Pacific Stamp Box
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
Edited by John Hunter
PAPUA NEW Guinea’s Post and Tele communications Corporation has ap pointed Max Stern and Co as agent for Papua New Guinea to cover the Aus tralian philatelic market. Mailing and sales points for Papua New Guinea are Don caster, Victoria; Plymouth, UK; West Hempstead, New York, in the USA; Beck enham, New Zealand and the PNG Con sulate-General in Sydney.
THE SOLOMON Islands has announced its program of stamp issues for the rest of 1988: February, agriculture; March, $lO flower definitive; April, Expo 88; July, 10th anniversary of independence; August, Australian Bicentenary; September, Olympic Games.
In its recent newsletter, the Solomon Islands Philatelic Bureau announced it is limiting issues to six a year. Well done Sol omon Islands! I am sure the bureau is gen uinely trying to put credibility back into its name after the fiasco with the Ameri ca’s Cup stamps and Gold Stamps issues.
WESTERN Samoa released a set of six stamps on March 24 to commemorate Fa leolo International Airport: 40 sene, air port terminal; 45 sene, Boeing 727; 60 sene, DHC Twin Otter; 70 sene, Boeing 737; 80 sene, airport tower and Polynesian Air Boeing 727; $l, McDonnell Douglas DC9.
THE FINAL part of Norfolk Island’s De finitive Scenes issue will be released on May 17. Four stamps will be issued: Ic, Cockpit Creek bridge; 2c, Cemetery Bay beach; 3c, Island-style guesthouse; $5, Northerly Cliff.
There are three earlier issues in the set, each of four stamps. As with earlier sets, postcards will be issued using the original artwork. The Norfolk Island Postal Serv ice will also be attending Sydpex 88 in Sydney this August; a special commemo rative stamp will be issued.
ON MARCH 16 French Po lynesia issued a set of three stamps featuring the Tahiti of yesteryear. The 11 franc, 15F and 17F stamps show different types of houses constructed by the locals.
VISITORS TO Noumea will be well aware of that city’s aquarium: on March 24 New Caledonia issued two stamps featuring fish from the aquarium as part of the territo ry’s series on fish. The 30F stamp shows a Blue Angelfish and the 46F a Spark Fish.
On April 14 New Caledonia issued 21F and 19F stamps featuring Melanesian huts, which represent Melanesian values of prestige, unity and welcome.
PAPUA NEW Guinea issued the third set in the series of historic ships on March 16, issued with 17t and K 1 stamps. Papua New Guinea will also be attending Sydpex 88 and will issue a 35t triangular stamp in
commemoration of the big event.
On June 15 PNG will issue a set of four stamps to commemorate the centenary of the police force. Values will be 17t, 35t and 70t; and on July 30 a se-tenant set of two 35t stamps will be issued to commemo rate Australia’s bicentenary.
IN THE United Kingdom a battle is being waged ... over a postmark slogan! The slogan reads “Jesus is Alive” and is fol lowed by a cross (in the UK postmark slo gans can be published by anyone provided the slogan does not offend). The cost of the service depends on how many post offices use it and the time it runs; the slogan in question ran for six weeks and cost about $ A 130,000. The battle is between sup porters of the slogan and those who say it is propaganda and discriminatory. □