Pacific Stamp Box

Edited by John Hunter

FIRST the good news. Australia Post’s Philatelic Bureau recorded earnings of $42 million as part of an overall revenue of $1.56 billion in the 1986-87 financial year.

The Bureau helped prevent Australia Post recording a loss yet again.

Now the bad news. According to re ports in Stamp News , sales for the Phila telic Bureau in February 1988 were down 2.5 per cent compared with February last year and 30 per cent down on a year-for year basis. The blame for this must rest squarely on the shoulders of Australia Post: I have criticised the organisation for its huge number of stamp issues in the past and must again echo this criticism.

On June 21 Australia Post issued al most $5O worth of new material, consist ing of UK and New Zealand joint issue stamps and a heritage book. Most experts in the philatelic world now report a defi nite collector reaction to Australia mate rial the increasing cost of collecting Australian material is taking its toll on stamp sales through resistance to stamp purchases.

FOR the trivia follower, the most popular topic collected by new members joining the American Topical Association during 1987 was birds on stamps. The order of popu larity after that was ships, trains, space, cats, animals, Christmas, scouts and dogs.

Way down the list were interesting sub jects such as taxicabs, angels, solar eclispes and rainbows.

GOOD news on the Pacific scene is that the ‘Leaders of the world’ stamps issued by Tuvalu and its constituent islands are to cease in the near future. It appears more topical themes such as the Seoul Olym pics and the 500th anniversary of the dis covery of the Americas will replace the ‘Leaders’ issues.

MORE trouble for Australia Post, this time with the designs of the set of four stamps issued on 21 June as a joint issue with the

UK as part of the Bicentenary celebra tions. Questions are being asked about the people and items featured on the stamps.

What connection does Shakespeare have with Australia? What connection does John Lennon have? Why is W G Grace featured; and why is there a tennis racket drawn across him? Who is the settler on the stamp? It seems each new issue these days has to have its share of argument. . . which might even help sales.

A SET of four stamps was issued by Tuvalu to Com memorate the 125th anni versary of the Red Cross on May 9. They are: 15c, Jean Henri Dunant; 40c, Junior Red Cross; 50c, care for handicapped; 60c, first aid training; and a souvenir sheet for $1.50.

Issues to come for this year are: July, fungi; 28 Sep tember, 10th anniversary of Independence; 2 Novem ber, Christmas. Unfortu nately, Tuvalu has also announced the release of gold stamps to celebrate the Queen’s 40th Wedding Anniversary! No comment needed. . .

FIJI issued a stamp on June 14 to celebrate the cen tenary of the International

Council of Women. The stamp features a

45c woman using a Fiji Nouna stove.

The “Fiji Nouna” was developed from the “African Nouna” at the Institute for Rural Development in Tonga in the 19705.

The promotion of the “Fiji Nouna” has been one of the few major projects under taken by the National Council of Women, Fiji. Its popularity among housewives

and the Council’s commitment to the wel fare of women are the reasons for its selection.

VANUATU issued of four stamps on May 18 to commemorate Australia’s Bi centenary. The stamps feature ships vis iting the islands; 20vt, SS Tambo\ 45 vt, SS lnduna\ 55vt, SS Morinda\ 65vt, SS Marsina.

ON May 20, French Polynesia issued a

set of three stamps featur ing Swedish artist Eng dahl’s work on tapa cloth.

Their values are 52F, 54F and 64F.

NEW Caledonia issued two stamps on May 19 featuring medicinal plants. Values are 28F and 64F. On June 13, a 51F stamp was issued featuring a ‘living fossil’, the crinoid Gymnocrinus richeri.

ON June 21, New Zealand issued a com memorating the Australian Bicentenary, and on June 7, a new definitive 70c bird stamp to coincide with the introduction of a new fast mail stream.

ON June 21, Australia produced a joint is sue with the UK of two se-tenant stamps.

On July 20, five se-tenant stamps were is sued for the Australian Antartic Territory featuring environment, conservation and technology, and on the first of this month a set of four stamps was issued featuring desert Aboriginal art. □