Frame stamps
Stamps
PNG introduces Frame stamps
By John Hunter
A MILESTONE in the stamp scene of the Pacific Islands will occur on March 7. Papua New Guinea is to issue the first regular Frama stamp. Frama stamps have been a part of the stamp scene worldwide for quite a number of years now.
The Frama stamp is a gummed label which has a value stamped on it by a vending type of machine. The name Fra ma comes from the name of the manu facturer of the machine which despenses the label Frama Ag, of Switzerland.
The name Frama has been accepted worldwide as the name of this label.
The Frama machine is especially valu able after the post office has closed. A person may place coins in the machine and push buttons displaying a standard rate of postage value and two other values. A fourth button may be used which will print onto the label the value of coins which have been inserted in the machine. The machine is heavy-duty mild steel plate and measures 34cm by 50cm by 20cm. Internal access is by a locked front door on which are mounted: • the control buttons • coin acceptor slot • coin reject knob • LCD display showing the total value of coins inserted and the balance re maining after the issue of the requested stamps. • Frama issuing slot.
Change is given in the form of an additional postage stamp. The coins are stored in a cash box. The stamps are automatically printed and cut to a stan dard size (40mm x 32mm in the case of PNG) from a roll of gummed stamp paper.
Australia and New Zealand have been using Frama stamps since the mid 1980 s.
Labels from different machines can often be identified. In the case of Au stralia, the label carries the capital city’s post code or for other labels an identify ing number and letter appears in one corner.
I have used the terms stamp and label.
Australia Post has recognised the Frama label as a stamp, but quite a number of countries recognise the label as a label only (similar to a Franking machine label) Papua New Guinea recognises the label as a stamp.
Australia and New Zealand have been using the Frama stamp for a number of years. The only other Pacific country to use Framas was Pitcairn Island which
rented a machine a couple of years ago for Stampex in Adelaide.
Other Pacific countries will keep an eye on Papua New Guinea to monitor the success or otherwise of the Frama venture. The collecting of Frama labels
has a large following, particularly in
Europe. Collectors alone will assure Papua New Guinea an initial success, financially, with the Frama. Collectors
not only value the normally produced
label but those labels which have faulty printing or paper varieties command
large prices. For example, labels which
have zero values printed are highly sought after.
Australia and New Zea land have used
specially de
signed Frama
paper. Austra lia has been us
ing a variety of
native animals as a design while New Zea land has used its flag as a
background
design.
PNG thus embarks on a new venture.
Certainly col
lectors worl dwide will make the ven ture popular.
How the labels
be accepted by the local people is another matter. PNG Post is preparing a
large promotion campaign.
It wil be difficult for local people to see that the label is a stamp. Australians still have this difficulty.
Framas are rarely encountered on nor mal mail and even postal authorities do not know how to treat the Frama. Fre quently Frama stamps are not cancelled and not readily accepted as payment for postal services. PNG will have this trou ble. Further Australian Frama machines are more often not working due to lack of paper or jammed coin slots. PNG Postal authorities will also have to con tend with this too.
The PNG machine will make its debut at Boroko Post Office. Consequently the label bears the designation “Boroko” on it.
The stamp will also bear the words Papua New Guinea and the value of the required rate. The machine will accept Kl, 50t, 20t, lOt, st, 2t and It coins.
Stamps can be selected with values from It to K 99.99. Additional machines will be installed in other centres. □