pacific stampa box

Australia Post has been deve loping Self Service Postal Sta tions that provide a range of services normally only available at post offices. Over the last couple of months several of these postal stations have been installed in some of the states of Australia. The postal station offers postcode directions, postal charges, calculators, parcel postage re ceptacles, commodity sales and postage stamps. The postage stamps are issued in the form of Frama stamps.

As of April Ist this year, the New Zealand Post Office has changed its identity to become a separate corpora tion, the New Zealand Post Ltd. As part of the publicity for the inception, New Zealand Post introduced for one day a one cent postage rate. For one cent a letter would be posted anywhere within New Zealand. To be eligible for the special rate, private mail only had to be hand addressed and endorsed by hand, First Day, New Zealand Post. Because of the short notice given no mail order supplied and lack of special covers, a souvenir of this event is now a gilt edged investment. Get some if you can!!!

Good news. After the collapse of Tuvalu’s stamp supplier, Gilbert Is lands, Philatelists Ltd. (UK) the Tuvalu Government is negotiating a possible contract with a new company with offices in both New York and London, along similar lines to the old contact but with a more clearly defined policy on stamp issues. The standard issues prog ram remains unchanged with 4-5 issues each year, relating to flora, fauna, local culture or important international events.

The proposed future program not yet finalised of Thematic issues for Tuvalu and its islands is for four sets of Tuvalu and three for each island territory there are eight island territories.

Good may have come out of bad, with Tuvalu the winner. I have been very critical of the huge number of stamps being issued by Tuvalu. Things may have now changed and with it will come the support of collectors. Time will tell.

Tuvalu has to see to it that their stamps are, and will remain, philatelical ly acceptable.

After the issue of the America’s Cup stamp sheet, the Solomon Islands will not let sleeping boats lie. On June Ist the Solomon Island issued its first gold stamp. The stamp is a replica of the $5 souvenir sheet stamp which commemo-

rates Stars and Stripes win in the 1987 cup. 23,000 stamps of 23 carat gold will be issued. We are assured that the stamp has philatelic bonding material applied to ensure durability as legal postage. I would ask who in his right mind would stick one on a letter and trust it to the post? Alas, I hope the thin edge of the wedge is not beginning to penetrate the Solomon Islands with gimmicky productions. The Solomons have until now, maintained a sound stamp issuing policy. Sheets of 25 different yachts and gold “stamps” do not win the serious collector. As I said above, with Tuvalu, each country must ensure its stamps are, and remain, philatelically acceptable.

You will remember that during Feb ruary this year Vanuatu was hit with a devastating hurricane that caused loss of life and great damage. Great steps have been taken to repair the damage.

This costs money. One way the country is using to gain funds for the reconstruc tive work is by overprinting the 2vt Flower Definitive and 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II stamps. On May 12th the overprinted stamps were re leased. Overprinted on each stamp is “Hurricane Relief Fund” with a sur charge value to the right of the original value.

Such a set would make a start to a thematic collection or an addition to one already begun.

The Canadian Philatelic Exhibition CAPEX ’B7 will be commemorated by

Samoa with the issuing on June 13th of a $3 miniature souvenir sheet featuring logging and a traditional Samoan buil ding. The CAPEX was held in Toronto Canada in early June.

Collectors beware. After July Ist, Australia Post will discontinue its policy of re-purchasing stamps. Until that date, Australia Post would always re-purch ase unused decimal stamps on the basis of face value less 10%. On July Ist all stamps purchased prior to June 30, 1987, will still be re-purchased at 90% of face value but all stamps purchased after July 1, 1987, will not be re purchased. Investor collectors will have to be careful. If their bundle of mint stamps does not rise as expected they will be at the mercy of the market if cash is needed for them. Over longer periods the best stamp investments are usually those that already have a proven record of scarcity.

New Issues

Papua New Guinea

June 15: Historic Ship Definitive Stage 1. World Health Organisation Aerogramme PEA Special Postmark.

Fiji

April 23: Tagimoucia Flower $l.

French Polynesia

May 13: Petraglyph engravings.

New Zealand

June 17: 1987 National Parks.

Pitcairn Island

April 21: Island Homes.

Tokelau

May 6: Tokelau Flowers.