Pacific Stamp Box

Edited by John Hunter

A WAR of words has broken out in the pages of Stamp News. The magazine slammed the Solomon Islands gold stamp (see my report in Sep tember PIM) and got stuck into the Solo mon Islands stamp issuing policy for good measure. The Solomons’ Minister for Posts and Communications hit back and his stinging attack was published in the Au gust issue of Stamp News. Philatelists breathlessly await the publication’s response.

The controversy notwithstanding, many stamp people are also critical of the Solomon Islands and claim they are in danger of losing their credibility in stamp circles a la Tuvalu.

THE SMALL move upwards in stamp prices continues. With interest rates fall ing and gold prices rising, people are again beginning to look for investments other than money. Auction prices for good stamps are rapidly rising. My advice is to fill those spaces in collections as soon as possible, before prices rise too much. Early material is now becoming harder to get and more expensive.

ON JULY 20 Nauru issued its first aerogramme to include a pictorial and a stamp panel. The aerogramme features the frigate bird which has special significance in the traditions of Nauru. The bird is por trayed on the arms of the Republic and the long black feathers were used in the head dresses and other decorative wear of Nau ruan chiefs.

ALSO IN the August issue of Stamp News are a couple of interesting facts: The oldest stamps in the world still valid for postage are the USA definitive series, is

sued August 17,1861. All US stamps issued since then are valid for postage. The 1861 has a face value of $1.75 but a catalogue value of $9,300.

The stamp with the longest period of sale in the world is the 1 ore definitive of Sweden, issued in March 1912. It was still on sale in 1970.

At Time Of

writing, some Pa cific nations had not yet decided whether they would be compet ing in the VIII South Pacific Games in Nou mea in December.

However, Nou mea has issued a

stamp featuring symbols used in the win ning entry in the competition for the de sign of the games emblem.

The ascending arrow, chosen as the symbol of New Caledonia, has been inte grated into the curves which represent the bends of an athletic track. The victory lau rels can be seen in the extension. The red is symbolic of energy, and turns progres sively orange, and finally yellow, the col our of success. The Pacific region is symbolised by the blue, and the scope of the games is translated by the waves.

TUVALU HAS sent an explanatory note to its collectors explaining recent problems in issuing stamps. Of the four sets planned for release in 1987, only one has been issued. The problems have been caused by the collapse of Tuvalu’s agents Philatelists Ltd, customs industrial action in the UK, and the military coup in Fiji which prevented stocks reaching Tuvalu.

CHRISTMAS stamps are now begin ning to appear. One of the first countries

to issue its Christmas set is New Zealand.

A set of three stamps has been issued, fea turing scenes from the Nativity.

VANUATU IS recovering from its de structive cyclone and has issued a set of 15 definitive stamps featuring local fish. The stamps are photographs of the fish taken from slides. They make an attractive set and should be popular among collectors.

AN ATTRACTIVE set featuring Tu valu ferns was issued on July 7. Contrasted with this set is the yet-to-be-issued May and June issues which display cars and trains. Enough said!! The remaining issue for 1987 for Tuvalu is on November 11 and features Crayfish and Coconut Crabs.

AGREEMENT has been reached be tween Tuvalu and Philatelic Distributions Corporation Ltd to produce and release future thematic stamps. The new contract restricts the number of sets for each outer island to a maximum of three sets per year and Tuvalu will be kept to a maximum of four sets per year.

A FINE set of stamps has been issued by Tonga, featuring Siu’a’alo Canoe Rac ing. The four se-tennant stamps are in cluded as a miniature sheet.

NIUAFO’ON (Tin Can Island) has is sued a set of four stamps featuring sharks.

A miniature sheet was also issued to com memorate the brave swimming mailmen of the island who carried the mail during the 19th century and first 30 years of the 20th century. Swimming out to ships with the mail was banned after a mailman was killed by a shark 50 years ago.

REMAINING Tongan and Niuafo’ou Island stamps for the year are: September 2 - 125th Anniversary of the First Parlia ment; and Flying the Mails of Niuafo-ou November 18 Christmas. □