Stamps Again!

Cook Is. Jubilee Issue Was Little Goldmine

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Feb. 26.

THE limited issue of Cook Island Jubilee postage stamps has already operated profitably for those who were shrewd enough to foresee the rise in value.

An almost phenomenal leap in values took place when London dealers, not ex pecting such a general demand for Jubilee issues, failed to secure adequate supplies of the set of three which were issued in the following numbers:

Jubilant last week was Trader “Viri”

Watson, possessor of some £5O worth (in cluding- many first-day covers) bought at par and now listed in London catalogues at 5/9 stg. (7/3 N.Z.) per set. Gloating, Trader Watson refused San Marino’s peri patetic Consul-General Jamieson’s offer of 150 per cent, profit. He confidently an ticipates an eventual gain several times greater and regrets only that he did not buy the £4OO worth which Postmaster Horn returned when the issue was withdrawn last August.

Certainly, those with money available missed a “sweet thing” when they passed up the Jubilee issue, since at no time was there any possibility of an actual loss, and £4OO worth of stamps bought last August would to-day fetch approximately £lOOO.

Visitors to the Islands, however, have been more astute, one such having recently acquired some £3O worth of stamps at prices varying from par to twice face value.

Which, of course, is one way of making one’s holiday pay for itself!

Rev. L. A. McArthur, 8.A., principal of the Methodist Mission’s George Brown Training Institution at Vunairima, New Britain, left Sydney by the Montoro for Rabaul on February 26. He has been on furlough in Adelaide for some months, where his wife and child are now residing until they are able to join him in New Guinea later in the year.

Id. 2£d. 6d.

Number issued ... 144,000 88,000 88,000 Number sold 136,239 83,966 82,928 Total value sold £3505.