[?]Ollecting

[?]ur World of Stamps—l

[?]Ow To Begin

K.N., an Australian stamp-collecting enthusiast, has written a series of articles on this hobby and these will appear each month in the PIM, com mencing with this issue. Primarily the articles are written for young people who are just beginning to think of stamps as a hobby, and thus they begin with first principles. But the articles should be of interest also to people of any age who have just joined the ranks of the stamp-collecting millions.

HERE is one thing about col lecting stamps—you can be any age to start adding to your )wledge, pleasure and profit, t doesn’t matter who you are where you live, everyone is equal en it comes to “Philately,” which the love of Stamp Collecting, ind if you asked why they col ; stamps, some people might say y didn’t know; others would give gthy reasons. But a stock reply ild be “Ah, just for something do in my spare time!”

Vhatever your reason for being racted to the hobby—your world stamps—you will never regret it. i can travel the world by stamps: 3t famous people: learn about is, animals and insects of other ds. At the same time you have tures of forms of transport, on d, sea and air.

Tien, too, stamps often appear publicise important national and jrnational conferences, celebrate liversaries, and, by reason of ir designs, reflect the passage of tory. ’he hobby of stamp collecting dually developed over the years more and more countries began issue their own stamps following example set by Britain in 1840, sn it printed the world’s first Lesive stamps.

Imost 200 stamp-issuing nations >t to-day, so you can see that , have plenty to select from, iest assured that stamp collect is worthwhile. Franklin D. )sevelt, President of the United tes, recognised as one of the ■ld’s leading philatelists, said, ie best thing about stamp collect is that the enthusiasm which it uses in youth increases as the rs pass. It dispels boredom, irges our vision, broadens our iwledge and in innumerable ways iches our life.” nother American, General Mark rk, also wrote on one occasion: amps gave me a knowledge of er countries and other people t I found of value when I veiled abroad. Stamp collecting Is interest to the study of history, graphy and finance.”

Now, when you start a collection, it would be wise to decide what form this is to take —whether you will become a “one country” en thusiast, or collect stamps by their designs. You might even specialise in foreign or British Common wealth stamps, or you could con centrate wholly on the countries of the Pacific, either individually or collectively. (Next month we will discuss what equipment you will need.)

Some Recent New Issues

In April, Brazil introduced an interesting new stamp on the occasion of the Juvenile Games.

The design showed two young girls taking part in a relay race, in the act of changing the baton.

Only last year the same South American republic produced a similar stamp for the same event, this time illustrating two athletic looking schoolboys at the start of a foot-race.

Mother’s Day, usually celebrated during May in most countries, is re called this year by special stamps from Turkey and Cuba. The design

of the Turkish issue showed Zubeyde Hanim, mother of former President of Turkey Kemal Ataturk.

Two stamps were included in the set from Cuba, one of which portrayed Victor Munoz, founder of Mother’s Day in Cuba. The other showed a mother with her baby.

The Boy Scout Movement, whose activities are world-wide, will next year observe the 50th anniversary of its foundation in Britain by the late Lord Baden Powell. On this occasion a great Scout Jamboree is to be held in the Midlands of Eng land.

Already such countries as Venezuela, Norway, Luxembourg and Belgium, have indicated that they will make available new stamps for the Jamboree. The stamps should be welcomed by scouting en t A school has been opened at Mendi, in the Papuan Southern Highlands where tribal warfare has ceased only recently. An estimated 1500 natives attended the ceremony and many told officials they wanted to send their children to school.