News and Notes - July/August 2008

 

The reason why this Bulletin is late is very simple.  I have not prepared my script for this page.   But then again I have been very busy with a few other philatelic projects.

Anyway - better late than never! But then you may not agree!!

 

I have just returned from the major philatelic weekend of the year - the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain - one of my annual philatelic tasks.  This year was a splendid event and this was almost certainly due to the considerable effort put in by the local societies and their committee members.  I had the most capable assistance from the local collectors but sadly only one member of this Society was in that number.  But then there is far more to collecting than Australia!

 

There is little to report as we enter the summer recess but what is becoming apparent is that, despite the talk of apparent economic difficulties in some parts of our economy, the high quality stamp market shows no sign of reflecting the uncertainty which pervades our investment and banking sectors.  Record prices are being obtained for all good material and Australia is well up to speed, particularly in their own market places.

 

For my part I can only say that I find very little to add to my collection.  I do acquire the very occasional revenue item to add to my accumulation but as for my main collection of Queensland there is little to excite my enthusiasm and even less that I am prepared to buy!   Now is that where every collector is heading?   I have always regarded those who buy and sell collections as being somewhat on the periphery of serious collecting being more interested in the acquisition than the inquisition of the material.

 

But just maybe if you are prepared to buy and sell then there is always something to stimulate your interest.  The reality is that if you are, or become, a specialist in any field then there comes a time when you need to commit all your acquired knowledge to paper and you would be surprised how many “ new “ discoveries you can make. So the acquisition of more stamps or covers is not where a specialist is actually heading.  What they appear to be doing is to reflect, time and time again, on that which they have previously purchased.  Now I am not saying that I have never disposed of surplus material but when I contemplate that which I have never actually mounted in my collection - and this is a considerable amount of varying types of collectable items - I realise that I actually do not have the time, let alone the inclination, to add to this assembly.

 

 

 

 

This may go some way to explain why, as a specialist Society, we have difficulty in servicing a viable packet and our auctions are greatly dependent on selling on those collections and

accumulations of previous members who collecting interests have been terminated for one reason or another.  And this reminds me that there are not that many of our number who are avid collectors of new issues and although we get support from Australia Post there are few in our membership who are actually seduced by the new philatelic promotions which appear to generate substantial income for the postal services.  So why do they do it?  

 

Presumably new stamp issues have a substantial souvenir base but rarely do they have ongoing commercial value. This means that there is no ongoing basis for the future of our hobby as a stamp collecting activity.  Hence the reasonable modern trend toward postal history which is reflected in what is available to purchase and where many, if not most, of our collectors are now focussing their attention.  What is also coming to the fore - and this was demonstrated at our last London meeting - is the wide range of other philatelic related material, relevant ephemera and interesting postal curiosities which is one direction which has not yet been exploited.

 

This brings me full circle to the recent Philatelic Congress of Great Britain where the theme of the weekend was based upon Social Philately.  It really was amazing how collectors are moving towards a new interpretation of their material and how it relates to so many aspects of our society.  Within our number we have many experts on matters such as Military Mail, the development of the airmail services, the railway service and because Australia started life as a penal colony there is still considerable scope for reviewing the development of the Australasian area as a major social exercise.  Believe me, there is still a vast amount of collecting interest to be derived from existing material and Social Philately is going to emerge as a viable alternative to the previously major fields of Traditional and Postal History collecting.

 

News for 2012 and 2013.  There are plans developing for an Australasia exhibition in London embracing New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Australia in 2012 which will be followed by an International Exhibition in Melbourne in 2013 to celebrate the centenary of the first Commonwealth postage stamps.

 

However, don’t forget our Christmas meeting in London on Saturday 13 December this year followed by a fish and chip supper. The topic will be the 4d, 5d and 6d stamps and their uses.

 

Next season will follow our usual pattern and, as a break with our tradition, we have decided to return to Stratford-upon-Avon for next year’s Annual Convention over the weekend of 8-10 May.  Details will follow in later Bulletins but you can put it in your diaries now.

 

I have a busy holiday period with philatelic visits to Australia, Prague, Vienna, Torquay and Dublin so please do not be surprised if the next Bulletin is also late !!  Do not blame Colin.

 

AJG  August 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUSTRALIAN PHILATELY IN PRINT # 4, 2008.

 

A list of articles found in Journals & Bulletins held by the Librarian (Periodicals).

 

AUSTRALIAN AEROPHILATELIST, No.88, January-March 2008.

Editorial: Lack of Aerophilatelic exhibits at National Exhibitions.

Letter; Smith Bros Vickers Vimy hidden at Adelaide Airport, from Mervyn Cobcroft, Queensland.

Letter: Re “A little known Australian Biplane on New Caledonia stamp”, identified by John Smith.

Letter: First flight covers of A380, from Michael Dobbs.

90th anniversary flight re-enactment Adelaide to Gawler; Friday 23 November 2007, by Nigel Daw & Chris R Lloyd.

Details of first flight of SydneyNew Guinea service, by Hudson Fysh.

Aviation in the Australian Antarctic Territory (first flights from Mawson to Davis and return, 1 & 3 May 1957), by Peter Cranwell.

Nepalese reminiscences, by Arthur Bergen.

Tiger Airways inaugural flight Adelaide to Melbourne, 10 January 2008, by Chris R Lloyd.

The 80th anniversary of the record breaking England to Australia flight by Bert Hinkler, by John Bodnar.

Can you help 6?

When is airmail not airmail? By Trevor Watkins.

 

 

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PHILATELY, No.104, June 2008.

Editorial – Tony Lyon.

Looking beyond the catalogue description – rare airmail from Cocos to Australia 1945, by Ronald M Lee.

War-time trans-Atlantic airmails from Eastern Europe, by John Young.

NSW quarantine markings, by Tim Cowley.

Loch Post Office (Gippsland) – a postscript, by Ian Cutter.

Minutes of 21 April 2008 meeting.

Hand-Held Date Stamps, co-ordinated by George Vearing.

Urban Myths, by Harewood.

 

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH COLLECTORS CLUB OF NEW SOUTH WALES, Vol.47, No.2, June 2008.

Club Information.

Art.3416: Modern Philately (News and Notes), by David Collyer.

Art.3413 (cont): History of the Post Office Part 2 – Colonial Post Offices and the Federation.  Introduction by  Richard Breckon.

Art.3414: “1½d King George V die 1: New discoveries”  by Don Landers.

Art.3417: Dots, holes, pinholes and pips, by SD Wattison.

Second ACCC - RPSV  Interclub Competition, Sydney April 2008 – results.

Art.3418: QANTAS covers for the opening of the AustraliaEngland airmail, December 1934, by David Collyer.

Art.3419: Printed cancellations on Australian postage stamps, 1988 to 1993, by Bryan Young & Klaus Niedzwetzki.

Art.3420: 1½d brown King George V die 1 electro 8: a new flaw at 8L42 and evidence for two substitutions, by Richard Guy.

Art.3443 (cont): 1d King George V plate varieties and compartment markings: compartment line research, by Gordon Monk, Bert Wajer & Paul Kaigg.

Minutes of 18 February, 17 March, and 21 April 2008 meetings.

 

CAPITAL PHILATELY, Vol.26, No.2, March 2008.

Editorial.

75th anniversary of the Philatelic Society of Canberra, Pt.2, by Ian McMahon.

Finding material for your stamp collection, by Darryl Fuller.

Pastcards: Collecting picture postcards, by Elspeth Bodley.

Postage rate comparison, by Tony Luckhurst.

 

THE CINDERELLA STAMP CLUB OF AUSTRALIA, Vol.22, No.1 June 2008

Secretary’s Page (subscriptions, etc).

Introducing your new editor – Peter Simpfendorfer.

Supplement 1 to “The Official Postal Labels of Australia” 2nd ed, by Eric J Frazer and Robin C Occleshaw, edited by Richard C Peck.

 

GIBBONS STAMP MONTHLY, June 2008.

Obituary: Trevor Davis.

Australia’s high denomination Kangaroo stamps, by Richard Breckon.

Postal Stationery Matters (Australian Food Parcel Labels incl. new Fitzgibbons of Hobart label), by Peter van Gelder.

 

GIBBONS STAMP MONTHLY, July 2008.

No articles on Australian philately.

 

PHILATELIC LITERATURE REVIEW, 1st Quarter 2008.

No Australian content.

 

PHILATELY FROM AUSTRALIA, Vol.LX, No.2, June 2008.

Editorial.

Vale: Jack Ganly 1911-2008.

Canberra Stampshow 2008 report by Don Napier

Evans Blackwood Diggings, St. George’s Express: a newly discovered Private Express, by Les Molnar.

Airmail extracts from the PMG Annual Reports Pt.4, 1945 to 1947, by Richard Breckon.

Operation of the RPSV Expert Committee, by John Shawley.

The Perkins Bacon 3 pence on Fourpence S.A. stamp, AD Presgrave APR, FRPSL.

Early Australian mail via Trieste, by John Barwis.

Royal News.

Book review: “Pierron’s Modern Great Britain and Commonwealth Missing Colour Errors: 1952 to date”.

50-year Membership Dinner

Norfolk Island: the 5c Local Post Booklet Issues, Pt.2, by John M Wilkins.

 

THE QUEENSLAND STAMP COLLECTOR, Issue 98, May-July 2008.

Editorial, QPC News, APF News, Club Scene, Dairy Dates and On the Calendar.

Talk Queensland (The Wolfram Smudge,), by Col McNee.

Gladstone District Philatelic Society.

50 years ago – Jeff Gunston.

Thomas Trophy Competition 2008.

The William Whyte Award

Stamp Identifier

 

STAMP NEWS, Vol.55, #5, May 2008.

Editorial; Editor’s Mailbag; Philatelic News; New Issues; Clubs & Societies; Dealers Directory; Calendar.

Earliest Northern Territory letter (28/09/1826) discovered – Prestige Philately Auction 24 May.

First Day Covers – Leski Auctions 5 May.

Printed postmarks, by David Mallen.

Canberra Stamp Show 2008.

Woodchip free zone: (Spotlight on solos) by Rod Perry.

Australian stamp variations, by David Mallen.

The Modern Scene, a focus on Framas, reprints, booklets and other Modern Material, by Sel Pfeffer

Personalised Stamps, by Craig Chappell.

Cinderella Corner by Tony Presgrave.

Revenue Review, by Dave Elsmore.

Philately of epic proportions (GB - a stroll down nostalgia lane) by Rod Perry.

Market Matters (New Australian Airmail Catalogue; Australians Awarded new Renniks catalogue on medals; eBay loses the plot), by Glen Stephens.

De-mystifying the detail, by Andrew McEachern.

The Stuart Leven Collection of New Guinea, 1888-1942 – Millennium Auction September 2008.

Australia in depth (SG Commonwealth & British Empire Stamp Catalogue and the new “Australia” catalogue report and market update Pt.2) by Simon Dunkerley.

Market Matters (Please use these stamps), by Glen Stephens.

 

STAMP NEWS, Vol.55, #6, June 2008.

Editorial; Editor’s Mailbag; Philatelic News; New Issues; Clubs & Societies; Dealers Directory; Calendar.

Australia in depth (Caveat emptor on eBay – 6 pages) by Simon Dunkerley.

Woodchip free zone: (Sand dunes. Once scoffed upon) by Rod Perry.

Australian stamp variations, by David Mallen.

The Modern Scene, a focus on Framas, reprints, booklets and other Modern Material, by Sel Pfeffer

Personalised Stamps, by Craig Chappell.

Cinderella Corner by Tony Presgrave.

Revenue Review, by Dave Elsmore.

The rise and fall of the Hot Air Balloon, by Angie Testa.

Market Matters (puzzling perforations), by Glen Stephens.

De-mystifying the detail, by Andrew McEachern.

 

STAMP NEWS, Vol.55, #7, July 2008.

Editorial; Editor’s Mailbag; Philatelic News; New Issues; Clubs & Societies; Dealers Directory; Calendar.

Auction News: Bridges go bonkers at Prestige Philately.

Another new philatelic website – www.nswpdc.org.au (NSW Philatelic Development Council).

Woodchip free zone: (Clarrie King – putting more fun into philately) by Rod Perry.

Australian stamp variations, by David Mallen.

The Modern Scene, a focus on Framas, reprints, booklets and other Modern Material, by Sel Pfeffer

Personalised Stamps, by Craig Chappell.

Cinderella Corner by Tony Presgrave.

Revenue Review, by Dave Elsmore.

Market Matters (gold medal price!), by Glen Stephens.

De-mystifying the detail, by Andrew McEachern.

Stamp conservation, by Scott Starling.

 

SYDNEY VIEWS, No.99, May 2008.

Tasmania – retouch to “White dot under 1d” flaw on 1d Pictorial, by Wolfgang Kielmann.

Queensland 3d brown – a curious flaw, by Jock Fraser.

The design of the first post card of NSW – an update, by John Bell.

New South Wales – the second (de la Rue) post card – date of first issue, by John Bell.

NSW 2/6d Lyrebird – forgery.

From the past – Vindin’s August 1891.

Victoria – 3d lilac and grey-lilac Laureate on cover – Pt.2, by Ben Palmer.

The San Francisco Route 1892, by Colin Tabeart.

Vale – Trevor Davis.

Vale Trevor Davis: a personal tribute, by Ben Palmer.

NSW Newspaper Wrappers papers, designs, numbers printed, etc, by John Bell.

Fakes and forgeries. – 1d Sydney View, from Peter Granfield.

More Victoria discoveries (5/- multiple & combination cover) by Les Molnar.

Missent Melbourne (1860), by Peter Granfield.

Register of Inwards Correspondence to the NSW PMG – National Archives, File SP. 13.  Vol.B7 – 1853.  A listing by Barbara Hancock – Pt.3.

1888 NSW 8d Lyrebird query from Ben Palmer re: split top frame.

The NSW Laureate “reprints” – additional information, by Barbara Hancock.

Overprint flaw on the NSW Seven-Pence Halfpenny.

Tasmania – postmark updates, by Wolfgang Kielmann.

 

AEC

REPORT OF THE LONDON MEETING ON 11th JUNE 2008

 

There was a large attendance for the display by Chris Harman RDP FRPSL. Being sheets extracted from his 2007 President’s Display to the Royal Philatelic Society London it was expected to be impressive and it did not disappoint.

 

 

 

Chris began his talk by explaining how there was a connection with the USA in that the original partners of Perkins & Bacon (Philadelphia) came to the UK in 1819 and secured contracts to print bank notes and cheques. They secured a contract to print British revenue stamps in 1828 and started printing British stamps in 1840. The first Australian stamps to be printed by the company were those of Western Australia in April 1853 followed by Victoria and Tasmania in 1854 and New South Wales in 1855. Queensland followed in 1860.

 

Chris explained that during 1853, Perkins, Bacon received three requisitions for postage stamps from Edward Barnard, the Agent-General for the Crown Colonies. These were for Van Diemens Land (the spelling adopted by Perkins, Bacon), Victoria and South Australia. The adopted designs were the same width but slightly taller than the British stamps. The requisition required watermarked paper to be used and this led Perkins, Bacon to instruct Mrs. Wise of Rush Mills, Northampton to make the Large Star paper. The plates for all three Colonies were 240 set in 20 rows of 12 stamps.

 

The order was for the plates, inks, watermarked paper and other equipment to be delivered to each Colony. Victoria never used the plates for locally printed stamps, although both Tasmania (Van Diemens Land) and South Australia used certain of the plates up to the end of the century. The stamps of New Zealand (1855), St. Helena (1856) and Ceylon (1857) were all the larger size stamps and again were printed on the Large Star paper. New Zealand had ordered that the plates be delivered to Auckland and all subsequent issues were printed in the Colony.

 

The Colonial Secretary’s Office, Brisbane in a letter dated 1st February 1860 instructed their London Agents, F. Mangles & Co., to arrange for the production of postage stamps for Queensland. The specific instructions were that the design should use the same portrait of the Queen as that used on the stamps of Tasmania and that the colours should match those used for the stamps of Great Britain.

 

Mangles & Co determined that the stamps should be perforated. Perkins, Bacon at that time had always struggled with perforating and were only to take possession of their first effective perforating machine in the summer of 1860. It was this requirement that they be perforated that seems to have decided the size of the final stamps. They were the same size as the stamps of Great Britain and in the same 240 sheet size in 20 rows of 12 stamps. This required a new colonial paper. The paper, watermarked with a Small Star (sometimes referred to as the Queensland paper), was ordered but did not arrive in time for the first printings, which were consequently made on the larger sheet size of the Large Star paper. The first issues of Queensland are therefore particularly interesting, being the last Perkins, Bacon stamp issued imperforate and among the very first stamps to be perforated by Perkins, Bacon. The Small Star paper became the standard paper for most of the Perkins, Bacon Colonial issues until they lost the last early contract, that for St. Vincent, in February 1882.

 

Chris continued his commentary by explaining how the Crown Colony contracts moved to De La Rue in January 1862 and the period to 1882 was well illustrated with material from many of the colonies.

 

Finally he showed examples of miscellaneous printing work by Perkins, Bacon and some forgeries.

 

Perkins, Bacon & Company Ltd ceased trading in 1935 and the archives and records were purchased by Charles Nissen & Co Ltd. Certain philatelic aspects and most of the records were sold to the RPSL. The new company, Perkins Bacon Limited formed after the demise of Perkins, Bacon, has no connection with its predecessor.

 

A vote of thanks was proposed by Patrick Reid for an inspiring evening.

 

 

 

The Perkins Bacon Stamp Printing Contracts

& the use by other printers of the Perkins Bacon plates

 

Start Date         Country                                    Type of Contract                       Contract Termination     End Date

1840 May         Great Britain                 Direct Contract                         Last printing by PB        1879 late

1853 Aug          Western Australia         Crown Colonies Contract           Plates to De La Rue      1862 Jan

1854 Mar          South Australia              Direct Contract                         Plates sent to Colony     1854 Mar

1854 Apr          Victoria                                    Direct Contract                         Plates sent to Colony     1854 Mar

1854 Sep           New Zealand                Direct Contract                         Plates sent to Colony     1854 Sep

1854 Dec          Tasmania                      Direct Contract                         Plates sent to Colony     1854 Dec

1855 Jan           New South Wales         Direct Contract             Plates sent to Colony    1855 Jan

1860 Jun           Queensland                   Direct Contract                         Plates sent to Colony     1861 Jun

 

BRP

Report of the South West  Meeting  held at Ringwood on Saturday 19th April 2008.

It was "Our President Entertains" day at Ringwood when sixteen members and guests welcomed Dr. Pat Reid.

After being locked out of the venue for a short while Pat in his usual informative way entertained us to what can only be described as quite a remarkable afternoon.   It was soon obvious that we were privileged to be at what Pat described as the last showing of his entry that recently took a gold medal at St. Petersburg entitled  "Informative & Instructional  Markings".  Now much has already been said about this display following Pat’s display to London so I will not dwell on the content but suffice to say that this display had many unique items and contained information much of which had taken many years to put together. Members present suggested that before being broken up the collection should be scanned and a

bound copy be held in the society library.


This was just part of Pat’s display, he went on to give us a wonderful selection of the postal history of Tasmania with many scarce items that included a Molesworth Jeffrey Wrapper, Multi coloured Chalon Frankings, a Private hand stamp of Bournbank Parish of Wellington and also a Private hand stamp for New Norfolk.


One of the many fascinating covers on display was an underpaid quadruple weight cover endorsed with more to pay, but a further hand stamp had been added "Refused" being the recipient refusing to accept the

cost of the postage due therefore  it was not delivered.


Pat finished  up  with  an  excellent coverage of  Hobart and  Launceston  postal  history which included

Registered Mail, Free Markings, Concession Rates and Missent in-coming Mail.

In giving the vote of thanks Tony Finlayson stated that  Pat was probably the most competent expert in his field, in this country.                                                                                                                             CVM.

 

REPORT OF THE SOUTHERN SECTION MEETING HELD AT EAST WORTHING ON 14 JUNE 2008.

 

Tom Gillespie gave a wide ranging display of covers and cards from his extensive collection, starting with a selection of Philatelic Covers from 1935 to 1980 and an interesting display of advertising covers.  It is impossible to list them all but to give a indication some of the advertising covered Car and Truck Suppliers, Builders Merchants, Freight Companies Book Shops, Millers, Tyre Suppliers and Florists.

 

In the second section, Tom showed items relating to explorers including Captain Cook and William John Wills who was born in Totnes, Devon.   In addition there was a great variety of material including a comprehensive selection of Australia Post items including Postal Article Awaiting Collection, Sorry we Missed You card, Return to Sender Underpaid Mail cards and a range of labels for official use.

 

For his final showing, Tom put up a selection of postcards with subjects ranging from Ships, A.A.A. Cards (All about Australia),  Arnott’s Biscuits, Donald Bradman and many more.  The showing concluded with some railway material – Tasmanian Government Railway Labels, Victoria Railway Parcel Stamps, Tram Mail covers, Military Mail and a selection of Official Mail and O.H.M.S. covers.

 

In this abbreviated report one can only give a flavour of the wealth of material on display but it made for a fascinating afternoon for those members who made the effort to attend.

 

Bob Larg gave the vote of thanks.

 

Support from those local members who do not attend meetings would be welcomed.

                                                                                                                                                                                         FROM THE AUCTION MANAGER.

With this issue of the Bulletin you will receive the postal auction catalogue and my cupboard is

 now empty of lots.

 

The next auction will be the Convention Auction in 2009 and I would like to start receiving lots

for this as soon as possible.  Please see what you can find.

 

L.J.W.

PUBLICATIONS.

 

The publications stockholder has a limited number of "The Postbox Cancels of Brisbane, Sydney and Perth" by J. C. Smith at £4.00.  each plus postage.   

 

The checklist in the main relates to the instructional box date stamps of Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. These are the only Australian Postal Authorities to use such date stamps to indicate the place of posting. Where possible the author has illustrated the dies with photocopies from the author's collection or from those received in reply to an earlier checklist.

 

This small  but  concise  publication  should  be  of  immense  help  to  any  collector wishing to

understand the usage of Postbox Cancels.

C.C-H.

 

CORRECTION.

 

In the report of the London Meeting on 12 March 2008 which appeared in the last issue of the Bulletin, reference was made  Randall Askeland FRPSL.   This is incorrect as Mr Askeland’s membership of the Royal Philatelic Society has lapsed.   Our apologies for this error.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW The Stamps of the Territory of New Guinea. 1925 – 1932. Huts Issues by Rad Heward, Robert Garratt, and David Heward.

 

Section 1  starts with a brief history of New Guinea up to 1942  and details of the post offices open in the Territory in the period 1925-1942.  Comprehensive information follows about all aspects of the stamps including Design, Flaws, Varieties, Printing, Gum, Surcharges etc.

 

Section 2 deals with the O.S. overprints following the same pattern as section one.

 

Section 3 covers the Air Mail overprint issue on the same basis as the previous sections.

 

Finally there is  additional specialised information  in the form of 10 Appendices  rounding out a most comprehensive study of these stamps.

 

The Book consists of 70 Pages A4 Size. Soft Back. 14 Pages in Colour. An excellent book for those who collect the stamps of the Territory of New Guinea 1925 – 1932.

 

Available from  David Heward, 116, Belgrave, Southill, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9TN At a cost of £25 (Including Post & Packing

 

A Copy of this book has been donated by Rad Heward & will be placed in the B. S. A. P Library See the B. S. A. P. Bulletin for information regarding the book number etc.

 

Library Additions.

 

(123)    Queensland – The Machine Date Cases of the Country and Suburban Offices. By Colin Salt. – A4 – 2008 – 65 pages.

                                 

(373)  The Stamps of the Territory of New Guinea – 1925 – 1932 – Hut Issues. By Rad Heward, Robert Garratt and David Heward – A4 – 2008 – 62 pages.

 

To all members who have a Library List please insert the above details.                                T.G.

 

Membership Secretary/Treasurer’s list of changes to membership database from 15 May 2008 to 11 July 2008

 

Changes of address

1482    Williams MJ     Greenwich, NSW 2065, Australia

 

Resignations:

1045    Biggs JG

 

Reinstated to membership by paying arrears of subscriptions:

1734    Vadas  R

 

New member:

*1764  Burt W             London  N21 1NB