KINGSFORD SMITH STAMP

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1930, Page 5

KINGSFORD SMITH STAMP

AUSTRALIAN ISSUE.

CRITICISM OF DESIGN.

SYDNEY, December 18

The Commonwealth Post Qflioe must find that the issue of special stamps' is a profiable business. It lias now. decided to issue a stamp in three denominations to commemorate the world flights of Australia’s air hero. WingCommander C. E. Ivingsford Smith. Tlie delicate work of engraving tin?’ design is now proceeding and the stamp will he ready at all Post Offices some time in February. The Sturt Centenary stamp was the last Special stamp issued hv the Department, and it had a ready s*ale. Millions were issued, and they sold readily, the demand greatly exceeding the normal demand for stamps. At a time when, the postal revenue needs boosting it is not surprising that the opportunity should be taken of issuing a Kingsford Smith stamp.

The main features in the design of the new stamp are the two hemispheres surmounted by a reproduction of the Southern Cross in which Kingsford Smith made his most notable flights, including that across the Tasman to New Zealand. The spheres are flanked by two classic pillars of fame, and there is a spray of laurel leaves at the bottom of each sphere. Superimposed on the top of the stamp is the wing badge of the Air Force, At the foot is the inscription:— “Kingsford Smith’s World Flights,” The design ban not been well received in some sections. The Sydney “Sun” is particularly severe in its comments, It says; “The central design is composed of two terrestrial globes, upon one of which the nose of the monoplane rests, and upon the other, the tail. Down in the extreme right-hand corner of the second of these globes is a small dark spot which careful examination discovers with a thrill of patriotic pride to be Australia. The design is enclosed on each side with two fluted, columns of Post Office Corinthian pattern, the capitols; being of that 'classic Nonesuch type dear to the heart' of the designers. Above,- between these two beautiful pieces of architecture are a pair of; conventional wings, across which the word, ‘Australia’ sprawls in.Apidery letters. The globes are supported by sprays of leaves, ostensibly laurel, above a tablet on which the price is •very conspicuously printed, and ti Chinese effect is obtained outside the columns by means of ■ letters of the word postage printed perpendicularly; in tiie well-known Oriental manner. It. is a superstition in the official mind that stamp designing is .an art which comes by nature to postal officials. Were this not so we would sometimes' see artißtic stamps issued in the British Dominions.”