the small image of the 1977 stamp was not an actual replica. The 15c value is missing.

This high-gloss stamp was only available in a special sheetlet of 10 stamps. Have you been able to soak this stamp off the paper in one piece without the small replica stamp separating? If so, please let me know how.

Working DogsA se-tenant strip of 5 stamps, gutter design and 5 blocks of four of the same stamp were features of the Working Dogs issue on 10th June. The gummed stamps in the sheets and prestige booklet had the same perforation. The text in the gutter described the characteristics of each breed of dog. The self-

adhesive stamps were issued in 6 booklets of 10 stamps each. There was a booklet and ‘chequebook’ for each dog and a mixed booklet and ‘chequebook’ with two stamps of each design. The 6 booklets were also available in an attractive presentation folder.

Working DogsVariations 17 Cost $34.40Issue Date 10th June 2008

Sheet Stamps

50c German Shepherd50c Australian Cattle Dog50c Beagle50c Border Collie50c Labrador

PerforationsGummed stamps: 14.6 x 13.9Self-adhesive stamps: 11.5 x 11.2 IDC simulated perforation

Blocks & Strips

5 x 50c se-tenant strip4 x 50c German Shepherd4 x 50c Australian Cattle Dog4 x 50c Beagle4 x 50c Border Collie4 x 50c Labrador

Gutters 10 x 50c

Minisheets

4 x 50c German Shepherd4 x 50c Australian Cattle Dog4 x 50c Beagle4 x 50c Border Collie4 x 50c Labrador

Self-adhesiveStamps

5 x 50c (booklets)

sn august 2008.indd 24 9/7/08 12:44:49 PM

David Mallen

Stamp News - 25

Metal Stamp-CoinAccompanying the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games issue of 24th June was another metal ‘stamp’ – the third so far this year. This pure silver 50c “Stamp Coin” was produced by the Perth Mint. It had perforations (14.5 x 14.5) on each edge and was the same size as the stamp (although the thickness was 2.5mm). It cost $89.95 = 180 times face value! The obverse had an effigy of the Queen. The reverse contained a colour image of the 50c stamp. It was a “legal tender coin” not intended for use as a postage stamp.

Two paper stamps were also issued. The gummed stamp was available in a sheetlet of 10 stamps. The self-adhesive stamp was in a roll of 200. Both stamps had the same Australian Flag/Olympic Logo/Chinese Dragon design. More Olympic stamps (Part 2) are to be issued in August.

Beijing Olympic Games – Part 1Variations 2 Cost $5.50Issue Date 24th June 2008

Sheet Stamps 50c Dragon

PerforationsGummed stamp: 14.6 x 13.9Self-adhesive stamp: 11.5 x 11.2 IDC simulated perforation

Self-adhesiveStamp

50c (roll)

Sheetlet 10 x 50c

Footnote: The cost quoted in the above summary tables is the minimum cost to obtain one of each variation. Many variations are only available in sheetlets or booklets containing multiple stamps and are often sold above face value. The cost does not include the cost of single gummed sheet stamps.

sn august 2008.indd 25 9/7/08 12:45:20 PM

PNC Covers1994 Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $501995 Dunlop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $251997 Bradman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $351998 Bass/Flinders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $201999 Older persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $35)2000 Anzacs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1302000 Victoria Cross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $215)2000 Olympics (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1952001 Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $110)2002 Jubilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $215)2003 Coronation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22.502004 Eureka. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $182005 Tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $202005 Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1402005 Rooster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $152005 Baton Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $242006 C/Wealth Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $242006 QEII Birthday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $252006 Dame Edna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $202006 Dog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $152007 Lifesaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $252007 Pig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $152007 Harbour Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20As above, Gold Overprint. . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $85)2007 SAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29.502007 AFL, Geelong Cats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29.502007 Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29.502008 Rat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $202008 Scouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22.502008 Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22.50

Masterpieces in Silver1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $951989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $951990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $951991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1951992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3601993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2001994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1401995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1551996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1751997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1851998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2201999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1652000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1852001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3752002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1952003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1852004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2102005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $210

$10 Bird series, Piedfort Proofs1989 Kookaburra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $691990 Cockatoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $691991 Jabira . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $691992 Penguins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $691993 Palm Cockatoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $691994 Eagle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75Australian Mint setsUp to 1984 Buying all issues, please offer.1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $501986. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24.501987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $201988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $28.501989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $501990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1301991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $351992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $751993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $501994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $481995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $551996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $62.501997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $951998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $48.501999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $552000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1002001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $502002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $452003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $42.502004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $452005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $552006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $452007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40Baby Sets, all prices here areour BUYING PRICES UNLESSOTHERWISE STATED1993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $70)1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $50)1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $551996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $90)1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $210)1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $100)1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $952000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $70)2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $115)2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $45)2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $552004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $652005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $1102006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $552007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $82.502008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Buying at $22)

$1 Coins, all prices here are SELLING PRICESUNLESS OTHERWISE STATED1992 Olympics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $701993 Landcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $5.951994 Decade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $181995 Matilda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $301996 Parkes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $101997 K. Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $221998 Dual set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $551998 Florey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $181999 Anzacs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $282000 Sydney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $22.502000 V.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $3002000 Olymphilex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $182001 Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $162001 RAAF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $202001 Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $502001 Triple Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $1202002 Outback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $52003 Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $392003 Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $4.952004 Eureka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $4.952005 Gallipoli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $4.952006 Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $42006 C. Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SELL $11.85

In addition we wish to buy all RAM and Perth Mintpackaged product. As a guide we will pay 40% to 50%McDonald catalogue for RAM commoner material,50% to 65% For scarcer more sought after items.

Gold coins, for Sovereigns and half sovereigns we pay spotgold price less 10%, better dates/condition will getenhanced prices. Decimal gold, we pay face value plus apremium for the additional bullion value where applicable.

All prices are subject to stock availability andrequirements, if selling contact us first before sending.

All prices whether buying or selling include GST at theprevailing rate. Overseas sellers will need to deduct 9%from the total.

Callers welcome at our premises:21st Century Auctions, 107 Station Street,Ferntree Gully, Vic, 3156.Hours are: 10 – 5 Monday to Friday.Other times by appointment.

We are members of ANDA, PTS and ACTS (AustralasianCollectable Traders Society)

BUYING AND SELLING PNC COVERS,AUSTRALIAN MINT SETS,

SINGLE UNCIRCULATED COINS.All prices whether buying or selling are for coins in original undamaged packaging. Loose coins are not required.

Postage and packaging: All items are sent well protected by registered and insured mail.Post free on orders of $250 or above, otherwise please add $8.50 flat fee Australia wide.

Overseas please enquire about shipping cost.All prices whether buying or selling are subject to stock availability and requirements.

Prices on “HOT” items may change WITHOUT NOTICE, particularly some of the scarcer PNC and $1 coins.

Kevin Morgan Stamps and CoinsPO Box 1290 Upwey Vic. 3158

Tel: 03 9752 2677, Fax 03 9758 2488,email: [email protected] • Website: kevinmorgan.com.au

We accept:MASTERCARD • VISA

AMERICAN EXPRESS • DINERS CLUB

KevinMorganAug08.qxd:Layout 1 10/7/08 4:02 PM Page 1

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Product PriceUltra Slim Fluorescent Magnifier A22020 ................................. $249.95Art & Craft Light Box A32000 ........................................................ $129.95Ultimate Table Top Lamp A21038 ................................................ $249.95Needlework Up-Light A36010 ...................................................... $129.95Compact Lamp A33050 .....................................................................$94.95Table Top Daylight Lamp A23020 ................................................ $149.99Floor Standing Daylight Lamp A23030 ..................................... $199.99Professional Artist Lamp A33200 ................................................. $199.95Ultimate Floor Standing Lamp A21028 ..................................... $369.99Flexilens on Mini-clip Magnifier A91101......................................$34.99Flexilens on Mini-base A91091 ........................................................$34.99Flexilens on Clamp A90942 ..............................................................$49.99Flexilens on Base A90946 ..................................................................$59.99

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28 - Stamp News

The Mummy - curse or con?

When by 1929 eleven people connected with the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb had died early and of unnatural causes, the press followed the deaths sen-sationally attributing each new one to the “Mummy’s Curse.” These included two of Lord Carnarvon’s relatives, Howard Carter’s personal secretary, Richard Bethell, and Bethell’s father, Lord Westbury. Westbury killed himself by jumping from a building. He left a note that read, “I really can-not stand any more horrors and hardly see what good I am going to do here, so I am making my exit.”

By 1935 they had credited 21 victims to the Mummy’s Curse, and each new death was carefully ascribed to it. But was there really a curse? Or was it all just the ravings of a sensational press? Perhaps, the power of a curse is in the mind of the person who believes in it. Howard Carter, the man who actually opened the tomb, never believed in the curse and lived to the reasonably old age of 66 before dying of entirely natural causes. A good many other people also present at the tomb’s opening also lived long and productive lives, dying in old age, but these are not usually focused on. DVDs, computer games, films, intriguing books and more are not produced about them.

Of recent times a blocked door between the drawing room and the smoking room was opened at Highclere Castle, the ancestral home of the Earls of Carnarvon, in Berkshire, England, in1987, revealing a series of pigeonholes set in the wall. Inside each were mysterious wrapped packages which turned out to be forgotten ancient Egyptian artefacts from the tombs of the pharaohs, thirty centuries old.

As a small boy the fifth earl’s interest in archaeology began when he would dig in the park which surrounded Highclere, where relics of early

man had been found. He travelled widely as a young man and in 1903 went to Egypt for the first time. Four years later, he and Howard Carter, a fellow Englishman and former chief inspector of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, began excavations at the ancient city of Thebes, not far from the Valley of the Kings.

Carnarvon had later funded Howard Carter’s famous excavation of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922 and had later died such a mysterious death in Egypt that it was pounced on by the press. However, he had been sent by his doctors to Egypt to convalesce, the English air being too damp, and it was

well known at the time that his health was seriously impaired.

The tomb of Tutankhamen was hidden beneath the mud brick houses of the workmen cutting the tomb of Rameses V1, located not far from it. On the morning of 4th November 1922, Howard Carter found a sunken staircase descending which was promptly excavated. In Carter’s diary on Sunday 5th November, he wrote, “Though I was satisfied that I was on the verge of perhaps the most magnificent find, probably one of the missing tombs that I had been seeking for many years, I was puzzled by the smallness of the opening in comparison with those of other royal tombs in the valley...”

On 6th November he sent a telegram to Lord Carnarvon in England saying, “At last have made wonderful discovery in Valley - a magnificent tomb with seals intact - recovered same for your arrival - congratulations.”

On 20th November Lord Carnarvon with his daughter, Lady Evelyn Carnarvon, arrived. Now, as the party stood at the foot of the sixteen steps and the passage that lay beyond, they encountered the last of the sealed doorways, feeling as they did so a sense of

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Stamp News - 29

Angie Testa

breathless anticipation, mixed with some trepidation. “As he peered through the small hole Carter

was at first unable to distinguish specific objects, because of the pale light cast off by the candle that flickered constantly. But soon he realised that he was looking, not at wall paintings, but at three dimensional objects. They appeared to be enormous gold bars stacked against the wall opposite the entrance. He later wrote in his diary, “The sight that met us was beyond anything one could conceive. The heterogenous mass of material crowded into the chamber without particular order, so crowded that you were obliged to move with anxious caution, for time had wrought certain havoc with many of the objects, was very bewildering. Everywhere we found traces of disorder caused by some early intruder, objects overturned, broken fragments lying on the floor, all added to the confusion and the unfamiliar plan of tomb repeatedly caused us to ask ourselves in our perplexity whether it was really a tomb or a Royal cache...”

What greeted Carter’s astonished gaze were strange animals, statues and gold, everywhere the glint of gold. He was struck dumb with amazement and Lord Carnarvon asked him anxiously, “Can you see anything?” Carter replied, “Yes, wonderful things.” The room was full of such precious, rare objects that it was obvious that this was pharaonic funerary equipment. There were boxes and chests piled high and incredibly beautiful furniture. Howard Carter wrote, “It was a sight surpassing all precent and one we never dreamed of seeing. We were astonished by the beauty and refinement of the art displayed by the objects surpassing all we could have imagined, and the impression was overwhelming.”

In his diary he wrote, “As the better light fell upon the objects we endeavoured to take them in. It was impossible. There were so many. Beneath one of the couches, the Thoueris couch in the S.W. corner, we perceived an aperture in the rock-wall which proved to be nothing less than another sealed-

doorway broken open as by some predatory hand. With care Lord C and I crept under this strange gilded couch and we peered into the opening. There we saw that it led into yet another chamber (afterwards called the Annexe) of smaller dimensions than the Ante-chamber and of a lower level. Even greater confusion prevailed here, the very stones that blocked the entrance forced in when the breach was made, were lying helter-skelter upon the objects on the floor crushed by their weight. It was full of one mass of furniture. An utter confusion of beds, chairs, boxes, alabaster and faience vases, statuettes,

cases of peculiar form, and every sort of thing overturned and searched for valuables. The remaining portions of the plaster covering the blocking of this

doorway bore similar seal-impressions as on the other doorways.”

Not long after this in a third chamber was found the tomb containing Tutankhamen. There were three coffins. Carter records: “Mr Burton at once made his photographic records. I then removed the floral collarette and linen coverings. An astounding fact was disclosed. The third coffin was made of solid gold!” Further on he wrote, “Before us, occupying the whole of the interior of the golden coffin, was an impressive, neat and carefully made mummy, over which had been poured anointing unguents as in the case of the outside of its coffin ...the youthful pharaoh was before us at last; an obscure and ephemeral ruler, ceasing to be a mere shadow of a name, had re-entered after more than three thousand years, the world of reality and history!” The coffin measured 1.88m in length and weighed 110.4 kg (296lbs), the value in gold alone being worth a million dollars.

An initial autopsy of the remains decided that the pharaoh had been between the ages of 17 and 19 when he had died, and that he had been murdered - not dying of tuberculosis as previously imagined. More recent forensic examination, however, has revealed the young ruler was not murdered at all, the opening at the back of the neck, thought to be an

By 1935 they had credited 21 victims to the Mummy’s Curse, and each new death was carefully ascribed to it. But was there really a curse?

sn august 2008.indd 29 13/7/08 10:49:08 AM

30 - Stamp News

The Mummy - curse or con?

injury, being for the purposes of embalming and it would seem now that Tutankhamen died of a broken leg which had become infected.

The mask (which weighed 22.7 lbs) covering the face of the dead ruler was of brilliant burnished gold, a masterpiece of Egyptian metalwork. It had been beaten from two separate sheets of gold, joined by hammering them together. It is possibly the most celebrated item to have been retrieved from the tomb, although there were a further 150 items of jewellery with it.

It took fifty days to empty the Antechamber, or as the Egyptians termed it, the Golden Room. However, it was to take the best part of a decade of difficult and painstaking work to empty the tomb with over three and a half thousand items recovered. The treasures of the young pharaoh still hold an almost magnetic attraction for visitors to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and have lead to countless imitations.

Sadly, Lord Carnarvon did not live long after the famous discovery. Bitten by a mosquito just four months later he died of blood poisoning, setting off the legend which still persists of the curse of Tutankhamen. Oddly, it is said, at the moment of his death the lights went out in Cairo, which was plunged into darkness and back home at Highclere his favourite dog died at the same time. The earl’s body was embalmed and returned for burial at Highclere. Howard Carter, continued to oversee the clearance of the tomb and died a peaceful death in England many years later aged 66.

Upon the death of her husband Lady Carnarvon entered into an

agreement with the Metropolitan Museum in New York and sold most of her husband’s collection, although the present earl made the discovery in the late 1987 of Egyptian artefacts which are now on display at Highclere.

Just recently, in June this year, new stamps were released in Britain by Royal Mail to commemorate the half century birthday of Britain’s “Carry On” film series and also the first ‘Dracula’ movie made by Hammer Films both produced on shoestring bud-gets - but films which kick-started a series of classic movies that were loved by millions. It is something of a first, featuring stamps of non-royals, who are still alive. Christoper Lee, the veteran actor of 230 films, features in all four of the Hammer stamps.

In 1944 the ‘Mummy’s Curse’ was released star-ring Lon Chaney Jr and marking his last appearance as Kharis, the Egyptian Mummy. ‘The Mummy’s Hand’ was produced in 1940. The ‘Mummy’s Tomb’ and the “Mummy’s Ghost’ complete the quartet. Each of the stamps features original cinema posters of six of the best-known ‘Carry On’s’ and Ham-mer Horror productions, alternating between the

two genres. Barbara Windsor, star of ‘Carry On’, who posed with soldiers at the launch of the stamps in London, said: ‘“Carry On” was part of growing up for so many of us. It was a great honour then to be involved and I’m thrilled that Royal Mail has chosen to recognise these films in such a special way.’ Julietta Edgar, head of special stamps for Royal Mail, said: ‘”Carry On” and Hammer Films had a huge impact on audiences around the world - the stamp issue celebrates and uni-fies the two very different film genres that spanned decades of UK cinema and remain popular.”

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Australian Capital TerritoryEdlins of Canberra, Eddie Cummings, 53 Alinga St., (Next to GPO),Canberra City ACT 2601, Ph: (02) 6248 7859 Fax: (02) 6248 7553 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.edlins.com.au

New South WalesGabriele’s Philatelic Service, Gabriele Woodbine, Suite 21/Level 7, 44 Bridge Street, Sydney, Ph: (02) 9247 8333 Fax: (02) 9247 8333 e-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.gabrieles.com.auKennedy Stamps Pty Ltd, Robert Kennedy, Shop 4, 155 Castlereagh Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000, Ph: (02) 9264 6168 Fax: (02) 9264 5969 e-mail: [email protected] Web: www.kennedystamps.com.

South AustraliaStewart’s Stamp Shop, Basement, Bertram House, 4 Coromandel Place, Adelaide 5000, Tel: 08 8223 4435

TasmaniaThe Stamp Place, Trafalgar on Collins, Shop 3, 110 Collins Street, HO-BART TAS 7000, Ph: (03) 6224 3536 Fax: (03)6224-3536 e-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.tazitiger.com

VictoriaAustralian Philatelic Wholesalers,10a Atherton Road, Oakleigh VIC 3166, Ph: (03) 9568 6441 Fax: (03) 9568 5169 e-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.philatelic.com.au

Trouble getting Stamp News?Not a subscriber yet? See our handy form towards the back of this issue, you can also order your subscription through your favourite stamp dealer. The following Stamp Shops do keep Stamp News, though mostly for regular purchasers, so you may need to ask the dealer to order in an additional copy for you. ( dealers who have a standing order for a minimum of 3 copies monthly get a free listing here, ask for details)

Australian Stamp & Coin Co. Pty Ltd, Forest Hill Chase, 270 Can-terbury Rd, FOREST HILL VIC 3131, Ph: (03) 9878 3411, Fax: (03) 9878 3877, email: [email protected] Web: www.australianstamp.comGeelong Collectors Corner, 93 Little Malop Street, Geelong, VIC 3220, Ph: (03) 5229 4969Max Stern & Company, Port Phillip Arc, 234 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3001, Ph: (03) 9654 6751 Fax: (03) 9650 7192 e-mail: [email protected] Web: http://maxstern.customer.netspace.net.auKevin Morgan Stamps & Coins, 107 Station Street Ferntree Gully Vic. 3156 Tel: 03 9752 2677 Fax: 03 9758 2488 email [email protected]’s Coins, Shop 4A, Heart Arcade, 22 Wells St, frankston, 3199. Ph. 03 9783 6288Shields Stamps & Coins, 52 Burgundy St, Heidelberg, Vic., 3084 Ph. 03 9459 5953

Western AustraliaCygnet Stamps, Shop 2, Hyatt Centre, 23 Plain Street, East Perth, WA 6004 Telephone (08) 9325 4542 New ZealandShades Stamp Shop, 1a Shades Arcade, 108 Hereford St, Christch-urch NZ Phone 3366 6390 Fax 3374 6001 Email: [email protected]

There are also about 4950 newsagencies in Australia, and most of the major stores carry a number of copies, alterna-tively you can arrange with your local newsagent to put one by for you each month.

MY SHOPPING LIST! I wish to buy the following in fine mint unhinged condition. Mounted and fine

used of most also required, send what you have for our best offer. Complete collec-tions also purchased. Kangaroos needed please offer.

Australia Mint Unhinged - New Higher Prices!Fresh, well centred Mint unhinged unless otherwise stated, prices subject requirements”

Kevin Morgan Stamps & Coins Tel: 03 9752 2677 Fax: 03 9758 2488

Email: [email protected] Web: www.kevinmorgan.com.au

All Kangaroos 2d and above per current Comprehensive, pay

45% catalogue price for Mint unhinged or lightly hinged.

1928 Kookaburra Minisheet ................... $190

As above, light hinge ............................... $145

1932 5/- Harbour Bridge ....................... $1150

As above, light hinge ............................... $435

1934 Hermes no wmk. ............................... $80

1937 3d White Wattles ............................ $170

1961 5/- Stockman, white paper .............. $85

1d Green QM Coil pair ............................. $160

2d Red KGVI Coil pair ............................... $350

Buying decimals above face value, maximum 20 of any required.

1991 Literary Legends ........................................................... $3.40

1991 Christmas ...................................................................... $1.75

1992 War Battles ..................................................................... $4.75

1994 Sydney/Hobart gutter pair .................... (300% face!) $2.70

1995 Medical Science ............................................................ $3.90

1995 Medical Science Gutter Pair .................... (300% face) $2.70

1995 World Down Under, peel/stick strip (6) .. (200% face!)$5.40

1996 Children’s Books, peel/stick strip (4) ..... (200% face!) $3.60

1998 Farming strip (5) ........................................................... $2.65

2001 Outback Services, peel/stick strip (5) ......................... $2.50

2002 Motor Racing, peel/stick strip (6) ................................ $2.95

All 2006-2008 complete sets and minisheets pay 75% face

Please confirm all sendings by telephone in advance

sn august 2008.indd 31 22/7/08 8:19:41 PM

Personalised Stamps

32 - Stamp News

Sports Museum, Premiership Players & the Flying Doctor

Australian’s love of sport is celebrated with sheets for the newly opened National Sports Museum and the latest issue for the Premiership Players Club. Also the 80th anniversary of the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s has been commemorated.

National Sports Museum

The National Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was opened on 13 March 2008. To quote the Australia Post insert – “The achievements of Australian sportsmen and women at all levels are showcased within interactive exhibitions including sporting artefacts. Their stories and imagery represent all sports played within Australia.”

A souvenir sheet was issued to commemorate the event. Apparently it was issued on the opening day – 13 March 2008. The sheet is standard gummed, horizontal format A4 with a 10 stamp arrangement of the 50c Australia & Globe design.

The selvedge carries images of the 1997 Australia v Iran soccer match at the MCG and Jack Brabham in his Formula 1 car. Each of the tabs has different images including, Frank Beaurepaire, Vic Patrick, Ray Webster, Neil Jeffreys, Ron Durham, Betty Cuthbert, Hubert Opperman and Betty Wilson.

The Premiership Players’ Club Inc. – Ninth Annual Issue 2008

The Premiership Players’ Club membership comprises players and coaches of premiership winning teams from the Australian Football League (AFL) and earlier the Victorian Football League (VFL). As the title suggests this souvenir sheet is the latest issue of one of the longest running series. Limited edition (500) numbered sheets have been issued annually since 2000.

The 2008 sheet is of the same format as those issued in previous years. It is gummed horizontal A4 with a 20 stamp arrangement of the 50c Kangaroo & Flag design. Also as usual an image of an old ground illustrates the selvedge and the specially printed envelope housing each sheet. Issue was May 2008.

The players featured on the tabs are –George Hassell Lerrel SharpJohn McArthur Rex HuntEmmett Dunne Max SpittleJim Gallagher John WattsGeoff Southby Peter SumichWally May Ralph LaneKevin Cowboy Neale Peter ChisnellDenis Pagan Terry FultonHarry Sullivan Bryan QuirkRobert Dipierdemenico Tom Harley

Royal Flying Doctor Service – 80th Anniversary

Australia’s iconic Royal Flying Doctor Service,

sn august 2008.indd 32 12/7/08 12:39:39 PM

Craig Chappell

Stamp Coin & Phonecard Fairs




Melway map 28 G4

Craig Chappell can be contacted by email at

[email protected]

Stamp News - 33

founded by the equally iconic Reverend John Flynn began operations in 1928. The first “flying” Doctor Welsh was on board a de Havilland DH50A leased from QANTAS. Piloted by Captain Arthur Affleck, it flew from Cloncurry to Julia Creek in north-western Queensland on 17 May 1928. The RFDS covers all the areas of Australia.

Adelaide’s West Beach Aviation Group organised specially tabbed Personalised Stamps and four flight covers to commemorate the anniversary. The standard self-adhesive 20 stamp sheet of the 50c Kangaroo design was used. The tab shows the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft and pilot David Marshman that flew the Alice Springs – Kings Creek mercy flight.

The four cover flown were –16 May 2008: Adelaide – Naracoorte (SA) – Adelaide (scheduled clinic flight)

17 May 2008: Alice Springs – Kings Creek (NT cattle station) – Alice Springs (mercy flight)17 May 2008: Broken Hill – Naryilco (Qld) – Broken Hill – Adelaide – Broken Hill17 May 2008: Post Augusta – Kimba (SA) – Port Augusta (mercy flight)

sn august 2008.indd 33 12/7/08 12:40:14 PM

acts

stampboards

Cinderella Corner

Clockwise from top left: Figs 1 - 8

Murray Steam Navigation CompanyThe origins of this company are shrouded in mystery and while much has been written about it, I thought that a re run of the basic information along with colour illustrations would be worth a place in the column.

Both Bill Hornadge wrote an article in the February 1981 issue of this magazine and the late L.N. Williams wrote extensively on these stamps in the June 1986 issue. There are also a number of minor references to them in various Cinderella Corner columns through the years. I will draw on their work for most of this item as well as a brief mention of the company in the history of the Mayne Nickless empire as published in the book “Hurry Back” by Brian Carroll.

The Mayne Nickless business grew out of the demise of the McCulloch empire in Victoria and it seems McCulloch had some kind of interest in the Murray Steam Navigation Company.

However, back to the Murray Steam Navigation Company. The company seems to have existed from about 1864 to 1872 with the first reference to the company appearing the Riverine Herald newspaper of 4 January 1865. The six years from 1867 to 1873 are the only ones in which reference to the company can be found in the old directories. There is also a small file of documents relating to the company held in the Public Records Office in Melbourne. These are dated from 1864 to 1866.

Now to the stamps; the first reference to the stamps came from the Belgian dealer J.B. Moens in October 1872 and he doubted that they were genuine. In November 1872 E.L. Pemberton noted them, considered them to be bogus novelties and condemned them. Nothing much else was recorded about them until 1915 when Fred Melville wrote about them in his book Stamps of the Steamship Companies and referred to them as “probably bogus”. When he published Phantom Philately in 1923, Melville had been put on the track of the 1872 writings and he wrote “These are rarely met with and appear to be hoary old impostors of the early stamp collecting days”. He noted that he had seen only the ½d, 1d and 3d, however he also stated that other references recorded a 2d stamp.

Articles in the November and December 1941 issues of The Australian Stamp Monthly established the fact that the Murray Steam Navigation Company really did exist.

Then in 1947 H.R. Holmes wrote about the stamps in The London Philatelist and also discovered the HALF PENCE variety.

Details of the production of the stamps are not known for certain, but by deduction it is believed that they were printed in Ballarat by H.P. Niven using the lithographic process. The stamps are perforated 13.7 in a very rough line perforation and well centred examples are unusual.

A proof of the One Penny value exists printed in green

34 - Stamp News

sn august 2008.indd 34 8/7/08 12:11:20 PM

falcon stampsl-z

Tony Presgrave

Fig. 9 Figs. 10 & 11

and it is thought that the One Penny stamp was actually the base stamp used for the other denominations simply by altering the value and inserting the value figures in the top corners.

As for numbers of each denomination in existence, I guess there are probably no more than 10 of each, 2 of the HALF PENCE variety, and probably only about 5 sets of the four stamps. It took me 15 years to make up the set of four stamps I have in my collection.

A major discovery occurred in 1964 when a 3d stamp on cover turned up. The cover is dated 1869 and the stamp has been placed near the bottom left of the cover and cancelled with the initials JKM 10.2.69.

In 1991 I produced a facsimile of the 2d stamp to commemorate the voyage of the paddle steamer Oscar W from Goolwa to Echuca and return. This replica is imperforate and produced as a peel and stick type label. It was printed in blocks of 9 in a blue colour lighter than the original, and also the detail is not as clear. See Figs. 1 to 8.

Swan IslandI recently acquired a set of labels with this inscription, (fig. 9), which are claimed to be Australian fantasy issues. I have no information about them and I cannot find any reference to Bill Hornadge having written about them either. A web search revealed two Swan Islands in Australia, one in Port Phillip

Bay off Queenscliff and the other in Bass Strait. There are also several Swan Islands in other countries.

I think they are intended to represent the Bass Strait Island, but would appreciate any information readers can provide.

East TimorThese two stamps, (fig 10 and 11), were also acquired at the same time. They were described as unauthorised issues however this is not the case and they are not cinderellas; they are actually United Nations issues for East Timor Independence Day and were issued on May 20th 2002. They are part of a set of 6 issued by the United Nations, two values issued by the USA, 34c and 57c, two by Geneva with values of 90c and 1fr.30c with the remaining two by Vienna with values of 51c and €1.09.

However there has been skullduggery afoot here, these have the yellow colour missing, but not as the result of a printing error, someone has very carefully added a line of perforations above the yellow inscription at the base and then removed that portion. The deception has failed though because the added perforations are 11½ whereas the stamps should be perforated 13¾ x 14 and of course the stamps are smaller. Fortunately I did not pay much for these but collectors of United Nations stamps need to be aware of things like this.

Stamp News - 35

sn august 2008.indd 35 8/7/08 12:11:46 PM

A.G.T. Devine56 Gardner Circuit, Singleton Heights, NSW 2330

Ph: 02 6573 4209 [email protected]

Robert D. Andersen141 Monash Rd, Tarragindi, QLD 4121


A-One Stamps - M GreivePO 82, Edgecliffe, NSW, 2027 Ph: 02 9362 3636

[email protected] www.aonestamps.com

Peter BarrettPO Box 5, Dover, UK CT16 1YQ Ph: 013 0482 9827

[email protected] www.stamo-centre.co.uk

Bexley Stamps - M. HillPO Box 13 Bexley, NSW 2207 Ph: 02 9567 5242

[email protected]

John Burn BaileyGPO Box 2732, Melbourne, VIC 3001

Ph: 0425 761 169

Grant CarterPO Box 16, Northcote, VIC 3020

Ph: 03 9480 2193

Alf ClarkPO Box 53, Box Hill, VIC 3128

Ph: 03 9808 1905

Ken CowdenPO Box 108, Bateman’s Bay, NSW 2536


Edenzac Stamps: Tim Papadopoulos21 Mollison St Dandenong Nth VIC 3175


Edlins of CanberraEddie J Cummings

GPO Box 289, Canberra, ACT 2601 Ph: 02 6248 [email protected] www.edlins.com.au

Gold Coast Stamp TradersGlyn Fairbairn

PO Box 275, Currumbin, QLD 4223 Ph: 07 5533 9582www.goldcoststamptraders.com.au

[email protected]

Stephen JoeGPO Box 302, Suva, Fiji Ph: 679 3319183

[email protected]

Heather Johnsonc/- PO Box 7436 U. Ferntree Gully, Vic., 3156

Ph: 0419 532 093

Andrew McEachernSuite 333, 236 Hyperdome, Loganholme, QLD, 4129


Kevin Morgan Stamps & Coins107 Station St, Ferntree Gully, VIC 3156

Ph: 03 9752 2677kmorgan @centurynova.com.au

www.kevinmorgan.com.au

Maree NieuwenhuizenPO BOX 457, Bayswater, VIC 3153 Ph: 03 9762 1848

[email protected]

Mike Lee7 Colbury Rd, Bayswater Nth, VIC 3153


P & D NichollsPO Box 172, Glenbrook, NSW 2773

Ph: 02 4739 [email protected]

Pacific Coast PhilatelicsOwen Pennells

PO Box 3343, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670Ph: 0427 551 207

Ray PinnigerPO Box 9008, Scoresby, VIC 3179


Robert Kennedy Stamps P/LShop 4, 155 Castlereagh St, Sydney, NSW, 2000

Ph: 02 9264 [email protected]

www.kennedystamps.com.au

Chris Snelling StampsPO Box 121, Kotara Fair, NSW 2289


Glen Stephens4 The Tor Walk, Castlecrag, NSW 2068

PH: 02 9958 [email protected] www.glenstephens.com

Sydney PhilatelicsGraeme Fudge

PO Box 122, Milton, NSW 2538 Ph: 02 4455 [email protected] www.stampsaustralia.com.au

Lyndsay TooleyPO Box 441, Norfolk Is. NSW 2899


Join today, membership is free! No fees for the first 12 months, open to all traders in collectables,

part-time or full-time.

ACTSPO Box 1290

Upwey, VIC 3158

The world’s largest and friendliest Stamp Bulletin Board - with a strong ozzie flavour! Started April 1 2007 and yet had 1,900 members from 60 countries - and 250,000 different messages within a year. On 1000s of topics. There are 1000s of high resolution colour photos there showing rare stamps, errors, discoveries, cinderellas and new issues etc. We get two MILLION hits each month.

A vast array of leading dealers and collectors from 40 countries worldwide are active members. The Presidents of both APTA and the APS are members. Senior International Stamp Judges are members. Catalogue producers, stamp magazine publishers and leading auc-tioneers are all active members. Masses of stamp club secretaries worldwide are members, and promote their clubs and events - does yours???

All entirely FREE. If you can 2 finger type you are all set - simple and intuitive. Discuss EVERY aspect of stamps from ANY country - and get instant answers. Show and share your photos, ask questions, get advice from experts. Buy or sell or trade the stamps you need, All FREE. Loads of fun threads, jokes and discussions too. Dozens of ebay crooks, cons and forgers have been exposed and expelled from ebay by our member reports and detective work - essential reading. Regular Trivia Contests, and competitions with valu-able prizes. Pop by today -

sn june 20081.indd 36 20/5/08 7:41:48 PM

kmsc 41-42-43 - aug 07.indd 1kmsc 41-42-43 - aug 07.indd 1 7/6/2007 10:56:01 AM7/6/2007 10:56:01 AM

Revenue Review

Fig. 1

Fig. 3

Fig. 2 Fig. 7

40 - Stamp News

Revenue and Railway CatalogueMany of you have been following the progress of my on line revenue and railway catalogue, with many of you sending emails further giving me encouragement to complete this task. I now have New Zealand up and running. This on line catalogue should now stop all auction houses listing Revenue and Railway stamps from Australia and New Zealand as UNLISTED by quoting from 20-30 year old references. If an auction house does come up with something not in the catalogue I will add it the day the catalogue comes out! So hopefully items will now be listed as ‘A NEW FIND’ rather than ‘UNLISTED’. Figure one shows a previously unlisted claret colour beer duty from 1885 which I have now listed in the catalogue [A new find!]. One beer duty I am not to sure on is the 1880 3/- although listed in the New Zealand catalogue, I am yet to see one of these beasts. Maybe you have one in your collection, if so please let me know, in particular the colours. Further down the page I have listed several impressed duties, figure two a £50 value, one of only a handful of values recorded, again maybe you have some? Please let me know. The die shown in figure two is very similar to Queensland except that the left hand side shows the silver fern of New Zealand.

Further exciting developments are the inclusion of Papua and Papua New Guinea. This has created quite a bit of excitement amongst these collectors, but I am still missing a few pictures in this section, again maybe you can help. At present I am working with Francis Kiddle, a good friend from the UK who has recently taken over the chairmanship of the FIP revenue commission. Between us we will be publishing further information

on the Customs Duty stamps from Australia. These are quite fascinating, as they were never printed in Australia, and they were never actually used in Australia! They were used on incoming advertising mail. A detailed listing of these can be found in the Commonwealth section of the catalogue. Finally, last month I mentioned the scarcity of the recorded dated Unemployment Insurance high values, Development Tax etc. I have now added to the Queensland catalogue a dated analysis of all the recorded stamps, maybe you can add to it? If so, please let me know.

Rails in the MailIt can sometimes be confusing when you find railway stamps on an envelope in place of postage stamps, and figure three is no exception showing an intrastate letter from Harristown to Toowoomba. I’m more inclined to think this is a newspaper wrapper, maybe you have a theory, please let me know your thoughts.

Is it real?Figure four shows a Queensland impressed 10/- with a typewritten New South Wales £1 stamp duty, dated 18/6/47. How these were accounted for by the New South Wales treasury is a bit of a mystery to me. Maybe these values were recorded daily into a day book? Have you seen similar for other states, i.e. a New South Wales duty stamp with a typewritten Queensland stamp duty alongside? While I’m chatting Queensland, figure five shows the rarely seen complete strike of the ‘Stamp Office Treasury Brisbane’ with the ‘bun head’ Bust Of Queen Victoria in the Centre seen here over two stamps which is normal. This embossed cancel

sn august 2008.indd 40 22/7/08 8:22:15 PM

Dave Elsmore

Fig. 8

Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6

Fig. 10Fig. 9

Stamp News - 41

was used on all the remainder sets of 1892 & 1895 adhesive and impressed series and the odd single value for inclusion into the parliamentary privilege packs. In some cases this was also used by the Stamp Duty Commissioner to cancel the excepted colours for new issues.

Rare TasmaniaSurvival rate of documents from Tasmania I feel is quite high but rarely does an exceptional document come along. Figure six shows a super four colour piece all overprinted REVENUE. I’m not sure what I would class the hardest revenue to find a on a document from Tasmania, certainly the platypus issues were well stripped from documents, so few have survived. I have a couple of the £1 Queen on document. The 2/6d dragon is known on document but the 10/- Dragon overprinted REVENUE must be one of the scarcest values to find. Fig 6 is from a document ‘Stamp Duty Succession to Residue’, from the personal estate of a chap who died 1 Nov 1900 in New South Wales. It also carries the stamp office cancel 15 Nov 1901 of Brisbane, and is stamped in Tasmania and dated 23 Nov 1901. Are there any legal minds out there who can explain what ‘Stamp Duty Succession to Residue’ is?

Service FeeI have many fee hand stamps from Victoria but just a single ‘Service Fee’. Just what this service is escapes me, apart from the obvious ‘a fee for a service’! Maybe a Victorian reader can enlighten us all on this Service Fee. Figure 7 shows part of a court document being a ‘Default Summons upon a complaint for a civil debt’ it also has 2 x 2/6d adhesive stamps attached

making a total of 7/6d. Hopefully I will have more to report on this next month.

Australia-PNGIt would appear all published works on the dates of use of Papua stamps overprinted ‘Stamp Duty and a value’ are all around 1949. I would like to set the record straight or maybe slightly straighter as according to my research this date should be nearer 1930. Bill Craig who wrote ‘The Revenue Stamps of The Commonwealth of Australia and its Territories’ in 1986, had assigned the Lakatoi high value overprints up to £100 to Papua and New Guinea. These belong to Papua only. The first 1952 provisional for the Territory of Papua New Guinea is the Australian £1 Robes postage stamp overprinted ‘Territory of Papua New Guinea Stamp Duty’ seen here in figure 8 with a clear manuscript 1952 date. This provisional is missing from most collections.

Our Boys League Colonial FundFinally, a couple more pictures from ‘Our Boys League Colonial Fund’ receipt revenues which I wrote about last month. As you can see they have an 1897 UK commemoration flavor?

I can be contacted by mail: P O Box 66 Springwood 4127 Queensland or an Email

link from my web site http://users.bigpond.net.au/dave1/index

sn august 2008.indd 41 22/7/08 8:23:43 PM

Australia in Depth£2 First watermark – An Australian ‘blue-chip’ stamp

In both the collecting and trading of quality stamps, sometimes you seen an item that you never forget, and for me, the £2 ‘Jet-black and rose illustrated in figures 1 and 2 (reverse) is a gem that falls into this category. It is seldom that the first watermark £2 appears in genuine mint never hinged condition, and even less so in superb condition with no faults of any kind. This stamp is exactly that, and, although it is not ‘geometrically’ centred, taking everything into account it is the finest example of this issue that I have seen offered on the market.

Fig 1 Sold for $AU25,100 on eBay Fig 2 Reverse – showing super gum and freshness

As shown in figure 3, this stamp also happens to show the variety ‘Kangaroo’s ear at left broken’, and is from the right pane, position R47. In addition, there is a red dot above the ears that appears to be a constant variety.

Fig 3 Detail of variety ‘Kangaroo’s ear at left broken’ (position R47)

I had the pleasure of selling this stamp on behalf of a collector at the ‘Sydpex 88’ exhibition in Sydney – for $10,500, and, almost exactly twenty years later have now handled it for a second time, after being instructed to bid for it on behalf of a client in a recent sale on eBay. It is very seldom that I find a ‘big ticket’ item that attracts my attention on eBay. Indeed, the next highest priced item that I have bid on – and on that occasion just missed out on, was a recently discovered example of KGV single watermark inverted 4d olive at $US12,400 against a

winning bid of $US12,500. This item was sold by a collector from Uruguay, and there were some ‘security/safety’ concerns in the sending process that resulted in me reducing my bid a little from what it would have been. However, on this more recent occasion, I was fortunate to be the successful bidder. With a final bid price of $AU25,100 as far as I am aware, this is the highest price paid for any Australian Commonwealth or Australian Colonies stamp on eBay. I would be very interested to hear if any reader of Stamp News is aware of a higher priced Australian item selling in a normal eBay auction.

In terms of valuing a first watermark £2 in choice mint never hinged condition, the most recent comparison at auction comes from the Arthur Gray sale conducted by Shreves in New York (22-23 February 2007). Lot number 274 (figure 4), was described as ‘never hinged … very fine and exceedingly choice’ and sold for a hammer price of $US15,000 to an Australian dealer. With the 15% buyer’s premium at the prevailing exchange rate at that time ($AU1 = $US0.78), this was equal to $AU22,115. Allowing for GST, if it was sold within Australia, the price would need to be $A24,327 in order for the successful bidder to break even. Only a price above that would result in a profit. Although not described, this stamp shows the broken coast in bight variety.

In the ‘current’ edition of the ACSC, published in 2004, this stamp catalogues $12,500 (noting that the catalogue prices do not include GST) for a fine example with ‘reasonable’ centring. In a general note not specific to the kangaroo issues, the catalogue notes that better centred examples attract a premium of up to 30%. However, for quality examples, the market has moved up considerably since then, and there is every indication that it will continue to rise. In many issues, the premium for superb well centred examples is up to 50%, however, in some instances, I believe the premium should be much higher than that. It must be emphasised that in order to fetch such prices that the level of quality and the rarity of such examples are both crucial factors to consider. In relation to colour, overall freshness and perforations, the example that fetched $25,100 above is superior to the Gray example.

Whilst on the topic of the £2 first watermark, as previously detailed in Stamp News, I was fortunate to have been the successful buyer on behalf of a client of the £2 ‘JBC’ monogram single (figure 5) in the Arthur Gray sale (lot 287). This is the only example recorded in private hands – the Chapman collection held by Australia Post includes a single, and the Royal collection includes the strip of three – that was on display at Pacific Explorer in Sydney. With a hammer price on the ‘JBC’ single of $US120,000 this was equal to an all-up price at the time of $AU176,923 and remains the world record price for a single stamp item of Australian Commonwealth. This item does have a couple of slight blemishes; however the extreme rarity renders the condition a less significant factor in determining its value than is the case with most normal items. In this instance, the key to the value of this item is indeed in the monogram, with the stamp itself being worth about $4,000 in the condition as presented!

42 - Stamp News

sn august 2008.indd 42 21/7/08 5:56:42 AM

Simon Dunkerley£2 First watermark – An Australian ‘blue-chip’ stamp

Figure 4 $AU22,115 in the Gray sale

Figure 5 $AU176, 923 in the Gray sale

A superb example of the first watermark £2 in mint lightly hinged condition, by coincidence also showing the broken coast in bight variety has been featured on the home page of my website for about four years and is shown in figure 6. The current retail price range for very fine mint lightly hinged examples is about $8,000 to $12,000 depending on exactly how fine the stamp is.

Figure 6 1st wmk £ mint lightly hinged

Finally, another interesting point to consider in pricing the £2 denomination in the current market is the relative price of the first watermark £1 brown and blue. With a mint never hinged catalogue value of $8,500 (compared to $12,500 for the £2), it would be expected that there are more examples on the market, and overall this is true. There have been more examples of the £1 in genuine mint never hinged condition on the market than the £2; however, the condition on this denomination is also very tough, with very few of them indeed being fault free.

The £1 is generally poorer with regard to centring and/or perforations than the £2 value. The £1 shown in figure 7 is a remarkable exception in that regard; however, on the downside, it does have some very faint traces of toning around the perforations visible only on the reverse under careful examination This example fetched a strong $18,640 including the add-ons when auctioned by Prestige Philately in their Rarities auction of 22nd April 2004.

Figure 7 1st Wmk £1 Brown and blue Figure 8 1st Wmk £1 Red-brown and blue

Just as I was putting the finishing touches to this article, it was indeed timely that well known Melbourne dealer Richard Juzwin was able to show me a superb example of the £1, as shown in figure 8. This stamp is genuine mint never hinged and in terms of freshness and overall appearance, I would rate it as the best example that I have seen. Once again, like the £2 I was successful with on eBay, this stamp is not geometrically centred, although it is better. In addition, it has a stunning ink variety down the kangaroo’s back and hip. I have no doubt that the auction record of $18,640 will be exceeded when Richard sells this stamp. Indeed, in a phone call Richard informs me that the stamp has been sold for a price in excess of $20,000.

As with the £2, if a perfectly centred example that was superb in every respect came to light, it would be very interesting to see what price level would be achieved at auction. The difficulty though, is that I have never seen a mint never hinged example of either the £1 or £2 in first watermark that would meet the criteria to be graded at 100!

Stamp News - 43

sn august 2008.indd 43 21/7/08 5:58:25 AM

Market Matters: What is "Superb Used"?

Take your pick

I often get asked how one values older stamps that are in far better than usual condition.

It is a complex answer, and there is no real tried and proven formula to be honest. As the rest of this column will hopefully explain in a little more detail.

My big speciality is Superb Used Kangaroos. For near 30 years I have had the best stocks in Australia of these issues, and my 5 gradings I set up in 1980 are still the ones I use, and are regarded by many as very accurate. No other dealer offers such a choice.

Leading dealer Richard Juzwin repeatedly asked me for assistance with providing examples of each grade for his last pricelist, where he lists 4 grades for used. Sadly I was overseas and tied up with other things, and did not respond in time, despite a few reminders – my fault.

I use these five grades for every Roo and KGV head – 1. Spacefiller. 2. Aver-age Used. 3. Good Used. 4. Fine Used. 5. Superb Used. All are priced accord-ingly.

Often what I sell as “Good Used” is regarded as “Fine Used” or even “Superb Used” by others who handle less copies than myself.

Many dealers have three prices for Kangaroos on their lists – “MUH”, “Mint” and “Fine Used” and anything on hand with a cancel on it often magically qualifies for the latter grade if that is all they have!

One thing for sure is that if one deals in this area for decades, for every truly SU-PERB used Kanga-roo, there are gener-ally several hundred ordinary copies.

Try finding a SUPERB used 2/- Brown third water-mark for example. I could sell you a “nice” looking ex-ample all day long for $30 apiece.

I have probably 50 of those on hand. And a few 100 less than “nice” copies. And only about four REALLY great look-ing examples.

This stamp does NOT exist CTO from the Specimen packs, so that very handy source of supply is not available to us.

27 Million were soldWhy so scarce? Who knows. The ACSC tells us there were near 27 MIL-LION of this stamp used up, over 8 years. You’d think stacks of them would be around in top grade. They are not.

And bear in mind there are 6 totally different major shades recognised by the ACSC for this watermark alone, so for the true collector with an eye to top qual-ity, you could spend several years just sourcing this stamp alone in top grade for all 6 shades.

This kind of “Holy Grail” quest has kept many of my clients, and myself and other dealers very busy for decades. It is the “fun of the chase” factor, and the very real challenge involved.

These 2/- were used on parcels, and most got well and truly “clobbered” by the postal staff at the time - and/or mangled or scuffed or creased or torn in transit.

Now ask me for a SUPERB 1913 2/- Brown First Watermark Roo and no problems. Only 960,000 were issued of that watermark, but I can always find you a superb one like the 6d blue shown nearby ….. as such nice looking CTO copies are out there.

Even the choice “VFU” collections of Roos I offer on my Rarity page are tough to fill for a stamp like this 2/- Brown Third Watermark, as we have many factors to take into consideration.

This series often had “fluffy” perfs which most collectors do not like. (See the nearby photo, central stamp for an

example of this.) Heavy and/or smeary parcel cancels

are of course the biggest issue, as well as soiling, toning, and poor centering.

See the photo of the three x 2/- Browns nearby. The central one was a “trade-in” to me this week from a client who bought it off eBay as “fine used – light cancel”. It is by my grading - level two in a 5 grade scale – i.e. “Average Used”. He paid $32 for it on eBay.

Many collectors of course are per-fectly happy with such an average stamp – it has no thins or creases, and my price for that grade is $15. Or less than half the eBay “bargain”.

The two 2/- stamps on either side are from stock, and are top end examples for this stamp. Forget abut $30 ….. in this grade we are talking around $75 each.

So from the central stamp at $15, to the RH stamp at $75 we have a wide spectrum of condition .. and price.

Very much like buying a used car. The one-lady-owner, always garaged, low kms, versus the ex-Taxi with 500,000 kms! You get what you pay for in life.

WHAT is superb used?The funny thing with “Superb Used” is that all collectors have a VERY different definition of it. And in different conti-nents they most especially do.

Looking again at those three x 2/- Browns nearby, most Australian collec-tors if given the choice of the left and right stamps at the same price, would select the RIGHT stamp, as in this coun-

try folks like light corner cancels.

Every American would also choose the right hand ex-ample as with their micrometers they’d say it is better cen-tered. Americans do not care about perfs or cancels in general. It is all about center-ing, centering and centering.

However if you show these same 2 stamps to any

German or Swiss collector, they would nearly ALL select the left hand stamp, if priced the same. As it shows a clear un-framed, upright dated cds, of “DROUIN – VICTORIA - 18 DE:16”.

There is not a continental European collector alive who would choose the

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Glen Stephens

right hand example is my guess, as no date or town is discernable.

And remember that no “fake” modern cancel will appear on this stamp. Hinged mint this stamp would be $300++ with this centering and perfs. Even with NO GUM it would sell for around half that – or way above VFU price.

And that price differential has always been there. My point is that no-one would EVER have applied a fake cancel to an unused 2/- Brown. Even in my 1965 ACSC this stamp was priced more than twice as much mint as used.

The 6d Blue 1913 First Watermark illustrated nearby, many would regard as Superb Used.

It is a “CTO” copy, that the Post Office sold in little packs for £1, that included all 1913 stamps up to 5/- with this crisp 1913 Melbourne half circle cancel, and then the top 3 values to £2 were hand-stamped “Specimen”.

A few MP and VIP presentation sets also were done, which is where the high values CTO originated with the same cancel, and a similar Melbourne corner cancel, and some have a CTO Brisbane cds ex PO Archives.

This Specimen pack sale contin-ued right up into the Decimal currency period, and stopped in about 1970. The lower values to 5/- always being light cancelled (mostly corner cancelled apart from the 1913 Roos) and the top 3 or 4 values were overprinted “SPECIMEN”.

This 6d CTO Roo is now thankfully listed in the ACSC as such. So a “nor-mal” used 1913 6d blue is now cat $20,

but a CTO example like this is cata-logued at $75. Why? As only about 1 in 100 copies in the market are CTO.

And just having the CTO cancel does not guarantee a nice copy, on any value.

Post Office VandalsThe PO staff in that era sadly did not select well centred sheets for the CTO and SPECIMEN overprints. Nor did they tear them apart carefully. Many are absolutely woeful in BOTH respects!

This means the BULK of the crisp CTO copies existing are badly centred and/or have poor and torn out perfs (by the PO staff) and/or have doubled or ugly over-inked cancels.

I’ve handled probably 1000+ of the 1913 CTO’s over the years, and I’d guess only 5% of them are “very nice”.

I have probably 20 of this 6d CTO stamp in stock, and the one shown is around the best. This one I’d price at $125 and the others down to $30, based on how off centre or perf pulled they are, or how toned/rusted.

However the 1913 5/- First Water-mark used (SG 13) is nearly only found in CTO. ACSC lists CTO and postal used equally at $200 which is totally absurd. Near every used copy in albums is CTO, and a very fine postally used 5/- 1913 is a true RARITY.

I’ve said that about the 5/- Bridge for decades, and the market has finally caught up on that one.

Re the 1913 5/- First Watermark used, if you phone 20 dealers you will NOT find a superb postally used one at ANY price – trust me. Please don’t phone me – I haven’t had one for years.

So Memo to Geoff Kellow ACSC Editor .. like the 5/- Bridge, postally used at $500, and CTO at $300 is about right for this stamp too. Indeed even the $200 5/- Roo CTO price is currently way too low, as they are not especially plentiful at all.

Indeed the ACSC tells us only 2,169 sets were ever sold of the 1913 Specimen packs, so a SG 1, ½d green Roo CTO (ACSC cat $25!) is equally as scarce as the 5/- ... indeed both are about equally as scarce as the 1913 £2 Specimen – Cat $525 hinged and $2,250 “MUH”.

So some serious price adjustments need to be looked at for the next edition on these 1913 issues.

Every value from ½d to 5/- in CTO should have exactly the same price – say $100 each, except for the 1/-, which should be a little higher as it is basically the only source of the now SG listed in-verted watermark, as most 1/- CTO’s are inverted. Hence a world demand exists for just that value more than the others.

Getting confused about how deal-ers price their used pre-war Australia?

Good! Here is the exact OPPOSITE situation just to confuse you even fur-ther.

Nearly the entire supply of 1932 5/- Sydney Harbour Bridges in collector hands today derived from these Speci-men packs. See the photo nearby.

To find a nice contemporary 1932 dated POSTALLY used 5/- Bridge is a near impossibility. My guess is 99% of existing used Bridges are corner CTO - like the copy shown nearby. They sell for about $A275 each – and up to $350 for really top examples.

The other 5/- Bridge stamp shown next to it is commercially used, with a clear “16 JUNE 1932” date. To many collectors this “heavy” cancel is FAR less desirable to the corner CTO one next to it.

I will list the “heavy” cancel up at about $550 on my Rarity page soon, and it will sell in days. Why? As so few 1932 postally used dated copies exist.

Post Office “CTO” Your Choice

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Market Matters

Rarer than you thinkI have been typing that reality for decades, and the wider market is now finally starting to agree it seems. Other than those soaked off tatty Bridge opening covers from April, almost no other 1932 clear dated copies exist.

The ACSC has even caught up, and now prices postally used at 70% MORE than the CTO ones! A slightly inferior centered 1932 dated copy to the one illus-trated here fetched $A535 at the last Prestige auction.

However stamp collectors at large as always are slow to catch on, and ask most Australian collectors which of these two illustrated 5/- stamps they’d prefer in their collections, and the vast majority would choose the CTO example, despite it being worth about half as much by today’s informed market!

Oddly, these Specimen packs NEV-ER sold well in their 60 year history, and for most of them, the intact contents are worth way into 4 figures. Even the set 4 shown nearby was on sale right up until Decimal currency in 1966.

Most of these packs seem to have been bought by “senior” collectors and given to kids as gifts. Young Billy or little Jessica, who might like a set of cur-rent stamp for their collection.

The were light and easy to mail, and were about the size of a greeting card, so as birthday or Christmas gifts they seemed especially popular.

I often see a full set of Specimens roughly hinged into kid’s albums with those horrid thick yellow Wool-worth’s hinges that never peel off. Or worse still, are often LICKED onto the pages – as all stamps had full gum of course.

The set of 4 1963/5 Navi-gators “Specimen” set shown nearby is getting up near the $1,000 mark retail. But buy ONLY from reputable dealers who will guarantee them, as a lot of forgeries are starting to appear on eBay from the huge

raft of fly-by-night sellers who seem to forge everything imaginable.

www.stampboards.com exposes much of this faked material, and who is offering it, as does the American site www.scads.org – (the latter however mainly after they are banned.) Check both out carefully if you are considering buying ANYTHING Australian perforat-ed OS, or overprinted with ANYTHING, on eBay.

Dozens Banned off eBayDozens of these sellers and con-men have been closed down by stampboards sleuthing, which is noted and passed on by APTA and others to eBay.

However usually if you have been

silly enough to buy a “bargain” from these crooks, you are holding an expensive fake, and the only recourse is to sue a shut down eBay account, owned by a fake name, at a long deserted PO box. Good luck.

Buying this type of mate-rial from a large dealer, you are pretty certain they will be there to contact in a year - or indeed a decade’s time. Many of these eBay sellers are banned within 3 months after ripping of “bargain hunters” for $50,000 or so.

And many large estab-lished eBay sellers with huge turnover are members of absolutely no stamp dealer bodies. You need to ask your-

self – WHY?You have no trade recourse to buying

dud material off these sellers, some of who have appalling records of selling highly over-described and deceptively described material – purely to rip-off the often unsophisticated eBay “bunny” new buyers.

One large seller of Australian stamp material has been declared “Not A Reg-istered User” by eBay several times in recent times, and consistently and know-ingly lies through his teeth about alleged “retail” of his over-described junk, and frequently overstates “retail” by double or treble what real dealers offer it for.

Google the eBay handle of anyone you are planning to bid with on eBay, and you may often get a great surprise.

The 4d Kangaroo mint stamp shown nearby was offered on eBay recently by a seller called “stamp-collectorboz” who truly has perfected the art of totally outrageous over-description.

This is a horrid stamp. It is woefully off centred, and has the entire top left corner ripped off - as all here can see.

His usual trick is to photograph terribly centred Roos on a white background, as it does not show as badly that way.

Getting near $1,000

“Superb - retail $150-$200”?

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Glen Stephens

Check his well centred ones – they’ll be on a black background!

Retail for GOOD copies of this 4d from reputable dealers like Richard Juz-win is $A125. As Richard clearly says on his price list - for poorly centered copies “deduct 50%” .. so this would cost $62.50 top retail for an off-centred sound example.

With also a totally torn off corner, AND way off-centred, real dealers like Richard, or me, or indeed any large dealer, for such an obviously defective DOG would generally take $20 on a good day … and would be delighted to see it vanish from stock forever at that price.

This was eBay item 290233154384 and was described in the lot heading by “stampcollectorboz” as “MLH SU-PERB” and he goes on with more total fiction – “This is a super copy of this dif-ficult stamp - MARKET RETAIL FOR THIS STAMP $150~200”.

Worth 10% of eBay claimAs I have stated, REAL retail, from real, reputable, stamp dealers, is about 10% of that absurd claim.

This nonsense was pointed out on stampboards, but the auction still con-tinued, and some clueless eBay bidder called “dc10red” paid $69 for a stamp actually worth maybe one third that figure.

One can only assume this total fiction as to alleged “retail” influenced him and other 3 bidders? And that is what angers those in this business.

If I, or other real dealers ran a photo of that junk-grade stamp, and called it: “Superb – retail $150-$200” - they’d be

expelled from PTS and ASDA in 5 min-utes, for misleading and unethical and deceptive conduct.

I have no issue with sellers accu-rately describing material, and if buyers THEN pay such silly prices ... well the blame lies totally with the buyer.

But this “stampcollectorboz” con-sistently mis-describes material – often starting it at very high prices, and that is what many take issue with.

He listed up this 10/- Kangaroo shown nearby, with a clear hinge mark in late May, for a START price of $US899.99 (Lot 290231342623) stating it was “SG43a 3rd Wmk MNH SU-PERB” - and very misleadingly stating it had a catalogue value of $A3,200.

Total eBay nonsenseThis was arrant nonsense of course, as blind Freddie can see it was hinged. Stampboards.com member David Ben-son pointed this out.

The scan was darkened to show the clear rectangular hinge mark, and the pencil writing on the gum – conveniently overlooked in the description!

So “stampcollectorboz” then can-celled that auction on May 22, when this was raised on stampboards, and same day re-listed it with a different lot num-ber - 290232679340 – same description – to hopefully throw folks off the scent, one can only guess.

So here we have someone who surely knows full well the stamp is hinged, has been advised publicly the stamp is hinged, reacted quickly to that advice, and yet still states it is “MNH SUPERB” - and still starts it at near $A1,000.

This is bad for the hobby, as when some eBay bunny eventually buys this type of thing, and tries to re-sell it to a real dealer, he will likely get offered half – or even less than what they paid.

This hurts PhilatelyThose folks then stay out of stamps forever. And bad-mouth the hobby to all their circle of family and friends and workmates for years.

If this 10/- was offered as “mint with hinge mark, and pencil notes on gum” with a sensible minimum bid, then mar-ket forces prevail, and I have no issue whatever with that at all.

eBay is a great thing for the stamp market, if folks offer material correctly

described. When super experienced sellers with

many thousands of stamp lot sales on eBay, consistently and deliberately fib outrageously about alleged “retail” and centering and condition, it helps no-one ….. most especially themselves in the long run.

If they keep doing it, I will keep writ-ing about it, and stampboards members will doubtless keep exposing it to a global audience. The solution seems simple to me.

Getting back to real stamps with correct descriptions, this one illustrated nearby caught my eye at the Prestige Auction sale in Melbourne on July 11.

This is the Tasmania 6d slate-violet Chalon, SG 48 unused with no gum, with large margins as you can see. Clearly a most attractive stamp.

So how does one value such items? A little like the superb used Kangaroos - it all comes down to eye appeal, and a knowledge of how many similar copies are out there.

Usually with Australian states, col-lectors want to pay a percentage of Stan-ley Gibbons. Often for imperfs, only 20% or 30% of Gibbons is paid even for decent looking pieces.

This Tasmania stamp is catalogued Mint by Gibbons at £350. Many col-lectors would try and buy this for say half cat or around $A400. This one was invoiced out for a tad under $A2,500 when all the buyer add-ons and GST were included.

It attracted some great bidding, and went way above the auctioneer’s esti-“Superb MUH”??

Guess the price!

Stamp News - 47

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Glen Stephens has written monthly ‘Stamp Tipster’ columns for 25 years. A vast library of past articles is

at: www.glenstephens.com/column.html

Glen Stephens4 The Tor walk, Castlecrag, NSW, 2068

Phone: 02 9958 1333 email: [email protected] Website: www.glenstephens.com

mate, and goes to show that collectors will pay for quality when that grade is seldom encountered.

Three Times Gibbons!It also illustrates a point I often make to collectors - the lack of gum does NOT make a lot of this classic imperforate material “worthless”. This one got well over THREE times full Gibbons - and has no gum!

Again this is an area where “knowl-edge is power” - and having no gum can often be a warning sign.

Colleague Simon Dunkerley recently wrote a multi page expose on some clown bleaching the daylights out of many Australian States stamps with pen cancels, and offering them on eBay as “Mint”.

Netting $10,000s in ill-gotten gains off totally clueless buyers, who trusting-ly seemed to believe they were genuine “Mint”.

Early Tasmania in particular one needs to be careful with, as stacks of the imperfs had non-postal (or “fiscal”) pen cancels. However until October 1863, any pen cancel on early imperforate Tasmania (and there were many) must be POSTAL and not fiscal - confused?

“Knowledge is power”! Another good reason to buy off real dealers who know their stuff. All three of the Tas-manian imperfs shown nearby MUST be postal cancelled as the cancels are before 1863.

To read the full detailed story on

these go to stampboards.com and use the in Forum “search” function for the word TORQUAY for the full discussion.

And whilst mentioning surprising prices at the July 11 Prestige auction, the 1/- green Western Australia swan illus-trated nearby certainly fits that bill.

This stamp was a hinged mint 1861 SG 46 - the rough perf 14 to 16, cata-logued at £1,500. If I had it in stock I’d have been absolutely delighted to get $1,000 for it, as I personally think it looks ugly and rat nibbled.

I have no clue!However my own knowledge of WA mint is clearly way out of whack. This very ordinary looking thing was invoiced at many times estimate, at over $5,800 if a local buyer secured it, as it was a dreaded “T” lot upon which full 10% GST applied to the hammer price as well as the 15% Buyer Commission on top of that.

Indeed the Western Australia prices across the board were mind boggling,

from imperfs right though to the Com-monwealth period, to revenues and railways - so check with your bank manager if trying to buy WA material in the future!

An 1862 WA cover with a 6d green swan imperf to Victoria with a crease, and a missing back flap, and no unusual markings or postmarks whatever, you’d think was no really big deal.

The July 11 sale catalogue called it “imperf” but weirdly gave the SG number for the roulette. However no big deal, as both are in SG at near the same value used - £550 and £600.

The small catalogue photo looked like the cheaper imperf to me. Anyway, the invoice for an Australian bidder on this, as it also was a dreaded “T” lot, was $A6,325, over 6 times the pre-sale esti-mate, and MILES above the full SG on cover price “x 4” for either the imperf or the roulette.

Weird how such a pedestrian cover gets that kind of price, but I repeat again .. Western Australia is all its guises is RED HOT right now.

Market Matters

Postal or Fiscal?

Green with envy!

Imperf or Roulette?

Glen Stephens has written monthly ‘Stamp Tipster’ columns for 25 years. A vast library

of past articles is at: www.glenstephens.com/column.html

Glen Stephens4 The Tor walk, Castlecrag, NSW, 2068

Phone: 02 9958 1333 email: [email protected] Website: www.glenstephens.com

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web ferret p 35 - may 07.indd 1web ferret p 35 - may 07.indd 1 4/13/2007 10:42:57 AM4/13/2007 10:42:57 AM

Philately has proven over many years to be one of the best investments amongst the many forms of collectables, producing pleasure and profit for countless astute collectors who have applied an intelligent approach to their collecting. Pleasure and Profit (let’s call it P2). Can any reader tell me which conventional investment provides that irresistible combination?

Now let me qualify ‘Should you be more acquisitive in your collecting’. By that I wouldn’t suggest, for example, doubling one’s New Issue order. Not unless contributing to the pool of discount postage for this and the next generation is your idea of pleasure, for profit would be a highly unlikely outcome based upon the record of Australian Decimal stamps of the past almost 40 years, at least for material mint or used off cover. Decimal issues commercially used on cover? Now that’s a very different proposition which I will shortly touch upon.

Figure 1. An Aussie Decimal cover on philatelic steroids

On the subject of Australian Decimal issues, let’s at this point take a novel approach to comparing the performance of a key basic stamp, the 1966 $4 Navigator, in mint and used on and off cover. In 1966 the Letter rate was 4c, and today it is 50c. $4 is 100 times 4c, and therefore today we would need $50 in order to equal 100 times the present 50c Letter rate. Arguably, therefore, the $4 Navigator would need to be worth $50 today on the basis of the Letter rate comparison, which in my opinion is a valid and certainly relevant yardstick. In actual fact, the $4 stamp mint is worth only $2.40 to $3.00 to those who buy for the postage market, wherein lies the real demand for the vast quantity available of this and most other mint Decimal issues. Used the stamp retails at around $3 and there is no shortage of supply if you want them. But used on commercial cover? The only such cover I

have seen (Figure 1), and what a cover it is (a ‘Schwarzenegger’ in rap-speak), is owned by a friend to whom I recently made an offer of $1000 (‘Tempting, but I’ll pass’ was the reply). I therefore am valuing this cover at around 300 times the worth of a single mint or used (off cover) $4 stamp.

Returning to our topic of the month, what then should one target for a collection in order to maximise P2 opportunity? Well, if you haven’t already joined the many collectors who have recognised the importance of including in their collections

examples of commercial use on cover of the stamps they collect, I highly recommend that you consider doing so forthwith. It’s my recommendation for I firmly believe that stamps used on commercial cover will be an outperformer within the realms of Philately during the next decade. The momentum is already under way internationally and is set to grow steadily, and on occasions exponentially. Why? Well, a stamp used commercially on cover is the optimum collectable in the category of ‘used’. A stamp removed from its original cover can tell us little or nothing of the history of its journey from point ‘A’ to ‘B’, and that journey may well have been adventurous, or even a misadventure. The intact cover is an effective time capsule, often recording interesting and/or value-adding philatelic or historic occurrences during its journey, which would probably not be determinable in the dislodged used stamp. The stamp

on cover may represent an unusual rate, or be addressed to an unlikely or exotic destination, again considerations which can add value, often considerably, and interest way beyond the limitations of the used stamp off cover. Searching for noteworthy usage on cover of the stamps you collect adds individuality and ‘spice’ to your collection, and can be both stimulating and fun!

In the thirty years that I operated a public stamp auction I saw thousands of collections, the vast majority forgettable

clones of one another. I recall on one particular Round the Nation trip to visit potential sellers I met two collectors who happened to live in the one suburb. The collections sounded rather unexciting but the economy of scale made it potentially viable to visit both. One had mint Norfolk Island and PNG in big, heavy albums (also a turn-off given travel constraints) and I politely declined on the basis of too little value and interest. Had the collector included commercial use of

some of the stamps on cover I would gladly have taken them. I can still hear his pleas of ‘But Mr. Perry, they’re complete’ as I quickly departed. The other collector had used N.Z. which he had catalogued up by Campbell Patterson and proudly proclaimed the value at ‘over NZ$45,000’. I have always felt that collectors who know the catalogue value of their stamp collection generally have nothing other than standard, everyday ‘garden variety’ collections, and perhaps achieve solace in knowing the ‘value’, rather in the nature of a junior collector knowing how many stamps he or she has at any given time (sadly, I confess I knew). The condition was typically mixed, devoid of the stamps that really mattered and heavily duplicated with those that don’t, and not a cover in sight! A really boring collection. To the astonishment of this collector I again politely declined, citing his certain disappointment at the really

Andrew McEachern has collected for more years than he wants to admit, and has held many positions instamp collecting organisations includ-ing National President of the Austral-ian Stamp Promotion Council, Presi-dent and Life Member of Southside Philatelic Society, and founder/secre-tary of the Collectors Club of Queens-land. He conducts the only course for wannabe dealers in the world, and belongs to societies interstate and overseas.

De-Mystifying the Detail

AN APOLOGETIC INTRODUCTIONSometimes sitting at the PC keyboard writing about stamps, I start to ramble way off from the title of this series ‘De-mystifying the detail. ‘ I hope that is not too obvious, and that readers will share with me these temporary digressions away into other stamp-related topics. Stamps are flat two-dimensional objects, often with illustrations that need a magnifying glass to tell us what they are about. But to me, it is the stories behind the stamps that excite my interest, how they were produced - design, perfs, watermarks, printing processes, and so on - and the reason why they were is-sued, what strange circumstances may have prevailed at the time, what life might have been like where and when they were issued.

A stamping friend recently obtained a book from overseas about the revolutions which have occurred in the world, and I think he will put together eventually a really super thematic col-lection on the subject.

Are YOU as passionate about all that stamps can bring to one’s life ? I started collecting late in WWII, when there were no toys around in our little country town. One day I might just put together a collection - call it thematic - featuring the earliest (short) sets of stamps of vari-ous countries that I was given or found in penny packets then. It won’t win me med-als, but it will be a reminder of when I first was given the great gift of becoming a stamp collector.

DON’T OVER-LOOK THE BACK-SIDESometimes young collectors ask why on earth an earlier generation of collectors only used those fiddly hinges to mount their stamps, reflecting the ease of mounting using stockbook type albums, Hawids, Hagners and the like.

Originally it was not to minimise the gum of a mint stamp making contact with the album page - it was so that one could ex-amine the back of a stamp while mounted. Like looking at water-marks, seeing the colour and consistency of gum. Today there are many more reasons to be able to look at the back of a stamp. One good friend keeps me supplied with the occasional stamp from Eastern Europe of many years ago, when stamps were printed on the back of printed maps. Then there were stamps which had been run through the presses both sides, perhaps because the first attempt was not satisfactory?

There’s lots to be seen on the back of many stamps. Some countries have captioned their stamps on reverse; some unusual examples include the 1925 Hungary Scout issue, which showed the price it was sold at on the reverse - more than twice face value, and the 2005 USA North East Forests issue with a list of species on the back. Go search for more around the world. Others use se-rial numbers for stocktake or identification purposes ....and some-times there is a huge visible difference in value between various types of gum for the one stamp issue. Then there are underprints,

advertisements for various firms. But sometimes despite soaking off, the square frame and inscription on printed envelopes show-ing where to place a stamp will transfer to the back of a stamp - that is NOT an underprint, and is not philatelically significant. By the way, ever wondered WHY such squares and inscriptions appear on envelopes? Surely everyone knows to affix a stamp at the top right hand side?

Another use for the ‘backsides’ of stamps has been encased currency. (See the next subject.) Remember the song that goes Always look a the bright side of life? I think we should paraphrase that to read “Always look at the back side of stamps.”!

STAMPS AS CURRENCYSince an earlier item in one of these articles, I have learnt about many other examples of stamps used as currency. In 1900 the British South Africa Company stuck stamps on cards inscribed “Please pay in cash to the person producing this card the face val-ue of the stamp affixed thereto.....”and then followed dates when redemption could occur. Small change was hard to find during

the American Civil War, so many retailers used stamps for this purpose. As the stamps circulated, they got quite grubby and tattered, so don’t expect to see specimens pop up in your USA collection. The Government copied the idea somewhat by issuing postal cur-rency in 5, 10,15 and 20 denominations and some were even perforated like stamps. One chap suggested the stamps be enclosed in metal discs

for better durability, with a transparent material to show the face of the stamp. Soon advertisements began to appear on the metal side of the disc. These stamps are called ‘encapsulated’.

In WWII Ceylon issued small change substitutes by way of cards printed with stamps of the period. Bundi, an Indian State, did the same during that war. Great Britain’s government declared postage stamps as legal tender during both WWI and WWII but these were never encased or affixed to cards. If you are interested in researching this subject further, you will find examples used in France, Russia, Germany, Austria, Italy, Norway, Belgium, Argentina, and Greece.

COLLECTOR - OR DEALER?One of the most difficult questions posed to me recently is how to distinguish the difference between a collector and a stamp dearer . After thinking long and hard I found it difficult to define. So I created a series of theoretical questions as tests to probe for the answer in examining a number of ‘candidates’ as to whether they could be classed as dealers.

1. Where does the person sell stamps and to whom?Every collector at some stage has surplus stamps to dispose of;

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De-Mystifying the Detail Andrew McEachern

this becomes a reality particularly as a collection becomes more and more complete. A collector then must often buy large batches of stamp to secure just (say) one for his collection and is left with a lot of unwanted material. The nature of this surplus stuff will determine whether the collector can sell at a club auction, through an exchange book system, or by a classified ad in the local paper. Or, as is often the case, the unwanted material is left somewhere in the collectors home, until he ‘gets a round tuit’. (Anyone got a spare round tuit?) Surplus stuff does not a dealer make!

2. Does he/she use a trading name?In most States, one must register a business name unless it is

the name by which one is usually known. If there is a registered business name, this would seem to be prima facie a desire by the owner of that name to be known as a business.

3. Is tax paid on profits from buying and selling stamps?The Tax Office does not closely define when profits from a

hobby business become eligible for tax, other than the turnover threshold that requires GST registration, and an attitude that in-come needs to be regular. Most collectors selling stamps only do this occasionally, such as at a stamp day, or through the exchange books of their club. If they are not yielding a worthwhile income every week, then they are probably not expected to pay tax on profits, or classifiable as dealers.

4. Is there advertising which enables and encourages collectors to make contact and buy stamps?

I do deplore the situation where a stamp club advertises through community newspapers’ free editorial that it “wants to buy collections for members”. This probably does not make the club a dealer per se, but the club runs the risk of being accused of fraudulent deception, as there is often one would-be trader involved.

5. Is membership of a dealer association sufficient to prove a person is a dealer?

Most trade associations allow former dealers, now retired, to retain membership to keep contact with their old friends. Con-versely, many people who are dealers do not want to to be mem-bers of a a trade body for a variety of reasons - fees too costly, very few perceived benefits, the petty politics of such bodies, and so on.

6. There’s lots of trading happening via the Internet, including eBay and similar sites. Dealers - or collectors?

Due to the comparative anonymity of vendors, it is not easy to pick whether a vendor is a full-time dealer, part- time dealer, or a collector having a fling.

7. Can both collectors and dealers be members of a club?There was a time when dealers could not be admitted as mem-

bers of some collector clubs, but this has long gone. In fact many clubs are dependent on dealers taking key committee roles for their survival. I know of at least three stamp clubs in Queensland alone where a dealer has become the president and prime motivat-ing force. And there are a growing number of exchange superin-tendents who are also part-time dealers.

At this stage, I must confess I gave up trying to answer this highly confusing question.. I have a personal saying that I am a collector first, dealer second. That’s reflective of my state of mind, and if one applied the rule of valuing one’s time in running a business, then the way I get happily lost in dreamland when ‘do-ing stamps’, I would be bankrupt many times over ! And I suspect that is the case with many budding philatelic entrepreneurs on the

Internet. Philatelic is a highly labour-intensive pastime, whether one is a dealer or a collector. But there are a number of people trading in stamps who style themselves as ‘collectors’ who turnover more money in a year than the aver-age small full-time dealer. And I have to admit there are even a few chaps out there who actually CALL themselves dealers, who could no way be making enough money to live on.

Oops! There I go again - what do I mean by ‘dealer’ or ‘col-lector ?’ I doubt if there is a significant distinction - what is more important, the old ‘them and us’ syndrome seems to be dying.

WHODUNIT?If you have ever wondered about the strange markings and worded adhesive tapes on items you have received from overseas, that have been opened by Australia Post/Customs/Quarantine? I have a little news for you, although it is hard to get the full story, for security reasons. Perhaps you collect such covers and fronts?

I had a recent instance trying to find out why an ordinary standard size envelope -NOT a parcel, package or other big article - containing a single sheet price list from a US stamp company of many years standing and high repute, bearing an address label to me, being a routine bulk mailing, caused someone to not only roughly open both the top and one end, but also tear the envelope centrally several times. It was mended with clear sticky tape, a black print on yellow tape was stuck on the back reading ‘ Opened by Australia Post for Inspection by Quarantine SGF’ and two rubber stamps applied - “AQIS” in a circle, and “WFI 16” in a square. The latter identifies the Quarantine Service field officer in the Sydney Mail, Centre who had stuffed the envelope with sev-eral Quarantine pamphlets beside the single page price list. His office refused to either let me speak to him or her to find out why this humble missive had been so cruelly treated, or to speak to any officer tasked to handle complaints, or even tell me why such an inoffensive envelope attracted attention. I asked if the scanning machine could be faulty; the anonymous ‘supervisor’ hazarded that it could be ‘because the dogs had trod on it’, or the sender had enclosed a seed - Yeah, right - seeds from a stamp dealer?

I have previously followed through on a few problems over the years where attractive and potentially valuable stamps affixed as a customary professional courtesy by an overseas dealer had been ruined for resale by Customs and/or Australia Post sticky tape slashed across them. I have been inordinately forgiving about ballpoint pen and texta-colour cancelling, you will note ! The royal run around where each of AP and Customs blame each other is no doubt equalled by AQIS AND AP pointing fingers at each other.

I have always recognised the good work done by Customs and AQIS, and am also loth to criticise Australia Post, whose prime job is to move the mails, not stroke us collectors. But I think we can expect better answers to straight forward questions about what is after all, OUR MAIL.

So I am offering a two pronged campaign if there are sufficient readers also browned off with this sort of evasive nontransparent treatment. Send me details of similar instances and I will build up a log; later this will be sent to the relevant Minister and/or bureaucrat for comment. And if you have covers with interesting markings caused this way, send me a photocopy. I hope to report results in due course.

Stamp News - 51

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Stamp News - 53

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Timbuktu - Africa’s cultural treasure

Top row: 1961 Mali issue showing Sankoré Mosque & mysterious TimbuktuBottom row: Two stamps from the omnibus edition commemorating René Caillié’s visit to TimbuktuFacing page: Senegal - Mauritania cover from 1930

There are a number of cities which most people seem to know about without being able to provide details about their exact geographical locations. I am referring to cities like Samarkand and Timbuktu.

Samarkand is located in Uzbekistan and Timbuktu can be found in Mali. I suppose we associate these two cities with something distant and unknown.

The two cities have a lot in common despite being located on different continents. Their moments of greatness took place many centuries ago when they were both important hubs for trading caravans.

However, in this article I intend to spotlight Timbuktu or Tombouctou as its name is rendered in French. The city is located in an oasis in the central parts of Mali in West Africa. Today it is the administrative centre of a province with the same name. Its current population amounts to some 10,000 people.

Timbuktu was founded by the Tuareg people around 1100. For many years it served as an important hub for the many caravans crossing the Saharan desert carrying gold, salt and slaves to different parts of Africa. When Islam reached the region several important religious schools were established in Timbuktu.

For many years Timbuktu was part of the legendary Mali Empire which comprised most of West Africa. In 1591, Morocco conquered the area which led to a period of decline

for Timbuktu. Today the city is part of the Republic of Mali.Timbuktu is famous for its many historic buildings. They

include some of the most exceptional mosques of the Islamic world. For this reason the UNESCO has added the city to its World Cultural Heritage List.

In 1961, newly independent Mali decided to release a new set of airmail stamps. Two of the very handsome stamps were devoted to Timbuktu. The 100-franc stamp shows the Sankoré Mosque and a Tuareg. The 200-franc value is devoted to a view of mysterious Timbuktu. The large-sized stamps were issued to mark the opening of Timbuktu’s new airport (although this is not mentioned on the stamps).

If it is fairly easy to get to Timbuktu today it was quite a different matter in the 19th century. In fact, for many years the city was forbidden for Westerners.

At the beginning of the 19th century French interest in West Africa was very strong. At first trading stations were only established along the coastline. The interior was still virgin territory and completely unknown. Timbuktu was seen as a mythical place and many Westerners doubted that it even existed.

Now enters a young and enterprising Frenchman on the scene. René Caillié (1799-1838) had a fascination for Africa. He was only 17 years old when he sailed to Senegal in order to study Arabic and Islam.

But his greatest desire was to visit the mythical Timbuktu.

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Christer Brunström

After years of study and preparations he started the difficult trek towards Timbuktu disguised as an Arab traveller. He reached the city in April 1830. After careful observations of the city he joined a caravan heading for Tangiers in Morocco.

Back home in France Caillié wrote a book about his travels in Africa which found a most receptive audience. The French Geographical Society awarded him a medal in appreciation of his exploration work in Africa.

Thanks to Caillié’s visit to Timbuktu, people in the rest of the world finally obtained reliable information about an area which had been closed to foreign visitors for so many years. He could tell about a city with wonderful architecture from the era when the Malian Empire dominated most of West Africa.

René Caillié died in 1838. In 1939, the eight colonies making up French West Africa released a set of three stamps each marking the centenary of the explorer’s death. The stamps also commemorated Caillié’s memorable visit to Timbuktu. Others had tried to visit the city before him but all those attempts had failed.

The stamps show a portrait of René Caillié and a map of the northern part of Africa. Caillié’s route from Boké all the way to Tangiers has been traced on the map. The following colonies took part in the omnibus: Dahomey, French Guinea, French Sudan, Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

The issue was very much a low-budget one. All the colonies used the same design, the same colours and the same denominations. The stamps passed through the press twice with the country name being printed during the second operation. Interestingly enough all three denominations exist without country name. A set of three stamps can probably be had for some AU$4 in mint condition; a set without the country name is valued at far more than AU$300.

Shown below is a nice cover which was mailed from Saint-Louis in Senegal on September 20, 1930 to an addressee in Boghé in neighbouring Mauritania. The postal services in French West Africa were apparently very efficient as the cover is backstamped at Boghé on September 22. A closer study of the 90c Caillié stamp reveals that the country name is missing making the cover highly desirable.

The French Yvert & Tellier catalogue has decided to list the stamps without country name under the heading of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) as it is impossible to determine to which colony the error stamps belong. Obviously some of the stamps without country name were on sale at the Saint-Louis post office in Senegal.

French forces finally took complete control of Timbuktu in the 1890’s. By then Timbuktu was a sleepy small town without any particular significance. It is only fairly recently that the outside world has realized the historic and cultural significance of Timbuktu.

Stamp News - 55

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sn may 2008.indd 59 15/4/08 9:14:03 PM

60 - Stamp News60 - Stamp News60 - Stamp News

This month’s letter was written from London a couple of months before the introduction of the Additonal ½d mail tax. It has two postal markings : (Fig.1) an Edinburgh circular date stamp in red for 28 Apr 1813 with the letters B and A on either side of the date, and a charge mark of 10d.

The wax seal on the letter (Fig. 2) is another thing that fascinates me about these old letters, because they are all so different. This one has the writers initials, in a very fancy script E.A.T but above it is a figure like a lion in heraldry standing up holding a stave of some kind.

The letter is addressed in an unusual way – that I have not seen before.

“Mrs Leith

at Mrs Doctor HendersonsFrederick Street Aberdeen.”

The ‘Mrs Doctor Hendersons’ is probably a courtesy title, (as the wife of Dr. Henderson, to differentiate her from any other Mrs Henderson in Frederick Street), as there were no women doctors before Elizabeth Garrett in 1865.

It was written from Lambeth, in London, dated April 12th 1813, but the only postmark on the letter is an Edinburgh date stamp for Apr 28 1813. The contents of the letter explain the reason for this difference. She begins with thanks for a present she received from Mrs Leith, and then goes on with information about the sickness of her children.

“My dear Mrs LeithI was favord with a letter from you

some time ago accompanied by Packet of sweetmeats. for which my Saucy Sam offers his best thanks. I find it best to distribute so large a stock very frugally and of course we have some still kept in a closet by me as a reward for good behaviour.

He is thro’ mercy quite recovered from a fit of the measles which is a bad thing well over. My little John has not taken them at this time a case I find very frequent when the infant is at the breast. It is a very anxious time while they are coming out but we have been highly favor’d in their leaving no cough behind them – indeed our weather is unusually favourable, for thro’ all the last summer I do not recollect anything like the present summer for warmth and sunshine – it is very delightful and whilst blest with health to enjoy it I think we have great cause of thankfulness.”

(Note: MEASLES is an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash, typically occurring in childhood. It is something that the western world has

“To Mrs Leith, in Aberdeen – Support for the Princess of Wales, 1813”

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AUCTION DIARYHere are the dates and details for sales being held by public auction houses who are regular display advertisers in Stamp News. This is a free service to readers and advertisers.The information listed here is as supplied to us; readers are advised to contact the businesses directly in order to ascertain that this is correct. Other auction houses are invited to list here. Cost is $275 prepaid per annum for a basic listing, unchanged for the period. Listings which require maintenance, such as updating auction dates, are $550 per annum.

21st Century Auctions: 107 Station Street, Ferntree Gully, Victoria 3156 www.21stcenturyauctions.com.au [email protected] Tel (03) 9752 2677 Fax (03) 9758 2488 Next sale: see website for details

Auctionhouse Christoph Gärtner: 74321 Bietigheim-bissingen, Germanywww.auktionen-gaertner.de [email protected] 0011 49 7142 789 400 Fax 0011 49 7142 789 410Forthcoming sales: 5-7 November 2008

Charles Leski Auctions : 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123 www.leski.com.au [email protected] (03) 9864 9999 Fax (03) 9822 2788Forthcoming sales: 11 August 2008

Corbitts: 5 Mosley Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1YE, UKwww.corbitts.com [email protected] Tel: 0011 44 191 232 7268 Fax: 0011 44 191 261 4130Next sale: 14 August 2008

Craig Chappell: PO Box 521, Clayfield, Qld. [email protected] Tel: (07) 3262 8810 Fax:(07) 3262 8816Please contact for details of forthcoming sales.

Cygnet Philatelics: Shop 2, 23 Plain St, East Perth, WA 6004Tel: (08) 9325 4542Next sale: check ads for auction details

Harmers Of London: 11, 111 Power Road, London W4 5PY , UKwww.harmers.com [email protected]: 0011 44 208 747 6100 Fax: 0011 44 208 996 0649 Next sale: see website for details

John Mowbray International : PO Box 80, Wellington 6140, New Zealandwww.mowbrays.co.nz [email protected]: 0011 64 6 364 8252 Fax: 0011 64 6 364 8270Next sale: 12 August 2008 Millennium Philatelic Auctions : Suite 25, 89-97 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007www.millenniumauctions.com [email protected]: (02) 9281 4797 Fax: (02) 9281 4677Next sale: 27 August 2008

Mowbray’s Australia : Level 6, 36 – 38 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW [email protected] Tel: (02) 9299 1300 Fax: (02) 9290 1999 Next sale: see ad on page 2 for details

Prestige Philately: PO Box 126, Belgrave, Vic. 3160www.prestigephilately.com [email protected]: (03) 9754 7666 Fax:(03) 9754 7677Forthcoming sales: see website for details

Robin Linke Stamp Dealer: 181 Jersey Street, Wembley, 6014, Western Australia www.robinlinke.com.au [email protected] (08) 9387 5327 Fax (08) 9387 1646Next sale: See website for details

Spink: Dealers And Auctioneers In Coins, Medals, Stamps, Banknotes.www.spink.com Tel: 0011 44 20 7563 4000 Fax: 0011 44 20 7563 4066Next sale: check website for details

coped with for a long time, but it later decimated populations in the newly discovered countries in Africa, and South America)

She then explains about posting the letter :

“A neighbour has just called in to say he is going to the border of Scotland and will take charge of any letters I therefore gladly embrace the opportunity tho’ I am quite sorry that in the hurry of the moment I have mislaid your last favor. But I think there was no particular cause of condolence or I should have remembered it.”

(Note: This would have saved Mrs Leith money, because the distance from London to Aberdeen (528 miles) would have cost one shilling and three pence, which was the cost for a single letter being carried between 500-600 miles, but from Edinburgh to Aberdeen was only 10 pence for a distance of between 120-170 miles.)

She then continues with reports of her activities, and makes an ironic comment about ‘gentlemen’ which I find surprising for that time.

“I have been a good deal engag’d lately with what perhaps I mention’d in a former letter – namely in forming a Society of Ladies for helping poor married women during their Confinement


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62 - Stamp News

with lending a box of linen and giving them a suit for their Infant and 5/- on the planning and cutting out, now devolved upon me for want of a better, it has engag’d much of my time but I feel it a Duty incumbent to be of some service to our immediate neighbourhood and there seems no other plan but what requires the assistance of Gentlemen Managers. Our first quarterly meeting will be the 6th of May when I expect 6 women and their infants will attend to return thanks to South Lambeth Maternal Society.”

(Note: I could find no record of this particular society, but it was also quite common for vicars’ wives in rural areas to have layettes to lend to “poor but worthy” parishioners. However, there were a lot of “maternal societies” being formed around 1813. Elizabeth Fry was one of the leading lights, trying to make sure that women who were having babies had clothes for the child, and maternity necessities. She was an English Quaker prison reformer who married Joseph Fry a London Quaker merchant and in 1810 became a preacher for the Society of Friends. She


had visited Newgate Prison for women in 1813 and found 300 women with their children, in appalling conditions and thereafter devoted her life to prison and asylum reform at home and abroad. She also founded hostels for the homeless, as well as charity organizations, despite her husbands bankruptcy in 1828. He settled in Bristol as a doctor but went into a pottery enterprise, and also founded the well-known chocolate business.) Fry’s chocolate bars were a great feature of our childhood!

The next part of the letter is a comment on one of the great scandals of the day. (Fig.3)

“The great City of London is all in a bustle today with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen carrying a vote of Congratulation to the Princess of Wales on her escape from her enemies – which by the by carries with it a broad hint to some certain Persons – and who will doubtless understand it – but indeed the proceedings in this case have been very unfit and highly indecorous.”

This was a reference to a notorious event in 1813 concerning the then Princess of Wales, the wife of the Prince Regent, later George IV. Their marriage was a complete failure, and it was rumoured that Princess of Wales was leading an immoral life. In 1806, it was rumoured that a child living with her was her son, in which case he would have a right of succession, if his father were the Prince of Wales. A secret investigation was set up, called the “Delicate Investigation”, with Commissioners appointed to inqire into the conduct of the Princess of Wales. This did not prove the allegation, although it showed that her conduct was improper. In 1814, the Princess left the country and went to live abroad, running

sn august 2008.indd 62 16/7/08 6:33:45 AM


up large debts throughout Europe and taking other lovers.

The Prince Regent had only married her to have the money to pay off his debts. There was lot of public sympathy for the Princess of Wales because her husband was a noted womaniser, who behaved very badly towards his wife. This letter shows that the support even went as far as Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, which seems extraordinary to me.

The letter then ends with greetings and good wishes :

“I hope your little Diana continues to thrive and your worthy Mother and Aunt, we will be pleased to remember us kindly to each and accept the best wishes and friendship of

Your Sincerely A Tomkins”

She then adds a postscript :

“My accounts from Halifax are quite as good as we can expect.”

Written on the back is this sentence, which seems to have nothing to do with the letter, as it is 6 months after the letter was written.

“Began the meal on the 16th November 1813”

Perhaps Mrs Leith used the back of the letter to write a note to herself!

1813 was a period of distress - the Luddite riots had disturbed the peace in Yorkshire in 1812, for a start; the British were still fighting the French Wars in 1813 and money was tight, so her voluntary work with the South Lambeth Maternal Society would have been appreciated.

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Email: [email protected] Website: www.maxstern.com.au

AusTrAliA’s MosT CoMPreHeNsiVe “NeW issues” lisT oN THe “NeT”

Visit our web site www.maxstern.com.au for the most complete listing of new issues on Australasia. All new issues are listed alpha-betically by country from A-Z. Hundreds of issues arriving weekly including special products, thematics, souvenir sheets and scarcer sets, etc. If unable to visit our web site, our regular detailed New

Issues listing is available on request.

We act as agents for the following Postal Administrations:-*Austria *Canada *PR China *Fiji *Great Britain *Greece

*Guernsey/Alderney *Hong Kong *Indonesia *Ireland *Isle of Man *Israel *Japan *Jersey *Kiribati *Macau *Malaysia *Marshall Islands *Nauru *New Zealand *Norfolk Island *Papua New Guinea *Singapore *Sweden *Tokelau *Tonga/Niuafo’ou *Tuvalu and USA

and carry a full range of all issues.

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Åland6 June 2008LighthousesDenominations: 4 stampsAlgeria3 June 2008New TechnologiesDenominations: 15.00 Andorra - Spanish13 June 2008Expo Zaragoza 2008Denominations: 2.60 Ascension Island20 June 200890th Anniv. RAFDenominations: 15p, 35p, 40p, 50p, 65p, 90pAustralia10 June 2008Working DogsDenomination: 50c x 524 June 2008Beijing OlympicsDenomination: 50cBelarus10 June 2008Garden Flowers - DefinsDenomination: 20, 30, 50, 100, 500, A, B, HBosnia Herzogovina Croatian Post Mostar20 June 2008Međugorje (Religion)Denomination: 1.00 x 5Canada4 June 2008Royal Canadian Mint 1908-2008Denomination: 52c16 June 2008Canadian Nurses Federation 1908-2008 Denomination: 52c20 June 2008Anne of Green GablesDenomination: 52c x 230 June 2008Canadians in Hollywood - the sequelDenomination: 52c x 4Christmas Island

Summer Paralympic Games 2008 Denominations: 11.00XXIXth Olympic GamesDenominations: 18.00Denmark4 June 2008LouisianaDenomination: 5,50, 7,75, 8,75, 16,00Europa: Letter WritingDenomination: 5,50, 7.75The Allotment AssociationDenomination: 2 stampsFrance2 June 2008

Compiled by Stamp News Staff

10 June 200850 Years Aust TerritoryDenominations: 50c x 3, 1.45, 2.45 Croatia4 June 2008Expo 2008Denominations: 10,0017 June 2008200th Anniv. Louisiana RoadDenominations: 5,00 x 3, M/SCzech Republic18 June 2008ExplorersDenominations: 12.00, 22.00

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Beffroi d’Evreax Denomination: 0.5523 June 2008France / Brazil - Joint Issue Denomination: 1.4030 June 2008Circus PeopleDenomination: 6 x 0,55 Germany12 June 2008RoseDenomination: 0,55Community ServiceDenomination: 0,55AeroplanesDenomination: 0,65, 0,80 x 2, 2,00Gibraltar1 June 2008Europa: Letter WritingDenomination: 10p, 42p, 44p, £1

Hongkong - China12 June 2008JellyfishDenomination: 6 stampsHungary6 June 2008Philavillage 1Denomination: 2 stamps (Set when complete makes board game)20 June 2008Philavillage 2Denomination: 2 stamps (Set when complete makes board game)Illuminated ChronicleDenomination: 400ftIndia11 June 2008Rajesh PilotDenomination: 500pIndonesia

5 June 2008Environmental Care Denomination: 1500 x 2 (M/S)22 June 2008Road to Jakarta 2008 Denomination: 2500 x 6, 10000 (M/S)Ireland9 June 2008Europa: Letter WritingDenomination: 55p, 82p19 June 200850th Anniv. Tidy Towns CompetitionDenomination: 55p26 June 200850th Anniv. Defence Force UN MissionDenomination: 55pItaly21 June 2008Giacomo PucciniDenomination: 1.50

Folklore Collector Matthias Johann eisenEstonia

Children’s right to educationPortugal

international Polar YearPortugal

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rights of disabled PeopleUNPA

Jersey20 June 2008Jersey Naval Connections IIDenomination: 6 stampsLatvia7 June 2008Protected Nature ObjectsDenomination: 1 stamp26 June 2008Museums foundationDenomination: 1 stampLiechtensteinJune 2008150th Anniv. Schellenberg ConventDenomination: 2,20Euro Football 08Denomination: 1,30Rare Bees & Wasps Denomination: 0,85, 1,00, 1,30Budging OlympicsDenomination: 0,85, 1,00Lithuania7 June 2008Expo Saragoza 2008Denomination: no info28 June 2008100th Anniv. LithuaniaDenomination: no infoMacedonia5 June 2008

Protection of the EnvironmentDenominations: 12 denars18 June 2008150th Anniv. Rudolf DieselDenominations: 30 denars25 June 2008Beijing Olympcs 2008Denominations: 12, 18, 20, 36 denarsMalaysia10 June 2008Cultural Instruments and Artefacts IIDenominations: no infoMalta8 June 2008Annus PaulinusDenominations: 0,19, 0,68, 1,08, 3,00 (M/S)Monaco2 June 200848th Monte Carlo Television FestivalDenominations: 2,805 June 2008International CooperationDenominations: 0,65, 1,00, 1,25, 1,7016 June 2008 Numismatic ExpoDenominations: 0,65Namibia27 June 2008Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site

Denominations: 4 stampsNew Zealand5 June 2008MatarikiDenominations: 50c x2, $1.00, $1.50, $2.00, $2.50Norway6 June 2008History of CommunicationDenominations: 7.00, 9.00, 25.00, 30.00Stavanger 2008Denominations: 7.00, 14.00, 23.00Pitcairn Islands25 June 2008Flowers & BeesDenominations: 1.00, 1.20, 1.50, 3.00Poland1 June 2008World of ToysDenominations: 1.35, 3.0010 June 2008Esfahan - the City of Polish ChildrenDenominations: 2,40Portugal2 June 2008Children’s Right to EducationDenominations: 0,30, 0,45, 0,61, 0,755 June 2008Euro Football C’ship 2008Denominations: 0,91

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19 June 2008Portuguese LighthousesDenominations: 0,61 x 2, 3,0023 June 2008International Polar YearDenominations: 0,30, 0.52, 0,61, 1,00Romania June 2008EFIRO 2008Denominations: 6 stampsJoint Romania - KuwaitDenominations: 2 stampsLittle Man GopoDenominations: 2 stampsJoint Romania - RussiaDenominations: 1 stampRomanian CastlesDenominations: 4 stamps500th Anniv. 1st Romanian BookDenominations: 1 stamp600th Years of IasiDenominations: 2 stamps San Marino 13 June 2008Church Of The Annunciation, NazarethDenominations: 1.0030th Anniv. Friendship Assoc. San Marino - AmericaDenominations: 1.50Europa - The letter

Denominations: 0.60, 0.65Olympic Games, BeijingDenominations: 0.56, 0.65, 0.85Singapore 25 June 2008Youth Olympic GamesDenominations: no infoSlovakia 4 June 2008Beijing OlympicsDenominations: 25 sk6 June 2008Beijing Paralympic GamesDenominations: 30 sk30 June 2008Findings from Bojna-NitrafilaDenominations: 33 skSpain2 June 2008PersonalitiesDenominations: 0,31 x 45 June 2008Traditional Games & SportsDenominations: 0,43 x 313 June 2008Expo Zaragoza 2008 Denominations: 0,43Taiwan 5 June 2008Stag Beetles

Denominations: 5 x 2, 10, 125 June 2008 Birds of Taiwan IIIDenominations: 7, 15, 20, 34United Nations PA6 June 2008DisabilitiesDenominations: 42c, 94c, 1,00, 1,80, 0.55, 1.40United Kingdom10 June 2008Carry On & Hammer FilmsDenominations: 1st, 48p, 50p, 56p, 72p, 81pUnited States14 June 2008Flags of Our NationDenominations: 42c x 1017 June 2008Charles & Ray EamesDenominations: 42c x 1619 June 2008OlympicsDenominations: 42cVietnam3 June 2008Hue’s Court MusicDenominations: 800, 4000, 8000

Medugorje 2008Bosnia Herzegovina

Gush KatifIsrael

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Internet & Email DirectoryThe following is an extensive listing of Stamp Dealer and Internet Website contact addresses worldwide. Millions of dollars of stock is priced up ready to sell on these sites. All Dealers may list their contact details here for a very affordable $175 per year fee, prepaid annually or only $17.50 a month. Contact the Advertising Manager on Ph: 03 9752 2677, Fax: 03 9758 2488 , or email: kmorgan@centurynova. com. au

Our web site gives all our current stock and specials so keep [email protected]

Publishers of Australia’s Gold Medal catalogue series - The Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue. Order all volumes on line. Special offers also available. [email protected]

Search our website for full listing of stamps and Seven Seas albums and pages and other accessories. We look forward to serving you. [email protected]

Long-established mail order dealer compre-hensively covering British Isles, Europe, Scan-dinavia, North America, Australasia and Japan. Prompt courteous service and an extensive user-friendly website. [email protected]

Check out our website for selected New Zealand items, NZ mint sets, and “Lord of the Rings” stamps and [email protected]

Comprehensive price lists for more than forty lists using ASC, SG & Scott numbering. By far the largest such lists in the southern hemi-sphere.”[email protected]

Details of NZ Catalogue and NZ Stamp Auc-tions Sales with easy to use directions. Also latest newsletter. isit us and leave your details. [email protected]

Largest and most visited Stamp Dealer website in the Southern Hemisphere. 250 different pages of stamp bargains and archives! $4,000 prize always on offer. [email protected]

Specialising in Australian Commonwealth and Colonies, including kangaroos, KGV, Errors, Va-rieties, Proofs, Specimens, Postage Dues, FDC’s; travelling regularly to buy and sell. Want lists welcome. [email protected]

Try us for Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands and Antarctica. Specialising in “Booklets” from Australia, New Zealand, The Pacifics, Great Brit-ain & Channel Island & much more. [email protected]

Regular public auctions of fine and rare stamps and postal history. View our auction cata-logues online and bid with confidence on our secure server. [email protected]

www.nzstamps.com

www.bexleystamps.com.au

www.brusden-white.com

www.dunedinstamps.co.nz

www.glenstephens.com

www.manfredjunge.com

www.millenniumauctions.com

www.ozemail.com.au/~pittwaterstamps www.sevenseas.com.au

www.simondunkerley.com

www.sutherlandphilatelics.com.au

www.stampsaustralia.com.auSydney Philatelics - Largest On-Line Shop in Australia ! – User-Friendly – 10,000 and more Philatelic Items – Just a mouse click away ! Over 100 Pages of Australasia, British Commonwealth, Booklets, Accessories.etc. Always Buying ! Est 27 Years. [email protected]

www.ronbakerstamps.com.auOur website, four years in the making has finaly been launched. At this stage it contains Australia, Territories, New Zealand, Great Britain and also Coins. [email protected]

www.goldcoaststamptraders.com.au1000’s of items for sale from mint stamps including varieties to FDC’s, flight covers, postal history, autographs and more. competitive prices, wants lists [email protected]

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Internet & Email Directory

www.premierpostal.com

Australia’s only world-class auction house, three times voted “Auction House of the Year” by APTA members. Complimentary catalogues on request. [email protected]

A-ONE STAMPS __________________www.aonestamps.com; [email protected] BIlBy STAMPS & COvErS _______www.bilbystamps.com.au; [email protected] STAMPS ____________ www.burstamp.com; [email protected] __________________ www.cddstamps.com; http://blog.michael.dodd.comCOllECTIONS PlUS __________________________________ www.centurynova.com.au

[email protected] HOlMES PHIlATElIST ___________________________ [email protected] STAMPS P/l www.kennedystamps.com.au; [email protected] MOrGAN STAMPS AND COINS ___________________www.kevinmorgan.com.au

[email protected] EASTICK & ASSOC PTy lTD ___________ www.michaeleastick.com michael@

michaeleastick.com MOWBrAyS AUSTrAlIA ___________ Melbourne: [email protected]

Sydney: [email protected] ISlAND PHIlATElIC BUrEAU _______________________ [email protected] PHIlATElICS _______________ www.nrgphilatelics.com; [email protected] PACIFIC STAMPS ___________ www.pacificstamps.com.au; [email protected] PUBlICATIONS ______________________________________www.renniks.comSTAMPS4COllECTOrS __ www.stamps4collectors.net; [email protected] GIBBONS UK _______www.stanleygibbons.com; [email protected] STATUS INTErNATIONAl _______________ www.statusint.com; [email protected]’S STAMP SHOP ___________________ [email protected] STAMP CENTrE (WESlEy COvEr SErvICE) ___ www.sydneystampcentre.com.au

[email protected]

New Zealand and worldwide in our Ashford Stamps postal auctions. Ask for a catalogue, or view the website. Also ask for direct sales list of NZ Chalons. [email protected]

www.stampsale.comwww.prestigephilately.com

www.rap.com.auThe website for Australia, Australian Territories, commercial and philatelic covers, and informative articles on the subjects. [email protected]

www.angelostamps.comGreece and New Territories 1861 to date.

PPA holds it’s auctions on the 3rd Sunday of the Month with around 4000 lots per auction. Our auctions include stamps, postal history, postal stationary, postmarks,postcards etc from around the world. We also provide a searchable Post Office reference database for Australia and several other counties. [email protected]

www.stores.eBay.com/varisellStampBoutiqueWorldwide stamps, covers, postal stationery, inverted centres, postcards, philatelic litera-ture, proofs, specimens, and much more. View over 6,500 items in our easy to use eBay store. Prompt and courteous [email protected]

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western australia

northern territoryCanberra, Philatelic Society of: 1st Thursday: General Meeting,3rd Thursday: Afternoon Meet-ing (IF REQUIRED),3rd Thursday: (Evening) Exchange Night, 2nd Tuesday: Postcard Group, 4th Monday: Machin Collectors Group. All meetings 7:45pm, Griffin Centre, Genge Street, Can-berra City Postal Address:PO Box 1840,Canberra ACT 2601,Email:[email protected]

philatelic clubs & societies

act

new south walesArmidale Circle RSPC: Mtg 2nd Wed Australian Cmwlth Collectors Club of NSW: Mtg 3rd Mon 7.45pm, 1st flr. Philas House, 17 Brisbane St, Darlinghurst, Sydney 2001. Ph 02 9267 8301; Fax: 02 9264 4741. GPO Box 1971, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9264 8301Aust. States Study Circle: Mtg 4th Wed 7.30pm; Ph: 02 9264 8301 Bathurst Stamp Coin and Collectables Club: Mtg 1st Mon 7.30pm, Old Eglinton fire shed , Park St, Elington PO Box 151, Bathurst NSW 2795Bega Phil. & Numismatic Society: Mtg 3rd Friday 8.00pm. Mthly Newsletter. PO Box 370, Bega NSWBlue Mountains Stamp Club: Mtg 4th Friday (ex Dec) 8.00pm Katoomba Public School; PO Box 76, BlackheathCampbelltown District PS: Mtg 2nd Wed 7.30pm (ex Jan - 4th Wed); @ Catholic Hall Acacia St, Ruse. Inquiries: [email protected] Hill SC: Mtg 2nd Wed 7.45 pm, Crestwood Community Centre, Cnr Chapel Lane & Crestwood Dr, Baulkham Hills; POBox 151 Castle Hill NSW 1765China Study Group of PSNSW: Mtg 4th Mon 7.30pm; Ph: 02 9264 8301 Cinderella SC: Mtg 2nd Friday, even months; Produces “Cinderellas Australia” and monographs; PO Box 889, Chatswood, NSW 2057Coffs Harbour SC: Mtg 2nd WedEarlwood and District SC:Mtg 1st WedGrafton SC: Mtg 2nd Wed (ex. Dec)Grafton Stampers & Everything Philatelic: Mtg 1st Sun 2pm (ex School Hols). Grafton Baptist Church Hall, Cnr Queen & Oliver Sts. Ph 02 6642 1363. email [email protected]. Great Lakes SC: Mtg1st Sat 9.30am , Workshop & Market 1st Sat 9-12, (Feb-Nov), Great Lakes Campus Annexe, Taree St, Tuncurry Enq: PO Box 717, Forster, 2428Gosford PS: Afternoon Mtg 1st Mon; Evening Mtg 2nd ThursHawkesbury Valley PS (Richmond Stamp Club): Mtg 2nd Thurs (ex Jan) PO Box 28 Richmond 2753Illawarra PS: Mtg 3rd Thursday (ex. Jan) Wollongong Master Build. Club Ltd, Oasis Room, 7.30pm. All welcome. Tel. (02) 42252011. Imlay Stamp Collectors Soc: Mtg 4th Mon; Ph: 02 6495 7308Kempsey RSL PS: Mtg 2nd WedLower Clarence PS: Mtg 4th TuesMacquarie Valley PS: Mtg 2nd TuesMaitland SC: Mtg 2nd Mon ex Jan. ‘Show & Tell’ every mtg E. Maitland Bowling Club, Bank St. Pres. Mark Saxby; Sec. David Carratt; Ph: 02 4932 4045 Email: [email protected] PS: Mtg 2nd Thurs St David’s Church Hall, Dee Why. Sec. Graeme Morriss Ph: 02 9905 3255 email: [email protected] Rugby Leagues SC: Mtg 4th Tues cnr. Pittwater Rd & Federal Pde, Brookvale. Sec. Graeme Morriss Ph: 02 9905 3255 email: [email protected] SC: Mtg 1pm on 4th Mon (ex Dec); Ph: (02) 4472 7701; email: [email protected] and District SC: Mtg 3rd Sunday

Nambucca River PS: Mtg 1st SundayNewcastle PS: Mtg 2nd Thurs, 7.30pm Mayfield Ex-Services Club; 10am 3rd Wed, 48 Mackie Ave, New Lambton, Juniors 11am 3rd Sun, Wallsend Pioneers HallNSW Postcard Collectors Soc: Mtg 1st Wed 7.30pm; Ph: 02 9264 8301Northern Suburbs PS: Mtg 3rd Thurs, 7.45pm, Naremburn Library, Central St, Naremburn off Slade St; Ph: 02 9419 7354Orange Coin and Stamp Club: Mtg Last Tuesday, Market Days Sat APR 30 MAY 1st Ph: 02 6392 6334 (BH), 02 6362 3754.Orchid Stamp Club: Mtg 3rd Sat. (Jan and each 2nd mth)Parramatta PS: Mtg 1st FridayPenrith and District PS: Mtg 1st Thursdays, 8pm, CWA rooms, Baby Health Ctr, Tindale St PO Box 393, Kingswood NSW 2747PHILAS Stamp Auctions: Mtg 2nd Sat Mar,Jul, Nov Ph 02 9264 8301PS of Australia: Mtg 3rd Wed (exDec); Ph 02 9399 7556PS of NSW: Mtg 1st Tues (Philas House), 3rd Tues (Chatswood); Ph: 02 9264 8301Richmond River (Lismore) PS: Mtg 4th ThursdayRoyal Sydney Philatelic Club: Mtg 2nd Tues. (ex Jan); Ph: 02 9264 8301St. George PS: Mtg 1st MonShoalhaven PS: Mtg 2nd Monday (Ex Jan) PO Box 4047, East Nowra 2541. Ph 02 44472976Smithfield SC: Mtg 2nd MonSociety for Polar Philately: 2007 Mtg Dates: Wed May 9th, Jul 11th, Sept 12th, Nov 14th, 8pm, Ryde Ex-Services Club, 724-730 Victoria Rd, Ryde, NSW. Tel: 9807 3344. Sec. Peter Brigden, PO Box 408, Wahroonga, NSW, 2076Strathfield-Burwood PS: Mtg 4th WedSussex Inlet and District: Mtg 3rd MonSutherland Shire PS: Mtg 2nd Tues. , 7:30pm, Sutherland Uniting Services Club, 7 East Pde, Sutherland. Information Secretary, PO Box 339, Sutherland, NSW 1499Sydney Anglican Stamp Society: Mtg 1st Sat, even months 9.30am - 2.30pm, St Paul’s, Carlingford. SDetails: www.sass.stamparena.comTamworth PS: Mtg 1st Mon; Market Days 1st Sat. Newsletter editor, Michael de Groot , Pres. Peter Newley. Sec. Graeme Mitchell. PO Box 678, Tamworth NSW 2340 Ph. 02 67664853Taree RSL Club Ltd SC: Mtg 3rd MonThematic Society of Australia: Mtg 3rd WedToronto SC: Mtg 1st WedTuggerah SC: Mtg 4th Sun (ex Dec.)Turramurra SC: Mtg 2nd Monday, 7.45pm. Ph: 9144 4225Twin Towns Stamp Club Inc.: Mtg 1st Monday, 7.30p, Home & Community Centre, Tweed HeadsWagga SC: Mtg 1st Wed (ex Jan) ARCC Building, Tarcutta St, 7.30pm. Secretary: Peter Simpfendorfer Ph:02 6922 3393Willoughby Legion Philatelic Section: Mtg 4th TuesWyong PS: Mtg 3rd Tues, 7.30m. Jim Spence, Sec. Ph 02 4392 7536

NSW club information:The Philatelic Association of NSW, PO Box220, Darlinghurst, NSW, 1300 Phone: 02 9264 8301

Alice Springs SC: Meet Informally; PO Box 1529, Alice Springs, NT, 0871. Ph 08 8953 3054Darwin Philatelic Circle: 1st Sun. 10am - 2pm. 53 Flametree Crt, Rosebery; Ph:(08) 8931 2528; PO Box 1624, Palmerston, NT, 0831; Email: [email protected].

Armadale-Kelmscott PS: Mtg 4th Tues; Ph: 0419 954 862Canning SC: Mtg 1st Wed; Ph: 08 9459 7381Daytime SC: Mtg 1st Thurs; 08 9341 3576Eastern Goldfields: Ph: 0413 047 941Ellenbrook SC: Mtg 3rd Wed; Ph: 08 9296 9306Fremantle and District PS: Mtg 2nd Wed, Fremantle Tennis Club House, Parry St, Fremantle at 8pm; Ph: 08 6363 6415Kalamunda SC: Mtg 3rd Wed; Ph: 08 9293 1948Mandurah SC: Mtg 2nd Tues; Ph: 08 9582 9108email: [email protected] Districts SC: Mtg 2nd Mon(ex Jan); Ph: 08 9342 1989

Philatelic Forum: Mtg 1st Mon (exJan); Ph: 08 9457 0519Rockingham & Kwinana (PS of): Mtg 3rd Tues (NB 2nd in Dec) Pres. John Sutton; Sec. Terry Boyd; PRO Lucie Schokker Ph. 08 9419 1604; email: [email protected] of WA: Mtg 3rd Tues; Ph: 08 9457 0519Stirling PS: Mtg 4th Wed; Anglican Parish Centre, Brompton Rd, Wembley Downs, 7.45pm, Ph: 08 9447 7256The Postmark Circle (WA): Mtg 2nd Mon; Ph: 08 9446 4794Victoria Park SC: Mtg 1st Wed; Ph: 08 9367 3954Wanneroo SC: Mtg 3rd Mon; Ph: 08 9409 5015

WA club information: WA Philatelic Council, GPO Box 9800, Perth, WA, 6001

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philatelic clubs & societiesnew zealand Further information can be obtained from the NZ Philatelic Federation,

PO Box 58139, Whitby, Porirua, 5245, NZ. E-mail: [email protected]

Air Mail Society of NZ: Mtg 3rd Mon (ex. Jan). Ph: 03 358 4838Auckland PS: Mtg 1st and 3rd Tues (except Jan); Email bruce.chadderton @fitec.org.nz Add Ph 09 9853212 www.aps.gen.nzChristchurch PS: Mtg 2nd Tues, Library night 3rd Tuesday; Email: [email protected] Ph 03 3541064Dunedin PS: Mtg 4th Thurs (except Nov and Dec). Ph 03 4557643; Email [email protected] Stamp Collectors Club: Mtg 3rd Wed (except Jan and 2nd Wed Dec). Ph 06 8706710; Email [email protected] Bay PS: Mtg 1st Wed (ex. Jan); Ph: 06 843 9433 Email [email protected] PS: Mtg 2nd Mon. Ph: 06 368 6202 Email [email protected] Valley PS: Mtg 1st Tues (ex. Jan); Ph: 04 568 4892; Email: [email protected] PS: Mtg 3rd Tues (ex Dec); Ph: 04 297 1197Manaia PS: Mtg (Hawera) 1st Sun. Ph 06 2784292, email: peter.Williams @xtra.co.nzManawatu PS: Mtg 1st Wed, daytime meeting 3rd Tues. Ph 06 3289 895; Email [email protected] Stamp Collectors Club: Mtg 3rd Mon (except Jan and 2nd Mon Dec). Ph 03 5776166; Email [email protected] Stamp Club: Mtg 2nd Wed Ph 07 8896251Nelson PS: Mtg 2nd Tues. Ph: 03 5477516NZ Stamp Collectors Club Christchurch:Mtg 4th Wed ; Ph 03 3596758; www.nzeal.com/philately/nzscc.htmNorth Shore PS: Mtg 2nd (except Jan) and 4th Wed (except Jan and Dec). Ph: 09 4141044; Email: [email protected] www.northshoreps.comPostal History Soc of NZ: Auckland 1st Mon (except Jan). Ph: 09 522 0311 Chapter meetings held Invercargill, Nelson, New Plymouth and Wellington.Ph: 07 3476428

Royal PS of NZ: Mtg 2nd Tues (ex Jan); Ph: 04 472 2590; Email rpsnz @orcon.net.nz and; Website www.rpsnz.org.nzSouth Auckland PS:Mtg last Sat (except Dec), Papatoetoe, day time mtgs 3rd Fri(ex Dec); Ph: 09 5366708 ; Email: [email protected] PS: Mtg 1st Thurs (except Jan). Ph 03 2158177 Email [email protected] PS: Mtg 1st Mon except Jan. Ph: 06 758 6233; Email: [email protected] & District Stamp Club: Mtg 2nd (except Jan) and 4th Mon (except Dec); Ph: 07 5768866; Email: [email protected] Valley PS: Mtg 1st Mon(except Jan). Ph: 07 8689190; Email: [email protected] Association of NZ: Ph: 04 234 7218; Email: [email protected] PS: Mtg 1st Wed. Ph: 03 6888829Upper Hutt PS: Mtg 3rd Mon (except 2nd Mon Dec).04 5284123 ; Email [email protected] PS: Mtg 1st (except Jan) and 3rd Wed (except Dec). Ph 07 8556572 Email [email protected] PS: Ph: 03 442 8865Wanganui PS: Mtg 2nd Wed. (Ex. Jan) Ph 06 3448009; Email [email protected] & Districts Stamp Club: Mtg 1st Thu 1:00pm Ph 09 4258791Wellesley PS: Mtg 2nd and 4th Mon (ex public holidays). Ph: 09 8271240Wellington PS: Mtg 4th Mon (except 2nd Mon Dec); daytime meeting 3rd Thurs. Ph: 04 234 7218; Email: [email protected] PS: Mtg 2nd & 4th Thurs Ph: 07 3071016Whangarei PS: Mtg 2nd Meeting: 2nd Tues (Ex. Jan) 09-4348000 Email [email protected]

queenslandArana Hills SC: Meeting 2nd Mon; Mr Les Revell (Secretary)07 3263 8573; email: [email protected] Afternoon SC: Meeting last Wed; Ph: 07 3206 6281.Bribie Island SC: Meeting 4th Wed; Ph: 07 3408 2238Bundaberg PS: Mtg 2nd Mon, The Family Centre, Kensington St (in the Show Grounds); Ph: 07 4152 2403 or 07 4151 3062Caboolture & District SC: Mtg 3rd Sat. Ph: 07 5498 6504Cairns SC: Mtg 3rd Wed. Ph: 07 4031 5342 Sec: Alan Sparks, email:[email protected], web:www.cairnsstampclub.asn.auCaloundra SC: Mtg 2nd Tues & 4th ThursPh: 07 5445 2940City Daytime SC: Mtg 2nd Thurs. Ph: 07 3206 6281City of Brisbane PS: Mtg 3rd Thurs; Ph: 07 3351 4334 (ah); email: [email protected] Club of Queensland: Mtg 2nd Thurs, 1.30pm, Brisbane Council Library, Garden City, Upper Mount Gravatt. Andrew McEachern 07 3208 3720Deception Bay SC: Mtg 1st Sat. Ph: 07 3284 3161Enoggera SC: Mtg 1st and 3rd Mon. Ph: 07 3264 4157Gladstone and District PS: Mtg 2nd Wed (Ex. Jan) & 4th Wed (Ex.Dec). Ph. Sec: 07 4978 1155 Ian Rippingale, Gold Coast PS: Mtg 2nd Mon, 11.30am, Southport Community Centre, Law-son St, Southport. Ph: 07 5546 3801Gympie SC: Mtg - 3rd Mon. Ph: 07 5482 5698Hervey Bay Afternoon Club: Mtg 3rd Wed. Ph: 07 4124 1138Ipswich SC: Mtg 1st Thurs (ex. Jan). Ph: 07 3282 2983Junction Park SC: Mtg 1st Tues, 7.30pm, Annerley Baptist Hall, Lambton St. Contact: 07 3272 8304. PO Box 177, Annerley, 4103, [email protected].

auLockyer Valley SC: Mtg 4th Sun, 1.30pm, Senior Citizens’s Hall, Gat-ton. Kerri Martin, Sec. Ph: 07 5465 3390 Email: [email protected] City SC: Meetings 2nd Thurs, Marsden Library, Marsden Park Shop-ping Centre, 6pm. Ph: 07 3805 9226. Mackay and District PS: Mtg 2nd Tues. Ph: 07 4942 5433; Maryborough and Wide Bay PS: Mtg 1st Wed (ex. Jan). Salvation Army Youth 7 Comm. Hall. Bazaar St Maryborough. Ph: 07 41224708 (see also Hervey Bay)Nanango SC: Mtg 4th Thurs. Ph: 07 4162 2945Philatelic Society of Qld: Mtg 4th Wed 7.30pm,18 Coolcrest St, Wynnum. Ph: 07 3245 5222Queensland Study Group: Sunday bi-monthly 1.00pm meets QPS house. Contact Ph: 07 3396 0846 email: [email protected] SC: Mtg 2nd Sat. Ph: 07 3204 6095Rockhampton SC: Mtg 1st Tues. Ph: 07 4926 3336Sherwood Afternoon SC: Mtg 2nd Tues. Ph: 07 3372 6096Southport Afternoon SC: Mtg 2nd Sat; Ph: 07 5576 8246Southside PS: Mtg 3rd Tuesday & 3rd Wednesay (9am) Ph: 07 3848 2304 (ah) email: [email protected] Coast SC (formerly Nambour SC): Mtg 1st Wed, 7.15pm at Red Cross Hall, Price St Ph: 075445 3647Thematics Queensland: Mtg bi-monthly 9.30am. Ph: 07 3262 5605 email: [email protected] SC: Mtg 2nd Sat 2pm; Pres. Bob Littlehales; Secretary Allan Weeks Phone 07 46355623; PO Box 1591. Ph: 07 4638 3328Twin Towns SC: Mtg 1st Mon; Ph: 07 5598 7629Waterloo Bay SC: Mtg 1st Thurs (afternoon); 2nd Thurs (evening); Ph: 07 3207 3121; email: [email protected]

QLD Philatelic Council, 18 Coolcrest St, Wynnum, Qld, 4178. Ph: 07 3396 0846 Fax: 07 3396 0842. Email: [email protected] Web: www.qpc.asn.au

Stamp News - 71

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philatelic clubs & societiessouth australia Information about clubs in SA can be obtained from the SA Philatelic Council,

GPO Box 9800, Adelaide, SA 5001. Daytime Ph: 08 8212 3557 or 8223 4435

Australian Airmail Society: Saphil House 22 Gray Court, off Sturt St, Adelaide Mtg 1st Wed (even months); 6 mtgs a year bi-monthly + 4 journals for $15US. PO Box 395 Edwardstown 5039; mtgs ; Ph: (08) 2967 3969 Barossa SC: Mtg 1st Tue 7.30 Greenock Luth Church Hall, Bevan St, Greenock; PO Box Greenock 5360; email: [email protected]; Ph: (08) 8562 8386Blackwood PC: Mtg 2nd Wed ex Jan; Uniting Church, Main Rd, Blackwood; Ph: 08 8278 1629; PO Box 581, Blackwood 5051; email: [email protected] & Districts PS: Mtg 3rd Thurs; Bordertown PSchool; Ph: 08 8752 1297City of Noarlunga PS: Mtg Alt Thurs - 7.45pm. Comm. Health Centre, Grand Boulevard, Seaford. PO Box 272 Noarlunga 5167; Ph: 08 8556 6371Community PS: Mtg Alt Fri - 7.30pm. Marion Bowling Club, off Sturt Rd. PO Box 75 Edwardstown, 5039; Auctions, circuit books. Ph: 0408806894Eastern Districts PS: 2nd Thurs (ex. Jan), 7.30pm Senior citizens Hall, 47 Reid Ave. Hectorville; PO Box 240, Magill, 5072; Ph: 0400 156 796Elizabeth PS: Mtg 2nd & 4th Fridays, 7.30pm, RSL Hall, Cnr of Halseys/Midway Rds;PO Box 701, Elizabeth 5112; Ph: 08 8255 0608Encounter Bay SC: Mtg 1st Wed, 7.30pm; School Hall, Woolworths Centre, Vic-tor Harbour; PO Box 317, Goolwa 5214; [email protected]; Ph: 08 8555 3311ETSA Stamp Club: Mtg 1st Mon (ex. Jan); Canteen, 1 Anzac Highway, Keswick; PO Box 2079, Magill North, 5072; Ph: 08 8278 7163Frama Club: Mtg 2nd Wed 7.30pm, members homes; For collectors of CPS, Framas. Newsletter and Auctions. PO Box 62 Campbelltown 5074.Gawler SC: Mtg 4th Mon 7.30pm; Evanston Primary School, Para Rd, Evanston. PO Box 2, Willaston 5118; Ph: 08 8522 2335 Email: [email protected] Philatelic Club: Mtg 2nd & 4th Mon 8pm; German Club, 223 Flinders St, Adelaide 5000; Ph: 08 8260 2251Glenside PS: 1st & 3rd Wed 7.30pm; Staff Dining Room, Glenside Hospital. Fullarton Rd Eastwood.PO Box 29, Glenside 5063. Ph: (08) 8382 4223Lower Murray PS: Mtg 3rd Thurs,7.30pm, 2nd Sat, 10am; Murray Bridge Show-grounds. PO Box 810, Murray Bridge; Ph: 08 85704074 [email protected] Gambier PS: Mtg 3rd Tues; Reidy Park Corn Centre. 8pm. Also1st Sun-day (ex. Jan) 1.30pm - 4pm. PO Box 2261,Mt Gambier.Ph: 08 8724 9474Para Hills PS: Mtg 1st Sun; Community Hall Wilkinson Rd, Para Hills. PO Box 64, Para Hills; Ph: 08 8522 4345

Phillumeny SC: U3/26-28 Crovier Av, Modbury 5092. Ph: 08 8337 6533 Email: www.users.or.net/figg/amccsPort Pirie PS: Mtg 4th Mon; PO Box532, Pt Pirie 5540; Ph: 08 8632 1105Pt. Noarlunga Community PS: Mtg Alt Fri, 7.30pm, Elizabeth House, Elizabeth Rd, Christies Beach; PO Box 75, Edwardstown 5039 Ph: 08 8276 9691Printed Collectables Club (SAPC): Mtg last Tues, Julia Farr Cent. Canteen, Ground Floor, Fisher St. Ph: 08 8265 7395; PO Box 657, Enfield Plaza 5085PS of South Australia:1st & 3rdTues; 22 Gray Ct. GPO Box 1937, Adelaide 5001; Ph: 08 8555 3311PS of South Aust. (Aus. Com. Spect.Grp.): Mtg 4th Tues 7.30pm;22 Gray Ct. Ph: 08 8373 3756PS of South Australia (Daytime SC):Mtg 1st & 3rd Thurs; 22 Gray Ct.Ph: 08 8373 3756PS of South Australia (Study Group):Mtg 4th Tues 7.30pm; 22 Gray Ct. Ph: 08 8522 4345PS of Woodville: Mtg 2nd Fri; Murree Smth Hall. PO Box 27, Woodville 5011; Ph: 08 8443 5547Postal Stat & Postal Hist Soc: Mtg 2nd Tues; SAPHIL House, 22 Gray Ct, Adelaide. email: [email protected]; Ph: 08 8260 3352Riverland PS: Mtg 2nd Fri;Berry Primary School. PO Box 901, Berri 5343; Ph: 08 8588 1109Salisbury PS: Mtg 1st & 3rd Mon;StJohns Church Hall. PO Box 336 Salisbury 5108; Ph: 08 8252 2392Salisbury Junior Stamp Group: Alt Sat; Sal Primary School.PO Box 964, Salis-bury 5108; Ph 08 8258 5339Southern Districts PS: Mtg 4th Wed; PO Box 145, Daw Pk 5041; Ph: 08 8271 8522Stirling PS: Mtg 4th Fri 7.45pm, Old Railway Station (now Community Services Bldng.); Ph: 08 8370 2680Strathalbyn PS: Mtg 2nd Mon; C/- Post Office, Strathalbyn 5255; Ph: 08 8536 2770Ukrainian Collectibles Club: Mtg Wed as per syllabus; PO Box 466, Woodville 5011; Ph: 08 8345 4033Yorke Peninsula Collectors Club: Senior Citizens Club. Taylor St, Kardina. Mtg 3rd Wed ex. Jan; PO Box 178, Bute 5560; Ph: 08 8821 2906

victoria Club Information: Victorian Philatelic Council, GPO Box 9800, Melbourne, Vic, 3001

Australian PS: Bi-monthly meetings on 3rd Monday in February, April, June, August, October and December at RSL Homes, 152 Canterbury Road [cnr Keats Street] Canterbury. Secretary, PO Box 59 Flinders Lane Vic 8009Bairnsdale SC: Mtg 3rd ThursBallarat PS:Mtg 3rd & 5th MonBalwyn PS: Mtg 3rd Friday; Daytime 1st FridayBendigo PS: Mtg 1st TuesBerwick SC:Mtg 2nd Sun (ex Jan); Ph: 03 5942 7626Blackburn Baptist SC: Mtg 3rd ThursBrighton PS: Mtg 2nd & 4th Tues; Daytime 3rd TuesCamperdown SC: Mtg 1st TuesCastlemaine SC: Mtg 3rd Tues (ex Dec)Colac PC: Mtg 4th Mon (ex. Dec), Botanic Cafe 1 Fyans St. Ph:52314746Corner Inlet SC: Mtg 4th Thurs, Foster, Ph: 03 56881100Dandenong PS: Mtg 4th Wed (ex Dec)Diamond Valley PS: Mtg 3rd MonEssendon-Broadmeadows PS: Mtg 2nd Thurs; St Johns Uniting Church Hall, Cnr Mt Alexander Rd & Buckley St, Essendon; Murray Gorham, Ph 9306 7480Footscray PS: Mtg 1st Mon (2nd in Jan); Footscray Senior Citizens Room, 130 Buckley St, FootscrayFrankston & District SC: Mtg 3rd Tues (2nd in Dec) Seaford Community Centre, Broughton St Seaford. Ph: 5996 3745Geelong PS: Mtgs 1st & 3rd Sat 7.30pm (ex Jan) Diversitat Community Centre, 9-15 Clarence St, Gee-long West. Ph: 5261 5461 (Sec)Hamilton PS: Mtg 2nd MondayHungarian PS: Mtg 2nd WedItalian PS: Mtg 2nd Mon (ex Jan), 7.30pm, Abruzzo Club, East BrunswickLatrobe Valley PS: Mtg Last Wed ex Dec 7.30pm, St Lukes Uniting Church Hall, Princes Way, Morwell;

Chris Zarb, Sec. ph. 03 5174 3394 Maryborough Stamp Club:Mtg mthly ex Jan 2nd Tues of month 8pm, St Augustine’s Hall, Mary-borough. PO Box 295, Maryborough, 3465; Ph: 03 5464 2400. [email protected]. maryboroughsc.web1000.comMildura PS: Mtg Last Thurs (ex Dec)Carnegie Building 74 Deakin Ave Ph: 03 5023 8789Mooroolbark PS: Mtg 1st Tues; Ph: 03 9723 3304Noble Park SC: Mtg 4th Mon (Ex. Dec 2nd Mon), Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18-32 Buckley St, Noble Park, 3174; 03 97017085Oakleigh PS: Mtg 2nd Wed 7.30pm (ex Jan) Oakleigh Public Library, Drummond St, OakleighOcean Grove SC: Mtg 4th Wed. 10am. Ocean Grove Senior Citizens Clubrooms Melways: 234 A. Ph. 03 5255 1372Peninsula SC: Mtg 3rd Wed, 7.30pm Uniting Church Hall, Murray Anderson Rd, Rosebud. Ph: 03 5974 1950Polish PS: Mtg 3rd Tues (2nd in Dec)Prahran PS: Mtg 1st Wed (ex Jan)Ringwood PS: Gen Mtg 1st Thurs; Daytime 3rd Mon Ph: 03 9551 2235Royal PS of Victoria:Mtg 3rd & 5th Thurs; Daytime 1st TuesSale SC: Mtg 1st Mon (ex Jan)Shepparton PS: Mtg 2nd Tues, Mechanics Institute, Shepparton. Ph. 0419 560 813Sherbrooke PS: Mtg 2nd Thurs ex Jan Upwey Fire Brigade Hall, 8pm; Bob Cook Ph: 03 9758 3465Upper Yarra SC: Mtg 3rd TuesWarragul PS: Mtg 2nd FriWarrnambool PS: Mtg 3rd Wed 7.45pm St Joseph’s Primary School, Botanic Road;Ph: 03 5561 1470Waverley PS: Mtg 2nd Thurs 8pm, Mt Waverley Community Centre, 47 Miller Cres, Mt Waverley; Day-time mtg the following Friday, 9.30am, Uniting Church Hall, 482 High St, Mt Waverley. Ph. 03 9898 4102

tasmaniaBurnie PS: Mtg 2nd Fri Derwent Valley PS: Mtg 4th MonDevonport Junior SC: Mtg 1st & 3rd MonDevonport Stamp Group: Mtg 4th Fri, Public Library Mtg Rms, 7.30pm Ph. 03 6424 3449Glenorchy SC: Mtg 1st Tues

Hobart Junior Group: Mtg 1st Sat; Ph: 03 6278 2224Kingston Junior Group: Mtg 2nd Sat; Ph: 03 6278 2224Launceston PS: Mtg 1st Thurs (ex. Jan) & 3rd Sat (ex. Dec); Ph: 6344 3676Mersey-Leven PS: Contact: 03 6425 3603Rosny Junior Group: Mtg Last Sat; Ph: 03 6278 2224Tasmanian PS: Mtg 2nd Thurs (ex. Jan) & 4th Thurs (ex. Dec); Ph: 03 6278 7084

Obtain Tasmanian clubs information from: Tasmanian Stamp Council, GPO Box 9800, Hobart, TAS, 7001. Ph: 03 6278 7084

72 - Stamp News

sn august 2008.indd 72 10/7/08 12:23:50 PM

stamp & coin fairs & events

victoria new south wales

September 12-14 - Praga 2008, Prague Exhib. Grounds, Prague 7August 8-9 - NZSDA Stampshow, Auckland

queensland

overseas

request for listing or update of events or clubs & societies pages This form or a photocopy of this form must be completed in full and signed by and authorised person and submitted by post to Stamp News for any event or update to be listed in the Events or Societies pages - please note that specific dates cannot be included in club details. If any part of the form is incomplete the listing/update will not be made. Information will not be accepted via email. This is a free service and listings are included at the discretion of Stamp News and also subject to available space. Wording may be altered.

Name of event/club: ________________________________

Section to appear in (EVENTS or CLUBS): ____________________

Date/s of event/meeting: _____________________________

Town & STATE: ___________________________________

Contact phone to appear in listing: _______________________

Name of person authorised to request listing/changes:

____________________________________________

Signature of authorised person: _________________________

Wording requested for listing/update: _____________________

____________________________________________

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Contact details (phone or email) of authorised person (not to appear):

____________________________________________

Please PRINT CLEARLY - illegible submissions will be disregarded.

Submit to: Stamp News, PO Box 1290, Upwey VIC 3158

Aug 3 - (1st Sun) Stamp, Coin & Phone Card Fair, Ukrainian Hall, Russell St, Es-sendon.Aug 9 - Bendigo PS Annual Stamp Fair, St Andrew’s Uniting Church, 24 Myers St, Bendigo. 10am - 4pm. Enq: 03 5443 0347. Free entryAug 16 - Noble Park Stamp & Coin Fair, 9am - 4pm, Noble Park Public Hall, 18 Buckley St, Noble Park. Melways: 89 E2Aug 16 - (3rd Sat) Stamps, Coins & Medals Fair - Ferntree Gully Salerooms, 107 Station St, Ferntree Gully. Ph: 03 9752 2677Aug 17 - (3rd Sun) Stamp, Card - Phone Card Fair, Ormond Angling Club Hall. Cnr North Road & Queens St, Ormond. Dealers plus huge range activities. Ph: John Thomas 0418 322 315. Aug 24 - (4th Sun) Stamp, Coin & Phonecard Fair, Jaycees Hall, Silver Grove, Nunawading. 9am-3.30pm. Sept 12 - 14 - ANDA Stamp & Coin Fair, Melbourne Park Function Centre National Tennis CentreOct 12 - Eureka Ballarat Stamp Fair, Ballarat Specialists School, Gillies St, Wendou-ree, 930am-3.30pm. Free entry. Prizes, Dealers, Catering. Enq: 53323275

Aug 10 - QStamp Fair, Southside, Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, Memorial Hall, Logan Rd. Free Entry, free tea/coffee. 8.30am - 2pm Aug 10 - Lockyer Valley Stamp Club Stamp Fair, Gatton Shire Hall, North St, Gat-ton. 9am - 4pm, Free admission. Enq: 07 5465 3390Aug 11 (2nd Mon) - Gold Coast PS Sale, Rm 1, Southport Comm. Centre, Lawson St, Southport. 11.30am - 2.30pmAug 17 - Caloundra Stamp Fair, Beerwah Community Hal, 25 Peachester Rd, Beerwah. 8.30am - 3.30pm. Enq: 07 5445 1461Aug 22-24 - Sunstamp 2008 (half national philatelic exhibition, Commerce Building, RNA Showgrounds, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane

Aug 2 - (1st Sat) 9am to 4pm Orange Stamp Fair, Quinn’s Arcade, Summer St, Orange. Ph: Norm 02 63623754. Aug 2 - (1st Sat) Northside Stamp Fair. 1st Floor, Car park Building, Manly-Warringah Leagues Club, cnr Federal Parade/Pittwater Rd, Brookvale, NSW.Aug 2 - (1st Sat) Katoomba Stamp & Coin Fair, 9am - 4pm, Masonic Hall, Cnr Station & Civic Sts, Katoomba. Ph. 0417 802 754Aug 2 - (1st Sat) Stamp & Coin Collectors Fair, East Coast City Church, 375 Kingsway, CaringbahAug 3 - (1st Sun) Corrimal Stamp & Coin Fair, Doctors Hall, 69 Railway St, Corrimal. Enquiries: (02) 9764 3034.Aug 3 - (1st Sun) Bankstown Stamp & Coin Fair, Bankstown Masonic Hall, Cnr Greenfields & Restwell Sts, Bankstown. 9am - 3pm. 7 Dealers. Ph. 02 4455 4011 Aug 17 - (3rd Sun) Stamp & Coin Fair, 10am - 3pm, Pioneers Hall, Cowper St, Wallsend. 8 Dealers. 4971 3483Aug 24 - (4th Sun) Epping Stamp & Coin Fair, Community Hall, 9 Oxford St, Epping. 10am - 4pm. Free Entry, 6 Dealers, Buy/SellAug 30 - Sydney West Stamp & Coin Show, Merrylands RSL, 14 Military Rd, Merrylands. 10am - 4pm. Buy/Sell. Free valuations, $2 entry, Enq: 0432 540 760Aug 31 - SCDAA Stamp, Coin & Banknote Fair, Town Hall, PetershamAug 31 - Postcards & Collectables fair, Imar Community Centre, Croydon, 9.30am-3pm.Sept 13-14 - Northern Beaches Stamp Expo, Cnr Pittwater Rd & Federal Pde, Brookvale. O/P booklets, parking, free entry, prizes, dealers, exhibition. Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4.

south australiaAugust 4 - Salisbury PS Monster Auction, St John’s Church Hall, Church St, Salisbury. 7pmAugust 9 - SAPC Bourse & Auction, 10am - 4pm, Senior Citizens Hall, Reid Ave, HectorvilleAugust 17 - PSSA Open Day, SAPHIL House, 22 Gray Ct, Adelaide, 10-4Sept 13 - Printed Collectables Bourse, 10am-4pm, Senior Citizens Hall, Reid Ave, HectorvilleSept 14 - Community PS Fair, Marion Bowling Club, Off Sturt RdSept 25 - Eastern Districts Monster Auction, Senior Citizens Hall, Reid Ave, Hectorville, 7.30pm

Stamp News - 73

sn august 2008.indd 73 10/7/08 12:25:15 PM

Products & Services Directory dealers

GREAT BRITAINDo you collect Q.V.1840 - Q.E.II 2007? Unmounted mint, Lightly mounted mint, Fine used?

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74 - Stamp News

sn june 2008.indd 74 4/5/08 3:20:37 PM

Products & Services Directory dealers

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Write today Airmail to :AMERICAN TOPICAL ASSOCIATION

PO Box 57, Arlington, TX 76004-0057PH: 817-274-1181 Fax: 817-274-1184

Visa and Mastercard welcome

PHILATELY from AUSTRALIA

a quarterly record of Research & information

ROYAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC.

Australia $35, Br. Commonwealth £14 Sterling, United States & Canada $US28 per year. No serious collector of Australia and

its States, New Zealand and Pacific Islands should be without asubscription to this International Award Winning Journal.

Three Year Indexes - $A10 eachMost back issues on hand.

Write to: Business ManagerPO Box 642, Toorak, VIC, 3142

SaS/OCEania inviTES yOUR mEmBERShiP Our award-winning quarterly jour-nal, ‘The Informer’, contains regular, informative articles about Australia and States, New Zealand, PNG, and other Pacific countries by knowledge-able philatelic writers. Sample copy/ application form sent airmail for $US1.00. Mint US postage accepted.

SAS/O Secretary, PO Box 24764,San Jose, CA 95154-4764, USA

PhilaTEliC SOCiETy OF CanBERRa inc.

The society has a regular program of meet-ings, with displays, exchanges and discussion

nights, and welcomes visitors to Canberra. It has a flourishing exchange branch, which circulates to small stamp clubs in the south

region, as well as in the Canberra area. It pub-lishes, quarterly, a newsletter and a research

journal ‘Capital Philately’. Enquiries about membership or about separate subscriptions

to the journal should be directed to: Secretary: Tony Luckhurst Ph: 02 6241 1963 e-mail:

[email protected]

societies&publications

AT SFeatures: Major Collectables Shows around Australia Discounted advertising in major collectables journals and yellow pages.Regular newsletter Special discounts on accessories/albums etc.Free 6 month subscription to Stamp News Website, with free advertising for members

C AUSTRALASIAN COLLECTABLE TRADERS SOCIETY

Join today, membership is free! No fees for the first 12 months, open to all traders in collectables, full or part time.

Australasian Collectable Traders Societyc/- PO Box 1290 Upwey, Vic. 3158

Stamp News - 75

sn july 2008.indd 75 2/6/08 9:46:06 AM

Stamp News Australasia Advertising Rates & DataCommencing July 2008

Publication details Stamp News Australasia is published by Stamp News Pty Ltd, ACN 099 565 223, at monthly intervals, twelve times per year. Publication date is the 1st day of each month.

RATES - casual (all rates include GST)All Prices now include 4 Colour Separation

Full page 4 colour

Half Page 4 colour

One third page 4 colour

Quarter page 4 colour

One eighth page 4 colour

Semi-Display

$

950

495

330

260

140

27.50

PREFERRED POSITIONS: A 50% surcharge applies.CONTRACT RATESThree edition contract less 5%Six edition contract less 10%Twelve edition contract less 15%INSERTSCompetitive rates available to reach the core of the stamp collecting community. For catalogue or brochure inserts, contact our advertis-ing manager, Kevin Morgan on (03) 9752 2677 for details.PREPAID DISCOUNTSAll advertisements are subject to payment within 30 days. However, pre-paid advertisements will attract a discount of 5% as will accounts paid for by credit card on or by the publication date.SPECIAL DISCOUNTSThese apply to members of recognised trade bodies - please apply for details.SPECIAL NOTES1. Advertisers may vary their display advertising sizes within a contract period.2. If booked advertising material does not arrive by the due date the Publisher reserves the right to publish a previously published advertisement in lieu.3. Prices are for copy supplied in digital format to the required standard. If production work is required extra charges may be necessary. Please consult.

Required submission formatAdvertisements should be supplied in digital format (on disk or via email). Advertisements should be provided as high resolution PDF files, with all fonts embedded. All graphics must be scanned at 300dpi resolution, and must not be compressed by jpeg below medium quality. Price lists must be provided in Excel format. Adobe Indesign files are acceptable only if they contain no True Type fonts (only Type 1 fonts can be commercially printed). Phone to discuss other formats or alternatives.

Advertisment SizesTrimmed magazine sizeFull page nominal image sizeHalf page horizontalHalf page verticalThird page horizontalThird page verticalQuarter page horizontalQuarter page vertical

W 210 190 190 93 190 60 190 93

H 297 277 136 277 89 277 66 136

Advertising deadlines1st day of month prior to month of publication

(eg the June edition advertising deadline is 1st MAY)

Advertising Contact DetailsKevin Morgan

Ph (03) 9752 2677 Fax: (03) 9758 2488Stamp News Pty Ltd,

PO Box 1290, Upwey, Vic 3158.

SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONSAdvertisers are hereby notified of the following conditions to which they signify their acceptance in submitting any advertisement:* Although oral instructions may be acted upon, no liability will be accepted for advertising instructions, alterations or cancellations made orally, they must be in writing.* No liability will be accepted for any loss occasioned by the failure of an advertisement or insert or any part of an advertisement or insert to appear in any specified issue, or for any error in an advertisement or insert.* Positions selected for advertisement are entirely at the discretion of the Publisher, except where otherwise arranged (see “Preferred Position”).* The matter, content and style of any advertisement is subject to approval of the Publisher. Advertisements held by the Publisher to be unlawful or undesirable in any way will be declined.* The Publisher reserves the right to suspend, refuse or withdraw any advertisement or order at its discretion at any time without notice. The Advertiser, in submitting an advertisement and/or material, is deemed to have agreed that no liability for claims, damages or compensation in respect thereof will be held against the Publisher.* TRADE PRACTICES: Advertisements submitted must be in strict accord-ance with the applicable State and Federal consumer and advertising laws in force from time to time.* INDEMNITY: In submitting any advertisement or insert, the Advertiser agrees that if any material, statement, information or matter contained in any such advertisement or insert is in breach of any statute, regulation or law (whether Federal, State or Territorial, directly, by inference or otherwise) and the Publisher publishes the advertisement or insert in good faith with no reason to be aware of such impediment and consequently suffers any penalty by reason of or arising from the publication of such material, then the Advertiser indemnifies the Publisher against the amount of any such penalty and shall pay the amount thereof and any consequential and reason-able legal costs incurred by the Publisher.

sn june 20081.indd 76 20/5/08 8:28:23 PM

Australasian Collectables Traders Association (ACTS)

Stamp & Coin FairsAll of our fairs feature: Free admission, Free off street parking Free tea & Coffee, Pleasant

well lit halls, Friendly traders.

Limited space available $20 per table, enquiries: 03 9752 2677

1st Saturday each month 9am - 3pm, Box Hill City Bandrooms, 411 Middleborough Road,

Box Hill Vic. (Walking distance from Laburnum Station)

3rd Saturday each month 9am - 3pm at 21st Century Auction Rooms, 107 Station Street, Ferntree Gully, Vic. 3156 (Opposite station and Bus terminus)

New Fair - August 2!

Call us now to book your space: 03 9752 2677

Next Show Ferntree Gully August 16

Contributor & Advertiser DeadlinesSeptember 2008 Issue - 1 August 2008October 2008 Issue - 25 August 2008

We reserve the right to repeat advertising from a previous issue if material is not received in time. Email submission: [email protected]

sn august 2008.indd 77 9/7/08 1:11:33 PM

philatelic trading post

accessories

“Discounted” Australian - British Commonwealth - Worldwide - Pacifics - Thematics

P&D Nicholls P.O.Box 172, Glenbrook NSW 2773, Ph: 02 47396184 10/07

ALBUMS, CATALOGUES, AND EQUIPMENT for stamps, coins, & banknotes at mail order discount prices. Enquiries or quotes write to: SAPPHIRE COAST PHILATELIC SUPPLIES, PO Box 285, Pambula, NSW 2549, or Phone/Fax (02) 6495 7382.

approvals

for sale

kiloware

Fiji Different Complete Sets/MS, VFU/CTO from period 1990-2003: 45

for AUD150, or 65 for AUD200. 30 Solomons Mixture Used Sets for AUD100. Unbeat-

able Prices! CWO Please. Some emergency overprints used for free postage. Stephen

Joe, GPO Box 302, Suva, Fiji. Email: [email protected] 04/08

Collection surplusStamps from Canada,

Channel Islands, Falklands & Dependencies, Fr. Antarctic, Gibraltar, GB, Ireland, Malta, Namibia, NZ, South Africa and USA. MUH mint and used.

Trade Enquiries OK. Send your wants lists to:

John Cornelius, PO Box 23, Magill, 5072.

P-stamps & SES sheets

First Day Covers

(pre-decimal & decimal)

For free price lists please send SAE

SUNSHINE PHILATELICSPO BOX 129, ALBION DC QLD 4010

worldwide

FINE USED, MUH-AUSTRALIA, AAT/GLASSINE, CELLOPHANE

BAGS & ENVELOPESSend for our price list

Wholesale list for dealersAMBROSE THONG

PO Box 415, Unanderra, NSW 2526 Australia

email: [email protected] Ph/Fax: AH (02) 4271 3346

Buying Australia Pre-Decimal MUH Minimum sending $100 please.

2/- Commems. in full sets with lower values. Tasmania pay $1, Olympics Blue & Green

$3.00 pair, Blue only pay $2, Green 75c. Cobb & Co. 60c, 1956 Olympics $1.25, Qantas

60c. 2/3d Commems. in full sets with lower values pay $1.75, high value only $1.40

each. 2/3d ICY pay 60c. Phone Kevin Morgan 0425 795 693

buying

Join the exciting Products & Services Directory!

Single: 46mm x 24mm $260 per year or $26 per monthDouble: 46mm x 50mm $520 per year or $52 per monthTriple: 46mm x 78mm $695 per year or $69.50 per monthQuad: 46mm x 102mm $990 per year or $99 per monthLarger spaces POR

Ph: 03 9752 2677 Fax: 03 9758 2488 email: [email protected]

www.stampnews.com.au

SUPERSALE: 2000 Diff. $49, 3000 Diff. $79. + Country Pricelists. P&D NICHOLLS PO

Box 172, Glenbrook NSW 2773 10/07

Buying Australia and World Kiloware. We urgently wish to buy quantities of modern Australia and World Kiloware. Regular supplies needed. All mixtures to be close clipped single paper, and will pay as follows, all prices per kg. (a) Australia Commemoratives only to 2005 $7, 2006 $10, 2007 $15 (b) Australia Mission modern inc..2005/6, not less than 50% commems.by weight $4 (c) Australia Territories, inc. Cocos, AAT, Christmas Is. Norfolk Is. etc. $25 (d) Australia Higher values, 53c upwards inc. Commems. $60, defins only $20 (e) Worldwide, modern mix unpicked. $30. Minimum sending $100 please. Single country mixtures also required, please enquire. Phone Kevin Morgan 0425 795 693

Kiloware Off/On Paper, Germany, Europe, Overseas, Many sorts and Countries. List

and Samples Free. Exchange Proposals welcome. D-M Fuerstenwerth, Muhliusstr. 68,

D-24103 Kiel, Germany

Adelaide’s One Stop Stamp Shop. Buying, Selling + regular Stamp & Coin

Auctions. Refer to our Dealers Ad in Products & Services. Stewarts Stamp Shop &

Hallmark Auctions Ph [08] 8223 4435.

for sale

Buying Australian Commemorative kiloware on single paper: 2007 (Sheet & P+S) $15kg, 2008 (Sheet & P+S) $20, 2007 (Sheet no Xmas) $8 100g, 2008 (Sheet) $10 100g. Used Singles: 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallists 50c eachFor my other buying requirements contact me: Tony Muston, PO Box 507, Gembrook, Vic, 3783. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (03) 5967 7106 09/08

OZtion.com.au Click on vShop and seekKevins Internet Stamp Service

Australia and world - adding new items all the time.Professional description. No overpriced junk.

[email protected] PO Box 94 North Fremantle WA 6159Where clients become friends

new issuesISRAEL: New issue service at face value, free price list, free gift and incredible offer in our 45th anniversary. Eilat Philatelic Club, P.O.Box 542, Eilat 88104, ISRAEL - [email protected] 10/08

Australia & Territories, First Day Covers, Packs. Discounted prices. List sent on

request. Joe Schillani, 7 Westhaven Court, Chirnside Park, Vic, 3116 09/08

10/08

78 - Stamp News

sn august 2008.indd 78 13/7/08 11:21:17 AM

philatelic trading post

classified advertisement order formClassified advertising in THE PHILATELIC TRADING POST costs only 95 cents per word - or you can insert the same advertise-

ment in three consecutive editions for the price of two! Payment MUST accompany classified advertisement copy and may be made by money order, cheque or credit card (American Express, Bankcard, Mastercard and Visa welcome). If paying by credit

card, be sure to quote your account number and expiry date. Classifieds are pre-paid only.

Address your classified ad to: STAMP NEWS, PO Box 1290, Upwey VIC 3158 Please state your preferred classification or suggest a new one for us to consider.

Abbreviations, initials and phone numbers count as one word. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY.CLASSIFICATION: ______________________________

Check your advertisement for accuracy of the first inser-tion. Stamp News cannot be responsible for the cost of more than one incorrect insertion.All ads require name, address and phone number with order; they do not need to be used in your copy.

NUMBER OF ISSUES TO RUN: ____________________

TOTAL # OF WORDS: ______________________________

COST: ____________________________________________

Payment method: Cheque Money order Credit card Card no: _________________________________________Type: ____________________________________________Expiry: __________________________________________Name: ___________________________________________Signature: _______________________________________

369

12151821242730333639424548

societies

AUSTRALIAN PS meets 3rd Monday monthly. RSL Homes, 152 Canterbury Rd (cnr Keats St) Canterbury. All visitors most welcome. Contact: PO Box 59, Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Vic. 3000 for advice.

BRIGHTON PS Inc. Meets 8.00pm 2nd and 4th Tuesday and 10.30am 3rd Tuesday each month. 80 Gardenvale Road, Gardenvale, Vic, 3185. Visitors/new members welcome. www.brightonps.org.au

GLADSTONE AND DISTRICT PS Inc. Meets on the 2nd Wednesday each

month at 7.30pm. Venue: Neighbourhood Centre, 10 Toolooa St, Glad-

stone. Postal: PO Box 1089, Gladstone, Qld, 4680. Ph: (07) 4978 1155.

SUTHERLAND SHIRE PS meets 2nd Tuesday each month, Sutherland United Services Club, 7 East Parade (corner Oxford St), Sutherland, NSW 2232.

PENINSULA STAMP CLUB Meets 3rd Wednesday eachh month at

7.30pm, Uniting Church Hall, Murray Anderson Road, Rosebud. Visitors

most welcome. Secretary: PO Box 187,Dromana, 3936

RARITIES - SUPERB ITEMS AT LOW FIXED PRICES - WITH HUGE SCANS - A MUST SEE!


glenstephens.com/rarity.html

St George Philatelic Society meets on 1st Monday of each month at the Senior Citizens Centre, 36 George St, Rockdale at 7.30pm. New members and visitors welcome. Contact Sec. PO Box 112, Kogarah, 2217. Ph. 9584 1090 08/08

Stamp News - 79

sn august 2008.indd 79 13/7/08 11:21:49 AM

New to

Stam

p News? An opportunity

to Subscribe or Re-subscribe at

virtually no cost!We are giving away the highly sought after

set of Unadopted essays pictured below with each subscription.* See pictures below.

Now that our series of Unadopted essays is complete, we fi nd that we have a small surplus of these in complete sets, which have been selling on the secondary market for up to $10 per sheet, so these could be worth up to $120 for the set possibly more as complete sets are rare!

Our agreement with Australia Post was not to sell these to retail cus-tomers, so we are giving them away to subscribers and re-subscribers.

Subscribe for one year and get one complete set, for two years and get two sets, for three years and get three sets, or for fi ve years and get fi ve sets. For a lifetime subscription you get TWENTY COMPLETE sets to re-sell or tuck away!

Apply now as stocks are necessarily restricted and will be allocated on a fi rst come fi rst served basis.

*Not available with any other offer. Available only until sold out!

Four of the 12 Unadopted essays sheets

Subs - feb 07.indd 2Subs - feb 07.indd 2 1/14/2007 9:09:36 AM1/14/2007 9:09:36 AM

Every Month an exciting free gift for

subscribers only.

Office Use Only

Subscribe and Saveup to $158!*

*5yr subscription

Please note: All subscriptions are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Choose from our stamp News subsCriptioN offers!

Please add for postage & packaging:

$3.95 per issue for NZ &Asia/Pacific Region$4.25 per issue rest of the world (surface) $6.95 per issue rest of the world (airmail)

6 months $49.5012 months $89.5024 months $169.5036 months $239.0060 months $379.00Lifetime $895.00

All prices include postage and packaging within Australia

Please start my subscription from the ............................ 2008 issue.

$49.50$169.50

$379.00

$89.50

$239.00

$895.00

03 9752 2677 03 9758 2488

Free to subscribers: Two Australian Commonwealth Beer Duty stamps.

Subs - feb 08.indd 3 22/7/08 8:42:44 PM

List of Display Advertisers21st Century Auctions .............. 84ACTS ........................................... 36 ANDA ......................................... 10A-One Stamps ........................... 36Bexley Stamps ........................... 17Bidferret .................................... 49Brit. C’wealth Stamp Co ............ 17Christoph Gärtner .......................3Craig Chappell .......................... 82Cygnet Philatelics ..................... 52Essendon/Nunawading SC ....... 17Giovanni Paoli ........................... 17Glen Stephens ....................... 5, 52Harmers ..................................... 12Jimbo's ....................................... 53John Pettit ....................................6Kevin Morgan Stamps & Coins 26Charles Leski Auctions ............. 11Max Stern & Co .......................... 64Millennium Phil. Auctions ...........4JR Mowbray Philatelists ........... 57Mowbrays Australia .....................2Prestige Philately ...................... 13Philatelic Exporter .................... 57Premier Postal Auctions ........... 57Prinz ........................................... 56SCDAA........................................ 19SCDAA Petersham Fair ............. 10Seven Seas Stamps ................... 52Simon Dunkerley P/L ...................9stampboards.com ..................... 36The Stamp Album ..................... 77Stamp News Mail Order............ 58Sunstamp 2008 ......................... 63Sutherland Philatelics .............. 17Sydney Philatelics ..................... 35Vance Auctions Ltd ................... 57

Stamp News 93 x 277 Colour

[email protected]

(+ Post & Insure at Cost) Send for a full list of my in depth P Stamp stock.

Level 1 Clayfield Courtyard 699A-713 Sandgate Rd CLAYFIELD QLD

Public Auctions

CRAIGCHAPPELL

Tel:Fax:Mob:

(++61) 07 3262 8810(++61) 07 3262 8816(++61) 04 0818 2384

ABN 26 613 485 787

Direct Sale

PO Box 521CLAYFIELD 4011

AUSTRALIA

Trade Enquiries Welcome

P Stamps

Collections Errors Missing Colours Mis-perforations Personalised Stamps Postal History Postal Stationery

Postmarks Duty Stamps inc on Document Postal Notes Railway Stamps Cigarette Cards Coins BanknotesInterested in selling? Like a free catalogue? Contact Craig Chappell

WANTEDNow accepting consignments for future sales

Extensive range of al l Souve-nir & standard sheets in stock.

“QUEENSLAND DATESTAMPS& NUMERAL OBLITERATORS1860 - 2000” by Cowan & Dell

$90.00 (+P&P)2nd Edition

Always buying any unusual sheetsCmwlth Games Personalised “ Snapshot Personalised .Ferrari 2006 ........................Harry Butler (uniform) .............Probus ................................2005 Battle of Trafalgar .....2007 Aust Open 50c Personalised “ $1.10 PersonalisedAust Intelligence Corps CentBernie Quinlan .....................AFL Premiership Players 2007 “ Set 22 Individual Players $2007 Swan River SShow .. “ single..... “ Set 2 Souv Covers .... “ Set 2 Perfin Covers ... “ Supporter Set 2 CoversAviator Robert Carey (single $5)Ferrari 2007 .............................2008 Aust Open Personalised . “ Generic ......................2008 Stawell Gift ......................AFL Premiership Players 2008

2003 Rugby World Cup 50c, $1.10, $1.65 .............2004 Celebrate 50c ...................................2005 Marking the Occasion 50c x 5, $1.00, $1.10, $1.20, $1.80 ....................Ditto Advert Backs 50c x 5, $1.00 x1 .............2005 Christmas 45c, 50c ...........................2006 Greetings from Australia $1.25, $1.85 .....................2007 Zodiac 50c x 12 ...........................2007 Country to Coast $1.30, $1.95 .....................2007 50 Years of Christmas 45c x 2, $1.10 ....................2008 Love Blooms 50c .......2008 Gorgeous Australia $1.35, $2.00 ......................2008 World Youth Day 50c, $1.35, $2.00 ..............

$ 55.00$ 65.00$100.00$ 50.00$ 35.00$ 44.00$ 50.00$ 65.00$ 50.00$ 50.00$235.001430.00$ 80.00$ 6.00$ 10.00$ 10.00$ 50.00$ 40.00$ 80.00$ 40.00$ 30.00 Buying$235.00

$ 29.00

$ 5.00

$ 39.00

$ 19.00

$ 5.50

$ 12.00

$ 25.00

$ 8.00

$ 11.00$ 3.50

$ 8.00

$ 12.00

Sets of Singles

Third Watermark Third Watermark CofA Watermark SPECIMEN type C SPECIMEN type B SPECIMEN type C1a

(also available in sheets)

sn august 2008.indd 82 22/7/08 9:19:45 PM

Special ‘27½% Off’ Discount.“Desert Magic” Imported Stamp Drying books

Stamp News Mail OrderPO Box 1290, Upwey, 3158, Victoria, Australia

Ph: 03 9752 2677 Fax: 9758 2488email: [email protected]

For those readers who have not seen these Desert Magic books, they are a large A4 sized book (stockbook sized) with thick white Spiro edge binding that as you can see allows them to lay flat. (There is a half sized one which is basically useless in our view.)

The pages are of REALLY thick blotting type paper. i.e.thick heavy cardboard thickness. It is some special “fast release” formulation .. no idea what they use, but it really does WORK!

There is then a special smooth plastic coating on one side. So you wash your stamps, and if you leave them to air dry on tea towels or blotting paper or newspaper, light creases and bends will always stay there.

If they are placed into this book when touch damp (not sopping wet) and left there with the gum side to the plastic side and the front of

stamp to the blotter side, they dry perfectly flat, and many light bends and creases vanish. Nearly

all of them. It is amazing the difference they make, which is why we sell so many!

Readers of www.stampboards.com have acclaimed these as one of the best stamp accessories on the market. Just put your stamps in, pile a few heavy books on top and forget them for a week. Most collectors have two books, as that is the secret ..... do NOT touch them for a week and let them dry slowly under weight. Most important.

The special formulation plastic coated side is super important as otherwise many stamps STICK to blotter if damp and between 2 sheets of blotting paper, with heavy weight on top. These do not. Again it is some special coating they have figured out which works perfectly for this specific job.

Almost any other kind of plastic sheet you may try to experiment with at home will leave a real ugly mirror like “SHEEN” on the gum side if placed in damp, under weight, which looks really stupid, and really shows what you have been doing. These do NOT.

The books last for decades. They really do. A 10/- C of A Roo used and light creased copy will be $100 retail, and one that is nice and flat $200. So the cost of the book is paid 3 fold with just one stamp that is saved.

Retail Price is $38 each. For readers we offer 27½% off retail special deal for purchases of two books

$A30 singly or $A55 for 2 Flat Fee Registered Postage anywhere in Australia (for either 1 or 2) add

$A10 - airmail overseas is $A20 for 1 or 2. All credit cards accepted

sn august 2008.indd 83 21/7/08 8:58:57 PM

Send for your free catalogue :Name....................................................................................Address...............................................................................................................................................................................21st Century AuctionsPO Box 1290, Upwey, VIC, 3158, AustraliaPh: 03 9752 2677 email: [email protected]

Send for y

our fre

e

catalogue to

day!

Lots now being accepted for Sale 11 to be held Spring 2008

Zero In On 21st Century Auctions!

Zero Vendor Commission on unreserved itemsZero Vendor Commission on individual lots realising $5000 and aboveZero Vendor Commission for total realisations of $50,000 or more in one saleZero lotting feesZero unsold feesZero photographing feesZero insurance feesZero anything else fees

(Conditions apply, contact us for full and complete details of our vendor terms 14% (Plus gst) commission on general consignments) Regular pickups in Sydney and Melbourne for substantial lots, other locations by arrangement.

10 - Stamp News

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stamp news australasia august 2008

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