Pacific stamp box

For those interested in trivial pursuits Which country has the highest density of motor vehicles per square mile? The answer is Nauru, which is quite a claim to fame.

Nauru has issued a set of four stamps featuring early transport in the country.

The vehicles featured are from the 1927-33 period and include a motor bike, a truck, a railway engine and the head chiefs “baby Austin.”

French Polynesia has issued a stamp commemorating the first Tahitian in ternational billfish tournament in Febru ary and March this year. Several coun tries responded to the invitation so that there were eight international and local teams in the competition.

The same territory in March issued a three stamp set featuring historic photo graphs of Tahiti. There is a scene from Papeete, harpoon fishing and a view of the king’s palace.

The palace, incidentally, took 25 years to complete although the king, Pomare V, never lived in the builiding which housed administrative depart ments before its recent demolition.

Many Pacific countries have now issued their stamp sets commemorating Queen Elizabeth 11’s 60th birthday (PIM, May 1986). While the stamp designs are collectable and interesting, I find the gutter strips just as attractive. I see no investment potential in this omnibus series, however.

As is usual with the Crown Agent’s omnibus issues, far too many stamps are issued for each country.

But don’t say you weren’t advised to collect the stamp labels commonly known as Frama labels.

The first labels were issued in Austra lia in 1984 and many collectors over looked these “Cinderella” items.

However, there is now a scramble among collectors and dealers alike to obtain obsolete issues. The key now to the set is the group of 33c barred edge labels from each capital city.

Obtainable at less than $3 face value a year ago, these are now fetching $25 a set Here is an example of demand over supply, sparked by Seven Seas making provision in their albums for this set In fact. Seven Seas have now issued a special album specifically for the Australian Frama labels.

Frama collecting is now big business.

Already forgers are into the area copy ing past marks on covers featuring the early release of the Kangaroo paper labels.

A study group for the label collecting has been proposed and Stamp News has put out a special edition of their April News featuring Framas.

Also, all stamp magazines now carry articles and advertisements on Framas.

New Zealand is going through a similar craze.

My advice is to invest in past sets and put aside a couple of each new set appearing.

Of course one can really let go and collect almost anything in the Frama field covers, values, varieties, the lot Framas have given stamp collecting a much needed shot in the arm. Other Pacific countries will follow in time.

Ripples were sent through the stamp collecting fraternity recently when Aus tralia Post announced their first phi latelic auction.

Lots for the sale will be drawn from the Australia Post archival collection stock held in quantity and classified as surplus. The money raised will be used to fill gaps in the archival collection.

Quantities of items, however, will be strictly limited in order to maintain stability in the market and no further auctions will be held for at least 10 years.

Australia Post’s archival collection is considered the best in the world and there is much international interest in the auction.

The Papua New Guinea consulate, 100 Clarence Street, Sydney, has in its video collection two tapes which can be viewed in the consulate or borrowed by stamp clubs.

These are Discovering Papua New Guinea (18 minutes) which uses the 1973 Panorama set, as well as others, to introduce PNG and So The Message Runs (23 minutes). This was produced to celebrate the centenary of the PNG postal service.

The 1988 Sydpex stamp exhibition will be held in late July to coincide with Australia’s bicentennial.

The total area will be one and a half times that of the 1980 Sydpex.

Although not an international exhibi tion, it will be a national show of great prestige worth attending if at all pos sible.