Pacific Stamp Box

Edited by John Hunter

BY the time this edition of Pacific Stamp Box appears Sydpex 88, the National Stamp Exhibition in Syd ney, will have been and gone. Everything possible has been done to ensure the ex hibition is a great success: more than 80 trade stands, 400 exhibits, the Queen’s collection plus a host of special activities and the first exhibition in Australia to have free admission. A large publicity campaign was also mounted to ensure col lectors and non-collectors alike were aware of the exhibition.

Every ingredient seems to be there to ensure that the exhibition is a success, and therein lies its importance: this is the first large exhibition in Australia since Ausipex in 1984, and will be an indicator of how stamp collecting has progressed over the past four years.

Most commentators continue to point to the occasional sign that interest is re turning after the stamp crash of 1980, but they are still not optimistic about the fu ture. Attendance at stamp clubs is falling, the average age of collectors is rising and there appears little buildup of young col lectors. There are many reasons for this, and I have indicated these on this page for the past few years. Let us hope this exhi bition will be a success in the interest gen erated and numbers attending and let us hope a joint effort will be made by postal authorities, clubs, collectors and the gen eral public to push for the growth in the hobby for years to come.

Countries issuing special stamps for Sydpex are Solomon Islands, Liberia, PNG, French Polynesia, Norfolk Island, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tokelau.

ON August 14, Pitcairn Island issued 12 stamps in the seventh definitive ship is sue: 5c HMS Swallow, 10c HMS Pandora, 15c HMS Briton and Tagus-, 20c HMS Blossom ; 30c SV Lucy Anne-, 35c SV Charles DoggetV, 40c HMS Fly, 60c HMS Camden-, 90c HMS Virago-, $1.20 SS Rakaia\ $l.BO HMS Sappho, $5 HMS Champion.

Future issues are November 30 50th Anniversary of Constitution and Christ mas; Janucry 1989 HMS Bounty, April 1989 Mutiny on the Bounty.

NEW Zealand issued a series of Health Stamps on July 27: 40c and 3c Swim ming; 60c and 3c Track and Field; 70c and 3c Canoeing; 80c and 3c Eques trian and $2.62 Miniature sheet.

PAPUA New Guinea was commemorated Sydpex on July 30 with PNG’s first tri angular stamp; a 35t stamp showing a lak atoi at Sydney Opera House. On July 30, Australia’s Bicentenary commemorated with two 35t se-tenant stamps showing fireworks and balloons, and a 70t minia ture sheet.

Future issues are September 19 But terflies; Olympic Games; National Li brary PSE; Olympic SPM; November 16 four Ship stamps and Christmas PSE.

VANUATU issued a 45vt stamp on July 29 featuring a portrait of Captain James Cook. Gutters feature a map of Vanuatu, HMS Resolution, Sydpex, HMS Endea vour and a map of Australia. □