Pacific stamp box

Papua New Guinea is a country whose stamp issuing policy assures it of the support of collectors.

Issue numbers are modest, values are those of normal postage rates and design and quality are of a high standard. When an error is made in a PNG stamp, then, the result is well worth collecting.

And an error has just been made.

Hands up those who can tell a Rhipidwa Rufifrons from a Pitta Erythrogaster. I wouldn’t have known what they are, far less the differences between them.

It turns out, however, that they are birds featured in a set of four bird stamps recently issued by PNG.

A keen bird watcher at the Baiyer River Bird Sanctuary did know the difference and spotted the fact that the names were transposed on two of the stamps an error worth keeping as there will be no re-issue with corrected names.

Still on PNG, keen collectors may find it useful to examine the recent queen’s birthday commemorative issue. A few of the 35t stamps have an extra silver line in the design.

Non bird fanciers may have failed the Rufifrons test. But they may do better with the next one.

Papua New Guinea issued two stamps on July 3 to mark the centenary of the Lutheran Church in the country.

They were designed by Sydney artist Graham Wade. Now Graham loves push-bikes and whenever he designs a stamp, you should look for a bicycle in there somewhere.

The question is: where’s the bicycle in this issue? It’s so hard to find that I’ll reveal the answer next month.

After so much dust was stirred by the auction of its excess archive material, Australia Post has decided that the auctions will not include decimal material.

However there is still much opposi tion (including my own) to these auc tions. I maintain the released material will cause ripples in the prices of similar items in the market and will shake overseas confidence in Australia as a dependable collecting country.

For those collecting the Crown Agent’s Omnibus Collection of stamps celebrating the queen’s 60th birthday, the list of Pacific* countries issuing stamps is: Fiji (5), Kiribati (5), Papua New Guinea (5), Pitcairn Island (5),

Western Samoa (5), Solomon Islands (5), Vanuatu (5), Cook Islands (3 and 3 m/s), Niue (3 and 1 m/s) and Penrhyn (3).

The Crown Agent Stamp Company also planned to issue a special omnibus series to commemorate the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. So far the Pacific island countries par ticipating in the issue are Pitcairn Island and Solomon Islands.

On May 22, the Federal States of Micronesia issued a set of five stamps plus a miniature sheet commemorating a man of “infamous practical notoriety” unparalleled even in the last century one William Henry Hayes, known as “Bully”, the last of the buccaneers.

Between the 1860 s and the 1870 s Bully Hayes travelled the Pacific steal ing ships, supplying ammunition to the Maoris in the 1863-64 wars, forging copra orders to local chieftains on government stationery and forging the Hawaiian Kamehameha stamp issue among other felonies.

His end came after a dispute with a Norwegian cook in 1877 over the Norseman’s steering ability. The Norwegian hit Hayes on the head, tied him to the largest anchor he could find and threw him overboard.

The $1 miniature sheet depicts one

of Hayes’ adventures. It shows him holding an island chief to ransom for 5,000 coconuts and a young girl just one more of his rascally deeds.

Several Pacific countries are featuring the anniversary of the US Peace Corps as part of their stamp issue for Amer ipex ’B6.

Tonga and Niuafou issued a set on May 22 to commemorate the birthday of this organisation that has sent about 800 volunteers to Tonga to teach medicine and agriculture or as techni cians. A set of four stamps and two miniature sheets was issued.

Fiji, on June 23, issued two stamps commemorating the International Year of Peace.

Vanuatu, meanwhile, issued a set of three stamps commemorating the sink ing of the ex-luxury liner, troop ship SS President Coolidge which struck an American mine while entering Santo harbour in October 1942.

The ship carried 6,500 passengers and, although she sank within two hours, only two lives were lost. The troops were en route to the heavy fighting in the Solomons.

This link with America has formed the basis of Vanuatu’s Ameripex ’B6 issue.