Stamps of

Your World of Stamps.—VIII Commemoration Stamps of the Pacific

FOLLOWING a suggestion made in “PIM” in December by a reader in Germany, KN tfiis month devotes his notes to com memorative issues of Pacific Islands Stamps.

British Solomon Islands:

The Protectorate had its own stamps in 1907.

Four stamps appeared in 1935 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the accession of the late King George V, while three others marked the 1937 Coronation of his son, the late George VI, Two issues were made in 1946 to observe Peace and Victory, at the end of the Second World War, and two denominations were included in the series honouring the 25th wed ding anniversary of the late King George VI and the present Queen Mother, on issue during 1949.

In 1949 also, four others were printed when the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Universal Postal Union was observed, but only

one value market! the 1953 issued for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11.

COOK ISLANDS Although the Cook Islands issued its first stamps in 1892. the first commemoration

printing was not until 1935, ,c three values honouring Silver Jubilee of George W issued. In 1937 and 1953, CiC tion stamps marked the corom< of George VI and Queen EliiiJ II respectively.

eace and Victory were com norated in four 1946 stamps. [JI First stamps made their uc in 1870. In common with >r British possessions, four values •ked the 25th anniversary of rge V in 1935, and three com tiorated the 1937 coronation of rge VI. The 25th wedding iversary of George VI was re used in 1948 with a special issue, tie value only was issued in 1953 Queen Elizabeth IPs coronation, its use coincided with the visit he Colony of Her Majesty the en and the Duke of Edinburgh he end of that year. The Fiji b for Peace and Victory con id of two values: and in 1951 again in 1954, two other stamp js appeared in connection with special “Health’ campaign.

Lench Oceania; In 1892, The

stamps under this category t on issue, and many of the ial commemoration productions the years have been issues i Metropolitan France with a ial overprint inscription. 1931, four stamps commem ed the Paris International nial Exhibition; and six years ■ French Colonial participation nother International Exhibition ’aris, was recognised with six ips. le stamp commemorating the anniversary of discovery of im was sold in the interests of International Anti-C ancer i, in 1938. In 1939, two values led the New York World’s Fair 939. The 150th anniversary of French Revolution was kept up 939 with six values, ie Mutual Aid and Red Cross is benefited from a single issue out in 1944, and another issue :ided with Victory in the nd World War. Commemorating campaign of General Laclerc in war, six airmail stamps hi ed, “From Tchad to the Rhine,” produced in 1946. ie Universal Postal Union issue isted in 1949 of one air stamp, a Colonial Welfare Fund was [used with one value in 1950. 952, the centenary of the in iration of the Military Medal of ice was postally marked with value; and the 50th anniversary the death of Gauguin, the ter, resulted in one new issue 953. ie 10th anniversary of D-Day landing of Allied Forces in pe) was postally observed in

Lbert & Ellice Islands:

ips were first issued here in In 1935, four values were in id in the Silver Jubilee issue George V; three marked the Coronation of George VI, with marking the end of World War Two wedding anniversary ips for King George VI were >duced in 1949; and four others

in the same year for the Universal Postal Union anniversary.

Queen Elizabeth IPs Coronation was commemorated in 1953 with one stamp.

NAURU: Since becoming a stamp issuing unit in 1916, only two com memoration series have been made available: in 1935 and again in 1937.

The former, in four values, cele brated George V’s silver jubilee, the latter appeared for the coronation of George VI.

NEW CALEDONIA: Thirteen stamps comprised the issue made by the French colony in 1903 for the 50th anniversary of French occupation, but only four designs were used in the centenary issue of 1953. In 1931, four values were

printed for the 1931 Colonial Ex hibition in Paris, and in 1932 and 1933 other overprinted stamps were provided in connection with the Paris to Noumea flight.

The 1937 International Exhibition in Paris was marked with six stamps, and the International Anti- Cancer Fund and radium anni versary issue of 1938 was of one value. In addition, two stamps commemoarted the New York World’s Fair in 1939, five appearing for the sesquicentenary of the French Revolution.

The Mutual Aid and Red Cross issue appeared in one value during 1944, and the 1946 “Victory” stamp was followed the same year with six for the “Tchad to the Rhine”

memoratives. In 1949, 1950 and i f events recognised were the yersal Postal Union, Colonial fare and Military Medal. D. Day recalled in 1954.

Etherlands New Guinea:

vidual stamps were introduced ■ in 1950; two special stamps in assisted in relief work for ms of the devastating floods in and, while three overprinted Cross commemorative stamps ; issued in 1955.

SW GUINEA: Stamps do not issue individually for New lea (as distinct from the com d Territory of Papua-New lea). The first commemoration * from New Guinea came about 131, with 13 values marking the anniversary of Australian ad stration. Two observed the r jubilee of George V, and four -lighted the coronation of •ge VI, in 1937.

SW HEBRIDES: First special uction for the British admin tion occurred in 1949 with the coinciding with the Universal al Union anniversary, while one ; comprised the 1953 coronation ;ing for Queen Elizabeth. The ch section furnished four UPU ps in 1949, while four stamps commemorated, in 1956, the

50th anniversary of the Con dominium.

NIUE: Stamps of a commemor ative nature were struck during 1935, 1937, 1946 and 1953, individually re lating to the silver jubilee of George V, coronation of George VI, Peace and Victory in Second World War, and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11.

Norfolk Island: A Com

partive newcomer to stamps, the island had its first commemoration issue in 1956—tw0 values marking the 100th anniversary of the land ing of the Pitcairn Islanders.

PAPUA: Although four stamps in 1934 observed the 50th anniversary of the territory as a British Pro tectorate, a further five figured in the set available in 1938 for the jubilee of declaration as a British possession. Meanwhile, four stamps each marked the 25th anniversary of the reign of George V, and the coronation of George VI.

Western Samoa: Since 1877,

when the first stamps appeared, few occasions have been commem orated postally. Exceptions were the 1935 and 1939 productions mark ing the silver jubilee of George V and the 25th anniversary of New Zealand administration, with three and four stamps respectively. Four

other stamps celebrated Peace in 1946; and two were provided for the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth.

TONGA: A popular stamp country, its first “special” production was in 1899, in one value, in connection with the wedding of King George

Tubou II and Queen Lavinia.

A total of eight stamps figured in the two series produced in 1938 and 1944 for the 20th and 25th anni versaries of the accession of Queen Salote.

Four were included in the UPU issue of 1949, and Her Majesty Queen Salote’s 50th birthday was recog nised with three other stamps, in 1950. In the next year six stamps were distributed for the 50th an niversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship with Britain.

Wallis & Futuna: Stamps

marking various significant occasions appeared in 1931, 1939 (2), 1944, 1946, 1952 and 1954. These stamps were for the Colonial Ex hibition, New York World’s Fair, 150th anniversary of French Revolu tion, Mutual Aid and Red Cross Funds, Victory, “Tchad to the Rhine,” Postal Union, centenary of Military Medal and 10th anniversary of D. Day. t! The Rev. C. L. Williams has be come Queensland secretary of the Methodist Overseas Mission. Mr.

Williams is well known in Western Samoa, where he served as a missionary between 1940 and 1955.

U The Rev. W. F. Paton, who spent many years in the New Hebrides as a Presbyterian missionary, has been

awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters for a thesis on the “Language and Life of Ambrym.”

Dr. Paton went to Ambrym in 1933; he retired from the Hebrides a few years ago and is now living in Tas mania. ff Mr. W. J. Power, of Ba, Fiji,

celebrated his 102nd birthday March 8. He was born at Wee Station, Vic., in 1855, and aus in Fiji 61 years ago as a stoco< for the Colonial Sugar Reflniru He was already five years pasi allotted span when he retired i early 1930’5. He has resided : since.