Pacific Stamp Box

Edited by John Hunter

ON AUGUST 12, Tuvalu issued a set of four se-tenant stamps fea turing the flower “Fous” which is worn on the head of a lady. Each se-tenant set features one stamp showing the flow ers making up the fou and the other stamp showing the completed fou on the head of the lady. Meanwhile, Tuvalu has circu lated a press release warning collectors of Capex ’B7 and World Scout Jamboree ov erprints on Tuvalu Rotary/Chess souve nir sheets. The overprints were produced by a UK stamp dealer without the author ity of Tuvalu Post.

Forthcoming Tuvalu issues are Cray fish and Coconut Crab on November 11, and Flowers on a yet to be named dale in November.

ON AUGUST 18, Norfolk Island issued a set of four pre-stamped envelopes featur ing the penal commandants of the island as part of the issues to commemorate the bicentenary of the foundation of the is land. A second set of four envelopes will be released next year. Featured in the first set are Lieutenant King. Major Foveaux, Caot, Piper and Major Morrisel.

On October 13, Norfolk Island will is sue three Christmas stamps. They will feature the children’s Christmas party or ganised each year by service organisations.

Forthcoming issues are: three stamps commemorating the bicentennial of La Perouse’s visit; two stamps of the bicen tennial of the First Fleet arriving in Syd ney; six stamps of the bicentennial of the foundation of settlement; four stamps of scenes of the island.

FIJI ISSUED a set of five stamps on Sep tember 7 featuring beetles of Fiji. The sub ject is one not often depicted on Pacific stamps and so makes a most interesting set.

PAPUA NEW Guinea issued a set of four stamps on September 3 featuring local starfish. A further pre-stamped envelope in the series featuring the country’s prov inces was also issued. The envelope fea tures Eastern Highlands Province. The intended issue of a provisional coral stamp was not issued as the basic postage rate was

not increased as expected. However an ov erprinted coral stamp was issued on Sep tember 13. The stamp is a first overprint on a 12t stamp. A scarcity of first stamps made the overprinting necessary defi nitely an investment tip as little notice and publicity was given to the issue.

Issues on November 11 will be: four stamps of an aeroplane; Annual pack and year album; Christmas PSE; St John’s PSE.

NEW ZEALAND issued on September 16 a set of three stamps for Christmas. Each stamp features an illustration from a Christmas carol: “Hark, The Herald An gels Sing”; ‘Away in a Manger”; and “We, Three Kings of Orient Are”. Four stamps of Visual Arts will be released on Novem ber 4.

FURTHER ISSUES: Nauru: World Post Day (one stamp and one miniature sheet) on October 9; Centennial of Congrega-

tional Church (one stamp) on November 5; Christmas (two stamps) to be issued on November 27.

French Polynesia: Medical Plants on September 16; Ancient Arms (three stamps) on October 14; Wood Sculpture on November 15; and Grand Missionaries on December 9.

Solomon Islands; Birdwing Butterflies on November 25.

FINALLY, for the trivia buff, by courtesy of the Australian Stamp Monthly an in teresting story. The current SUSI stamp from the Great Americans series carries a hidden symbol. The stamp features a li keness of the Hebrew Educator Dr Ber nard Revel. Secretly etched into his beard is a tiny six-pointed Star of David. The en graver Kenneth Kipperman etched the star on to the metal disc of the stamp. The SUSI stamp was released in 1986 and mil lions have already been sold. □