Pacific stamp box

Alternative energy sources are becom ing, more and more, the focus of interest in the Pacific and, as always happens, stamps swiftly are used to reflect this interest. Solomon Islands has just issued a very neat souvenir sheet featuring a micro-scale hydro electric scheme at Iriri Village. This pioneer project, which became op erational in 1983, has been used to light a village using a nearby stream and a stone-wall dam. Similar projects have followed in other parts of the country so that today Solomon Islands has a quite well-developed technology in this area.

The souvenir sheet, issued on Janu ary 24, illustrates the ingenious design and shows local self-reliance. This is a well-designed and informative mini sheet and a good example for other countries in the Pacific to follow. *** One of the great mysteries of the age lies in the remote Pacific islands of Micronesia. On one of these, Pohnpei or Ponapei (which means Land of the Sacred Masonry), is one of the most outstanding archaeological sites of its kind in the Pacific, Nam Madol.

Nam Madol consists of over 100 semi-artificial islands constructed of coral rubble within the reef surrounding Pohnpei. These islands are encased in walls built of gigantic prismatic columns of basalt, similar in shape to logs.

Many legends surround the origin of Nam Madol. One attributes the con struction to seafarers who built the area as a religious centre. Another says the tulers of Nam Madol included the cruel Sakon Mwei and Raepwenloko, a cannibal who had the mouth of a turtle and who, after locating fat people by magic, ate them. The Federated States of Micronesia issued a set of stamps on December 16 featuring the mysterious ruins of Nam Madol. *** Big news for Papua New Guinea is the production of the collection of 1985 stamps. The official annual stamp col lection is presented in a well-bound album containing all 1985 issues with a background text. Australia Post has produced an album each year since 1981. New Zealand also has produced these albums since 1984. And it is certainly a splendid idea, as the albums sell out in whatever country they are produced.

Papua New Guinea is offering two albums this year, one with the stamps mounted and the other a ”do it

yourself” job.

The price is Kina 17 (around Austs24), which is very modest, given the quality of the produc tion. As I hear it, only a limited number of albums will be produced and they are there fore likely to be a good investment as well as a very collectable item from a very popular stamp issuing country.

Incidentally, the

Australian 1981 album, is now selling at three times its original asking price, which, on to day’s market, is a very good appreciation indeed.

New Zealand has now begun issuing vending machine postage labels, com monly known as Frama labels after the name of the company which manufac tures the vending machines. The first labels went on sale on February 12.

Unlike the Australian labels, the New Zealand ones do not feature an identi fier locating the machine, but otherwise they are very similar indeed.

Frama labels continue to build up an ever-increasing number of followers and, for the investor, they are probably worth putting aside.

But, heed a note of warning. Lately we have noticed reports some Frama labels are being offered on the market at high prices. These have missing values, or zero money values, strange papers etc. Take care. It seems that some people are fiddling with the machines. *** Meanwhile, New Zealand appears to be the first Pacific country to issue the stamp commemorating the 1986 In ternational Year of Peace. Two sete nant stamps were released, incorporat ing a diverse group of peace symbols: the dove, the tree of life, the UN peace logo, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament symbol.

Well, Halley’s Comet fever has well and truly gripped the world and stamp issuing authorities have joined the rush with something of a vengeance. Most Pacific countries are offering a variety of designs, including Norfolk Island with a setenant set of stamps showing the comet and a tracking satellite with the claim that it is one of the best vantage points in the world to view this once-in-76-years phenomenon. To prove their claim they are offering a free trip to their look-out as a prize in a stamp competition. Details of the com petition may be had from the Norfolk Island Philatelic Authority.

Meantime, the comet presents an opportunity to make an excellent stamp set. Why not collect stamps featuring the comet from as many countries as possible? So far the following countries all have released, or will release com memorative Halley’s Comet stamps: Ascension, Australia, British Antarctic Territory, Bermuda, Christmas Island, Fiji, Hongkong, Jersey, Malawi, Mar shall Islands, Mauritius, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, St Helena, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tristan da Cunha and Vanuatu. It’s an exten sive list, but if you had all of them, they would make a splendid album.