THE UK’S NUMBER ONE STAMP MAGAZINE

50
GIBBONS STAMP MONTHLY

Penguin
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away!
A Stanley Gibbons Publication

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CASTLES:
Specialised Study

OVERPRINTS:
Country Changes

King George VI £3.25

October 2008
BARBADOS:
Postmarks
OCTOBER 2008

ISSN 0954-8084
Stamps to Look For 10

ALSO Cricket Ground Postmarks ● New Zealand

INSIDE Anglo-Boer War ● Singapore ● Machins 9 770954 808120

9770954808120-03
 EDITORIAL OFFICE
01425 481 027
gsm@stanleygibbons.co.uk

Editor
HUGH JEFFERIES

News and Art Editor

MICHAEL BRIGGS

Editorial Assistant
JOHN MOODY

Editor’s Assistant
LORRAINE HOLCOMBE

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BRITAIN’S BEST VALUE STAMP MAGAZINE
BRIAN CASE
Volume 39 Number 5 October 2008
Sales Executives
LUCINDA SHELLEY
EDWARD WIDDUP 56 Paua to the New Zealand Stamp
SPECIAL FEATURES

ELAINE HAYTER The Paua shell has long been transformed into decorative
items; Christopher Moor looks at their appearance on New
Advertisement Production
JANE CLARKE Zealand’s stamps.
62 A World of Philately in One War
The Anglo-Boer War covers virtually all aspects of philately, as
POSTAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Joh Groenewald demonstrates.
01425 472 363
gsm@stanleygibbons.co.uk 66 The Postmarks of the British West Indies—King
Subscriptions Administrator
George VI— George VI—Grenada 1937–1955
SAM BOYLE David Horry highlights postmarks to look for.
70 The Singapore Mutiny
ISSN 0954-8084
One of the lesser-known events of the First World War is examined by Rob Holley,
Published by together with how it affected the postal service.
Stanley Gibbons Limited,
7 Parkside, Christchurch Road,
81 Christmas Island’s Stamps and Postal History: 50 Years of
Ringwood, Hampshire Australian Administration
BH24 3SH Richard Breckon looks at the results of the transfer of control
of Christmas Island to Australia in 1958.
Internet address
www.gibbonsstampmonthly.com 87 Olympex: Olympic Expo Beijing 2008
An illustrated report by David Maiden of a very successful
First published as exhibition.
Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal
July 1890 92 Overprinted Stamps: a World Journey
In part 2 of this series David R Wright looks at name changes.
NOTICES 93 Venus von Willendorf depicted on Spectacular
Price Austria Post Lenticular Stamp
£3.25 a copy from booksellers, Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS, tells the story behind the stamp.
newsagents and stamp dealers
94 Penguins and Postage Stamps from the South
Postal Subscription Rates Atlantic
UK £39. Europe, Overseas
(surface mail) £64. Airmail £82. Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS, reports on penguin stamps of the Falkland Islands, a new
We accept all major credit cards. set from South Georgia and interviews John Smith of Pobjoy Mint.
Please note that subscriptions
cannot be booked for shorter
periods than one year. Unused 29 GB News
GREAT BRITAIN

postage stamps cannot be accepted Pantomime stamps for Christmas; ‘Lest We Forget’
in payment of subscriptions. miniature sheet marks anniversary of Armistice.
Binder 31 A Review of the Castle Stamps, 1988–1999
For 12 issues, £9.95 plus p&p Peter Shaw begins a two-part study of these interesting
stamps.
Copyright of Articles
All the Articles and Features in 37 Machin Watch
this magazine are copyright and John M Deering reports on the RAF Uniforms booklet.
must not be reproduced without
the consent of the Editor and/or 41 Letters
the respective authors. Readers write about Smilers, the Olympic miniature
sheet and uncancelled stamps.
Printing
St Ives plc 42 GB Specialised Catalogue
A supplement to the Great Britain Specialised Catalogue.
Trade Distribution
Comag, Tavistock Road, 43 Instructional Marks on Postal Stationery
West Drayton, Middlesex An introduction to a fascinating area of postal history is provided by Colin Baker.
UB7 7QE
Tel: 01895 444055 49 Missing (Revenue) Dies: Case 3
In his final article in this series, Peter Mansfield reviews the Excise Revenue stamps.
Opinions expressed in articles
in Gibbons Stamp Monthly are 51 What Might Have Been
not necessarily endorsed by the A Melville-Brown tells the story behind cricket ground telegram datestamps.
Editor or by Stanley Gibbons
Limited.
53 The Business of Design
Paul Brittain talks to Cath Buckingham about designing Business Customised Sheets.

4 G.S.M. October 2008

 Dear Reader
My local society, the Ferndown and West Moors Philatelic and Postcard Club, is happily one of those which
is thriving at present. Membership is growing, we are treated to interesting speakers, showing top-quality
displays to 40 or more interested members, there are regular auctions and a very successful annual fair.
So what is the secret of its success—well, having a hard-working and dedicated committee clearly has a lot
to do with it, but getting members to participate on a regular basis is important, with most months including
a ‘members display’ session, followed by an auction. To encourage more members to participate, our
programme secretary Keith Elliot devised ‘six in two’—allowing members to put up six sheets and talk about
them for a maximum of two minutes. This encouraged less experienced members to show, since they knew
they would not have to talk for long—if at all—and restricted the opportunity of others to go on for too long about obscure varieties,
postal rates or shipping timetables!
Talking of going on too long—you will be pleased to know that I am now coming to my point! A few months ago we had a meeting at
which 25 different members put up a ‘six in two’ display, and it was difficult to see much similarity between any two of them: stamps,
covers, postcards, postmarks, stationery, 19th century, thematics, airmails, new issues, Commonwealth, Europe, Great Britain, etc, etc.
It is clear that, while we are united by our hobby, we all follow our own quite different chosen paths, all gaining enormous pleasure
from those paths, but also enjoying the opportunity to visit, however briefly, the paths being followed by our fellows.
The same of course is true of this magazine, and just as I enjoy looking at what my fellow society members collect, I also enjoy
reading what the contributors to Gibbons Stamp Monthly have to say and putting together a varied content each month which I hope
will appeal to readers as much as it appeals to me! From, specialised stamp studies, such as Peter Shaw’s detailed review of
the ‘Decimal Castles’ to postal history’s relationship to world events (Rob Holley’s ‘Singapore Mutiny’) and from good
traditional stamp stories such as Richard Breckon’s ‘Christmas Island’ to postmarks and postal markings (David Horry and
Colin Baker), I enjoy and learn something useful from them all. I am sure you will too—welcome to another issue of GSM!

7 Newsdesk 98 Shore to Shore

More Jersey Birds, a
NEWS

NEW ISSUES
celebration of St Paul’s
Cathedral from Guernsey
and the Isle of Man
remembers the end of the
First World War;
Growth in profits for SG; 2010 Festival of Island Hopper reports.
Stamps update; New Windsor album; US flag 100 Panorama
stamp error; Will we get a new postal museum?; John Moody investigates
Exhibitions. the background to some
18 Society News more new issues.
Reports from philatelic societies. 104 Stamp News in
22 Diary Dates Brief
Forthcoming Fairs and Auctions. A summary of
recent and
26 Around the Houses forthcoming issues
News of recent auction results. from around the
76 Price Update world.
Changes to the 2008 Commonwealth and British 109 CATALOGUE
Empire Stamps 1840–1970 catalogue. SUPPLEMENT
A 20-page update
68 Stamp Hunting to the Stanley
Gibbons Catalogue.
REGULAR FEATURES

£1
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GIBBONS
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that are worth looking for. This voucher may be used against any purchase (minimum order value £1)
76 COMPETITION • from www.stanleygibbons.com
Win a £50 SG voucher in our easy-to-enter • in person at 399 Strand
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Full details of the SG range of catalogues, handbooks, albums and accessories can be
90 Letters found online or in the Publications mail order brochure available free from the above
Readers’ correspondence on the world of address.
philately.
A £1 Stanley Gibbons voucher can be found in Gibbons Stamp Monthly
108 The Unissued Stamps of King George V each month
David Horry reveals the story behind another Internet Order Code: 98409-89709-54027-58078-78324
unissued stamp. No cash value, to be used only at time of purchase/ordering – cannot be used to credit accounts without purchase.
Catalogue Column One voucher per person. No photocopies accepted. Valid until 31 October 2008.

The Catalogue Editor reports.

G.S.M. October 2008 5

NEWSDESK
Roll of
Distinguished
Philatelists
Established in 1921 by the
Philatelic Congress of Great
Britain with the approval of
His Majesty King George V,
who was the first Signatory,
the Board of Election of
the Roll of Distinguished
Philatelists is seeking
nominations.
Nominations can be made
by Specialist Societies
affiliated to the Association
of British Philatelic Societies,
County Federations affiliated
to the ABPS and philatelic
societies, who should
submit any nominations
via their County or National
Federations.
For further details regarding
qualifications for possible
candidates and a special
nomination form please apply
to the Secretary of the Board
of Election to the Roll of
Distinguished Philatelists, 134
Berkley Avenue, Chesham,
Buckinghamshsire HP5 2RT.
Nominations for the 2009
Signatories must be received
by 31 December 2008.
Stanley Gibbons
announce profit rise
Martin Bralsford, Stanley Gibbons Non-Executive
Chairman, has announced the Company’s latest
six-month results. He said, ‘I am delighted that
in the first six months of the financial year we
have delivered solid profit growth whilst devoting
significant resource and expense to invest in our
longer term growth opportunities’.
Highlights of the report include adjusted profit before tax, up 6
per cent to £1.81m (2007: £1.7m). Sales up 12 per cent to £9.8m
(2007: £8.8m). Sales of £2.37m (24 per cent of total sales) made to
customers recruited from the SG websites compared to £1.08m (12
per cent) of sales in the prior period.
The Chairman continued: ‘Strong investment in our stockholding
of high value rarities provide the potential to deliver sustained growth
in the second half of the year.
‘The latest annual update in the GB30 Rarities Stamp Price index showed an increase of 39 per
cent.
‘The benefits of investing in collectables as an alternative asset class have never been clearer.
Collecting is an all-consuming passion. That is why the prices of rare stamps and historical signatures
show no correlation with the stock market, property prices and other traditional forms of investment.
Historically collectables have increased the most in times of high inflation. The investment argument
is fast becoming too compelling to ignore—not only do rare stamps and historical signatures provide
a means of diversification and a safe haven in difficult economic conditions, but also provide a hedge
against inflation.
‘Based on the strength of the strategy, current market conditions and the business opportunities
available in the second half, your Board is confident that 2008 will be another strong year for the
Company.’

2010 Festival of Stamps progress

report
ABPS co-ordinator, Len Stanway, has reported that activity is building in the preparations for
the 2010 Festival of Stamps. He said, ‘This is going to be a very different and exciting year for
stamp collectors. Not only will we see the International Exhibition being held in London, but
this will be combined with an exciting programme of philately throughout the UK for the whole
of 2010.
‘We are hoping to use the year’s events to reach out to the general public to generate
wider interest in the great hobby of philately and to promote its diverse social and educational
opportunities for all ages.’
So far, in addition to the many events that will take place in London during the year, including the main London 2010 Exhibition
from 8–15 May, the following linked regional events during 2010 are being arranged:
February/March – Kent Federation 3 July – Wessex Federation at Plymouth (Swipex 2010)
27 March – Thames Valley Federation at Thatcham, Aug/Sept – East Anglia & East Midlands Federation at
(WestBex10) Cambridge
March/April – Somerset & Dorset Federation. 11 September – Surrey Federation show at Croydon
March–June – Essex Federation (Spring StampEssex 2010) 24–26 September – North East Federation
16–17 April – Scottish Federation show at Perth 9 October – Sussex Federation show at Ardingly (which
24 April – Midland Federation show at Solihull coincides with World Post Day)
1 May – South Wales Federation show at Port Talbot 16 October – Hampshire Federation (Hampex 2010) at Wickham
May – Wiltshire Federation 30 October – North West Federation show at Bolton
In addition, Cornwall and Yorkshire Federations are supportive of the project but have not yet nominated an event.
The format of each event will be decided by the local Federation organisers, but there will be the usual mix of displays and dealer
stands. Youth activities are likely to be a part of each event, supported by the Stamp Active Network. There is also likely to be an
‘Antiques Roadshow’-type valuation activity run by invited auction houses.
In London, meeting rooms are available at The Phoenix Centre (Royal Mail Mount Pleasant Conference Centre), which has
three meeting rooms that can be booked by societies to hold meetings during the London 2010 event on 8–15 May 2010. Contact
Jennifer Flippance on 020-7239-2561 or jennifer.flippance@postalheritage.org.uk for more information on availability.
The London 2010 website is currently being revamped and will be re-launched shortly.
The programme of events is being organised by ABPS in association with The British Postal Museum and Archive. Watch this
space!

G.S.M. October 2008 

 NEWSDESK
Where and when
will we get a new
postal museum?
The Friends of the British
Postal Museum has raised
this question in their latest
newsletter.
Members were informed
that BPMA staff have been
through an options appraisal
which has produced two main
US Post flag error contenders for review. One
option was based in London
The United States Postal service issued 4×42c. coil definitives on 18 April 2008. Known as ‘Flag 24/7’ being part of the King’s Cross
the stamps feature paintings of the United States flag by Laura Stutzman depicting ‘Old Glory’ at redevelopment and the other
sunrise, noon, sunset and night. is on a very different site in
An astute stamp collector has spotted an error in the ‘night’ stamp which shows the flag with seven Swindon. The London site,
white stripes when it should only have six. has, however, now been
Officials acknowledged they were aware of the error. ‘It has been noticed,’ a spokesman for the discounted.
USPS said. He added that 3.75 billion stamps in the series have been printed to date. The Swindon site is at
The artist said her four paintings series were ‘examined three times by the Stamp Advisory Churchward adjacent to the
Committee, that I know of, and then art directors look at it; everybody looked at it.’ National Monument Records
David Failor, of the Stamp Services Department said the extra stripe came from a design flaw. A and English Heritage offices.
white line, he said, was added to provide definition to the flag. ‘It was not part of the original artwork,’ It is also near the National
Failor said. Trust’s headquarters and a
The USPS plan to let the ‘Flags 24/7’ series remain on sale, extra stripe and all, and will continue steam museum which draws
to be printed until the next stamp-price increase. ‘They will remain on sale as is, but we acknowledge 100,000 visitors per annum. A
the error’, said the Postal Service. further 3 million shoppers visit
a retail outlet village in close
New ABPS proximity.
Stanley Gibbons announce General Secretary If it is positive for Swindon,
then a further period of project
new Windsor Album appointed development will commence
The Stanley Gibbons Windsor Great Britain album has long to raise funds and draw up
been viewed as far and away the best GB loose-leaf printed plans.
album on the market. The BPMA, however, will
Originally based on the Great Britain listing in the continue to look at other
Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth catalogue, with a listing London sites so that at least
of each page’s stamps on the facing leaf, Stanley Gibbons there are choices by way of
numbering throughout and a choice of binder types, it has comparison to Swindon.
been popular with collectors ever since the first edition was Tony Condor, Chief
published over 80 years ago. executive BPM&A, has also
Unfortunately, its layout was still based very much on stated that he is working on
the style created in the 1920s, so although editorially the plans to have a presence left
Windsor remained the ‘Number One’, the time had definitely in London, a museum gallery
come for a 21st century ‘makeover’. perhaps, possibly in a future
Now nearing completion, this makeover is much more Royal Mail development.
than a ‘facelift’, however. The content has been completely Colin Searle (photographed He also revealed ongoing
rewritten, redesigned and reset with new clearer illustrations above) has taken over as discussion with the Science
and stamp boxes of an appropriate size to take cut-to-size the General Secretary for the Museum for an agreement
mounts; indeed a version of the album is to be offered with Association of British Philatelic to store the Postal Museum
the mounts already in place for the stamps just to be slipped Societies following the collection at Wroughton
in. Content is now in line with the current GB Concise resignation of Mike Brindle. in purpose-built long-term
catalogue and, apart from the major rarities, includes Colin is well-known to many storage with public access.
inverted and reversed watermarks for the first time. in the Midlands as Newsletter
Booklet panes, hitherto part of the Windsor album will now Editor and Convention Officer
be housed in a separate volume, publication of which will be of the Midlands Philatelic Portugal 2010
announced in due course. Federation and other roles. He The Portugal 2010
These changes have necessitated a revision of the content was the organising Secretary International Stamp Exhibition
of the six-volume album with Volume 1 now covering the for the recent ABPS Congress will take place from 1 to 10
period 1840 to 1952 and Volume 2 from 1952 to 1970. at Stratford upon Avon and he October 2010 at the waterside
Details of the full breakdown will be given in next month’s is also Secretary of Midpex. location at the Parque das
Gibbons Stamp Monthly, but worth Phil Kenton, Chairman of Nações in Lisbon.
mentioning straight away is that all the ABPS, commented ‘Mike This will be the fourth
‘X’ Machins will be together in Volume Brindle has done a good international stamp exhibition
3 and all the ‘Y’ series in Volume 4. job for the ABPS and we are hosted by Portugal following
As before the Windsor will be sorry to lose him. But they Portugal ’53, Portugal ’98 and
available in traditional say if you want something Lubrapex 2003.
springback as well as doing well, give it to a busy Bulletin 1 was issued in
two multi-ring binder fellow and Colin is certainly August 2008 and contains a
formats and collectors that. He has had great well-illustrated article on the
wishing to obtain experience in running many Portuguese revolution of 1910
sets of pages for highly successful philatelic which established the current
existing binders events and his enthusiasm Republic and which will be
will be able to do so. and organisational skills are a the theme of the stamp
great asset to the Association.’ exhibition.

10 G.S.M. October 2008

 NEWSDESK
Proposals for new
thematic exhibition
Following the demise of
Thematica, there are currently
no major thematic exhibitions
or fairs scheduled in the UK.
The future for thematic
collectors is, however, not
all that bleak thanks to some
enterprising dealers, Paula
and Philip Cant of Paula Cant
Stamps, Basingstoke, and
Bob Lee of Chessington.
Vintage aircraft celebrate the first airmail They have got together with
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of both the first US airmail a view to organising a show
service and the Iowa City Municipal Airport, seven vintage aircraft on the last weekend of June
recently flew into town to re-enact what once was a dangerous 2009 (a traditional Thematica
form of mail transport—many early mail pilots lost their lives in date). They are investigating
crashes across the continent. venues in the London area
The first scheduled USPS airmail service took off on 15 May and are in the process of
1918, when President Woodrow Wilson handed a personal letter booking a prestige location
of greetings to be flown to the mayor of New York City. The flight and contacting dealers who
took off from Iowa City Airport and did much to establish and have previously supported
encourage the growth of US internal airlines and flights. Thematica. They are also in
The 90th anniversary re-enactment of the first airmail flight was discussion with the Friends
organised through a partnership between the Antique Airplane of Thematica and the British
Association and the US Postal Service. Covers were produced to Thematic Association. Their
commemorate the event. intention is for the show to be
Iowa City Postmaster, Douglas Curtiss and two postal clerks as significant as Thematica
met the pilots at the airport ready with a special cancellation but on an annual basis.
stamp and some historic artifacts including a 1940s mail pouch. Further details can be
The aircraft taking part in this commemoration flight included obtained from Paula on
a 1931 Stinson Tri-motor and a 1927 Ford Tri-motor (illustrated 01256 415 699 or paula@
above). paulacantstamps.co.uk
Dutch Federation
receives Royal
Warrant
On the occasion of
the centenary of the
Nederlandse Bond van
Filatelisten Verenigingen
(Philatelic Federation of the
Netherlands), the organisation
was awarded a Royal Warrant
by HM Queen Beatrix on 7
June 2008.
This entitles the Federation
to be termed ‘Royal’ and as a
consequence its title will now
be Koninklike Nederlandse
Bond van Filatelisten
Verenigingen (KNBF).
‘Animals’ the
most popular US
collecting theme
The American Topical Society
have announced that ‘Animals’
is the most popular collecting
interest of their members as
shown in a recent survey.
The most collected single
type of animal was ‘Cats’.
‘Famous Men’ was second
and joint third were ‘Sport’
and ‘Medical’.

Palestinian
Authority to
exchange mail
directly with UPU
member countries
The Universal Postal Union
has recently announced that
the Israeli and Palestinian
postal authorities had been
discussing solutions aimed
at improving the operations
and quality of the Palestinian
Authority’s postal services,
‘with the aim of strengthening
international postal
co‑operation’.
In a joint declaration to
the 24th Universal Postal
Congress in Geneva, both
parties pledged to start
facilitating direct exchanges
between the Palestinian
Authority and the UPU
member countries with
immediate effect. Mail will
transit via Amman, Jordan.
London 2010
deadline
Following our report on the
London 2010 Bulletin in
September’s GSM we have
been asked to inform readers
that applications for London
2010 need to be with the
National Commissioner (in the
case of the UK, this is John
Hayward) by 1 January 2009.
Small shop huge site
Whilst viewed with feint suspicion at first, the introduction of the
world wide web has proved a boon to stamp collectors.
Today over the internet, sales are booming as more and
more dealers and individual collectors trade on the web.
Setting up a commercial internet site, however, is not easy
and a stamp site, in particular is fraught with difficulties,
resulting in some sites proving very difficult to navigate,
especially for stamp collectors with only a rudimentary
knowledge of the internet.
One site that shines out like a beacon, however, is Rowan
Baker’s at the Covent Garden Stamp Shop.
Actually it is not ‘a site’ but four ‘stand alone’ sites; GB,
Commonwealth, USA and Foreign.
Not only have the sites literally thousands of items for sale
(currently over 24,000), navigating is easy and the viewer has
several choices of how he or she can group the search: by
country, year, subject (theme), omnibus, condition, SG catalogue number (SG or Scott on the
USA site), price or type. In some cases there are further sub-categories within the main ones to
narrow a search more specifically. In addition, the sites will also be offering a limited selection of
catalogues, mounts, albums, accessories and stockbooks. Most items are illustrated, proprietor
Rowan Baker has scanned literally thousands and thousands of stamps! All items on the sites
are in stock and collectors will receive the actual stamp or stamps illustrated.
Rowan has praised his web development team for the comprehensive site they have
constructed, although he admits that they have no wish to take on another stamp dealer!
The Covent Garden Stamp Shop website is, however, not fully completed as Rowan is
working on several refinements to make it even more impressive.
The first site, the Commonwealth, came on line on 8 March 2006 and was the fifth attempt to
get it right! Foreign followed about six months later and GB went live on 21 November 2006. The
latest site, USA, went live on 18 May 2008.
Fears over disclosure of personal details have also been dealt with in a most satisfactory
manner. The website uses SSL encryption to ensure personal information is delivered to Rowan
over a secure connection.
Personal details are not stored on the website. Collectors can order and pay for stamps using
the encrypted secure payment system, by visiting the shop or over the phone.
The websites can be found at: www.british-stamps.com www.commonwealth-stamps.com
www.usa-stamps.com www.foreign-stamps.com
The shop can be found at 28, Bedfordbury, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4RB.

12 G.S.M. October 2008

 NEWSDESK
Channel Islands
Joan Flood Salver
At the recent annual general
meeting of the Channel
Islands Specialists’ Society
held in London, it was
announced that the Joan
Flood Salver had been
awarded to the late Keith
Taylor and Brian Chilton for
the book, Boat Services to
the Smaller Channel Islands,
which Keith had drafted and
Brian revised.This reference
work was the result of detailed
Liverpool’s Euro
hero celebrated
on world’s fastest
stamps
Peter Jennings previously
reported (August GSM) that
Austria Post and OeSD, the
Austrian State Printing House,
had printed the world’s fastest
postage stamp in just 1 hour
25 minutes, at the end of June
and this achievement has now
been recognised by Guinness
World Records.

Falklands stamp presentation and dedicated research by

Keith, who was a maritime
The Falkland Islands Post Office and Philatelic Bureau historian. He died in June
have recently released a miniature sheet of four stamps to 2004, having just started his
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. This preliminary draft. The final
set was issued in conjunction with the new definitive issue for the version of the book was
Falkland Islands, depicting civilian and military aircraft. prepared by Brian Chilton, a
Both issues were released on 1 August 2008 at the Stanley, long-standing member of the
Mount Pleasant and Fox Bay Post Offices. Society and published as a Archbishop Vincent Nichols
The first day ceremony included the Manager of the Philatelic tribute to Keith. and Peter Jennings, pictured
Bureau, Anton Livermore CPM, presenting a gift to the The book sold out within with Fernando Torres, holding
Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Air Commodore weeks of publication in 2007. the special sheet of Austria
Gordon Moulds MBE, RAF, of a framed collection of the stamps So much new information Post, Guinness World Record,
and the official commemorative coin for the RAF 90th Anniversary. has come to hand in the postage stamps. Picture by
A keen collector of first day covers, Air Commodore Moulds interim that there is a strong Sammy Lee, First Team Head
stated, ‘Since returning to the Islands in June this year I have possibility a second edition will Coach, Liverpool Football Club
greatly enjoyed catching up with old friends like Anton, he’s be published in a year or so. Football enthusiast Vincent
always proved extremely supportive of our work here. The The Joan Flood Salver is Nichols, Archbishop of
Bureau’s recent releases help mark an important anniversary awarded for the best piece of Birmingham, met Fernando
for the Royal Air Force and really are very special. I am also research on a Channel Islands Torres, the prolific Liverpool
extremely pleased that the Mount Pleasant Photographic Section topic. Joan was a member of and Spanish International
will be assisting Anton and his team with future high profile the Society from 1982 to 1995 striker before the Liverpool v
projects’. Anton commented, ‘For Falkland Islanders, the noise and had a very fine postal Aston Villa match at Villa Park
of the military aircraft flying overhead each day is very much the history collection, carrying out in Birmingham on Sunday 31
sound of freedom’. considerable research herself. August 2008.
When she passed away her After a hard-fought 0–0
Postwatch to be merged husband John donated the draw, Archbishop Nichols
Postwatch is an independent organisation, not attached to the salver in her memory. said: ‘As a life-long supporter
Royal Mail Group or part of the Government. Postwatch was set of Liverpool Football Club
up in 2000 to ensure that Royal Mail and any licensed postal I was delighted to meet
providers, give the best service possible to their customers. Fernando Torres, a player with
As from 1 October 2008, Postwatch and Energy Watch will great skills. On the football
be merged into the National Consumer Council to form a larger pitch he doesn’t retaliate or
consumer organisation under the Consumers, Estate Agents and quit. I encouraged him to
Redress Act 2007. be a great role model for his
Not all of Postwatch’s functions will pass to the new many young fans throughout
organisation however, some complaints will be dealt with by the Europe.’
Office of Fair Trading via the Consumer Direct telephone service. Torres scored the Spanish
goal during the final of Euro
2008 played in Vienna on
Sunday 29 June. Spain beat
Society celebrates Competitions Secretary Germany 1–0.
Republic’s formation John Hirst is pictured above The Archbishop of
The Czechoslovak Philatelic Society of presenting the salver to Keith’s Birmingham added: ‘Having a
Great Britain has been invited to celebrate widow Monica. It will remain Guinness World Record that
the 90th anniversary of the formation of with her for six months before connects football and postage
the Czechoslovak Republic by giving a transferring to Brian Chilton, stamps shows how football
display at the Czech Republic Embassy, also shown in a picture taken is important to the world of
26 Kensington Gardens, London W8 in Alderney. stamps and stamp collecting.’
4QY. The exhibition will consist of stamps
and covers of the Czech lands. Joburg 2010
The exhibition, hosted by the The South African Post Office and the Philatelic Federation
Ambassador of the Czech Republic of South Africa have announced that they will be hosting an
supported by the Ambassador of Slovakia, will be open to international stamp exhibition from 27 to 31 October 2010 at the
the public from 10.30 a.m to 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday and Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
Thursday 1 and 2 October 2008 and from 10.30 a.m. to It is planned to accommodate about 1500 frames of competitive
1.00 p.m. on Friday 3 October. Admission is free (GSM’s exhibits covering all the FIP Classes. In addition, provision has
impressive invitation card is illustrated above). been made for a Court of Honour, a South African archival exhibit
The Society is honoured to have been asked to celebrate and invited exhibits.
such an important event. Further details can be obtained from www.
joburg2010stampshow.co.za

14 G.S.M. October 2008

 NEWSDESK
Searching for Dr Barnardo and Amy
Carmichael
The Portadown and District Please contact John Proctor
Philatelic Society is seeking on 02838 334 964 if you can
information on Dr Barnardo assist.
(1845–1905), Founder of the
Homes for Orphaned Children Lost
and Amy Carmichael (1867– Lost, possibly stolen, in the
1951), a Christian missionary Trafalgar Square area of
in India. London, was a mint copy of
Both have strong Bermuda SG 121da, damaged
connections to Northern left value tablet, with certificate.
Ireland and the Club is If you are offered this item
interested to know whether please contact Brian Lucas
they have been featured on on 01227 366 594 or the PTS
stamps of any country. office on 01252 628 006.
Stamp collages prove a success
Stamp Collages proved to be the surprise favourites at the recent
Open Studios Festival in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The event Obituary
comprised several local artists opening their studios to the public.
One of the artists, Rachel Markwick, caused much interest with
Brian Uden 1934–2008
The stamp world lost one of its most
her exhibits.
respected dealers on 2 September
She said, ‘It was a very successful event for me but the
2008. Brian Uden was a true stamp
overwhelming interest was in my stamp collages, which I created
lover. He was an expert in so many
using stamps which were left over from the dealer stock of my
areas and was always looking for
parents who ran ‘Mrs M Willams Approvals’ for many years, from
new areas in philately to develop his
Kent, and subsequently Oakmead Stamps in Surrey, and then
knowledge.
Gloucestershire.
I was privileged to know Brian
‘After my father’s death in 2001 my mother reluctantly decided
both as a friend, an employer and
to cease trading and sold the majority of the stock, but I was able
as a co-director. In the early days
to salvage some of the unwanted or unsortable items and have
Brian was a stamp collector and
used them to create pictures illustrating the three ships described
amateur dealer who was always two
in the Cargoes poem by John Masefield, plus the peacock which
days ahead of me, the professional. On the principle if you
was a cargo of the ‘Quinquireme’, (first verse). The other two are
can’t beat them, I offered Brian a job in 1977 and he joined
the ‘Stately Spanish Galleon’ and the ‘Dirty British Coaster’.
Benham working first at the Hythe Stamp Shop with the late
Rachel can be contacted at The Lawn, 132 Bisley Road, Stroud,
Bill King, until we opened the Folkestone Stamp Shop in
Glos GL5 1HL, email: Markwickfamily@aol.com for further details.
1978. The shop was originally at 51a Old High Street, but
in 1981 we moved to the newly acquired 8 Old High Street,
where Brian was King right up to the end of last year.
In those days we regularly attended Stampex and
Internationals and Brian, with his dry humour, became a well
known character in the trade.
During the ’80s Benham suffered from major theft and
stopped dealing in stamps to concentrate on covers. Brian
and Richard Kennedy took over the Folkestone Stamp Shop
in 1990 and successfully ran it until 1999. By then I had
returned to my roots and I first reinvested in the shop and
then Internetstamps Ltd took over the business.
This enabled Brian to do what he loved best, to buy and
sort out big collections. Watching Brian value a collection was
like a master-class in stamp dealing. His mental arithmetic,
combined with his immense knowledge of the key stamps,
meant he could achieve in half an hour what many dealers
would do in days.
But as we know, buying is only half of the equation. Of
course, being a stamp lover, he could understand collectors
and was always free with advice and help. He was the perfect
all round stamp dealer. He was also for many years a pillar of
the local philatelic society.
His health has been poor for a number of years, but
despite dreadful operations and great pain and discomfort,
he was amazingly cheerful. His love of stamps kept him
going and he even asked for stamps to be brought into the
hospital for him to work on. Right up the end he was active
and on Friday 30 August, although not well, Brian came into
the office because John Curtin was coming and he wanted to
do a deal.
It is hard to believe he has gone I am sure everyone who
knew him would agree that we have lost someone special, a
true gentleman who was as loyal and as straight as anyone
you are ever likely to meet, a very rare commodity.
Brian has left us a chip of the old block, Robert Uden,
another true stamp lover.
Goodbye Brian we will not see your like again.
Tony Buckingham

16 G.S.M. October 2008


Ayrshire Philatelic Society
The Society celebrates its 70th
anniversary in 2008, the highlight
of which will be an anniversary
dinner and social event on 14
October.
The Society has recently hosted
the Scottish Philatelic Congress
in Perth with great success, and
is looking forward to an exciting
season which commenced with
the President’s display on
9 September.
The club meets every second
Tuesday in Ayr. Further information
can be found at website www.
inayrnet.com/aps or contact the
Secretary on 01294 276 990.
Axe Vale Stamp Club
The Club meets on the second
Tuesday of the month at the
Church Rooms, Axminster. The
next meeting is on 14 October
and will feature a display of
‘Falkland Islands’
The meeting of 11 November will
focus on members’ acquisitions.
The Christmas auction is on 9
December.
Further details from Richard
Griffiths on 01404 831 207.
Bournemouth & District PS
The Society held its annual general
meeting on 1 July 2008. The
meeting was followed by displays
of members’ postcards.
All meetings for the
2008/2009 season will be held
in the afternoons at the Kinson
Community Centre, Kinson,
Bournemouth, at 1.30 p.m. for a
1.45 p.m. start. Further details from
Geoff Flynn on 01202 820 588.
Civil Service PS
The Society celebrated its 60th
anniversary this year.
A lively Summer auction
followed the annual general
meeting in June 2008 and a
special Diamond Jubilee edition of
The Bulletin was produced.
The Society meets monthly in
the evening on the first working
Monday between September and
July at Somerset House, central
London.
Membership is governed by
the Civil Service Sports Council
regulations but is open to all
serving and pensioned Civil
Servants from departments
and agencies, and permanent
employees of British Telecom and
Royal Mail.
Further details can be found on
the Society’s website: http://www.
mynetservices.co.uk/csps/ or from
Ian Briant, e-mail: greendwarf@
btinternet.com
Cyprus Study Circle
The next meeting will take place
on 11 October at the Victory
Services Club, 63-79 Seymour
Street, London W2 and will
combine the annual general
meeting, a Cyprus philatelic
display, the inaugural presentation
of the Christopher Cruttwell Shield
and a room auction.
18
NEWSDESK
Society News
Huntingdon Philatelic
Society
Meetings are held at the
Huntingdon Regional College,
California Road, Huntingdon, at
7.00 p.m. for 7.30p.m. The next
meeting is on 23 September 2008
when Bob Carr will present ‘From
A Dealer’s Point Of View’.
October features a members’
evening on the letter ‘R’ (14th)
and a visit to St Ives stamp fair on
the 18th.
Insurance and Banking
Philatelic Society of GB
The Society’s new President. Alan
Randall Jones of Sale, Cheshire,
was installed at the annual general
meeting in London in May 2008.
Alan is a member of the
Society’s Manchester Branch
and his local Bolton PS. He is
also a members of the Ship
Stamp Society, Universal Ship
Cancellations Society (USA), the
TPO and Seapost Society, the
Letter Box Study Group and the
National Philatelic Society. He
is an active committee member
of the North West Philatelic
Federation.
Details of membership can
be obtained from Dudley Baker,
email: Dudley.baker1@ntlworld.
com
Isle of Ely Philatelic Society
The Society is celebrating its silver
jubilee from September 2008 to
May 2009 and has planned an
outstanding programme with
speakers such as Jeffery Matthews
(‘Jeffery Matthews Designs’), Brian
Sole (‘Go By Cycle’), Margaret
Morris (‘Greenland’) and Pat
Grimwood-Taylor (‘Australian
Social History’).
Additional activities include a
25th anniversary dinner.
Further information from Mr C M
North on 01354 659 358.
Kendal and District PS
Wendy Chandler reports that
membership has dropped lately
due to several moving away.
Suggestions that the club should
merge with another are not
practicable given the topography,
distances and uncertain winter
weather!
The Society meets at 7.30
p.m. on the second Tuesday
each month at the Kirkland Hall,
Kirkland Gate, Kendal. Further
information is available from
Wendy on 01539 823 617.
Kettering Stamps and
Philatelic Society
George Tregidgo, informs us
that the Society has decided to
hold an additional stamp fair to
its traditional April date. The new
fair will be held at the ISE Lodge
Community Centre, St Vincent’s
Avenue, off Deeble Road, Kettering
from 10.00 a.m to 4.00 p.m. on
Saturday 11 October 2008.
There is free admission and free
parking and refreshments will be
available.
Please contact Tony on 01536
511 900 or Gordon on 01536 746
800 for further information.
Kiribati and Tuvalu Philatelic
Society
The Society is celebrating its 25th
anniversary at the Union Jack
Club—opposite Waterloo station,
London. Members old and new are
welcome to partake in a special
silver jubilee luncheon party, after
which, it is hoped all will enter an
anniversary competition.
The competition requires
four-sheets, album or A4 size,
containing philatelic material
pertaining to Gilbert and Ellice
Islands, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati or
Tuvalu. The exhibit should show
continuity of subject and tell a
story across all four sheets. Each
sheet must contain at least one
philatelic item.
The prize will be a piece of
artwork created by a well-known
artists stamp designer.
Leamington and Warwick
Philatelic Society
The Society’s 53rd season
commenced on 3 September
2008 with an introductory wine
and cheese evening during which
members’ summer acquisitions
were shown.
‘Shells’ was the subject of the
evening on 17 September and
the next meeting (1 October) will
feature ‘Pakistan’.
Meetings are held on alternate
Wednesdays until May 2009 at
the Odd Fellows Hall, Clarence
Terrace, Warwick Street,
Leamington Spa.
Please contact Dr J T Mottram
at Tony.Mottram@warwick.ac.uk
or visit http://leamphil.users.
btinternet.com for further details.
Leeds Philatelic Society
The Society will be staging
the President’s Evening on 23
September 2008 and on 7 October
Mr B Evans will display ‘Universal
Postal Union’.
The main event in November,
will be the the Society’s annual
fair which will be held at Pudsey
Civic Hall on Friday and Saturday
14 and 15 November. There is
free admission and free parking
(11.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m. on Friday
and 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
on Saturday) and hot and cold
refreshments will be available on
both days.
Further details from Alan Price
on 01132 409 539.
Lytham St Anne’s PS
The next meeting is on 24
September 2008 and will feature
‘Aspects of Europe’ by Mr D
Burton. This will be followed on
Thursday 2 October by a visit from
the Burnley Philatelic Society.
Meetings are generally held
on Wednesdays at The Drive
Methodist Church Hall, Eastbank
Road, St Anne’s, commencing
7:30 p.m. after informal gathering
from 7:00 p.m.
Further information is available
from Brian Bretherick, on 01253
729 659.
Maidstone and Mid-Kent PS
The 13 November 2008 meeting
will feature a display from the Kent
Federation President, Graham
Boutle and Derek Pillage FRPSL
will present ‘Development of British
Airmails’ on 27 November.
Meetings are held in St Paul’s
Church Hall, Boxley Road,
Maidstone, Kent, from 7.30 p.m.
Nottinghamshire PS
At the meeting on Friday 10
October 2008, Dennis Boot will be
showing ‘Early GB’. This date has
been changed from that shown
in the programme. On Friday 17
October, Fred Marvin of Rugby will
be giving a display entitled ‘Mail by
Sea and Air’.
Further details from Chris
Tennant on 01159 611 216
Thatcham and District PS
The Society is holding a stamp
fair on Saturday 11 October
2008 at the Memorial Hall, Bath
Road, Thatcham, from 10.00
a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
12 dealers have booked
stands, refreshments will be
available and there is free car
parking. Further details can be
obtained from 01635 866 942.
Twickenham & District
Philatelic Society
During the Society’s new season it
will enter its 60th anniversary year.
The next meeting is on 2 October
when Tony Tutin, will display
his India collection. A series of
domestic members’ displays
follow, with the annual Christmas
Auction on 18 December.
The Society meets at the St
John Ambulance Hall, Park Road,
Teddington, usually on the first
and third Thursday evenings of the
month. For more details contact
Michael Lawrence Goodman on
0208 568 2433
Woking and District
Philatelic Society
A mixed programme of events has
been arranged for the 2008/2009
season. In the autumn invited
speakers include David Milstead
FRPSL (‘GB Overprints’), Lord
Cornwallis FRPSL (‘Gambia’), R
Morton (‘Scottish Miscellany’) and
Michael Farrant FRPSL (‘German
East Africa 1914-17’).
Further information from Ron
Trevelyan on 01483 764 339.
G.S.M. October 2008
 NORTH AFRICA
Most rarities are certified. Excellent credit arrangements available.

LONDON 2010
We talk to Brian Trotter,
Chairman of the Manage-
NEXT
ment Committee for the
forthcoming London 2010 MONTH
ADEN 1867-73 Service 4a, SG 029 tied to piece by v.f. strike international stamp
of the rare ‘A125’ in blue. In use for only 6 months. Cert. .......£650 exhibition, to find out how plans for
ADEN SEIYUN 1946 Victory 2½a DOUBLE OVERPRINT, London 2010 are progressing and what the future holds
SG13b u/m. Extremely rare. An excellent clear example. for the British Philatelic Trust.
Grossly underpriced by SG. Cert. ............................................. POA
ADEN-QUAITI 1955-63 A beautiful colour DIE PROOF IN
BROWN OF CENTRE VIGNETTE of the 1/- value, SG 36. THE GRENADINES
Believed unique. NB. Nearly all QEII proofs are extremely rare.£700 The Grenada and St Vincent Grenadines have estab-
BPOs IN EASTERN ARABIA 1950-55 R2 on 2/6d scarce type lished a reputation over the last few years for issuing
II surcharge, SG41a f.u. .............................................................. £45 large numbers of stamps with little local relevance.
BPOs IN EASTERN ARABIA 1955-60 R5 ON 5/- SHOWING During King George VI’s reign there were no special
ROW 8, No.1 MAJOR RE-ENTRY to the diadem. Superb mint. £75 stamps but philatelic interest abounded in the Island
KUWAIT 1955-57 R2, R5 & R10, all scarce type II postmarks on stamps of Grenada and St Vincent
surcharges, SG107a -109a marginal & u/m .............................£250
KUWAIT 1958 15np Scarce type II surcharge, SG 125a respectively. David Horry investigates.
marginal block of 4 u/m ............................................................£100
(Singles available at £25)
MOROCCO AGENCIES 1957 Set 1/2d to 10/- in corner
MAURITIUS
/marginal blocks of 4 plus 3 additional blocks of high vals These days, Mauritius is a popular holiday destination
with missing & inserted hyphens, short ‘7’ & weak entry on but it will always have a special place in the hearts of
10/-. All u/m. Cat £336+++. Ex ‘Baillie’. ...................................£260 philatelists, due to its famous ‘Post Office’ stamps. Iain
MOROCCO AGENCIES 1957 2/6d, 5/- & 10/- COMPLETE Stevenson visits the island to see just what it can offer to
PANES OF 60, incl. ‘HYPHEN OMITTED’, SG340a -342a. collectors today.
Cat £711++...............................................................................£425
MUSCAT 1944 3a Inverted wmk, SG7w u/m............................ £20
MUSCAT 1944 R1 SG14 Misplaced opt, u/m. Scarce ............. £15 PLUS
Nimrod on Leeward islands, Shore to Shore, New
SUDAN Collector, David Horry, Catalogue Column, Panorama
1876 A FINE GENERAL GORDON LETTER. Written in his
own hand from Uganda, to Carl Geigler, director of Sudan and the latest supplement to the Stanley Gibbons
Posts & Telegraphs. Gordon comments on death of Abdul Catalogue.
Aziz & prophetically wonders if this will lead to peace or
war. An exhibition item. ............................................................£850
1898 Camel issue FRAME DIE PROOF OF 2m, SG15 (P). FREE GIFT
Superb & scarce ......................................................................£395 Every copy of November’s Gibbons Stamp Monthly
1903 ‘5 Milliemes’ on 5Pi, SG29 showing rare & effective comes with four stamps from the newly-issued Fish
horizontal split surcharge, fine mint. Only the second we definitives of St Helena, courtesy of the St Helena Post
have seen ....................................................................................... £150 Office and Harry Allen. There’s also an opportunity to
1921 An important De La Rue appendix sheet bearing the pick up the rest of the set, as well as the outgoing Flow-
1898 issued 2m to 5pi plus a small format photographic ers definitives.
essay of 3m. Manuscript comments indicate suggested
colours for the 1921 issue. Exhibition piece. Ex ‘Danson’. .. £1,700
1921 1m Colour trial in mauve & carmine. Minor defect
but scarce................................................................................... £55
BRITISH STAMPS
1927-41 1m SG42 Corner block of 15 with major DECIMAL CASTLES
misplacement of centre, u/m. Probably the largest Concluding his study of the 1988-1999 ‘Castles’ stamps,
remaining multiple of this scarce variety. .................................£450 Peter Shaw reviews their perforation and printing errors
1927-41 10Pi COLOUR TRIALS on gummed ‘SG’ wmk and varieties—especially the famous ‘missing heads’!
paper. A selection of 9 different bi-coloured trials. All
marginal. May consider splitting. .............................................£720
POSTMARKS
As a preface to a new series of articles on British
postmarks, Cyril R H Parsons, co-founder and first
president of the British Postmark Society, looks back
at its formation 50 years ago and highlights some of its
achievements.

1935 General Gordon set of IMPERF COLOUR TRIALS

PLUS
on ungummed ‘SG’ wmk paper. Attractive & scarce ...............£425 Machin Watch, GB Postal Stationery, Labels and
1935 Air 2½Pi on 3m corner block of 4, one with second Postmarks, the Specialised Catalogue Supplement and
Arabic letter missing, SG 69a u/m.............................................. £38 all the latest GB news.
1935 Air 2½Pi on 3m SMALL ‘½’ SG69b PLUS MAJOR
MISPLACEMENT of opt, v.f. mint .............................................. £50
1935 Air 2½Pi PROOF OF SURCHARGE IN GREEN. COMPETITION
Very fine & rare. ........................................................................£270 Win one of five 2009 Commonwealth & Empire Stamps
1935 Air 15m on 10m SG68, surcharge so far misplaced 1840-1970 catalogues in our easy-to-enter competition.
that Arabic inscription is omitted. Very scarce.
(Other similar varieties available). ............................................... £80 Place an order for the November issue today—on sale
1906 Army 1m Type ‘B’ opt, SGA6 a defective used pair, 16 October.
one showing ‘Ser’ & ‘vice’ 4mm apart and out of line.
Extremely unusual. ..................................................................... £95 Still Britain’s
best value stamp
MUSCOTT’S magazine at £3.25
P.O.BOX 5319, UPLYME, LYME REGIS, DEVON DT7 3ZJ
TEL: 01297 444128 • FAX: 01297 444129

20 G.S.M. October 2008

 FAIRS DIARY DATES
Readers are advised to check (telephone numbers are given, where known) that venues
11 Kettering, ISE lodge Community Centre, St (01536 511 900) 10-4
and times are correct. Every care is taken in the compilation of this listing but we regret
Vincent’s Avenue, off Deeble Road
that GSM cannot be held responsible for omissions or errors. (01304 829 827) 10-4
11 Dover, Biggin Hall, Biggin Street, by the
SEPTEMBER Town Hall
27 Birmingham, Collingwood Centre, Collingwood (07765 792 998) 10-4 11 Manchester, Sale Grammar School, (01614 272 101) 10-5
Drive, Pheasey, Great Barr Marsland Road, Sale
27 Bexhill, St Martha’s Church Hall, Cooden Beach (01903 244 875) 10-4 11 Staines, Christchurch Hall, Kingston Road 907851 198 488) 9.30-3
Road, Little Common 11 Stockton-on-Tees, Norton Methodist Church (01670 787 442) 9.30-2.30
27 Ealing, Polygon Complex, Ealing Parish Church, (07851 198 488) 9.30-3 Hall
St Mary’s Road 11 Sutton, Methodist Church Hall, off Rose (02086 401 404) 10-5
27 Hove, St Leonard’s Church Hall, Glebe Villas (01273 514 733) 10-4 Hill Roundabout almost opposite Thomas
27 Morley, St Mary’s Church Hall, Commercial (01909 563 394) 9.30-4 Wall Park
Street, near Leeds 11 Telford, Civic and Leisure Centre, Tan Bank, (01952 223 926) 10-4
27 Northampton, Abbey Centre, East Hunsbury (01733 203 121) 10-4 Wellington District Centre
27 Portadown, Town Hall (02838 334 964) 10-4 11 Thatcham, Memorial Hall, Bath Road, A4 (01635 866 942) 10-4
27 St Albans, Jubilee Centre, Catherine Street (07736 527 716) 10-4 11 Wanstead, United Reformed Church Hall, (020 8989 2885) 10-4.30
27 Sittingbourne, Carmel Hall, Ufton Lane, off (01795 478 175) 10-4 Grosvenor Road, off Wanstead High Street
West Street 12 Altrincham, Quality Hotel, Langham Road, (01785 259 350) 10-4
28 Ascot, British Red Cross Centre, Heatherwood (07851 198 488) 9-3 Bowdon
Hospital Entrance 3, King’s Ride 12 Chelmsford, Old Chelmsfordians Club, (01245 440 936) 10-4
28 Carlisle, Houghton Village Hall, J44 M6 (A689) (01387 710 451) 10-4 Roxwell Road
28 Harrogate, Masonic Hall, Station Avenue near (01282 866 562) 9.30-4.30 12 Colchester, Stanway Football Club, New Farm (01328 855 2510 10-3
Police Station Road, Stanway
28 Lowestoft, Wherry Hotel, Bridge Road, Oulton (01502 563 759) 10-4 12 Hinkley, John Cleveland College, Butt Lane (01455 617 818) 10-4
Broad 12 Horsham, Village Hall, Broadbridge Heath (01795 478 175) 10-4
28 Marlow, Red Cross Centre, Victoria Road (01895 637 283) 10-5 12 Kings Lynn, Gaywood Comunity Centre, (01733 203 121) 10-4
28 Ormskirk, Guide Headquarters, Moorgate (01514 862 610) 10-3 Gayton Road
28 Portsmouth, St Luke’s Sports Centre, Greetham (01489 582 673) 10-4 12 North Shields, King Edward’s Primary (01670 787 442) 9.30-1
Street School, Preston Avenue
28 Southport, Royal Clifton Hotel, The Promenade (01484 866 777) 10-4 12 Nottingham, Novotel, Bostock lane, Long (01484 866 777) 10-4
28 Stamford, Lady Anne’s Hotel, High Street, St (01733 203 121) 10-4 eaton (J25 M1)
Martins Without 12 Wokingham, St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, (01923 674 999) 10-4
28 Stevenage, Novotel, Knebworth Park (J7 A1M) (07736 527 716) 10-4 London Road
30 Stockport, Masonic Guildhall, Wellington Road (01283 820 151) 9.30-3.30 12 Slip End, Village Hall, Markyate Road and (07736 527 716) 10-4
South Grove Road, J10 M1 near Luton
14/ Pudsey, Civic Hall (LEEDS PS) (01332 682 370)
OCTOBER 15
1 Neath, Town Hall, Church Place (01446 741 026) 10-5 17/ Perth, Dewars Centre, Glover Street (SCOTEX) (01698 356 337) 12-6
1 Stowmarket, Football Club, Green’s Meadow, (01328 855 251) 10-3.30 18 10-5
Bury Road 18 Addlestone, Community Centre, Garfield (01895 637 283) 10-5
2 Cardiff, Methodist Church, Nottingham Street (01446 741 026) 10-3.30 Road
4 Ayr, Queen Margaret Academy, Dalmellington (01698 426 289) 10-4 18 Brighton, Good Shepherd Hall, 272 Dyke (01903 244 875) 10-4
Road Road
4 Beckenham, Azelia Hall, Croydon Road (02084 623 753) 10-4 18 Broadstairs, Portland Centre, St Peter’s (01304 829 827) 10-4
4 Bilsborrow, Village Hall, six miles north of (01226 765 069) 10-3.30 18 Enfield, St Luke’s Hall, Morley Hill (01322 223 039) 10-4
Preston on A6 18 Formby, Methodist Church Hall, Elbow Street, (01226 765 069) 10-3.30
4 Broughty Ferry, St Aidan’s Church Hall, Brook (01387 710 451) 10-4 off Duke Street
Street, A930 18 Hull, St Stephen’s Church Hall, Freehold (01909 563 394) 9.30-4
4 Burton in Kendal, Memorial Hall (016070 787 442) 10-4 Street, off Spring Bank
4 Crawley, St Paul’s Church Hall, Woodfield Road, (01903 244 875) 10-4 18 Littlehampton, United Church, 1 High Street (01795 478 175) 10-4
Northgate 18 Preston, Barton Village Hall, J1 M55 (A6) (01282 866 562) 9.30-4.30
4 Deal, Landmark Centre, 129 High Street (01304 829 827) 9-1 18 St Albans, Jubilee Centre, Catherine Street (07736 527 716) 10-4
4 Huddersfield, St Thomas’ Church Hall, (01484 681 559) 9.30-4 19 Altrincham, Cresta Court Hotel, Church (01484 866 777) 10-4
Manchester Road, Longroyd Bridge Street, Town Centre
4 Leicester, Blackfriars Hall, Holycross Centre, (01522 530 123) 9.30-3.30 19 Amersham, Jubilee Scout Hall, Rectory Hill (01895 637 283) 10-5
Wellington Street 19 Dronfield, Coal Aston Village Hall, near (01909 563 394) 9.30-4
4 Lichfield, Boley Park Community Hall, (01785 259 650) 10-4 Sheffield
Ryknild Street 19 Knowle, Village Hall, St John’s Close (07765 792 998) 10-4
4 Rawreth, Parish Hall, Church Lane (01702 323 682) 10-4 19 Uckfield, Ridgewood Village Hall, New Road (01903 244 875) 10-4
4 Reading, St Barnabas Hall, Grove Road, Emmer (01895 637 283) 10-5 25 Amersham, Community Centre, Chiltern (01494 726 418) 10-4
Green Avenue (STAMPERSHAM)
4 Shrewsbury, Meole Brace School, Longden (01743 860 910) 10-4 25 Birmingham, Collingwood Centre, (07765 792 998) 10-4
Road Collingwood Drive, Pheasey, Great Barr
4 Swindon, Western Community Centre, (01793 528 664) 9.30-4.30 25 Bolton, Canon Slade School, Bradshaw (01204 307 252) 10-4
Somerset Road, Rodbourne Cheney 25 Claygate, Village Hall, Church Road (01372 466 337) 10-4
4 Weymouth, Upway and Broadway Memorial (01258 880 878) 10-4 25 Ealing, Polygon Complex, Ealing Parish (07851 198 488) 9.30-3
Hall, Victoria Avenue, Broadway Church, St Mary’s Road
5 Altrincham, Cresta Court Hotel, Church (01484 866 777) 10-4 25 Guildford, Onslow Village Hall, Wilderness (01795 478 175) 10-4
Street, Town Centre Road, Onslow Vilage
5 Cheltenham, Regency Hotel, Gloucester (01179 623 203) 10-4 25 Liskeard, Community College, Greenbank (01288 355 918) 10.30-4
Road, on the road to Staverton off the A40 Road (CORNEX)
5 Fakenham, Community Centre, Oak Street (01328 855 251) 10-3 25 Morley, St Mary’s Church Hall, near Leeds (01909 563 394) 9.30-4
5 Scunthorpe, Ashby Community Centre (01469 531 348) 10-4 25 Twickenham, Methodist Church Hall, Percy (01903 244 875) 10-4
5 Taplow, Taplow & Hitchen W I Hall, Institute (01895 637 283) 10-5 Road, Whitton
Roadd 25 Wimbourne, Quarterjack Suite, Allendale (01258 880 878) 10-4
5 Winchester, Badgers Farm Community (01795 478 175) 10-4 Centre,
Centre, Badgers Farm Road 26 Ascot, British Red Cross Centre, Heatherwood (07851 198 488) 9-3
5 Wolverhampton, Church Road, Bradmore (01384 74279) 10-4 Hospital Entrance 3, King’s Ride
8 London, Royal National Hotel, 1-8 Russell (02072 787 871) 9-4 26 Hatfield, Ramada Hatfield (formally The (07736 527 716) 10-4
Square, Bloomsbury Comet), St Albans Road West (A1M)
10 Exeter, Clyst St George and Ebford Parish (01179 623 203 10-4 26 Southport, Royal Clifton Hotel, The (01484 866777) 10-4
Hall, A376/B3179 Promenade
11 Ardingly, Norfolk Pavilion, South of England (01323 438 964) 10-4.30 26 Stamford, Lady Anne’s Hotel, High Street, St (01733 203 121) 10-4
Centre, Ardingly Showground near Haywards Martins Without
Heath 26 Wing, Cottesloe School, Aylesbury Road (01895 637 283) 10-5
11 Derby, Bracken's Hotel, Bracken’s Lane, (01226 360 190) 9-4 28 Stockport, Masonic Guildhall, Wellington Road (01283 820 151) 9.30-3.30
Alvaston South
11 Harrogate, St Paul’s URC Hall, Belford Road (01423 509 581) 1-5 30/ London, Royal Horticultural Halls, Lawrence (02078 284 125) 11-7,10-6
(HPS OPEN DAY) 1 Hall, Greycoat Street (PHILATEX) 10-5

22 G.S.M October 2008

 Peter Tarquin 1840
I Specialise in the Penny Black:
Letterings, Plates, Dates, Datestamps,
Destinations, Coloured Crosses,
Handstamps, Covers from Scotland,
Ireland, Wales, London Post Offices and
DIARY DATES
Auctions
A monthly guide to Auctions
This guide has been compiled from information supplied by organisers of the events.
Gibbons Stamp Monthly cannot be held responsible for any errors, changes, cancellations
or omissions. Information for inclusion in the November 2008 issue (published 19 October)
should be sent to The News Editor, Gibbons Stamp Monthly, 7 Parkside, Christchurch
Road, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3SH by 1 October 2008.

all English Counties. September 2008

23/24
7/8
Dorotheum
STAMPS AND COVERS OF THE WORLD Dorotheergasse 17, A-1010, Vienna, Austria

May Dates a Speciality

Bonhams 8
101 New Bond Street, London W1S 1SR A J H Stamps
23 The Laurels, Manchester Road, Accrington,

Also Embossed and Surface Printed Sandafayre Hunters

Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8XN
Lancashire BB5 2PF
8

covers to 1901. Stamps, Combinations

23/27 Isle of Man
Heinrich Köhler Beech House, 19B Arlington Drive,
Wilhelmstrasse 48, 65183 Wiesbaden, Nottingham NG3 5EN
and Destinations Worldwide, East and Germany
24
8
STUART LEVEN COLLECTION OF NEW
West and South and North Brian Reeve
Unit 120, Trident Business Centre, 89
GUINEA
Millenium
Bickersteth Road, Tooting, SW17 9SH Suite 25, 89-97 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW

I may have what you want

26/27 2007, Australia
RON BRIGHAM COLLECTION OF USA, 8
DAVID SESSIONS COLLECTION OF GREAT BRITAIN
CANADA ARCH ISSUE AND THE J DON Spink
WILSON COLLECTION OF BRITISH 69 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury,

Peter Tarquin 1840 Limited

NORTH AMERICA London WC1B 4ET
Firby 8/11
6695 Highland Road, 101 Waterford, MI ALL WORLD INCLUDING SPECIALISED
PO Box 33, Betchworth, Surrey RH3 7YH. 48327-1967, USA AIRMAILS
Telephone and Fax 01737 844 995. 27 Ulrich Felzmann
T and T Auctions Immermannstr 51, 40210 Düsseldorf,
Email: tarq1840@aol.com 8 Castle Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Germany
Website: www.pennyblackuk.com Kent TN1 1XJ 10/11
28 Schwarzenbach
Sheffield Merkurstrasse 64, Ch-8032, Zurich 7,
PO Box 81, Lambeth Stn, London, On, Switzerland
Canada N6P 1P9. Auction at Four Points 11

GB & COMMONWEALTH
Sheraton Hotel, London, Ontario Cambridgeshire
28 27 Fore Hill, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7
The Ten O’Clock Show 4AA.
Village Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Auction at The Maltings, Ely
Poges, Slough, Berkshire SL2 4LP 11
29 Tony Lester

APPROVALS
Lugdunum Unit 2, The Sidings, Birdingbury Road,
12, Place Xavier Ricard, 69110 Sainte- Marton, Rugby CV23 9RX16
Foy-Les-Lyon, France. Post bid auction 12
INDIVIDUALLY COMPILED 30
Universal
Bil
6 Pottergate Road, Ancaster, Grantham,
TO COMPRISE ONLY THE The Old School, Idbury, Chipping
Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 6RU
Lincolnshire NG32 3QZ
14
AREAS YOU COLLECT ! 30 GB AND USA
Sandafayre Kwik Nutmeg

Quality Stocks at Very Low Prices Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8XN PO Box 4547, Danbury, Ct 06813, USA
Postal auction
October 2008 14
£5 FREE FROM YOUR FIRST SELECTION! 1
Warwick and Warwick
Sandafayre Express
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8XN
Chalon House, Scar Bank, Millers Road, 14/18
“Thank you for your help and kindness over the years. Warwick CV34 5DB WIPA OFFICIAL RARITIES AUCTION
2/7 Corinphila,
I’ve grown to think of you as a friend.” A.C., W. Lothian. David Feldman, Zollikerstrasse 226, 8034 Zurich, Switzerland
175 Rue de Chancy, PO Box 81, CH 15
“Your approvals are the best I’ve received over many years 1213 Onex, Geneva, Switzerland Nova
3/4 Box 19541, S-104 32 Stockholm, Sweden
of stamp collecting.” F.S., Tayside. SCANDINAVIA 17/18
Postiljonen Deider
“Your service has been superb - I can’t fault it.” Box 537, SE-201, 25 Malmo, Sweden Nordenstrasse 56, D-80801, Munich,
4 Germany
L.H., Cornwall. Worthing 18
70 Victoria Road, Worthing BN11 1UN AUSTRALIA AND GENERAL
“I have been buying stamps on approval for 60+ years. For 4 Mowbray
Somerset Level 1, 422 Little Collins Street,
variety and condition the stamps you send have never been Forest Farm, Ashill, Ilminster, Somerset Melbourne, Vic 3000, Australia.
bettered.” B.C., Gt. Manch. TA19 9LP Auction in Melbourne, Australia
4 20
Southampton & District PS Wealden
Please write, phone or e-mail with your collecting Auction at Holy Family Catholic Church PO Box 95, Tonbridge, Kent TN12 7PX.
interests for my immediate attention. Hall, Redbridge Hill, Southampton at Postal auction
1.00 p.m. 21
MARTIN CUSSANS (GSM) B.A. Est. 1976 5 Sandafayre Hunters
Provincial Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8XN
22 Joiners Road, Linton, Cambs CB21 4NP 90 Park Rd, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8QR 25
Tel: 01223 893264. Member, UDPA 7 Eastern
E-mail: martin.cussans@btopenworld.com Sandafayre Post Bid PO Box 250, Bathurst, NB E2A 3Z2,
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8XN Canada

24 G.S.M. October 2008

 Around the Houses
News of recent and forthcoming sales at auction
houses around the world
Recent Auctions
Grosvenor
The Great Britain sale of 29 and
30 May was dominated by errors,
many of them from the second
part of the ‘Davenport’ collection.
A superb 2½d. Silver Wedding
Prussian blue on cover sold for
£14,500 and in Queen Elizabeth a
3d. Botanical missing green made
£10,000, a vertical pair of the 6d.
Technology, one missing the
dark blue Jaguar completely, the
other partially, sold for £11,000,
the unique 1968 9d. Christmas
turquoise-green omitted went for
£14,000 and the 5d. Philympia
missing Queen’s head (illustrated
above), also unique mint, sold for
£12,000.
Even higher prices were
achieved in the decimal
commemoratives section with an
imperf block of ten of the 1989
Lord Mayor’s show 20p selling for
£16,500, a strip of five of the 1980
Railways 12p going for £27,000
and the famous 1976 Roses 13p
value omitted in corner pair with
normal making £42,000.
All prices quoted exclude
premium.
Harmers
Transatlantic pioneer airmails
originating in Newfoundland have
long held a special place in the
hearts of aerophilatelists and
have carried heavier price tags
than equivalent, predominantly
overland, flights from other parts of
the world.
Unsuccessful flights, such as the
1919 attempt by the Martinsyde
aircraft, Raymor, are especially
desirable, most covers bearing
a 3c. brown Caribou inscribed in
manuscript ‘Aerial Atlantic Mail
J.A.R.’ (SG 142a). So to have two
examples in the same sale on
28 May was unusual, to say the
least. In the event only one of the
two was sold, however, achieving
the highest price of the day at
£20,000, exactly what it had been
expected to achieve.
China continues to increase in
popularity, the sale included a
number of collections, with one
covering People’s Republic issues
to 1999 going well over estimate
at £13,000.
The sale also included a good
selection of Barbados ‘Britannia’
stamps, a fine example of the very
rare ½d. yellow-green, pin perf 14
×12½, with fresh colour, used,
26
went for over
full catalogue
price at £8000
(illustrated
left).
All prices
quoted
exclude
premium.
Matthew Bennett International
On 24 May the New Jersey auction
house offered the George A
Schwenk collection of 19th century
US stamps, achieving a number of
significant realisations.
Top lot
at $120,000
was the
grey-brown
‘special
printing’ of
the 1882
5c. Garfield
on soft
porous
paper
(illustrated
above) (SG 212, catalogue
£14,000).
An unused 1851 1c. blue, Type
III (9, catalogued £4500) sold for
$40,000, as did an unused 1857
10c. green, Type IV (38). Another
1851 1c., this time the rare Type
I but quite heavily used, sold for
$32,500 and another ‘special
printing’, the 1880 1c. ultramarine
on hard white wove paper (169,
catalogued £6000) sold for
$37,500.
The premiums over catalogue
price achieved will be partly due
to the strength of the market in
US classics since the catalogue
was published in 2005, but mainly
because of the very high quality
of the stamps in question, quality
which is increasingly being sought
after by collectors in the States.
Prices quoted exclude premium.
Spink
The June auction calendar at
Spink’s Bloomsbury sale rooms
included Part 2 of the Gerald Sattin
collection of Soldiers’ Rates of the
British Empire to 1898 on the 4th
and important stamps and covers
of the world, including items from
the Royal Philatelic Collection, on
the 12th.
From the former, the top item
was one of only two known
soldiers’ covers from India bearing
1854 values to pay Indian inland
rates, with two ½a. blues attached.
Estimated at £2500-3000, this sold
for £10,000. A Mauritius cover,
illustrated on the front of the sale
catalogue and described as the
only recorded use of a Dardenne
1d. value on a soldiers’ cover fell
somewhat short of expectations
at £9000.
The 12 June sale featured two
extraordinary ‘Rainbow’ colour
trial pieces, neither of which
found a buyer. However a page
from the Perkins Bacon record
book showing ink recipes for
early colonial stamps went well
over estimate at £68,000. A fine
unused King Edward VII Straits
Settlements $500 on Multiple
Crown CA paper made £58,000,
a Treasury Competition essay
attributed to C Featherstone from
the Royal Philatelic Collection went
for £44,000 and in British Guiana
an attractive square-cut 12c.
‘Cottonreel’ with the ‘straight-foot
2’ variety sold for £30,000 (right).
All prices exclude premium.
Forthcoming Auctions
David Feldman
As we go to press the first two catalogues from David Feldman’s October
sale have arrived on the editorial desk, promising another important event
from the Geneva auction house.
With two sections of the ‘Kristall’ collection of Sweden, formed by Ingvar
Pettersson, having already achieved ‘results beyond expectations’, the
third and final part also promises some significant realisations. Among
the highlights are an 1856 entire to Constantinople bearing a 3Sk.Bco.
green, a 4Sk.Bco. light blue, a 6Sk.Bco. grey and a 24Sk.Bco. dull red.
Described as ‘an ultimate showpiece of Swedish philately’ it carries a
pre-sale estimate of €150,000-200,000.
The ‘Rarities of the World section of the sale will be held on 5
October and is particularly strong in Russia, featuring what is described
as ‘the ultimate crown jewel of Russian philately’, an 1858 cover
bearing a first issue 10k. and a strip of three second issue 30k. stamps,
estimated at €750,000-1,000,000, while USA features the complete
plate proofs of the 1847 5c. and 10c. overprinted ‘SPECIMEN’ and
China provides the ‘Countess Caroline
cover with nine wide-setting 5ca. Large
Dragons, both of which carry the same
estimate as the Russia cover.
Early—very early!—postal history
features a papyrus letter from 2nd century
BC Egypt, while Great Britain includes a
good looking 6 May Penny Black cover
(estimate €30,000-50,000 and the finest of
the four known ‘VR’ Penny Black covers
(€300,000-500,000). We illustrate the
Jamaica 1919-21 1s. inverted frame (right),
which carries an estimate of €20,000-
30,000.
Postiljonen
The 4 October sale in Malmo offers strength in Scandinavia, especially
Sweden, which includes an exceptional selection of the Skilling issues,
on and off cover.
The highlight is probably the
strip of four 3 Sk.Bco. on cover,
the largest known unit of this
value, which has a starting price
of €50,000. Other desirable items
in this section include a strip of
three of the 3 Sk.Bco., the centre
stamp with the ‘TOE’ variety
and a cover to England franked
with three examples of the 24
Sk.Bco.
Denmark also includes a cover bearing the largest known unit of a
good stamp, in this case a strip of four of the 4 RBS Ferslew, which will
start at €40,000.
Norway features the only known unused pair of SG 1 without faults
and a unique cover with a strip of six of the same stamp, one with the
engraved corner variety. Both of these start at €20,000.
Spink
The 22 September Great Britain sale is particularly strong in line-
engraved stamps, and covers and features a good selection of ‘May
dates’, including a fine 1d. Mulready envelope and a more scruffy 1d.
letter sheet, both used on 6 May, the estimates of £12,000-15,000 and
£1000-1500 clearly demonstrating the importance of condition in today’s
market. There is also a 6 May Penny Black entire, but this is also, sadly
defective and has a £3000-5000 estimate.
Fine covers follow, however, and a nice
28 May entire from Devizes to Salisbury
with two 2d. blues and a Penny Black
rates a pre-sale estimate of £40,000-
50,000, with a similarly addressed entire
dated 25 August but with two Penny
Blacks and one 2d. blue expected to
make £60,000-70,000.
Among the unused line-engraved, of
which there are many, a plate 5 strip of
five is estimated at £35,000-40,000. Finally a marginal mint imprimatur
from plate 5 is expected to make £15,000-20,000 (illustrated above).
G.S.M. October 2008
BRITISH STAMPS
A Gibbons Stamp Monthly Supplement No 331 October 2008

Definitive products
A collectors pack containing one each of
the current 2nd class, 1st class, 50p and
81p Country stamps for England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales goes on sale
on 29 September, cost £8.30.
Also on sale that day is a set of stamp
cards picturing the 17 current Machin de-
finitives from 1p to £5 plus the seven NVI
stamps, a total of 24 cards, this costs £9.60.

Smilers for Kids

A new product aimed at children is to go
on sale from 7 October. This consists of
a sheet of ten stamps with corresponding
labels (featuring popular children’s charac-
ters) sold in a pack along with other mater-

Christmas ial designed to appeal to the young.

The first two packs feature Beatrix Pot-
ter (a sheet of ten ‘New Baby’ stamps with

T raditional pantomimes are the theme of this year’s Christmas stamps to be issued on
4 November.
The 2nd class values (standard and Large) show the Ugly Sisters from Cinderella, the
labels depicting Peter Rabbit and five baby
announcement cards) and Flower Fairies (a
sheet of ten Flower stamps with labels fea-
two 1st class stamps (standard and Large) depict the Genie from Aladdin, Captain turing the fairy ‘Almond Blossom’, the
Hook from Peter Pan features on the 50p stamp while the Wicked Queen from pack folder includes a picture of
Snow White appears on the 81p stamp. Almond Blossom that can be cut
The stamps were designed by Steve will also be available. These con- out). The packs will be avail-
Haskins and team at so design using photo- tain 10×1st class (£7.50), 20×1st able from selected Post Office
graphs by Peter Thorpe and have been class (£13.50), 20×2nd class shops and Tallents House,
printed in gravure by De La Rue on self- (£8.50) and 10×81p (£13.50), price £7.95. The stamp sheets
adhesive paper. They will also be available in two or more sheets of a kind are have been printed by Cartor
a conventionally gummed miniature sheet available at a discount. in litho.
and the standard 2nd and 1st class values in
booklets of 12 stamps.
A blank first day cover Lest We Forget
envelope (30p), stamp The third in the series of miniature sheets in the series commemorating events of the First
cards (£2.80) and pre- World War marks the Armistice of 1918 and is to be issued on 6 November.
sentation pack (£3.40) Containing four 81p Country stamps (one each from England, Northern Ireland,
will also go on sale. Scotland and Wales) and a new 1st class Poppy design, the sheet costs £3.60; it has been
Pictorial first day can- designed by Hat Trick design and printed in litho by De La Rue.
cellations will be in In addition, the Poppy stamp, along with those used in the miniature sheets of 2006 and
use at Tallents House, 2007, will be issued in sheets of 30 stamps containing ten of each design; the stamps will
Edinburgh, and Beth- be sold singly. These have also been printed by De La Rue in litho.
lehem, Llandeilo. A blank first day cover envelope (30p), six stamp cards for the three Poppy stamps and
As well as the Pantomime three miniature sheets (£2.40), presentation pack (£4.10), generic sheet of 20 Poppy
stamps, the Madonna stamps issued last year stamps (£7.75) and End of War medal cover (£14.95) will also be available. First day cancel-
will also be on sale for those who prefer a re- lations will be in use at Tallents House, Edinburgh, and London SW1.
ligious theme for their cards. These stamps,
designed by Peter Willberg, feature Ma-
donna and Child by William Dyce (2nd class)
and The Madonna of Humility by Lippo di
Dalmasio (1st class), they have been printed
in gravure by De La Rue.
Airletters
The 2006 airletter featuring Father Christ-
mas and reindeer by Tatsuro Kiuchi will go
back on sale on 4 November. Available in
both standard and bilingual (Welsh/Eng-
lish) versions, the airletters cost 63p each.
Generic and Smilers sheets
A generic sheet containing eight 2nd class,
eight 1st class and four 81p Christmas
stamps will cost £8.85. Printed in litho by
Cartor, adjoining labels will feature panto-
mime scenes and cries.
Four Smilers sheets with customers’ own
images printed on the adjoining stamp labels

G.S.M. October 2008 29

 BRITISH STAMPS
A Review of the Castle Stamps,
1988–1999: Part 1
Peter Shaw studies the various errors and varieties that occurred in
printing these stamps and explains how and why they arose

T he printers encountered serious problems in printing these stamps. Problems for

printers create interest for collectors, keeping track of all the errors and varieties.
I have studied this issue since 1989. I have corresponded with the printers regarding its
was not suitable and was withdrawn. For ex-
ample, there are no ‘1’ or ‘3’ plate numbers
for the 1992 £5 stamp, since mother plates
production and the reasons errors and abnormalities occurred. Their responses have been ‘1’ and ‘3’ would not have been up to stand-
incorporated into this article. ard. Printing plates were prepared from the
The article is not comprehensive and The contract for printing the stamps passed mother plate and were denoted by the use of
there may be items that some readers feel from Harrisons to Enschedé in 1997. a letter. Again, the omission of a letter from
should have been included or are of par- a sequence of plate numbers would indicate
ticular interest to them. If anyone has any The plate numbering system that the printing plate was not suitable and
queries or differences of opinion I would The plates were numbered by a numeral, was withdrawn. On the 1992 £5 stamp from
be obliged if they would contact me via the followed by a letter. the fifth mother plate the letter sequence
editor. I may be able to assist through the Near the end of the process of develop- jumps from 5G to 5O, which would sug-
correspondence I had with the printers. Any ing the stamps from the original engraved gest a sequence of seven printing plates
new information would also be welcome. die a master plate was prepared. From this were considered unsuitable. The omission
master plate another plate was made, called of such a large sequence is an indication of
Background to the Castle the mother plate. Each mother plate was the problems Harrisons were encountering
given a numeral, commencing at ‘1’. The in printing these stamps. Harrisons did not
stamps absence of a numeral in a sequence of plate use a separate number for the head plate,
The stamps were issued on Tuesday, 18
numbers would indicate that mother plate printing in optically variable ink.
October 1988 (Fig 1).
The castles chosen were Carrickfergus
Castle in Northern Ireland, Caernarfon Fig 1 The new
Castle in Wales, Edinburgh Castle in Scot- Castle stamps of
land and Windsor Castle in England. They 1988
were the same castles as were used for the
first Queen Elizabeth high values in 1955.
The denominations of the stamps were £1,
£1.50, £2 and £5. Unlike the previous series
of Machin high values the denominations
were not changed when postal rates were
increased.
The contract for printing the stamps
was given to Harrison and Sons, who were
more familiar with photogravure than re-
cess printing.
In 1992 the design of the Castle stamps
was changed (Fig 2). There was concern at
the ease in which the original stamps could
be forged with the development of copier
technology.
Royal Mail decided to modify the stamps,
incorporating security devices. The new
designs remained basically the same, al- Fig 2 The revised
Castles of 1992
though new dies were engraved. The main
changes were a silhouetted head, which was
printed in a different ink, and the inclusion
of an elongated perforation.
Several types of ink were considered
and finally an optically variable ink was de-
cided upon, never used before on postage
stamps. The ink was manufactured by Sicpa
of Switzerland and changes colour from
green to gold, depending on the angle of
viewing. The change in colour could not be
reproduced by copiers. After considering
printing the design and inscription in the
new ink, its use was restricted to a silhouet-
ted version of the Queen’s head, as used
on the special issues. The remainder of the
design was printed in the normal colour.

G.S.M. October 2008 31

BRITISH STAMPS
The plate number was placed in the left Fig 3
margin opposite the stamp on the ninth Position of
row. The printer’s name was placed below the plate
the plate number (Fig 3). number and
Collectors regard plate numbers as a vital printer’s
piece of information and high prices can name
be paid for scarce plate blocks. However
printers do not view plate numbers with the
same degree of importance as collectors.
In response to one of my letters, Harrisons
stated that plate numbers are not a key
piece of control information. The plate
number appears to be used as a reference
when the plate is made and serves no fur-
ther purpose in the production process.
Harrison and Sons printed the stamps in
intaglio (recess) on their De La Rue Giori
presses. This was the first time they had
been used for printing stamps. Harrisons
had two presses which could print from
four plates and two presses which could
print from two, sheet feeding the paper into
the presses. The presses using four plates
could each produce up to 6000 sheets per
Fig 4 The
hour. Individual printing plates could be re- short-lived
placed, which would account for several new plate 2E £2
plate numbers appearing at once. Some-
times plates were brought into use but were
withdrawn after only a short period. As a
consequence some plate numbers are quite
scarce. It is difficult to be precise on the
exact numbers that exist for each plate.
In the summer of 1992, shortly after the
issue of the revised Castle stamps, the £2
stamp printed from plate 2E was discovered
and was reported in the August 1993 edi-
tion of Gibbons Stamp Monthly (Fig 4). The
only known source was the Leicester Phil-
atelic Counter. It is thought that two, poss-
ibly three, examples exist. An examination
of one of these reveals no abnormalities,
but the plate must have been withdrawn
shortly after being brought into use.
Some plate numbers can remain unknown
for several years after issue. One example is
the £5 stamp printed from plate 4B (Fig 5).
Based on the sequence of plate numbers, Fig 5 The £5
the plate was probably in use around early plate 4B was
1993, but its existence was not widely known not widely
until early 2004. It is possible that there are known until
2004
only two examples in existence.
Sometimes a plate may initially be con-
sidered to be scarce but further supplies
are later released from Royal Mail cent-
ral stores. This occurred in the case of
the £1.50 stamp printed from plate 2GG.
Initially reported in November 1994 and
thought to be scarce, plate blocks were
being sold for over £100. Towards the
end of 1996 further printings from this
plate were released by Royal Mail, much to
Fig 6
the annoyance of dealers who were faced
Enschedé
with losses. The retail price is now less plates had
separate
head plate
numbers
Some plate
numbers can remain
unknown for several
years after issue
32 G.S.M. October 2008

than £20—one of the hazards of buying
allegedly scarce current material.
Other scarce plates are the £2 plate 3C
and the £5 plates 5B and 5C.
Who knows? There may be still unknown
plates lurking in someone’s collection, the
owner possibly being unaware of their rar-
ity. Rare items and errors can turn up years
after their release.
The Enschedé printed stamps had separ-
ate plate numbers for the optically variable
ink and the ink used for the design (Fig 6).
One master plate was created and from this
five identical printing plates were produced,
all with the same plate numbers. As long as
the master pane plate remained undam-
aged, all the initial printing plates and any
new printing plates would have borne the
same numbers. Four of the plates were used
to print the stamps and the fifth was held in
reserve. Due to the short period Enschedé
printed the stamps there was no need to
create a new master plate. Therefore the
only plate number known is ‘1A’, used both
for the optically variable ink and the design.
The plates were made of nickel and were
chrome plated to be ready for printing.
Unlike the Harrisons’ printing, the two
inks were applied in separate operations.
The optically variable ink was applied first by
the silk screen method and is identifiable by
the upper plate number. The ink for castle,
inscription and value was then applied and
is identifiable by the lower plate number.
In the Enschedé printing the marginal
inscription in the lower margin was the
right way up to make it easier for postal
clerks to read. In the Harrison printing the
inscription was inverted.
Why the initial plate
numbers for the £1.50 stamp
commenced at 2 and not 1
Unlike the other values, the plate numbers
of the £1.50 stamp issued in 1988 com-
menced at 2. This was due to a change in
the design, as can be seen in the enlarge-
ments in Figs 7 and 8.
Originally there were chimney pots on
the building below the Queen’s head as
shown in the publicity photograph. These
were removed and the gap between the
chimney and the Queen’s head widened
on the issued stamp, otherwise it would
give the impression of the Queen’s head
being a puff of smoke coming out of the
chimney! A new master pane plate was re-
quired and the new mother plate prepared
from this plate was numbered ‘2’.
Figs 7 and 8 The chimney pots below The Queen’s head on the £1.50 value were
removed before issue, this required a new plate and this value began with plate 2
G.S.M. October 2008
BRITISH STAMPS
The Revised Printings. Re-engraved or Re-etched?
In 1994 it was announced that stamps would be produced using an enhanced process.
Sometimes the stamps are described as re-engraved and sometimes as re-etched. The
Stanley Gibbons Specialised Catalogue, volume 4, uses the expression ‘re-etched.’ So which
is right and what do these expressions mean?
For the stamps to be re-engraved, the master die would have been re-engraved or a new
master die produced. Harrisons stated in a response to my letter that: ‘It is correct that the
stamps have not been re-engraved. It is the plate-making system we have changed which
involved the re-etching of plates using computer controlled etching equipment.’
In order to improve the print quality, Harrisons developed a new plate production
process. The original hand-engraved steel dies were very accurately photographed. The
film positives produced were used to produce engraved copper plates etched by a photo-
mechanical method. From the copper plates, nickel machine plates were produced by
using electrolytic plating.
So the correct expression is re-etched and not re-engraved.
The differences in the two printings can be seen in Figs 9 and 10.
Figs 9 and 10 showing the differences between the original and re-etched plates
The resulting stamps are quite distinct for the issue of half-sheets has never been
from the original revised issue of 1992. The satisfactorily explained.
stamps can easily be distinguished by the Fig 11
hatching on the Queen’s head. The 1992
In the 1992 printing the hatching of printing had
the Queen’s head is diamond-shaped (Fig diamond-
11). In the re-etched head the hatching is shaped
in the form of squares (Fig 12). There are hatching to
other minor differences on each value to The Queen’s
distinguish the printings. head
There appears to have been a problem
in printing the re-etched £1 stamp. The Fig 12 The
sheets printed from the first plates, num- re-etched
bers 3A, 3B and 3C, were only issued in stamps
vertical half-sheets, possibly due to pro- had square
duction difficulties. However a complete hatching
sheet printed from plate 3B was released,
presumably accidentally. It was discovered
in the middle of a stack of plate 3E but no
abnormalities could be seen. The reason
The plate numbers were changed on the
£1, £2 and £5 stamps when the re-etched
versions were issued, but this was not the
case in the £1.50 stamp. This was due to the
first printings being made from a copper
plate , as a result it was decided to continue
with the current number sequence.
The use of copper instead of nickel
plates created problems as the copper
plates wore out quickly.
This particularly affected the chimney.
Due to wear on this part of the plate,
insufficient ink was picked up from the
roller train. The impression of an omitted
33
BRITISH STAMPS
chimney is created. However, there was still
sufficient of the chimney remaining to leave
an embossed impression on the stamp.
Printings from plates 2DD and 2EE were
affected, particularly the latter. Plate 2EE is
illustrated in Fig 13 with an enlargement of
the missing chimney in Fig 14.
Fig 14 Enlargement of the ‘missing’
chimney
Offsets
Offsets can occur when a sheet fails to
enter the printing machine, but the print-
ing operation is carried out. When the next
sheet passes through the printing machine
a mirror image is left on the back of the
sheet.
In response to one of my letters, Har-
risons explained that when a sheet fails
to be taken up by the printing machine a
good ink image is made on the impression
blanket.
When the next sheet goes through the
machine this ink is very sharply transferred
on to the back of that sheet, even though
the top side of the sheet is well printed.
This is not a transfer from printed paper
to printed paper, but from the printing
blanket on to the back of a sheet.
There are two examples of a complete
offset occurring, affecting entire sheets.
The first sheet was from a £2 stamp printed
by plate 2R (Fig 15).
A complete offset also occurred on the
£5 stamp printed by plate 7D (Fig 16).
The sheet was found in the Nottingham
area.
34
Fig 13 Plate 2EE £1.50 showing the
‘missing’ chimney caused by plate wear
Fig 16 £5 plate 7D with
complete offset
Fig 17 Partial offset on the
£1.50 value
If a sheet enters the printing machine
folded, an impression would be left on
the printing blanket, but only on the area
affected by the fold. The offset would then
only affect that part of the sheet, as can be
seen in the two examples illustrated (Figs
17 and 18).
There are examples where fainter offsets
exist from some plates. They are probably
from the second or third sheets to pass
through the printer where ink remained
on the impression blanket. The first sheet,
with the striking impression, has not been
recorded, so it was probably removed by
the checkers or the printing operatives
during the printing. The impression on the
second and third sheets would be fainter
and more difficult to detect.
Full and complete offsets from the first
sheet to be affected are scarce and as far as
I am aware only the four examples noted
here exist.
In Part 2 Peter Shaw looks at perforation
varieties, missing heads, shades, papers and
other items of interest on the 1988–1999
Castles.
Fig 15 A
complete
offset
occurred on
the £2 from
plate 2R
G.S.M. October 2008
 BRITISH STAMPS

Fig 18 £2 value showing a

partial offset caused by a fold
in the previous sheet before it
entered the press

Figs 12 and 13 are reproduced from

Variety Club News, courtesy of B Alan Ltd,
email Contact@BalanStamps.co.uk

Full and complete offsets

from the first sheet to be
affected are scarce and as
far as I am aware only the
four examples noted here
exist
G.S.M. October 2008 35
 BRITISH STAMPS
Machin Watch
John M Deering reports on the RAF Uniforms booklet and other Machin
matters
Hello and welcome to the October edition of Gibbons Stamp Monthly, and especially to fore its 90th ­anniversary, and so the timing
‘Machin Watch’, where I try and keep readers up to date with the happenings in the mod­ of this particular service uniforms issue in
ern GB and Machin scene. I can’t quite believe it is the October edition already; after all the current year makes a great deal of sense.
we haven’t had a summer yet, and it won’t be long before I feel obliged to tell you about The RAF came into being through the amal­
this year’s Christmas stamps (but I will desist for a little while longer). This month’s article gamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC)
is mostly devoted to the ‘RAF Uniforms’ prestige booklet, and although the se-tenant pane and the Royal Naval Air Services (RNAS).
does not produce any totally new Machins, the stamps are none the less important to the (From an official perspective, the 90th anni­
more specialised collector and so quite a detailed report follows. versary of the RAF flew off to a start much
Before I begin, and turning our attentions to De La Rue ‘ATN’ sheet printings and their earlier in the year when on 18 March it
printing dates, in the August edition I listed a group of 11 unconfirmed printing dates and launched a programme of events, including
asked for help from readers to confirm their existence. The 11 are printing dates that have on 1 April a flypast over London, there was
crept into lists of dates that are supposed to exist, and are dates that nobody seems able to another flypast in July when The Queen
confirm (although they have been recorded). If you are a printing date enthusiast please visited RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to
check your collection and let me know if you can confirm any of the 11 dates. So far none present the service with new colours, though
of the dates have been confirmed by readers, and if none are I shall soon be classifying the planned Royal International Air Tattoo
them as listed in error and assuming they don’t exist. Until next month … had to be cancelled due to heavy rain.)
In a similar fashion to the 2007 uniforms
issue, the RAF version is also accompanied
‘RAF Uniforms’ issue by a prestige booklet (entitled Pilot to Plane)
The second in a series of three thematic The first in the series was ‘British Army which charts the history of the clothing
commemorative stamp issues examining the Uniforms’ (SG 2774/9) and was issued on worn by the flying armed services and on
uniforms of our armed services became 20 September 2007, and the trio will then into more modern times. Pilot to Plane ­really
available on 18 September 2008 (timed be completed in 2009 with ‘Royal Navy Uni­ helps to take the whole subject on to a dif­
to coincide with Autumn Stampex) and forms’. (The Royal Air Force was officially ferent level; it is both very interesting and
is devoted to the Royal Air Force (RAF). formed on 1 April 1918 and 2008 is there­ educational, taking
the subject matter
beyond what can
ever be reasonably
achieved by colour­
ful commemorative
stamps alone. Just
like British Army
Uniforms, the RAF
Uniforms com­
memorative sheet
issue comprises six
stamps of only two
denominations—
but produced in
RAF Uniforms
prestige
booklet, Pilot to
Plane

G.S.M. October 2008

 
BRITISH STAMPS
horizontal se-tenant strips of three (se-tenant
triplets). One strip is of three 1st stamps,
and the other is of three 81p stamps.
The commemorative stamps
The six different commemoratives (which
are also all included within the prestige
booklet) feature illustrations of uniformed
working service people, and each of the six
illustrations either represents a different
type of garment or a significant stage in
its the development. The stamps’ illustra-
tions are by Graham Turner who also de-
signed those for ‘British Army Uniforms’,
and their similarity in style is immediately
obvious.
The six stamps span 89 years and are as
follows (in the order they appear in their
triplets): 1st Drum Major RAF Central Band
2007 (illustrating a Drum Major wearing
ceremonial dress with gold braid, and with
Mace); 1st Helicopter Rescue Winchman
1984 (featuring a winchman wearing an
orange high visibility immersion suit, with
outstretched hand); 1st Hawker Hunter
Pilot 1951 (showing a pilot in special blue-
grey flying suit with helmet and oxygen
mask developed for the jet age); 81p Lan-
caster Air Gunner 1944 (illustrating an air
gunner wearing a yellow electrically-heated
Taylor Buoyancy Suit that was specially
provided for air gunners who were isolated
in their gun turrets, often at the rear of the
fuselage of bomber aircraft); 81p Plotter
WAAF 1940 (featuring a servicewoman in
traditional smart and comfortable blue-
grey uniform, with head set and plotting
tools); and lastly, 81p Pilot 1918 (showing a
pilot wearing brown full-length pilot’s coat
and thick gloves, which were developed
from motoring garments and were prim­
arily to provide warmth and protection
from the intense cold at altitude).
38
Pane 3 from RAF Uniforms
prestige booklet along with 20p
Harrison gravure centre band
single from 1997 British Aircraft
Designers set and 1st class
Red Arrows singles from De La
Rue gravure sheet printing and,
with label, Cartor litho generic
sheet
Together the stamps are both colour-
ful and attractive, and even from just a
quick glance it is immediately obvious how
the garments have evolved over almost 90
years. Being se-tenant and sensibly joined
in a logical sequence, the stamps really do
work very well. Both sheet and prestige
booklet versions are printed by Walsall
in litho and all have two (side) phosphor
bands.
The booklet
Using a blend of informative text, written
by Andrew Cormack (who is the Keeper
of Uniforms and Flying Clothing at the
Royal Air Force Museum), and histor­ical
photographs, Pilot to Plane really does put
the subject into perspective. It opens by
discussing the origins of the RAF and
quickly moves on to the developments of
flying clothing by explaining its origins
and how it evolved between the wars. The
story then covers the advancements needed
to deal with the requirements of the jet
age, where quite different clothing was
required to help the pilot with high alti-
tudes, high speeds and high-G manoeuvres
(without this clothing these manoeuvres
would cause blood to sink into the pilot’s
legs and deprive his/her brain of oxygen).
The ceremonial side of the RAF is also in-
cluded and of course the Red Arrows get a
mention! Two pages discuss women in the
flying services and towards the end of the
book the non-flying trades such as ground
crews and firefighters are recognised, as is
the Air Sea Rescue.
The cover of the booklet is in a blue-grey
colour, a colour suitably synonymous with
the standard RAF Uniform. Interspersed
between the various pages of pictures and
text are four stamp panes: two contain
only ‘RAF Uniforms’ commemoratives
whilst another has a mixture of 20p ‘Mitch-
ell—Supermarine’ stamps and 1st ‘Red
­Arrows’ stamps, and the fourth is a se-tenant
Machin definitive pane which (in line with
tradition) has a label in the centre of the
arrangement.
All four stamp panes (including the
‘Mitchell’ and ‘Red Arrows’ stamps—and
even the Machin definitives) are printed by
Walsall in litho. All are on non-fluorescent
paper with cream PVA gum. Interestingly
though the booklet is a combination of
printers, as the cover, text/picture pages,
and the assembly, are all by Cartor of
France.
G.S.M. October 2008

Commemorative panes
Panes 1 and 2 together replicate all six of
the ‘RAF Uniforms’ sheet commemoratives:
pane 1 contains the three 81p stamps whilst
pane 2 contains the three 1st versions. In
both panes the three stamps are horizontally
se-tenant, and unlike their ‘Army’ counter­
parts which were (in the booklet) in reverse
order to that of the sheet stamps, the RAF
stamps are oddly in the same se-tenant order
in both sheets and booklet panes. I say
oddly, because it strikes me that the order
of the booklet triplets is not entirely logical
when considered alongside the text pages
(but perhaps I am just being picky).
Pane 3 has four stamps (2×2) and is a
mixture of two each 20p ‘Mitchell—Super­
marine’ and 1st ‘Red Arrows’ stamps. The
arrangement is 20p/1st in the top row,
and 1st/20p in the lower row. The 20p
‘Mitchell—Supermarine’ design is taken
from the 1997 ‘British Aircraft Designers’
set where it is also a 20p stamp (1984). The
1997 stamp was printed by Harrisons, is in
gravure, perf 15×14 and has a centre phos­
phor band. By contrast the booklet version
is printed by Walsall in litho, is perf 14½×14
and has two (side) bands. There are other
small distinguishing features like shade and
the fact that the wording on the booklet
version is bolder, but these are incidental
beside the other features. Turning our at­
tention to the 1st ‘Red Arrows’ stamps, the
design is taken from the 2008 ‘Air Displays’
commemorative sheet stamps set which was
issued on 17 July—and complementing the
sheet issue (and also made avail­
able on 17 July) was a generic
sheet containing 20 of the ‘Red
Arrows’ stamps. The booklet ver­
G.S.M. October 2008
BRITISH STAMPS
The difference between the litho
printings of the 1990s and those of 2008
is startling
sion is therefore the third in only two
months! All have two (side) bands and are
perf 14½×14, but the sheet stamps are a
De La Rue gravure printing whilst the gen­
eric sheet (Cartor) and booklet (Walsall)
stamps are both litho. The sheet versions
have very bright fluor bands with gradated
inside edges. By comparison, both the
generic sheet and booklet printings have
much duller fluor but are distinguishable
from each other because their bands are
slightly different: on the generic sheet the
bands are not gradated and have crisp in­
side edges, whilst on the booklet pane the
stamps have gradated inside edges.
Machin definitive pane
Pane 4 is the Machin definitive pane and
it contains a mixture of eight 2nd and
1st stamps, and has a central RAF target
­‘Roundel’ label. The background to the
pane is of a display chart from a flight simu­
lator which is at the RAF Brize Norton air­
base in Oxfordshire, and for those ­ readers
who like a little bit of extra information
beyond philately: the Brize Norton airbase is
the largest station in the Royal Air Force and
employs almost 3900 service personnel and
over 600 civilians; it is the home of
Air Transport, Air-to-Air Refuelling
and Military Parachuting. Whilst the
airfield at Brize Norton came into
Pane 4 from the RAF Uniforms prestige booklet containing Machin definitives;
it includes the first 1st class Machin to be printed by Walsall in litho
Inset: 2nd class Walsall litho stamps of the 1990s and 2008
being in 1935, the origins of the RAF target
‘Roundel’ are a little earlier and came from
the First World War and the need to confid­
ently identify aircraft. Initially the Union
Flag had been painted on the underside of
aircrafts’ wings, but at higher altitudes this
was sometimes mistaken from the ground as
the German Cross and in October 1914 the
use of blue, white and red concentric circles
was adopted—and has evolved into quite
an iconic symbol. It is probably fair to say
that very few nations have a symbol on their
military aircraft that is so full of heritage,
and summons up such feelings of honour
and courage.
The stamps and label are arranged as
follows: top and bottom row 1st/2nd/1st
and middle row 2nd/label/2nd. The 2nd
stamps each have a centre phosphor band,
and the 1st stamps the usual two (side)
bands, and, as already indicated, this pane
is printed by Walsall in litho—as such it
produces a new (specialised) 1st Machin.
Walsall litho printed 2nd Machins already
exist, but the 1st printing is the very first
Walsall litho version.
The 2nd Machins
Although a Walsall litho 2nd Machin al­
ready exists, the RAF ‘Uniforms’ printing is
very different and this is (in part) because
the quality of litho printing has come on
9
BRITISH STAMPS
Enlargements showing
differences between
Walsall litho printing of
the 1990s (far left, blue
fluor printing from 4x2nd
retail booklet) and the
2008 version with finer
and crisper features from
the RAF Uniforms booklet
(left)
much brighter and whiter; but what is per­
haps the most important feature is associ­
ated with the value, which is much thinner
and spidery in the (new) Walsall version.
Additionally, the value is positioned a ­little
further away from the left frame edge.
However; as both the DLR and Walsall
stamps are contemporary printings their
fine detail is similar, although I would say
that the DLR stamps are the better quality
as the Queen’s image is clearer and the
bolder value is just better.

High values: a further update

in leaps and bounds over the course of
the last ten years. In terms of stamps with
ellipses, the very first Walsall litho printed
2nd stamps were in 1993 when Walsall
printed NVI retail booklets and the stamps
had yellow fluor (1670; Spec UWA4). Sim­
ilar printings but with blue fluor appeared
in 1995 (UWA5) and in 1997 (with a long
wave reaction; UWA5a); since then Wal­
sall printings have been gummed (or self-
­­adhesive) and gravure.
The difference between the litho print­
ings of the 1990s and those of 2008 is
startling, and their characteristics really are
quite different. On the 2008 stamps the fea­
tures of the Queen’s head, hair and crown
are much finer and crisper—and could
easily be mistaken for gravure printings. Of
course close study under a magnifying glass
reveals the absence of easily distinguishable
screening dots at the frame edges and in
the value, and their litho origin gradually
becomes more obvious. Other distinguish­
ing features between the two litho printings
are that the head types are significantly
different; the 1990s version is more flat-
bottomed whilst that from 2008 has (like
the gravure printings) a very curved base
which makes it appear close to the bottom
frame.
Also on the 2008 stamps the head is
­positioned (very slightly) further to the
right. Turning our attentions to the value,
the new printing is much thinner. Lastly,
the litho printings from the 1990s have a
4mm centre band whist the RAF litho print­
ing has a much wider band (about 4½mm).
Of course there are other little features,
but what has become most obvious is that
distinguishing the two main litho printings
it is not the problem; the problem is being In the August 2008 Machin Watch I brought
able to separate the gravure and litho readers up to date with the current high
printings! values, and to do this I explained about
some new printings that had occurred in
The 1st Machins 2005 and I quoted various printing dates.
Turning our attentions to the gold 1st Since I wrote this particular article there
Machins, there is already a litho print­ is news of a further variety and it affects
ing—but not from the Walsall stable; rather the £2—which, if you are a specialist, can
it is by De La Rue (1672), and comes from now be considered to exist in four shade/
the James Bond prestige booklet (DX41) paper combinations. When first issued in
which was issued on 8 January this year (for 2003 (from cylinder D1) the £2 (Y1727;
a full report on the James Bond booklet Spec U491) was mostly printed on non-
and previous gold 1st stamps please see the ­fluorescent paper, but some stamps were
February 2008 ‘Machin Watch’). printed on a fluorescent paper as well.
So the Walsall version is (in terms of After the discovery of the missing ‘£’ sign, a
the printer) completely new, and fortu­ new cylinder (D2) was brought into service
nately easily distinguishable from its DLR (with printing date 13 April 2005) and the
cousin, as follows: the Walsall stamp is a stamps from it were printed on the fluores­
much paler gold (more wishy-washy when cent paper also, but they had a much paler
compared to the deeper gold of the stamps Queen’s head and so are quite distinguish­
from the James Bond booklet); the fluor is able. However; there is a further variety
1st class litho stamps from De La Rue and Walsall. At left with
typewriter label is the De La Rue version in deeper gold with
bolder value set closer to left frame. Below is a Walsall corner
single from Brize Norton pane with wishy-washy colouring and
thin and spidery value set to the right
Enlargements to show differences
between the De La Rue (top) and Walsall
(bottom) 1st class litho printings

Late news: Machin family home and contents sold

Although readers will be aware that Arnold Machin died in 1999, they are less likely
to know that his son, Francis, suffered a very untimely death in 2007. Following his
demise, the family home (Garmelow Manor) has been sold, with some of the contents
auctioned by the time this particular edition of GSM is on sale. At the time of writing
the auction catalogue was not available, but you can be assured that by the time you
are reading this I will have studied what was on offer and, should there be anything of
philatelic significance (design sketches, plaster moulds, busts and so on), then I will
report it here so that it is not forgotten. Clearly anything to do with Machin history
is important to the Machin stamp enthusiast, but we must not forget that his legacy
goes beyond philately. Arnold Machin was an artist and his life was more than varied;
he had a particular love for modelling, sculpture and large scale garden design. So,
whilst we might just think of Arnold Machin in terms of philately, he was a true artist
and there is much more to him and his story. Consequently, there may be few or no
direct philatelic connections with any of the private possessions being sold following
the early death of his son.

0 G.S.M. October 2008


(and not previously recorded in Machin
Watch) which is also from cylinder D2 with
13 April 2005 printing date, but is perhaps
the result of De La Rue using up a part roll
of paper? This fourth version has a paler
shade and the paper is of an ‘intermediate’
type of fluorescent paper which has a very
dull fluorescence.
To further put the various De La Rue
gravure printings into context with each
other, I am including above (as I have done
in previous Machin Watch articles for the
low values) a table showing all the shades,
papers, cylinder numbers and printing
£2 13/04/05 and 27/03/03 printing date blocks. 2003 printing has deeper head and
background and exists on two sub-types of paper. 2005 printing is much paler, with
pale Queen’s head, and also exists on two sub-types of paper
G.S.M. October 2008
BRITISH STAMPS
dates. (The colour descriptions I include in
the table are as a result of specialised obser-
vations, and are not necessarily those used
by Stanley Gibbons in their catalogues.)
Tailpiece
Don’t forget to order your November GSM,
as I will be including a feature on the 50th
anniversary of the Regionals issues (29 Sep-
tember) which include a special miniature
sheet and prestige booklet. Also issued on
the same day will be the ‘Glorious United
Kingdom’ generic sheet, and so there will
likely be lots of new definitives to report.
GB LETTERS
Smilers not available
I’m not sure what point Ian Wilson
(August GSM) is trying to make
regarding the new imprint on the Red
White and Blue Smilers Sheet.
This sheet was never available from
Tallents House as a generic sheet,
but only as a personalised sheet. The
personalised sheet is available with both
imprints. The generic sheet (For Life’s
Special Moments) is only available with
one imprint: why should it be reissued
with a new imprint, it is off sale already?
The stamps would be no different, in
any case. If you want one with the new
imprint, it has to be personalised.
He asks, ‘Why do we bother with
Royal Mail?—well, it’s your choice Mr
Wilson. Some people are content, and
more still would be happier with fewer
stamps, not an extra sheet just for a
change of imprint.
Ian Billings,
Dereham
Olympic miniature sheet
I have just seen the Olympic miniature
sheet on page 35 of August’s GSM.
I think that this is one of the most
boring, colourless, depressing issues
released by Royal Mail. The top two
stamps seem to have been photographed
in a scrap yard, whilst the bottom two
stamps seem to be about nostalgia.
I thought the Olympics was about
competition, happiness for the
competitors and spectators when an
athlete wins a gold medal for their
country and then finally looking forward
to four years time for the next games.
How can Why Not Associates take
credit for the design work when
the stamps are nothing more than
photographs. The only consolation is
they are 1st class, not 81p values.
On the same page, the country
definitives look really interesting;
unlike the recent Wildings, they are 1st
class stamps.
R E Holman,
Farnham
Gift from Royal Mail?
With regards to your readers writing
about pen cancellations being applied
to their postage stamps. Let us just
say that this person has noted a
tendency by Royal Mail not to cancel
ANY postage stamp by any means
whatsoever. Let us remind all that this
uncancelled postage could be seen by
some to be a gift to the British public
from Royal Mail from their personnel
and management. They are SLOPPY!!
One wonders also whether those ‘A’
labels are seeing double or even triple
duty? Is this 1840 all over again?
Duff Malkin,
via email
41
BRITISH STAMPS
GBCATALOGUE
A supplement to Stanley Gibbons Great Britain Specialised Catalogue
Volume 4 (10th edition) and Volume 5 (3rd edition).
Continued from August 2007 supplement
The following booklets were printed by WALSALL
Pane of 12 2nd Class Stamps
ME4b
Add to No. ME4 (May 2006 supplement)
b. Back cover with text about validity (5.6.07) … … … … … … 6·25
No. ME4b was initially sold at £2·88, which was increased to £3·24 from 7.4.08.
Pane of 12 1st Class Stamps
MF3b
Add to No. MF3 (July 2003 supplement)
b. Back cover with text about validity (5.6.07) … … … … … … 8·50
No. MF3b was initially sold at £4·08, which was increased to £4·32 from 7.4.08.
Section W 2007. GRAND PRIX. RACING CARS
(1st) W1941 Stirling Moss in Vanwall 2.5L, 1957
(1st) W1942 Graham Hill in BRM P57, 1962
54p. W1943 Jim Clark in Lotus 25 Climax, 1963
54p. W1944 Jackie Stewart in Tyrell 006/2, 1973
78p. W1945 James Hunt in McLaren M23, 1976
78p. W1946 Nigel Mansell in Williams FW11, 1986
2007 (3 JULY). GRAND PRIX. RACING CARS
The issue celebrated the 50th anniversary of the British driver Stirling Moss
winning the British Grand Prix driving a British car. Appropriately the issue also
marked the centenary of the race track at Brooklands. Each value has a hidden “2007”
printed in microtext on the car or driver. The stamps were issued in separate sheets
rather than in se-tenant pairs format. The stamps were designed by True North,
Manchester with photography by James Callaghan. They were printed in gravure by
Cartor Security Print and issued in sheet sizes of 25 (5×5) and 50 containing 2 panes
(5×5) with a horizontal gutter margin. All with two phosphor bands (blue fluor) on
nonfluorescent coated paper with PVA gum.
Perf. 14½. Nonfluorescent coated paper/ PVA gum. Two phosphor bands (blue fluor)
Cylinder Nos.
W1941 (=S.G. 2744) (1st) C1(×5), (C1) phosphor
W1942 (=S.G. 2745) (1st) C1(×5), (C1) phosphor
W1943 (=S.G. 2746) 54p. C1(×5), (C1) phosphor
W1944 (=S.G. 2747) 54p. C1(×5), (C1) phosphor
W1945 (=S.G. 2748) 78p. C1(×5), (C1) phosphor
W1946 (=S.G. 2749) 78p. C1(×5), (C1) phosphor
Plate blocks of 8 (2×4) are needed to include the four squared box with the one
spot, indicating pane position
Withdrawn 2.7.08
42
Section W 2007. HARRY POTTER
W1947a
(1st) W1947 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
(1st) W1948 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
(1st) W1949 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
(1st) W1950 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
(1st) W1951 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
(1st) W1952 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(1st) W1953 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
2007 (17 JULY). PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL BOOK IN THE HARRY
POTTER SERIES.
The use of the Harry Potter book covers for this issue was the culmination of detailed
and careful negotiations between Royal Mail and Warner Bros. The cover illustrations
are by Thomas Taylor c.1997 (W1947); Cliff Wright c.1998, 99 (W1948/9); Giles
Greenfield c.2000 (W1950); Jason Cockcroft c.2000–07 (W1951/3). The character of
Harry Potter was the work of Joanne “Jo” Rowling who was born on 31 July 1965. It
was during a trip by rail to Manchester from London that the idea of Harry Potter was
conceived. Writing under her pen name J. K. Rowling she created the world of Harry
Potter and was later awarded the OBE.
The stamps were printed together, se-tenant in horizontal strips of seven within
the sheet of 28. In addition to the sheet issue there was a miniature sheet showing
the Crests of Hogwarts School and its Four Houses. The stamps were designed by
True North, with photography by Paul Moffat. They were printed in lithography by
Walsall Security Print and issued in sheet sizes of 28 (7×4) and 56 containing 2 panes
(7×4) with a vertical gutter margin. Printed on phosphorised nonfluorescent coated
paper (blue fluor) with PVA gum.
(a). Book Covers
Perf. 14½. Phosphorised nonfluorescent coated paper/ PVA gum
Plate Nos.
W1947 (=S.G. 2750) (1st) 
W1947a Horiz strip Nos. W1947/53 

W1948 (=S.G. 2751) (1st) 
W1949 (=S.G. 2752) (1st)  W1(×5), (W1) phosphor

W1950 (=S.G. 2753) (1st)  See footnote
W1951 (=S.G. 2754) (1st) 
W1952 (=S.G. 2755) (1st) 

W1953 (=S.G. 2756) (1st) 
Plate blocks of 14 (7×2) are needed to include the plate numbers and five traffic
lights. A full sheet includes all sheet markings including four squared box with the
one spot, indicating pane position opposite row one, top left corner.
(b). Miniature Sheet (sold at £1·70, £1·80 from 7.4.08)
WMS1954 Miniature Sheet
(Illustration reduced to half actual size)
(Miniature sheet des. True North. Lithography. Walsall Security Print)
2007 (17 JULY). Crests of Hogwarts School and its Four Houses
Sheet size 123×70mm. and printed on nonfluorescent coated paper with two
phosphor bands (blue fluor) with PVA gum. Perf. 15×14
WMS1954 (=S.G. MS2757) Type WMS1954, (1st) Gryffindor;
WMS1954 (=S.G. MS2757) (1st) Hufflepuff; (1st) Hogwarts;
WMS1954 (=S.G. MS2757) (1st) Ravenclaw; (1st) Slytherin
WMS1954 (=S.G. MS2757) (Sold at £1·70, £1·80) (17.7.07)
Individual values from the miniature sheet will not be listed separately.
Withdrawn 16.7.08
Generic Sheet. Stamps as those in WMS1954 but self-adhesive were issued in sheets
of 20 containing the five designs se-tenant with labels depicting either magic spells
(sold for £7·35) or personal photographs (sold for £14·95). The magic spells labels
are printed in thermochromic ink which fades temporarily when exposed to heat,
revealing the meaning of the spells.
G.S.M. October 2008
 BRITISH STAMPS
Instructional Marks on Postal
Stationery
Instructional marks are a fascinating area of postal history, says
Colin Baker, who provides a helpful introduction
I nstructional marks have been with us for almost as long as the postal service itself. They
signify that something unusual has happened to an item being handled by the Post Office,
or that it fails to meet the regulations in some way. Whatever the reason, an instructional
Gradually through the late 19th and early
20th centuries handstamps for indicating
unpaid postage became more common and
mark shows that it either has, or needs, special attention. These marks are applied by post- to an extent were standardised. But it was
men with rubber handstamps, have typed or printed labels stuck to them, or are sometimes not until 1914 that postage due stamps were
written in pen or pencil. They are not cancellations or transit marks, but instructions to post- introduced. Prior to this charges were col-
men to do more than just sort the mail or push the envelope through the letterbox. lected and accounted for in ledgers.
Letters that were redirected to a new
address were charged only the single cost
of postage, providing the addressee’s name
remained the same, the envelope had not
been opened and the letter was re-posted
within a day of receipt. Any contravention of
these rules resulted in the offending letter
being treated as unpaid and double postage
being required on delivery. As was the case
with other types of postage due, many of the
early marks were made in pen, especially in
smaller offices. A single stroke down an en-
velope, often across the address, was enough
to identify the charge that needed to be
collected on delivery. Redirection fees were
abolished in 1891.
Other postage due charges were made on
mail that could not be delivered and had to
be returned to sender. It is in this area that
you can find some strange combinations.
If a large number of items were sent out at
the same time, with more that one being
returned, the top envelope of the returned
More to pay: A penny pink envelope above ½ ounce and charged an extra 2d. on bundle usually collected all the postage due
delivery stamps. So finding 5d. postage due on a ½d.
envelope is not quite so strange as it first
My own collecting interest lies in British received a mark, often by pen, but in larger appears.
postal stationery and so this article will con- sorting offices using a rubber stamp where
centrate on that sphere alone. In any case it is one was available. All unpaid or underpaid Delayed mail
one of the interesting areas if you are on the mail was charged double the deficiency. Not In busy offices in the past there was always a
lookout for instructional marks, and it can be only did it cost more to collect the outstand- rush to get all the post out at the end of the
very difficult to find some marks on any other ing postage, but it was a deterrent to those day and inevitably items were occasionally
type of mail. posting underpaid letters. very late. They would be hurried to the post

Overweight letters
From the time that prepaid stationery was
first introduced in 1840 people have always
hoped their rather heavy letters and packets
would pass through the post unnoticed, with
only the basic rate of postage being paid for.
But they failed to realise that postmen were,
and of course still are, used to handling mail
and are very adept at spotting overweight
items. There were always scales to hand
where there was any doubt about the weight
of a letter and those that were underpaid

Returned to sender: The writer of this

card had the foresight to include his
address so that it could be returned
to him from New Zealand. Charges for
returning undelivered mail were dropped
in 1891

G.S.M. October 2008

BRITISH STAMPS

office and handed over in the hope that they

would catch the last post before it left, but
they were not always successful. To indicate
it was not the Post Office’s fault that mail
was delayed, a ‘Too Late’ handstamp would
be applied showing the item had not been
received in time. But this was not the only
reason for mail taking longer than normal to
reach its destination.
One item I particularly like is the Sun
Insurance envelope which went around half
a dozen sorting offices in London looking
for Ratcliffe Road when it was actually in
Loughborough in Leicestershire and not in
London. Despite the inability of the Post Of-
fice to find the right town, they still charged
½d. for returning the envelope to the insur-
ance company. What the officials in that
company thought of the Post Office’s efforts
we don’t know, but they must have accepted
the charge without question as there is no
refund marked on the envelope.

Foreign postage due

There were occasions when British stamps
were accepted for the payment of postage
in foreign countries. Paquebot mail posted
in foreign ports, reply postcards and mail
handled by British post offices established in
foreign countries were all accepted even
though they carried British stamps. But
some people took this too far and some-
times posted mail carrying British stamps
in foreign post boxes. The post offices in
those countries refused to accept British
stamps as paying the postage and applied
tax marks. It was left to the British Post
Office to collect the unpaid postage and
refund the foreign post office the correct
sum. However, it was the usual practice in
this country to allow the value of the im-
printed or adhesive stamps already on the
envelope against the amount due, giving
rise to some unusual postage due sums and
their appropriate handstamps.

2 G.S.M. October 2008

 BRITISH STAMPS

Above: British stamps used in France:

Envelope sent from Paris with British
stamps. Taxed accordingly, but 1½d.
has been allowed for the stamps on
the envelope, making 3½d. still to be
collected
Left. Postcard written on front: A ½d.
inland postcard with the message
continued from the reverse to the front,
collecting a ‘Contrary to Regulations’
handstamp and 1d. postage due
Below. Address label on postcard: An
inland postcard with a label on the
front, contravening the regulations. As
a consequence it was charged as a
letter attracting 1d. postage due

Opposite page from top to bottom

Gone away: A manuscript marking on this
King George V envelope shows that it was
unable to be delivered as the addressee had
gone away. Returning the item to the sender
attracted a ½d. fee as indicated by the green
handstamp. However, as this envelope was
at the top of a bundle of similar items it
collected all 5d. worth of postage due stamps
Too Late: An early penny pink envelope that
missed the last post, receiving a green ‘Too
Late’ mark
Return to sender: This King Edward VII
envelope was addressed to Loughborough
in Leicestershire. However, as backstamps
reveal, the post office tried to deliver it in
London; unable to do so they returned it to
the sender and charged them to do so

G.S.M. October 2008 3

BRITISH STAMPS
Left. Posted Out of Course: A
registration envelope that has
been popped into a pillar box
and not handed in to a post
office. The PO called this posted
out of course and charged an
extra 3d.
Below. Condition 9 Access Mail:
Mail sent to the wrong sorting
office by a private company.
The handstamp shows that
the reason for any delay was
outside the control of the Post
Office
Bottom. Contents lost: A ½d.
printed paper rate envelope
with special handstamp
indicating the contents have
become separated and lost

46 G.S.M. October 2008


Postal stationery marks
When postcards were first introduced in 1870
the special ½d. rate only applied to postal
stationery postcards. Cards could not be sent
at this rate using adhesive stamps until 1895.
In addition, the regulations governing the
use of postcards were very strict and all too
often rigorously enforced by postal workers.
This gave rise to ‘Contrary to Regulations’
handstamps, not normally found on other
items of mail in this period. Writing on the
front of a postcard or sticking paper and
other matter to the front or reverse, such
as address labels, often invoked a surcharge
penalty. The offending writing or address
label was indicated by a series of crosses. The
postcard could no longer pass at the special
½d. rate and postage was increased to the
basic letter rate of 1d., the ½d. unpaid post-
age being doubled to 1d.
‘Posted out of course’ is a Post Office
expression meaning mail that has been de-
livered to it incorrectly. Today you might
find a handstamp using this expression on
items of mail prepared and part delivered by
private companies. This mail is called Condi-
Above: No airmail service:
King George VI envelope
with additional postage
for airmail to Egypt. A
handstamp indicates
that this service was not
available and that the
airmail fee has been
refunded. Handstruck
red lines cancel the
airmail label
Right: Returned
registered envelope:
A modern registered
envelope returned
from Switzerland with
a combination of
handstamps and self
adhesive labels
G.S.M. October 2008
BRITISH STAMPS
tion 9 Access Mail referring to the regula-
tions under which it is permitted. Companies
prepare and sort mail, delivering it to Royal
Mail for them to complete the delivery to the
customer. But these companies do not always
get it right, delivering bundles of letters to
the wrong sorting office. This is when the of-
fending items receive the dated handstamp
showing why an item has taken longer to
deliver than normal. Everything from di-
rect marketing literature to bank statements
comes to us in this way.
But in the past the ‘posted out of course’
handstamp was generally used for registra-
tion envelopes which had not been handed
in to a post office, but simply popped into a
street corner pillar-box. The ‘posted out of
course’ handstamp not only indicated how
the letter had been incorrectly posted, it gave
the reason for the postage due applied to all
these items which had not been given ‘to a
post office official’ as instructed on the front
of the envelope.
In 1895 the Post Office introduced a spe-
cial ½d. envelope for sending printed matter.
It was ungummed and had a small tab project-
ing from the flap that was tucked into a slot
in the back of the envelope. It was designed
so that postmen could easily check that the
envelope only contained printed matter and
that people were not sending ordinary let-
ters at the cheaper printed paper rate. The
tab was only just adequate for holding the
flap closed and sometimes rough handling
forced the flap open, spilling the contents. If
postmen were unable to match the loose con-
tents against the empty envelopes they would
be marked accordingly, explaining why the
envelopes were empty on delivery.
Other marks to look out for
There are plenty of other instructional marks
to look out for and most can be found on
mail using adhesive stamps, as well as on
postal stationery. Normal return to sender
marks are quite common, but finding items
where the reason is also stated can be a
little bit harder. Wars and other conflicts
have often disrupted the normal transport
of mail, making delivery difficult, particu-
larly to prisoners of war. Neutral countries
often acted as go-betweens for this purpose,
but even so some mail failed to make it
through and had to be returned, collect-
ing appropriate handstamps en-route.
Sometimes people would fail to real-
ise that some Post Office services were
not available. In these cases the items
might be returned or sent by a differ-
ent method. Once again handstamps
were applied to indicate the change and
even that the excess postage had been
refunded.
Instructional marks are a fascinating
area of postal history, be they on postal
stationery or plain letters. Each item has
a unique story to tell and sometimes it
can be quite a job getting to the bottom
of the explanation. I hope this short
journey into the area of instruction
marks will tempt you into starting a new
collecting sideline.
 BRITISH STAMPS
Missing (Revenue) Dies: Case 3
In the final article in this series, Peter Mansfield reviews the Excise
Revenue stamps

T his is in one way the most complicated, and in another the simplest, of my three
‘missing die’ cases. Most complicated because the issue labelled Excise Revenue,
which took its name from its issuing authority rather than its function, produced a greater
different check letter combinations. The
varieties with check letters began to appear
in December 1925.
number of values, colours and watermarks than any other non-contributory Revenue In 1934, Waterlows lost the contract
stamp; simplest because, where missing dies are concerned, only four values (½d., 1d., again to Harrisons, who were ready to
2d., 3d.) are involved. print the postage stamps in photogravure.
In 1916 the Government, looking for on ‘The Entertainment Tax’ by Sydney This was not wanted for Excise Revenue,
ways to raise more money to pay for the R Turner in the October 1968 edition however, any more than for the Inland
war, decided to impose an Entertainments of The Cinderella Philatelist, which acknow- Revenue Key Types; so both Revenue con-
Duty. This was not a form of Stamp Duty ledges the assistance of Mr J Chandler, an tracts went to His Majesty’s Stationery Of-
but an excise tax such as that levied on employee of Customs & Excise until 1970. fice (HMSO), who in the case of Excise
alcohol and tobacco by the Commissioners There then follow detailed and scholarly Revenue, employed their own watermark,
of Customs and Excise—in those days, articles by Chris Tennant in the same jour- Multiple Block Crown SO (Fig 1), changing
a completely separate body from Inland nal in October 1976, and by Chris and John in about 1949 to Multiple Script Crown SO
Revenue. The tax was collected from the Chandler in July 1977 and January 1978; (Fig 2). (In 1955 five new values were intro-
proprietor of a given ‘entertainment’ (cin- these overlap the first edition of Roger duced with a lozenge design overprinted
ema, theatre, concert hall, etc) who issued Booth’s catalogue, also in 1976, where in on existing values; in 1957–58 came a new
‘stamped tickets’ to every member of the his lengthy entry on Excise Revenue, Booth design, used for seven values; but these last
audience; to prevent re-use, these had to also acknowledges the work of Chandler 12 values were hardly ever seen, and the
be torn in half across the stamp at the time and Tennant. All three of these authors duty was abolished in April 1960.)
of admission. mention and discuss the two dies of the
early stamps. But Barefoot 2002, as before, Fig 1
Multiple
Connected with postage does not.
Block
The original dies were made at the Royal Crown SO
Mint, and the first plates ordered through Illegal re-use watermark
the Inland Revenue stamping department; Let’s have a look at the other complexities
but it was decided, initially at least, to re- of the Excise Revenue issues before we Fig 2
gard the stamps as connected in some way return to the question of dies. As stated Multiple
with Postage. They were therefore added above, the initial printing was by Harrisons, Script
on to Harrisons postage printing contract, who used the same paper and watermark Crown SO
and sold at all main and branch (and some as for Postage: SG Type 100, or Simple watermark
sub-) post offices. The proofs were marked Royal Cypher×2. In 1924 Harrisons lost
‘seen’ by the Assistant Secretary to the Post the double contract to Waterlows, and
Office, and their issue was gazetted in Post the watermark changed to SG Type 111 Confronted, then, with a handful of Excise
Office circulars of the time. (Multiple Block Cypher). But a growing Revenue stamps on, say, eBay, the collector
That being said, from the point of view awareness of the illegal re-use of stamps by, must ask himself and the seller: if without
of ‘postage’ catalogues these were not post- for example, theatre staff, led to the devis- check letters, then are they Simple Cypher
age stamps, and of course weren’t listed in ing of a complex scheme of printing check (cheap) or Multiple Block Cypher (not
them; and it would be a long wait for the letters on each stamp, then printing each cheap)? If with check letters, then have we
first revenue catalogues in the 1970s. The value stamp from five plates and issuing got Multiple Block Cypher (not so cheap),
earliest account I know of is a brief article them in sets of five sheets with a total of 600 Multiple Block Crown SO (a bit cheaper) or

Figs 3–12 The original

Entertainment Duty issue of
ten values

G.S.M. October 2008 49

BRITISH STAMPS
Multiple Script Crown SO (same as preced-
ing, apparently, but I’ve only ever seen one
of them)? The ‘lozenge’ and ‘new designs’
are clearly visible (but never offered); which
leaves the different dies.
Little used
The original issue was registered on dates
between 30 March and 26 April 1916, and
consisted of the ½d., 1d., 2d., 3d., 6d., 1s.,
2s., 3s., 4s. and 5s.: of these, the shilling
values over 1s. were little used (Figs 3–12).
These stamps were all Die I, which ac-
cording to Tennant had the following
distinctive features:
Large emblems
Large figures
Large white dot under ‘d’ (although this is
clearly not true of 6d.)
Broad white band at top of crown
while Booth says the following: ‘Thick, bold
letters and figures of value.’ White dot next
to the short white lines at each corner of
the central scroll (top left corner shown)
(Figs 13–15).
Figs 13–15
Characteristics of Die I
In June and September 1917 the new
values of 4d., 9d. and 1s.6d. were required,
and a new Die, Die II, was created for them
(Figs 16–18). (Two further new values from
1917, the 8s. and 10s., used a completely
different design.)
Tennant lists the following distinctive
features of Die II:
Smaller emblems
Smaller, neater figures
Smaller dot under ‘d’
Band at top of crown narrower
Figs 16–18 Three new values were
added in 1917 using a new Die
50
Booth says, ‘Thinner letters and figures
of value: No white dot’ (Figs 19–21).
Figs 19–21
Characteristics of
Die II
(I told Chris Tennant that I personally
found the number of short white lines in
all four corners of the central shield-like
device the quickest and clearest way of
separating the dies, and asked him why
he didn’t include this in his list of criteria.
He replied: ‘I suppose that we all have our
preference for distinguishing the differ-
ence between dies. I personally find your
top left corner and Roger’s bottom left
corner unreliable due to variations of over-
inking and plate wear. On a heavily inked
copy it can be quite difficult to make out Figs 22–24 April 1921 reprints
using Die II
the last little dot on the right. But—each to
his own.’ I then had a good look through
my own collection, and found a 3d. which,
on the strength of the bottom right corner
short white lines, I had categorised as a Die
I. But when I now checked the other fea-
tures, I saw clearly that it was in fact a Die II.
So although I retain my preference, I have
to accept that Chris’ reasons for not includ- Fig 25 Die II ½d. with check
ing this feature on his list are sound.) letters
Exceptions
The new Die II was used thereafter for
reprints of all the other values except 6d.
(until 1933) and 1s. (no Die II issued); thus
in April 1921 the ½d., 1d., 2d. and 3d. were
all reprinted using Die II (Figs 22–24). This
continued after the introduction of check Fig 26 3d. Die II with check
letters (Fig 25). The only two exceptions letters
were the 3d. (Fig 26: Die II shown) and 6d.
Both of these stamps were issued in both
Dies as part of the ‘600 combinations’
scheme; as shown here, the 6d. Die II was
in a new colour (Figs 27–28).
The problem for the less-informed col-
lector is that, as with Life Policy, the first
stamps of the Die II issue came out on
paper with the same watermark as the Die
I issue. They are therefore listed by Booth
as ‘1st series, Die II’ and not as ‘2nd series’
as perhaps they should have been; there-
fore ignored by Barefoot and therefore
invisible to all non-specialist collectors,
for whom there are, quite simply, no dies.
This is not a great tragedy, perhaps, but
impoverishing rather than enriching.
Fig 32 A ticket to the
As time went by, the number of unusual
Leek Rhythm Club
duty values increased, as well as the corres- with Entertainment
ponding variety of stamp colours. I end by Duty stamps on the
illustrating three of the more exotic values, reverse
introduced in 1943—the ¾d. ‘three farthings’
(Fig 29), 10½d. ‘ten pence halfpenny’ (Fig
30) and 1s.1d. ‘one shilling and one penny’
(Fig 31); and a very humble example of En-
tertainments Duty stamps in action at Leek
Rhythm Club (Fig 32, obverse and reverse).
I should like to thank Chris Tennant for
his assistance with this article.
G.S.M. October 2008

Figs 27–28 Die I (top) and Die II
6d. with check letters
Figs 29–31 Three unusual
values introduced in 1943
G.S.M. October 2008
BRITISH STAMPS
What Might Have
Been
The story behind cricket ground telegram
datestamps, told by A Melville-Brown,
President, The Cricket Philatelic Society
After 35 years of trading—during which time I specialised in stamps, first day covers and
special postmarks related to cricket on stamps, I retired in 2002 and for the next few years
I enjoyed a period of relaxation that I felt I deserved after such a long period of enjoying
my ‘hobby’—which was what my work had become! And to put it bluntly, I was, like so
many who retire too early, extremely bored.
However, I was determined to keep my
mind in touch with the subject and so I The postmark
created my own website www.cricketstamp. that started it all
net, which was to expand as the years
went by, concentrating on publishing the
details of all cricket stamps ever issued, as
well as keeping up to date with new issues.
The site received over half a million ‘hits’
last year with visits from over 18 countries
world-wide.
I was then approached by some previous
clients and fellow dealers to accept the the words reading ‘Birmingham Cricket
honorary position of President of the newly Ground’—what could I tell him about it?
formed Cricket Philatelic Society, which Well, I had heard about this type of
is a non-profit making organisation—and postmark earlier, although I had never
members receive a quarterly newsletter, seen an actual stamp with that cancellation.
Wickets, which includes articles on all as- The existence of similar handstamps—pro-
pects of cricket stamp collecting, as well as duced by circular datestamp (c.d.s), had
details of any new issues on the subject of been covered by earlier articles in various
cricket. publications—although to date there had
My interest was maintained and I saw 51 only been 24 different grounds discovered.
issues of this newsletter. I soon realised that What was the reason for their use?
there had been a gap of some six months During the 1870s, and for some years
since the last one was published! On mak- after that, there was an ever-growing inter-
ing enquiries, I discovered that the Editor est in the results and details of sporting
and Secretary, Derek Gallimore, had the events around Great Britain, so sports re-
misfortune to lose his wife during 2007—a porters from daily newspapers were sent
tragedy that distressed him so much that
he just could not continue to produce the The famous cricketer W G Grace shown
newsletter for the Society. To help out, I on a stamp of 1973 (SG 928)
offered to edit the next two issues.
Postmark query
Indicating my intentions to members, I
asked for questions which I could answer
in the next edition—July 2008. One mem-
ber wrote in asking about a postmark that
he had on a Queen Victoria 1s. green and
carmine stamp, dated 4 June 1901—with
Sports reporters
from daily
newspapers were
sent off to write
their detailed
comments
51
BRITISH STAMPS
The specialist cricket collector knows only
too well how evasive these specimens are
off to write their detailed comments about
these events. The telephone had not yet
been invented, therefore the only method
of getting information back to the waiting
editors was to send it by telegram. There
was such a demand that Post Office Head-
quarters in London decided to create a mo-
bile team of telegraph operators who were
sent out to various venues for the duration
of the match or race. These men were paid
full wages plus an extra 7d. an hour!
Specimens have been found which
mention football grounds and racecourse
grandstands as well as those for cricket
grounds. The cost of sending a telegram
was paid for by sticking postage stamps—
usually the higher values—to the telegraph
form, and these stamps were obliterated by
the specially made c.d.s.
Escaped destruction
These telegraph forms were then filed away
and kept, eventually to be destroyed, but
for some reason, some of them escaped
destruction and gradually the stamps from
the forms have appeared in the bottomless
pit of stamps which are sought after by the
world’s collectors. Of course, many will be
in collections of Great Britain stamps and it
is likely that the owners will not realise the
importance of reading that the stamp was
The three-sheet display (reduced) showing the 30 cricket ground circular datestamps
so far discovered
52
cancelled at a certain cricket ground!! But
the specialist cricket collector knows only
too well how evasive these specimens are.
Of course, since these datestamp were
designed only to cancel the stamps on
telegram forms, they would never have
been used on ordinary letters, and so the
impressions are only found on the higher
value stamps currently available at their
time of use.
Further research
Having started out on the search trail I
decided to go a stage further and I ap-
proached the Archive section at Post Office
Headquarters to discover the existence
of some 60 plus Impression Books which
had been started with the first hand-held
canceller which was used from the very
beginning of postage stamps in 1840. Every
one of these had been registered by mak-
ing a ‘strike’ from the actual canceller
(not all were c.d.s.) in the right-hand
margin of these Registers, with details of
the destination office as well as the date of
despatch. With some hundreds of pages to
each Register, the total number of books
kept on increasing as the years went by,
and make a wonderful reference for any
postal historian. Of course, it is a tiring job
to look at every impression, and takes a
Enlargement
to full size
considerable amount of time. However, I
settled down to the task in hand and after
many hours and feeling distinctly bleary
eyed, I finally put together photocopies
of the original 24 Cricket ground c.d.s’s
and found a further six—even though I
still have not found a trace of an example
from Canterbury (Kent CCC), Leicester
(Leicestershire CCC), Trent Bridge (Not-
tinghamshire CCC), Worcester (Worces-
tershire CCC) or Headingley (Yorkshire
CCC)—perhaps these could have been
in the several volumes of the Registers
known to have been destroyed by fire at
Post Office Headquarters. Maybe, one day,
samples of these missing ones will turn up
in private collections.
Incidentally, whilst finding these Cricket
ground c.d.s’s I also discovered a further
75 which were produced for race course
grandstands—room for further develop-
ment here, I think!
Having done the research, how best
to use the information, and I came up
with the idea of producing a ‘What might
have been’ display. So I did a little further
research to discover the most readily avail-
able stamps that were likely to be used
on the days immediately after the date of
delivery specified in the Register and then
produced a coloured copy of the stamp
with the appropriate ground postmark.
Permission was granted by The British
Postal Museum & Archive to reproduce
these images—making a unique perman­
ent reference for all future cricket postal
history researchers.
This three-sheet display is available from
the Society for £15.00 plus £1.50 postage
and packing (cheques should be made pay-
able to The Cricket Philatelic Society).
Match details
At the same time, by researching the cricket
archives, I found the match details of each
ground for the first available game which
could have been reported, after the date
shown in the Register. Of course, using
changeable date slugs, these c.d.s’s—which
were strongly built in wood and steel,
could have lasted for some considerable
time after their initial day of issue, so many
­varied dates may be found, in future.
The results make very interesting reading
and will certainly help the keen cricket en-
thusiast write up his collection of early postal
history material, even though these date­
stamps are extremely rare and ex­amples are
not readily come by.
Enthusiasts who would like
to combine their interests of
Cricket and Stamp Collecting are
encouraged to join our Society,
which costs a nominal £6 per
annum. Details can be obtained
from: The Secretary, 30 Pinewoods
Avenue, Hagley, Stourbridge, West
Midlands, DY9 0JF.
G.S.M. October 2008
 BRITISH STAMPS
collectors will be familiar with those pro-
Cath Buckingham duced for each Stampex exhibition, while
recently Royal Mail has entered the scene
with its own commemorative sheets.
One company producing these items
is Buckingham Covers. We spoke to Cath
Buckingham, who undertakes the task of
designing the sheets.

Paul Brittain: What led you to produce your

first Business Customised sheet?
Cath Buckingham: We wanted to produce
a cover to mark the 30th anniversary
of Concorde entering public service in
1976, but simply could not buy enough
relevant Concorde stamps. Producing our
own Smilers sheets seemed the obvious
answer, as that meant we could have a
commemorative label that we designed to
suit our purpose, attached to a stamp, and
both were legitimate, authentic Royal Mail
products. There was the added bonus that
it made the covers we produced that little
bit different. With our covers we believe
it is the entire product that is important.

The Business of
Not just the cover design, the cancellation,
any relevant cachets and an appropriate
autograph, but also the stamp; all need to
link together. Where appropriate stamps

Design
are not available, the Smilers sheets fill
the gap.

Business Customised
Sheets have become
popular. Paul
Brittain talks to Cath
Buckingham about
those she designs
At The Stamp Show 2000 Royal Mail re-
leased its first Smilers sheet, created to pro-
vide personalised labels attached to stamps.
At first collectors were a little cautious, but
then started to appreciate that the generic
versions, those without a personal photo-
graph but with appropriate labels instead,
had their own appeal. Soon a wider use
was found for such sheets: the labels could
carry a message, taken a step further in
December 2001 by extending the idea to
the entire sheet, with specifically designed
labels and border. The first such Business
Customised Sheets—in two formats, one
using the Cartoons, the second the Hall-
marks stamps—were for Eagle Coaches, to
mark the company’s 75th anniversary. It is
thought that only four or five pairs of sheets
remain intact, and thus they command
high prices, the majority having been split
into individual stamps with labels.
Today there is a ready market for such
Business Customised Sheets, from about
four or five key producers: Royal Mail
offers (through Tallents House) a selection
of these privately-produced sheets. Most

G.S.M. October 2008 53

BRITISH STAMPS
If I want to exploit the design of the
labels to the full, then I have to use the
small definitive-size Smilers stamps
How did that extend to offering the entire sheets?
At first our concern was simply to design
a suitable label for the Concorde covers.
The prospect appealed to me as I enjoy
designing nice things, although I must
admit it did take me a while to concentrate
my mind on the task. Then we thought that
perhaps we could offer the entire sheets to
see if there was any demand. In fact, they
sold so well, that we were left with too few
sheets to satisfy the need for labels to go on
the covers. Having given ourselves a limit as
to the number of the first sheet we would
produce, we then had to design a second
sheet, to provide sufficient labels for the
covers. Then our customers wanted the
entire second sheet as well.
What governs your decision to produce a sheet?
Quite simply we are looking for
anniversaries and events that have not
been included within the Royal Mail
issuing programme. Naturally we aim
to choose events that we feel collectors
would like to see commemorated. If
thought apt, we will try to work with an
appropriate organisation such as Cunard,
Eurostar, the National Railway Museum
or Singapore Airlines. However, there are
times when we are approached, particularly
by organisations that are aware of our
experience and expertise in producing
covers to raise money for charity. Among
the charities that we have helped with
sheets are ChildLine, Action for Medical
Research, The Falkland Islands Memorial
Chapel Fund and the Royal National
Lifeboat Institution.
exploit the design of the labels to the full,
then I have to use the small definitive-
size Smilers stamps. Here there is really
only a choice of three for most occasions:
the Union flag, fireworks and the Hello
written in the sky. Larger stamps are
available, and sometimes these are most
appropriate, such as the three Lest We
Forget ‘Poppy’ designs. Later this year we
are producing three sheets, one each for
the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force, and
each using a different ‘Poppy’ design as
issued over the past three years. However,
only one of the sheets, that for the Royal
Air Force, will be generally available. The
other two are already sold out, having been
offered exclusively to our standing order
customers.
How do you research the illustrations for the
background and labels?
Sometimes I have an idea of what I would
like from the outset. Other times it is
simply a case of searching. I have been
designing covers for many years. I started
with the first Benham ‘silks’ when Tony
(Cath’s husband) and I ran Benham
Covers, but I became solely responsible for
all design in 1988. We sold that business in
1997 but, despite our original intentions,
simply could not retire, so established
Buckingham Covers in 2001. As a result
I have built up contacts and a wealth of
knowledge of where good images can be
found. The Internet has certainly made
life easier, both in viewing what is available
and receiving potential illustrations almost
immediately.
As I pore through all the images,
something will click that a certain one is
right, whether it be for the background or
labels. The labels are in many respects the
more difficult aspect, as they have to convey
their message in a small space. It makes me
appreciate the skill of the stamp designer.
There are times when I know what I
would like to see, but simply cannot find
an existing illustration that fits the bill. In
such cases I call upon artists like the superb
railway and maritime artist, John Wigston,
to create specific artwork. Some of our
sheets, by the way, have also reproduced
the work of the famous Terence Cuneo.
However, I am also encouraging others
within our organisation to develop their
skills, and as a result Nikki Wright is now
working alongside me designing these
sheets.
A few of
the sheets
designed
by Cath
Buckingham

What is your basic approach to designing each

sheet?
As I have designed more sheets, so a style
has evolved. Basically I am aiming to
achieve a strong, striking design that is also
simple. The border design naturally has to
keep everything together. I am particularly
keen to ensure that each sheet has a good
colour balance, embracing not only the
border but also the labels. The illustration
to form the border is the most difficult
to choose, as of course one has to bear in
mind that within the sheet will be both
stamps and labels.
To this end, I tend to work from the
bottom up. That is, I find a strong image
that will predominantly appear below the
stamps and labels, and work up to include
the necessary text at the top of the sheet.
The sheets comprise ten stamps and ten
labels, and as far as possible I like to have a
different design for each of the labels.

What about the stamps on the sheets?

We are, of course, restricted to those that
Royal Mail makes available. If I want to

54 G.S.M. October 2008


Has any theme really defeated you?
I must admit it was very difficult when
we were asked to produce a sheet for
Singapore Airlines to celebrate the fact it
was the first airline to operate the Airbus
A380. There simply were no images
available of the A380 in Singapore Airlines
livery. It proved a long wait, but eventually,
fortunately, suitable illustrations did
arrive, but only sufficient to produce the
background, and to have a single design
for all ten labels.
Who prints the sheets—and how many are
produced?
I create the total sheet design, including
background, labels and stamps, on
computer, to the requirements as specified
by Royal Mail. The printing is undertaken
in France by Cartor, part of Walsall Security
Printers. I must say they do a very fine job.
We normally have between 1000 and 2000
sheets produced. However, sometimes we
will select a specific number to relate to
the theme of the sheets. For example, next
year we are producing a sheet to mark the
50th anniversary of the launch of the Mini.
It seems appropriate to limit the number of
sheets to 1959.
Tell us more about the
sheets produced on behalf of
charities.
At Buckingham Covers we
pride ourselves on the funds
we have raised for charity.
G.S.M. October 2008
BRITISH STAMPS
We work for several different organisations.
Since October 2005, it has mainly been for
ChildLine. Our first project for them was
The Snowman sheet. We were extremely
fortunate that Raymond Briggs donated the
artwork featuring The Snowman for both the
background and the labels. By the time this
is published we should have reached our
target of £50,000 for ChildLine.
On other occasions the charity will
approach us. Either way, we are happy to
undertake the marketing, through our
own mailing list, by taking advertisements
in the national media, or by offering on
the Internet. Most of the charities will also
make their supporters aware of the item,
although we will handle the sales.
In some cases we will include brief details
about the charity, and how much is being
donated from the price, on the front of
each sheet. At times we make a donation,
but the charity is not named. The crucial
point is, however, that we always keep to
our promise regarding all donations.
I believe that you offer autographed sheets?
We find there is a keen demand for
autographed sheets, especially as we
go out of our way to ensure that those
signing have a direct connection with the
subject matter. By the way, it does create
a minor problem, in that I have to ensure
that somewhere within the background
there is room for a legible signature. We
always make a donation to charity on
behalf of those who sign our sheets. They
can nominate the charity, they can leave
it to our discretion, or it can be a split.
However, we enclose the donation cheque
with the sheets to be autographed, so
no one can doubt our integrity. It is also
worth mentioning that it can take a while
for sheets to be signed, especially if there
is more than one autograph and those
signing live overseas. We have to have the
sheets printed long before we put them on
sale—and hope they will not get lost when
passing from hand to hand.
You mentioned the Mini for next year—have
you other sheets planned for 2009?
We will be producing sheets for the 50th
anniversary of the Mini, Little Railways of
Wales, 40th anniversary of the first flights
of Concorde, 90th anniversary of first
flight across the Atlantic, 50th anniversary
of Comet, 40th anniversary of the Moon
Landing, and the centenary of Blériot’s
Channel Crossing.
Next year we are
planning a sheet
to mark the 50th
anniversary of the
launch of the Mini
55
Paua to the New Zealand Stamp
The New Zealand paua shell has appeared on four of the country’s late
20th century postage stamps Christopher Moor takes a look at them

P aua is a marine animal—a slimy, black, muscle-bound, haemophiliac species of aba-

lone unique to New Zealand waters. Paua meat is a delicacy, especially in Asia, and
the shell is exported to the USA, Australia, Canada, Mexico and Europe. It’s pink, purple,
a time. Fournier’s unwatermarked HF200
paper was said to resist curling in high
humidity, provide uniform whiteness on
green and blue shell is more versatile than the Australian opal, being able to be cut into the coated side, and have gum that does
virtually any shape desired, and into bigger pieces. not develop mildew or become sticky when
The first New Zealand craftsman cred- Hulse suggested the frames or borders have handled.
ited with combining Paua shell with silver rounded corners to be consistent with the The stamp was replaced by the 20c. value
or gold is Alfred Charles Atkinson (1869– rose-theme definitives already in use. from the fruit definitives in 1983.
1941). During World War II the demand for The Postmaster General approved the de-
paua shell jewellery and souvenirs, especially signs, including the Toheroa, which Hulse Kiwiana
from overseas servicemen stationed in New did not consider suitable because of the lack During World War II New Zealand’s armed
Zealand, led to the domestic market being of colour, shape and texture. An artist modi- forces were given the nickname of ‘Kiwis’
flooded with cheap, junky pieces. fied the design so the shell appeared open. after the country’s famous flightless bird.
In the early post-war years veterans at The revised image was printed in the proofs From this friendly application came the
the Disabled Servicemen’s Training Centre as a horizontal format stamp because the word ‘Kiwiana’ to denote genuine aspects of
were passionate about giving Paua shell a printer thought this gave a more balanced New Zealand’s culture and character.
new lease on life. Their work was much ad- appearance. After seeing the revision, it was A $4.50 booklet containing ten examples
mired by tourists, and when sent as gifts to decided that the other stamps should match of Kiwiana on 45c. gummed stamps was
family and friends overseas. and be printed in the horizontal format. issued by New Zealand Post on 27 April
Today Paua shell represents a fashion Eight million of the 20c. Paua stamps 1994. Paua shell; Pavlova dessert; hokey
statement by those who want something were required in the original order to the pokey ice cream; fish and chips; and a pair
that little bit different in jewellery, clothing printer, Heraclio Fournier, Spain. This issue of Jandals (thong sandals) appeared in the
and home wares. It also finds favour now had white gum but later printings in 1980 top row, with a Bush shirt; a Buzzy Bee pull-
with artists. and 1981 had bluish gum. Imprint details along toy; gumboots and a black singlet;
appeared below the stamps of Row 10 Nos rugby boots and ball; and a sliced Kiwifruit
1978 Shell definitives 1–3, the sheet value above stamp No 10 in in the bottom row. The stamps came in six
Row 1, and asterisk(s) to indicate reprints different sizes, with the paua shell taking the
1978 definitive in the right-hand selvedge beside Row 10, smallest size of 25mm×30mm.
by Ian Hulse,
No 1. Auckland artist Dave Gunson also chose
New Zealand’s
Issued sheets did not have plate numbers to feature the whole shell in his paua design.
first paua shell
stamp or colour guide marks as they were removed While not as realistic-looking as Hulse’s
by guillotine when reducing the large four- photographic image, the depiction fits
pane sheets into sheets of 100 stamps (ten happily into the character of the se-tenant
rows of ten). Kiwiana set.
Fournier printed the 29mm×25mm Stamps were printed in four-colour litho-
Paua shell debuted on a New Zealand post- stamps by photogravure using the ‘Albert graphy, using blue, black, magenta and
age stamp as one of the lower value Shell Frankenthal’ process which could print yellow, by Southern Colour Print, Dunedin.
definitives issued on 29 November 1978. 1,200,000 of the four-colour stamps in an The paper was unwatermarked Harrison’s
The four depictions were Paua (20c.); hour. The Paua stamp was printed with yel- red phosphor coated with blue tinted gum.
Toheroa (30c.); Coarse Dosina (40c.); and low, red, blue, and brown inks. The stamps Perforation was 12×12. Each sheet con-
Spiny Murex (50c). were perforated (13×12¾) several sheets at tained 400 stamps in four panes of 100,
In December 1977 Wellington photo-
grapher Ian Hulse was invited to submit
photographic studies of shells suitable for
the stamps to be issued in late 1978. He
decided the designs would be enhanced
if the shells were shown as small pieces of
The large shell on the roadside at Riverton
sculpture or semi-precious objects against
a clear background with a strong coloured
was originally placed to advertise a local
border to enhance their visual impact. family’s souvenir shop
The ten stamps
from the 1994
Kiwiana booklet.
The Paua shell is
the first stamp in
the pane

56 G.S.M. October 2008

placed side by side. A pane had 20 rows of Paua featured on the
five stamps making ten complete booklets, 90c. denomination from
which had a left-hand selvedge for affixing the 2001 Art from Nature
into the booklet covers. set. Rotating the stamps
Booklets were sold in ordinary and hang through 90 degrees gives
sell variations, and remained on sale until 26 an impression of the
April 1995. 2,119,0000 were sold. finished artefact

Town Icons
Paua shell’s next appearance on a New
Zealand stamp was as one of the 10×40c.
self-adhesive stamps in the $4 Town Icons
booklet, issued on 7 October 1998.
Featured were Gore’s brown trout; Haw-
era’s cow; Kaikoura’s crayfish; Lake Take-
po’s bronze Border Collie; Napier’s Pania
statue; Ohakune’s Carrot; Paeroa’s L & P
(Lemon and Paeroa) soft drink bottle; Te
Kuiti’s Shearer; Te Puke’s Kiwifruit; and
Riverton’s Paua shell.
The 40c. Riverton
paua shell stamp
from the 1998 Town
Icons booklet. The the Wanganui Stamps Centre and Stamps Kauri ($1.30); Flax ($1.50); and Fern ($2).
rate for a domestic Sales Centres in Auckland, Wellington, Each stamp told a visual story of a natural
letter had dropped Christchurch and Dunedin. The regular raw material brought to life through art.
from 45c. to 40c. Town Icons booklets could be bought at Cato Partners of Wellington designed the
since the Kiwiana the centres until withdrawn from sale on stamps, which were printed by Southern Col-
booklet was issued 7 October 1999. As yet the actual number our Print on 103 g.s.m. De La Rue gummed
produced is not known. and red phosphor-coated paper. Stamps
The large shell on the roadside at River- measured 35×35mm and were perforated
ton was originally placed to advertise a local Art from Nature 14½. Four process colours were used.
family’s souvenir shop which sells paua shell Art from Nature was the first issue from Because the sheets were printed in five
products. The four metre high statue has NZ Post where stamps had been created in rows, the last vertical and horizontal row
taken on a new status since, and is now seen blocks of four with a 90 degree rotation to stamps showed only 50 per cent of each art
by many to represent the town. give a sense of how the finished art work form.
Special hang sell packs with 24 stamps of would look. The Art from Nature stamps were with-
a single design were available only in the Issued on 4 April 2001, the set of six drawn from sale at Post shops on 1 May 2001
towns where the icon stands, the number gummed stamps comprised Greenstone and at the Wanganui Stamps Centre on 3
produced being related to the estimated (40c.); Oamaru Stone (80c.); Paua (90c.); April 2002.
demand in each town. The pack for River-
ton’s paua shell contained six blocks of four
stamps, and cost $9.60 each. Left: Paua shell necklace made by Disabled Servicemen and presented to New
Zealand-born actress, broadcaster and columnist Nola Luxford by the New Zealand
Government in 1947
Right: A fishing hook or implement from pre-colonial New Zealand times attributed to
Maori

‘The world’s most beautiful stamp’,

Donna McKenzie’s depiction of Lake
Alexandra
Photo credit: Curios-029-021-001, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ

New Zealand Post held a competition for

Photo credit: Publ-0014-55, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ

the design of the Town Icon stamps in 1997,

which was won by Donna McKenzie of Wel-
lington. McKenzie’s other philatelic com-
missions include the 2007 Peaceful World
Health Stamps and the 2000 Scenic Reflec-
tions. Her depiction of Lake Alexandrina,
the $1.80 value from the latter issue, was
voted the world’s most beautiful stamp by a
French magazine in 2001.
The Town Icons booklet contained
stamps in three different sizes. Riverton’s
Paua shell was one of four with the dimen-
sions of 25mm×30mm. They were printed
by Australia Post using offset lithography
on self-adhesive red phosphor-coated paper
without watermark. The perforations were
die cut.
Packs of one block from each of the
individual town special hang sell packs
were available in limited quantities from

G.S.M. October 2008 57

A World of Philately in One War
Joh Groenewald, Honorary Life President of the Anglo-Boer War
Philatelic Society, demonstrates that the conflict covered all aspects of
philately
T he Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) offers tremendous scope for the collector of stamps
and postal history: in fact, the wartime postal material spans virtually the full spectrum
of philately. One can look at almost any facet of the hobby, and the Anglo-Boer War has it.
There were stamps, of course. Special
stamps, such as those issued in Mafeking
during the famous siege. Or overprinted to
signify a siege, as at Kuruman and ­Schweizer
Reneke. Stamps overprinted to give the
name of another political authority, such
as those issued following the British oc­
cupation of the republican capitals, and in
various towns.
Emergency stamps, like those the Trans­
vaal republic’s ‘government in the field’ in
1901 were printed at a Pietersburg news­
paper press, or were made by typewriter on
62
eastern Cape. Stamps of the home countries
of Imperial forces, such as Rhodesia and
Canada, are also found on wartime mail.
Inmates of the Klerksdorp concentration
camp had access only to a military post of­
An adhesive stamp fice and had to use British stamps.
without an indicated
value, but the word Postmarks
‘Franko’ was used to When one looks at stamps, you also look
send letters of Free at postmarks. The postal markings of the
State burghers free Anglo-Boer War abound. There are hun­
of charge. It was dreds, of all kinds and shapes. Round ones,
meant to frank letters ovals, rectangles and straight lines; in col­
regardless of the ours like black, violet, red, blue and green.
stamps which might
The Boers had special postmarks, like
have been necessary
‘Hoofdlager Kimberley’ and ‘Hoofdlager
ZAR’, for their headquarters at the sieges
of Kimberley and Ladysmith respectively. In
occupied Natal there were ‘Veldpost Glen­
coe’, ‘Veldpost New Castle’ and more. In
some post offices occupied by the Boers, the
existing postmarks were used. For example,
the postmarks of the Cape Colony towns of
Colesberg and Aliwal North were used on
republic stamps.
the Eastern Highveld. Revenue stamps were With the dawn of the new century the
used on letters to pay postage. date­stamps in many post offices did not
have two ‘0’ digits for 1900. So they gave the
‘Used abroad’ year as ‘19’, or omitted it.
Stamps of one country were used in other
countries; in particular British stamps, pic­ Army post offices
turing the head of Queen Victoria, were The British army had post offices serving the
used by British forces in the South African units where they were deployed. There are
colonies as well as the occupied parts of the marks of ‘Army Post Office’ and ‘Field Post
republics. Office’, some with place names and others
Stamps of the Free State and Transvaal with numbers. It takes research to link the
republics were used in occupied areas of number and date with the location of the
northern Natal and northern and north- field post office on that day!
British soldiers could send
letters free to the British
Empire, but not to other
countries. The stampless letter
of R Ford of the Transvaal
Constabulary (a wartime
policing unit) received a
2½d. stamp in London on 26
November 1900 for onward
transmission to Belgium.
The departing postmark of
1 November 1900 was for
Army Post Office number 55
in Pretoria, which received
letters from British soldiers in
outlying areas. Ford wroite to
his brother Hugh, and at the
top left of the envelope wrote
‘Faire suivre’—please forward.
He also explained in English
and French that no stamps
were available
G.S.M. October 2008
 A following letter
is that from Ford’s
brother in Belgium
and it tells a sad
story. Second
lieutenant R Ford
has died, as two
‘Deceased’ cachets
and a handwritten
endorsement testify

Many of the items

illustrated are
from the gold
medal collection
of Harry Birkhead
RDPSA, Honorary
Life President
of the Philatelic
Federation of South
Africa

This cover tells a remarkable tale.

During the siege of Mafeking the
British force had stamps of the
Cape of Good Hope and of British
Bechuanaland (the stamp on the
far right) overprinted with new
values, to pay the mail carriers
which were sent at night time to
smuggle letters from the town
through the Boer lines.
The bearer of this letter was shot.
In the morning a British patrol
found the letters on the body,
and brought these back to the
postmaster who had despatched
the carriers. This is one of several
letters franked at Mafeking on 30
March 1900 with stamps for one
shilling, the rate for the northern
route towards Lobatsi, and then
Bulawayo, Salisbury and Beira (as
marked on the envelope). Addresses
were deleted in blue pencil by
the postmaster, Howatt, who then
returned the letters to the senders

The war affected

the whole of South
Africa, even faraway
Namaqualand. In 1902
a Boer commando laid
a short-lived siege to
Okiep, where a number
of mineworkers from
Cornwall were employed
Inset: Sought after
stamps are those made
by a photographic
process during the siege
of Mafekling. Revenue
from these was used
to pay boys to act as
messengers between the
main camp and guard
posts. The 1d. shows
cadet sergeant-major
Warner Goodyear (12)
with his bicycle, the 3d.
depicts the commanding
officer, Colonel R S S
Baden-Powell

G.S.M. October 2008 63


Some regiments had their own postmarks,
such as ‘Natal Field Force’. Others used spe-
cial office markings on their mail, like the
Canadian contingents.
Office marks, cachets and endorsements
provide evidence of the many regiments
and units which were involved, including
servicemen from Australia (such as the
‘Tasmanian Bushmen’), New Zealand and
India, as well as units recruited or mobilised
in South Africa.
Soldiers on active service could send let-
ters free of postage, or at reduced rates. In
consequence many envelopes do not have
stamps. This was also the case with burghers
called to duty, provided they endorsed the
envelope ‘Commando dienst’ (Free State)
or ‘Velddienst’ (field service) (Transvaal).
Envelopes referring to specific town or
district commandos are uncommon, but do
exist. There are also postal items bearing wit-
ness to the volunteers with the Boer forces,
such as the Scandinavian Corps.
Red Cross and hospital mail is a field of
study in its own right. Today postcards or
envelopes with the well-known Red Cross
are highly rated, particularly if they are from
smaller units such as the Netherlands Red
Cross, which helped the Boers with field
ambulances.
Postal routes
The war drastically changed postal routes.
Upon the start of hostilities, postal services
between the republics and colonies were
immediately terminated. But the repub-
lics could still send mail abroad, and re-
ceive mail, thanks to the neutral harbour
of Lourenço Marques in Portuguese East
Africa. This also became the route for mail
to and from the South African colonies.
Barring the telegraph service, the mail
was the only practical means of communica-
tion between people in different places. In
consequence, a whole process of mail cen-
soring was promptly introduced. Today we
note that some postal articles were subject to
censorship at more than one place.
Censorship marks
The censors used special markings or
­cachets, first at main post offices, but later,
under British authority, virtually every town
in South Africa had a mail censor.
64
The story of wartime mail. A halfpenny postcard
(domestic rate) of the Orange Free State, posted
on 3 February 1900 at Aliwal North, a Cape
Colony town then under republican control. It
was addressed to Queenstown, at the time about
180km distant—but the direct postal service
between the republics and the colonies in South
Africa was suspended. The postcard then went
to Bloemfontein (5 February 1900), where it
received the approval mark of the Free State
postmaster general—the oval mark with coat-of-
arms. From here the card went to Pretoria, and
thence to the neutral port of Lourenço Marques,
for forwarding by ship to Durban and East
London, for the roundabout journey of about
2700km to Queenstown. In Durban (23 February
1900) the British censor was stopping all mail
from the republics, and his office mark ‘Stopped
by Censor – Return to Sender’ was applied to
the card. The postcard then went to the Natal
Returned Letter Office (1 March 1900). Today
we do not know if the card was actually sent
back all the way to Aliwal North
When a censor had slit open an envelope In those days it was customary to date­
and read the letter, how would he re-seal the stamp letters not only at the point of origin,
envelope? The answer is: with a special label. but also at the destination. The latter marks
There is an amazing variety of these labels. are usually on the back of an envelope.
As with other aspects of wartime postal Sometimes letters were postmarked en route
history, the collecting of censor marks and at sorting points (transit marks). Accord-
labels offers a wide field of study. ingly, one can see how long a letter took to
It was not only the mail of servicemen and arrive at its destination, and often also trace
civilians which was censored. The author­ its route.
ities watched the mail of prisoners of war Some letters were delayed for months,
and of people in concentration camps with because the war disrupted postal routes.
eagle eyes. Temporary or emergency routes were
also introduced. Resourceful Free Staters
Prisoner of war mail crossed the Caledon River to mail their
British prisoners of war who were held in letters, using the Cape-administered postal
and near Pretoria, could write letters and system of Basutoland.
have them sent out via Lourenço Marques.
According to the markings such letters were Postcards
thoroughly censored by the office of the The war mail does not concern letters only.
Commandant General. There were also postcards, special ones like
Burghers who were taken into captivity, those printed by the ‘government printer in
were removed as far as possible and were the field’, picture cards with war scenes, and
held in Cape Town and also on ships in propaganda postcards produced locally and
Simon’s Bay. Thereafter they were taken to in European countries, even in Russia.
prisoner of war camps on the islands of St Yes, the postal history of the war covers
Helena, Ceylon and Bermuda, and in India. virtually the full field of philately. There is
Numerous postal markings yield evidence of even mail from a shipwreck, because war let-
these camps and places of confinement. ters were salvaged from the wreck of the SS
Today, censor markings are known for Mexican which foundered off the west coast
most of the 56 concentration camps where of South Africa.
white women and children were held. Of- Airmail? Well, there are postal items relat-
fice marks of the approximately 80 camps ing to the British scouts who were sent aloft
where Blacks were held, are rare. on anchored balloons.
Collectors have even assembled studies of Indeed, within the Anglo-Boer War, there
postal communication between prisoner of exist many intriguing collecting fields with
war camps and concentration camps, locally ample scope for originality and specialisa-
and abroad. Again, a wide field. tion according to one’s own liking.
The Anglo-Boer War Philatelic Society
The Society was established in March 1958 following discussions between three British col-
lectors, John Rathbone, Neil Snowden and Herbert Pearson, and their invitation to other
collectors around the world to join a new specialist study group. Of the 30 members of the
original group, two are still members of the now 160-strong Society today.
The Society is unusual in that its scope is tiny, compared with most others—the period
between 1899 and 1902—yet new discoveries are still being made, many of them reported
in its quarterly journal, The Anglo Boer War Philatelist. It was a key objective of the founders of
the Society to build up a body of knowledge on aspects of the War and to this end a series
of handbooks has been puiblished, with more in preparation, including books on the town
censor marks and the postal history of the Burgher, Refugee and Concentration Camps.
Regional meetings are held in the UK, with an annual weekend at Royal Leamington Spa
in May. Meetings also take place in South Africa from time to time.
For further information, readers are invited to contact the secretary of the AWBS, Nick
Harris, 3 Mermaid Way, Malden, Essex CM9 5LA, email mrnphboer@aol.com
G.S.M. October 2008
 Censor marks
Top left and centre: Censor
marks of the Transvaal republic,
seen on letters to and from
British prisoners of war held in
Pretoria
Top and top right: Censor marks
of two of the camps, Umballa in
India and Diyatalawa in Ceylon,
where detained burghers were
sent to have them as far away as
possible
Lower left and centre right:
At almost every town, even
in the Cape Colony, censors
intercepted letters, checked and
passed them, as these ‘Passed’
cachets prove
Below right: The Transvaal
censor sticker used at the main
post office in Pretoria to reseal
envelopes from and to foreign
destinations. It reads ‘Opened
under martial law’

Above left: A mailbag of

letters about six months old
was found by British soldiers
searching near Rustenburg
early in November 1900. The
letters were examined by a
censor, an explanatory mark
was applied, and they were
forwarded to the addressees
Above right: As a British
attack was also expected from
Rhodesia, a Boer commando
was sent to the Limpopo
River, the Transvaal republic’s
northern border, near the then
Fort Tuli. Only four examples
are known of the postmark
reading Postkant Lager/
Noorder Grens/date (post
office, camp, northern border)
A number of postmarks used during the war
Left: Two of the postmarks of the Natal Field Force under the command of Sir Redvers
Buller, which moved through Natal to the Eastern Transvaal. ‘3 M B’ above the date in the
lower postmark indicates the 3rd Mountain Brigade, a unit under Major General the Duke of
Dundonald, and part of the Natal Field Force. On this date, 8 October 1900, the unit was at
Lydenburg, which had been occupied by the Natal Field Force a month before
Centre: Dannhauser and Mount Prospect were railway stations in Northern Natal which were
occupied by the Transvaal republic early in the war. A postal service was established to serve
the commandos, with a daily mail train to Pretoria
Above right: The three major sieges by which the Boers wanted to keep British forces away
from the Transvaal republic were at Kimberley, Mafeking and Ladysmith. In all three postal
material from both besiegers and besieged exists. At Ladysmith a ‘siege post office’ was set
up and illustrated postcards were printed. The postmark Hoofdlager ZAR was used at the field
office of Commandant General Piet Joubert on a hill overlooking Ladysmith
Below right: Metal datestamps with numerals (this is number 25) were used by units of the
British army. The 2d. stamp of the Transvaal republic was overprinted at Lydenburg with the
letters V.R.I. (Victoria Regina Imperatrix)

Volksrust, a border town in

Transvaal, was occupied on
12 June 1900 by a British
force approaching from
Natal. A makeshift cachet
was summarily made by the
orderlies of the field post
office, while fighting was still
going on in the area. Here it
cancels a British 1d. stamp.
The date of 15 June 1900 is the
earliest known

G.S.M. October 2008 65

The Postmarks of the British
West Indies—King George VI—
Grenada 1937–1955
David Horry highlights the cancellations to look out for
G renada, The Spice Island, is noted for the production of sugar, nutmegs and mace,
cinnamon, ginger, cocoa and tourism: it is the most southerly of the Windward Islands
and in 1946 had an estimated population of 72,650 of which 7104 lived on Carriacou in
the Grenadines. In this article I will not deal with the Grenadines, but will make that the
subject for my next piece.
The French had hold of the island,
known then as Camerhogue, as early as
1650, but it was ceded (as La Grenade)
to Britain in 1767 at the Treaty of Paris.
Hence of the 27 offices from the period,
some bear evocat­ive French names—it’s
difficult to discard a stamp that bears the
postmark Morne Jaloux or Grand Anse or
even Piedmontagnes (pronounced by the
locals as Ped Muh Ta) or Crochu (which
means a hook).
Fig 1 Crochu, Concord and Grand-Roy
66
Quite sublime
The English-named post offices are quite
Fig 2 Birch Grove small single circles
sublime—Happy Hill, Snug Corner, Birch
Grove and Mount Rose to name
but a few. The GPO is at St
Georges (Fort Royal).
The first notable writing on
Grenada postmarks came from
one Alfred Charlton, The Postal
History and Postage Stamps of Gre-
nada which was published by Pem-
berton in 1955—this however,
excluded strikes from the GPO.
Harvey O’Connor published ‘The
Current Postmarks of Grenada’
in the British Caribbean Philatelic
Journal in April 1969—with an ad-
denda by Eric Heyer in the same
publication, August 1969. W Dan-
forth Walker and John A Cronin
looked at the whole issue again
in the BCPJ in 1973 and 1979. Ted
Proud issued his far more extensive
Postal History of Barbados and Grenada
in 2006. My Encyclopaedia of British West
Indies Postmarks, King George VI, pretty
much brings everything up to speed
for the period in question.
Postmarks for the period look best
on the larger King George VI definit­
ives which ran from
Fig 3 (right)
Dunfermline,
Happy Hill
and Snug
Corner
Fig 4
(below right)
Mt Rose
1938 to early 1951. The small heads issued
in 1951 are often too small to find a suitable
postmark.
Within the King George VI period, the
small single circles (sSCs) are the most nu-
merous form of postmark. Three with time-
code were first issued in the Victorian period,
namely at Concord, Crochu and Grand-Roy
(Fig 1) all are scarce. There are two examples
from Birch Grove (Fig 2) known within the Fig 5 Madame Joseph Birminghams
period and other scarce strikes from Con-
cord, Dunfermline, Grand Anse, Happy Hill,
La Taste, Piedmontagnes and Snug Corner
(Fig 3). The really tricky one is Mt Rose (Fig
4) whose office was opened in 1940 and
closed in late 1946—hens teeth!

Forgeries
Forged postmarks are not unknown on
the higher values from both sets—Madame
Joseph Birminghams being the main culprits
(Fig 5, left). Genuine Birminghams are found
at all the larger offices and the scarce ones
emanate from Gouyave, Hermitage, Hope
and Morne Jaloux (Fig 6). Rarer items come
from Grenville (last recorded date 14 May
1937!) and Piedmontagnes last seen in 1949
Fig 6 Genuine Birminghams from Gouyave, Morne Jaloux and Hope

King George VI
Grenada postmarks
are not too difficult
to find
(Fig 7). Examples from Corinth, St Georges,
Union and Woburn are far easier to locate
(Fig 8). Open Birminghams from Crochu
and Hermitage are scarce whilst the Hope
version is rare indeed (Fig 9).
There is just one New Birmingham found
within the period, inscribed ‘GPO—Gre- Fig 7 Rare
nada B.W.I.’ The ERD is 12 May 1953 and Birminghams—
LRD 15 April 1954 it is surprisingly rare Grenville and Fig 8 Corinth, St Georges, Union and
(Fig 10). Piedmontagnes Woburn Birminghams are easier to locate
The Princess Alice Appeal of 1955
spawned Temporary Rubber Boxes (TRBs)
at St Georges and Sauteurs (Fig 11) with
another possibility being at Gouyave; a small
single line (1L) handstamp is noted from
Piedmontagnes (Fig 12).
King George VI Grenada postmarks are
not too difficult to find but the small of-
fices pre-war are somewhat more difficult.
Not much shows up on eBay but there are
odd lots at the auction houses and fairs and Fig 9 Open Birminghams from Crochu and Hermitage are scarce and
the BPSC and BWISC auctions. One very Hope is extremely rare
surprising source was at 399 The Strand, Fig 11 Princess
back in the early 1990s, where someone Alice Appeal
had unwittingly decanted an entire on- Temporary Rubber
piece collection of King George V and King Box and, Fig
George VI postmarks into the front of house 12, Single Line
stockbooks and all priced at used catalogue! handstamp from
Good old Stanley Gibbons! Piedmontagnes

Previous articles in this series have covered

the following territories:
Trinidad and Tobago (January 2008)
Jamaica (February 2008)
Bahamas (March 2008)
British Guiana (May 2008)
British Honduras (July 2008)
Antigua and Barbuda (August 2008)
Dominica (September 2008)
Fig 10 The only New
Birmingham of the period
David Horry’s book, The Encyclopaedia of British West Indies Postmarks, King George VI
is available from Murray Payne Ltd and all good philatelic suppliers, price £39.95,
postage and packing extra.

G.S.M. October 2008 67

Stamp Hunting
Nimrod suggests some stamps worth looking for
Barbados
The early stamps of Barbados, featuring Britannia seated, have
long been considered classics of British Empire philately. The first
stamps, issued between 1852 and 1858 (SG 1/12a) were imperf
and printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co, the same firm of printers
responsible for the 1840 1d. black and 2d. blue of Great Britain,
which helped to cement their status amongst early collectors.
Surprisingly, perhaps, the 1d. values issued during this time are
fairly easy to obtain fine mint, especially those on blued paper (3,
4, 9, 10). Fine used are more tricky, mainly because the cancellers
used tended to obliterate the design somewhat. Expect to
pay a premium for very fine used examples of all values.
The 4d. on blued paper (5) is well worth obtaining fine
used at current quotes and the 1s. black of 1858 (12a) is no
longer as easy to obtain fine used as was once the case.
From 1860 until 1880 stamps were is-
sued with a variety of perforations. Due to
the narrow spacing of stamps in the sheet,
fine examples can expect to have the per-
forations touching one side of the design,
especially those with no watermark or with
Small or Large Star watermark. Stamps with per-
forations clear on all sides are worth a substantial
premium, especially in mint condition. The 1860 issue had pin
perforations and all are rare in mint condition. The 1d. blue (14,
15) is the most readily available in fine used, but is still difficult to
obtain in this condition.
The 1861 ½d. with clean-cut perfs (17) is worth looking out for
fine mint. It was replaced quite quickly by the rough perf issue of
1861–70 and is much scarcer than the catalogue value indicates.
Of the 1861–70 issue (20/35), the ½d. and 1d. values are generally
quite easy to obtain both fine mint and used. Fine
used examples of the 4d. value (25/28) should be
purchased when offered, as many examples have
small faults.
Between 1870 and 1875 these stamps were is-
sued with a change of watermark, either Large
Star or Small Star (43/66b). All can be recom-
mended fine mint but care should be taken as
many examples offered are regummed. The 4d. dull vermilion
(45) is difficult to obtain fine used and the 1s. black (47) fine
used is certainly not found as often as was once the case. The 3d.
brown-purple issued in 1873 (63) is highly recommended both
fine mint and used.
The 5s. dull rose of 1873 (64) is notorious for poor cen-
tring. Extremely well centred examples should be treated with
suspicion as reperforated examples are not unknown. Fine
ex­amples, both mint and used, should be purchased when
­offered, particularly if the centring is reasonable.
The final issue featuring the classic Britannia seated design
appeared between 1875 and 1880 on Crown CC watermarked
paper (67/83). Two gauges of perforation were utilised for this
issue, 12½ and 14. Stamps perf 12½ are generally the scarcer of
the two. The perf 12½ 6d. (69, 70) is becoming quite difficult fine
used. The perf 14 1d. (73, 74) and 3d. (75) are well worth obtain-
ing fine mint.
A new design featuring a profile of Queen Victoria was intro-
duced between 1882 and 1886 (89/103). The 4d. grey (97) is the
key value for this issue fine mint, but the 1d. rose (91) and both
shades of the 2½d. (93, 94) are slowly beginning to rise in value.
Of the fine used, only the 6d. and 5s. values (100, 103) will prove
difficult.
The 1892–1903 issue (105/115) is relatively easy to obtain fine
mint, although the 2d. and 5d. values (108, 110) are becoming
less readily available than was once the case. The 8d. (112) is well
worth obtaining fine used as is the 2s.6d. violet and green (115).
Queen Victoria’s Jubilee was celebrated in 1897–98 with sets to
2s.6d. on both white and blued paper (116/33). Fine mint of all
68
values can prove tricky, as the paper used was thin and prone to
gum wrinkles and creasing. All values on blued paper are recom-
mended (125/33), fine used being extremely
difficult. It is recommended that certificates be
obtained for the higher values.
Various values from the 1892–1903 issue were
reprinted on Multiple Crown CA paper in 1905
(135/44). All values are recommended in fine
mint. The 6d. (141) is much less common fine
used than was once the case and may prove to
be tricky. New colours and values were added
in 1909–10 (163/69). The ½d., 1d. and 2½d. (164,
165, 167) are all elusive fine mint, while the 6d.
(168) is the trickiest to obtain fine used.
The Nelson Centenary set of 1906 is relatively
easy to obtain mint and used. However, the low
values should be checked for watermark varieties as
these often lurk unrecognised in collections. The
¼d., 2d. and 2½d. values were re-issued in 1907 on
Multiple Crown CA paper (158/62). The 2d. and
2½d. are uncommon fine used and highly recommended.
The first King George V issue appeared in 1912–16 (170/80).
Only the 3s. (180) should prove difficult, especially fine used,
as unsatisfactory cancels abound. A new de-
sign was introduced during 1916–19 (181/91).
Again the 3s. (191) is the most difficult fine
used, but the 2d. and 4d. values (184, 187)
may also prove to be difficult to obtain in this
form. The 4d. and 3s. values were re-issued in
changed colours in 1918 (199, 200). The 3s.
is difficult fine used. The listed shade of the
3s. (200a) is very scarce and should only be
purchased from a reputable source or with a
recent certificate of authenticity.
The 1920–21 Victory issue (201/12) is notable for the large
number of watermark varieties and errors that occurred. All are
desirable and, for the most part, scarce to very rare. Putting to-
gether a fine mint set of the basic stamps can be time-consuming
as many suffer from toning and gum cracking.
The 1921–24 issue (213/228) is relatively easy to obtain fine
mint, only the 1s. with Script watermark (226) being potentially
difficult. The same stamp is the key value in a fine used set and is
very difficult to obtain, as is the 3s. (228). Care should
be taken when purchasing fine as forged cancels
exist.
The first King George VI issue of 1938–47 (248/56a)
has been extensively studied and there are a number
of plate flaws and watermark varieties to look for.
The only difficult stamp in fine mint is the 1d.
scarlet (249) which will take some search-
ing for. The 2½d. was reprinted in blue
during 1944 (251b). Fine used examples
are quite elusive and well worth obtaining
when offered.
A number of more recent definitive issues
are start-
ing to be-
come very
diffi­cult fine
used. These include the 1970–
71 issue on glazed paper
(399B/414B), 1976 Or-
chids with watermark w12
(543/51), 1985–87 Marine
Life with imprint date
(763B/77B) and 1989–92
Wild Plants (890/905).
G.S.M. October 2008
The Singapore Mutiny
Rob Holley looks back at one of the lesser-known events of the First
World War and the effect it had on the postal service

Fig 1 Miniature sheet issued

by the Australian Post Office
on the 75th anniversary of the
Emden incident at the Cocos
(Keeling) Islands

of the fleet crossed the Pacific,

fought a spectacularly successful
battle at Coronel off the Chile
coast and reached the Falkland
Islands before being caught and
destroyed, an event well-com-
memorated in philately. The
Emden, however, had consider-
ably more success as, for the
next 70 days, she was able to be
a fox in a hen-coop, the chick-
ens being the unsuspecting
British merchant ships plying
the Indian Ocean. During that
time she seized no less than 23
vessels and after transferring their crews
I n the hot late afternoon of Monday, 15 February 1915, a public holiday, the First World
War came to Singapore. The first sign that something was amiss was a party of Indian
troops making their way from their barracks at Alexandra in the south-west of the Island
to her coaling ships and plundering their
cargoes, she sent them to a watery grave. In
September she bombarded Madras and set
to a Prisoner of War camp at Tanglin, north of the city, a distance of about two miles. On light to a number of oil storage tanks. On
the face of it there was nothing unusual about this. Until a few days before these self-same 28 October she mounted an even bolder at-
sepoys had been acting as guards in this camp which held a number of German civilian and tack on Penang, off the Malayan mainland,
naval internees, and a casual observer might have thought they were returning for another sinking a small Russian cruiser, a French
spell of duty. Something, however, was not quite right as these troops were not marching in destroyer and a British freighter.
formation and there did not appear to be anyone in obvious command. As they neared the One of her most audacious escapades
camp something even more unusual happened—some of the group went down on one knee saw her crew being royally entertained on
and began firing at the sentries at the gates. In the course of the next half-hour 13 British and the tiny British island of Diego Garcia,
Malay officers and men were killed and three others wounded. In the confusion one of the the inhabitants, without a radio, knowing
German prisoners was also killed and another wounded. When the resistance of the guards nothing of the war in Europe. The British
was finally overcome, the remaining prisoners were released and informed in broken Eng- appeared to be powerless.
lish that they could now consider themselves free men as the Indian regiments in Singapore Then, perhaps over-confident, the Ger-
had mutinied against their colonial masters. Furthermore, they were told, if their German man commander made a serious misjudge-
friends would consent to put themselves at the mutineers’ head they felt sure that, together, ment when he decided to raid the Cocos
they would be able to sweep the remaining British into the sea. Wisely, this invitation was (Keeling) Islands south of Sumatra with
declined but 17 of the prisoners took advantage of the opportunity to escape. Six were very the intention of destroying the Cable &
quickly recaptured and all the others were eventually rounded up except one, a remarkably Wireless radio station there. By now, a gen-
resourceful German officer named Oberleutnant Julius Lauterbach, who managed to get eral warning had been issued and an alert
back to Germany where he played a further distinguished part in the War. What had led to radio operator on the Island, unconvinced
this extraordinary event in Singapore’s history? by a dummy funnel rigged on the Emden,
sent out an urgent message which the Ger-
Security risk The Emden man vessel surprisingly failed to intercept.
There had been a considerable number The exploits of the Emden in the Indian Unaware that HMAS Sydney, on convoy
of German nationals living in Malaya and Ocean, August–November 1914, are the escort duty in the area, was now steaming
Singapore when the First World War began stuff of Hollywood legend (Fig 1). At the to investigate, Emden continued with her
in August 1914 and initially they were per- outbreak of war in August 1914, the Emden, destruction operation and despatched a
mitted to live freely although under parole. a light cruiser, had been part of the Ger- landing party—using the pinnace shown
This situation changed, however, when their man Far Eastern fleet based in the German on the lower left stamp of the miniature
numbers began to rise as more and more port of Tsingtao in China. Isolated and sheet. Too late, the Emden captain spotted
Germans were taken off ships intercepted with no prospect of relief, the German ad- the approaching smoke of the Sydney and,
while returning to the Fatherland from miral decided on a desperate dash back to abandoning the landing party, attempted
the Far East. As these men had no families Germany. The Emden detached itself near to flee. He was caught, however, and after a
in Singapore they posed a greater security the Mariana Islands, while the remainder brisk action, forced to beach on the island
risk. Furthermore, starting in October 1914,
they were joined by a very different type of
German captive altogether—sailors of the
Imperial German Navy who had lately been
members of the crew of the German surface
The exploits of the Emden in the Indian
raider, the Emden. Ocean are the stuff of Hollywood legend
70 G.S.M. October 2008
 Fig Wreck of the Emden on North
Keeling Island

of North Keeling (Fig 2). What was left of
his crew were captured, but after a string
of adventures that would tax the credulity
of a Hollywood film producer, the landing
party succeeded in getting back to Ger-
many (Fig 3).
Discontent
It was men of this calibre, then, who joined
the other internees in Singapore in a
military camp at Tanglin which, somewhat
hastily, had been provided with accom-
modation and guards. Amongst the latter
were troops from the Rajput wing of the
5th Light Infantry based in Alexandra
barracks (Fig 4). Muslim by faith, they had
already been unsettled by the twin events
of Turkey becoming Germany’s ally in
the war and the Caliph calling upon all
Muslims to wage ‘jihad’, holy war, against
the Allies. To this were added other discon-
tents including complaints over conditions,
friction amongst the Indian commissioned
and non-commissioned officers and a ser-
ious belief amongst the rank and file that
instead of being posted to Hong Kong as
they had been told, the regiment was going
to the Middle East to fight the Turks. It
was later shown that there were also cer-
tain local Muslim elements in Singapore
spreading anti-British propaganda at this
time and at least one of these had been
in contact with the disaffected troops. An
added ingredient in the brew was that one
or two of the German prisoners, chief of
whom was Oberleutnant Lauterbach of
the Emden, had spread the belief amongst
their guards that, if they rebelled, they
might receive some assistance, which, it
emerged later, the Rajput ringleaders as-
sumed meant leadership.
were rounded up without
too much difficulty. Vari-
ous groups took part in
the operations, including
the Sultan-led Johore milit-
ary forces from the main-
land, to where many of the
sepoys had fled, Russian
and Japanese sailors from
warships in Singapore
Harbour, the local police,
and groups of regular and
volunteer troops. Despite
the unpreparedness of
both the garrison and the
general public, the number of casualties,
military and civilian combined, were relat- Fig 3 Survivors from the Emden
ively light, the total death toll being 44,
most of them, of course, of British national- How long this period lasted is difficult to
ity, they being singled out by the mutineers. say as the authorities put a total embargo
Several British women were killed and the on such information. As the Straits Times
authorities, fearing atrocities similar to the later commented somewhat bitterly: ‘In
ones following the Indian mutiny, evacu- their infinite wisdom, the authorities had
ated all expatriate wives and children to resolved to bottle up every scrap of reassur-
the various ships lying off-shore. For a time, ing news, so letters and newspapers were
at least, municipal and commercial activity held back. “Order now completely restored
ground to a halt, and the postal services in Singapore” was prepared to be cabled
must, inevitably, have been severely dis- (but) was sent back with the one word
rupted, indeed, suspended altogether. “Refused”.’
Fig 4 A detachment of the 5th Light Infantry in Singapore

Panic
In the 24 hours following the initial at-
tack on the camp there was something
akin to panic on Singapore as parties of
mutineers roamed the town in search of
Europeans who, if they admitted to be, or
were suspected of being, ‘Ingleez’ (Brit-
ish), were shot out of hand. The Singapore
authorities quickly realised, however, that
the mutineers had no over-all plan or
proper leaders and after their initial ram-
page, they became a leaderless rabble and

G.S.M. October 2008 71

 Contemporary mail
Items of Singapore mail dating from
this time are not very plentiful and
those that have been recorded do not
throw a great deal of light on the situa-
tion which existed on the Island at this
time. The following two covers and a
card were probably in the GPO either
just before or just after 15 February,
the day of the outbreak.
The first item, a cover (Fig 5), was
sent to one of the internees, Mr Rein-
hold Lobeck, from Berlin on 26 Janu-
ary 1915. Lobeck had formerly been
the Inspector of Telegraphs, the
Royal Siamese Railway Department,
and had presumably been unlucky
enough to have been visiting Malaya
or Singapore at the start of the War.
As will be seen, his address includes
‘St John’s Isle’ as well as ‘Tanglin
Barracks’. St John’s Island was the
Quarantine Station off Singapore,
hence the addition in the address of
‘c/o Port Health Office’, and it was
where, it seems, the German
internees were housed while
Tanglin was being prepared
for occupation. The island
must have been a godsend
to the authorities, looking for
instant, reasonably secure, ac-
commodation. It is reported
the prisoners were moved
from St John’s to Tanglin on
30 October 1914. This letter
was censored in Berlin, vide
the ‘Senior Censor/Guard
Korps, Berlin’ mark and the
single-line cachet in red ‘Kriegs-
gefangenensendung’—‘Prisoner
of War Post’. After that it ap-
peared to have gone to the Red
Cross in Switzerland, where it is
thought the purple ‘Post Free/
Prisoners of War’ enclosing the
large initials ‘P.C.’ was applied,
and then on to the Prisoner
of War Information Bureau in
Wellington Street, London, who
re-addressed it to Singapore
in blue crayon. Unfortunately
Fig 5 (top) Cover there is no Singapore mark to
from Berlin to confirm the cover’s arrival or how and when
an internee in it was delivered. It must have been received
Singapore, 26 by the addressee, however, as the Lobeck
January 1915 correspondence seems by far the biggest
to have survived. How long it would have
been in transit is anyone’s guess but normal
mail took about three weeks and so if this
cover took an extra two weeks in its diver-
sions to Switzerland and London, it would
have arrived some time around the end of
February.

Fig 6 (above) Looking for a hidden

Straits 3c. postal
stationary card
message
In a Spink auction in Singapore in June 2004
from an internee
in Singapore was a picture postcard (Lot 413) addressed
to Denmark, 11 to Lobeck from Trieste, date unclear, which
February 1915 had followed the same route as this cover
Fig 7 (left) The and bears an arrival Singapore datestamp
correspondence of 27 February 1915, so the post office must
side of the postal have been operational at this time although,
stationary card at as will be seen later, it is doubtful if deliveries
Fig 6 were back to normal. This card had had its

G.S.M. October 2008

 Figs 8 and 9 Cover, and itseverse,
from Penang, 16 January 1915

addressed to Ipoh in the Federated

Malay State of Perak. The addressee,
Sa Grandeur Monseigneur Merebol,
could not be located, either there
or anywhere else, it seems, despite
the cover making an extraordinary
tour around Malaya and Singapore.
It might, at some stage, have gone to
Ceylon, but certainly went back, on
one occasion at least, to its starting
point in Penang. One of its stopping
places was Tanglin Camp as signified
by the familiar ‘PASSED/COMMAN-
DANT P. of W.’ although when that
was is not known. It was opened on
no less than four occasions, twice
by censors. It was sent to the Dead
Letter Office, Singapore, twice, the
first occasion being on 10 February
1915, five days before the mutiny,
where it probably remained while
the emergency lasted. The next date
it bears is 3 March 1915 in a straight

Austrian stamp crudely removed

(with most of the postmark), pre-
sumably by the censor looking for
a hidden message. Another card
in the auction (Lot 414) had been
sent to an internee from Germany
on 12 January and bore a ‘Penang
to Singapore’ sorter mark of 27
February, but as it had not been di-
rected via the Information Bureau
in London, its route is unknown
and its time in transit difficult to
estimate. Unfortunately, none of
these three items bears any mark
which might indicate a delay
or problem in delivery when it
reached Singapore.
The second item, (Figs 6 and
7), is a Straits Settlements King
George V 3c. postal stationery
card addressed to Denmark and
postmarked Singapore, 11 Feb-
ruary 1915, four days before the
mutiny. This date is not particu-
larly significant until one notes
the cachet ‘PASSED/COM-
MANDANT P. of W.’ in purple
which was applied at Tanglin. The reverse
confirms that it was written from Tang-
lin Barracks by a German internee, Adolf before the mutiny, it is not at all certain it line in purple, applied privately, so presum-
Erusini, just five days before the Singapore had left Singapore as there must have been ably it was back in circulation by that date,
mutineers made their assault. It is written in considerable disruption to shipping. and it continued its travels until 19 May.
good English and this might suggest a Ger- We shall never know whether Monseigneur
man who had long been a resident on the Extraordinary tour Merebol received his letter, or why he was
Island. Incidentally, the Commandant of The third item (Figs 8 and 9) is very dif- in Tanglin Camp unless it was to visit one of
the Camp, Captain P N Gerrard, died dur- ferent to the other two in that it is local. his flock. If this envelope could talk it could
ing the attack on the camp. Although this It began its life on 16 January from the probably tell us more about the disruption
card had almost certainly cleared the GPO E & O Hotel in Penang and was originally to the Singapore postal services during the
period of the mutiny than we are ever likely
to discover at this remove in time.
What of the aftermath? By the end of
Items of Singapore mail dating from this the first week after the mutiny groups of
women were allowed off the crowded ships
time are not very plentiful into ‘safe’ areas which included some of

G.S.M. October 2008 73

Fig 10 Local cover to an
internee, Singapore, 30
March 1915

Figs 11 and 12 Picture

postcard, Thursday
Island to Germany,
19 April 1915, and its
correspondence side

the leading hotels, although they returned

to the ships at night. On 1 March some
families were permitted to return to their
homes as long as these were well within the
confines of the city. By 3 March, however, all
those aboard the refugee ships were allowed
home. On 8 March the British community
must have considered that life had all but
returned to normal when the golf clubs on
the Island reopened, but the local papers
still made no mention of the resumption
of the postal services, although one has to
assume they were fully operational by then.
The date of 3 March on the Monseigneur
Merebol cover suggests they may have been
restored even earlier, although perhaps only
piecemeal, the commercial quarter first.
By 9 March only 28 men of the 5th Light
Infantry remained unaccounted for and the
danger was considered over.
A very different spirit
Earlier, mention was made of a postcard
from Trieste addressed to one of the Ger-
man internees of the camp, Herr Lobeck,
the Austrian stamp of which had been
prised off, presumably by the Singapore
censor. It wasn’t unusual for censors to
do this as a message could be concealed
beneath a stamp, either on the envelope or
actually written on the back of the stamp
itself. The writer is not aware of any item of
mail either to or from a Tanglin internee
before the mutiny took place that had its
stamp removed but it seems a very differ-
ent spirit animated the censors after the
events of 15 February. Shown (Fig 10) is
a letter, also addressed to a prisoner, one
Carl Held, from a firm of solicitors in Sin-
gapore, Rodyk & Davidson, and posted on
30 March 1915, 43 days after the mutiny. As
can be seen, the stamp has been torn from
the envelope, an even cruder method of
removal than had been used on the Trieste
postcard. At first glance it might seem
that this piece of philatelic vandalism was
committed by an aspiring stamp collector,
although the stamp could only have been
a current Straits Settlements King George
V 3c. red of minimal value, but closer ex-
amination of the envelope shows that this
is extremely unlikely. When eventually the
addressee received his letter he opened it,
rather roughly, at the right-hand side and
it would have been natural, if the stamp
was removed subsequently by a collector,
to tear it from the opened side, thus tak-
ing the front corner but leaving the back
intact. However, this stamp was removed,
unusually, by tearing around it from the
top, thus taking the back as well, although
an attempt was made, successfully, to retain
the latter and it remains attached to the
envelope by a shred. The envelope needed
to be empty when this was done and so
one has to assume it was by the hand of the
censor after the contents had been taken
out for examination. Why such rough treat-
ment was reserved for this particular envel-
ope is an interesting question. The normal
method of checking for potential messages
beneath stamps was by soaking them off
but, whatever the means used, any damage
to the envelope was usually made good. In
this case, not only was the damage left un-
touched, but the very contents could have
been viewed by the curious. Why?

74 G.S.M. October 2008

Public feeling
There could have been three contributory
factors. Public feeling in Singapore was
high in the immediate aftermath of the mu-
tiny—19 civilians had been killed including,
crucially, three women, and the German
internees were not thought to be entirely
blameless. It is possible, therefore, an ele-
ment of natural resentment was at work. No
other postal administration, except that of
Singapore, would either see or handle this
item so there was little need to follow the
niceties. If it had been going abroad then
presumably a further label to secure the
top would have been used, if only to protect
the integrity of the postal services. A cover
‘internal’ to Singapore, however, appeared
to require no such consideration.
It is possible, of course, that the reason
is much more prosaic, i.e. the mutiny had
made such sudden and unexpected de-
mands on the censors, the authorities being
particularly anxious that no whisper of the
mutiny should get to India, that they used
this extreme method of ensuring security
simply to save them time.
Unfortunately, it cannot be said for cer-
tain that this is what happened
and there may be an element of
wishful thinking in the idea that
the censors acted in this way. It
would be useful to know if other
similarly defaced Singapore
covers addressed to the internees
during this period exist as other
examples would greatly increase
the credibility of the theory.
Executions
Later in 1915 came the trials of
the recaptured mutineers, 202 of
whom were convicted. Of these,
47 were executed, 64 were sen-
tenced to transportation for life,
and the rest to lesser periods of
exile or terms of imprisonment. A
number of the executions were car-
ried out in public, outside the walls
of the gaol. The 5th Light Infantry
regiment, which had a long and
distinguished war record, later saw
action in both West and East Africa,
but was disbanded in 1922
when the Indian Army was
re-organised.
During March and April most of
the German prisoners in Singapore
and Malaya were quietly shipped
off to Australia. As early as 24 Feb-
ruary, the Colonial Secretary in
London had cabled the Australian
Government: ‘The Governor (of
Singapore) fears that their pres-
ence would seriously hamper the
colonial government with possible
emergencies.’
Figs 11 and 12 are the front and
back of a postcard sent by one
of German prisoners in transit
to Australia. It was mailed from
Thursday Island to Germany and
the postmark is dated 19 April
1915, although it appears to have
been written on the 9th. Once
again it is written in English (was
this a requirement?) and runs
G.S.M. October 2008
as follows: ‘No doubt you will be a little sur-
prised when learning that I am on the way
to Australia after a five months internment
in Singapore, all us German Prisoners of
War are out to some place in Australia and
to show you that I still remember our old
friendship I send you and your whole family
my very best wishes and kindest regards. I
sincerely hope you are all quite as well and
fit as I am. I would be only far glad to get,
after so long a time some news from you.
My address will be: A. Sievers (?) Prisoner of
War from Singapore, Sydney, Australia.’
A tight rein
The Singapore Mutiny does not figure
prominently in British histories of the Em-
pire. Once Turkey had declared for the
Central Powers, Britain’s Muslim colonies
were inevitably going to be a problem. In
the Middle East Britain could, and did, play
the Arab nationalism card but in the Far East
there was nothing they could do but keep a
tight rein on things and act firmly, and
indeed, a Malay who had been in contact
with troops of the 5th Light Infantry before
the mutiny was later hanged for treason.
What was most feared was a general insur-
rection amongst the Muslim population in
collaboration with the troops of the Indian
regiments, and alarm bells were rung when
soon after the Mutiny there was a minor
revolt in the Malayan State of Kelantan
which provoked a quite disproportionate
response from the authorities. Malaya’s first
and only regiment, the Malay States Guides,
raised in 1896 from an Indian background,
was in Singapore at the time of the mutiny
and was seriously disaffected—no less than
11 men receiving prison sentences for their
part in the event, while others deserted. The
disbandment of the regiment in 1919 was a
bitter pill for the authorities to swallow for
their service dated from the early days of the
British administration.
The Singapore mutiny convinced the Sin-
gapore authorities that they had to keep an
‘eye’ on the Indian communities in Singa-
pore and Malaya throughout the rest of the
War and Fig 13 is one of the means by which
they did so. A cover from India in 1918 to an
Fig 13 Cover bearing an ‘eye’ censor mark from India to Singapore, 10 April 1918
Indian in Singapore bears a device in purple
resembling a human eye. The cover was not
opened by the censor, the intention seem-
ingly being to let the addressee know he
was under observation and that he should
watch his step. Little seems to have been
written about these marks, of which there
are several different types, but in the writer’s
experience they are restricted to Indian ad-
dressees and dated after the mutiny. Their
purpose seems obvious.
To what extent was the mutiny fomented
by the German prisoners in Tanglin? In
truth, their effect on the mutineers is dif-
ficult to assess, although Oberleutnant
Lauterbach later claimed he had a major
finger in the pie and his influence may have
been under-estimated by later writers. If so,
then the effect of the Emden on the events
of the First World War may not have ended
with its surrender on 9 November 1914.
There was an echo of the mutiny in 1950
when the Emden finally met its end. The rust-
ing hulk had remained on North Keeling Is-
land but in that year she was cut up and sold
for scrap by a Japanese salvage company.
Co-incidentally, 15 February, the day the
mutiny began, also proved a significant date
for Singapore in the Second World War as
on that day in 1942 British forces on the
Island surrendered to the Japanese, some
of them later finding themselves prisoners
in the same Outram Gaol that had housed
the mutineers and, ironically, they were put
there by some of the very nationals who had
helped them restore order in Singapore in
1915.
References
R W E Harper and Harry Miller, Singapore
Mutiny, Singapore Oxford University
Press, 1984
Alan Harfield, British & Indian Armies
in the East Indies, Picton Publishing
(Chippenham) Ltd, 1984
R K Lochner, The Last Gentleman of War,
Stanley Paul & Co Ltd, 1988
Edwin P Hoyt, The Last Cruise of the Emden,
Andre Deutsch Ltd, 1967
The Malayan Philatelist, Journal of the
Malaya Study Group
Price Update
Alterations and Additions to Catalogue Prices
Stanley Gibbons Stamp
Catalogue, Part 7, Germany
Allied Occupation
A10a 60·00
A34c
A35
A16/35
35·00
6·25
48·00
18·00
£100
Note that used prices quoted for
£50 STANLEY
GIBBONS
VOUCHER TO BE WON!
A10b 1·80 6·00 SG A10/35 are for cancelled-to-
A10c 10·50 3·50 order. Genuinely used examples
A11a 35 1·00 are worth considerably more.
A12a 2·30 10·00 Just read through this month’s GSM and find
Germany
A12c 6·25
36 £2750 £400
the answers to the ten questions printed below.
A13c £225
36a £1800 13·00 Write the answers (the source is not required)
A14a 60 3·00 on a postcard or sheet of paper, add your name
A14b 90 1·90 West Germany and address (in block letters) and post to: GSM
A14c 6·50 15·00 1680 75 20
COMPETITION (October), Stanley Gibbons Limited,
A15a 2·20 1·00
A15c 26·00 7·00
Stanley Gibbons Stamp 7 Parkside, RINGWOOD, Hants, BH24 3SH.
Catalogue Part 12, Africa since
A10/15 2·00 13·00
Independence A–E
The sender of the first all-correct entry opened on
A16 25 70
Central African Republic 17 November will win a £50 SG voucher. The correct
A16a 25 1·00 answers will be published in January GSM.
MS62a 16·00 15·00
A16b 4·50 9·00
MS63a 10·50 10·00 REMEMBER: Include your name and address;
A16c 6·25 12·00
MS67a 3·25 3·00 Do NOT include any correspondence or cash;
A17 25 60
91 4·25 4·00 Post early.
A17a 25 60
A17b 1·80 3·50 Comoro Islands
A17c 1·50 3·50 180 5·25 2·75
A18 25 40 196 7·50 2·50 COMPETITION QUESTIONS
A18a 3·00 212 6·75 1·50
A18b 60 2·00 232 2·50 90 1 Which airline was the first to operate the Airbus
A18c 60 2·00 233 5·50 1·70 A380?
A19 1·10 1·40 240 6·25 1·90
A19a 25 1·80 MS241 5·50 2·00 2 What are Jandals?
A19c 4·75 5·00 242 5·00 1·80 3 Little Blue (or Fairy) is the smallest, what is the
A20 25 50 MS243 9·50 largest?
A20a 35 70 261 6·75 2·30
A20b 8·75 8·75 MS262 6·00 2·10 4 What did Kiritimati used to be known as?
A20c 45 50 MS269 5·50 1·90
A21 6·25 3·00 MS277 6·50 2·10 5 Les Verdes quarry is involved in the renovation
A21b 95·00 283 4·25 1·60 of which famous building?
A21c 7·00 4·50 MS284 5·00 1·90
6 Where was the SS Mexican wrecked?
A22 25 50 291 5·00 1·90
A22a 25 65 MS292 5·50 2·00 7 This ship bombarded Madras in September
A22c £400 1914.
Congo (Brazzaville)
A23 25 55
3 8·75 8·25 8 How much extra were mobile telegraph
A23a 35 1·50
27 £170 £140
A23b 65·00
29 7·75 3·75
operators paid during the 1870s?
A24 25 75
A24a 35 60 Djibouti 9 What is the meaning of the initials ‘FTT’?
A24b 5·75 687 1·30 35 10 Where is the home of Military Parachuting?
A25 25 3·50 688 1·30 35
A25a 45 3·00 689 2·75 95
A26 25 60 690 2·75 1·00
A26a 2·75 5·00 691 3·25 1·60 COMPETITION RESULT
A26b 90 90 692 3·50 1·60
A26c 8·75 693 5·25 2·40 The winner of a £50 SG voucher in our July
A27 45 4·50 694 6·00 3·00 competition was A F Robinson of Chichester.
A27a 35 2·00 695 45 35 The correct answers were: (1) Joel Garner
A27b 4·75 696 5·00 1·70 (Barbados); British Honduras (Postmarks of the
A28 35 3·00 697 5·75 2·40 British West Indies 1937–1956); (3) Ryukyu Shimpo
A28a 55 4·00 698 4·50 3·25
(Ryukyu Islands); (4) Rokeby (New Collector); (5)
A28b 13·00 699 8·00 4·00
A29a 1·80 1·50 700 8·75 5·00 Five (Ex-USSR Republics); (6) 30 (Machin Watch);
A29b 6·25 15·00 701 11·00 10·50 (7) Alderney (Shore to Shore); (8) Toulouse (‘The
A30a 35 80 702 45 45 Sower’, a Not-so-Common Little Stamp); (9) Lichfield
A30b 4·50 10·00 703 13·50 12·50 Cathedral (Royal Mail Stamp of Approval for
A31a 90 1·30 704 2·50 1·60 Westminster and Lichfield Cathedrals); (10) Vienna
A31b 70 1·30 705 5·00 3·25 (Film Clip of Wonder Goal Shown on Austria Post
A31c 21·00 706 5·75 5·50 Motion Stamp).
A32 25 1·50 707 6·25 6·00
A32a 25 1·50 711 4·50 1·60
A32b £190 712 5·25 2·10 Employees of GSM or any company in the Stanley
A33 90 5·00 716 6·50 3·75
Gibbons Group or their families are disqualified from
A33a 9·75 6·50 719 4·50 2·00
A33b 1·60 723 4·00 2·00 entry. No correspondence can be entered into. The
A33c £160 727 5·50 2·00 decision of the Editor is final and legally binding.
A34 35·00 65·00 729 12·00 4·75
A34a £190 733 6·25 1·80
A34b 35·00 736 6·50 1·20

76 G.S.M. October 2008

Christmas Island’s Stamps and
Postal History: 50 Years of
Australian Administration
In 1958 Christmas Island was transferred from the control of
Singapore, then still a British colony, to become an Australian territory
and in the process was provided with its own stamps for the first time.
Richard Breckon explains the background to the transfer and its effect
on Christmas Island’s postal services
C hristmas Island acquired its name through its re-discovery on Christmas Day 1643 by
William Mynors of the British East India Company. Located 360 kilometres south of
the western extremity of Java, Christmas Island is about 19×14.5 kilometres at its greatest
Straits Settlements
connections
extent, with a total area of 135 square kilometres. It was uninhabited when it was discovered. The Phosphate Company chartered a ves-
Indeed, no permanent settlement was established until 1888; the island’s remoteness caused sel to sail regularly between the island and
it to remain unclaimed by a foreign power until that year. However, everything changed with Singapore carrying supplies, mail and con-
the discovery that Christmas Island held extensive deposits of phosphate. tract labourers. Singapore had numerous
shipping links with the rest of the world;
On 6 June 1888 Great Britain annexed the whole island. Phosphate mining was notwithstanding its isolation, Christmas
Christmas Island, putting the island under the only economic activity on Christmas Island was well-served by its Straits Settle-
the authority of the Governor of the Straits Island. The Straits Settlements government ments connections. Only a limited amount
Settlements. A small settlement was estab- was represented by a District Officer who in of mail from Christmas Island was handled,
lished at Flying Fish Cove, the only point on Pooh-Bah fashion undertook all the admin- since the European population on the
the island where a boat landing was possible. istrative functions himself. A Straits Settle- island fluctuated from about 15 to 25 dur-
The Christmas Island Phosphate Company ments post office (called a ‘postal agency’) ing the entire period up to World War
was formed and mining operations were was established in 1901; the District Officer II. Although the Chinese population was
under way by 1899, using a labour force serving as the Postal Agent. The postal numerous most of them were illiterate and
imported from Southern China. By 1904, agency was maintained without interruption they had limited periods of employment
Christmas Island’s population was 936, com- until the Japanese occupation in 1942. on the island.
prising 870 Chinese, 48 Malayans and 18
Europeans. Composite die proofs of the ten stamps in the first issue prepared for colour
For the next 50 years the Christmas Is- selection. This was based on matching the colours of the corresponding values of
land Phosphate Company practically ran the 1955 Singapore definitive stamps
 It is perhaps necessary to mention that
there is another Christmas Island; this
being the Christmas Island in the Gilbert
Islands (now the nation of Kiribati). Curi-
ously enough, the Pacific Ocean Christmas
Island was also annexed by Great Britain in
1888. This Christmas Island came to world
prominence in 1956 with the conduct of
British H-bomb tests on the island. Today,
Christmas Island is known as Kiritimati.
Post-war developments
Following the end of World War II, the
Indian Ocean Christmas Island was reoc-
cupied by British forces. On 1 April 1946,
the Colony of Singapore was established and
Christmas Island, as well as the Cocos Islands,
were attached to Singapore, without being
actually part of the new colony. The postal
agency on Christmas Island was reopened
in late 1946. The island was supplied with
‘BMA MALAYA’ overprinted stamps, then
in use in Malaya and Singapore. Following
the introduction of distinctive stamps for
Singapore, they were issued on Christmas
Island in late 1948. With the establishment
of the Pan-Malayan Postal Union in 1949,
the postal systems of Malaya and Singapore
were merged. Singapore exercised control
over its local services, but overall authority
was now with the Postal Union based in
Kuala Lumpur.
Matching the colours of the corresponding values of the Singapore definitives
created complications for the 50c and $1 stamps for which further colour proofs
were prepared
82
The mining and export of phosphate re-
sumed after the war, but the privately-owned
Phosphate Company lacked the means to
restore fully the island’s operations after the
damage caused during the Japanese occupa-
tion. This led to the Company’s ownership
being transferred to the Australian and
New Zealand governments in December
1948. The two governments established the
Christmas Island Phosphate Commission
to carry out the mining operations on the
island. Nearly all Christmas Island’s phos-
phate exports were to Australia and they
represented about one-third of Australia’s
phosphate requirements. This link between
Christmas Island and Australia proved to be
the first step leading to the island’s transfer
to Australian control. (The CIPC was similar
in structure to the British Phosphate Com-
mission established in 1920 by the British,
Australian and New Zealand governments
to carry out phosphate mining on Nauru
and Ocean Island.)
Transfer to Australia
With the prospect of Singapore advancing
towards self-government, the British govern-
ment was reluctant to allow the administra-
tion of Christmas Island to remain with
Singapore. In June 1957, it was announced
by the Secretary of State for the Colonies
that Christmas Island would be transferred
to Australia, ‘because it (Australia) is the
government most concerned with the is-
land’s administration.’ (This was a reference
to the Phosphate Commission’s role in the
administration of Christmas Island and Aus-
tralia’s ownership of the Commission.) As a
result, Christmas Island was detached from
Singapore and established as a separate
British colony on 1 January 1958 as an in-
terim step towards the transfer to Australian
control. The date of transfer was fixed as 1
October 1958.
Australia’s Christmas Island Act specified
that Singapore’s laws in force at the time of
the transfer would remain in force under
Australian rule, unless particular laws were
amended by Australian territory ordinances.
As a consequence, Singapore’s Post Office
Ordinance continued in force (with some
modifications) following Christmas Island’s
transfer to Australia. This had the effect of
establishing Christmas Island as a separate
postal administration—similar at the time
to Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Norfolk
Island—in which Australia’s Post and Tele-
graphs Act did not apply.
In 1955, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
were also transferred from Singapore to
Australia, but the arrangement that applied
to the new territory’s postal system were
quite different to that applying to Christmas
Island. Australia’s Post and Telegraphs Act
did apply to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, so
Australian stamps were brought into use on
the islands and, of necessity, Australian cur-
rency replaced Malayan currency then in
circulation. Ultimately, this arrangement
allowed for the introduction of distinctive
stamps for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
that were interchangeable with Austra-
lian stamps; the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
stamps being issued under the same
legislative authority as Australian stamps.
(The post office on the Cocos (Keel-
ing) Islands was operated as an Austra-
lian non-official post office, in which
the Postmaster was paid a commission
based on the business transacted.)
Special circumstances
A similar arrangement might have ap-
plied to Christmas Island at the time
of its transfer, except that special cir-
cumstances required the retention of
Malayan currency for circulation on
the island. The Chinese and Malayan
workforce would have been inconveni-
enced if Australian currency had re-
placed Malayan currency at this time.
(In 1958 Christmas Island’s popula-
tion was approximately 2650, of which
about 2000 were Chinese; 500 were
The first types of datestamps
introduced at the time of the
Australian transfer
G.S.M. October 2008
Malayan and 150 were European.) In these
circumstances Christmas Island became a
separate postal administration operating in-
dependently of the Australian Post Office
and issuing its own stamps expressed in
Malayan currency. Christmas Island stamps
would have validity only on the island and
Australian stamps could not be valid on
Christmas Island.
The Australian Post Office was authorised
by the Department of Territories (which
had overall administrative responsibility for
Christmas Island) to act on behalf of the De-
partment in all matters relating to the pro-
duction of the Christmas Island’s first stamp
series. Once issued on Christmas Island, the
sale of Singapore stamps would cease. With
the short lead time remaining ahead of the
transfer, the first Christmas Island stamps
would have to be a provisional issue that
could be produced relatively quickly.
The Note Printing Branch suggested to
the Australian Post Office that an Australian
definitive stamp design serve as the basis for
the first Christmas Island issue; the stamp de-
sign being overprinted for Christmas Island.
For practical purposes a large size definit-
ive stamp would be required. Accordingly,
two stamp designs were suggested: 1952
2s.6d. Aborigine and 1955 1s.7d. Elizabeth
II portrait. Interestingly, the Note Printing
Branch favoured the Aborigine design be-
cause its light-coloured areas would facilitate
the overprinting. However, the Post Office
decided the Elizabeth II design would be
a more suitable choice for the Christmas
Island stamp issue.
Limited postal need
With regard to the Malayan currency de-
nominations, it was decided that they would
reflect the values in the existing 1955 Singa-
pore definitive series, which were then
in circulation on Christmas Island. Also,
the colours of the new Christmas Island
stamps would be as near as possible to
The 1959 registration envelope bearing the ‘SPECIMEN’ overprint applied for the purposes of distribution to the UPU
G.S.M. October 2008
The first Christmas Island stamps would
have to be a provisional issue that could be
produced relatively quickly
the corresponding stamp colours in the
Singapore issue. The Note Printing Branch
received authorisation on 14 August 1958 to
proceed along the following lines: 500,000
each of the 2c., 4c., 5c., 6c. and 8c. values;
450,000 of 10c. and 400,000 each of 12c.,
20c., 50c. and $1. The quantities were based
on anticipated philatelic requirements—the
actual postal needs on the island being
considerably smaller—during the two-year
period the overprinted provisional stamps
were expected to be current.
The stamps were printed in sheets of 100
arranged as 10 rows of 10. There were no
imprints or other marginal inscriptions.
The recess die of the 1s.7d. Australian stamp
was modified to remove the denomination
in the lower right area, leaving a circular
void for the Christmas Island denomina-
tion to be inserted through overprinting.
The base stamp sheets were recess-printed
in the selected colours and the inscriptions
‘CHRISTMAS ISLAND’ and the denomina-
tion in a circular outline were printed in
a second operation by typography using
black ink.
The finished stock of stamps was sent to
the Post Office’s Philatelic Bureau in Mel-
bourne. This was the principal office for
handling mail order philatelic sales and it
also undertook the national distribution of
stamps of Papua New Guinea, Nauru and
Norfolk Island to the specialised philatelic
sales points in major post offices across
Australia. Like the other territories, stamps
of Christmas Island would be made avail-
able for sale at these outlets at amounts
in Australian currency that approximated
to their Malayan currency denominations.
At the Philatelic Bureau, Christmas Island
stamps were affixed to blank first day covers
ordered by the Bureau’s customers to be
forwarded to the island for postmarking on
the date of release. (There were insufficient
resources for the work of affixing the stamps
to be carried out on Christmas Island.)
Transport to Christmas Island
By 23 September it was practicable to fix the
date of issue of the stamps as 15 October.
Stocks of the stamp sheets and the affixed
first day covers were handed to the Brit-
ish Phosphate Commission headquarters
in Melbourne, which arranged for their
transport to Christmas Island on the next
supply ship. The ships usually left Fremantle
in Western Australia and took about six days
to reach Christmas Island.
Until 1974 no air service to Christmas
Island was available, although an emergency
airstrip was maintained which received oc-
casional flights. All inwards and outwards
mail for the island was conveyed by ship up
to 1974, these being either ships chartered
to carry phosphate exports from Christmas
Island to Australian ports or the Phosphate
Commission’s vessels carrying cargo, mail
and passengers between Christmas Island
and Singapore. Once mail from Christmas
Island had reached Perth or Singapore it
could be sent for onward transmission by
air services. (Following the construction of
an airstrip that accommodated jet aircraft,
regular air services from Perth and Singa-
pore to Christmas Island commenced in
June 1974.)
83
 The Australian administration of Christ-
mas Island was undertaken by the ‘Official
Representative’, appointed by the Austra-
lian government and supported by a small
staff, most of whom were school teachers
and policemen. Education and law enforce-
ment were the main responsibilities of the
Australian administration; the Christmas
Island Phosphate Commission undertook
all other aspects of administration, includ-
ing shipping, harbour facilities and postal
services. The post office was located in the
Commission’s offices at Flying Fish Cove
and it was staffed by Commission employees.
There was no internal delivery service and
residents collected their mail from private
boxes or at the counter.
Under the terms of the mining agree-
ment, the Phosphate Commission had to
meet all the expenses of the administra-
tion that were not covered by the island’s
revenue; the chief sources of income being
customs duties, legal fees and stamp sales.
Christmas Island had remained a ‘Company
Island’ under Australian control.

Unusual
As Singapore’s Post Office Ordinance con-
tinued to apply to Christmas Island, postal
rates on the island were those of Singapore,
although a reduction was made for airmail
postage to Australia. From 1 October 1958,
airmail postage from Christmas Island to
Australia was 8c. per half ounce (14g.), in
addition to the existing surface postage of
10c. up to one ounce and 5c. each addi-
tional ounce. Postage from the island to
Singapore remained at local rates applying
to Singapore. It was, indeed, very unusual
that another country’s postal rates, regula-
tions and currency were in force in a territ-
ory that was administered by Australia.
During 1958 arrangements were made to
supply Christmas Island with new datestamps
based on the Australian type to replace
the Singapore type then in use. The new
30mm steel datestamps featured ‘CHRIST-
MAS ISLAND—AUST’ around the edge and
‘INDIAN OCEAN’ above and below the date-
line. Two datestamps are identified by the
numerals ‘1’ and ‘2’, although it is curious
that the manufacture of a further two date-
stamps prior to the date of transfer (making
four in all) also bear the numerals ‘1’ and ‘2’.
There are differences in the hand engraving
of the lettering, which provides a means of
distinguishing between the two numeral 1
and 2 datestamps. Further datestamps in-
scribed ‘3’ and ‘4’ and omitting the ‘AUST’
were provided at a later point.
Postal stationery
The Christmas Island authorities had re-
quested the provision of two items of postal
stationery: an aerogramme and a registra-
tion envelope. The aerogramme supplied
was the unstamped type from existing stocks
held by the Note Printing Branch to supply
Norfolk Island, Nauru, Solomon Islands and
New Hebrides. The registration envelope
featured a 30c. stamp impression, which was
printed by typography, together with the rest
of the envelope’s details, as the limited print
run did not justify the preparation of an em-
bossing die for the stamp. The registration
envelope was issued on 18 May 1959, the
initial printing comprising 3000 envelopes
The Note Printing Branch final artwork for the 2c. stamp of 1963 shows the main
features on Christmas Island, including the railway built to carry phosphate mined at
the south to the shipping terminal at the north
with later reprints amounting to 5000 up to
1968. About 3000 unstamped aerogrammes
were supplied up to 1971, when the first
stamped aerogramme was issued.
The 1958 overprinted definitive stamps
were intended to be a provisional issue that
would be replaced after about two years.
Although this did not happen, the first steps
to replacing the stamps with a permanent
series were taken in late 1959. The Depart-
ment of Territories and the Australian Post
Office began drawing up, in conjunction,
a list of possible new stamp subjects. They
were based in the main upon photographs
taken on Christmas Island. Artists at the
Note Printing Branch used the reference
material to prepare preliminary designs
which were submitted for consideration by
the Post Office’s Stamp Advisory Committee
in July 1960. It took more than a year for the
Committee to finalise the selection of the
designs, ten being required to replace the
overprinted stamp values. By August 1961,
the ten designs recommended by the Stamp
Advisory Committee had secured approval.
The new stamp series featured typical pictor-
ial views of the island, its flora and fauna
and, of course, the phosphate industry.
The next stage involved the engraving
of the master dies for the ten stamps. The
Note Printing Branch engravers involved in
the series were: Peter Morriss (2c., 4c., 5c.,
8c., 12c. and 20c.) and Bruce Stewart (6c.,
10c., 50c. and $1). This involved about 18
months’ work and it was not until Febru-
ary 1963 that proofs of the last die to be
engraved were approved. In addition to the
Stamp Advisory Committee’s role, the art-
work for the stamp designs and colour die
proofs of the engraved dies relating to the
ten stamp subjects had to be submitted to
the Department of Territories in Canberra
and also to the Official Representative on
Christmas Island for final approval. This
extended process necessarily added to the
lead-times required to produce the stamp
series. Nevertheless, there was no real sense
of urgency about the project and it took
nearly four years to reach completion.
Pictorial definitives
The issue of the new pictorial definitive
series occurred on 28 August 1963. Like the
1958 series, the Australian Philatelic Bureau
undertook the affixing of stamps to first day
covers, which were forwarded to Christmas
Island for postmarking. The stamps were
issued in sheets of 100 (10 rows of 10) with
the ‘Printed by Authority …’ imprint in
the lower left corner. Quite large stocks re-
mained of the 1958 series and these stamps
remained on philatelic sale until their with-
drawal on 30 September 1964.
A 10c. stamp was issued by Christmas
Island marking the 50th anniversary of the
ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. This was part
of an omnibus issue for the Australian ter-
ritories, which also included single stamps
for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Nauru,
Norfolk Island and Papua New Guinea.
The photogravure stamp design, common
to each territory’s stamp, featured Private
John Simpson using his donkey to carry a
wounded soldier. An expedient means of
producing the stamps involved using com-
mon printing cylinders for the green and
sepia colours forming the basic design, with
individual black printing cylinders being
produced for the territory’s name and de-
nomination. All the territories’ stamps were

84 G.S.M. October 2008

issued in sheets of 48 (4 rows of 12) without
marginal inscriptions.
On 6 May 1968 Australian decimal
currency replaced Malayan currency
on Christmas Island. As a consequence
of this development, Australia’s Post and
Telegraphs Act was made applicable to
Christmas Island, replacing the Singapore
Post Office Ordinance previously in force.
Provision existed for local regulations to
override particular aspects of the Australian
legislation. This put Christmas Island on
the same footing as Norfolk Island, whereby
Australian postal law provided the basis of
the territories’ postal systems, but variations
were made to suit local conditions.
Australian postal rates
From 6 May 1968, Australian postal rates
were adopted by Christmas Island. Basic
letter postage within Australia now applied
from Christmas Island to Australia. For the
purposes of calculating postage, the island
was regarded as being part of Western Aus-
tralia. Subsequent increases in Australian
postal rates applied automatically to Christ-
mas Island. A variation was made for mail
between Christmas Island and Singapore
and Malaysia, this being fixed at 3c. in 1968
for the benefit of the phosphate workers
whose families chiefly lived in these coun-
tries. In 1974 the special rate was increased
to 6c. and remained at this level until 1980.
Coinciding with the introduction of Aus-
tralian currency on 6 May 1968, a new
definitive stamp series featuring fish was
issued to replace the 1963 stamps expressed
in the old currency. Like the 1963 stamps,
the Fish definitive series had a long gesta-
tion; it was also four years in the making.
The theme of fish had been suggested by
the Official Representative for a ten-value
A non-adopted design for the 6c. stamp
of 1963 shows Christmas Island in
relation to Australia and Indonesia
photogravure definitive series intended to
be issued in 1966 to replace the 1963 recess
stamps. George Hamori, a highly skilled
photogravure artist, was commissioned to
prepare the designs based on photographs
of the fish. The ten designs had gained
the approval of the Official Representative
in March 1966. As there were four colours
used in each stamp design, a total of 40
photogravure printing cylinders had to be
manufactured.
However, work on the stamp series was
interrupted by the decision taken in May
1967 to introduce Australian currency. The
work recommenced three months later and
the stamp values were changed to their
Australian equivalents. A distinctive feature
of the Fish stamps is the inclusion of ‘IN-
DIAN OCEAN’ in the designs, perhaps to
distinguish the island from its Pacific name-
sake, this practice being followed for all
subsequent stamp issues. Following the issue
of the Fish stamps on 6 May 1968, the 1963
definitive stamps were withdrawn for postal
sale although they continued to remain on
philatelic sale until 30 April 1969.
Change in status
A change in the status of the Christmas
Island Post Office occurred, which led to
a new direction being taken with its stamp
Photographs of phosphate mining operations and Flying Fish Cove at Christmas
Island used as reference material for the 1963 stamp series.
production. The post office was operated by
the Phosphate Commission on behalf of the
Island Administration until 1 February 1969,
when the Administration assumed direct re-
sponsibility for postal services and the postal
staff became Administration employees. A
Philatelic Bureau was established on the
island on 1 July 1969 and two years later the
Crown Agents were appointed world-wide
sales agents for Christmas Island. This led to
the Christmas Island Administration taking
charge of its stamp issue work. From 1970,
all stamp issues were handled by the island
Administration using the services of Crown
Agents and British and European stamp
printers.
After a lengthy period of ‘philatelic inde-
pendence’ Christmas Island was affected by
the decision of the Australian government
in the early 1990s to apply all Australian
mainland law to Christmas Island and to
the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, as well. On 2
March 1993, the wheel turned full circle
with Christmas Island having its stamps
being issued by Australia Post, as a result
of Australian postal legislation being intro-
duced to the island. The change meant
that Australian and Christmas Island stamps
issued from 1993 became interchangeable
for postal use, a situation that is still the case
up to the present day.
85
Olympex: Olympic Expo
Beijing 2008
A report from the front line by David Maiden
I am writing this on the afternoon of day three of Olympic Expo, seated at a desk in Max
Stern’s Booth in Hall 7 ( Postal Administrations and Dealers) of the Expo.
I want to try and capture the excitement of the moment in words.
Impressive display
The huge Beijing Exhibition Centre is di-
vided into three broad areas: in the middle
There are 34 booths in Hall 7 and every
booth is three deep with customers, and
• Lunch is provided each day free of hall (entrance) is a most impressive display
charge; from the IOC Museum in Lausanne; paint-
most have queues ten to 15 metres long,
waiting to buy. Everywhere I look there is
• A team of cleaners are working all day ings, sculptures, medals, torches, uniforms,
in the Hall to keep the booths and aisles films, etc.
a frenzy of activity. The air is electric and clean; The halls to the left contain the phil­atelic
I can hardly hear myself think as booth
holders and their wonderful volunteer staff
• Visitors passes and complimentary competition exhibits which have been dis-
tickets to Olympic events have been played in the most attractive manner I
literally run back and forth from counter to made available to booth holders; have ever seen anywhere. Each frame has a
stock shelf to serve the sea of customers.
The opening day (Friday afternoon) was
• Booth rental is free and no customs panel of coloured perspex above and below
duties are payable. it, and huge posters of Olympic athletes
very good in terms of attendance, and day Olympic Expo is unlike any past Olym- and Olympic stamps hang from the ceiling
two (Saturday) was excellent, but today philex. It truly is a new beginning. to add further colour and interest.
has been truly outstanding. It seems like
everyone in Beijing who is not at a sport-
ing event is here. Official figures are not The Olympic Museum provided an
available yet, but a straw poll I have taken impressive display
amongst experienced booth holders sug-
gests we have had at least 40,000 people
through in two and half days already.

Frenzy of activity
Despite the frenzy of activity, the organisa-
tion and order is excellent, thanks to the
volunteer guides (1000 of them) and to
the overwhelming friendliness of the Bei-
jingers, who are celebrating a special time
for their city and nation.
In December, I wrote to postal adminis-
trations and dealers on behalf of the IOC
and provided my assessment that China
Post and the IOC had all the right settings
in place for a successful event.
Never in my most optimistic moments
could I have imagined how successful it
would be. China Post and the IOC have
pulled out all stops to make this Expo an
absolute show stopper. It is the best con-
ducted and best attended I have ever seen.
It’s not just the large crowds and the
level of sales, it’s the entire organisation
and operation of the Expo that is so im-
pressing everyone. For example:
• Booth holders were met at the airport
and transported to the official hotels
(what a contrast to the days when
commissioners and judges were met and
the trade had to make their own way);
• Registration/accreditation was waiting
for booth holders when they checked
into the hotel;
• A social programme of dinners and
tours was offered on arrival;
• Those booth holders who shipped their
stock with the official freight forwarder,
Schenker, received it within 30 minutes
of arriving at the Expo, without any
customs hassles;
• Volunteer staff (bilingual) have been
available to work in booths at no
charge. These young people (University
students and/or staff from China Post)
have impressed everyone with their
friendliness and their hard work.

G.S.M. October 2008 87

 The halls to the right contain:
• postal administrations/mints and The philatelic exhibits were displayed in
dealers a most impressive manner
• Olympic sponsor displays e.g. BHP has
an exhibit of aboriginal art
• Coke pin trading centre
• Official auction display
• a display of the philatelic collection of
Honorary IOC President, Juan Antonio
Samaranch.

Who are the customers and

what are they buying?
For the first two and a half days, the cus­
tomers have predominantly been ‘casual
collectors; people who want a philatelic/
numismatic memory of the Games. The
Passport is a huge success, and the aver­
age spend per customer is about 30 yuan
(about £2.50), although high quality Olym­
pic themed albums/collections priced at
about £25 are selling well. A number of
booth holders are already sending home
for extra stock. To date there have been
few customers who are serious philatelists,
or perhaps they have not been able to get
through the crowds.
Many families are attending, and it seems Dealers’ booths were
that about two thirds of the customers are besieged by customers
female. It’s clear that the customers have
come for an Olympic experience. Games
tickets are as scarce as hens’ teeth, and
Olym­pic Expo provides an entertaining,
low cost, way of attending an official Olym­
pic activity.
It’s now 4.00 p.m., and I have had to
interrupt writing this several times during
the day to go and assist Max Stern and the
Greek Post Office tear stamps to keep up
with the incessant demand. Max has five
people in his booth working flat out, and
the Greeks have nine staff, and crowds of
three and four deep continue to surround
the booth. I have just borrowed a string of
small flags from Maxine Cannon at the Isle
of Man booth to make a queuing system to
help manage the crowds at Max’s booth.
I can’t believe I am about to write this,
but let’s hope there are fewer customers
tomorrow!
PS. I am sending this on Tuesday morn­
ing. Monday, Day Four, was not quite as
hectic as the weekend, but it was still busy
and constant; 8,000–10,000 came through. Volunteer staff impressed
with their friendliness and
hard work
David Maiden was asked by the
International Olympic Committee
and China Post to provide advice
on the organisation of Olympic
Expo, particularly from the point
of view of foreign booth holders.
Although his report clearly presents
a dealer/postal administration view
of Olympex, we feel that collectors
everywhere would be interested in
his first-hand experience of what was
obviously a very successful show. We
look forward to Olympex 2012 in
London.
David was Group Manager
Philatelic for Australia Post from
1991 to 2002, Special Olympic
Advisor to the Greek Post from 2003-
04, and is a Member of the Australian
Philatelic Order.

88 G.S.M. October 2008

Letters
Write to us at GSM, 7 Parkside, Ringwood,
Hants, BH24 3SH or email gsm@
stanleygibbons.co.uk
Sower error
While reading your magazine is always a
pleasure, an error survived in Ashley Law-
rence’s article ‘The Sower’ on page 88 of
the May issue. The ‘Adieu le Franc bonjour
l’euro’ design was not issued by La Poste.
On the right-hand side, you can see the
logo of CNEP, the French stamp ­ dealers
association (http://www.cnep.fr/). The
CNEP souvenirs are sold during CNEP’s
stamp shows to finance their organization.
Thanks to Yvert et Tellier listing these
souvenirs, they are collected by French
collectors.
Sébastien Marrot,
Paris
Enjoying the challenge
My thanks for the SG gift voucher—I was
delighted to win the July competition.
I shall continue to enter, not in the hope
of winning again but because I enjoy the
challenge—and incidentally tend to read
more closely any article I might normally
gloss over because it doesn’t come within
my collecting remit.
A F Robinson,
Chichester
Kings of Bhutan
May I make a small correction to John
Holman’s excellent article in your July
2008 issue?
Under the heading ‘New King of Bhu-
tan’ he mentions that both the new mon-
arch of Bhutan as well as his predecessor
were named Jigme Wangchuk. However
the present king’s name is Jigme Kesar
Wangchuck and his father’s name is Jigme
Singye Wangchuck. Also the present mon-
arch’s age is 28—not 38.
He has figured on stamps earlier this year
when Bhutan brought out a set of stamps
90
and CD-roms! As to why these stamps (and
Bhutanese stamps in general) did not ap- Boost the hobby at the
pear in GSM’s catalogue supplement—per-
haps the editor can tell you that! Olympics
From the local Australia-Bhutan Friend- With the Olympics much in the news,
and many countries making money
ship Society—thank you for this publicity.
We Bhutanophiles are grateful for small from Olympic stamps, we should be
planning to boost our hobby in 2012.
mercies!
Cuthbert Lethbridge, Many of us collect thematically and a
Coburg, Australia lot are of a sporting theme.
Could we persuade the London
For Bhutan and many other Olympic authorities to have small dis-
countries, delays in catalogue plays of the stamps, etc, of the relevant
supplement listing are usually sport, in the entrance or hall at each
the result of difficulties venue. It would be seen by thou-
in obtaining stamps for sands, both when entering or between
examination and/or events. Suitable examples would be in
accessing information about the Gymnastics hall, Swimming venue;
them (exact dates of issue, etc. My interest—field hockey—would
designer/printer details, be very suitable and I am sure there
etc). If Bhutanophiles, or would be several volunteers to pre-
anyone else who is concerned pare and set up the frames. They
at the delays in listing the would not take up a lot of space and
stamps of their countries, so would fit in well.
can assist us in compiling We often moan about the lack of
accurate and up-to-date new entrants into our hobby. Here
catalogue listings, we we have almost a captive audience
would be happy to hear interested in the sport and hopefully
from them. Ed. in the collecting of ‘sporting memor­
abilia’, stamps are a relatively cheap
Do We Need way to start.
a New Kind of Now is the time to sell the idea.
D W F Sumpter,
Philatelic Writing? Crawley
In the 19th century, the new field of ‘Phil­
ately’ was already generating substantial
written articles: stamps were described in But in the 20th century, history and geo­
loving detail, and varieties identified and graphy moved towards ‘WHY’ questions.
analysed. Answers to questions ‘which?’ Philately stayed with ‘WHICH’, ‘WHAT’
and ‘where?’ abounded, and a vast library and ‘WHERE’.
of philatelic writing was becoming avail- Yes, I oversimplify, but is there at least a
able. My copy of Gibbons’ 1897 Stamp grain of truth here? Philatelic re­searchers
Catalogue has only 151 pages for all the and writers still rejoice in discovering
stamps of the whole world—yet it advertises and describing yet more perforations, re-
Philatelic Handbook No 5: a book about touches and plate numbers. No one would
the stamps of Barbados 120 pages long. want to tell them to stop: they enjoy their
At that time, the same emphasis on more discoveries, and some people enjoy reading
and more facts could be found in studies about them.
of history and geography: children learned However, we are now in the 21st century.
lists and dates of the Kings and Queens of Philatelists get older and older each year,
England, and long lists of capes and bays. and fewer and fewer people find these
Thanks
We have great pleasure in thanking you and John Moody for featuring our business in
your January edition of Gibbons Stamp Monthly. The idea of a series of articles informing
collectors about surviving shops is a really generous gesture towards small traders such as
ourselves. I hope that you feel able to continue with this interesting series in the future.
The article was very well written by John Moody and he took great trouble with the
photo­graphs and taking details he needed. We thoroughly enjoyed his visit with his col-
league Jon Rayson, who is always very efficient and good natured when helping us with our
trade orders from Stanley Gibbons.
We quickly had a good response to the article with lots of congratulations from existing
customers who were pleased to see us mentioned. Many other enquiries were from poten-
tial customers sending their wants lists, some were for very unusual and scarce material. It
has given us great pleasure to help many of the collectors who contacted us. The emails
are still keeping us very busy and sales have been increased. It has been quite a surprise to
have a new group of customers coming to the shop who live nearby and had not known
we were here, even though we do advertise in many local directories.
We feel that we all need to work together to keep the hobby thriving and especially to
encourage young people to enjoy this wonderful and educational pastime. We are pleased
to have young people starting the hobby and do all we can to keep them interested. Your
magazine and these features will be a giant step in keeping the hobby before the public.
Thank you very much.
Roy and Mary Hickman,
Libritz Stamps,
Hemel Hempstead
G.S.M. October 2008
topics fascinating—or even interesting. Do
I oversimplify too much—or is there a time-
bomb waiting to explode?
Could philately move towards ‘WHY’
questions just as history and geography
moved in that direction a century ago?
Would we generate wider interest in stamps?
If we moved another step—towards un-
solved ‘why’ mysteries—could this result
in engagement, rather than mere absorp-
tion of facts? And if we tried to write in a
cheerful, accessible style, perhaps people
would switch on, rather than switching off?
Perhaps established philatelists would also
enjoy this approach?
David R Wright,
by email
Jennifer Toombs
I was delighted to read in the August
edition of GSM the article about Jenni-
fer Toombs, as in the frantic days when
­Harrisons was an important name in
stamp printing I had much to do with
her, particularly in stamp issues for the
Crown Agents. I personally had over 40
years service with the company and was
closely involved the production of virtu-
ally every stamp issue we produced with
the exception of Royal Mail issues, for
which so far of course she has not been
commissioned.
I recall advising her in her early days of
designing stamps how to avoid some of
the problems which were likely to occur
in printing stamps from her designs, and
she was always happy to incorporate our
requirements.
On another subject, I was very saddened
to read of the death of Clive Abbott, par-
ticularly after the article which was printed
not long ago about his work.
John F Harley,
Amersham
The monthly competition
No doubt like many other competition
entrants, I spent quite a lot of time looking
fruitlessly for the answer to question 10 in
the March Competition.
When I received the April issue of the
magazine and saw the article on Montserrat
with its reference to the ‘mountain chicken’,
it was fairly clear what had happened to the
previous month’s Question 10.
Your deadline for the Competition is
always a month or so after publication date
of the issue immediately following the one
in which the questions have appeared. Is it
therefore not possible for you to put a note
on the Competition page of the issue im-
mediately following one in which there is a
question without an answer? This would at
least mean that if we have searched without
success for an answer we could check the
following month’s issue for an explanation,
if one is needed, before sending in our
entry, and we would still meet the deadline.
It would also put a stop to unnecessary
fruitless searching.
From my regular Competition entries
you will gather that I am still an avid reader
of Gibbons Stamp Monthly, having subscribed
regularly since the 1950s. I still read every
article, for the general interest content,
even though my collecting interests are in
G.S.M. October 2008
a narrower field. My friends are often sur- sity lecturer, presumably in geography,
prised by some of my ‘general knowledge’ he seems to regard the use of the Cyrillic
and I tell them I learn it from stamps! Keep alphabet in Belarus and Ukraine as some
up the good work, and keep the magazine kind of Russian imposition. There is a
as good as it is now! connection between Russian literacy and
John Moysey, the Greek language, dating back to the
Hertford adoption of Orthodox Christianity by the
We apologise for any confusion caused by Viking settlers.
question 10 of the March competition and will Far from being ‘mystified’ by stamps
endeavour to avoid repeating the mistake in the which did not use Latin characters, I can
future. Ed. remember as a schoolboy being fascinated
by stamps from the Soviet Union, the
­Indian States, Arab countries and else-
Prejudice against the Cyrillic where and enjoyed sorting out where they
alphabet were from.
Inevitably those who write articles for GSM I think that what is objectionable is the
will display their own particular bias about current UPU policy that all countries, what-
the politics or religion of the countries ever their language, have to be identified
whose stamps are under review. We all have on their stamps using Latin script. How in-
to accept this and the correspondence col- sulting! How would the USA like it if it had
umns of GSM are not the place to debate to have its name printed in Arabic before
such incidental comments. its stamps could be used in international
However, I was taken aback by the clear mail? And why not!
prejudice against the Cyrillic alphabet Ted Berrow,
shown by David Wright in his article in Cowes,
your June issue. Despite being a Univer- Isle of Wight
Stamp collecting on holiday
In response to your suggestion that readers of GSM should share their holiday
experiences in pursuit of their hobby; I wondered whether you may be interested in
mine.
My wife and I have just returned from Cyprus, a country we have visited many times
before, and have made friends with several people from the Department of Postal
Services and in particular the Cyprus Postal Museum in Nicosia.
The Postal Museum is located in the old part of Nicosia called Laiki Yitonia. The
museum covers all aspects of Cyprus philately from the issues of Queen Victoria
through to the latest issues of the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, there is a substan-
tial collection of Rural Post Office cancellers, plus other items of post office ephem-
era. The curator, Mr Phloutis
Loizou (pictured), makes visitors
most welcome and is delighted to
show his extensive collection. The
collection has in fact outgrown
the current premises, which adds
to the charm of the display which
is not the clinical style so often
met with in museums. Mr Loizou
will also be pleased to sell stamps
from his own private stocks, a
facility I took full advantage of
to complete my collection from
1937 to date.
At Postal Headquarters I met
Mr Stelios Hadjipavlou with
whom I have been correspond-
ing, again being made most
welcome. He organises the pro-
motion of Cyprus Philately, and
despite being a very busy man, was pleased to sit and discuss with me (over a Cyprus
coffee) forthcoming events and exhibitions he will be attending. London 2010 is
definitely on the programme.
A further visit to Nicosia took me to the Cyprus Philatelic Society who meet every Sat-
urday. Once again I experienced a very warm Cyprus welcome from members there.
It was interesting to visit places which have been depicted on the stamps of Cyprus
such as the Bayraktar Mosque in Nicosia and Kolossi Castle, both featured on stamps
from the King George VI issue. There are of course even more sites in the Turkish-
occupied North, which I hope to see when the Island is once more united.
The collecting of postcards also helps to enhance a collection and can prove of
great interest when displaying the collection at club evenings.
I would certainly agree that collectors should not neglect their stamps when on
holiday.
Enclosed is a photo of Mr Ploutis Loizou in the museum in Nicosia.
Graham Little,
Gatwick
91
Overprinted Stamps: a World
Journey—Part 2 Country Names
David R Wright looks at name changes on overprints—and again finds
the best, the worst and the most bizarre

A new name is needed. It sounds so simple: simply overprint the new name. But in
­practice there are dozens of ways of tackling this task: good, bad, and bizarre. Here
are my ten examples, plus bonus stamps from Iraq.
7 Cook Is’ds

1 Eire 1922 5 BIOT

This looks like an
abbreviation for
Bio-Technology.
In fact it refers
to ‘British Indian An untidy
Ocean Territory’, overprint,
but it is hard to but on the
see how anyone positive side
Lots of politics here! The use of the could guess they did
hitherto little-used Irish language and Irish the meaning. not hit the
script must have puzzled many people. But Why not spell head of the King or Queen, so we can
the long name had the effect of blotting it out? Even ‘Br be grateful for that at least. But wouldn’t
out the King’s head—very satisfying for Indian Ocean the word ‘Isles’ be much better than
the nationalists! It is interesting that when T’ would give a ‘Is’ds’, as in ‘Isles of the Southern Seas’?
definitive stamps were issued, only four hint.
And yet,
letters were needed—‘EIRE’—instead of
even with such
8 Republique Federale:
the complex overprint we see here.
a small and Cameroun
2 British Bechuanaland self-effacing
overprint, it still spoils the picture of the
fisherman on the 15c. stamp, because it
is printed over the centre of the picture,
instead of near the top of the stamp. The
verdict must be ‘Could do better’.

6 AMG-FTT
An unnecessary overprint? Most countries
Clear and effective—and it does not cover do not include their whole name—for
any vital information. Why did so many example, we do not have stamps with
other overprints not succeed in this way? ‘Estados Unidos do Brasil’ as a title: Brasil
is good enough on its own. The stamp was
better when it was simple ‘Cameroun’. It
3 Freistadt Bayern is also a bad overprint for the value: the
‘20’ needed to be obliterated, and the 6d.
This is incomprehensible to most English needed to be much clearer. This was an
speakers—let alone to the non-English attractive stamp before the overprinters
speakers in Trieste. ‘FTT’ is ‘Free got to work!
Territory of Trieste’—in English. ‘AMG’
stands for ‘Allied Military Government’. 9 Congo – Congo
Why did we assume that other people Before independence in 1960, the
should not only speak English, but even stamps were cunningly labelled: ‘Belgisch
Surely the word ‘Bayern’ did not need understand obscure English abbreviations? CONGO Belge’: Flemish has the adjective
to be reprinted? It is already clear on the before the noun, as in
stamp. English, while French
has the adjective
4 Oubangui-Chari-Tchad after the noun. The
The ultimate name-change! But the three logical overprint on
words on the brown stamp destroy the main independence would
message of the stamp, totally unnecessarily: be to delete
the leopard is superb in its unoverprinted ‘Belgisch’
form, but ruined by the overprint. Meanwhile, and ‘Belge’,
‘Moyen Congo’ is still prominent. If the new name is to become while leaving
accepted, it needs to replace the old name, not co-exist with it. ‘CONGO’ prominent. In fact, they
Much more effective is the five-word overprint on the mauve overprinted ‘CONGO’, so we now
stamp: ‘Moyen Congo’ has been neatly covered with the new read ‘CONGO – CONGO’, we still
name, and we can still see most of the leopard, even though it is have the name of the former ruler
a longer overprint. Is the positioning of the word ‘Française’ on the leopard merely prominent twice, and the beautiful
a convenience, or is there a message—‘even your wildlife belongs to France now?’ flower is ruined. How strange!

92 G.S.M. October 2008

10 St Kitts—and/or Anguilla?
Usually, a new name on a stamp indicates
that it is for use in the named place, not
in other places. So at first sight this seems
to be a stamp for Anguilla, not for St
Kitts-Nevis. But that is not the case here.
The colony used a shorthand version
of the full name: not until 1952 do we
see the name in full: ‘St Christopher,
Nevis, and Anguilla’. So this stamp is
for use in all three islands, even though
it commemorates an event in just one
of them—the island that is not on the
shorthand name at all! It’s all very
confusing!
Bonus stamp: ‘Iraq: in British
Occupation’
An excellent overprint: bold and clear,
obliterating the old name and value and
managing to keep the attractive picture
intact. And the extra overprint for ‘ON
STATE SERVICE’ has a delightful curve to
the words. The only problem is that most
Iraqis did not speak or read English!
These are just a few overprints, chosen
from many examples. But hopefully it
gives some indication of the scope of
this topic. In the next article, I look at
slogan-overprints.
David R Wright was a lecturer at
UEA, Norwich, and is co-author
of Philip’s Children’s Atlas and 15
other books. His website is: www.
dandjwright.co.uk
G.S.M. October 2008
Venus von
Willendorf depicted
on Spectacular
Austria Post
Lenticular Stamp
Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS, reports
O n 8 August 2008 Austria Post issued a remarkable lenticular image postage
stamp depicting the famous Willendorf Venus, Austria’s most famous and
valuable find from the late Palaeolithic age, to mark its discovery 100 years ago. The
stamp launch in Vienna attracted a lot of positive local, national and international
television, radio and newspaper coverage.
The Venus sculpture, created 25,000 years ago, was discovered in Willendorf in the
Wachau, Upper Austria, on 7 August 1908. The figure is 11cm high, made of fine lime-
stone and has survived almost undamaged. It shows a corpulent naked woman.
A three-dimensional effect makes the Venus appear particularly vivid on this spec-
tacular stamp, measuring 41×61mm, designed by Outer Aspects Ltd, a New Zealand
based company.
The €3.75 stamp, a further milestone in contemporary art in miniature, was printed
by Outer Aspect in Motionprint Technology, and incorporates 80 pictures. Austria Post
announced that 350,000 stamps were printed.
Erich Haas, Director of the Philatelic Department at Austria Post, told GSM that:
‘Within the first two weeks of its release more than half of the stamps printed had
already been sold to subscribers throughout the world.’
The state-of-the-art technology for this engaging stamp was developed by Outer
Aspect, the world leader in motionstamp production. The company founded by
innovator, Jonathan Moon, in 1997 is based in Auckland, New Zealand. (See article
‘Film Clip of Wonder Goal Shown on Austria Post Motionstamp’, by this correspond-
ent, GSM, July 2008.)
Hunting ground
The village of Willendorf lies on the left bank of the River Danube. During the later
Palaeolithic age, the slopes of the Danube valley were the hunting ground of ice age
man.
During the summer of 1908 the Imperial Natural History Museum, under the direc-
tion of Josef Szombathy, carried out systematic excavations. Particular attention was
paid to the Willendorf II site, which lay in the area of the route of the Danube Bank
Railway. Of the seven known sites, Willendorf II is the most important and one of the
most significant for Palaeolithic
research in central Europe.
Of all 130 Venus statuettes
found in Europe and Asia, the
Willendorf Venus is the most at-
tractive and the oldest figure that
has survived complete.
The Venus statuettes are re-
garded as symbols of fertility.
The corpulence may also be an
expression of the desire for suf-
ficient food and good fortune
in hunting.
This unusual stamp may never
see the inside of a local post box
but it will surely capture the at-
tention and interest of non-stamp
collectors. This superb item will
hopefully persuade them to take
up the hobby and start collecting
unusual postage stamps that tell
a fascinating story.
93
Penguins and Postage Stamps
from the South Atlantic
A special report by Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS
T he Falkland Islands, the United Kingdom Overseas Territory situated in the South
Atlantic Ocean, is synonymous with penguins and postage stamps. Older readers will
have vivid memories of the Falklands Conflict during 1982, more than 25 years ago.
King Penguin
Stamp Collecting is
the king of hobbies
and the hobby of
kings and therefore
it is appropriate that
a King Penguin was
the first Penguin to
be prominently de-
picted on a stamp
issued by the Falk-
lands. It was not just
any stamp, but the 5s. value in the famous
Centenary of British Administration set is-
sued on 2 January 1933 (SG 136).
Gentoo Penguin
This was followed by the Gentoo Penguin
shown on the 2s.6d. value in 1938 King
George VI definitive issue released on 3
January 1938 (160), the 1s. definitive of
1952 (180) and the first Queen Elizabeth
II definitive issue (the same design but
with the portrait of HM The Queen) re-
leased on 15 July 1955 (192). The Gentoo
Penguin was depicted again on the 2d.
value (195) and the Rockhopper Penguin
on the 5½d. stamp (199) on the first full
definitive issue of The Queen’s reign on 10
February 1960. The Gentoo also appeared
in the corner of the 1929/36 ‘Whale and
Penguin’ definitive set (116/26).
Falkland Islands stamps depicting Gentoo and
Rockhopper Penguins
94
The Penguin family
The tendency of Penguins to form large
groups feeds the stereotype that they all
look exactly alike. They most definitely are
not. Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family
Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flight-
less birds living almost exclusively in the
Southern Hemisphere.
There are believed to be up to 20 liv-
ing species of penguins and, although
penguin species are native to the southern
hemisphere, they are not only found in
cold climates, such as Antarctica. Only a
few species of penguin actually live so far
south. Some species live in the temperate
zone and the Galápagos Penguin lives as far
north as the Galápagos Islands. Most pen-
guins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other
forms of sealife caught while swimming
underwater. They spend half of their life
on land and half in the oceans.
Largest species
The largest living species is the Emperor
Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri): adults average
about 1.1m (3ft 7in) tall and weigh 35kg
(75lb) or more. The smallest Penguin spe-
cies is the Little Blue Penguin (also known
as the Fairy Penguin), which stands around
40 cm tall (10in) and weighs 1kg (2.2lb).
Penguins seem to have no special fear of
humans and have approached groups of
explorers without hesitation. This is prob-
ably on account of there being no land
predators in Antarctica or the nearby off-
shore islands that prey on or attack Pen-
guins. Instead, Penguins are at risk at sea
from predators such as the leopard seal.
Typically, penguins do not approach closer
than about 3 metres (10ft) at which point
they become nervous.
Adaptable
Penguins are superbly adapted to an aquatic
life. Their vestigial wings have become flip-
pers, useless for flight in the air. In the
water, however, Penguins are astonishingly
agile. Within the smooth plumage a layer
of air is preserved, ensuring buoyancy. The
air layer also helps insulate the birds in cold
waters. On land, Penguins use their tails
and wings to maintain balance for their
upright stance. Penguins either waddle on
their feet or slide on their bellies across
the snow, a movement called ‘toboggan-
ing’, which conserves energy while moving
quickly. They also jump with both feet
together if they want to move more quickly
or cross steep or rocky terrain.
1933 King Penguin
reproduced
The magnificent 5s. King Penguin stamp
issued to commemorate the Centenary
of British Administration of the Falkland
Islands in 1933 was reproduced on one
stamp in the set to mark the 125th Anni-
versary of the death of Sir Rowland Hill
1795–1879, designed by Andrew Robinson
and released on 31 August 2004 (990).
Sir Rowland Hill, the distinguished
postal reformer and later Secretary to the
Post Office, introduced a Uniform Penny
Postage rate for Great Britain in January
1840 and the Penny Black on 6 May that
year. Postage stamps were first introduced
in the Falkland Islands 38 years later, in
June 1878.
The original stamps in the 1933 set,
designed principally by George Roberts,
the Colonial Engineer, were engraved and
recess printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and
have deservedly received world-wide ac-
claim. The 2004 issue was printed by Cartor
Security Printing, France, using the Litho-
graphy process.
G.S.M. October 2008
Tracking devices
Eight weeks earlier, penguins being fitted
with satellite tracking devices, were shown
on the 50p stamp of a set to commemorate
‘25 Years of Wildlife Conservation’, released
on 17 June 2004 (987). The tracking devices
are fitted to study the feeding areas of these
birds through the breeding season to an
accuracy of 10m, allowing for protection
of key areas. Through the winter, they tell
conservation biologists exactly where birds
travel to, how quickly they get there, and
consequently what threats they face on the
way. This builds a precise picture of what
steps are necessary to protect them. The
stamps were designed by Andrew Robinson
and printed by BDT.
Penguins on postage dues
A delightful set of ten postage due labels
featuring a number of different penguins
was released on 2 December 2005 (D9/18)
to replace the labels issued during 1991.
The unusual interaction of the values with
the penguins cleverly enhances the enjoy-
ment the penguins appear to be having.
The Penguins, on the labels designed by
Andrew Robinson, appear interested in the
values and some are shown skipping down
the beach with them and using them to surf
ashore.
With the increase in mail order items
arriving on the islands there is a real need
for postage due labels and in particular the
higher values, due to the number of pack-
ages arriving with insufficient postage.
Chinstrap Penguin from South
Georgia
This article was inspired by a set of four—
55p×2, 65p, and 90p—engaging stamps car-
rying the WWF Panda symbol depicting
Chinstrap Penguins released by South Geor-
gia and the South Sandwich Islands on 10
July this year. The stamps, designed by Owen
G.S.M. October 2008
Extremely popular
Penguins have also been depicted on the
stamps of the Falklands Dependencies
and more recently on stamps issued by
South Georgia and the South Sandwich
Islands. Penguins on postage stamps are
extremely popular with thematic collec-
tors throughout the world. In order to
learn more about the background and
educational importance of the stamps to
these United Kingdom Overseas Terri-
tories and to stamp collectors, GSM con-
tacted John Smith, the dynamic General
Manager of Pobjoy Mint Ltd. Mr Smith
willingly gave an exclusive interview dur-
ing which he answered a wide range of
questions:
Peter Jennings: Are Penguins on the stamps of
Falkland Islands and South Georgia popular
with stamp collectors and do they help to
increase the sales of these particular issues?
If yes, by what sort of percentage? Which has
been the best issue that Pobjoy Mint has been
involved with in terms of sales?
We have always found that Penguins are particularly strong, not only with collectors,
but also with visitors to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, and tourists
particularly like to put penguin stamps on their postcards to family and friends.
It’s difficult to gauge percentage increases but combinations, for example with
South Georgia Penguin and the World Wide Fund for Nature, could see sales of up
to ten times those of a normal issue. This is in large part because of the success of the
WWF programme, but additional sales are also seen to our traditional customers.
Do stamp collectors have a favourite penguin that they like to see shown on a postage stamp?
Rockhooper Penguin
It seems that collectors like all Penguins, although I have a personal preference
for the Rockhopper and the Macaroni because they are so cute and there is some
indication that these two species are inter-breeding in the Falkland Islands, making
a hybrid ‘Rockeroni’. I hope one day we will be able to justify the first ever stamp
showing this hybrid!
Do you plan more stamp issues from these two territories depicting penguins during 2008 and
2009? If yes, please give as many details as possible about the issues and the planned release
dates.
At the moment we have plans for a possible on-going programme of penguin stamps
from Falkland Islands to be denominated ‘Postcard rate’. Agreement has been
reached in principle for a 2008 release depicting one of each of the five species in
the Islands and as there are so many different and attractive images of penguins we
suspect that this will become an annual issue. Designs are not available as yet.
I will let you have an unadopted Penguin stamp designs for you to reproduce with
the article in GSM.
Please explain who selects the subjects depicted on the stamps of the Falkland Islands and South
Georgia and the process involved before you are instructed to design and print the stamps.
Stamp Advisory Committee
It is very important to stress that all issues of both the Falkland Islands and South
Georgia have to be approved by their Stamp Advisory Committee; in the case of the
Falkland Islands their Executive Council and in the case of South Georgia their Chief
Executive Officer and then Her Majesty The Queen, after reference to the relevant
department in the Foreign Office.
I spend a great deal of time, together with Tim Underwood from Creative
Direction (Worldwide) Ltd, researching topics which are relevant to the Falkland
Islands and South Georgia, as do the staff of both the Falkland Islands Post Office
and the South Georgia Post Office.
We agree in principle a proposed programme which takes into account
international interest and local needs, ensuring (unlike some Territories) that there is
a direct link with the Territory before these concepts are presented to the appropriate
Stamp Advisory Committee.
We are not always aware of topics which may have a particular local interest and
therefore the Stamp Advisory Committee plays a very strong role in reviewing our
proposals, often putting forward issues which they feel would be more appropriate.

95
 Bell, who lives in Australia, were printed by
What is the stamp issuing policy of these two territories in terms of the number of issues per year BDT International Security Printing using
and the face value? How many of the stamp values actually relate to postage rates and how the Stochastic Lithography process. The pro-
many stamp are issued as a source of revenue from collectors? duction co-ordination was done by Creative
There is a somewhat out-of-date policy document which was issued by the Foreign Direction (Worldwide) Ltd.
Office several years ago with regards to the number of stamp issues recommended to
be released by the Territory and the proposed maximum face values. I say it’s out-of- Penguin-shaped sheet
date as it seems to be out of step when compared to issues released by the British Post The four designs were released in a number
Office. of different formats. The most striking of
Territories are required to issue no more than six commemorative stamp sets per these is a se-tenant souvenir sheet cut in the
year, with a maximum face value of £20 and this of course compares with the British form of a penguin, a first for WWF, contain-
Post Office with 15 issues planned for 2009 and I suspect a face value nearer to £50. ing a set of the stamps. Other formats in-
There certainly does seem to be some need for a review of the recommendations clude sheetlets of 16 (four sets) in staggered
and whilst I am not suggesting that our Territories should have an unlimited right se-tenant arrangement.
to issue as many stamps as they want, there does seem to be room for some review in It is well worth quoting an extended ex-
particularly busy years. tract from the well-researched press release
As far as collectors are concerned, the total value of six commemorative sets compiled using information from the BBC
of Falkland Islands in one year is less than the purchase price of four packets of and the British Antarctic Survey, with ad-
cigarettes or slightly more than a single DVD. In the case of South Georgia they tend ditional material from the Government of
to issue between four and five sets a year due to their remoteness. South Georgia. It began: ‘Chinstrap Pen-
guins, Pygoscelis antarcticus, are named after
Stamps for postal purposes the distinctive thin black band of feathers
As far as values are concerned, every value represents a postage rate and the most which runs from one side of the head to
regularly used rates cover postcard and airmail letters. Realistically, one always has the other, just under their bill and which
to bear in mind that a commemorative stamp bears three main purposes, but is resembles the chin strap of a helmet. Their
primarily a receipt for the pre-payment of a service (delivery of an item). Secondly, a coat of feathers is dense for insulation and
stamp is an ambassador for the issuing country and, thirdly, a source of income if it is water proofing, and they have a thick layer
not used. In the case of the Territories that we represent, the revenue source is most of blubber as an energy store. The chicks
definitely the third and least important to the Post Offices, although they and we are have grey backs and white fronts and the
always pleased to make such sales. adults have black backs and white fronts.
‘Chinstrap Penguins feed on small shoal-
Do you have any points you would like to make about the stamps of the Falklands and South ing fish and krill. Their main predator is the
Georgia? leopard seal, the eggs and chicks are preyed
We are very proud that the Post Office of the Falkland Islands took a brave step upon by Sheathbills and Brown Skuas.’
in appointing Pobjoy Mint Ltd and Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd as its The release continued: ‘These pen-
exclusive Agents in 2004, after more than 150 with Crown Agents. We recognise the guins communicate through ritual be-
responsibility we have to the decision makers, who were then followed by Ascension haviours of head and flipper waving,
Island and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. calling, bowing, gesturing and preen-
We believe that we are able to offer a very transparent and cost-effective service ing. Stares, pointing and charging
which has produced a unique range of different designs and concepts. Probably may occur when territorial disputes
our proudest moment to date was when Baroness Thatcher and Sir Rex and Lady arise. They live and breed in large
Hunt visited Pobjoy Mint to strike the Falkland Islands Liberation coins and view the colonies on ice-free slopes where
Ascension Island and Falkland Islands Liberation stamps. they build nests using stones. Dur-
At the interview John Smith was asked if Pobjoy Mint Ltd hoped to be appointed ing courtship the male pumps his
agents by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to produce and sell postage stamps chest and stretches his head up-
on behalf of British Antarctic Territory. wards. He emits loud screeching
sounds, which the others join
Personal attention in—it is thought that this helps
Mr Smith replied: ‘We believe that we can only offer a good service to a limited to synchronise the breeding
number of Post Offices, otherwise the personal attention that Tim Underwood and cycle. Chinstrap Penguins form a
myself can give to any country becomes diluted. While we would be comfortable to strong pair bond, returning each
expand our range of customers above our current three—Falkland Islands, South year to the same nest site with the
Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Ascension Island—we would wish to be same partner.’
sure that we can serve them in a manner that they expect. ‘They lay two eggs late in No-
‘We are not aggressively chasing any potential client at the moment. We have been vember that are incubated by both
delighted to produce the first commemorative coin for British Antarctic Territory and parents in 5–10 day shifts. After
whilst there clearly would be a natural synergy in our acting for all three principals five to six weeks in early January the
and indeed the other South Atlantic territories—St Helena and Tristan da Cunha—to chicks hatch but remain in the nest
produce both their coins and stamps, this will only happen as and when they feel it for a further 20–30 days before they
appropriate for them.’ join the crèche (where young pen-
guins huddle together for warmth).
The four stamps depicting Chinstrap Penguins
At seven weeks old and after moulting
the chicks go to sea.’
The release concluded:
‘There are colonies of
Chinstrap penguins on
South Georgia, although
the main concentrations
in the Territory are on the
South Sandwich Islands—a
string of remote volcanic islands
which stretch in an arc south-
east of South Georgia. Because
of the remoteness and inhospit-
able nature of these Islands the
colonies there are rarely visited
and were last surveyed in 1997.’

96 G.S.M. October 2008

Eminently collectable
Collecting postage stamps showing Penguins
from the South Atlantic is fun, worthwhile,
and educational and they have royal ap-
proval. The restrained stamp issuing policies
of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia
and the South Sandwich Islands make these
stamps eminently collectable.

For further information about the recent

stamp issues of Falkland Islands and South
Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
please contact John Smith, General
Manager, Pobjoy Mint Ltd,
Telephone: 01737 818 181 or
E-mail: john@pobjoy.com

The souvenir
sheet was
originally
designed to
contain the
stamps in a
block of four
(left), this
was changed
to a strip of
stamps in a
block of ice

Pick up one of 50 Penguin

miniature sheets—FREE!
Pobjoy Mint Ltd and the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Post Office
have kindly provided 50 of the new WWF Chinstrap Penguin miniature sheet for
Gibbons Stamp Monthly readers.
All you have to do to receive one of these is to tell us, in less than 100 words,
what appeals to you about collecting Penguin stamps, which is your favourite Pen-
guin issue or which Penguins you would like to see shown on stamps in the future,
and send it to the editor of Gibbons Stamp Monthly, together with your name and
address on an adhesive label and two first class stamps*.
The first 50 readers will receive a Chinstrap Penguin miniature sheet.
Only one request per household please: a portion of the sheets have been set
aside for overseas readers.
*Two International Reply Coupons for overseas readers.

G.S.M. October 2008 97

New and recent issues

Shore to Shore
Island Hopper previews forthcoming issues
A step ahead
The 300th anniversary of the topping out of St Paul’s Cathedral is the subject of Guernsey’s
October issue. Topping out is a ceremony held to mark either the completion of the overall The largest of the Channel Islands at
structure or the placing of the last beam at the top of the building and it is perhaps a sur- 45 square miles, Jersey is situated off
prising revelation that granite quarried in the Bailiwick of Guernsey was used on the steps the west coast of Normandy, France.
of the cathedral. More commonly associated with the building of farmhouses and cottages, With woodland, sand dunes and wet
the granite which is thought to have come from the tiny island of Crevichon has in fact meadows, coastal cliffs, heathland,
been part of the venue for weddings such as Prince Charles and Lady Diana, and funerals and marshes, it is a favourite with
such as Sir Winston Churchill. Indeed, even the gravestone of the architect, Sir Christo- birds travelling to and from their
pher Wren, instructs the onlooker ‘if you seek his memorial, look about you’—and Guern- winter feeding areas, apparently
sey should feel suitably proud to be part of this tribute. Furthermore, St Paul’s is currently appreciating the warm winter climate
undergoing a £40 million renovation programme and granite from Les Vardes quarry in and vast tidal range that Jersey
St Sampsons is being used within the process. Fittingly, Guernsey Post has actually used has to offer. If bird watching or
granite in its stamp issue, which features six portrayals of the cathedral, taking us from its twitching tickles your fancy, Jersey
beginnings having been is definitely the place to be and a
rebuilt after the Great selection taken from the vast number
Fire of London through of Migrating Birds is featured in
to the present day: an Jersey Post’s second issue in their
early drawing showing Jersey Birdlife series. Travelling from
the cathedral in isola- Africa, colourful birds, sometimes in
tion, a painted scene their hundreds, can be seen arriving
from across the river, sur- along the shoreline. They seem to
rounded by smoke from have very different characters—some
the Blitz, illuminated at are small, dashing and highly active
night, a close-up from a whilst others are shy and difficult to
pedestrian’s perspective, approach. Colourful, attractive and
and finally, showing the a pleasure to watch I am sure, Jersey
approach from the Mil- is very lucky to have such a diverse
lennium Bridge. wealth of seasonal feathery visitors.

Lest We Forget
The 90th anniversary of the end of World War I is the subject
of the Isle of Man’s October issue and the six stamps feature
a selection of local soldiers and extracts from their letters
home, each allowing a glimpse into their lives during their
postings in France or Belgium. It only takes a few words to
bring home the intensity of their experiences and, whether
describing injuries, scenes of destruction, active battle, or lei-
sure time, we are easily reminded that these ordinary young
men were leading extraordinary lives. Like so many others,
some of these men were killed in action and buried in the
countries in which they served, but all are remembered and
commemorated by the Isle of Man’s National War Memorial
which is featured in a £2 stamp, also included in this issue.
The memorial, to a design by PMC Kermode—curator of the Manx Museum, was
erected close to the Tynwald causeway The birds featured in this October
at St John’s. Unveiled on 8 November issue are: the Northern Wheatear,
1923 by Lt Governor General Sir Wil- one of the earliest Spring migrants,
liam Fry in front of 1800 people, some the Whinchat which passes through
1165 names are recorded. The stamp is the island mainly in the Autumn, the
set within a miniature sheet depicting increasingly scarce Pied Flycatcher,
the Cenotaph, decorated with poppy the Yellow Wagtail, lover of Jersey’s
wreaths, at Whitehall in London. The insects and molluscs, the shy and
soldiers portrayed in the set of stamps retiring Ring Ouzel, and the rather
are: 2/Lt R F Corlett, 2/Lt J W Lewis, handsome Common Redstart, all
Pte J Killey, Lt Col W A S Crellin, L/Cpl beautifully painted by Jersey’s own
T Quilliam, and Pte R Oates. Nick Parlett.

98 G.S.M. October 2008

New and recent issues

Panorama
John Moody investigates the background to some recent new issues
Epic flight which ended in tragedy
In 1932 Steponas Darius, a Lithuanian living in the USA, entered into a partnership
with another Lithuanian, Stasys Girenas, to mount an expedition to fly across the
Atlantic to their homeland. With their own money (US$3200) they bought a six-seater
Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker which they named Lituanica (Latin for ‘Lithuania’) and
painted orange.
With donations from American Lithuanians, a new engine (Wright Whirlwind) was
fitted into the aeroplane. Lituanica left New York’s Floyd Bennett Airfield on 15 July
1933 at 6:24 a.m. without government authorisation for the projected flight. The US
authorities considered the aircraft had not been satisfactorily prepared for the flight.
The pilots had no modern navigation instruments except a compass but kept a
steady course. On the evening of 16 July they flew over Scotland. On the night of 17
July Lituanica reached West Prussia, 115 km north of Berlin, and continued on before
crashing in a forest near Soldin in East Prussia (now Pszczelnik in Poland). The pilots had flown 6441
km in 35 hours 15 minutes and were just 650 km from their destination, Kaunas, the capital of Lithuania
at the time. Both were killed and their bodies were flown to Kaunas.
The reason for Lituanica’s crash are still not clear. There were opinions that the aeroplane could
have crashed because of bad atmospheric conditions or that it may have been shot down, having been
mistaken for a spy plane. Autopsies of the pilots revealed no signs of any bullets. However, not all parts
of the plane were returned to the Lithuanian Government by the German Government.
The flight was one of the most precise in aviation history, it equalled, and in some aspects surpassed,
Charles Lindbergh’s classic transatlantic flight and at the time was the second longest flight in the world. Lituanica also carried the
first USA to Europe airmail consignment.
To mark the 75th anniversary of this historic flight, Lithuania Post issued a single 2l.90 stamp on 12 July 2008 featuring a photograph
of the two pilots and their aircraft. The stamp was designed by A Ratkevichius.

Hungary’s first printed book Zambia’s Greater Kudu

The first book printed in Hungary, The Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a familiar sight on
the Chronica de Gestis Hungarorum the open grasslands, woodland and scrub of Zambia. It is second
(Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle), tallest antelope in the world, with the most spectacular horns and
records events in Hungary and distinctively large ears.
eastern Europe during the reign The Greater Kudu can be seen over most of eastern and
of King Lajos the Great of Hungary southern Africa. Adept at concealment and with a varied diet
(1342-1382). Contained within the including garden produce (which does not endear it to its human
narrative of the Chronicle are older neighbours!), it is one of the few large mammals that thrives in
chronicles and histories which have settled areas.
been combined and elaborated. Females form small groups of three to ten individuals and their
The book is preserved in calves. Male Kudu are generally solitary, and only join female herds
the National Szechenyi during the mating season. The male hierarchy is based on size and
Library in Budapest. age. The male Greater Kudu is rarely aggressive in the wild, but
It is thought that the sparring does occur between males of similar size and stature
book was the work of Although not under an immediate threat the Great Kudu is
the Court Priest, Mark featured on a set of four 3000k. stamps issued by the Zambia Postal
of Kalt. on 30 June 2008 in aid of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The historic Chronicle The WWF ‘Panda’ emblem appears on each of the stamps.
is illustrated with 147 One stamp shows two males sparring with locked horns, another
miniature paintings one features a female and calves. A large male is seen drinking on
of which is shown on another stamp, displaying his large horns and the last shows a
a 400f. stamp issued on female feeding showing her large ears.
20 June 2008 by Magyar
Posta (Hungarian Post ).
The painting in
question is titled The
Vision and illustrates the legend of King Gézsa (1044 -1077)
and Prince Ladislaus. Ladislaus, had a heavenly vision: an
Angel descended from the sky holding a golden crown in his
hands foretelling his accession to the Hungarian throne. The
Angel placed the crown on the head of Géza. Following his
coronation, he and Prince Ladislaus went to the place where
the Angel had appeared. Suddenly a stag emerged, its antlers
were full of burning candles. The stag led the men to a forest
and stopped at that place, where, later, Géza had a church
built, the Cathedral of Vác.
The pictures in the Chronicle are a valuable source of
information on Medieval Hungarian cultural history, costume
and court life, they also represent some of the most important
Hungarian paintings of the 14th century.

100 GSM October 2008

 New and recent issues

Happy birthday
China (Hong Kong)
Post issued a set of four
se-tenant stamps on 1
July 2008 to celebrate
the third birthday of a
pair of Giant Pandas,
Le Le and Ying Ying,
and the first anniversary
of their arrival at the
Hong Kong Ocean
Park.
The Giant Pandas were donated by the Central People’s Government of China in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the
establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. They arrived safely in Hong Kong on 26 April 2007 from Wolong,
Sichuan, on mainland China. After arriving at Hong Kong, the animals were immediately transported to Ocean Park, where they
quarantined. They were first displayed to the public on 1 July 2007.
After their arrival a competition was launched to name the pandas which attracted 13,000 entries. Each entry had to propose
one pair of names one for the male who was known as ‘606’ and one for the female, ‘610’. The five-member adjudication panel
unanimously chose ‘Le Le’ for the male and ‘Ying Ying for the female. The word ‘Le’ represents ‘happiness’, ‘joy’ and ‘optimism’.
The word ‘Ying’ represents ‘fullness’, ‘femininity’ and ‘adequacy’.
The stamps were designed by Arde Lam and litho printed by Cartor Security Printing.

Gold Rush prompts Australian civil airliners

Province status
During the 1850s, thousands of hopefuls,
flocked to central British Colombia
and the Fraser River with dreams of
discovering gold. In March 1858 the
excitement reached a fever pitch, when
the schooner Wild Pigeon landed in
Washington Territory (now Washington
State USA) with news of native
Americans trading gold from the Fraser
River to the Hudson’s Bay Company.
The resulting ‘rush’ triggered an influx
of some 30,000 prospectors, miners and
those simply hoping to strike it rich.
The gold rush, combined with the
expansionist policy of the United States,
worried James Douglas, governor of
Vancouver Island. The threat to British
sovereignty from the incoming waves
of gold seekers from the USA was very
real to Douglas, and in his reports to
London he painted a grave picture of
the situation.
Acting quickly, the British Parliament
passed an act in August 1858 to establish
a crown colony on the Pacific mainland.
The official ceremony proclaiming the
Crown Colony of British Columbia took
place on 19 November 1858, at Fort
Langley.
To celebrate British Columbia’s 150th
anniversary and to recognise the pivotal
role of the Fraser River Gold Rush in
the Province’s creation, Canada Post
issued a domestic rate (52c.) stamp on
1 August 2008.
Designed by Roy White and Matthew
Clark of Vancouver’s Subplot Design, the
stamp features a gold pan in a panner’s
rugged hands set against an outline of
the Province’s eastern border.
The coincide with the
launch, by Qantas, of
services using its new
Airbus 380 passenger jet,
Australia Post issued a
set of four stamps on 5
August 2008 which looks
back on the history of the
Country’s iconic airliners.
The three 50c. stamps
depict a Bristol Tourer.
The Bristol Tourer was
a British civil aircraft
which used much from
the design of the Bristol
Fighter. Bristol Tourers
were delivered with a
variety of engines and many were fitted with a canopy to cover the one or two
passenger seats in the rear cockpit. The pilot’s cockpit remained open. Bristol Tourers
operated by Western Australian Airways made the first
scheduled airline services in Australia, commencing on
4 December 1921 between Perth and Geraldton.
The second stamp features a Lockheed Super
Constellation L-1049 which was a stretched version
of the Constellation L-049 first purchased by Qantas
in 1947. The Super Constallations also had more
powerful engines. In 1954 Qantas began flying Super
Constellation aircraft twice weekly from Sydney to San
Francisco and Vancouver via Fiji, Canton Island and
Hawaii. A contemporary poster advertising the services
operated by ‘Connies’ is shown right.
The third 50c. stamp shows a Short Empire S23
Flying Boat. The origins of the Empire boats lay in
an Air Ministry requirement for passenger and mail
carriers that could service the colonies particularly to
make the connection to Australia.
The Empire was officially known as the C-Class and
each aircraft was christened with a name beginning with ‘C’. The first aircraft, G-ADHL
Canopus, was completed in June 1936 and launched on 3 July. A total of 42 Empires
were built, all at Short’s Rochester, Kent, factory.
Qantas operated ten Empire Flying Boats, Coriolanus, Calypso Camilla, Coogee, Corio,
Coorong, Carpentaria, Coolangatta, Cooee and Clifton.
The $2 stamp features the latest aircraft to operate for Qantas, the Airbus A380. The
A380 is the largest and most technologically advanced aircraft ever built. It’s quieter,
cleaner and more powerful than any other large aircraft.
Qantas was the third airline to take delivery of the A380, (MSN014), which had its
maiden flight on 25 January 2008.
The airline has announced it will use the A380, in a 450-seat configuration on its
Melbourne to Los Angeles route from 20 October 2008. Subsequent routes include
Sydney to Los Angeles and London.

G.S.M. October 2008 101

 Stamp News in Brief
Information included in this column is as received
from Postal Authorities and/or their agents.
Inclusion in the Stamp News in Brief column does
not necessarily imply that any individual issue
will subsequently be granted catalogue status by
Stanley Gibbons
Åland. 9 October: Christmas 2008—NVI (Europa
postage rate), Christmas Angel holding a heart.
9 October: Horse Riding—NVI (Europa postage
rate), horse and rider in the snow.
Alderney: 25 Years of Alderney Stamps (modern
versions of the first stamps)—34p Old Habrour,
40p the Breakwater, 48p Fort Clonque Causeway,
51p golf course, 53p Hanging Rock, 74p Fort
Clonque.
Algeria. 23 July: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games—
15d. fencing, 15d. wrestling.
Aruba. 4 July: Harley Davidson Motorcycles—
175c. FRX Super Glide Big Boy, 225c.
Knucklehead, 305c. Road King.
Ascension. 28 August: Botanists and Plants—
35p Valerius Cordus and Geiger Tree (Cordia
sebestena), 40p Nehemiah Grew and Starflowers
(Grewia occidentalis), 50p Charles Plumier
and Frangipani (Plumeria rubra), £2 Carl Peter
Thunberg and Bengal Clockvine (Thunbergia
grandiflora).
Australia. 12 August: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games ‘Instant’ Gold Medal Stamps—Australia
post issued sheetlets of 10×50c. stamps
featuring gold medal winners as soon as
possible after the medals had been awarded.
The first sheetlet was issued on 12 August and
featured Stephanie Rice.
Austria. 5 August: Centenary of the Death of the
Architect Josef Maria Olbrich—65c. art work by
Olbrich. 8 August: The Willendorf Venus—e3.75
optical three-dimensional view of the 25,000
year-old statuette of Venus. 10 September:
150th Anniversary of the Empress Elizabeth
Western Railway—E1 electric locomotive. 18
September: Art, 80th Birthday of Friedensreich
Hundertwasser—55c. 75c., E1, E1.25, paintings
by Hundertwasser, E6 miniature sheet of the
four paintings stamps. 18 September: Day of
the Stamp—E2.65+E1.30 lake paddle steamer
Schönbrunn. 19 September: Embroidey—E3.75
embroidered Gentain flower. 19 September: Art—
55c. Female Nude by Dana Larot. 20 September:
Maximilian Schel, Actor—E1 portrait of Schell.
21 September: 70th Anniversary of the Birth of
Romy Schneider, Actress—E1 photograph of
Schneider.
Azerbaijan. 28 May: 90th Anniversary of the
Azerbaijan Republic—20g. map of the country,
the State coat of arms and members of the
Council of Ministers. 6 June: Centenary of
the Birth of the Poet Mikhail Mushviq—20g.
portrait of Mushviq. 21 July: 150th Anniversary
of the Caspian Shipping Company—five-stamp
miniature sheet comprising 20g. tanker H Aliyev,
30g. ferry Azerbaijan, cargo boat Composer G
Garayev, 60g. dry cargo boat Maestro Niyazi,
1m. tanker Vandal. 21 July: Centenaries—20g.
centenary of the birth of the academic Lev
Landau, 20g. centenary of the birth of the
academic Ghasan Abdullayev.
Bahrain. 1 August: Business Friendly
Organisation—100f. Business Friendly slogan,
200f. Business Friendly slogan (different design).
8 August: Bejing 2008 Olympic Games—100f.
athletics, 200f. show jumping, 300f. miniature
sheet of the 100f. and 200f. stamps.
Bangladesh. 7 July: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games—10t. runners against a backdrop of
mountains. 15t. rifle shooting, 20p. Beijing
Games mascots. 25t. Greece’s first Olympic
Stamp and Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
Barbados. 30 July: The Concorde Experience—
$6 miniature sheet, Concorde over Barbados.
30 July: 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force,
10c. 2nd Barbados Contingent, 50c. Telegraphist
Warren Alleyne and Supermarine Spitfire, $1.75
Wing Commander Aubrey Inniss and Bristol
Beaufighter, $2 Flying Officer Errol Barrow and
Avro Lancaster.
104
Åland - Horse Riding
Ascension - Botanists and Plants
Carl Peter Thunberg and Bengal
Clockvine
Australia - Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Gold Medal Winners
Stephanie Rice
Barbados - 90th Anniversary of the Royal
Air Force
Telegraphist Warren Alleyne and
Supermarine Spitfire
British Virgin Islands - Bejing 2008
Olympic Games
Yachting
Belarus. 28 August: Orders of the Republic
of Belarus—8×1000r.+2×labels sheetlet
comprising, Order for Exceptional Courage,
Order of Military Glory, Order of the Motherland
(First, Second and Third Class), Order For
Service to the Motherland (First, Second and
Third Class), Order of Friendship, Order of
Honour, Order of Francysk Skaryna and Order of
Mother. The labels feature the coat of arms and
flag of Belarus. 28 August: Medals of Belarus—
8×1000r.+2×labels sheetlet comprising, Medal
of Note for Military Service, Medal of Hero of
Belarus, Medal for Bravery, Medal for Labour
Achievement, Medal for Perfect Service (First,
Second and Third Class), Civil Order Medal,
State Border Guard Medal and the Francysk
Skaryna Medal. The labels feature the coat of
arms and flag of Belarus.
Belgium. 11 June: Stamp day—2×NVI family
group, family cycling.11 June: Tourism, Sart-
Tilman Open Air Museum—80c. Imagoo, steel
sculpture by Emile Desmedt, NVI La Caille
bronze sculpture by George Grard. 14 July:
50th Anniversary of the Brussels World Expo
’58—5×NVI scenes from the 1958 exhibition.
14 July: Folklore and Traditions—3×NVI
Asse Hopduvelfeesten (Asse Hop Festival),
Eupen Carnival and centenary of the La Royal
Compagnie du Cabarate Walloon Tournaisien
Tournai Royal Walloon Cabaret Company.
14 July: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games—NVI)
miniature sheet, tennis, NVI BMX cycling.
Botswana. 20 June: Elephants—1p.10
tourists on an Elephant hunt, 2p.60 tourists
photographing Elephants, 4p.10 Elephants
raiding crop fields, 4p.90 Elephant-back safari.
Brazil. 8 August: Brazilian Cuisine—90c. beef
stew and a sweet of coconut custard.
British Virgin Islands. 1 August: Beijing 2008
Olympic Games—15c. athletics, 18c. yachting,
20c. athletics, $1 dinghy sailing. 21 August:
Ministerial Government: 18c. the Mace, 35c.
the House of Assembly, 60c. the Hon Henry O
Creque and the Hon Ivan Dawson, $2 the Hon
Paul Wattley and the Hon Terrance R Lettsome.
Brunei. August: 40th Anniversary of the
Coronation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah—4×40s. se-tenant,
scenes from the Sultan’s Coronation, 4×40s. se-
tenant miniature sheet of the same four stamps,
B$40 miniature sheet, the crowning ceremony.
Bulgaria. 30 July: 20th Anniversary of the
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between
Bulgaria and the European Union—1l. urn.
Canada. 1 August: 150th Anniversary of British
Columbia—52c. gold pan and gold.
Cayman Islands. 8 August: Beijing 2008
Olympic Games—20c. swimming, backstroke,
25c. swimming, crawl, 50c. field athletics, 75c.
hurdles.
Chile. 18 July: 150th Anniversary of the Town
of Taltal—280p. cacti, Church of San Francisco
and harbour. 31 July: Women’s World Football
Cup—4×280p. se-tenant, various scenes of Chile
and football stadium.
China (Macao). 31 July: UNESCO World
Heritage Site— 1p.50, 2p., 3p., 3p.50 machine
labels of the same design showing the walls of
ancient Troy. 8 August: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games—5p. the Swimming Centre, 10p.
miniature sheet, the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium.
China (Taiwan). 20 August: Yimin Festival—
4×$5 miniature sheet, Sinpu Yimin Temple at
Hsinchu, the pig competition, the erection of the
lantern poles and a dish of sweet congee.
Colombia. 10 July: INCI (National Institute For
the Blind)—1400p. INCI emblem, blind man
using a stick for guidance and braille text.
Cook Islands. 28 July: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games—$3.50 miniature sheet comprising 40c.
weightlifting, 60c. high jump, $1 swimming, $1.50
athletics.
Costa Rica. 16 June: Whales and Dolphins—
4×240¢. miniature sheet, Humpback Whale×2,
Estuarine Dolphin and Pan-tropical Spotted
Dolphin.
G.S.M. October 2008
New and recent issues
Croatia. 11 July: Western Union—3k.50+label.
The stamp shows the globe and the label
features the globe and the Western Union emblem.
Czech Republic. 3 September: Prague
2008 World Stamp Exhibition—10k. Emauzy
Monastery. 3 September: Centenary of the
Applied Art Designers Association (ARTEL)—26k.
an advertisement for Artel products and a vase.
Dominican Republic. 8 June: Centenary of
Scouting—10p. Scout badge, 15p. Scout salute.
8 June: 50th Anniversary of the Alcazar de Colon
Museum—10p. Museum building.
Ecuador. 23 June: Centenary of the Guayaquil
to Quito Railway—56c. reproduction of 1c.
brown stamp of 1908 (SG 331) and Baldwin
steam locomotive, US$5 reproduction of 1c.
brown stamp of 1908, Baldwin steam locomotive,
Garcia Moreno and General Alfaro. 23 June: 40th
Anniversary of the Los Pinos School—20c. the
School’s badge.
Estonia. 2 June: European Central Bank—NVI
pre-stamped postcard. The imprinted stamp
features the Bank’s logo. 22 July: 290th
Anniversary of Kadriorg Park Palace—NVI pre-
stamped postcard. The imprinted stamp features
the Palace’s main hall. 23 July: 125th Anniversary
of the Birth of the Playwright and Writer Hugo
Raudsepp—NVI pre-stamped postcard. The
imprinted stamp features a portrait of Raudsepp.
8 August: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games—9k./58c.
dual denominated, ancient discus thrower.
2 August: Põlma Windmill—5k.50 the windmill.
Falkland Islands. 22 September: 275th
Anniversary of the British Claim to Port Louis—
27p Sailors from HMS Clio, 64p Royal Marines,
£2 miniature sheet, Captain Onslow at the flag
raising ceremony.
Finland. 5 September: Centenary of the
Birth of the Novelists Mika Waltari—2×80c.
miniature sheet, photographic portrait of Waltari
and the cover of one his novels, Komisario
Palmun Erehdys (Inspector Palum’s Mistake).
5 September: Kimi Räikkönen World Motor
Racing Formula One Champion—2×NVI (first
class postage rate) miniature sheet comprising
a photograph of Räikkönen and a photograph
of his Ferrari racing car. 5 September: Dogs
—6×NVI (first class postage rate) booklet
comprising, Finnish Spitz, Boxer, Rough Collie,
Finnish Hound, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
and Jack Russell Terrier. 5 September: Personal
Stamp (new frame design)—NVI (first class
postage rate). Sample stamps produced for sale
featuring fireworks.
Germany. 7 August: 200th Anniversary of
the Birth of the Economist Hermann Schulze-
Delitzsch—90c. portrait of Schulze-Delitzsch.
7 August: 125th Anniversary of the Birth of the
Author and Artist Joachim Ringelnatz—85c.
silhouette of Ringelnatz framed by quotations
from his works. 7 August: 50th Anniversary of
the Launch of the Tall Ship Gorch Fock—55c. the
Gorch Fock under full sail.
Guernsey. 9 June: Abstract Guernsey—5×NVI
(‘GY’ local postage rate), Pleinmont Point, Saint’s
Harbour, rocks at Albecq, groynes at Vazon Bay,
and La Bette Bay, 5×NVI (‘UK’ postage rate)
Bordeaux Harbour, St Saviour’s Reservoir, Vazon
Bay, St Peter Port Lighthouse and Petit Port.
31 July: Centenary of the Model T Ford Car—34p
1917 Couplet, 40p 1912 Delivery Van, 48p 1925
Pick-up Truck, 51p 1913 Touring Car, 53p First
World War Ambulance, 74p 1912 Roadster.
Honduras. 16 May: UPAEP (Postal Union of
the Americas, Spain and Portugal)—four-stamp
miniature sheet, comprising, 2l. ‘fight against
poverty’, 3l. ‘energy saving’, 5l. ‘education of
children’, 10l. ‘national fiestas’.
Iceland. 18 September: 50th Anniversary of
Friorik Ólafsson’s Chess Grandmastership—80k.
chess board. 18 September: 50th Anniversary
of the First Cod War—90k. Iclandic Patrol Vessel
Ægir. 18 September: Lake Ball (Aegagropila
linnaei)—examples of lake balls, colonies of
green algae. 18 September: International Year
of Planet Earth—215k. miniature sheet, image
of Iceland taken by the Terra Polar satellite. 9
October: Vidney Peace Tower—120k. light tower
by Yoko Ono in memory of her husband John
Lennon. 6 November: Centenary of Vaglaskógur
Forest—400k. Pine trees covered in snow.
G.S.M. October 2008 105
Croatia - Western Union
Czech Republic - Prague 2008 World
Stamp Exhibition
Emauzy Monastery
Estonia - Põlma Windmill
Jersey - Migrating Birds
Northern Wheatear
Latvia - European Orienteering
Championships
Orienteer at a marker post
Kiribati - Phoenix Island Protected Area
Blacktip Reef Shark
India. 2 August: Aldabra Giant Tortoise—5r.,
15r., Tortoise. 8 August: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games—5r. the Games mascot and Olympic
flame, 5r. boxing, 15r. shooting, 15r. archery,
40r. miniature sheet of the four stamps. 12
August: Coast Guard—4×5r. aircraft, helicopter,
hovercraft, and patrol ship, 20r. miniature sheet
of the four stamps.
Indonesia. 5 July: 17th Indonesian National
Games—4×1500r. body building, mountain
biking, steeplechasing and the Palaran Stadium.
6 July: Traditional Indonesian Food—4×1500r.
Nasi Lemak, Kaledo, Sate Bandeng and Ayam
Cincane.
Italy. 5 September: Mophil 2008 National Philatelic
Exhibition—60c. pre-stamped postcard. The
imprinted stamp features a picture of Molfetta,
the venue for the exhibition. 8 September:
Schools and Universities Series —60c. Dante
Alighieri School, 60c. Peruga University.
Jersey. 21 October: Migrating Birds—35p
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe),
39p Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), 43p Pied
Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), 52p Yellow
Wagtail (Motacilla flava), 58p Ring Ouzel (Turdus
torquatus), 76p Common Redstart (Phoeniricurus
phoenicurus), £1.86 miniature sheet of the 52p,
58p and 76p stamps, £3.03 miniature sheet of
a se-tenant set of the six stamps. 14 November:
60th Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales—£4
portrait of The Prince of Wales, £4 miniature
sheet of the same £4 stamp.
Kiribati. 12 July: Phoenix Island Protected
Area—40c. local hut, 75c. map of Kanton Island,
80c. map of Phoenix Island Protected Area, 85c.
Phoenix Petrel (Pterodroma alba), $1.25 Stag’s
Horn Coral (Acropora nobilis), $1.75 Blacktip
Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus).
8 August: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games—25c,
weightlifting, 50c. athletics, 60c. cycling, 75c.
javelin.
Korea (North). 20 August: Korean Cuisine—3w.
rice and wormwood cake, 70w. nochi rice cake,
135w. green gram pancake, 155w. garlic in soy.
25 August: Kim Jong Il Visiting Troops—12w.
solders, 135w. miniature sheet, Kim Jong Il and
women soldiers. 9 September: National Flag
Definitives, 3w., 158w. the Korean flag.
2 October: Protection of Fish Species—135w.
Trout (Salvelinus malma m chonjiensis).
9 September: 60th Anniversary of the Founding
of the Democratic People’s Republic—3w. 12w.
70w., 120w., 155w. miniature sheet, 160w. scenes
from the foundation struggle. 20 October: Moran
Hill Recreational Park—3w., 45w., 100w., 135w.
scenes of the park.
Korea (South). 25 February: Definitive—250w.
Prickly Water Lily (Euryale ferox). 17 June: OECD
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development) Ministerial Meeting on the Future
of the Internet Economy—250w. map of the world
and internet emblems. 20 June: Centenary of the
Birth of Yun Bong-Gil—250w. portrait of Bong-Gil
and the text of oath of the Korean Patriot Society.
10 July: The Life of Dangun Wanggeom Precusor
of the Korean Nation—4×250w. miniature sheet,
scenes from the life of Dangun Wanggeom,
1 August: Energy Conservation—4×250w. se-
tenant, disconnecting electrical supplies, keeping
a sensible indoor temperature, energy efficient
home and use public transport.
Latvia. 8 May 2008: Essen 2008 Stamp
Exhibition—40k. pre-stamped postcard.
The imprinted stamp shows a Black Stork
(Ciconia nigra). 23 May: European Orienteering
Championships—45c. orienteer at a marker post.
7 June: Natural Features—22s. rocky outcrop.
26 June: National Museum—22s. exhibits, statue,
sailing ship and coin. 8 August: Beijing 2008
Olympic Games—63s. handball.
Lithuania. 31 May: 20th Anniversary of the
Sajudis Lithuanian Reform Movement—1l.35—
Sajudis emblem. 7 June: Zaragoza 2008
World Exhibition—2l.45 drop of water., 6×2l.45
miniature sheet of the ‘drop of water’ stamp.
28 June: Millennium of Lithuania—6×3l.
miniature sheet comprising, first Minister in
Cabinet 1918, the Constituent Assembly of
Lithuania, the Museum of Kaunas (1922),
Klaipeda landscape, Samogitia High Road (1939)
and Vilnius.
 New and recent issues
Malaysia. 1 August: International Dragon Boat
Federation, Club Crew World Championship
2008—30s., 50s. 1r. scenes from Dragon Boat
races. 14 August: Centenary of Scouting—30s.
beginings, 50s. growth, 50s. today’s Scouting.
Malta. 11 August: Year of Planet Earth—7c.
desert, 86c. vegetation, E1 globe, E1.77 oceans.
Marshall Islands. 24 June: Tropical Fish—27c.
Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus),
42c. Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga).
Mexico. 20 June: 90th anniversary of the Birth
of the Wrestler and Film Star Rodolfo Guzmán
Huerta known as Santo, el Enmascarado de Plata
(Saint in the Silver Mask)—6×6p.50 miniature
sheet, scenes from Santo’s wrestling career.
Moldova. 16 March: 120th Anniversary of the
Birth of the Poet Aleksei Matievich—1l. pre-
stamped envelope. The imprinted stamp features
a portrait of Matevich. 18 March: 40th Anniversary
of the Orheiul Vechi Museum—80b. pre-stamped
postcard. The imprinted stamp features a stone
cross. 19 March: Classicists—80b. pre-stamped
postcard. The imprinted stamp features a
bust of Alexsei Matievich, 80b. pre-stamped
postcard. The imprinted stamp features a bust
of Dimitry Kantemir. 1 April: 75th Anniversary
of the Agricultural University—1l. pre-stamped
envelope. The imprinted stamp features the
University’s coat of arms.
Namibia. 8 August: Ediacaran Fossils—NVI
(Registered inland mail postage rate), NVI
(standard mail postage rate), NVI (postcard
postage rate), NVI (registered non-standard
postage rate), various fossils. 15 August: Beijing
2008 Olympic Games—$2, $3.70, $3.90, $4.20
athletics.
Nauru. 8 August: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games—
15c, badminton, 25c. archery, 75c. weightlifting,
$1 diving.
Pakistan. 4 April: 29th Anniversary of the Death
of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto—4r. photograph of
Mr Bhutto.
Panama. 27 April: Tourism—10c., 20c., 30c.,
40c., 50c., 60c. tourist attractions.
Paraguay. 1 April: 40th Anniversary of the
Publicitaria Nasta Public Relations Company—
5g., 7g. flowers. 4 April: 80th Anniversary of
the Rotary Club of Asunción—2g. Rotary Club
badge, 8g. flowering trees.
Peru. 24 June: 10s. Exporting—post office
official. 24 June: Viceroys of Peru—4×6s.
miniature sheet, Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, Diego
de Benavides y de la Cueva, Pedro Antonio
Fernández de Castro and Baltasar de la Cueva
Enríquez. 1 July: UPAEP (Postal Union of the
Americas, Spain and Portugal)—2×6s.50 Intin
Raymi Fiesta and the Festival of Vendimia. 1
July: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games—4×1g.40
miniature sheet, Olympic mascots and scenes of
Peru. 1 July: ALC-UE Summit (Summit of Heads
of State and Government of Latin America and
the Caribbean and the European Union)—6s.50
Summit emblem. 2 July: EUROLAT Summit
(Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly)—
6s.50 flags of the organisations attending the
Summit. 3 July: Centenary of the Birth of the
Humanist Aurelio Sosa—2s.50 portrait of Sosa.
Philippines. 7 March: Taipei Asian International
Stamps Exhibition 2008/Birds—14×7p. sheetlet,
Mindanao Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba criniger),
Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica), Black-
chinned Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus leclancheri),
Metallic Pigeon (Columba vitiensis), Pink-necked
Pigeon (Treron vernans), Amethyst Dove
(Phapitreron amethystina), Grey Imperial-Pigeon
(Ducula pickeringii), Red Turtle Dove (Streptopelia
tranquebarica), Pied Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula
bicolor), Spotted Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula carola),
Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia),
Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora), Blue-capped
Kingfisher (Actenoides hombroni) and Philippine
Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). 7 March: Rats
and Mice of Luzon Island—4×7p. Cordillera
Forest Mouse (Apomys abrae), Cordillera Shrew
Mouse (Archboldomys sp.), Lozon Furry-tailed
Rat (Balomys granti), Cordillera Striped Earth Rat
(Chrotomys whiteheadi), four-stamp miniature
sheet comprising 7p. Northern Giant Cloud Rat
(Phloeomys pallidus), 7p. Lesser Dwarf Cloud Rat
(Carpomys melanurus), 20p. Bushy-tailed Cloud
Rat (Crateromys schadenbergi).
106
Malaysia - International Dragon Boat
Federation, Club Crew World Championship
Nauru - Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Badminton
Pitcairn - Sunsets
Poland - 80th Anniversary of the Border
Guard
Portugal - Lighthouses
Arnel Lighthouse, Azores
Russia - Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed,
Pokrovsky
Pitcairn. 25 June: Flowers and Bees—$1 $1.20,
$1.50, $3, two-stamp miniature sheet comrising,
$1.50 and $3 stamps as above. All the stamps
feature the Italian Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica),
feeding from various flowers. 20 August: Island
Sunsets—50c., 60c., 80c., $1, $2, $2.50 various
sunset scenes.
Poland. 12 March: Easter 2008—1r.+label,
icon from Scaune Church, Bucharest, painted
by Atanasie of Tarnovo in 1611. 22 March:
80th Anniversary of the Border Guard—2z.10
coat of arms of Poland against a background
of a striped border pole. 25 April: Metrological
Phenomena—1z.35 sand blizzard, 1z.35
lightning, 2z.40 rainbow, 2z.40 tornado.
31 March: Polish Air Force—3z. TS-11 Iskra
trainer, 3z.55 F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter. 21
June: Sanctuaries of St Mary—1z.35 Sanctuary
of St Mary of the Snow. 27 June: Efiro 2008
Romanian International Stamp Exhibition—3z.
miniature sheet. Romanian Athenaeum.
Portugal. 9 May: Europa 2008 Letter Writing—
4×61c. elf sitting on a letter, letter flying out of
an envelope, windmill with sails made of letters and
man in a boat formed of a letter. 9 May: European
Triathlon Championship—E2 swimmer, cyclist and
runner. 13 May: Vintage Public Transport—NVI
(‘N’ postage rate), 1928 Oldsmobile Lisbon
taxi, NVI (‘A’ postage rate) 1928 Estoril tram,
NVI (‘E’ postage rate) 1944 Lisbon Autocarro
single-decker bus. 19 May: 150th Anniversary
of the Ascension of Queen Estefânia—NVI pre-
stamped postcard, portrait of the Queen. 19
June: Lighthouses—10×30c. Ponta do Pargo,
Bugio, Cabo Sardão, Cabo São Vicence, Cabo
da Roca, Cabo Espichel, Esposende, Leça,
Montedor, Santa Marta, 2×61c. Ponta do Pargo
and Arnel Lighthouses.
Romania. 2 April: NATO Summit, Bucharest
2008—6l. Summit emblem. 21 April: Bears—60r.
Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), 1l.20
American Black Bear (Ursus americanus), 1l.60
Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), 3l. Sloth
Bear (Melursus ursinus), 5l. Spectacled Bear
(Tremarctos ornatus), 9l.10 miniature sheet,
Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos). 1 May: Beijing
2008 Olympic Games—4×1l. miniature sheet,
athletics, swimming, rowing and gymnastics. 8
May: Europa 2008/Letter Writing—1r.60 map of
Europe and silhouette of a letter, 8r.10 flag of the
European Union and letter. 20 May: Centenary
of the Grigore Antipa National Natural History
Museum—2l.40 specimens from the museum,
3l. Grigore Antipa. 26 June: 10th Anniversary of
the Central Bank—3l.10 the Bank’s headquarters
and emblem.
Russia. 7 March: Centenary of the Birth of Z
H Kotin, Designer of the PT 76 Tank—4r.75
pre-stamped postcard. The imprinted stamp
features a portrait of Kotin. 25 March: Russian
Archeological Heritage—3×12p miniature
sheet, 2nd century BC bronze plaque showing
a mythical animal, 2nd century BC bronze plate
showing oxen, 3rd to 4th century BC bronze
deer. 7 April: Centenary of the Birth of General
V F Margelov—4r.75 pre-stamped postcard.
Imprinted stamp features a portrait of General
Margelov. 7 April: 150th Anniversary of the
Birth of the Artist Aleksandr S Stepanov—
4r.75 pre-stamped postcard. The imprinted
stamp features a portrait of Stepanov. 7 May:
Election of President Dmitry Anatolyevich
Medvedev—7r. Russian Presidential flag. 8
May: Centenary of the Birth of the Film Actress
Marina Ladynina—6r.50 pre-stamped envelope.
The imprinted stamp features a portrait of
Ladynia against a background of cinema film.
20 May: Russian Regions—5×8r. Vogograd,
Krasnoyarsk, Penza, Sverdlov and Yaroslavl
Regions. 23 June: Churches (joint issue with
Romania)—2×12r. Vladimir Cathedral, Dmitrovskiy,
Russia and Voronec Priory, Voronec, Romania.
3 July: Centenary of the Birth of Violinist D F
Oystrakh—5r.50 pre-stamped postcard. The
imprinted stamp features a portrait of Oystrakh.
3 July: 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Artist
Ilya S Ostroukhov—5r.50 pre-stamped postcard.
The imprinted stamp features a portrait of
Ostroukhov. 25 July: Cathedral of Vasily the
Blessed, Pokrovsky—7r.50, painting of the
Cathedral.
G.S.M. October 2008
 New and recent issues
St Helena. 7 May: Napoleonic Sites in
St Helena—three-stamp miniature sheet
comprising, 90p Longwood House 1821, £1
Napoleon’s tomb, £1.25 Longwood house 2006.
19 August: Fish Definitives—5p Deepwater
Bullseye (Cookeolus japonicus), 10p Five
Finger (Abudefduf saxatilis), 15p Deepwater
Greenfish (Holanthias fronticinctus), 20p
Hardback Soldier (Holocentrus adscensionis),
25p Deepwater Gurnard (Scorpaena mellissii),
35p Red Mullet (Apogon axillaris), 40p Softback
Soldier (Myripristis jacobus), 50p Rock Bullseye
(Heteropriacanthus cruentatus), 80p Gurnard
(Scorpaena plumieri), £1 Cunningfish (Chaetodon
sanctaehelenaf), £2 Hogfish (Acanthostracion
notacanthus), £5 Marmalade Razorfish (Xyrichtys
blanchardi), £10.75 sheetlet comprising all 12 fish
definitives. 19 August: Island Flag—12×35p self-
adhesive booklet, the St Helena flag.
St Pierre and Miquelon. 7 June: Fishing—80c.
Retour de Pêche, painting by Michelle Ford.
28 June: Bird Definitive—E1.50 Harlequin Duck
(Canard arlequin).
San Marino. 13 June: Church Art—E1 bronze
bas-relief, Our Lady of Mercy, from the Church
of the Annunciation in Nazareth. 13 June: 30th
Anniversary of the San Marino, USA Friendship
Association—E1.50 Statue of Liberty, USA and
Statue of Liberty, San Marino. 13 June: Europa
2008/Letter Writing—60c. two ships constructed
of letters meeting in mid-ocean, 65c. two birds
made of letters flying around the globe. 13 June:
Beijing Olympic Games 2008—three-stamp
miniature sheet comprising, 36c. table tennis,
65c. fencing, 85c. swimming.
Seychelles. August: World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF)—2×1r. Aldabra Drongo (Dicrurus
aldabranus), 2×1r. Red Headed Fody (Foudia
madagascariensis).
Singapore. 25 June: Award of the 2010 Youth
Olympic Games to Singapore—2×$2 se-tenant,
marching athletes and the crowd scene when
the award was announced. 4 July: Local Cuisine
Delights (joint issue with China (Macao)—4×65c.
miniature sheet, Singapore dishes, chilli crab,
roti prata, satay, Hainanese chicken rice and
laska., 4×NVI (first class local postage rate),
Macao dishes, claypot rice, grilled cod slices,
crispy fried chicken, carne de porc a Alentejana
and Yangzhou fried rice. 2×$2 miniature sheet
comprising Macao clay pot rice and Singapore
chilli crab. 28 August: 40th Anniversary of the
Singapore Air Force—NVI (first class local post
rate) Weapons Officer, NVI (second class local
postage rate), Air Engineering Officer, 65c.
Unmanned Aircraft Controller, 80c. Weapons
Systems Officer, $1.10 Air Defence Artillery.
South Georgia and South Sandwich
Islands. 10 July: World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF)—2×55p, 65p, 90p, Chinstrap Penguins
(Pygoscelis antarcticus).
Spain. 16 April: Traditional Spanish Sports series
1—2×43c. plus labels. One stamp features a
player playing the Valenciana version of pelota
and the other shows a player of the Basque
version. 28 April: Exfilna 2008 National Philatelic
Exhibition, Oviedo—E2.44 miniature sheet,
Cross of Victory against a background of the
Campoamore Theatre. 2 June: Personalities—
4×31c. Biochemist Joan Oró,, novelist Carmen
Martín Gaite, writer Maria Lejárrage, children’s
author Zenobia Camprubi. 5 June: Traditional
Spanish Sports series 2—3×43c. miniature
sheet, skittles. 13 June: Expo Zaragoza 2008—
E2.60 miniature sheet, statue of Goya. 1 July:
Flora and Fauna Definitives—31c. European
Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster), 60c. Dahlia. 4 July:
Expo Zaragoza 2008—three-stamp miniature
sheet comprising 31c., 78c., E2.60 plus label,
all of which make up a panoramic picture of
the Expo site. 8 July: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games—31c. long jump. 24 July: Euro 2008
Football Champions—e1 miniature sheet, foot
kicking a football. 29 July: National Treasures,
Tapestries by Cornelio Vandergoten (1774),
60c. The Swing after a painting by Goya, E2.60
Blind Man and Guitar after a painting by Goya.
2 September: Lighthouses—6×60c. miniature
sheet, Torredembarra, Irta, Punta Pechiguera,
Cabo Silleiro, Punta de la Orchilla and Cap
Babaria Lightouses.
G.S.M. October 2008
St Helena - Fish Definitives
Rock Bullseye
St Pierre and Miquelon - Bird Definitive
Harlequin Duck
Spain - Personalities
Children’s author Zenobia Camprubi
Tristan da Cunha - Allan Crawford
‘The Potato Stamp’
Vanuatu - Holiday Resorts
Zambia - World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Greater Kudu
Sri Lanka. 23 July: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games—5r. pistol shooting, 15r. javelin, 40r.
boxing, 45r. athletics. 2 August: South East Asian
Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC)
15th Summit—15r. flags of the participating
countries, Summit emblem and a hand holding
a flower.
Surinam. 15 August: Bird Definitives—30c.
Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle torquata), 45c. Opal-
rumped Tanager (Tangara velia), 50c. White-
necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora), 75c. Green
Dropendola (Psarocolius viridis), 90c. Dusky
Parrot (Pionus fuscus), £1.40 American Pygmy
Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea), $2.50 Yellow-
green Grosbeak (Caryothraustes canadensis),
$4 Red-necked Woodpecker (Campephilus
rubricollis).
Switzerland. 4 September: Cereal Crops—10c.
Wheat, 15c. Barley, 20c. Rye, 50c. Oats.
4 September: Old Rhine Bridge (joint issue
with Germany)—1f. the Rhine Bridge at Bad
Säckingen linking Switzerland and Germany.
Tristan da Cunha. 1 August: The Life and Times
of Allan Crawford, Founder of the Tristan da
Cunha Association—15p Allan Crawford MBE,
20p the ‘Potato’ stamp, 50p first map of Tristan,
60p Norwegian Scientific Expedition 1937-1938,
85p the establishment of the Meteorological
Office, Marion Island in 1947, £1.20 Royal Society
Expedition 1962.
Uganda. 18 June: World Wide Fund For Nature
(WWF)—4×1000s. Spotted Hyena (Crocuta
crocuta).
Ukraine. 17 May: 850th Anniversary of the Town
of Snyatin—70k. pre-stamped envelope. The
imprinted stamp features the town’s coat of
arms. 6 June: 225th Anniversary of the Town of
Sevastopol—70k. pre-stamped envelope. The
imprinted stamp features a monument and the
town’s coat of arms. 4 July: 90th Anniversary of
the First Ukrainian Stamps—two-stamp+label
miniature sheet comprising, 2g.47, 3g.33
first Ukrainian stamps. The label features a
photograph of G Narbut, two-stamp+label
miniature sheet comprising, 2g.47, 3g.33
first Ukrainian stamps. The label features
a photograph of A. Sereda. 11 July: 900th
Anniversary of the Mikhailovsky Monastery—
3g.33 miniature sheet, painting of the Monastery
suported by two Angels. 11 July: 1020th
Anniversary of Christianity in Russia—1g. pre-
stamped envelope. The imprinted stamp features
a statue of Christ.
United Nations. 8 August: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games/Sport for Peace—New York issue, 42c.
track athletics, 94c. field athletics, Geneva
issue, 1f. floor gymnastics, 1f.80 tennis, Vienna
issue, 65c. apparatus gymnastics, E1.30
swimming. 18 September: We Can End Poverty
Art Competition/Winning Entries—New York
issue, 42c. Grace Tsand, Hong Kong, 94c. Bryan
Jevoncia, Indonesia, Geneva issue, 1f. Ranajor
Banerjee, India, 1f.80 Elizabeth Elaine Chun Ning
Au, Hong Kong, Vienna issue, Mariam Marukian,
Armenia, 75c. Rufaro Duri, Zimbabwe.
Uruguay. 15 July: Centenary of the Hospital
Service—3×12p. Dr Raul Amorin Cal Hospital,
Central Hospital Pereir Rossell and Central
Hospital Fuerzas Armadas. 22 July: Beijing 2008
Olympic Games—eight-stamp miniature sheet
of four designs comprising 2p. pole vault, 5p.
cycling, 10p. swimming, 20p. rowing.
United States. 16 July: Vintage Black Cinema
Posters—5×42c. The Sport of the Gods (1921),
Black and Tan (1929), Caldonia (1945), Princess
Tam Tam (1935) and Hallelujah (1929). 15 August:
Yosemite Valley—42c. Valley of the Yosemite
painting by Albert Bierstadt.
Vanuatu. 30 July: Extreme Postmen—40v.,
80v., 100v., 200v. Vanuatu Post staff collecting
mail from an underwater post office. 27 August:
Holiday Resorts—6×90v. Iririki Island Resort
and Spa, Breakas Beach Resort and Villas, Le
Lagon Resort, Melanesian Port Vila, Le Méridien
Port Vila Resort, Spa and Casino and the Sebel
International Hotel.
Zambia. 30 May: World Wide Fund For Nature
(WWF)—4×3000k. Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus
strepsiceros). 8 June: Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games—4×2000k. miniature sheet, football,
hurdles, boxing and swimming.
107
 Catalogue Column
Hugh Jefferies reports
Aitutaki short ‘I’
Sight of the 4d. New Zealand re-entry, featured her last month,
reminded me of something I noticed a few months ago, while
remounting my Cook Islands collection (as Samuel Creeps would
say: ‘a poor thing … etc).
The stamp in ques-
tion was an unused
example of the 2½d.
stamp in the same
New Zealand series
overprinted ‘AITUTAKI’, perf 14×14½ (SG 15a) with a distinctly
short second ‘I’ in ‘AITUTAKI’. I am not suggesting that this is
good enough for catalogue listing but I would still like to know its
sheet position and it is certainly a collectable little variety.

September responses
Hardly was the September issue on the newsagents’ shelves than
Andrew Dixon responded to two of the items in that month’s
‘Catalogue Column’.
The first related to the Great Britain 6d. surface-printed from
plate 3 (SG 83/4) with no hyphen between ‘SIX’ and ‘PENCE’,
discovered by Andrew Lajer. The other Andrew has the stamp with
the same corner letters (KA) but with the hyphen very much in
place, suggesting that the ‘missing hyphen’ is a ‘fortuitous inking
flaw’. Further reports, one way or the other would be welcome.
On the subject
of re-entries, An-
drew Dixon con-
tributes a nice one
on the 3c. North
Borneo of 1897
(9b), which is also
present on the
equivalent stamp
of Labuan (9l). As he says, ‘much of the frame is clearly doubled—
the north-west value tablet is duplicated above and to the right, the
south-east tablet to the left and below. In other words, the second
touch-down of the roller die was twisted with respect to the first!’
The Stamps and Postal History of North Borneo, Part 2 – 1894–1908,
by L H Shipman, published by the Sarawak Specialists’ Society
some years ago (my copy is not dated), illustrates no less than 40
re-entries of varying magnitude on this stamp (from a sheet of
100), so it clearly provides many opportunities for study. As far as I
can tell from the illustration in the book the stamp is No 98 in the
sheet (R10/8), but I would be grateful for confirmation of this.

Another Silver Jubilee variety

Another good variety on the popular 1935 Silver Jubilee stamps
has been shown to me by Andrew Dixon. It appears as a horizontal
dash to the left of the Round Tower and, as he points out, is more
prominent than some of the Silver Jubilee varieties already listed
in the catalogue. The example he provided was on the 5c. stamp
of Straits Settlements.
Reference to John Cooper’s excellent series of
articles on the subject, published in this magazine
in 1991, gives a possible reason why the variety
is not listed—it is one of a series of similar flaws
occurring on seven different positions on the fifth
and sixth rows of sheets printed from plate 5, al-
though it is the most prominent of the seven, and
appears on R6/6. At the time the article was published, the variety was
known on the Ascension 2d., the Grenada 1d., the Montserrat 1½d.
and the St Vincent 1½d. as well as the Straits Settlements 5c.—all
stamps with ultramarine vignettes, suggesting that the vignettes were
printed first in this colour and the plate repaired or rechromed be-
fore being put back into service without the flaws. The frames for the
five stamps in question were added subsequently.
I can confirm the existence of the Grenada 1d. from my own
collection, but would be interested to know whether any other
stamps have since been seen with the variety.

108 G.S.M. October 2008


CATALOGUE  SUPPLEMENT
The Stanley Gibbons Catalogue numbers quoted in this Supplement are
liable to change in the next edition of their Catalogue.
The issue of Gibbons Stamp Monthly in which each country was last updated
is now noted under its heading for easier reference.
The Publishers of this Supplement reserve the right to defer the listing of new
issues until they have proved to have passed through and been accepted by
the international mail.
British Commonwealth
GREAT BRITAIN
(August 2008)
2087 Red Arrows, Dartmouth
Regatta Airshow, 2006
2088 RAF Falcons Parachute
Team, BIggin Hill, 2006
2089 Spectator watching Red
Arrows, Farnborough, 2006
2090 Prototype Avro Vulcan
Bombers and Avro 707s,
Farnborough, 1953
2091 Parachutist Robert
Wyndham on Wing of Avro 504,
1933
G.S.M. October 2008
October_08 SUPP.indd 109
STANLEY GIBBONS
Catalogues supplemented are:
British Commonwealth Vols 1 & 2  2002
Stamps of the World (Vols 1–5)  2009 edition
Parts 13, 14 (1st edition)
Part 12 (2nd edition)
Parts 15, 20 (3rd edition)
Parts 3, 16, 21 (4th edition)
Parts 4, 9, 10, 18 (5th edition)
Parts 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 19, 22 (6th edition)
Parts 7, 17 (7th edition)
Illustration sizes:
Stamps— ¾ actual size
Overprints and surcharges—actual size
© Stanley Gibbons Limited 2008
STAMP BOOKLET Stamps from booklet panes Nos. 1232d
and 1237c were issued in booklets of
Add to No. MB4: ten panes, the panes separated from the
booklet by a line of rouletting.
(MB4 Containing six 1st class self-
adhesive stamps (No. 2295))
g. Inside cover with Carry
On stamps advertisement
(10.6.08)
No. MB4g has characters from Carry On
2092 Air Race rounding the films illustrated along the right-hand edge
Beacon, Hendon, c. 1912 of the booklet pane.
The text on the back cover reads ‘Valid
(Des Roundel. Photo De La Rue) for items up to: 240 mm Long 165 mm
Wide 5 mm Thick 100g Weight’.
2008 (17 July). Air Displays. Two phosphor
bands. P 14½×14.
2855 2087 (1st) olive-grey, bright
magenta, greenish GREAT BRITAIN
yellow, new blue and Guernsey 244 Ford Model T
black (August 2008) Touring Car, 1913
2856 2088 48p. olive-grey, bright
magenta, greenish
(Des Robin Carter. Litho BDT)
yellow, new blue and
black 2008 (31 July). Centenary of the Ford Model
2857 2089 50p. olive-grey, bright T. T 244 and similar square designs.
magenta, greenish Multicoloured. P 13½.
yellow, new blue and 1242 34p. Type 244
black a. Booklet pane. Nos. 1242/5
2858 2090 56p. olive-grey, bright with margins all round
magenta, greenish 243 Pleimont Point b. Booklet pane. Nos. 1242/3
yellow, new blue and and 1246/7 with margins all
black (Litho Walsall) round
2859 2091 72p. olive-grey, bright 2008 (9 June). ‘Abstract Guernsey’. T 243 and c. Booklet pane. Nos. 1242,
magenta, greenish similar horiz designs showing photographs 1244/5 and 1247 with margins
yellow, new blue and of Guernsey coastline. Multicoloured. Self- all round
black adhesive. P 12½. d. Booklet pane. Nos. 1242/3
2860 2092 81p. olive-grey, bright 1232 (34p.) Type 243 and 1245/6 with margins all
magenta, greenish a. Sheetlet. Nos. 1232/41 round
yellow, new blue and b. Perf 12½×13 1243 40p. Delivery van, 1912
black c. Booklet pane. Nos. 1232b/6b, a. Booklet pane. Nos. 1243/4
each ×2 and 1246/7 with margins all
d. Booklet pane. Nos. 1232b/6b, round
each ×2 1244 48p. Pick-up, 1925
1233 (34p.) Saint’s Harbour a. Booklet pane. Nos. 1244/7
b. Perf 12½×13 with margins all round
1234 (34p.) Rocks at Albecq 1245 51p. Couplet, 1917
b. Perf 12½×13 1246 53p. First World War army
1235 (34p.) Groynes at Vazon Bay ambulance
b. Perf 12½×13 1247 74p. Roadster, 1912
1236 (34p.) La Bette Bay
b. Perf 12½×13
1237 (40p.) Bordeaux Harbour
STAMP BOOKLETS
a. Perf 12½×13
b. Booklet pane. Nos. 1237a/41a,
each ×2
c. Booklet pane. Nos. 1237a/41a,
each ×2
1238 (40p.) St. Saviour’s Reservoir
a. Perf 12½×13
1239 (40p.) Vazon Bay
a. Perf 12½×13
2093 Landmarks of Beijing and London 1240 (40p.) St. Peter Port Lighthouse
(Illustration reduced. Actual size a. Perf 12½×13
115×76 mm) 1241 (40p.) Petit Port
a. Perf 12½×13
(Des Why Not Associates. Litho Walsall) Nos. 1232/6 were intended for postage
2008 (22 Aug). Handover of Olympic Flag from within the Bailiwick and are inscribed B 30 Coastal Rocks
Beijing to London. Sheet 115×76 mm. ‘GY’. They were each initially sold at 34p.
Phosphorised paper. P 14½. Nos. 1237/41 were intended for postage 2008 (8 June). ‘Abstract Guernsey’. Multicoloured
MS2861   2093  (1st) National Stadium, to Great Britain and are inscribed ‘UK’. They covers as Type B 30. Self-adhesive (Nos.
Beijing; (1st) London Eye; (1st) Tower were each initially sold at 40p. SB85/6) or stitched (Nos. SB87/8).
of London; (1st) Corner Tower of the Stamps from booklet panes Nos. 1232c SB85 (£3.40) booklet containing
Forbidden City, Beijing and 1237b were peeled directly from the pane No. 1232c (cover
The Olympic rings overprinted on MS2861 cover in two blocks 3×3 and 2×2, the blocks Type B 30)
are in silk-screen varnish. separated by a gutter containing text. SB86 (£4) booklet containing pane
No. 1237b (cover showing
coastal rocks at sunset)
Copyright Notice The contents of this Catalogue Supplement, including the SB87 (£34) booklet containing ten
numbering system and illustrations, are fully protected by copyright. No part of this panes of No. 1232d
supplement may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any (cover as Type B 30, but
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, 182×58 mm)
without the prior permission of Stanley Gibbons Limited. Requests for such permission SB88 (£40) booklet containing ten
panes of No. 1237c (cover
should be addressed to the Catalogue Editor.
showing coastal rocks at
sunset, 182×58 mm)
109
02/09/2008 15:58:32
 Catalogue Supplement

1447 50p. Dr. Dorothy Pantin (Island’s (Des Colleen Corlett. Litho SEP Sprint, 2008 (18 June). First Visit of Pope Benedict XVI
first woman doctor and first Australia) to the United States. Litho. P 13½.
medical supervisor of Jane 2008 (26 Aug). Farm Animals. T 299 and similar 4191 608 $2 multicoloured
Crookall Maternity Home) horiz designs. Multicoloured. Self-adhesive. No. 4191 was printed in sheetlets of four
a. Horiz strip of 5. Nos. 1447/51 P 11½ (die-cut). stamps with enlarged illustrated margins.
1448 50p. Richard Costain (founder of 1388 (35p.) Type 299
construction company) 1389 (35p.) Ewe and lambs
1449 50p. Sir William Percy Cowley (first 1390 (35p.) Sow and piglets
deemster and Clerk of the 1391 (35p.) Geese and goslings
Rolls, 1947–58) 1392 (35p.) Jersey cows and calf
1450 50p. Revd Fred Cubbon Nos. 1388/92 are inscribed ‘JERSEY
(philanthropist) MINIMUM POSTAGE PAID’ and were sold for
B 31 Ford Model T Production Line 1451 50p. William Henry Gill (author, 35p. each.
musician and collector of Nos. 1388/92 were printed together,
2008 (31 July). Centenary of the Ford Manx folk music) se-tenant, in strips of five from rolls of
Model T. Multicoloured cover as Type B 31. Nos. 1442/6 and 1447/51 were each 100, from which the surplus self-adhesive
Booklet contains text and illustrations on printed together, se-tenant, as horizontal backing paper around each stamp was
panes and interleaving pages. Stitched. strips of five stamps in sheets of 50. removed.
SB89 £12 booklet containing panes Nos. 1388/92 commemorate the 175th
Nos. 1242a/d, 1243a and STAMP BOOKLETS anniversary of the Royal Jersey Agricultural
1244a and Horticultural Society.
CORRECTION: Re-number No. SB69,
Type B 38 (Bank Notes, August 2008 GSM) STAMP BOOKLET
GREAT BRITAIN to SB70, Type B 39.
609 Elvis Presley
Isle of Man
(August 2008) 2008 (18 June). 50th Anniv of Elvis Presley’s
Induction into the US Army. Sheet
Add to Nos. 1406/11 (90th Anniv of 160×130 mm containing T 609 and similar
Royal Air Force, April 2008 GSM): vert designs. Multicoloured. P 13½.
MS4192 $2×4 Type 609; In light grey uniform;
(1406 31p. Type 268 In dark grey uniform; In light grey uniform
a. Horiz strip of 3. Nos. 1406/8) with cap
b. Booklet pane. Nos. 1406/9 The stamps within MS4192 share a
with margins all round composite background design.
c. Booklet pane. Nos. 1406/7
and 1409/10 with margins all
round B 34 HMS Richmond
d. Booklet pane. Nos. 1406/7 B 38 Aircraft AUSTRALIA
and 1410/11 with margins all 2008 (24 June). Jersey Naval Connections (2nd (August 2008)
round 2008 (15 Jan). 90th Anniv of the Royal Air Force.
series). Visiting Naval Vessels. Multicoloured
(1408 31p. Hawker Hurricane and Short Multicoloured cover as Type B 38. Booklet CORRECTION: No. 2951 (Centenary of
cover as Type B 34. Booklet contains text
Sunderland) contains text and illustrations on panes Rugby League, August 2008 GSM) should
and illustrations on panes and interleaving
a. Booklet pane. Nos. 1408/11 and interleaving pages. Stitched. read:
pages. Stitched.
with margins all round SB69 £9.68 booklet containing panes
SB67 £11.59 booklet containing panes
Nos. 1406b/d and 1408a (2951 50c. As No. 2942
Nos. 1380×3 and MS1386a
Add to Nos. 1426/33 (Interceltique, a. Booklet pane. No. 2951×10)
August 2008 GSM): b. Booklet pane. No. 2951×5 and
GREAT BRITAIN ANTIGUA Nos. 2952/66
MS1434 174×210 mm. Nos. 1426/33 (1 Aug)
Jersey (September 2008)
(July 2008)

273 Reg Parnell in Maserati 4CLT

(Des Nick Sykes (MS1441) or Peter Hearsey

(others). Litho BDT) 297 HMS Roebuck 776 German Shepherd
2008 (10 July). British Motor Racing. T 273 Dog
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. (Des Tony Theobald. Litho Cartor)
P 14. 2008 (24 June). Jersey Naval Connections (Des Sally Piskuric. Litho Energi)
1435 20p. Type 273 (2nd series). Visiting Naval Vessels. T 297 2008 (10 June). Working Dogs. T 776 and similar
1436 30p. Mike Hawthorn and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. 606 King’s Garden, Walls of Old City and vert designs. Multicoloured.
1437 70p. Tony Brooks in Vanwall P 13×13½. Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem (Illustration (a) PVA gum. Phosphorised paper. P 14½×14.
1438 81p. Roy Salvadori in Aston Martin 1380 35p. Type 297 reduced. Actual size 110×100 mm) 3000 50c. Type 776
1439 94p. Stirling Moss at Pit Stop a. Booklet pane. Nos. 1380/5 a. Horiz strip of 5. Nos. 3000/4
1440 £1.22 Jim Clark in Lotus-Climax 25 with margins all round 2008 (14 May). Israel 2008 World Stamp 3001 50c. Australian cattle dog
R4 1381 39p. HMS Monmouth Championship. Sheet 110×100 mm. 3002 50c. Beagle
MS1441 170×75 mm. 50p.×6 Aston Martin 1382 43p. HMS Edinburgh Litho. Imperf. 3003 50c. Border collie
DB4 GT Zagato, 1961; Ferrari 250 LM, Le 1383 52p. HMS Express MS4187   606  $6 multicoloured 3004 50c. Labrador
Mans, 1965; Ferrari 250 GTO, Goodwood 1384 58p. HMS Severn
Revival, 1962; Ford GT 40, Goodwood 1385 76p. HMS Cottesmore (b) Self-adhesive. Phosphor over parts of
Festival of Speed, 1965; Mercedes-Benz MS1386 110×75 mm. £2.50 HMY Britannia design. P 11½ (interrupted).
300 SLR, Mille Miglia Road Race, Italy, 1955; (60×40 mm). P 13½×13 3005 50c. As Type 776
Shelby Cobra, Goodwood Revival, 1964 (all a. Booklet pane. No. MS1386, a. Booklet pane. No. 3005×10
40×29 mm). P 15×14 but 150×100 mm with line of b. Booklet pane. Nos. 3005/9,
roulettes at left each ×2
Booklet pane No. 1380a exists in three 3006 50c. As No. 3001
versions which differ in the order of the a. Booklet pane. No. 3006×10
stamps within the block of six. 3007 50c. As No. 3002
a. Booklet pane. No. 3007×10
607 Applying Glaucoma Eye Drops 3008 50c. As No. 3003
a. Booklet pane. No. 3008×10
2008 (18 June). World Glaucoma Day. T 607 3009 50c. As No. 3004
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. a. Booklet pane. No. 3009×10
P 13½. Nos. 3000/4 were printed together,
4188 30c. Type 607 se-tenant, as horizontal strips of five stamps
274 Miss M. L. Wood 4189 50c. Normal and glaucomatous in sheets of 50 (2 panes of 25).
(founder of Manx Music optic nerves Nos. 3000/4 were also issued in premium
Festival) 4190 $1 Using braille typewriter booklets, No. SP150, sold at $10.95.
Nos. 3005/9 were only issued in $5
(Des Kreative. Litho Enschedé) booklets, Nos. SB287/92.
298 Daimler Dart The two horizontal edges of Nos. 3005/9
2008 (1 Aug). New Manx Worthies. T 274 and each have two sets of five teeth separated
similar square designs showing characters (Des Alan R. Copp. Litho Cartor) by a straight line.
from book. Multicoloured. P 13½.
1442 31p. Type 274 2008 (23 Aug). Jersey Festival of Speed. Sheet
a. Horiz strip of 5. Nos. 1442/6 110×75 mm. P 13×13½.
1443 31p. Harry Kelly (last native Manx MS1387   298  £2.50 multicoloured
speaker) and cottage at
Cregneash Folk Museum
1444 31p. Sir Frank Gill (telephony and
communications engineer)
and phone box
1445 31p. Ramsey Gelling Johnson
(second deemster (Manx
judge), 1947–54)
1446 31p. John Nicholson (artist and
designer of Manx stamps,
currency notes and gold 299 Cockerel, Hen and
coinage) Chicks 608 Pope Benedict XVI 777 Chinese Dragon

G.S.M. October 2008 111

October_08 SUPP.indd 111 02/09/2008 15:58:35


(Des Linda Warner. Litho Energi Print
(No. 3010) or Pemara (3011))
2008 (24 June). Olympic Games, Beijing. (a) PVA
gum. Phosphorised paper. P 15×14.
3010 777 50c. multicoloured 638
(b) Self-adhesive. Phosphor over parts of
design. P 11½ (interrupted).
3011 777 50c. multicoloured
The two vertical edges of No. 3011
has two sets of five teeth separated by a
straight line.
STAMP BOOKLETS
B 143 German Shepherd Dog
(Illustration reduced. Actual size
61×85 mm)
2008 (10 June). Working Dogs. Multicoloured
covers as Type B 143. Self-adhesive.
SB287 $5 booklet containing pane
of ten 50c. (No. 3005a)
(Type B 143)
SB288 $5 booklet containing pane of
ten 50c. (No. 3005b) (cover
showing collar and dog
silhouettes) date ‘2008’.
SB289 $5 booklet containing pane of
ten 50c. (No. 3006a) (cover
showing Australian cattle
dog) 896 Welder working on Pipeline
SB290 $5 booklet containing pane of
ten 50c. (No. 3007a) (cover
showing beagle) (Litho Southern Colour Print, New Zealand)
SB291 $5 booklet containing pane of
ten 50c. (No. 3008a) (cover
showing border collie)
SB292 $5 booklet containing pane of
ten 50c. (No. 3009a) (cover
showing labrador) 1012
PREMIUM BOOKLET
The following booklet was sold at a
premium above the face value of the
stamps.
P 52 Beagle
2008 (10 June). Working Dogs. Multicoloured
cover as Type P 52. Booklet contains text
and illustrations on panes and interleaving
pages. Stitched.
SP150 $10.95 booklet containing
Nos. 3000/4 in five panes of 4
stamps of each design 2008 (16 May). French Settlement in North
Face value: $10
Christmas Island
(May 2008)
119 Gecarcoidea natalis (red
crab)
(Des Brian Sadgrove. Litho Energi Print)
2008 (18 June). 50th Anniv of Christmas Island
as an Australian Territory. T 119 and similar
square designs. Multicoloured. P 14½.
634 50c. Type 119 No. 2530a was issued in horizontal coils
a. Horiz strip of 3. Nos. 634/6 with the backing paper around each stamp
635 50c. Papasula abbotti (Abbott’s
booby) the backing paper.
G.S.M. October 2008
October_08 SUPP.indd 113
Catalogue Supplement
636 50c. Asplenium listeri (Christmas (Des Richard Allen. Litho BDT)
Island spleenwort) 2008 (30 Apr). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 287
637 $1.45 Seal of Union of Christmas and similar square designs. Multicoloured.
Island Workers W w 14 (sideways). P 13½.
$2.45 Christmas Island flag 1490 15c. Type 287
Nos. 634/6 were printed together, se- 1491 50c. High jump
tenant, as horizontal strips of three in sheets 1492 65c. Javelin thrower
of 50. 894 Ice Hockey Players
1493 70c. Triple jump
(Des Ho Che Anderson, Lionel Gadoury and
BARBADOS Dave Hurds. Litho Lowe-Martin)
AUSTRALIA (June 2008) 2008 (3 Apr). International Ice Hockey Federation
World Championship, Halifax and Québec.
Norfolk Island Fluorescent frame. Self-adhesive. P 13½.
(June 2008) 2546 894 52c. multicoloured
a. Booklet pane.
No. 2546×10
No. 2546 was only issued in $5.20 stamp
booklets, No. SB376/a.
280 Ford Falcon XP, 1965 274 Padina gymnospora
(Des Mary Butterfield. Litho BDT) (Des Derek Miller. Litho BDT)
2008 (5 Feb). Classic Cars. T 280 and similar horiz 2008 (14 July). Algae. T 274 and similar vert 895 Guide Dog at Work
designs, each showing car and photograph designs. Multicoloured. W w 14. P 14.
of Norfolk Island scene. Multicoloured. 1323 10c. Type 274 (Des Designwerke Inc. Litho Lowe-Martin)
P 14×14½. 1324 50c. Ulva lactuca 2008 (21 Apr). Guide Dogs. Fluorescent frame.
1008 50c. Type 280 1325 $1.75 Sargassum platycarpum Self-adhesive. P 13½×13.
1009 $1 Chevrolet Styleline, 1952 1326 $2 Udotea conglutinata 2547 895 52c. multicoloured
1010 $1.20 Pontiac Silver Arrow, 1953 a. Booklet pane.
1011 $1.80 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow,
1971 BERMUDA No. 2547×10
No. 2547 was only issued in $5.20 stamp
(September 2008)
booklets, No. SB377. It has the face value in
Braille.
The correct printer for Nos. 984/7 (2006
Christmas Greetings) is Enschedé).
Add to Nos. 892/909 (Shells definitives):
B. Printed in litho by Enschedé. With imprint
897B 35c. Noble wentletrap (30.1.2008)
281 Andre Nobbs
(Des Tim Nokes. Litho Lowe-Martin)
2008 (2 May). Oil and Gas Industry. T 896
2008 (4 Apr). Faces of Norfolk Island. T 281 and similar horiz design. Multicoloured.
and similar vert designs showing portraits Fluorescent frame. Self-adhesive. P 13½.
by Adam Jauczius. Multicoloured. 2548 52c. Type 896
P 15×14½. a. Booklet pane. Nos. 2548/9,
50c. Type 281 each ×5
1013 $1 Darlene Buffett 2549 52c. James Miller Williams (drilled
1014 $1.20 Colin Lindsay Buffett first Canadian oil well, 1858)
(‘Boonie’) and Charles Tripp (developed
1015 $1.80 Tania Grube and her baby son 210 Dame Lois Browne- bitumen deposits of
Evans southwest Ontario, 1850s)
Nos. 2548/9 were only issued in $5.20
(Des DCI, Bermuda. Litho Cartor) stamp booklets, No. SB378.
BAHAMAS 2008 (11 June). Pioneers of Progress (3rd
(August 2008) series). T 210 and similar vert designs.
Multicoloured. W w 14. P 13½.
1018 35c. Type 210 (barrister and PLP
leader 1968–72, 1976–85)
1019 35c. Dr. Pauulu Roosevelt Brown
Kamarakafego (civil rights
campaigner and rural
technologist)
897 Samuel de Champlain’s
Ship, Native Canoe and New
Settlement of Québec, 1608
286 His Majesty’s (Des Francis Back and Fugazi. Eng Jorge
Independant Company 211Athletics Peral. Recess and litho CBN)
(Des Ross Watton. Litho BDT) (Des Sheila Semos. Litho Lowe-Martin, America (5th issue). 400th Anniv of City of
2008 (20 Mar). Military Uniforms. T 286 and Canada) Québec. Fluorescent frame. P 13×12½.
similar vert designs. Multicoloured. 2008 (23 July). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 211 2550 897 52c. multicoloured
W w 14. P 14. and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. A stamp in a similar design was issued by
1485 15c. Type 286 W w 14 (sideways). P 12½×13. France.
1486 25c. 47th Regiment of Foot 1020 10c. Type 211
1487 50c. 99th Regiment of Foot 1021 35c. Swimmingt
1488 65c. Royal Artillery 1022 70c. Equestrian STAMP BOOKLETS
1489 70c. Black Garrison Companies 1023 85c. Yachting
Nos. 1485/9 were each printed in
sheetlets of six stamps with enlarged CORRECTION: Re-number No. SB376
illustrated margins. (Centenary of University of British Columbia,
CANADA August 2008 GSM) to SB375.
(August 2008)
Add to Nos. 2530/7 (Flowers (3rd series). Nos. SB374/5 were also issued cut so as
Canadian Hybrid Orchids (April 2008 GSM)): to give strips of four of each of Nos. 2544/5
separated by a vertical gutter. These were
((a) Coil stamps. P 9×imperf ) only available from Canada Post National
Philatelic Centre.
(2530 (52c.) Type 889)
a. Perf 9½×imperf
No. 2530 was inscribed ‘P’ and sold for DEALERS and POSTAL
52c. It was issued in vertical coils with the ADMINISTRATIONS
perforated top and bottom edges of the Collectors around the world refer to
stamps meeting each other. this section of Gibbons Stamp Monthly
every month. To advertise please write
to or e-mail the Advertisement Manager
287 Athlete breaking Finish removed, the stamps being spaced along
Tape for details.
113
02/09/2008 15:58:38
 Catalogue Supplement

CYPRUS FALKLAND ISLANDS

(September 2008) (July 2008)
Relist Nos. 1091/2 (July and November
2005 GSMs) and 1127a (July 2008 GSMs) as
below:
(Litho Giesecke & Devrient Matsoukis
(No. 807a) or Alexandros Matsoukis, Athens
(others))
1991 (7 Oct)–2007. Obigatory Tax. Refugee
Fund. As T 255, but inscr ‘1991’, ‘1992’, ‘1993’,
‘1994’, ‘2002’, ‘2003’, ‘2004’, ‘2005’, ‘2006’ or
‘2007’ (No. 807a only). Chalk-surfaced 298 Short 184 and Saro
paper. P 13. London
807 255 1c. brownish black and 255 Elephant Seal Pup
olive-grey (shades) (Des John Bachelor or Stephen Perera. Litho
a. Perf 13½×14 (15.3.07) (Litho BDT) BDT)
2008 (15 July). Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga 2008 (15 Mar). 90th Anniv of the Royal Air
B 141 Team Canada Players (Illustration New listing: leonina). T 255 and similar horiz designs.
reduced. Actual size 95×100 mm) Force. T 298 and similar vert designs.
Multicoloured. P 14. Multicoloured. P 14×15.
1092 27p. Type 255 1261 40p. Type 298
2008 (3 Apr). International Ice Hockey Federation 1093 55p. Bull seal and female
World Championship, Halifax and Québec. 1262 40p. Spitfire IV and Hurricane IIc
1094 65p. Young bull seals play fighting 1263 42p. Beaufighter II and Lancaster
Multicoloured covers as Type B 141. Self-
1095 £1.10 Tussock bird and young male TS III
adhesive.
SB376 $5.20 booklet containing pane of 1264 42p. Hunter Mk.6 and Shackleton
ten 52c. (No. 2546a) MR2
a. Cover showing ice hockey 1265 49p. Vulcan and Mosquito
players and stadium 1266 49p. Tornado GR4 and Jaguar GR3
MS1267 107×75 mm. £2 Felixstowe F.3 of
No. 265 Squadron on anti-submarine
401 Windsurfing patrol, Gibraltar, 1918
(Des Theodoros Kakoulis. Litho Giesecke &
Devrient Matsoukis)
2008 (5 June). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 401
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured.
P 13×13½.
1165 22c. Type 401 256 Taylorcraft Auster Mk5
1166 34c. High jump
1167 43c. Volleyball (Des Ross Watton. Litho BDT)
1168 51c. Shooting 2008 (1 Aug). Aircraft. T 256 and similar horiz
designs. Multicoloured. P 14.
1096 1p. Type 256
1097 2p. Boeing 747-300
1098 5p. De Havilland Canada DHC-6
Twin Otter
1099 10p. Lockheed C-130 Hercules
1100 27p. De Havilland Canada DHC-2 299 HMS La Minerve
Beaver
1101 55p. Airbus A320 (Des John Bachelor and Stephen Perera.
1102 65p. Lockheed L-1011-385-3 Tristar Litho BDT)
C2 2008 (15 Mar). 250th Birth Anniv of Admiral Lord
1103 90p. Avro Vulcan B2 Nelson. T 299 and similar multicoloured
1104 £1 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander designs. P 14×15.
1105 £2 Panavia Tornado F.3 1268 40p. Type 299
402 Emblem 1106 £3 De Havilland Canada DHC-7- 1269 40p. HMS Agamemnon
B 142 Guide Dog ‘Luke’ (Illustration 110 Dash 7 1270 42p. HMS Vanguard
reduced. Actual size 90×106 mm) (Des Sakis Vassiliou. Litho Giesecke & 1107 £5 BAE Sea Harrier 1271 42p. HMS Captain
Devrient Matsoukis) 1272 49p. HMS Victory
2008 (21 Apr). Guide Dogs. Multicoloured cover 2008 (5 June). 12th Francophone Summit, 1273 49p. HMS Amphion
as Type B 142. Self-adhesive. (Des Ross Watton. Litho BDT)
Quebec. P 14. MS1274 120×80 mm. £2 Birthplace at
SB377 $5.20 booklet containing pane of 2008 (1 Aug). 90th Anniv of the Royal Air Force. Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk (horiz). P 15×14
1169 402 85c. multicoloured Sheet 101×75 mm containing stamps as
ten 52c. (No. 2547a) Nos. 1165/9 were denominated in both Nos. 1268/73 were each printed in
No. SB377 also commemorates the Nos. 1099, 1102/3 and 1105 but with sheetlets of six stamps with enlarged
euros and Cyprus pounds.
Centenary of the Montreal Association for RAF anniversary emblem at bottom left. illustrated margins.
the Blind. P 14.
MS1108 10p. Lockheed C-130 Hercules; 65p.
DOMINICA Lockheed L-1011-385-3 Tristar C2; 90p.
(September 2008) Avro Vulcan B2; £2 Panavia Tornado F.3
IRELAND
(September 2008)

GIBRALTAR
(September 2008)

457 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince

Philip

2008 (16 June). Diamond Wedding of Queen

B 143 Welder working on Pipeline
(Illustration reduced. Actual size
60×153 mm)
2008 (2 May). Oil and Gas Industry. Multicoloured
cover as Type B 143. Self-adhesive.
SB378 $5.20 booklet containing pane of
ten 52c. (No. 2548a) stamps with enlarged illustrated margins.
Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (2007). T 457
and similar horiz design. Multicoloured. 543 ‘50’
Litho. P 13½.
3591 $1 Type 457 (Des Kasia Ozmin. Litho Irish Security Stamp
a. Sheetlet. Nos. 3591/2, each ×3 Ptg Ltd)
3592 $1 Queen Elizabeth II 2008 (23 May). 50th Anniv of the Institute of
Nos. 3591/2 were printed together, se- Creative Advertising and Design (ICAD).
tenant, in sheetlets of six stamps containing 297 Woodchat Shrike Phosphor frame. Chalk-surfaced paper.
three of each design. P 13½.
(Des Jonathan Pointer and Stephen Perera. 1896 543 55c. multicoloured
Litho Lowe-Martin, Canada)
2008 (15 Feb). Birds of the Rock. T 297 and similar
vert designs. Multicoloured. P 13×13½ (£1,
£5) or 13×12½ (others).
1248 1p. Type 297
1249 2p. Balearic shearwater
1250 5p. Eagle owl
1251 10p. Razorbill
1252 (8p.) Egyptian vulture
1253 50p. Greater flamingo
1254 55p. Mediterranean shag
1255 (30p.) European bee-eater
1256 (40p.) Hoopoe 544 RMS Leinster
458 Pope Benedict XVI 1257 (42p.) Bonelli’s eagle
1258 (49p.) Blue rock thrush (Des Vincent Killowry and Steve Simpson.
2008 (16 June). First Visit of Pope Benedict XVI 1259 £1 Honey buzzard (34×47 mm) Litho Irish Security Stamp Ptg Ltd)
to the United States. Litho. P 13½. 1260 £5 Lesser kestrel (34×47 mm) 2008 (30 May). 90th Anniv of the Sinking of RMS
3593 458 $1.40 multicoloured Nos. 1252 and 1255/8 are inscribed ‘S’, ‘G’, Leinster. Phosphor frame. Chalk-surfaced
No. 3593 was printed in sheetlets of four ‘E’, ‘U’ and ‘UK’ and were sold for 8p, 30p, paper. P 15×14.
40p, 42p and 49p respectively. 1897 544 55c. multicoloured

G.S.M. October 2008 115

October_08 SUPP.indd 115 02/09/2008 15:58:41


545 Boy writing Letter
(Des Bold Design. Litho Irish Security Stamp
Ptg Ltd)
2008 (9 June). Europa. The Letter. T 545 and
similar vert design. Multicoloured. Phosphor
frame. Chalk-surfaced paper. P 14×15.
1898 55c. Type 545 475 Boys playing Football
1899 82c. Girl writing letter
Nos. 1898/9 were each printed in
sheetlets of ten stamps with enlarged
illustrated top margins.
546 Aughrim, Co. Wicklow
(2007 winner)
(Des Steve Simpson. Litho Irish Security
Stamp Ptg Ltd)
2008 (19 June). 50th Anniv of the Tidy Towns
Competition. Phosphor frame. Chalk-
surfaced paper. P 14×15.
1900 546 55c. multicoloured 480 Postman and Mail Room (in
547 Lt. Col. McCarthy, Comdt.
Higgins, Capt. Lavelle, Comdt.
Coughlan and Capt. Henderson
(Des Paul Raftery. Litho Irish Security Stamp
Ptg Ltd)
2008 (26 June). 50th Anniv of the First Irish
Defence Forces Mission to the UN. Phosphor
frame. Chalk-surfaced paper. P 15×14.
1901 547 55c. multicoloured (1st issue). Sheet 100×66 mm containing
JAMAICA
(September 2008)
Add to Nos. 1072/7 (Buildings definitives
(1st series)):
B. With imprint date ‘2008’.
1074B $30 Atrium of the National
Commercial Bank, New
Kingston (2008) St. Paul. Multicoloured. W 105. P 14.
351 Anniversary Emblem
(Litho Enschedé)
2008 (26 May). 50th Anniv of University of
Technology, Jamaica. W 111. P 14.
1145 351 $30 multicoloured
MS1146 95×70 mm. 351 $30 multicoloured
MALTA
(April 2008)
Add to Nos. 1541/2 (Europa. Centenary of
Scouting (February 2008 GSM):
(1541 16c. Type 466) 478 Door Knocker from
a. Wmk sideways Ministry of Finance,
ab. Booklet pane. No. 1541a×5 Valletta
G.S.M. October 2008
October_08 SUPP.indd 117
No. 1541a was only issued in 80c.
booklets, No. SB11.
The following issues were all printed in
lithography by Printex Ltd of Malta.
(Des Harry Borg)
2007 (29 Dec). Anniversaries and
Personalities. T 475 and similar multicoloured
designs. W 105. P 14.
1577 4mils Type 475 (25th anniv of Youth
Football Association)
1578 9c. Children receiving religious
instruction (centenary of
Society of Christian Doctrine) W 105 (sideways). P 14.
1579 16c. Canon Monsignor Professor
Francesco Bonnici (founder of
St. Joseph Institute for orphan
boys)
1580 43c. Father Manwel Magri
(ethnographer, archaeologist
and educator) (May 2008)
1581 86c. Carolina Cauchi (founder of
Dominican order at Lunzjata
Monastery, Gozo)
MS1582 100×70 mm. 76c. Signatories (50th
anniv of Treaty of Rome) (horiz). Wmk
sideways
476 Malta £1 Coin
(Des Frank X. Ancilleri)
2007 (31 Dec). Coins of Malta 1972–2007. Sheet
100×66 mm. W 105 (sideways). P 14½.
MS1583   476  £1 multicoloured
(New Currency: 100 cents = 1 euro)
(Des Frank X. Ancilleri)
2008 (1 Jan). Adoption of the Euro Currency
square design as T 476. Multicoloured.
W 105 (sideways). P 14½.
MS1584 €1 Obverse and reverse of one euro
coin 481 Woodcarving by
477 ‘Aphrodite’ State of Cyprus
2008 (1 Jan). Adoption of the Euro Currency (2nd
issue). Sheet 100×62 mm containing T 477
and similar square design. Multicoloured.
W 105 (sideways). P 14½.
MS1585 €1 Type 477; €1 ‘Sleeping Lady’
statuette, Malta STAMP BOOKLETS
A similar miniature sheet was issued by
Cyprus.
Catalogue Supplement
(Des Frank X. Ancilleri) 2007 (9 May). Europa. Centenary of Scouting.
2008 (5 Mar). Door Knockers. T 478 and Chrome-yellow and bright ultramarine
similar vert designs. Multicoloured. cover as Type B 6. Stamps attached by
W 105. P 14. the selvedge.
1586 26c. Type 478 SB11 80c. booklet containing pane
1587 51c. Fish door knocker from No. 1541ab
Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta
1588 63c. Door knocker from
Department of Industrial
& Employment Relations,
Valletta
1589 €1.77 Door knocker from Museum
of Archaeology, Valletta
479 Shooting
B 7 (Illustration reduced. Actual size
(Des Darren Duncan) 77×85 mm)
2008 (7 Mar). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 479
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. 2008 (9 May). Europa. The Letter. Orange-yellow,
bright blue and bright ultramarine cover as
1590 5c. Type 479 Type B 7. Stamps attached by selvedge.
1591 12c. Swimming SB12 €1.85 booklet containing pane
1592 €1.57 Running No. 1593a
MONTSERRAT
260 Sperm Whale
sepia)
2008 (2 May). Whales of the World. T 260
(Des Edward D. Pirotta) and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured.
2008 (9 May). Europa. The Letter. Multicoloured. Litho. P 13.
W 105 (sideways). P 14½. MS1386 130×100 mm. $3.55×4 Type 260;
1593 37c. Type 480 Minke whale; Cuvier’s beaked whale;
a. Booklet pane. No. 1593×5 Humpback whale
1594 €1.19 As Type 480 (in monochrome) MS1387 100×70 mm. $7 Blue whale
The stamps and margins of No. MS1386
form a composite background design.
Xandru Farrugia, Conversion 261 Explorer I atop
of St. Paul Church, Hal Safi Launcher Juno I, 1958
(Des Paul Psaila) 2008 (29 May). 50 Years of Space Exploration and
2008 (28 June). Annus Paulinus 2008–2009 Satellites. T 261 and similar multicoloured
(2000th Birth Anniv of St. Paul). T 481 and designs. Litho. P 13½.
similar vert designs showing statues of 1388 $3.55 Type 261
a. Sheetlet. Nos. 1388/91
1595 19c. Type 481 1389 $3.55 Dr. James Van Allen and
1596 68c. Pápier maché statue by Explorer I
Agostino Camilleri, St. Paul’s 1390 $3.55 Explorer I
Shipwreck Church, Munxar, 1391 $3.55 Drs. William Pickering, James
Gozo Van Allen and Wernher von
1597 €1.08 Wooden statue by Giovanni Braun with Explorer I model
Caruana, St. Paul’s Shipwreck MS1392 100×70 mm. $7 Explorer I (horiz)
Church, Rabat Nos. 1388/91 were printed together,
MS1598 120×86 mm. €3 Wooden statue se-tenant, in sheetlets of four stamps with
by Melchiorre Gafà, St. Paul’s Shipwreck enlarged illustrated margins.
Church, Valletta. Wmk sideways
NAURU
(July 2007)
177 Air Vice Marshal ‘Johnnie’
Johnson (fighter ace)
(Litho Enschedé)
2008 (15 May). 90th Anniv of the Royal Air
Force. T 177 and similar horiz designs.
Multicoloured. W w 14 (sideways). P 14.
664 70c. Type 177
B 6 (illustration reduced. Actual size 665 70c. R. J. Mitchell (Spitfire
75×89 mm) designer)
117
02/09/2008 15:58:45
 Catalogue Supplement

666 70c. Sir Sydney Camm (Hawker PAKISTAN ST. KITTS-NEVIS

Hurricane designer) (March 2008)
667 70c. Sir Frank Whittle (inventor of Nevis
the jet engine) Add to No. 1315 (400th Death Anniv of (May 2008)
668 70c. Sir Douglas Bader (‘flying Arjun Dev Ji, November 2006 GSM):
legend’)
MS669 110×70 mm. $3 Avro Vulcan (1315 678 5r. multicoloured)
Nos. 664/8 were each printed in sheetlets a. Wmk inverted
of eight stamps with a central label showing
anniversary emblem and enlarged illustrated Add to Nos. 1337/44 (Centenary of the 697 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto
bottom margins. Muslim League, May 2007 GSM): and Crowd

NEW ZEALAND (1337 4r. Type 687 (Des Adil Salahuddin)

(September 2008) a. Sheetlet. Nos. 1337/44) 2008 (4 Apr). 29th Death Anniv of Zulfikar Ali
w. Wmk inverted) Bhutto. W 98. P 13.
wa. Sheetlet. Nos. 1337w/44w) 1354 697 4r. multicoloured
(1338 4r. Muhammad Ali Jinnah MS1355 106×70 mm. 696 20r. multicoloured.
(‘Quaid’) in 1937) Imperf
w. Wmk inverted
(1339 4r. Addressing Lucknow Session,
1937)
w. Wmk inverted 254 Yacht
(1340 4r. With Fatima Jinnah and PAPUA NEW GUINEA
youth and women of Muslim 2007 (31 Dec). 32nd Americas Cup Yachting
(September 2008) Championship, Valencia, Spain. T 254
League, 1938)
w. Wmk inverted and similar vert designs. Multicoloured.
(1341 4r. Hoisting Muslim League flag, Litho. P 13½.
Manto Park, Lahore, 1940) 2069 $1.20 Type 254
w. Wmk inverted a. Block of 4. Nos. 2069/72
(1342 4r. Addressing Lahore Session, 2070 $1.80 White-hulled yacht
1940) 2072 $3 Yacht, ‘T Systems’ on sail
w. Wmk inverted 2073 $5 Yachts, sail with orange stripes
684 Girl riding Bicycle (‘INSPIRE’) (1343 4r. Ballot box and crowd in foreground
(elections victory, 1945–6)) Nos. 2069/73 were printed together,
(Des Martin Bailey. Litho Southern Colour w. Wmk inverted se-tenant, as blocks of four stamps in
Print) (1344 4r. Addressing first Constituent sheetlets of 16.
2008 (2 July). Children’s Health. T 684 and Assembly, 1947)
similar diamond-shaped designs. w. Wmk inverted 401 Papua New Guinea and
Multicoloured. EU Flags
(a) PVA gum. Phosphorised paper. P 14½. The following stamps were all printed in (Litho SEP Sprint, Australia)
3052 50c.+10c. Type 684 lithography by Pakistan Security Printing
Corporation, Karachi. 2008 (9 May). 30 Years of Papua New Guinea –
3053 $1+10c. Boy kayaking (‘PASSION’) European Union Partnership. Multicoloured;
MS3054 140×90 mm. 50c. +10c. Boy with background colours given. P 13×13½.
arms outstretched in triumph (34×32 mm)
1243 401 85t. brownish grey
(p 14×14½) and Nos. 3052/3
1244 3k. pale yellow
(b) Self-adhesive. P 10. 1245 3k.35 brown-rose
3055 50c.+10c. Boy with arms 1246 5k.35 pale turquoise-blue
outstretched in triumph MS1247 100×120 mm. As Nos. 1243/6
(‘EXCEL’) (34×32 mm) MS1248 85×85 mm. 10k. pale turquoise-blue
Stamps from MS1247 have dark blue
borders at foot. Nos. 1243/6 have dark blue
borders at foot with white patterns.
255 Cycling
693 JF-17 Thunder
2008 (8 Mar). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 255
2007 (6 Sept). Pakistan Air Force Defence Day. and similar vert designs. Multicoloured.
W 98. P 13. Litho. P 13.
1350 693 5r. multicoloured 2073 $2 Type 255
w. Wmk inverted a. Sheetlet. Nos. 2073/6
2074 $2 Kayaking
2075 $2 Yachting
2076 $2 Three-day eventing
Nos. 2073/6 were printed together,
se-tenant, in sheetlets of four stamps with
enlarged illustrated margins.

685 Rower (‘CELEBRATE’)

402 Long Hair
(Des Martin Bailey. Litho Southern Colour
Print) (Litho Southern Colour Print, New Zealand)
2008 (2 July). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 685 2008 (25 June). ‘Pioneer Art’ by Akis (Timothy
and similar diamond-shaped designs. Akis). T 402 and similar vert designs.
Multicoloured. Phosphorised paper. 694 Members Flags and Map
Multicoloured. P 14½×14.
P 14½. 2007 (22 Sept). ECO (Economic Co-operation 1249 85t. Type 402
3056 50c. Type 685 Organization) Postal Authorities Conference, 1250 3k. Alone
3057 50c. Cyclist (‘PASSION’) Ankara (2006). W 98. P 13. 1251 3k.35 Woman with Cassowary and
3058 $1 Kayaker (‘SUCCEED’) 1351 694 10r. multicoloured Child
3059 $2 Athlete (‘MOTIVATE’) 256 Mt. Masada
No.1351 is inscr ‘650 Rials I.R. Iran’ at top 1252 5k.35 Man shooting Cassowary
left and the country name ‘PAKISTAN’ is MS1253 128×155 mm. 85t. Five Men in 2008 (21 May). Israel 2008 World Stamp
NEW ZEALAND missing from the stamp. their Gardens (top portion); 3k. Crocodile Championship, Tel-Aviv. Natural Sites and
woman; 3k.35 Five Men in their Gardens Scenes of Israel. T 256 and similar horiz
Tokelau (bottom portion); 5k.35 Two-headed man. designs. Multicoloured. Litho. P 11½.
(September 2008) P 14 2077 $1.50 Type 256
MS1254 80×90 mm. 10k. Flying Fox. P 14 a. Sheetlet. Nos. 2077/80
The 3k. and 5k.35 values from MS1253 2078 $1.50 Red Sea and desert mountains
form a complete drawing: The Crocodile 2079 $1.50 Dead Sea
Woman and Two-headed Man. 2080 $1.50 Sea of Galilee
MS2081 100×70 mm. $5 Mt. Hermon
Nos. 2077/80 were printed together,
ST. HELENA se-tenant, in sheetlets of four stamps with
(September 2008) enlarged illustrated margins.
95 BIcolour Angelfish
(Centropyge bicolor) 695 National Assembly Building

(Des owen Bell. Litho Southern Colour print 2007 (15 Nov). Completion of Five Years Term
New Zealand) of National Assembly of Pakistan. W 98. ST. VINCENT
P 13. (September 2008)
2007 (19 Dec). Marine Life. T 95 and similar horiz 1352 695 15r. multicoloured
designs. Multicoloured. P 14½.
386 10c. Type 95
387 20c. Staghorn coral (Acropora
robusta)
388 40c. Black-tipped reef shark
(Carcharhinus melanopterus)
389 50c. Seastar (Linckia multiflora)
249 Brown Booby
390 $1 Porcupine fish (Diodon hystrix)
391 $1.50 Thorny seahorse (Des Derek Miller. Litho Lowe-Martin)
(Hippocampus histrix)
392 $2 Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatis 2008 (17 July). Sea Birds (2nd series). T 249
narinari) and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured.
393 $2.50 Small giant clam (Tridacna 696 Church Building, Medallion and Nave W w 14 (sideways). P 12½×13.
maxima) 1054 15p. Type 249
394 $5 Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) 2007 (19 Nov). Centenary of Catholic Cathedral 1055 35p. Brown noddy
395 $10 Slate pencil urchin Church, Lahore. W 98 (sideways). P 13. 1056 40p. Fairy tern
(Hetercentrotus mammillatus) 1353 696 5r. multicoloured 1057 £1.25 Red-billed tropicbird 569 Yachts

G.S.M. October 2008 119

October_08 SUPP.indd 119 02/09/2008 15:58:50

 Catalogue Supplement

2008 (10 Jan). 32nd Americas Cup Yachting 2008 (1 May). ‘Historic meeting of 3 queens’ (e) Nos. 3086/93 surch with T 466
Championship, Valencia, Spain. T 569 (liners), New York Harbour. T 573 and 4567 2800l. on 600l. Cattle egret
and similar vert designs. Multicoloured. similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. a. Sheetlet.
Litho. P 13½. Litho. P 13½. Nos. 4567/74
5710 $1.20 Type 569 5721 $3 Type 573 4568 2800l. on 600l. White-fronted bee
a. Block of 4. Nos. 5710/13 a. Sheetlet. Nos. 5721/3 eater
5711 $1.80 Yachts from Germany and 5722 $3 Queen Elizabeth II 4569 2800l. on 600l. Gray parrot
France 5723 $3 Queen Mary II 4570 2800l. on 600l. Cinnamon-chested
5712 $3 Two yachts, ‘Fly Emirates’ (on Nos. 5721/3 were printed together, bee eater
sail) in foreground se-tenant, in sheetlets of three stamps with 4571 2800l. on 600l. Malachite kingfisher
5713 $5 Two yachts, magenta sail at enlarged illustrated margins. 4572 2800l. on 600l. White-throated bee
left eater
Nos. 5710/13 were printed together, se- 4573 2800l. on 600l. Yellow-billled stork
tenant, as blocks of four stamps in sheetlets 4574 2800l. on 600l. Hildebrandt’s starling
of 16. SEYCHELLES
(July 2008) (f ) Nos. 2150/4 surch as T 467
(466) (467) 4575 3500l. on 50l. Type 269 (surch at
right of obliterator)
a. Vert strip of 4.
Nos. 4575/8
4576 3500l. on 100l. Adult white-necked
bald crow
4577 3500l. on 150l. Pair of white-necked
bald crows
4578 3500l. on 200l. Young white-necked
bald crow
(g) No. 2954 surch with T 468
4579 3500l. on 600l. Gandhi as a young
man
207 Kayaking (h) Nos. 3112/20 surch as T 469
570 Taipei 101 Tower
4570 3500l. on 600l. African paradise
(Des Richard Allen. Litho BDT) flycatcher (‘Monarch’)
2008 (8 Feb). Taipei 2008 International Stamp
Exhibition. T 570 and similar multicoloured 2008 (30 Apr). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 207 (horiz)
designs. LItho. P 11½. and similar square designs. Multicoloured. a. Sheetlet. Nos. 4570/8
5714 $1.50 Type 570 W w 14 (sideways). P 13½. (468) 4571 3500l. on 600l. Lilac-breasted roller
a. Sheetlet. Nos. 5714/17 957 1r. Type 207 (horiz)
5715 $1.50 Chinese pagoda 958 1r.50 Swimming 4572 3500l. on 600l. Scops owl (horiz)
5716 $1.50 High speed railway 959 2r. Sailing 4573 3500l. on 600l. African emerald
5717 $1.50 Lion dance 960 3r.50 Javelin throwing cuckoo (horiz)
MS5718 100×70 mm. $5 National Taiwan 4574 3500l. on 600l. Blue flycatcher
Democracy Memorial Hall (51×37 mm). (‘Monarch’) (horiz)
P 13½ 4575 3500l. on 600l. African golden oriole
Nos. 5714/17 were printed together, SIERRA LEONE (horiz)
se-tenant, in sheetlets of four stamps with (May 2008) 4576 3500l. on 600l. White-throated bee
enlarged illustrated margins. eater (horiz) (surch
at right, reading
(470) (469) downwards)
4577 3500l. on 600l. Black-bellied
seedcracker (horiz)
(surch at right,
reading downwards)
4578 3500l. on 600l. Hoopoe (horiz)
(i) Nos. 745/8 surch as T 470
(471) 4579 4000l. on 6c. Type 166 (surch at
right of country name)
2008 (10 Mar). Various stamps surch 4580 4000l. on 10c. Three chimpanzees
with T 462/71. (vert)
4581 4000l. on 31c. Chimpanzees
(a) Nos. 1142/4 and 1147/8 surch T 462 swinging in tree (vert)
4541 800l. on 3l. Type 216 4582 4000l. on 60c. Group of chimpanzees
461 Murray Rose 4542 800l. on 5l. Double-toothed barbet (surch at top right)
(Australia) (swimming 4543 800l. on 8l. African golden oriole
400m & 1500m freestyle 4544 800l. on 20l. European bee eater (j) Nos. 2911/16 surch as T 464
gold medallist) 4545 800l. on 35l. Common gonolek 4583 4000l. on 300l. Junk
(‘Barbary shrike’) a. Sheetlet. Nos. 4583/8
571 Elvis Presley holding Rifle 2008 (8 Jan). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 461 4584 4000l. on 300l. HMS Victory (ship of
and similar vert designs showing scenes (b) Nos. 2745/50 and 2752/7 surch with T 463 the line, 1765)
2008 (1 May). 50th Anniv of Elvis Presley’s from 1956 Olympic Games, Melbourne. 4546 2500l. on 500l. Lycaena dispar 4585 4000l. on 300l. Savannah (paddle-
Induction into the US Army. Sheet Multicoloured. Litho. a. Sheetlet. steamer)
160×130 mm containing T 571 and similar 4537 1500l. Type 461 Nos. 4546/51 4586 4000l. on 300l. Gaissa (sailing canoe)
vert designs showing him in Army uniform. a. Sheetlet. Nos. 4537/40 4547 2500l. on 500l. Graphium sarpedon 4587 4000l. on 300l. HMS Warrior (ironclad)
Multicoloured. Litho. P 13½. 4538 1500l. Poster for Olympic Games, 4548 2500l. on 500l. Euploe core 4588 4000l. on 300l. Preussen (full-rigged
MS5719 $1.40×4 Type 571; In Army uniform Melbourne, 1956 4549 2500l. on 500l. Papilio cresphontes ship)
(against wall); Seated in red car; In Army 4539 1500l. Vladimir Kuts (USSR) (10000m 4550 2500l. on 500l. Colotis danae
uniform (against car) & 5000m gold medallist) 4551 2500l. on 500l. Battus philenor (k) Nos. 4290/3 surch as T 471
The stamps within MS5719 share a winning race 4552 2500l. on 600l. Mylothis chloris 4589 4000l. on 1000l. Type 412
composite background design. 4540 1500l. Laszlo Papp (Hungary) a. Sheetlet. Nos. 4552/7 a. Block of 4.
winning light middleweight 4553 2500l. on 600l. Argynnis lathonia Nos. 4589/92
boxing gold medal 4554 2500l. on 600l. Elymnias agendas 4590 4000l. on 1000l. Feeding (surch at
Nos. 4537/40 were printed together, 4555 2500l. on 600l. Palla ussheri bottom right)
se-tenant, in sheetlets of four stamps with 4556 2500l. on 600l. Papilio glaucus 4591 4000l. on 1000l. With baby (surch at
enlarged illustrated margins. 4557 2500l. on 600l. Cercyonis pegala centre right)
4592 4000l. on 1000l. Patas monkey
(c) Nos. 2905/10 surch as T 464
4558 2800l. on 300l. Type 312 TRISTAN DA CUNHA
a. Sheetlet. (July 2008)
Nos. 4558/63
(462) (463) 4559 2800l. on 300l. Viking longship
4560 2800l. on 300l. Carrack (surch
572 Machu Picchu, Peru reading downwards)
4561 2800l. on 300l. Venetian galley
2008 (1 May). Seven New Wonders of the World. (surch reading
Sheet 155×120 mm containing T 572 and downwards)
similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. Litho. 4562 2800l. on 300l. Galeasse (surch
P 11½. reading downwards)
MS5720 $1.40×7 Type 572; Petra, Jordan; 4563 2800l. on 300l. Chebeck (surch
Chichén Itza, Mexico; Colosseum, Rome; Taj reading downwards)
Mahal, India; Statue of Christ the Redeemer, (d) Nos. 2950/2 surch as T 465
Brazil; The Great Wall of China 195 Tristan Rock Lobster (Jasus
The stamps within MS5720 form a 4564 2800l. on 1500l. William D. Boyce
(founder of Lone tristanii)
composite background design.
Scouts) (brown-
purple, yellow-brown (Des Derek Miller. Litho Lowe-Martin Group)
and black) (vert) 2007 (10 Dec). Marine Invertebrates. T 195
a. Sheetlet. Nos. 4564/6 and similar square designs. Multicoloured.
4565 2800l. on 1500l. Guion S. Bluford P 13½.
(astronaut and 901 15p. Type 195
former Eagle scout) 902 20p. Trumpet anemone
(vert) (Parazoanthus hertwigi)
(465) 4566 2800l. on 1500l. Ellison S. Onizuka 903 35p. Starfish (Henricia simplex)
(astronaut and 904 60p. Tristan urchin (Arbacia
former Eagle scout) crassispina)
(vert) (surch at 905 60p. Sponge
top left, reading 906 85p. Strawberry anemone
573 Queen Victoria (464) upwards) (Corynactis annulata)

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 Catalogue Supplement
(Litho BDT) (Des Hannes Margreiter. Photo) (Des Khasay Mirzoyev) (Des Daniel Fouville)
2008 (1 Apr). 90th Anniv of the Royal Air Force. 2008 (6 June). Fauna. T 1507 and similar horiz 2008 (8 May). 85th Birth Anniv of Heydar Aliyev 2008 (12 Apr). Trams. T 1382 and similar
Horiz designs as T 247 of St. Helena. design. Multicoloured. Self–adhesive. (president, 1993—2003). T 219 and similar horiz designs showing trams enroute.
Multicoloured (except MS912). P 14. Die-cut perf 14½ (interrupted on each vert design. Multicoloured. P 14½×14. Multicoloured. P 11½.
907 30p. Hawker Hart vert side). 709 1m. Type 219 4168 1 (54c.) Type 1382
908 30p. Hawker Typhoon 2935 75c. Type 1507 a. Pair. Nos. 709/10 4169 80c. Charleroi
909 30p. Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a a. Sheetlet. Nos. 2935/6, each ×5 710 1m. Heydar Aliyev with national 4170 90c. Brussels
910 30p. Avro Vulcan 2936 75c. Hemaris fuciformis (broad- flag
911 30p. SEPECAT Jaguar bordered bee hawk-moth ) Nos. 709/10 were issued in horizontal and
MS912 110×70 mm. £1.50 Sir Hugh Trenchard Nos. 2935/6 were issued in se-tenant vertical se-tenant pairs within the sheet.
(‘father of the RAF’) (brownish black and ‘hang sell’ sheetlets of ten stamps.
brownish grey) (vert). Wmk inverted
Nos. 907/11 were each printed in
sheetlets of eight stamps with a central AZERBAIJAN (Pt. 10)
label showing anniversary emblem and (July 2008)
enlarged illustrated margins.

220 Map as Flag and Meeting

1383 Mickey Mouse
(Des Khasay Mirzoyev)
2008 (17 May). 80th Anniv of Mickey Mouse
2008 (28 May). 90th Anniv of Independence. (cartoon character created by Walt Disney).
196 Fishing Boats in Calshot P 14×14½. P 11½.
Harbour 711 220 20q. multicoloured 4171 1383 1 (54c.) multicoloured
(Des Ross Watton. Litho Lowe-Martin Group)
2008 (1 July). 60th Anniv of Tristan Fisheries. T 196 215 Stylized Envelope
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured.
P 13½×13. (Des Khasay Mirzoyev)
913 15p. Type 196 2008 (13 Mar). Europa. The Letter. T 215
914 20p. Fishing boats and similar vert designs. Multicoloured.
915 30p. Offloading and loading fish P 13½.
916 70p. Sorting crawfish tails 702 20q. Type 215
917 80p. Rock lobster tails wrapped 703 60q. Stylized computer screen
and packed MS704 110×65 mm. 1m. Dove (20×27 mm) 1384 Letterbox and
918 £1.25 Shipping for export 221 Mikayil Mushvig and
It is reported that Nos. 702/3 were also Shirvan-Shakh Palace Envelope
issued in booklets.
(Des Khasay Mirzoyev)
2008 (6 June). Birth Centenary of Mikayil
Foreign Mushvig (writer).
712 221 20q. multicoloured
AUSTRIA (Pt. 5)
(September 2008)
BELGIUM (Pt. 4)
(August 2008)
216 17th-century
Tower, Gazakh 1385 Letterbox and Envelope

(Des Khasay Mirzoyev) (Des Clotilde Olyff )

2008 (8 Apr). Towns. P 13½. 2008 (17 May). Europa. The Letter.
705 216 10q. salmon-pink and black (a) Self-adhesive gum. Die-cut .
4172 1384 1 (54c.) multicoloured

(b) Size 40×27 mm. Ordinary gum. P 11½.

1504 Saint Notburga
(Des Maria Schulz. Photo)
2008 (6 June). Saints (6th issue). P 14.
2932 1504 55c. multicoloured 217 Theatre Façade
1505 Script, Hand, Pen and Ink
(Des Adolf Tuma. Photo)
2008 (6 June). Europa. The Letter. P 14.
2933 1505 65c. multicoloured
1506 Steam Locomotive
(Des Peter Sinawehl. Eng Gerhart Schmirl.
Recess and photo)
2008 (6 June). 110th Anniv of Vienna Urban
Railway.
2934 1506 75c. multicoloured Spirou and Spip; Seccotine; Zorglub
(Des Khasay Mirzoyev)
2008 (9 Apr). 125th Anniv of Musical Drama
Theatre, Nakhchivan. P 14.
706 217 20q. multicoloured containing T 1380 and similar vert designs.
218 Zafira Aliyeva
(Des Khasay Mirzoyev)
2008 (28 Apr). 85th Birth Anniv of Zafira Aliyeva
(ophthalmologist). T 218 and similar vert
design. Multicoloured. P 14½×14.
707 1m. Type 218 1381 Comte de
a. Pair. Nos. 707/8 Champignac
708 1m. Zafira Aliyeva (painting)
Nos. 707/8 were issued in horizontal and
vertical se-tenant pairs within the sheet.
4173 1385 80c. multicoloured
No. 4172 has wavy edges (simulating
perforations) on two or three sides
depending on position and was issued in
booklets of ten stamps.
1380 Central Station
(Des Rob Buytaert)
2008 (12 Apr). Antverpia 2010 European
Philatelic Championship, Antwerp. 120th
Anniv of Royal National Association of
Stamp Collectors. Sheet 161×141 mm
Multicoloured. P 11½.
MS4166 1 (54c.)×5, Type 1380; Cathedral of 1386 Tagetes portula
Our Lady and Pieter Paul Rubens memorial;
Port; Fashion; Diamond necklace by Reena (Des André Buzin)
Ahluwalia 2008 (17 May). Flowers. Self-adhesive Booklet
No. MS4166 was sold for €5.
Stamps. T 1386 and similar horiz design.
Multicoloured. Die-cut.
(a) Postage.
4174 1 (54c.) Type 1386
(b) AIR. No value expressed.
4175 (80c.) Tulip ‘Orange Favourite’
Nos. 4174/5 have wavy edges (simulating
perforations) on two or three sides
depending on position and were issued in
booklets of ten stamps.
No. 4175 was for use on letters of up to
50g. within Europe and was sold for €8.
2008 (12 Apr). 70th Anniv of Spirou (cartoon
character drawn by André Franquin). Sheet
166×100 mm containing T 1381 and similar
vert designs. Multicoloured. P 11½.
MS4167 1 (54c.)×5, Type 1381; Fantasio;

1387 Artificial Hand and

Hands of Many Nations
(Des Arne Reynaert)
2008 (17 May). Diversity in the Workplace.
P 11½.
1507 Upupa epops (hoopoe) 219 Heydar Aliyev 1382 Coastal Route 4176 1387 2 (€1.08) multicoloured

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 Catalogue Supplement

(Des Nebojsa Djumic and Bozidar Dosenovic.

Litho Forum, Novi Sad)
2008 (28 Mar). 155th Birth Anniv of Vincent
Van Gogh (artist).
S423 S 163 1m.50 multicoloured

1664 Alexander Alexandrov

(Des Rumen Stakov)

2008 (9 June). 20th Anniv of Alexander
Alexandrov’s Flight in Orbital Space Station
1388 MIR. Sheet 85×61 mm. P 13. 456 Rijeka and Mountains
MS4675   1664  1l. multicoloured
(Des Jean Libert) (Des Danijel Popovic. Litho Zrinski Ptg Co,
2008 (17 May). Freemasonry. Sheet 125×90 mm. Cakovec)
P 11½. 2008 (14 June). Bicentenary of Louisiana Road
S 164 Player’s Foot and
MS4177   1388  3 (€1.62) multicoloured (from Rijeka to Karlovac). Sheet 95× 80 mm
Ball
containing T 456 and similar vert designs
(Des N. Zaklan, Nebojsa Djumic and Bozidar showing map of route. Multicoloured. P 14½
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Dosenovic. Litho Forum, Novi Sad ) (with one diamond shaped perf on each
(Pt.3) vert side).
2008 (18 Apr). Euro 2008—European Football MS944 5k.×3, Type 456; ‘Delnice’, ‘Skrad’ and
Croatian Posts Championships, Austria and Switzerland. ‘Vrbovsko’ ; ‘Bosiljevo’ and ‘Karlovac’
(September 2008) Sheet 82×60 mm containing Type S 164 and The stamp and margins of MS944 form a
similar vert design. Multicoloured. P 14. composite design.
MSS424 1m.40×2, Type S 164; Ball and red 1665 BMW R12 Single Carb, 1935
and white boot
The stamps and margins of MSS424 form (Des Nenko Atanassov)
a composite design. 2008 (16 June). 70th Anniv of Union of Bulgarian ECUADOR (Pt. 20)
Philatelists. P 13. (September 2008)
4676 1665 60st. multicoloured
Stamps now received.

CHINA (Pt. 17)

Macao
C 168 Chick and Flowers (August 2008)
(Des Igor Filjak)
2008 (23 Mar). Easter. P 14½.
C226 C 168 70l. multicoloured
S 165 Quill and Ink Pot

(Des N. Zaklan, Nebojsa Djumic and Bozidar

Dosenovic. Litho Forum, Novi Sad)
2008 (24 Apr). Europa. The Letter. Type S 165 and 874 Emblem
similar vert design. Multicoloured. P 14.
S425 1m. Type S 165 2004 (27 May). National Volleyball Federation.
S426 2m. Hand holding pencil P 13×13½.
MSS427 108×82 mm. Nos. S425/6, each×3 2733 874 75c. multicoloured
349 Torch

(Des Wang Huming)

2008 (3 May). Olympic Torch Relay. T 349
C 169 Piano Keys and similar multicoloured designs.
P 13×13½.
(Des Marin Musa) 1638 1p.50 Type 349
2008 (25 Mar). Tenth Anniv of Matica Hrvatska 1639 3p.50 Huanhuan
(cultural institution)’s Festival Week. MS1640 90×139 mm. 10p. Torch (40×70 mm)
P 14½.
C227 C 169 10l. black and scarlet
vermilion 925 Inscr ‘Hongos
basidiomicetes’
S 166 Hands COLOMBIA (Pt. 20)
(September 2008) 2006 (22 May). Podocarpus National Park. T 925
2008 (8 May). OBLIGATORY TAX. Red Cross. and similar multicoloured designs. P 13½×13
P 10. CORRECTION: Change all values (12) for (horiz) or 13×13½ (vert).
S428 S 166 20f. multicoloured Nos. 2295/306 to 1000p. (October 2004 2863 20c. Type 925
a. Imperf GSM) 2864 25c. Tremarctos ornatus (inscr
‘Tremarctus ornatus’)
Change all values (12) for Nos. 2307/18 to (spectacled bear)
2400p. (October 2004 GSM) 2865 90c. Harpya harpyja (harpy eagle)

C 170 Hand holding Envelope as

Paper Aeroplane
CROATIA (Pt. 3)
(Des Gordan Zovko) (September 2008)
2008 (5 Apr). Europa. The Letter. T C 170
and similar horiz design. Multicoloured. S 167 Children and
P 14½. Microphone
C228 3k. Type C 170
a. Vert strip of 3. Nos. C228/9 (Des M. Nikolic, Nebojsa Djumic and Bozidar
plus label Dosenovic. Litho Forum, Novi Sad) 927 Girl (right to national
b. Pair. Nos. C228/9 2008 (8 May). 15th Children’s Song Festival, identity)
C229 3k. Pen nib Djurdjerdan. P 14.
Nos. C228/9 were issued both in sheets S429 S 167 1m.50 multicoloured 2006 (1 June). UNICEF Rights of the Child. T 927
as vertical strips of two stamps surrounding and similar horiz design. Multicoloured.
a central stamp size label and as se-tenant P 13½×13.
pairs within small sheets of four stamps. 2867 75c. Type 927
BULGARIA (Pt. 3) 2868 $1 Children and books (right to
(September 2008) education)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Add to Nos. 4413/16 (“Wood Carvings”): 455 Water
(Pt. 3)
Republika Srpska (4413 6st. light brown and black) (Litho and die-stamped silver foil Zrinski Ptg
(September 2008) b. Ordinary paper. Imperf×p 13 (03.08) Co, Cakovec)
(4414 12st. dull orange and black) 2008 (14 June). Zaragoza 2008 International
b. Ordinary paper. Imperf×p 13 (03.08) Water and Sustainable Development
(4415 36st. yellow-olive and black) Exhibition. Sheet 112× 72 mm. P 14½
b. Ordinary paper. Imperf×p 13 (03.08) (with one diamond shaped perf on each
(4416 44st. brown-rose and black) vert side).
b. Ordinary paper. Imperf×p 13 (03.08) MS943   455  10k. multicoloured

NEW INFORMATION 933 Garibaldi

The editor is always interested to correspond with people who have new
information that will improve or correct the catalogue 2006 (7 July). Garibaldi Italian Society.
P 13×13½.
S 163 Self Portrait 2884 933 90c. multicoloured

G.S.M. October 2008 125

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 Catalogue Supplement

New Listing.

935 Simon Bolivar 960 National Flag 986 Pelicanus occidentalis

(eastern brown pelican)
2006 (25 July). Simon Bolivar College. T 935 2006 (15 Dec). P 13×13½.
and similar design. P 13×13½. 2974 960 $10 greenish yellow, 2008 (18 Mar). Galapagos Islands. T 986 and
2888 20c. Type 935 dull ultramarine and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. 1206 Emblem
No. 2889 is left for miniature sheet not vermilion P 13½×13.
yet received. 3040 40c. Type 986 2007 (27 Nov). 50th Anniv of Assiut University.
3041 80c. Aetobatus narinari (spotted P 13½×13.
eagle ray) 2477 1206 30p. multicoloured
3042 1s. Carcharhinus galapagensis
(Galapagos shark)
3043 1s.20 Wind farm

961 Postmen and Cycles

2006 (17 Dec). P 13½×13.

936 Necklace 2975 961 20c. multicoloured
2976 40c. multicoloured
2006 (26 July). National Institute for Cultural 2977 80c. multicoloured
Heritage (INPC). Inca Art. Spondylus
Artifacts. T 936 and similar multicoloured
designs. P 13½×13 (horiz) or 13×13½
(vert)). 987 Women
2890 25c. Type 936
2891 1s Merchant (statue) (vert) 2008 (28 Mar). Maternity. P 13½×13.
a. Pair. Nos. 2891/2 3044 987 1s. multicoloured
2892 1s. Boatmen and boat (vert) 1207 Hafez Ibrahim
Nos. 2891/2 were issued in horizontal
se-tenant pairs within the sheet, each pair 2007 (16 Dec). Poets’ 75th Death
forming a composite design. EGYPT (Pt. 19) Anniversaries. T 1207 and similar vert
(November 2007) design. Multicoloured. P 13½×13.
2478 30p. Type 1207
2479 30p. Ahmed Shawqi
967 Building Façade
2007 (19 Apr). Latin American Festival of Lyrical
Poetry . P 13×13½.
2992 967 10c. multicoloured

954 Terrier Puppy

1203 Statuettes
2006 (6 Dec). Pets. T 954 and similar
multicoloured designs. P 13½×13 (horiz) 2007 (16 July). 50th Anniv of Egypt—Nepal
or 13×13½ (vert)). Diplomatic Relations. P 13½×13.
2954 25c. Type 954 2473 1203 150p. multicoloured
2955 40c. German shepherd puppy
(vert)
2956 50c. Cream exotic short hair cat
(vert)
2957 80c. Poodle 968 La Casa de los Arcos
2958 $1 Persian cat (vert)
2007 (29 Apr). 450th Anniv of Cuenca. T 968 and 1208 Emblem
similar multicoloured designs. P 13×13½
(vert) or 13½×13 (horiz)). 2007 (30 Dec). 50th Anniv of National Handball
2993 40c. Type 968 Federation. P 13½×13.
2994 75c. Plaza el Vergel 2780 1208 30p. multicoloured
2995 80c. Rio Tomebamba Sector el
Barranco (horiz)
2996 3s. Catedral de la Inmaculada 1204 Early and Modern Military Aircraft
Concepcion
2007 (4 Oct). 75th Anniv of National Air Force.
P 13½×13. EL SALVADOR (Pt. 15)
2474 1204 30p. multicoloured (July 2008)

958 Mother and Baby

2006 (14 Dec). Pottery. Erotic Art, Fertility

and Life. T 958 and similar vert designs.
978 Hands holding Seedling
Multicoloured. P 13×13½.
2968 10c. Type 958 2007 (25 Oct.). 70th Anniversary of Cuenca
2969 20c. Couple Chamber of Commerce. P 13½×13.
2970 $1.20 Pregnant woman 3022 978 1s.20 multicoloured
2971 $2 Man

744 Bombycilla cedrorum

(cedar waxwing)
1205 Cat
2007 (17 Dec). Birds. T 744 and similar horiz
2007 (26 Oct). Arab Games—2007, designs. Multicoloured. Phosphor markings.
Egypt. T 1205 and similar multicoloured P 14×14½
979 Boy design. P 13½×13. 2801 10c. Type 744
2475 150p. Type 1205 a. Block of 4. Nos. 2801/4
2007 (16 Nov). Operation Smile. P 13½×13. MS2476 95×75 mm. 150p. Map and emblem. 2802 10c. Colaptes auratus (northern
3023 979 1s. multicoloured Imperf flicker)
2803 10c. Anas clypeata (northern
shoveler)
959 Sailor 2804 10c. Falco peregrinus (peregrine
NEW INFORMATION falcon)
2006 (15 Dec). Juan Illingworth Naval Museum. The editor is always interested to correspond with people who have new Nos. 2801/4 were issued in se-tenant
P 13×13½. blocks of four stamps within the sheet.
2972 20c. Type 959
information that will improve or correct the catalogue
No. 2805 is left for miniature sheet, not
2973 25c. Marine guard yet received.

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 Catalogue Supplement

FRENCH POLYNESIA (Pt. 6) (Des Lutz Menze. Litho German Bank Ptg
(May 2008) Co. Leipzig)
2008 (3 July). 125th Anniv of Drachenfels
Railway (Drachenfelsbahn) (rack railway
line from Königswinter to summit of
Drachenfels). P 14.
3548 1619 45c. multicoloured a. Pair. Nos 1485/6
(Des D. G. Ziomara de Léon (1490) or Carlos
Menck Freire (1491))
2007 (3 Sept). Centenary of Uruguay—Guatemala
Diplomatic Relations. T 412 and similar horiz
design. Multicoloured. P 12½.
1485 4q. Type 412
1486 4q. Colonia del Sacramento
Nos 1485/6 were issued in horizontal se-
tenant pairs within the sheet.
Stamps of a similar design were issued by
Uruguay.

764 Ten Pin Bowling

2007 (6 Dec). South East Asia Games,

446 Rat Thailand. T 764 and similar square designs.
Multicoloured. Paper with fluorescent
(Des J. Leou) fibres. P 14.
2008 (7 Feb). New Year. Year of the Rat. 3159 2500r. Type 764
P 13½. a. Block of 4. Nos. 3159/62
1074 446 140f. multicoloured 1620 Warnemunde 3160 2500r. Futsal
Fluourescent ink was applied to the rat. 413 Stylized Children 3161 2500r. Hammer throwing
(Des Johannes Graf. Litho Bagel Security- 3162 2500r. Judo
Print, Mönchengladbach) 2007 (25 Oct). America. Education for All. T 413 Nos. 3159/62 were issued in se-tenant
2008 (3 July). Lighthouses. T 1620 and similar and similar horiz designs showing stylized blocks of four stamps within the sheet.
square designs. Multicoloured. children. Multicoloured. P 12½. Nos. 3159/62 are each perforated in
1487 4q. Type 413 a circle enclosed in an outer perforated
(a) Ordinary gum. P 14. a. Block of 4. Nos. 1487/90 square.
3549 45c. Type 1620 1488 4q. Drawing
3550 55c. Amrum 1489 4q. In house
(b) Self-adhesive. Die-cut perf 11. 1490 4q. Reading and drawing
3551 55c. Hornum Nos. 1487/90 were issued in se-tenant
3552 55c. As No. 3550 blocks of four stamps within the sheet, each
Nos. 3551/2, each×5 were issued in block forming a composite design.
booklets of ten stamps.

447 Woman

(Des B. Menghini)
2008 (7 Mar). Polynesian Women. T 447 765 Prime Minister Djuanda
and similar vert design. Multicoloured Kartadiwidjaja and Symbols of
P 13½. Indonesia
1075 65f. Type 447
1076 100f. Two women 2007 (13 Dec). 50th Anniv of Djuanda
Declaration. T 765 and similar horiz designs.
Multicoloured. P 13½×13.
GERMANY (Pt. 5) 414 Holy Family 3163 1500r. Type 765
(September 2008) a. Strip of 3. Nos. 3163/5
2007 (4 Dec). Christmas. T 414 and similar 3164 1500r. Children and islands
Add to Nos. 3306 etc ‘Flowers’: multicoloured design. P 12½. 3165 1500r. Djuanda Kartadiwidjaja and
(a) Ordinary gum. P 14 1491 20c. Type 414 archipelago
3313 55c. Red rose (12.6.08) 1492 6q.50 Three Kings (40×35 mm) Nos. 3163/5 were issued in vertical se-
(b) Self-adhesive Coil Stamp. Die-cut tenant strips of three stamps.
1621 Man at Table
perf 10½. (drawing by Franz Kafka)
3326 55c. Red rose (12.6.08)
No. 3313 is reported issued both in small (Des Jens Müller and Karen Weiland. Litho)
sheets of ten stamps and in coils. 2008 (3 July). 125th Birth Anniv of Franz Kafka IRAN (Pt 16)
(Czech writer). (August 2008)
3553 1621 55c. black
No. 3235 and Type 1245 have been left
for ‘Mountains’, issued 8 March 2008, not yet
received.

No. 3236 and Type 1246 have been left

1617 Dornier Do J Wal
(Des Andrea Vos Acker. Litho)
2008 (12 June). Welfare. Aircraft. T 1617 and
similar horiz designs. Multicoloured.
(a) Ordinary gum. P 14.
3542 45c.+20c. Type 1617 (Des Irmgard Hesse. Litho Bagel Security-
3543 55c.+25c. A380 Airbus Print, Mönchengladbach)
3544 55c.+25c. Junkers Ju 52 2008 (3 July). 150th Birth Anniv of Lovis Corinth
3545 145c.+55c. Messerschmitt-Bölkow-
Blohm (MBB) BO 105 3554 1622 145c. multicoloured
(b) Self-adhesive. Die-cut perf 11.
3546 55c.+25c. As No. 3543
No. 3546 was issued both in booklets
with the surplus paper around the stamp
retained and in coils with the surplus paper
removed.
1618 Faces
(Des Corinna Rogger. Litho Bagel Security-
Print, Mönchengladbach)
2008 (12 June). Community Service. P 14.
3547 1618 55c. multicoloured
415 Emblem for ‘Martyr’, issued 10 March 2008, not yet
received.
2007 (5 Dec). Centenary of World Scouting.
P 12½.
No. 3237 and Type 1247 have been left
1493 415 20c. multicoloured for ‘New Year’, issued 15 March 2008, not
yet received.
1622 Selbstporträt mit Rückenakt and INDONESIA (Pt, 21)
Morgensonne (May 2008)
(artist). P 14.
1248 Shrine Complex (Illustration
reduced. Actual size 63×24 mm)
2008 (16 Apr). H. H. Abdulazim’s Holy Shrine
GREECE (Pt. 3) (hadith–teller (oral tradition)).
(September 2008) 3238 1248 650r. multicoloured
762 Ornithoptera aesacus
Stamps now received.
Add to Nos. 2381 etc: 2007 (5 Nov). Butterflies. T 762 and similar
square designs. Multicoloured. Paper with
2006 (28 Feb). Patras—European Capital fluorescent fibres. P 13×12½.
of Culture—2006. T 534 and similar 3153 1500r. Type 762 ITALY (Pt. 8)
multicoloured designs. a. Block of 4. Nos. 3153/6 (August 2008)
(2384 50c. “Carnival” (Charis Pressas)) 3154 1500r. Delias kristianiae
a. Size 30×30 mm. Perf 14 3155 1500r. Ornithoptera croseus
(2385 65c. Patras—2006 emblem (vert)) 3156 1500r. Troides hypolitus
a. Size 30×30 mm. Perf 14 MS3157 116×76 mm. 2500r.×2, As No. 3155;
As No. 3154
Nos. 3153/6 were issued in se-tenant
blocks of four stamps with the two lower
GUATEMALA (Pt. 15) stamps laid tête-bêche to the upper pair, the
(February 2008) whole forming a composite design.

1619 Steam Locomotive, Early Station
and Passengers
412 Early Buildings, Guatemala
(763)
1465 Anna Magnani
2007 (Nov). Bandung Filex 2007 and Jakarta
2008 International Stamp Exhibitions. (Des Rita Fantini. Photo)
Stamps of No. MS3157 surch as T 763. 2008 (7 Mar). Birth Centenary of Anna Magnani
P 13×12½. (actor). P 13½×13.
MS3158 5000r.×2, on 2500r.×2 multicoloured 3128 1465 60c. multicoloured

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 Catalogue Supplement

(Des Tiziana Trinca. Photo)

2008 (23 May). Regions. T 1481 and similar horiz
designs. Multicoloured. P 13×13½.
3147 60c. Type 1481
3148 60c. Salomé with the Head of John
the Baptist (Titian) and Lagoon
City (Veneto)
3149 60c. Romanesque Fraterna
Fountain, Piazza Celestino V
(Molise)
1466 Emblem and La Scala 3150 60c. Baroque cathedral façade
Opera House, Milan (Sicily)
2008 (7 Mar). Bicentenary of Ricordi Publishing 1477 Giovannino
1471 Madonna
House. P 13×13½. Guareschi (Arturo
supported by Members
3129 1466 60c. black and light grey of Confraternita di Coppola)
Santa Maria di Loreto
KYRGYZSTAN (Pt. 10)
(Des Andrea Gorgato. Photo) (January 2008)
(Des Maria Carmela Perrini. Photo) 2008 (1 May). Birth Centenary of Giovannino
2008 (15 Mar). Folklore. Feast of ‘La Madonna che Guareschi (journalist, cartoonist and
scappa in piazza’, Sulmona. P 13½×13. humorist). P 13½×13.
3135 1471 60c. multicoloured 3141 1477 60c. multicoloured

115 Chingiz Aitmatov

(Des R. Isakov)
2007 (3 Mar). Art. Sheet 130×70 mm
containing T 115 and similar horiz designs
1467 Congress Centre, Rome showing portraits. Multicoloured.
1472 Early Rowers 1478 Ludovico Geymonat P 14×14½.
(Des Antonio Ciaburro. Photo) MS369 12t.×5, Type 115; Syimenkul
(Des Giustina Milite. Photo) (Des Silvia Isola. Photo) Chokmorov; Kurmangazy Azykbaev; Omor
2008 (7 Mar). Italia 2009 International Festival of
Philately. T 1467 and similar horiz design. 2008 (31 Mar). 120th Anniv of National Rowing 2008 (8 May). Birth Centenary of Ludovico Sultanov; Zhylkychy Zhakypov
Multicoloured. P 13½×13. Federation. P 13½×13. Geymonat (mathematician, historian and No. MS369 also contains a stamp size
3130 60c. Type 1467 3136 1472 65c. multicoloured philosopher of science). P 13×13½. label showing Syitbek Torobekov.
3131 65c. Colosseum 3142 1478 60c. multicoloured
No. 3137 and Type 1473 have been left
for ‘700th Anniv of Franciscan Order’, issued
on 16 April 2008, not yet received.

116 Archer

(Des M. Sagymbaev)
2007 (5 May). National Sports (1st series).
P 14×14½.
1474 Imperial Forum 370 116 7t. multicoloured
1479 Post Box and
(Des Giorgio Borghesani. Photo) Envelopes
1468 Building Façade
2008 (21 Apr). Rome—Capital City.
(Des Tizianan Trinca. Photo) P 13×13½. (Des Anna Maria Maresca. Photo)
3138 1474 60c. multicoloured 2008 (9 May). Europa. The Letter. T 1479
2008 (8 Mar). Carlo Combi High School,
Capodistria. P 13½×13. and similar vert design. Multicoloured.
3132 1468 60c. multicoloured P 13½×13.
3143 60c. Type 1479
3144 65c. Brown post box and envelopes

117 Tunnel

(Des R. Isakov)
2007 (19 May). 50th Anniv of Bishkek-Osh
Highway. Sheet 97×126 mm containing
T 117 and similar horiz designs.
Multicoloured. P 13×13½.
MS371 25t.×4, Type 117; Highway and lake;
Highway and snow-capped mountains;
1475 Newsletter No. 1 Highway with hills on either side

(Des Tiziana Trinca. Photo) 1480 Design for Bassano Bridge

1469 Edmundo de Amicis
(Des Anna Maria Maresca. Photo)
2008 (11 Mar). Death Centenary of Edmundo
de Amicis (writer.) P 13½×13.
3133 1469 60c. dark turquoise-green
and black
(Ponte Degli Alpini)
2008 (23 Apr). Centenary of National Press
Federation. P 13½×13. (Des and eng Antonio Ciaburro. Recess)
3139 1475 60c. dark greenish grey and
black 2008 (10 May). 500th Birth Anniv of Andrea
Palladio (architect). P 13×13½.
3145 60c. brown, steel blue and black
3146 65c. chestnut and deep green
Designs: 60c. Type 1480; 65c. Palladian
Basilica, Vincenza. 118 Flowers
(Des A. Kasymaliev)
2007 (23 June). Aigul (Pentelium eduardi).
P 13½×14 (1t.) or 13½×13 (other).
372 1t. Type 118
MS373 67×87 mm. 100t. As No. 372
(30×40 mm)
1476 The Flight (bronze statue)
(Pasquale Basile) (campaign
emblem)
2008 (23 Apr). UNESCO International Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development. 1481 Savoy Castle, Gressoney
P 13×13½. Saint Jean and Mount Cervino
3140 1476 €1.40 multicoloured (Aosta Valley)

119 Kazakhstan
Keep your catalogue up to date by not missing
(Des R. Isakov)
a single issue of 2007 (16 Aug). Shanghai Cooperation
1470 Self Portrait Gibbons Stamp Monthly. Organization Conference. Sheet 95×82 mm
containing T 119 and similar horiz designs
2008 (14 Mar). Artistic and Cultural Heritage.
Bernadino di Betto (Pintoricchio) (artist)
Please write to or e-mail the Editor for showing flags of member countries.
Multicoloured. P 14×14½.
Commemoration. P 13½×13. subscription details MS374 12t.×6, Type 119; Kyrgyzstan; China;
3134 1470 60c. multicoloured Russia; Tajikistan; Uzbekistan

G.S.M. October 2008 131

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 Catalogue Supplement

(Des Arta Ozola-Jaunaraja. Litho Enschedé)

2007 (3 Nov). Archaeology. P 13½×14.
710 256 60s. multicoloured

125 Javelin

120 Haliaeetus albicilla (white-tailed (Des R. Komsa) 485 Osmia brevicornis

eagle) 2008 (1 Mar). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 125
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. (Des Silvia Ruppen. Litho Austrian State Ptg
(Des R. Isakov) P 12½×13. Wks, Vienna)
2007 (17 Nov). Birds of Prey. Sheet 145×85 mm 388 20t. Type 124 2008 (2 June). Endangered Insects. T 485 and
containing T 120 and similar horiz designs. 389 20t. Football similar square designs. Multicoloured.
Multicoloured. P 14½. 390 20t. Wrestling P 14½.
MS375 25t.×6, Type 120; Falco rusticolus 391 20t. Basketball 1474 85c. Type 485
It is reported that Nos. 388/91 were 257 Vulpes vulpes (fox)
(gyrfalcon); Aquila chrysaetus (golden 1475 1f. Epeoloides coecutiens
eagle); Accipiter gentilis (goshawk); Milvus issued in se-tenant blocks of four within 1476 1f.30 Odynerus spinipes
sheets of eight stamps . (Des Elita Viliama. Litho Austrian State Ptg
migrans (black kite); Falco peregrinus Wks, Vienna)
(peregrine falcon)
2007 (16 Nov). Fauna. T 257 and similar vert
design. Multicoloured. P 13½×14½.
711 45s. Type 257
711a 55s. Alces alces (elk)

486 Marathon
121 Santa Claus, Blue Birds
and Letters (Des Johannes Joos. Litho Austrian State Ptg
Wks, Vienna)
126 Khan Tengri Peak,
(Des R. Isakov) Kyrgyzstan 2008 (2 June). Paralympics, Beijing. T 486 and
2007 (1 Dec). Letters to Santa Claus. similar horiz design showing stylized
P 14×14½. (Des M. Sagymbaev) athletes. Multicoloured. P 13½×14½.
376 121 3t. multicoloured 258 Child Musicians 1477 1f.30 Type 486
2008 (8 Mar). Mountains. Sheet 110×56 mm 1478 1f. 80 Table tennis
containing T 126 and similar vert design.
Multicoloured. P 13½. (Des M. Danilane)
MS392 16t.×2, Type 126; Sabalan peak, Iran 2007 (24 Nov). Christmas. T 258 and similar vert
designs showing children. Multicoloured.
Self-adhesive. Die-cut perf 14½.
712 22s. Type 258
713 31s. Baking
714 45s. Sledding

127 Stamp Outline,

Mountains and Postal
122 Rat Emblem 487 St. Stephen’s Cathedral
(Des A. Kasymaliev) (Austria)
(Des R. Isakov)
2008 (19 Jan). New Year. Year of the Rat. 2008 (2 Apr). National Postal Service. (Des Corina Marxer. Litho Austrian State Ptg
377 122 7t. multicoloured 393 127 1t. multicoloured Wks, Vienna)
394 3t. multicoloured 259 Salaspils 2008 (2 June). EURO 2008 Football
Championships. T 487 and similar horiz
(Des G. Griva) designs. Multicoloured. P 14.
2008 (9 Feb). Arms. T 259 and similar vert designs. 1479 1f.30 Type 487
Multicoloured. P 13½×14. 1480 1f.30 Flag, dancer and musician
715 22s. Type 259 (Liechtenstein)
716 28s. Plavinas 1481 1f.30 Alphorn and Matterhorn
717 45s. Saulkrasti (Switzerland)
See also Nos. 391 etc and Nos. 496a etc.

128 Sabira Kumushalieva

(Des R. Isakov)
123 Ailuropoda
melanoleuca (giant 200 (5 Apr). Sabira Kumushalieva (actress)
panda) Commemoration. P 14×14½.
395 128 10t. bistre-brown and black
(Des R. Komsa)
2008 (19 Jan). Fauna. T 123 and similar vert
designs. Multicoloured. P 14×13½.
378 7t. Type 123 LATVIA (Pt. 10) 260 Egg in Nest
379 7t. Uncia uncia (snow leopard) (August 2008)
380 12t. Ailurus fulgens (red panda) (Litho Cartor)
381 12t. Panthera tigris (tiger) Stamps now received. 2008 (23 Feb). Easter. P 13½×13. 488 Mother and Queen
382 16t. Pygathrix roxellana (golden 718 260 22s. multicoloured of the Precious Blood
snub-nosed monkey)
383 16t. Hystrix cristata (porcupine) (Des Karin Beck and Heinz Schadler. Litho
384 25t. Ovis ammon (argali) Austrian State Ptg Wks, Vienna)
385 25t. Felis manul (Pallas’ cat) LIECHTENSTEIN (Pt. 8) 2008 (2 June). 150th Anniv of Schellenberg
MS386 128×93 mm. Nos. 378/85 (July 2008) Convent. P 14.
Nos. 378/85 were each issued in sheets of 1482 488 2f.20 multicoloured
ten stamps.
It is reported that Nos. 378/MS386 were
also issued imperforate.
LITHUANIA (Pt. 10)
255 Early Postal Delivery (August 2008)

(Des L. Danilans. Litho Enschedé)

2007 (20 Oct). 375th Anniv of Latvian Post. T 255
and similar horiz design. Multicoloured.
Self-adhesive. Die-cut perf 14½.
708 22s. Type 255
709 31s. Modern postal delivery

484 Huanhuan and

Jingjing (martial arts)

(Des Xiao Hong. Litho Austrian State Ptg

Wks, Vienna) 314 Emblem and Demonstrators
124 Horse Wrestlers 2008 (2 June). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 484
and similar vert design. Multicoloured. (Des G. Reimeris. Litho Austrian State Ptg
(Des M. Sagymbaev) P 14½×13½. Wks, Vienna)
2008 (1 Mar). National Sport (2nd series). 1472 85c. Type 484 2008 (31 May). 20th Anniv of Sajudis (reform
P 14½×14. 1473 1f. Huanhuan and Yingying movement). P 14.
387 124 5t. multicoloured 256 Decorated Metal Work (football and table tennis) 944 314 1l.35 multicoloured

G.S.M. October 2008 133

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 Catalogue Supplement

MADAGASCAR (Pt. 13)

(May 1998)

Nos. 1230/1310 and Types 404/411 are

vacant.

417 Emblem and Map

(Litho Courvoisier)
1996 (17 June). 30th Anniv of United Nations
315 Emblem Industrial Development Organization 423 Emblem
(ONUDI). P 12.
(Des E. Ziedele. Litho Austrian State Ptg Wks, 1318 417 140f. new blue, orange-brown (Litho Courvoisier)
Vienna) and black 1997 (9 Oct). Third Francophone Games,
2008 (7 June). Zaragoza 2008 International Water Madagascar. P 11½×12.
and Sustainable Development Exhibition. 1327 423 300f. multicoloured
Self adhesive. Die-cut perf 12½. 1328 1850f. multicoloured
945 315 2l.45 multicoloured. 412 Locusts

(Litho Impressor)
1995 (16 Feb). Locusts. T 412 and similar
multicoloured designs. P 13½.
1311 140f. Type 412 418 Symbols of Drug Abuse
1312 140f. Robber fly (Asilidae) (predator)
(horiz) (Litho Courvoisier)
1313 140f. Harvesting locusts for food 1996 (23 Oct). International Day against Drug
(horiz) Abuse. P 12.
316 Cabinet of Ministers, 1918 1319 418 140f. grey, bright green and
black
(Des I. Balakauskaite. Litho Austrian State Ptg
Wks, Vienna)
2008 (28 June). Lithuania Millennary (2009). Sheet 424 Emblem
125×100 mm containing T 316 and similar
horiz designs. Multicoloured. P 14. 1999 (18 Aug). 15th Anniv of Indian Ocean
MS946 3l.×6, Type 316; Constituent Commission. P 13½.
Assembly, 1920; Vytautas Magnus 1329 424 500f. new blue, black and
University (University of Lithuania), Kaunas, carmine-vermilion
1922; Klaipeda incorporated into Lithuania,
1923; Opening of road to Žemaiciu (place
of pilgrimage), Samogitia, 1939; Return of 419 Tennis
Vilnius, 1939
(Litho Courvoisier)
1996 (27 Dec). Olympic Games, Atlanta. T 419
MACEDONIA (Pt. 3) 413 Emblem and similar horiz design. Multicoloured.
(August 2008) P 12.
(Litho Courvoisier)
1320 140f. Type 419
Add into listing in date order. 1995 (20 Mar). AIR. 20th Anniv of Francophone. 1321 140f. Judo
P 15.
1314 413 500f. multicoloured

425 Rasalama (Christian

martyr)
2000 (19 May). Personalities. T 425 and similar
vert designs. Multicoloured. P 14½×14.
1330 900f. Type 425
1331 900f. Razafindrakotohasina
Rahantravololona (first
Malagasy woman engineer
and Ministry of Economy and
Commerce Water Division
303a Fresco, Basilica of San Chief )
Clemente (detail) 420 Fredy Rajaofera 1332 900f. Ralivao Ramiaramanana (first
Malagasy woman doctor)
(Des Igor Stevkovski ) (Litho Impressor) 1333 900f. Cardinal Jerome-Henri
2007 (23 May). 150th Anniv of Discovery of St 414 Emblem 1997 (21 Aug). Personalities. T 420 and similar Rakotomalala
Cyril’s Grave. P 13½. vert designs. Multicoloured. P 13½. 1334 900f. Rakotovao Razakaboana
(Litho Courvoisier) 1322 140f. Type 420 (Minister of Finance and
572a 303a 50d. multicoloured
1995 (21 June). 160th Anniv of Malagasy Bible 1323 140f. Andrianary Ratianarivo Planning )
New Listing. Translation. P 15. 1324 140f. Odeam Rakoto 1335 900f. General Gabriel Ramanantsoa
1315 414 140f. multicoloured (president 1972—1975)
No. 594 and Type 322 have been left
for ‘OB Tax. Anti Cancer Week’, issued on
1 March 2008, not yet received.

421 ‘25’ 426 ‘Eclipse 2001’

(Litho Courvoisier) 2001 (June). Total Solar Eclipse. P 13.
415 ‘HILTON’ and ‘25’
1997 (18 Sept). 25th Anniv of Radio Nederland 1336 426 5600f. multicoloured
(Litho Impressor) in Madagascar. P 12×11½.
323 Hoopoe
1325 421 500f. orange, black and
1995 (9 Oct). 25th Anniv of Hilton Hotel, turquoise-blue
(Des Igor Stevkovski) Madagascar. P 13½.
2008 (28 Mar). Hoopoe (Upupa epops). T 323 1316 415 500f. indigo, black and gold
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured.
P 13½.
595 12d. Type 323
a. Block of 4. Nos. 595/8
596 24d. Head
597 48d. Facing left 427 Children surrounding Globe
598 60d. Facing right
Nos. 595/8 were issued in se-tenant blocks 2001 (12 Dec). International Year of Dialogue
of four stamps within the sheet. among Civilizations. P 14×13½.
1337 427 3500f. multicoloured

NEW INFORMATION
The editor is always interested
to correspond with people who
have new 416 Messengers 422 Map and Postal Emblem
information that will improve or
(Litho Impressor) (Litho Impressor)
correct the catalogue
1995 (9 Oct). World Post Day. P 13½. 1997 (9 Oct). World Post Day. P 13½.
1317 416 500f. multicoloured 1326 422 300f. multicoloured 428 Rice Fronds and Map

G.S.M. October 2008 135

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 Catalogue Supplement

2001. Rice. P 13½. 2004 (15 Nov). Tourism. T 439 and similar
1338 428 450f. multicoloured multicoloured designs. P 13½.
1339 900f. multicoloured 1377 2000f. Type 439
Nos. 1340/1 have been left for stamps not 1378 3000f. Nosy Mitsio (vert)
yet received. 1379 5000f. Beach, Fort Dauphin
1381 10000f. Traditional dancers,
Ambohimanga Palace (rova)
1382 25000f. Red Tsingy (limestone peaks)
Irodo
No. 1380 has been left for stamp not yet
received.

434 Indri indri (lemur) 445 Pastor

Rainmamonjisoa
429 Chorisia ventricosa 2003 (4 Dec). P 13½×13.
1362 434 2500f. multicoloured 2006 (1 Mar). Birth Bicentenary of Mpitandrina
2002 (9 Oct). Flora and Fauna. T 429 and similar 1363 15000f. multicoloured Rainmamonjisoa. P 13½×13.
multicoloured designs. P 13. 1402 445 300a. pale blue and black
1342 100f. Type 429
1343 350f. Eichhornia crassipes (common
water hyacinth) (vert)
1344 400f. Didieraceae
1345 500f. Palms, Nosy Iranja beach
(vert)
1346 900f. Ravinala (travellers’ tree) 440 Ostriches and Lemur
(national tree) (vert)
1347 1000f. Propithecus verreauxi (inscr 2004 (15 Nov). Morondava Fauna. P 13½×13.
‘Prophiteque deverreauxi’) 1383 440 50000f. multicoloured
(vert) 435 First Catholic Church in
1348 2500f. Lemur catta (ring-tailed lemur) Madagascar, Sainte-Marie Change of Currency on Stamps (values
(vert) remain unchanged).
1349 3000f. Furcifer pardalis (chameleon) 2003 (4 Dec). Tourism. T 435 and similar horiz
1350 4400f. Takhtajania perrieri designs. Multicoloured. P 13×13½.
1351 6800f. Ravinala (vert) 1364 4000f. Type 435 1 Ariay (a)=5 Francs (f )
1365 4500f. House made of falafa, 446 Emblem, Philatelic
Coastal region Tools and Stamps
1366 5500f. House, High Plateau region
2006 (1 Mar). 20th Anniv of Stamp Collectors
1367 10000f. Pirates graveyard, Sainte-
Association (APM). P 13½×13.
Marie
1403 446 300a. multicoloured

441 Map enclosing Canoeists

and Lemur
2005 (23 Feb). Centenary of Rotary International.
430 Albert Rakoto P 13×13½.
Ratsimamanga (scientist 1384 441 2100a. multicoloured
and diplomat)
Nos. 1385/6 and Type 442 have
2002 (9 Oct). Personalities. T 430 and similar been left for ‘30th Anniversary of the
vert design. Multicoloured. P 13. Medical Cooperation between China and
436 Emblem
1352 1500f. Type 430 Madagascar ‘ issued on 8 December 2005, 447 Leopold Senghor
1353 1500f. Rakoto Frah (flautist) 2003 (4 Dec). 20th (2004) Anniv of Indian Ocean not yet received.
Commission. P 13½×13. 2006 (20 Mar). Birth Centenary of Leopold
1368 436 6000f. multicoloured Sedar Senghor (poet and first president of
Senegal (1960—1980)). P 13½×13.
1404 447 2000a. multicoloured

431 Mahamasina Stadium

2002 (6 Nov). 30th Anniv of Madagascar—China

Diplomatic Relations. P 12×12½. 443 Aerangis cryptodon
1354 431 2500f. multicoloured
2005 (29 Dec). Indigenous Orchids. T 442
437 Emblem and similar vert designs. Multicoloured.
P 13.
2004 (9 Oct). World Day for Health and Road 1387 1500a. Type 442
Safety. P 13½×13. a. Sheetlet of 16. Nos. 1387/400 448 Emblem
1369 437 1500f. multicoloured plus 2 labels
1388 1500a. Aeranthes grandiflora 2007 (27 June). Seventh Indian Ocean Games,
1389 1500a. Aeranthes henrici Madagascar. P 13½×13.
1390 1500a. Aeranthes peyrotii 1405 448 300a. multicoloured
1391 1500a. Oeceoclades spathulifera
(Inscr ‘Oeccoclades
spathulifera’)
1392 1500a. Angraecum sesquipedale
1393 1500a. Inscr ‘Cynorchis elata’
1394 1500a. Angraecum viguieri
432 Xyloolaena perrieri 1395 1500a. Gastrorchis humblotii
1396 1500a. Gastrorchis lutea
2003 (4 Dec). Indigenous Plants. T 432 and similar 1397 1500a. Gastrorchis pulcher
multicoloured designs. P 13½×13. 1398 1500a. Jumellea sagittata
1355 100f. Type 432 1399 1500a. Microcoelia gilpinae
1356 500f. Megistostegium microphyllum 438 Ranavalona I 1400 1500a. Angraecum praestans
1357 600f. Tambourissa (horiz) Nos. 1387/400 were issued in sheets of
1358 1000f. Leptolaena diospyroidea 2004 (15 Nov). Rulers. T 438 and similar vert 14 stamps plus two labels. 449 Whale
1359 1500f. Ochna greveanum designs. Multicoloured. P 13½×13.
1360 7500f. Schizolaena tampoketsana 2007 (2 Aug). Whales Festival, Sainte Marie.
1370 100f. Type 438 P 13×13½.
1371 400f. Ranavalona III 1406 449 1100a. multicoloured
1372 500f. Radama I
1373 1000f. Radama II
1374 2500f. Rasoherina
1375 4000f. Andrianampoinimerina
1376 7500f. Ranavalona II Keep your catalogue up
to date by not missing
a single issue of
Gibbons Stamp Monthly.
433 Landscape, Madagascar and
Japan Flags 444 Map and AIDS Please write to or e-mail
2003 (4 Dec). Japan International Cooperation
Ribbon the Editor for
Agency (JICA) Office in Madagascar.
P 13×13½.
2006 (10 Feb). AIDS Awareness Campaign. subscription details
P 13½×13.
1361 433 1500f. multicoloured 439 Wolf-shaped Rock, Isalo 1401 444 300a. multicoloured

G.S.M. October 2008 137

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APPENDIX
The following stamps have either been
issued in excess of postal needs, or have not
been available to the public in reasonable
quantities at face value. Such stamps
may later be given full listings if there is
evidence of regular postal use. Miniature
sheets and imperforate stamps are excluded
from this listing.
1990
Birth Centenary of General Charles de
Gaulle. 5000f.×2
1994
Centenary of Olympic Committee. 2500×2,
3500f.
Stuff of Heroes by Phillip Kaufman. 140×2,
5000f.
Sculpture and Architecture. 350f.×20
Big Cats. 10, 30, 60, 120, 140×2, 3500f.
Philakorea ‘94, Seoul. 100, 140, 550f.
Cathedrals. 10, 100,120, 140, 525, 605f.
Pre-historic Animals. 35, 40, 140, 525, 640,
755, 1800f.
Sport. 5, 140, 525, 550, 640, 720, 1500f.
1995
Cinema. 100×2,140×2, 550, 1250, 5000×2,
10000f.×2
Ships. 45, 50, 60, 100, 140, 350, 3000f.
1996
25th Anniv of Greenpeace. 1500, 3000,
3500, 5000f.
20th Anniv of Concorde. 2000f.×4
50th Anniv of UNICEF. 140×3, 7500f.
Personalities. 1500, 1750, 2000, 2500, 3000,
3500, 5000, 7500f.
1997
Winter Olympics, Nagano. 160, 350, 5000,
7500f.
1998
World Cup Football championship, France.
300×3, 1350×3, 3000×3, 10000f.×3
Transport. 1700×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 2000×9
a. Sheetlet of 9, 2500×9 a. Sheetlet of
9, 3000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 4000×9 a.
Sheetlet of 9
Pre-historic Animals. 3500×9 a. Sheetlet of
9, 3500f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
1999
Birds. 250×9 a. Sheetlet of 9,
Chinese New Year. Year of the Rabbit.
1500f.×4 a. Sheetlet of 4
Comic Book Heroes. 1800×9 a. Sheetlet of
9, 1800×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 3200f.×9 a.
Sheetlet of 9
Betty Boop 2500f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Garfield. 3200f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Trains. 2000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 3000×9
a. Sheetlet of 9, 3000f.×9 a. Sheetlet of
9, 4000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 4000×9 a.
Sheetlet of 9, 4000f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Fauna. 300, 1700, 2050, 2400f. a. Block of 4
Personalities. 1950f.×6 a. Sheetlet of 6
Princess Diana Commemoration. 1350f.
Fauna. 1950f.×6
25th Death Anniv of Pablo Picasso. 2750,
7200, 7500f.
Scouts. 1350×4 a. Sheetlet of 4, 1500×4
a. Sheetlet of 4, 1950f.×4 a. Sheetlet
of 4, 2000×4 a. Sheetlet of 4, 2500×4
a. Sheetlet of 4, 3000×4 a. Sheetlet of
4, 5000×4 a. Sheetlet of 4, 7500f.×4 a.
Sheetlet of 4
30th Anniv of Concorde. 2000f.9 a. Sheetlet
of 9
125th Anniv of UPU. 1000, 1200, 1800, 3200,
3500, 5000, 5600, 7500f.
Space Exploration. 1500×8, 12500f.
Animals of the World. Elephants. 2000f.×9 a.
Sheetlet of 9
Railways. 3000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 3500×4
a. Sheetlet of 4, 5000×4 a. Sheetlet of 4,
7500f.×4 a. Sheetlet of 4
Insects. 2000f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Philex France 99. 1500f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Birds. 2000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 2000f.×9 a.
Sheetlet of 9
Flora and Fauna. 2000×4 a. Sheetlet of
4, 2000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 2000×9 a.
Sheetlet of 9, 4000×4 a. Sheetlet of
4, 5000×4 a. Sheetlet of 4, 5000×4 a.
Sheetlet of 4, 7500f.×4 a. Sheetlet of 4,
Motor Cycle Racing. 2000f.×9 a. Sheetlet
of 9
Art. 2000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9, 2000×9 a.
Sheetlet of 9, 2500×9 a. Sheetlet of 9,
5000×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Antoni Gaudi. 2000f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Marilyn Monroe. 1750f.×9 a. Sheetlet of 9
Albert Einstein. 4000f.×4 a. Sheetlet of 4
G.S.M. October 2008
October_08 SUPP.indd 139
MEXICO (Pt. 15)
(July 2008)
Nos. 2916/33 were re-issued with ‘2008’
imprint.
Stamps now received.
1363 Stylized Figures
(Des Nancy Torres Lopez)
2007 (11 Oct). Rights for the Disabled.
P 13×13½.
3023 1363 6p.50 multicoloured
1374 Burning Train (Illustration reduced.
Actual size 71×29 mm)
(Des Rodrigo E. Betancourt)
2007 (17 Dec). Death Centenary of Jesús García
Corona (train explosion hero). P 13½.
3063 1374 10p.50 multicoloured
New Listing.
1377 Hearts enclosing Script
(Des Nancy Torres Lopez)
2008 (29 Jan). The Letter. P 13.
3067 1377 6p.50 multicoloured (Des Jeanine Rickets. Litho)
MOLDOVA (Pt. 10)
(May 2008)
Stamps now received.
183 Ion Luca Caragiale (Romanian
playwright and short story writer)
(Des Elena Karachentseva. Litho)
2007 (15 Sept). Personalities. T 183 and similar
multicoloured designs. P 14×14½ (horiz)
or 14½×14 (vert).
589 75b. Type 183 (155th birth anniv) 2840 1105 55c. multicoloured and scarlet-vermilion
590 1l. Anastasia Dicescu (opera
singer) (120th birth anniv) and scarlet-vermilion
591 3l. Mircea Eliade (Romanian
historian, writer and
philosopher) (birth centenary)
MS592 80×67 mm. 6l.20 Maria Bieshu (singer)
(vert)
No. MS592 also contains a stamp size
label which, with the stamp and margins
form a composite design.
184 Chess Pieces
(Des Vitaly Pogolsha. Litho)
2007 (29 Sept). Chess Championship, Mexico
P 14×14½.
593 184 6l.20 multicoloured se-tenant pairs within the sheet.
Catalogue Supplement
New Listing.
1107 Stendhal and Scenes from
186 Peresecina, Orhei his Novels
(Des Vitaly Pogolsha. Litho) (Des and eng Yves Beaujard. Recess)
2008 (19 Feb). Wells. T 186 and similar 2008 (8 Apr). 225th Birth Anniv of Henri Beyle
multicoloured designs. P 14½×14 (Stendhal) (writer). P 13½.
(vert ) or 14×14½ (horiz). 2843 1107 €1.33 turquoise-blue, reddish
596 10b. deep dark blue lilac and scarlet-
597 75b. slate green vermilion
598 1l. deep reddish purple (vert)
599 3l. blackish brown (vert)
Designs: 10b. Type 186; 75b. Duruitoarea,
Riscani; 1l. Ciripcau, Floresti; 3l. Ocnita.
187 Cycling
(Des Vitaly Pogolsha. Litho) 1108 Boris Pasternak and
2008 (5 Mar). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 187 Scene from Dr. Zhivago
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured.
P 14×14½. (Des Gueorgui Chichkine. Eng Pierre
600 1l. Type 187 Albuisson. Recess)
601 6l.20 Boxing 2008 (8 Apr). 50th Anniv of Boris Pasternak’s
602 15l. Weightlifting Nobel Prize for Literature. P 13½.
2844 1108 €2.18 carmine-vermilion and
grey-green
MONACO (Pt. 6)
(August 2008)
1109 Plants and Monaco
(Des Fabrice Monaci. Eng Andre Lavergne.
1104 Arms and Map Recess)
2008 (2 May). 75th Anniv of Jardin Exotique
(garden created by Prince Albert I).
2008 (8 Apr). Centenary of Cap d’Ail. P 13½. P 13½.
2839 1104 55c. blue-black, deep brown 2845 1109 50c. brown-olive, deep
and scarlet-vermilion purple and scarlet-
vermilion
1110 Globe circled by Mail
1105 Heart enclosing (Des Elaena Ribero. Eng Pierre Albuisson.
Children and Flowers Recess)
2008 (5 May). Europa. The Letter. T 1110 and
(Des Elsa Catelin)
similar horiz design. P 13½.
2008 (8 Apr). Mothers’ Day. P 13½. 2846 55c. blackish brown, red-orange
2847 65c. bistre-brown, orange-brown
Designs: 55c. Type 1110; 65c. Symbols of
transport.
1106 Pagoda and Stylized
Athletes
(Des Robert Prat. Eng Claude Andreotto.
Recess)
2008 (8 Apr). Olympic Games, Beijing. T 1106 and
similar horiz design. Each scarlet-vermilion
and black. P 13½. 1111 Magician
2841 55c. Type 1106
(Des Monsieur Fabrini. Photo)
a. Pair. Nos. 2841/2
2842 85c. Athletes and games emblem 2008 (5 May). Magic Stars Festival, Monte-
Nos. 2841/2 were issued in horizontal Carlo. P 13½.
2848 1111 72c. multicoloured
139
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 Catalogue Supplement

MOROCCO (Pt. 13) (Photo French State Ptg Wks, Paris)

(July 2008) 2008 (26 May). Children’s Drawings. T 637 and
similar multicoloured designs. P 13½.
1197 3d.25 Type 637
a. Strip of 4. Nos. 1197/1200
1198 3d.25 House and trees (Chaimae
Abbaich) (my childhood)
1199 3d.25 Globe enclosing habitats (our
environment) (vert)
1200 3d.25 House and sunshine (daily
life) (vert) 785 Envelope Rider
Nos. 1197/8 were laid at right angles to
Nos. 1199/200 giving a horizontal se-tenant (Des Luiz Duran Litho Cartor)
1112 Skater strip of four stamps. 2008 (9 May). Europa. The Letter. T 785 and
(Des Luigi Castiglioni. Litho similar horiz design. Multicoloured. P 12
(irregular indentation on each vert side).
2008 (16 May). International Skating Union 3557 61c. Type 785
Congress. P 13½. 633 Export Trophy MS3558 125×95 mm. 61c.×2, As Type 785;
2849 1112 50c. multicoloured Postvan, envelope and bull
(Des M. Waguaf. Photo French State Ptg The stamps of MS3558 form a composite
Wks, Paris) design.
2008 (4 Apr). P 13½.
1190 633 3d.25 multicoloured

638 Damaged and Healthy

Environments

(Des L. Edfouf. Photo French State Ptg Wks,

Paris)
2008 (5 June). International Day of the 786 Athletes (Illustration reduced. Actual
1113 Gypaetus barbatus (bearded
Environment. P 13½. size 80×30 mm)
vulture), Emblem and Hieraaectus
fasciatus (Bonelli’s eagle ) 1201 638 7d.80 multicoloured (Des Tulio Coelho)
(Des Colette Thurillet and Epi Bazzoli. Eng 2008 (9 May). Sporting Events (3rd issue).
Elsa Catelin. Recess and litho) European Triathlon Championship, Lisbon.
PORTUGAL (Pt. 9) P 12 (irregular indentation on each vert
2008 (16 May). Prince Albert II Foundation.
(August 2008) side).
P 13½.
3559 786 €2 multicoloured
2850 1113 88c. multicoloured 634 Emblem
Add to Nos. 3426 etc ‘Public Transport’:
(Des N. Malki. Photo French State Ptg Wks, 3436a N Oldsmobile taxi (1928)
Paris) 3437a A Tram (1928) (inaugeration of
2008 (5 Apr). 1200th Anniv of Fez (1st issue). electrical traction
P 13½. company, Estoril)
1191 634 3d.25 multicoloured
3438a E Coach (1944) (inaugeration of
coach company,
Carris)

The indentation in the horizontal or

vertical perforations forms the shape of a
cross when viewed across the sheet.

1114 Face, Hand and

Colours 787 Mother, Child and
Teacher
(Des Georgui Chichkine)
(Des Alain Corbel)
2008 (2 June). 48th International Television
Festival. P 13½. 2008 (2 June). The Rights of the Child. Right to
2851 1114 €2.80 multicoloured Education. T 787 and similar vert designs.
Multicoloured. P 12 (irregular indentation
635 Calendula stellata on each horiz side).
3560 30c. Type 787
(Des L. Edfouf. Photo French State Ptg Wks, 3561 45c. Teacher and pupils
Paris) 3562 61c. Children reading
2008 (30 Apr). Flora. T 635 and similar vert 3563 75c. Child reading with parents
design. Multicoloured. P 13½. MS3564 95× 125mm. €2.95 Boy hugging ‘4’
1192 3d.25 Type 635 783 Father Antonio Vieira
1193 7d.80 Convolvulus tricolor
(Des Andre Carrilho. Litho Cartor)
2008 (18 Apr). Personalities. T 783 and similar
vert designs. Multicoloured. P 12 (irregular
indentation on each horiz side).
1115 School Children
3547 30c. Type 783 (Jesuit and writer)
(Des Richard Seren. Eng Martin Morck. (400th birth anniv)
Recess) 3548 30c. Jose Maria Mascarenhas
Relvas (politician) (150th birth
2008 (5 June). International Cooperation. T 1115 anniv)
and similar horiz designs. P 13½. 3549 30c. Aureliano de Mira Fernandes
2852 65c. black and scarlet-vermilion (mathematician) (50th death
2853 €1 agate and scarlet-vermilion anniv)
2854 €1.25 turquoise-blue and scarlet- 3550 30c Ricardo Jorge (physician and
vermilion humanist) (150th birth anniv)
2855 €1.70 blue-green and scarlet- 3551 30c. Maria Elena Vieira da Silva
vermilion (artist) (birth centenary) 788 Players
Designs. 65c. Type 1115 (campaign for 636 Castle and Script 3552 30c. Manoel Candido Pinto de
education); €1 Health worker (health— Oliveira (film director) (birth (Des Joao Machado. Litho Cartor)
Monegasque Red Cross); €1.25 Women (Des A. Sarrafzadegan and M. Taheri (3d.25) centenary) 2008 (5 June). Euro 2008—European
(campaign against poverty); €1.70 Oasis or M. Wagouf (7d.80). Photo French State Ptg Football Championships, Austria and
and desert dwellers (campaign against Wks, Paris) Switzerland. T 788 and similar vert design.
desertification). 2008 (12 May). Morocco—Iran Issue. T 636 Multicoloured. P 12 (irregular indentation
and similar vert designs. Multicoloured. on each horiz side).
P 13½. 3565 30c. Type 788
1194 3d.25 Type 636 3566 61c. Goal keeper catching ball and
a. Strip of 3. Nos. 1194/6 player
1195 3d.25 Flags of Morocco and Iran MS3567 125×95 mm. €1.20 Players heading
1196 7d.80 Castle and script (different) ball; €1.66 Players tackling
Nos. 1194/6 were issued in horizontal
se-tenant strips of three stamps within the
sheets.
784 Runners

(Des Joao Machado)

2008 (30 Apr). Sporting Events (2nd issue).
Olympic Games, Beijing. T 784 and similar
horiz designs. Multicoloured. P 12 (irregular
1116 Honore II Pistole indentation on each vert side).
(1648) and Monegasque 3553 30c. Type 784
Euro 3554 30c. Cyclists
(Des Teamote. Litho and foil embossed) 3555 75c. Long jumper
MS3556 125×95 mm. 75c.×4, Show jumper;
2008 (16 June). Monaco Numismatique 2008 Rower; Marksman; Gymnast
Exhibition. P 13½. 637 Globe (Narjiss Lasfar) The stamps and margins of MS3556 form
2856 1116 65c. multicoloured (communications) a composite design. 789 Esposende

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 Catalogue Supplement

(Des A. Santos and H. Soares. Litho Cartor) (Des A. Santos and H. Soares. Litho Cartor) New Listing.
2008 (19 June). Lighthouses. T 789 and similar 2008 (19 June). Lighthouse. P 12 (irregular
multicoloured designs. P 12 (irregular indentation on each horiz side).
indentation on each horiz side) (vert) or 641 80 61c. multicoloured
12 (irregular indentation on each vert
side) (horiz).
3568 30c. Type 789 PORTUGAL (Pt. 9)
3569 30c. Penedo da Saudade Madeira
3570 30c. Cabo Sardao (horiz) (June 2008)
3571 30c. Cabo da Roca (horiz)
3572 30c. Torre do Bugio (horiz) The indentation in the horizontal
3573 30c. Leça perforations forms the shape of a cross 1542 18th-Century European
3574 30c. Montedor when viewed across the sheet. Flint Pistol
3575 30c. Santa Marta
3576 30c. Cabo de São Vincente (horiz) (Des Mihai Vamasescu)
3577 30c. Cabo Espichel 1546 Helarctos malayanus
2008 (8 Feb). Pistols from the Collection of
National Military Museum. T 1542 and (sun bear)
similar horiz designs. Multicoloured
P 13½. (Des Radu Oltean)
6864 50b. Type 1542 2008 (21 Apr). Bears. T 1546 and similar
6865 1l. 18th-century flint pistol, Liege multicoloured designs. P 13½.
6866 2l.40 7.65 mm. Mannlicher carbine 6880 60b. Type 1546
pistol, 1903 6881 1l.20 Ursus americanus (American
6867 5l. 8 mm. Revolver, 1915 black bear) (horiz)
69 Early City 6882 1l.60 Ailuropoda melanoleuca (giant
MS6868 118×75 mm. Nos. 6864/7
(Des Sofia Martins. Litho Cartor) panda) (horiz)
6883 3l. Melursus ursinus (sloth bear)
2008 (15 Apr). 500th Anniv of Funchal City. T 69 (horiz)
790 Calidris alba (sanderling) and similar horiz design. Multicoloured. P 12 6884 5l. Tremarctos ornatus
(Des Nunu Farinha. Litho Cartor) (irregular indentation on each vert side). (spectacled bear)
394 30c. Type 69 MS6885 77×85 mm. 9l.10 Ursus arctos (brown
2008 (23 June). International Polar Year. T 790 395 61c. Early map of city and environs bear )
and similar horiz designs. Multicoloured. 396 75c. Arms
P 12 (irregular indentation on each vert 397 €1 Ship and city from the sea
side) MS398 125×95 mm. (a ) €2.45 King Manuel I
3578 30c. Type 790 of Portugal; (b) €2.45 Ships and harbour
3579 52c. Alca torda (razorbill) The stamps and margins of MS398a/b,
3580 61c. Oceanites oceanicus (Wilson’s each form a composite design.
storm-petrel) 1543 Explorer 1
3581 €1 Sterna paradisea (arctic tern)
MS3582 125×95 mm. €2.95 Phoca hispida (Des Alec Bartos)
(ringed seal) and Ursus maritimus (polar
bear) (80×30 mm) 2008 (22 Feb). 50th Anniv (2007) of Space
Exploration. T 1543 and similar horiz 1547 Athletics
designs. Multicoloured. P 13½.
PORTUGAL (Pt. 9) 6869 1l. Type 1543 (Des Mihai Vamasescu)
6870 2l.40 Sputnik 3 2008 (1 May). Olympic Games, Beijing. Sheet
Azores 6871 3l.10 Jupiter AM-13 78×142 mm containing T 1547 and similar
(June 2008) horiz designs. Multicoloured. P 13½.
The indentation in the horizontal MS6886 1l.×4, Type 1547; Gymnastics;
70 Envelope, Fireworks and Swimming; Rowing
perforations forms the shape of a cross Woman
when viewed across the sheet.
(Des Luiz Duran Litho Cartor)
2008 (9 May). Europa. The Letter. T 70 and similar
horiz design. Multicoloured. P 12 (irregular
indentation on each vert side).
399 61c. Type 785
MS400 125×95 mm. 61c.×2, Horses and
envelopes; As Type 70
The stamps of MS400 form a composite
design.
1544 Resurrected
Christ (iconostasis), 1548 Map and Outline of Envelope
Scaune Church,
78 Envelope as Boat Bucharest (Des Constantin Marincea)
(Des Luiz Duran. Litho Cartor) (Des Mihai Vamasescu) 2008 (8 May). Europa. The Letter. T 1548
and similar horiz design. Multicoloured.
2008 (9 May). Europa. The Letter. T 78 and similar 2008 (12 Mar). Easter. P 13½. P 13½.
horiz design. Multicoloured. P 12 (irregular 6872 1544 1l. multicoloured
indentation on each vert side). 6887 1l.60 Type 1548
6888 8l.10 A ‘Priority’ envelope and
634 61c. Type 78 2008 (21 Mar). Pottery (13th issue). Vert designs European stars
MS635 125×95 mm. 61c.×2, Windmill and as T 1455. Multicolored. P 13½. MS6889 122×92 mm. Nos. 6887/8, each×2
envelopes; As Type 78 71 Ponta do Pargo 6873 2l. Brown mug with yellow
The stamps of MS635 each form a
composite design. and lower white decoration
(Des A. Santos and H. Soares. Litho Cartor) (Cosesti, Arges)
2008 (19 June). Lighthouse. P 12 (irregular 6874 2l.40 Cream bodied jug with
indentation on each horiz side). pictorial decoration (Radauti,
401 71 61c. multicoloured Suceava)
6875 6l. Brown bodied jug with
central decoration (Baia Mare,
ROMANIA (Pt. 3) Maramures)
(July 2008) 6876 7l.60 Cream lidded pot with
handles (Vladesti, Valcea)
Additions and Corrections to Listings.

Add to Nos. 6494 etc:

MS6497a 120×103 mm. Nos. 6494/7
79 Cock Bird

(Des Jose Projecto. Litho Cartor) Re-list No. 6717:

2008 (23 May). Azores Bullfinch (Pyrrhula 2006 (1 Feb). Winter Olympic Games, Turin. Sheet 1549 Fauna
murina). T 79 and similar horiz design. 123×92 mm containing T 1484 and similar
Multicoloured. P 12 (irregular indentation square designs. Multicoloured. P 13½. (Des Alina Munteanu)
on each vert side). MS6717 1l.60×4, Type 1484; Downhill skiing; 2008 (20 May). Centenary of Grigore Antipa
636 30c. Type 79 Bobsleigh; Biathlon National Natural History Museum. T 1549
637 61c. Female No. MS6717 has an enlarged illustrated and similar vert design. Multicoloured.
638 75c. Male facing right central gutter showing Elisabeta Lipa P 13½.
639 €1 Male facing left holding the Olympic torch. 6890 2l.40 Type 1549
MS640 Two sheets, each 125×95 mm. (a) 1545 Angel and Emblems 6891 3l. Grigore Antipa (founder)
€2.45 Head of male eating seed. (b) €2.95 Nos. 6718/20 are vacant.
(Des Octavian Penda)
Head of male with open beak
The stamps and margins of MS640a/b Re-list m/s listing for Nos. 6839/MS6840 2008 (2 Apr). NATO Summit, Bucharest. T 1545
form a composite design. ‘50th Anniv of Space Exploration’ (March and similar square designs. Multicoloured.
2008 GSM) P 13½.
6877 6l. Type 1545
MS6840 85×70 mm. 5l.60 Sputnik 1 6878 6l. As No. 6877 but with silver
(52×42 mm) emblem
The stamp and margin of MS6840 form a 6879 6l. As No. 6877 but with gold
composite design of Sputnik over the Earth. emblem

NEW INFORMATION
The editor is always interested to correspond with people who have new
information that will improve or correct the catalogue 1550 Building, Stars
80 Ponta do Arnel and ‘€’

G.S.M. October 2008 143

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 Catalogue Supplement

(Des Mihai Vamasescu) ST. PIERRE ET MIQUELON (Pt. 6)

2008 (26 May). Tenth Anniv of European Central (August 2008)
Bank. P 13½.
6892 1550 3l.10 multicoloured

1555 Fagaras Castle

82 Cervus elaphus (red
(Des Radu Oltean) deer )
382 ‘Paruline à gorge noir’
1551 1859 5p. Stamp (As Type 2) and 2008 (24 June). Castles. T 1555 and similar square (Des Marina Kalezic. Litho)
Emblems (Illustration reduced. Actual size design. Multicoloured. P 13½. (Des Patrick Boez. Litho)
2008 (7 Apr). Fauna. T 82 and similar vert designs.
71×35 mm) 6909 1l. Type 1555 2008 (30 Apr). Black-throated Green Warbler. Multicoloured. P 13½.
6910 2l.10 Peles P 13½×13.
6911 3l. Huniad 346 20d. Type 82
(Des Mihai Vamasecu and Stan Pelteacu) 1061 382 47c. multicoloured a. Pair. Nos. 346 and 348
2008 (20 June). EFIRO 2008, International Stamp 6912 5l. Bethlen-Cris
MS6913 135×118 mm. Nos. 6909/12 347 20d. Meles meles (European
Exhibition, Bucharest (3rd issue). T 1551 and badger)
similar horiz designs showing early stamps a. Pair. Nos. 347 and 349
and exhibition emblems. Multicoloured. SAN MARINO (Pt. 8) 348 46d. Felis silvestris (wildcat)
P 13½. (August 2008) 349 46d. Sus scrofa (wild boar)
6893 50b. Type 1551 Nos. 346 and 348, and Nos. 347 and
6894 1l. 1862 6p. stamp (As No. 24) 349, respectively, were issued in horizontal
6895 2l.40 1865 2p. stamp (As Type 5) se-tenant pairs, separated by an inscribed
6896 3l.10 1891 1½p. stamp (As Type 15) stamp size label within the sheet.
6897 4l.50 1903 1b. stamp (As No. 464)
6898 6l. 1932 61. stamp (As Type 96)
MS6899 152×122 mm. 8l.10 Exhibition
emblem (30×30 mm)
Nos. 6893/9 are partially perforated in the
centre of the stamp. 1556 Page from Missal
No. MS6899 also contains a stamp size
label.
The stamp and label of MS6899 are (Des Alina Munteanu)
perforated in a circle. 2008 (25 June). 500th Anniv of Printing of
Macarie’s Missal (first book printed in
615 Bernadette Soubirous 83 Singer
Romania). T 1556 and similar multicoloured
and First Miracle
design. P 13½.
6914 4l.30 Type 1556 (Des Ana Kostic)
(Des Daniela Longo. Litho Cartor)
MS6915 97×83 mm. 9l. 10 Two pages from 2008 (11 Apr). Eurovision Song Contest, Belgrade.
missal (52×42 mm) 2008 (8 Apr). 150th Anniv of Apparition at Sheet 95×53 mm. P 13½.
Lourdes. T 615 and similar vert designs. MS350   83  177d. multicoloured
Multicoloured. P 13½.
2164 36c. Type 615
2165 60c. Pilgrims and Basilica
1552 Weaving (Romania) 2166 €2 Bernadette Soubirous and
Madonna
(Des Alina Munteanu)
2008 (21 June). 45th Anniv of Romania—Kuwait
Diplomatic Relations. T 1552 and similar
horiz designs. Multicoloured. P 13½.
6900 2l. Type 1552
6901 2l. Model boat builder (Kuwait)
MS6902 112×83 mm. 3l.30 Romanian fire 1557 Church of the Three Holy 84 Quill and Envelope
appliance Hierachs
Nos. 6900/1 are partially perforated to the (Des Nadezda Skocajic. Litho)
right of the image. (Des Alina Munteanu)
Stamps of a similar design were issued by 2008 (26 June). 600th Anniv of Iasi City 2008 (5 May). Europa. The Letter. T 84 and similar
Kuwait. Documentary Accreditation. T 1557 and horiz design. Multicoloured. P 13½.
similar square designs. P 13½. 351 46d. Type 84
616 Globe as Pangea 352 50d. Letter opener
6916 1l. Type 1557
6917 1l.60 Metropolitan Cathedral (Des Antonio de Padova. Litho Cartor)
6918 2l.10 Vasile Alecsandri National 2008 (8 Apr). European Year of Intercultural
Theatre Dialogue. P 13½.
6919 3l.10 Museum of Unification
MS6920 133×100 mm. 9l. 10 Palace of Culture
2167 616 65c. multicoloured SPAIN (Pt. 9)
No. 2167 was issued in sheetlets of three (August 2008)
(42×52 mm) stamps with enlarged inscribed margins.
Nos. 6916/19, respectively, were issued
in sheetlets of eight stamps each with an
illustrated label attached at either right or
left, depending on sheet position.
1553 Scene from 7 Arts (winning
animated film)

(Des Alexandra Irimia) RUSSIA (Pt. 10)

2008 (22 June). 50th Anniv of Ion Popescu-Gopo’s (August 2008)
Grand Prix at Film Festival, Tours. T 1553
and similar horiz design. Multicoloured. 1388 Toledo Mountains
P 13½. 617 Concetto Marchesi
6903 1l.40 Type 1553 2008 (10 Mar). Nature. T 1388 and similar horiz
6904 4l.70 Ion Popescu-Gopo and trophy design. Multicoloured. Photo. P 14.
(Des Irio Ottavio Fantini. Litho Cartor)
MS6905 100×125 mm. Nos. 6903/4 4343 31c. Type 1388
2008 (8 Apr). 130th Birth Anniv of Concetto 4344 31c. Hoces del Rio Duration park
Marchesi (academic and politician).
P 13½.
2168 617 €1 multicoloured
2942 Valentin Glushko

(Des A. Drobyshev)
2008 (17 Mar). Birth Centenary of Valentin SERBIA (Pt. 3)
Petrovich Glushko (engineer and spacecraft (August 2008)
designer). P 12½×12.
7519 2942 8r. multicoloured
1389 Helicopter and Boats
1554 St Gheorghe Church, 2008 (12 Mar). Maritime Rescue. Die-cut perf
Voronet Monastery (Romania) 13½.
4345 1389 31c. multicoloured
(Des Mihai Vamasescu)
2008 (23 June). UNESCO World Heritage Sites
in Romania and Russia. T 1554 and similar
square design. Multicoloured. P 13½.
6906 3l. Type 1554 81 Janko Tipsarevic
6907 4l.30 St Dimitrie Church, Vladimir
2943 Buckle
(Russia) (Des Marina Kalezic. Litho)
MS6908 130×105 mm. Nos. 6906/7 (Des A. Moskovets. Litho and embossed)
Nos. 6906/7 were each issued with a 2008 (4 Apr). Olympic Tennis Team. T 81 and
se-tenant stamp size label, showing the 2008 (25 Mar). Archaeological Heritage. Sheet similar horiz designs showing players.
churches at right. 145×70 mm containing T 2943 and similar Multicoloured. P 13½.
No. MS6908 also contains a stamp size horiz designs. Multicoloured. P 12½×12. 341 20d. Type 81 1390 University Building
label showing symbols of Romania and MS7520 12r.×3, Type 2943; Bronze plaque 342 30d. Nenad Zimonjic
Russia. with two oxen; Deer. 343 30d. Jelena Jankovic 2008 (14 Mar). 400th Anniv of Oviedo University.
Stamps of a similar design were issued by The stamps and margins of MS7520 form 344 40d. Ana Ivanovic P 14.
Russia. a composite design. 345 46d. Novak Dokovic 4346 1390 31c. multicoloured

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 Catalogue Supplement

2007 (9 Oct). World Post Day. P 12½. (Des Svetlana Bondar. Litho)
2259 954 £S25 multicoloured 2008 (18 Apr). Clocks. Sheet 123×166 mm
containing T 387 and similar multicoloured
designs. Phosphor markings. P 13½
MS848 1l.×9, Type 387; Gold clock with ornate
triangular case surmounted by cherubs
(Russian 19th-century); Circular gold clock
supported by two cherubs mounted on
black goats (French 19th-century); Domed
1391 Emblem clock in green and gold case surmounted by
cherub (French 19th-century) (33×45 mm);
2008 (19 Mar). 50th Anniv of European Black, red and gold cased clock with several
Parliament. P 14. 955 Industrial Structure legs surmounted by winged horses (French
4347 1391 60c. multicoloured 1396 Cross of Victory, 18th-century) (33×45 mm); Porcelain clock
Oviedo Cathedral 2007 (16 Nov). 37th Anniv of Corrective decorated with figures and flower (German
Movement of 16 November 1970. 18th-century) (33×45mm); Black and
2008 (28 Apr). Exfilna 2008 Philatelic Exhibition. P 11½×12½. gold cased clock with painted front panel
Sheet 80×105 mm. P 14 2260 955 £S15 multicoloured (English 18th-century) (33×45 mm); Clock
MS4359   1396  €2.44 multicoloured supported on lyre, surmounted by painted
pediment supported by columns (Austrian
19th-century) (33×45 mm); Clock enclosed
SURINAM (Pt. 20) in goblet shaped case supported by large
(July 2008) gold pedestal with cherubs and painted
panel (French 19th-century) (33×45 mm)
CORRECTION: The stamps of MS848 were printed in a
Re-number Nos. 2662/2697 to 2262/2297, block (3×3), the top row of smaller stamps
1392 Palacio de Longoria, Madrid numbers advanced in error. having white background and the lower
(Josep Grases Riera) rows of larger stamps having shaded red to
claret background.
2008 (2 Apr). Architecture. T 1392 and other SYRIA (Pt. 19)
(February 2008) 956 Juniperus excelsa (inscr
designs. Recess (4348/9) or photo (others). ‘Juniperu excelsa’)
P 14.
4348 31c. deep brown 2007 (27 Dec). Tree Day. P 12½.
4349 31c. reddish brown 2261 956 £S18 multicoloured
4350 31c. multicoloured
4351 31c. multicoloured
4352 31c. multicoloured
4353 31c. multicoloured
Designs: 4348, Type 1392; 4349, Casa
Vicens, Barcelona (Antoni Gaudí) (vert);
4350, Auditorio de Tenerife (Tenerife
Auditorium) (Santiago Calatrava); 4351, 388 Standard Smooth Haired
Torre Agbar, Barcelona (Agbar Tower) Dachshund
(Jean Nouvel) (vert); 4352, Torrespana
(television tower) (28×74 mm); 4353, Torre (Des Yuliya Pravdokhina. Litho)
de Comunicaciones de Montjuic, Barcelona
2008 (16 May). Dogs and Cats. Two sheets, each
(Montjuic Comunications Tower) (Santiago
129×90 mm containing T 388 and similar
Calatrava) (28×74 mm).
square designs showing dogs (MS848a) or
951 President Assad cats (MS848b). Multicoloured. Phosphor
957 Hussny Sabah markings. P 13½.
2007 (17 July). Second Term of President Bashar MS849 (a) 1l.×6, Type 388; American bulldog;
al-Assad. T 951 and similar multicoloured Rottweiler; Chow; Standard Schnauzer;
designs. P 12½. 2007 (30 Dec). Personalities. T 957 and similar
vert designs. Multicoloured. P 12½. German Shepherd. (b) Persian; Selkirk rex;
2253 £S10 Type 951 Exotic shorthair; Burmese; Siamese; Kurile
a. Pair. Nos. 2253/4 2262 £S10 Type 957
a. Strip of 5. Nos. 2262/6 Island bobtail
2254 £S15 President Assad (different)
MS2255 84×70 mm. £S25 President and 2263 £S10 Wajieh al Barudy
assembly. Imperf 2264 £S10 Nadim Shoman
Nos. 2253/4 were issued in se-tenant pairs 2265 £S10 Tawfik Izzeddin
within the sheet. 2266 £S10 Abdussalam Al Ojaily
Nos. 2262/6 were issued in horizontal
se-tenant strips of five stamps within the
sheet.
1393 Kestrel

2008 (2 Apr). Flora and Fauna. Self-adhesive

gum. T 1393 and similar vert design.
Multicoloured. Litho. Die-cut perf 13.
4354 31c. Type 1393
4355 43c. Tulip
952 St Paul’s Church, Bab Kissan, 389 Aegypius monachus
Damascus (Eurasian black vulture )
2007 (27 Sept). World Tourism Day. P 12½. (Des Yuliya Pravdokhina. Litho)
2256 952 £S10 multicoloured 2008 (16 May). Crimean Nature Reserve. Sheet
120×84 mm containing T 389 and similar
multicoloured designs. Phosphor markings.
P 13½.
MS850 (a) 1l.×4, Type 389; Egrets and swans
(36×31mm); Cervus elaphus (red deer)
(47×31 mm); Silene jailensis (31×31 mm)
1394 Pelota Valencia 958 White Stork The stamps and margins of MS849 form a
composite design.
2008 (16 Apr). Traditional Sports. T 1394 and 2007 (30 Dec). Birds. T 958 and similar vert
similar multicoloured design. P 14. designs. Multicoloured. P 12½.
4356 43c. Type 1394 2267 £S10 Type 958
4357 43c. Pelota Vasca (Basque) (vert) a. Strip of 5. Nos. 2267/71 NEW COMMONWEALTH
Nos. 4356/7 were each printed with
a se-tenant label at foot (4356) or at left
2268 £S10 Woodpecker (inscr ‘Syrian AND BRITISH EMPIRE
woodpecker’)
(4357), the stamp and the label forming a 953 ‘50’, Spacecraft and 2269 £S10 Shoveler CATALOGUE OUT NOW
composite design. Sputnik I 2270 £S10 Bee eater
2271 £S10 Turtle dove
2007 (4 Oct). 50th Anniv of Space Nos. 2267/71 were issued in horizontal
Exploration. T 953 and similar vert design. se-tenant strips of five stamps within the
Multicoloured. P 12½. sheet.
2257 £S15 Type 953
a. Pair. Nos. 2257/8
2258 £S25 ‘50’, spacecraft and Sputnik I
(different) UKRAINE (Pt. 10)
Nos. 2257/8 were issued in se-tenant pairs (June 2008)
within the sheet.
R2813
-09
Only
£69.95

ORDER TODAY
1395 Envelopes 0800 611 622
2008 (23 Apr). Europa. The Letter. Sheet
sales@stanleygibbons.co.uk
80×105 mm. P 14 954 Globe enclosed in 387 French 19th-century www.stanleygibbons.com
MS4358   1395  60c. multicoloured Envelope Mantle Clock

G.S.M. October 2008 147

October_08 SUPP.indd 147 02/09/2008 16:00:02