STAMP ISSUES AS FORM OF PROPAGANDA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 60, 27 March 1937, Page 9

STAMP ISSUES AS FORM OF PROPAGANDA

Collectors and a Boycott

JJOT SINCE STAMPS wero first is- • . sued in 1846, lias there been such widespread interest as in the year which has just ended. The cause of this was the complete chauge of design in British etamps, with its indication that a new era Iiad been inaugurated. Tbe total number of stamps issued by tbo post 043.068 of the world amount to 1380,, a very considerable drop from tbe 2168 of last year, writes a correspondent in the London Observer. But the number would have been mueh higher had it not been for the spirited action of the great English. dealers, who warned eertain South American Siates that eertain threatened issues to increase their air aria at philatelists ' expense, would be* boycotted. Welcome though this drop is to every aerious collector, there wero still far too many issued with an excuse only as a xeason for printing them, and no adequate eause. Dictatorships seem to be especially addicted to this form of propaganda, Kussia began it; Italy soon took it np, and this year the worst sinner has been Germany. They have issued sets for their air company, and their motor jubilee; for the Olynipic Games, and for & horse race; for an international welfare congress, and a reereation congress, and their latesc set is to obtain funds for their winter relief. The pne good point about their sets is fhat they are few and low in value. With such a xiot of issues it is a pleasant change to turn to the stamps of the Empire, which form a grpup all en their own. ^ Finanelally they remain the best "investment, for they never seem to lapse from favour anywhere in the world. There is always a sanity in their design, a sound reason for their issue, and a suave "exeellence about their production.

Qn January 1 Ceylon eompleted a new issue with the 6, 9, 20 aifd 50 cents,, each oue of which bore a line medallion portrait of King George v. with a vignette of native sceuery to complete the design. Just a month later Nigeria issued a very similar set, aud" on March 1 it was the turn of St. Lueia, with its lughest value the least satisfactory design. April saw the appearance of the new Bermuda set, striking in design and Eaultless in execution. But there was oue curious mistake. On the twopenny stamp appeared a six-metre yacht whieh was meant to be their fainoue yacht, The Viking, but by some inexplicable error actually proved to be the IJnited States yacht, Lucie, whose intentions were so mueh better than her mances."Let us now pralse famous men," lias long bees the motto of the world 's postal authorities: 1936 has proved no exception to the rule. Eeuador has issued a very fine set to commemorate Darwin 's visit to the, Galapagos Islands in 1836, and his portrait, together with his ship, The Beagle, appear on the 20 cent value. France has not been backward in philatelic honour to her great dead. The list includes Ampere, the scientist, Daudet, and Rouget de Lisle, the author of "The Marseillaise," while Holland included Erasmus among their charity set.. Possibly the most famous stamp oi the year was issued by the Argentine. On the 1 peso value the map thereon showed that they included the Falkland "Islands as part of their domain. Quesfions in Parliament followed, but common sense prevailed, and it was realised that what* the stamp averred was not in accord with the facts of the case, and therefore the less said about it the better.