Pacific Stamp box

A SPECIALLY commissioned survey of stamp marketing in the Pacific area has been completed by the Commonwealth Regional Consultative Group on Trade.

The survey examined the present arrangements for both philatelic and numismatic sales and suggested certain changes for the future which may or may not be implemented.

Countries examined were: Fiji, Kiri bati, the Maldives, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa, Nauru, Tuvalu, Niue, and Tokelau, all (with the exception of the Maldives) in the Pacific. Other states in the area such as the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall and Palau Islands, were not dealt with possibly because they have only recently emerged as stamp-issuing cntites, or are not Commonwealth members.

The questionnaire sought to clarify the purchasing interests of philatelists and results are below. (My thanks to a British publication, Philatelic Exporters for the information).

Pacific countries sold in world mar kets United Kingdom 35 per cent; Australia 30 per cent; North America 15 per cent; New Zealand 10 per cent; West Germany 5 per cent; rest of the world 5 per cent.

The survey of topical interests also produced interesting results. Of the various subjects on offer, Australian collectors preferred themes in the following order (1982 survey): animals and birds; Australian folklore; historical events; scenic views; flowers and plants; famous buildings; famous people; sports and the arts; transport; agricul ture and other secondary industries; royalty; community organisations; and conferences.

Three years later the emphasis had shifted slightly, but animals, scenery/ buildings, fol Wore and sport remained the five most popular topics.

Figures for employment in the Phi latelic Bureaus indicate a rather uniform number throughout the Pacific with the exception of Tuvalu which employs fifty workers (ten times more than any other country). Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa and Nauru, each employ between three and five people.

Stamp sales have shown dramatic declines. Tuvalu from $A760,000 (1981) to $A126,000 (1984). (With such large numbers of issues Tuvalu is fast losing collectors). Cook Islands sales have declined though still the

highest in the Pacific area, from SNZI.4 (1983/84) to SNZI.2 million (1984/85).

Other 1984/85 revenues reported are: Solomon Islands $550,000; Mal dives (contractual minimum $US200,000; Tonga $T263,000; Vanuatu Vt 8.27 m; Samoa $W5259,524; Tuvalu $A126,000; Tokelau $W5197,372; Papua New Guinea K 720,000; Nauru $A208,241.

Stamp revenues have in some cases halved in only 12 months. Much of this was ascribed To over-production.

There is therefore much room for large scale promotion of Pacific stamps and, as I have said before, a hard self-examination by each agency to improve promotion, quality and reduce quantity in some instances and intro duce more variety of stamp issues and other philatelic material.

Very few Pacific countries have done this. It requires a large initial outlay of money but increased revenue would cover such costs. The difficulty is, of course, to take a narrow path between conservatism on the one hand and

gimmick promotion on the other.

In the November column I reported on the Solomon Islands’ issue of America’s Cup stamps. The issue has been a great success. Although not all Solomon Islands collectors were happy the promoters hit upon a winner. The Perth based promoter reports difficul ties in keeping up with worldwide orders and the introductory offer of a free encyclopaedia and mounts with every sheet sold resulted in an exhaus tion of stocks and books.

Interest in the America’s Cup is fast gaining momentum and all Cup souve nir material is being snatched as quickly as it is produced. The last stamp in the set will be a $5 stamp featuring the winning yacht. I hope it is an Australian yacht.

Interest is beginning to grow for the forthcoming Sydpex ’BB. The exhibi tion will be held from 30 July to 7 August 1988 in Sydney and has been accepted as an official Bicentennial project. It will be a full national event and organisers are hoping to match the success of Sydpex ’BO. Already over 30 applications for stalls have been re ceived. A must for your diary.

There aren’t too many stamp collec tions of countries that have become “extinct”. Stamp News reports that your chance for a set is now. Reports are that Nauru will be, through the extraction of phosphates no longer able to support its 5000 inhabitants in 10 years time.

So far efforts to purchase land from Australia and the Philippines have met with negative responses. Sad to say the island nation of Nauru may be no more.

Perhaps interest in the philatelic material of this nation will take on a new interest.

I haven’t reported on issues from Norfolk Island for some time. Therefore let me advise you that this island issued a set of four stamps on 16 December featuring pre-European Occupation of Norfolk Island. Experts are sure that prior to Cook’s arrival in 1744 about 1000 years ago Maori type people from New Zealand landed and 500 years ago people from eastern Polynesia landed.

Evidence of tools and food from these explorers have led to these conclusions.

The stamps feature tools, food and people of the pre-European occupa tion. The set is also important, as it has been issued to coincide with the Bi centenary series.