Some Recent Issues

our World of Stamps.—XV.

Conducted hy K.N.

VLTHOUGH Sir Charles Kings ford Smith, the famous Aus tralian airman, the first to fly le Pacific in 1928, was honoured on ustralian stamps in 1931, for his orld-wide flights, he is to be again jmmemorated next year by both ustralia and New Zealand. It is nticipated his likeness and his istoric monoplane, “Southern ross” will be featured.

International Letter Writing reek, a worthy object for young ilk, as a means of adding to their lends and increasing world know dge, has so far been celebrated 3stally by the Federal German epublic, Colombia and the Argen ne. Of the designs, the German sue showed two doves bearing tters in their beaks.

Both the USA and the Philip nes paid their philatelic respects i the late Filipino President amon Magsaysay, who lost his life . an aircraft accident early 1957. ost appropriately, the new stamps )peared on what would have been iserved as the 50th anniversary of s birth.

The visit to Canada of Queen lizabeth II and the Duke of Edin irgh produced a new stamp, which

included portraits of the Royal Visitors from Britain. When the Queen (as Princess) toured Canada with her husband in 1951, another stamp was similarly circulated as a valuable “souvenir”.

Not long ago Panama produced four stamps on the occasion of a Pan-American Highway Conference in the Republic. Designs showed the Pan-American Highway and the Isthmus Roadway, with others depicting construction activities on other important roadway projects.

About the same time the Italian post office issued a stamp in the interests of road safety, the design of which was a road signal at the stop position, at a busy intersection, and emphasised care on the roads.

A recently-issued West German stamp portrayed Ludwig Heck, a zoologist (1860-1951) who was prin cipally responsible for developing Berlin’s notable zoo. Interesting point of the issue was that the pre mium the stamp carried went to wards the finances of the zoo, to further its research and zoological work.

The latest country to inaugurate television services postally was West Germany, with an unusual stamp, showing only a series of lines and squares on an imaginary screen— the design, in reality, symbolised the effect created when the TV receiver is switched on and off.

Meanwhile, the design of three

stamps from Formosa, China, mark ing the 30th anniversary of national broadcasting, comprised a radio tower, a microphone, sound waves and a globe, symbolising the worth and extent of sound broadcasting for information, publicity and for propaganda. (Over)

Our old friend Pegasus, the mythological flying horse—often employed as an emblem for a large petrol organisation—has been typi fied on new Swiss stamps put out on behalf of the Universal Postal Union’s International Bureau, in Berne. Often seen on other countries’ stamps, Pegasus was the horse who grew from a drop of Medusa’s blood, and was eventually raised to heaven and transformed into a constellation.

The 19th International Red Cross Conference, the governing body of the world-wide organisation, held at New Delhi, in October, was cele brated by India, with a two-coloured (her first) stamp. The founder of the international Red Cross move ment, the Swiss banker and philan thropist, Herr Dunant, was the subject chosen for representation.

Dunant has already been shown on other stamps, serving as tributes to the Red Cross and to the great humanitarian, issued by Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and the Saar.

An attractive design for British “aerogramme” forms issued at the time of the recent International Parliamentary Union Congress at London, included views of West minster Bridge, the British Houses of Parliament, and the famous “Big Ben” timepiece, whose chimes have been heard throughout the world.

t Work is proceeding according to schedule of the bi-lingual film, “The Stowaway,” at Tahiti. Scenes were shot aboard the liner Caledonien when it arrived at Papeete in October, Martine Carole, bosomy queen of the French cinema, is the star, and also appearing in the English version are Roger Livesey and Ursula Jeans. Shooting is expected to conclude early No vember, and Miss Carole will leave immediately to join her husband, Christian Jaque, ace French director,

who is in Rome making a film witl Fernandel, famous French comediar t Dr. Seddon, Social Developmen Executive Officer of the Soutl Pacific Commission, visited the Cool Group in mid-September. During hii stay in Rarotonga, Atiu and Aitutak: Dr. Seddon studied the birth am growth of the Cook Islands’ Co-op movement, and became acquaintei with the problems affecting it. Afte a short period in the outer island!

Dr. Seddon left Aitutaki by air fa Sydney and Noumea.