Pacific stamp box

Everyone interested in the stamps of Papua New Guinea should be in terested in the Papuan Philatelic So ciety. It was founded in Port Moresby in 1954 and now has a membership of 400. Of these enthusiasts 120 or so live in Australia and the rest are scattered all around the world. But only 10 mem bers now live in PNG, a tenth of the number on the local membership roll in 1969. Why this should be, especially as PNG has such beautiful stamps, is something of a mystery. Clearly they could do with some support in the country, and overseas members are also always warmly welcomed. Anyone interested in joining this band of philatelists, most of whom specialise in the stamps, postal history and postal stationery of PNG, should send $lO to Mr Eric Douglas, P.0.80x 488, Bate mans Bay, NSW 2536. This fee covers joining fee, and the first year’s subscrip tion of $B. For that the member will receive four issues of the society’s journal ’’Papua New Guinea Calling”. $ i)c $ a): $ :{c:jc Papua New Guinea is in the news this month because it is increasing its postal rates. Internal letters will now cost 12t but, as there are no 12t stamps, the 7t Defence issue stamp of 1981 is being over-printed. With a run of one million, the overprint is worth putting aside, both for its historic value and as a possible investment. It will have limited life, and the numbers involved are not too high. * * * :jt * * j)C S)C Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, much admired around the world, both inside and outside the Commonwealth,

is to feature on the stamps of six Pacific Island Commonwealth countries in June. The issues will all coincide on June 7 and will come from Fiji, Norfolk Island, Pitcairn Islands, Western Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

OTHER NEW ISSUES on the way in June are a set of four values on bridges to be issued by New Zealand, and part two of a marine life series from Australia. In this latter issue the sc, 20c, 40c, 80c and 90c stamps will appear.

Tonga will mark the 175th anniversary of the departure of Will Mariner by an issue of five values.

In July Tonga will issue five values setenant, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the original film of ’’Mutiny on the Bounty.” In the same month Vanuatu will issue stamps for its sth anniversary of independence and the New Zealand Health stamps for 1985 will appear, featuring the Royal Family. These will be of three values, plus a miniature sheet.

Also in July Australia is planning to issue three sets, one on children’s characters, one on AUSSAT, and one on the 75th anniversary of the women’s hockey associations.

Christmas Island will issue part three of its series on crabs, plus a souvenir pack, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands will issue a series on the birds of the area.