In “Anniversary” Stamps

Pacific History Has Been Recorded In “Anniversary” Stamps

By Kn

THE issue in June of two new L Norfolk Island stamps to com memorate the 100th anniversary the landing there of the •scendants of the Mutiny of the )unty, from Pitcairn, and the miversary of the establishment of )rfolk Island as a separate settle ent, recalls “anniversary” stamps 3m other Pacific Islands.

Such special issues have marked iportant national occasions and ,ve provided stamp enthusiasts in my parts of the world with valu le pictorial documents in minia re of historical events.

Ihirteen stamps were specially srprinted for use throughout New ledonia, in 1903, in connection th the 50th anniversary of the mch occupation, formal possession which was initiated on September 1853. The overprint for the mt also included an eagle im nt.

Similarly, for the centenary of

French Administration four well designed stamps were provided in 1953, each of which typified ex plorers and missionaries and views of local significance. One issue portrayed Admiral Bruni d'Entre casteaux, who arrived at the Isle of Pines on June 16, 1792, and explored the area, with aspects of his frigates —the Recherche and Esperance.

A view of the Bay of Noumea and the likeness of Admiral Febvrier Despointes, figured on a second de sign. It was he who took possession of New Caledonia in 1853 for France.

The third stamp was devoted to a study of Admiral Dumont d'Urville, who in 1826, while seeking La Perouse, also explored New Cale donia. Background to this design was a map of the territory.

The fourth design of the series was the Noumea Cathedral and a portrait of the French missionary, Monseigneur Douarre, who in 1843 led a band of missionaries to New (Continued Next Page)

Caledonia, their project being crowned with success in 1851.

On August 29, in 1914, a New Zea land Expeditionary Force, only 1,413 strong, landed in Western Samoa, and took possession from the Ger mans. In December, 1920, control =of Western Samoa was granted to New Zealand by League of Nations jnandate.

Consequently, in August, 1939, New Zealand saw fit to mark the 25th anniversary of its administration with a new issue of four stamps for the territory. They showed a coastal village scene, a map of the area, and a typical dancing, or “siva” party and Robert Louis Stevenson.

These attractive stamps remained on issue for three months.

Her Majesty Queen Salote has figured on a number of stamp issues made by Tonga over the years.

In October, 1938, three values were included in a series put out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Designs used typified the Queen wearing Coronation robes, in the Royal Palace at Nukualofa.

When, in January, 1944, five more stamps appeared in connection with the “Silver Jubilee” of that event, the same overall design was em ployed, except for the dates at the bottom of the stamp, “1918-1943.”

Additionally, three striking portrait studies graced the stamps struck in November, 1950, on the occasion of Queen Salote’s 50th birthday. One design showed a head and shoulders likeness, with the 1/- value picturing a half-length likeness of Her Majesty wearing the Order of the British Empire (Dame Commander), presented to her in 1932 Tonga continuing link with great

Britain was evidenced by the issue in July, 1951, of a pictorial series in celebration of the 50th anni versary of the ratification of the Treaty of Friendship between Tonga and Great Britain, signed on FeM ruary 16, 1901.

A map of the Tongan Islands and Great Britain; the Arms of the two countries identified two designs while the Royal Palace on Tonga* tabu, the national flag and a repre

ntative beach scene were also ctured.

In addition, there was a picture the HMNZS Bellona, the 5,900aiser, built in 1943, at anchor with tiny Tongan schooner in the back ound. Medallion insets of Queen lote appeared on the 2id and 3d nominations. rhirteen values were included in series of stamps on issue in New linea in August, 1931, when the ;h anniversary of the Australian ininistration was being observed. e design used was of a Bird of radise, in the limbs of a tree, and i stamps ranged in value from Id. £l.

Fnder the New Guinea Act, passed the Commonwealth Government 1920, Australia accepted under igue of Nations mandate, control the former German possession.

May, 1921, a proclamation issued Rabaul ended the military admin ■ation, in control of the region ce capture by Australian Forces September, 1914. )n November 6, 1934, a set of r stamps was distributed in >ua to signify the 50th an srsary of the territory being sed under the protection of lat Britain. The designs were pted from contemporary illustra ls of the time. ne design showed the hoisting of Union Jack at Port Moresby in t, with Government, Military religious representatives in at fance, in front of the London sionary Society’s Mission House, e LMS became established in t Moresby in 1874). iset portraits also included were Commodore James E. Erskine, Commodore of the Australian ion, who proclaimed Britain’s ;ectorate, and of Boe Vagi, re used head chief of the Port esby District. le second motif illustrated the e on board HMS Nelson anchored 'ort Moresby Harbour, with some .ative chiefs in conference with military officers prior to the ing over” ceremony of 1884. ur years later, in September, five airmail stamps were issued apua to coincide with the 50th versary of the transfer of sh New Guinea from Queens to the status of a British ession. [ stamps used the common de —an aerial view of Port Jsby Harbour, in which the ner Katoomba, since sold to a gn Government is moored, a DHB6 aeroplane in flight lead. A tiny inset at the foot ie stamp on the left was of a 3-sailed island cutter, o current stamps, bearing aits of Presidents Washington Roosevelt, were circulated by United States authorities in st, 1928, in commemoration of 150th anniversary of the liian Islands under their original L of the Sandwich Islands. The leant overprint inscription for ,

the occasion read: “Hawaii. 1778- 1928.”

It was Captain Cook who dis covered the Islands on January 18, 1778, on his third voyage of dis covery, and it was unfortunate that his effigy did not distinguish the new American stamps, which were initially placed on sale in Hawaii.

Copies of the stamps were also available at the Postal Agency in Washington, but not in United States Post Offices. Nevertheless, the stamps were in order for post age in the USA.

Another anniversary occasion that did not escape the attention of the stamp-printers occurred in June, 1953. The French Oceania settlements made available an issue of a single airmail label stamp to

mark the 50th anniversary of the death of the French painter, Paul Gauguin, who went to Tahiti in 1891.

He remained there for ten years and devoted much of his time to painting native women. His most famous works were “Maori Women,” featured on the commemorative issue, and “Maori Venus,” the former under the title of “Nafea.”

The Dutch introduced East Indies stamps for the first time in 1864, and subsequently commemorated a number of anniversaries. In October, 1938, two worthy issues were made to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Dutch East Indies Airlines, KNILM.

The designs showed the noses of the Douglas planes then plying on

e route between Holland and the dies, and the stamps were sold at premium to benefit the Air Ser ;e Fund.

Following the proclamation of the lependent republic of Indonesia Java and Sumatra on August 1945, the Indonesian authorities ued two stamps for the 3rd an rersary of independence, the de n of which symbolised “Labour d Transport.” [n 1950, the Indonesian Arms flighted three further stamps culated in connection with the i anniversary of Independence, der President Soekarno. Similarly, August 4, 1955, a scene repre ting the Proclamation enactment s utilised on four stamps that Dlicised the 10th anniversary of lependence. le 25th Anniversary of the In lesian Women’s Congress was :brated in Indonesia in December, 3, with a stamp bearing a picture Meltai flowers. The issue also icided with Mothers’ Day. . further quartette of stamps de their appearance in Indonesia September, 1955, in respect of 10th anniversary of the transfer the GPO from Dutch to Indo ian control. The design for all ies depicted Mr. Suparto, the I- Indonesian Postal Director, rounded by a telephone, Morse , etc.