NEWSLETTER OF THE ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC APRIL 2016 Stamps from Fujeira - are they junk?
Antarctic Covers from King George Island
The NEWSLETTER OF THE
ORANGE COIN AND STAMP
th 26 APRIL 2016 CLUB INCORPORATED ISSUE #169
Web page: http://club.philas.org.au/orange/
OUR 2016 ORANGE COIN & STAMP EXPO ON SATURDAY 9th and SUNDAY 10th APRIL WENT WELL
Expo 2016. John Pearson attends to customers. Over Our 2016 Expo was held in the Kenna Hall to the right is Joe Dettling of Wynyard Coins on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April 2016. What we did miss this year was the youth It was everything that we had anticipated. activities table. Unfortunately Audrey Ferris Perhaps it didn’t have the crowds we might has been dealing with a medical issue and have had 20 years ago, but the numbers of was unavailable. We wish her well in her visitors were quite pleasing. Expo 2016 was recovery. . no failure. A huge thanks goes out to all those Club The dealers seemed happy with their sales. members who assisted on the front door The displays were excellent. Most table and in the kitchen. importantly, all the participants seemed to Special thanks goes out to Barry and Joan have a good time. Dean who put in two solid days. Thanks also to the Henry family, Col & Eileen Davidson,
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Ron Mills, Ray Norman, Dave Field & 2nd was Joe Dettling’s The Decimal Lawrie Sherwin. rd Currency Changeover. 3 was Ray Norman’s Chinese First Day Covers.
The full list of displays is shown on Page 9.
Bathurst Club’s Bruce Chadderton also provided additional sheets for a display, but Club members had fully filled the three rows of trestle tables in the centre of the Hall, and there was insufficient space.
EXPO 2016THE NUMISMATIC & PHILATELIC “TECHICAL” Joan Dean busy on the front desk, Barry Dean is behind her. Ron Mills & Betty Henry are on the right. COMPETITIONS FOR DISPLAYS
Thanks also to Geoff Henry and Gerry The philatelic displays were judged on Jeffermans who stayed overnight in the their technical merit by the two visiting Kenna Hall. accredited National philatelic judges – Bruce Chadderton who now lives and Bathurst and David Collyer. We were ANDY AULD SHIELD FOR 2016 greatly honoured to have David Collyer AWARDED TO GRAHAM present at our Club show. He is currently DOHERTY the Philatelic Development Officer – Metropolitan for the N.S.W. Philatelic The Andy Auld Perpetual Shield is awarded Development Council. at Expo each year for the most popular display. Visitors to Expo, not Club After viewing all of the philatelic displays members, vote on exit for the display they they awarded 1st Place to Graham liked best. Doherty’s Birds display. They explained This year there were 27 members’ displays. that it fulfilled all of the requirements for a
The most popular display at this year’s topical display. Moreover, they thought the Expo was Graham Doherty’s Birds. It was display was "colourful" and “pleasing to the a double win for Graham because this eye” as well as it being able to tell a story. display also won the philatelic “technical” 2nd Place went to Derek Dolstra’s Stamps of competition. the Cretan State. 3rd Place went to Klaus
Barrasch’s The Newspaper Wrappers of Victoria from 1869 to 1917.
The numismatic displays were judged on their technical merit by the three of the visiting numismatic dealers. They each picked a 1st, 2nd & 3rd, but unfortunately their decisions were all different. It was then decided to do what we do in the Club – give 4 points for a 1st, 3 points for a 2nd and 2 points for a 3rd. This gave overall 1st, 2nd & 3rd placings. Graham Doherty with the Andy Auld Shield for 2016
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1st Place was consequently awarded to The winning ticket was drawn by the Display C – Col Davidson’s What is a president, Tony Read at 2.30pm on Sunday Coin? 10th April. The winner was Joe Dettling. 2nd Place was awarded to Display Y – Col Davidson’s Obsidian & Jade. 3rd Place was awarded to Display I – Tony Read’s Time For Change - Aussie Small Change.-
VISITORS TO EXPO 2016 CAME FROM MANY PLACES
The television advertising seemed to attract visitors from many places. Your editor spoke to collectors who came from Canberra, Dubbo, Bathurst and Cowra. Several people came from Sydney and from Newcastle. We didn’t seem to get many though from Parkes & Forbes. The patchwork quilt for which we owe Klaus Barrasch a debt of gratitude.
GEOFF HENRY’S CATERER’S REPORT FOR EXPO 2016
“To all the canteen helpers a big thanks you for your assistance over the weekend. It was pleasing to see so many helpers over the two days. Thank you to all the members who donated sandwiches biscuit’s etc. “We had no food or safety issues again this year. Fresh sandwiches were made on the Sunday and we had a good supply of items left over. These Elizabeth Pratt from the Mudgee Club came to were given back to their respective donors where Expo 2016 possible.’ ‘ “We had a good number of out of town visitors Expo 2016 was on the same weekend as the this year. So our lunches and cupper’s are up this Orange F.O.O.D. activities. We get some year. This year’s brake down is listed below: - Tea 60 “overflow” from visitors who come to Coffee 90 Orange for that – but it’s hard to get Lunches 60 exposure in the newspapers, because of it. Morning/Afternoon teas 120 Some visitors also noticed our ad in the Milk. 3Lts. Western Magazine, but the Prime TV ad Sugar 400 grams plus seemed to be the main drawcard. sweeteners Food Sandwiches, slices, cakes, biscuits, etc. OUR EXPO 2016 RAFFLE Bread 2 loaves. Extras Items for the Klaus Barrasch very kindly offered the Club st sandwiches, dishwashing liquid, a hand-sewn patchwork quilt as 1 prize: Garbage bags, 4 Toilet rolls and 1 Handtowel. “ The quilt was the work of the late and much- GEOFF HENRY 16 /04 /2016 liked Meree Barrasch.
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THE EXPO 2016 DINNER FOR hall of the Orange Cultural Centre in Sale St. The Fair runs from 9.30am till about DEALERS & MEMBERS WAS ON 1.30p.m. THE SATURDAY NIGHT, AT KELLY’S RUGBY HOTEL The venue is the Orange Cultural Centre. It is held on the 1st Saturday of each About 20 persons attended the informal Expo month (but not January). 2016 Dinner at Martha Jane’s Restaurant, upstairs at Kelly’s Rugby Hotel on the The Orange Cultural Centre is the white- Saturday night. stuccoed former school building, with trees out the front, on the right as you enter the Everyone who went reported a good night Woolworth’s car park from Sale St. Harris out. Farm fruit market is on the left.
OUR 2-DAY SPRING FAIR MAY THE NEXT MONDAY MIDDAY NEED A CHANGE OF DATE MEETING IS ON MONDAY 9th
MAY 2016 This year the Club proposed holding a 2-day Spring Fair, as a trial, later this year. It had Our next lunchtime meeting will be at th th been proposed for Saturday 8 and Sunday midday on Monday 9 April 2016. 9th October 2016. However, not only are We meet in the Orange Community some of the dealers committed to a show in Information & Service Centre, Kite Street. Adelaide, but that’s the weekend of the Access is from Woolworth’s car park or the Bathurst Supercheap Auto 100 Car Race. Kite St entrance. Accommodation in Orange is already booked out for that weekend... Depending on the Although we will be “stamped-out” after the availability of the Kenna Hall we may need Expo weekend it may be an opportunity to to book another weekend. review our successes and failures.
If you haven’t been before, please come OUR NEXT CLUB ‘NIGHT’ along. It’s an opportunity for swapping, for MEETING, AFTER THIS asking questions and for information.
ONE, IS ON TUESDAY 31st THANKS TO EXPO 2016 MAY 2016. SPONSORS - PLEASE SUPPORT The next meeting, after this one, is on THEM IN RETURN Tuesday, 31st May at 7.30pm. Australian Stamp Professional We always meet on the last Tuesday in each magazine month at the Orange Information & Klaus Barrasch for the main raffle Community Services building. Entry is prizes through the kitchen at the back of the M.R. Roberts & the Wynyard building, from the Woolworth’s Car park Coin Centre
NEXT MONTHLY ORANGE COIN DEALERS WHO ATTENDED & STAMP FAIR IS IN THE OUR 2016 EXPO – KEEP ORANGE CULTURAL CENTRE SUPPORTING THEM th
ON SATURDAY 7 MAY 2016 A. Byrne Coins (Tony Byrne
Our next monthly Coin & Stamp Fair will be from Canberra – PO Box 53, held on Saturday 7th May 2016 in the main
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MITCHELL, A.C.T. 2911, ph (02) Ave, Kooringal, Sat 21 6255 4044) and Sun 22 May 2016
Pittwater Philatelic Petersham Stamp, Coin & Banknote Fair, Petersham Service (John & Tracey Town Hall, Sunday Pearson) Phone 0412 904 295 29th May 2016 and 02 9979 1561. email: - [email protected] Orange Coin & Stamp Club monthly PO Box 259, NEWPORT BEACH meeting, 7.30pm NSW 2106 Tuesday 31st May 2016 at the Community Info Phil & Win Morehouse, Centre, Kite St. .Ph: (02) 9707 4087, email: Orange Coin & Stamp Club Monthly Fair in the [email protected] Orange Cultural Centre, Saturday 4th June 2016, Wynyard Coin Centre 7 9.30 to 1.30, at the Orange Hunter Arcade, Sydney, 2000 – Cultural Centre, Sales St, Lower Concourse, Wynyard Orange. Railway Station; Ph (02) 9299 Orange Coins & Stamps & Orange Coin & 2047 & Fax (02) 9290 3710.Their Stamp Club Inc combined e-mail address is auction, Kenna Hall, [email protected] Orange, Saturday Copies made & available at meeting Orange Stamps and Coins Copies made & available at (Howard Lyons) PO Box 9288, meeting 11th June 2016 ORANGE NSW 2800; Ph/fax PHILAS Stamp Auction, PHILAS House, 17 (02) 6362 2368; E-mail: - Brisbane St, Surry Hills, [email protected] Saturday 9th July 2016
DATES FOR 2016 Petersham Stamp, Coin & Banknote Fair, Petersham Orange Coin & Stamp Club monthly Town Hall, Sunday meeting, 7.30pm 31st July 2016 Tuesday26th April 2016 at the Community Info Orange Coin & Stamp 2-Day Spring Centre, Kite St.! Stamp & Coin Show, Kenna Hall, 90 Hill St Orange Coin & Stamp Club Monthly Orange now re- Fair in the Orange scheduled in late- Cultural Centre, September or early- th October 2016 Saturday 7 May 2016, 9.30 to 1.30, at ITEMS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER the Orange Cultural Centre, Sales St, AND CORRESPONDENCE TO Orange. THE CLUB Items for this newsletter need to be posted to Orange Coin & Stamp Club midday/lunchtime stamp swap meeting. the Secretary at the Club’s postal address: - Community Information PO Box 324 ORANGE 2800. They can Centre, Kite St, Monday always also be e-mailed to: - 9thMay, 12 midday [email protected] -Or phone 63 614 872. Wagga Wagga Stamp & Coin Fair, Sturt Public School, White
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Hunter Arcade, Sydney, 2000 – Lower Concourse, Wynyard Railway Station; Ph (02) 9299 2047 & Fax (02) 9290 3710.Their e-mail address is [email protected]
The Wynyard Coin Centre was a sponsor of our Expo 2016. Please support them. We were sorry to hear about his fall which stopped him coming to Orange for Expo 2016 with the rest of his team,
We congratulate Mr M.R. Roberts on his long and distinguished service to the hobby of numismatics
Thanks to Klaus Barrasch for his donation of a hand-made quilt as a prize for the Expo 2016 Raffle …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Thanks to Australian Stamps Professional Magazine for their kind donation of back copies for our Spring Fair. Pick the current issue up at your newsagent or email [email protected]. Most Orange newsagents now keep it. www.australianstampspr
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Above: - Expo 2016 at a quiet time late on Saturday afternoon. Tony Byrne is attending to customers on the left. The Club displays are on the trestles
Below: - Expo 2016 - Tony Byrne, again, busy with customers
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For Our next Stamp, Coin and Banknote Auction No. 5
Contact us to discuss the sale of your collection or send by registered post to our address below. Please don’t leave it to the
last minute. Do it NOW We can arrange pick-up of large or valuable collections.
Orange Stamps and Coins P.O. Box 9288, Orange. 2800
Ph: 02 6362 2368 Fax: 02 6362 2368 Email: [email protected]
Catalogues for Auction #4 which is to be held at the Kenna Hall, 90 Hill Street, Orange is nearing completion with a confirmed date set for 11th-June,2016.
Should you wish to receive a copy of this catalogue please complete your details on the attached leaflet
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Advertisement for Orange Stamps & Coins To: Orange Stamp and Coins P.O. Box 9288, Orange.. 2800
Please supply to me a copy of your latest auction catalogue.
Name:......
Address:......
...... Postcode:......
Phone: ......
Email : ......
Catalogue price - $5-00 Email copies - No Charge
EXPO 2016, 9-10 APRIL LIST OF MEMBER’S DISPLAYS
A Ray Norman Six Chinese First Day Covers, in coin case B Klaus Barrasch German History on Medallions, large coin case with medallions C Col. Davidson What is a Coin? Small coin frame D Eileen Davidson Collectables & Souvenirs of the Holy Land Collectables and coins in a large coin case E Tony Read A Royal Obsession: - Coronation $ Jubilee Medals in coin case
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F Tony Read From Shu’s to Bu’s & Yens! The Currency of Japan larger coin case G Tony Read John Buncle (1822-1889):- Awards Presented to John Buncle Coin case H Tony Read Palestine – Coins coin case I Tony Read Time for Change: Aussie Small Change coin case J Tony Read Funny Money Small coin case K Tony Read Toy Money Small coin case L Graham Doherty Birds Two-frame (24 pages) topical display M Graham Doherty Universal Postal Union One -frame (12 pages) of stamps N Derek Dolstra The Coronation of King George VI Omnibus Stamp Issues of 1937 First Day Covers One frame of 15 pages O Klaus Barrasch Postal Stationery from Germany’s Pneumatic Mail One frame of 15 pages P Klaus Barrasch The Newspaper Wrappers of Victoria from 1869 to 1917 One frame of 15 pages
Q Derek Dolstra Australian Army Mails and Military Post Offices of World War II One frame of 15 pages R Joe Dettling The Decimal Currency Changeover on 14th February 1966 Coin case S Derek Dolstra Stamps of the Cretan State Two small stamp frame of 18 pages T Derek Dolstra The Pre-War Air Mails from France to Australia One stamp frame of 12 pages U Derek Dolstra Censored Covers from the Spanish Civil War One stamp frame of 12 pages V Klaus Barrasch Covers from the German Sailing Ship “Gorch Fock” Specially built stamp frame W Ray Norman [Banknotes, stamps & coins from Laos] Small coin case X Col. Davidson China – The Celestial Kingdom – Coins Larger coin case Y Col. Davidson Obsidian & Jade Larger coin case with obsidian & jade primitive money & trade items Z Rob. Willis Australia Remembers: - Commemorative Coins for World War I and World War II Coin case AA Joe Dettling Currency Through History Larger coin case with money items from shell money to the modern period
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THE COVERS OF KING GEORGE ISLAND (South Shetland Is) King George Island is the largest of the South Shetland Islands group, located off the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula.
King George Island is the British and most common name. But Argentina calls it Isla 25 de Mayo, and Russia, Ostrov Vaterloo. The island is 120 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula mainland, 95 km long by 25 km wide, and covers 1150 square kms. There is a higher concentration of Antarctic bases here than anywhere else. There are 13 current bases and 2 former bases, from 11 different countries.
Most of the island is covered with glaciers, and the bases concentrate in areas that are largely ice-free, in Admiralty Bay on the south centre, and the southwestern end of the island around Maxwell Bay. The terrain is both spectacular and forbidding.
Admiralty Bay is the location of the original British base named Admiralty Bay, or Base G. It was built in 1947, and closed in 1961. The buildings were removed in 1965, leaving only some concrete slabs. This Admiralty Bay cover features Falkland Island Dependency stamps, with clear Admiralty Bay South Shetland postmarks, dated 26 March 1958. Address (faint): Mr H.E.I. Evans, 30 Salisbury Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, England.
The Brazilian base, Comandante Ferraz Station was built on the site of the original British Base G in Admiralty Bay in 1984. It usually housed 60, and in summer up to 100 personnel.
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On 25 February 2012, an explosion in the machine room ignited a fire that destroyed 70% of the base, and killed 2 men. The base was removed, and rebuilt. It was expected to open in 2015.
The cover has Brazilian stamps, one of which features the Brazilian Air Force in Antarctica. It is postmarked "Estação Antartica Comandante Ferraz - ECT-Brasil" and dated 20 Feb. 1991. The cachet reads the same, and indicates "Inverno 91" (winter 1991). It is signed by the station chief, Frigate Captain Ricardo de Lima Vallim. The address is concealed in the photograph.
A second cover is a card with the same postmark (though not on the stamps) and a similar cachet, bears stamps of Tristan da Cunha (uncancelled). The ship cachet, MV Society Explorer (of Monrovia) indicates the ship that brought the team to Antarctica, and indicates a stop there en route. It is addressed to Herr Hans Schwarz, Hopmannstr. 4, D-5300 Bonn 2, Federal Republic of Germany.
In 1989, Peru joined the Antarctic community with the establishment
- Page - 13 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL 2016 of the Machu Picchu Base, also in Admiralty Bay. It is a summer only base. Annual expeditions come to carry out research. The cover bears Chilean stamps (the island airport is Chilean), postmarked "Correos de Chile Filatelia Base Ant. Eduardo Frei", dated 9 Sep 1999. It carries a cachet map of the island showing the major bases, and a sticker/cachet "Estacion Antartica Peruviana Machu Picchu" and on the inner circle, "Ejercito del Peru ANTAR X 98-99" (Army of Peru). It is addressed to Steven McLachlan, a well known stamp dealer in New Zealand.
In 1975-76, a private Italian expedition came to Admiralty Bay, and set up a small base they named Giacomo Bove Station after an early Italian explorer. The following year (1977-78), a second expedition came to the site, to find the base demolished. It seems unknown who was responsible. Only ruins remain today. In 2011, a ham radio group visited the site, and produced the sticker to the right. I have been unable to discover if any covers were ever produced for the Giacomo Bove Station.
The Henryk Arctowski Base is a Polish base built in 1977. It is also in Admiralty Bay. Open year round, it has up to 13 people in winter, and up to 35 in summer.
The cover carries 2 Poland stamps, and is cancelled with a postmark reading, "Polska Stacia Antarkticzna Im. H. Arctowskiego - WARSZAWA 1", (Polish Antarctic Station H. Arctowski - Warsaw 1), and inner line, "Wyspa Króla Jerzego" (Island King George), and dated 21 Jun 1995. The penguin cachet translates as "Polish Antarctic Expedition 1995", and the rectangular cachet as “A Tribute to the completion of the Polish Henry Arctowski Antarctic Polar Station”.
The Pieter J. Lenie Field Station, usually known as Copacabana or “Copa” (after an adjacent beach) is a United States summer station 2km SE of the Arctowski base on the edges of Admiralty Bay. Founded in 1985, there are 3 small buildings catering to 6 summer staff. Current research is monitoring penguin populations. It was named for long time Antarctic ship captain, Pieter J. Lenie.
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The cover bears a Chilean stamp, postmarked "Correos de Chile - Punta Arenas" and dated 18 Nov 2001. The top cachet refers to the 2002 season opening; the next the station ID and location. The lower cachet indicates the team travelled on the Research Vessel Laurence M. Gould from Punta Arenas to Copacabana. The palm trees and flamingos on the Copacabana cachet are an example of Antarctic humour!
Located on Potter Cove near the entrance to Maxwell Bay, is Carlini Base. Founded by Argentina in 1953, it was named Jubany Base after a pilot who died, but was renamed Carlini Base in 2012 after distinguished Antarctic scientist, Alejandro Carlini. It is staffed all year round, with about 60 in winter, and many more in summer. There are a number of specialised research laboratories on the base. It is adjacent to a rookery of over 16,000 penguins and 650 sealions.
The stamps on the cover are from Argentina. The cancellation features Argentina's Antarctic claims map, with "Base Jubany, 9411 Antartida Argentina" dated 26 Feb 1989. The ship cachet simply states, " Correspondence received from the Argentine Antarctica”.
So far I have not been able to obtain any covers
using the Carlini Base name. This one was a photo online. The stamps are of Argentina. Postmark: Carlini Scientific Base – Argentina Antarctic Institute – Dr Alejandro R. Carlini - Decree 30.9.2012 changing the name of the Jubany Base" with longitude and latitude coordinates, and the date 22 March 2013. The other cachet inscription blurred but it features the Three Brothers mountain behind the base, and a penguin. The signature is that of the Radio-postal officer, Daniel Nogales.
In 1990, the Alfred Wegener Institute of marine research, Germany, began talks with the Argentine National Antarctic Institute, resulting in the installation of on-site laboratories adjacent to Jubany Base. The Dallmann Laboratory was opened in 1994. I know of no cover as yet for this base. However to the right is a cachet of the Alfred Wegener Institute which owns the Dallmann Laboratory. Eduard Dallmann was a German trader and Polar explorer.
The King Sejong Station is a South Korean research station. Established in 1988, it consists of 11 facility buildings and two observatories. It is located on the Barton Peninsula in Maxwell Bay, the southernmost bay of King George Island. Operating year round, it has 90 staff in summer and 17 in winter. It is named for King Sejong, who ruled Korea in 1418-1459, and was responsible for the Korean alphabetic script.
This is the front (above) and back of a First Day Cover issued by South Korea on 15 Feb 2008 to commemorate the King Sejong Station. On the reverse extra postage was added. I have been unable to determine where it was postmarked, or where it was addressed to.
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The second cover bears 2 Chilean stamps, and is postmarked at the Chilean "President Eduardo Frei Montalva Base", also on King George Island, on 5 January 1998. Both cachets feature KARP or Korean Antarctic Research Program, the body that operates the King Sejong Station.
Uruguay's Artigas Base was opened in December 1984 on Fildes Peninsula, Maxwell Bay. In summer it may have up to 60 residents, in winter about 9. There are 13 buildings. It is a permanent base, operating year round. It is named for José Gervasio Artigas, the national hero of Uruguay, and father of the nation. The cover bears Chilean stamps, the left of which features Chile's Teniente Marsh Air Base on the island. The postmark
reads "Correos de Chile - Territorio Antartico Chileno - Teniente R. Marsh" and the date, (unclear), 1991. The upper sealion cachet reads, "Artigas Scientific Antarctic Base", and "Endowment 90". The lower cachet reads "Uruguayan Antarctic Institute - Artigas Scientific Antarctic Base."
The second cover below is a mixed bag of cachets. On the front are 4 cachets from China's Great Wall Station, 4 from Russia's Bellinghausen base, 1 from Chile's Escudero base, and only 2 from Uruguay's Artigas base. However, the back has
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7 from Uruguay's Artigas Base, and 1 from Chile's Eduardo Frei Air Base. All the bases are on the island. Since Uruguay's cachets predominate, I include it here. It has a Chilean stamp of the Antarctic, and is postmarked Base Eduardo Frei - Correos de Chile - Antarctica Chilena", and dated 7 January 2009.
On Fildes Peninsula, to the west of Maxwell Bay, are a number of bases in close proximity. Russia’s Bellingshausen Station is furthest north, the moving south, Escudero, Frei, Marsh and Great Wall stations.
Bellingshausen was founded in 1968 by the Soviet Antarctic Expedition. Manned year round, it has a winter staff of 25, and a summer staff of 38. It is also the location of Holy Trinity Church (Церковь Святой Троицы), the only permanently staffed Eastern Orthodox church in Antarctica. The base is named for Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen (1778-1852), a Baltic-German in the Russian Navy who came an Admiral, and was an explorer and cartographer. He and his associate Lazarev were the first to sight the continent of Antarctica. The cover is a Russian aerogram with inscription “50th Anniversary of the Second International Polar Year”. The postmark reads “Soviet Antarctic Expedition «BELLINGSHAUSEN»” (the date imprint is not understood). The cachet reads “SAE” at the top, the date 22 February 1968, «Bellingshausen», and the longitude and latitude of the base, with an elephant seal in the centre.
Chile’s Professor Julio Escudero Base was set up in 1994. It is a summer only base with a capacity of 170. Though it is adjoining the much larger Eduardo Frei Station, also
belonging to Chile, it is operated by the Chilean Antarctic Institute, not the military. Its purpose is to house and coordinate research personnel. Julio Escudero was a jurist who largely drafted the Chilean proclamation of sovereignty over their Antarctic claim.
The cover has a Chilean stamp featuring the 25th Anniversary of the Committee of Antarctic Research. The cancellation reads “President Eduardo Frei M. Air Base, Chilean Antarctica”. No date. Cachet inscriptions: Upper: “Chilean Antarctic Institute, Escudero Base, Chile”. Lower: Professor Julio Escudero Base, INACH, Chile, with long/lat coords. Lower mid: “Chilean Antarctic Territory – President Eduardo Frei Montalva Base, and long/lat coords. Lower right cachet seems to have just coordinates plus penguin.
Presidente Eduarto Frei Montalva Base is the largest of all the King George Island bases. It is operated by the Chilean Air Force, and is both a military and civilian base. Established in 1969 as the Eduardo Frei Meterological Base, it expanded, and the expansion was known as Teniente Rudolfo Marsh Base including the airport. In the mid-1990s, the Eduardo Frei name again applied to the entire complex.
As part of its claims to the region as its Antarctic Territory (the same area is claimed by both Britain and Argentina), Chile established a “town” within the base, with families, a school, a bank, a supermarket etc. This town is called Villa las Estrellas (The Stars Town). Behind this is where the Teniente (Lieutenant) Rudolfo Marsh Airport is located. The base and “town” have a summer population of over 150, and a winter population of 80. There is radio and TV, internet, a 15 pupil school, a hospital – all serving 14 homes. There is also a Catholic church - Santa María Reina de la Paz (St Mary Queen of Peace). It looks a though it were constructed out of shipping containers.
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In 1980, the Chilean Air Force built the airport, named Teniente Rudolfo Marsh. The runway is 1300m long, and surfaced with gravel (or ice!). There are 5 buildings linked with it. It is the only airport in Antarctica with an IATA code, because it also carries public (tourist) flights, though these are not regular. In 1994, a Brazilian Air Force Hercules crashed on landing at the Airport when the landing gear failed. Though an engine caught fire, no-one was injured. The plane was written off.
This cover has stamps of Chile, the one on the right featuring 25 years of the Chilean Antarctic Institute. Postmark: Correos de Chile - Territorio Antartida Chilena - Teniente R. Marsh". The day of the date is unclear, in December 1990. The cachets reflect the international usage of the airport. The left cachet is of the Dutch Antarctic Expedition en route to Deception Islands to study the ecology of skuas (birds). The right cachet is the Polish Antarctic Station H. Arctowski.
The second Teniente Marsh cover has both Chile and Russia stamps. The Chilean ones are postmarked similarly to others with the Teniente Marsh cancellation, 26 October 1993. The Russian stamp is cancelled with Bellingshausen base, though part is blurred. It is dated 10 October 1993. The addressee is located in Adelaide SA. Cachet: Chilean Antarctic Territory Base Tte Marsh. A feature of interest on this cover is a misspelling in the Chilean postmark. The name Marsh is misspelled MARHS. Compare the two portions of postmarks below. The error is quite common - the same postmark was used for some time.
Since the mid 1990s, the postmarks reflect that the overall name has changed from Teniente Rudolfo Marsh to Eduardo Frei Base.
This one bears Chilean stamps, the one on the right featuring air force involvement in Antarctic exploration. Postmarked, "Base Eduardo Frei - Correos de Chile - Antarctica Chilena" with date 12 January 2012. Cachet: "Fauna Antarctica - Chile" with Penguin.
Chile has not been slow to use stamps to bolster its Antarctic claims, while presenting them as commemorating its achievements with at least 21 issues since 1958. (Of course, the British have done that all along!) Issued in 1994,
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The southernmost station on King George Island is China’s Great Wall Station, 0.5km south of the Chilean complex. Opened on 20 Feb 1985, it now houses up to 40 people in summer, and 14 in winter.
It carries stamps of the People's Republic of China. The postmark location is not known, the date is 25 March 2003. Cachets: Left: University of Jena (Germany) Institute of Ecology, Antarctic Expedition 20023-3 King George Island. Centre: China-Germany-Peru Cooperation CHINARE XIX 2002.12-2003.2 (in English and Chinese). Lower: Map of Antarctica with “Great Wall Base” in Chinese & longitude/latitude coordinates.
Finally, a collection of cachets - one of each of the bases known, past and present, along with map cachet of King George Islands:
- Colin Richardson
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FUJEIRA STAMPS: - WORTH KEEPING -OR ARE THEY ALBUM WEEDS?
Recently I purchased a second-hand stock-book. It contained quite a number of very ‘pictorial’ stamps of “FUJEIRA”. Their designs featured birds, scouts & space exploration – all of potential interest to a topical collector. The question begged as whether or not to bin them, “pass them on” in the circuit book or even keep them. They had the look of philatelic junk. . I suspect almost all collectors who have a few somewhere, although, I guess, we are too embarrassed to admit it. They mostly live in the bottom of boxes , in envelopes of unsorted material, or at the back of albums. I don’t think I have ever seen a display of them. So I was tempted to find out more about them.
WHERE IS FUJEIRA (OR FUJAIRAH AS IT IS NOW)? It says Fujeira on the stamps, but now, apparently it is further Anglicised and spelled Fujairah (Arabic Al Fugaira). It used to be independent, but on 2nd December 1971 the Trucial state of Fujairah joined the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the seven Trucial States that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is the only one that has a coastline on the Gulf of Oman and not on the Persian Gulf.
Fujairah, shown in red, is not actually in the Persian Gulf
The other states making up the United Arab Emirates are Abu Dhabi (also the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah & Um al-Quwain. Each state is governed by an absolute ruler. Some of these also had a bad stamp-issuing history.
Fujairah has an area of only 1166 square kilometres. Its population in 2009 was around 152 000. That’s only four times the size of Orange. It is almost completely mountainous and is the only emirate not covered in desert. The mountains produce rainfall that allows cropping.
Since then unification Federal laws have priority, but otherwise the sheik has ultimate power. The economy has been modernised, but still relies heavily on federal subsidies & grants, and the cement & quarrying industries. There are no oil-fields.
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Fujiarah, unlike the adjoining “sand” emirates consists mostly of mountains
Buildings in modern Fujairah
Fujiera was a vassal ‘province’ of Muscat until 1850 when it was annexed by the Al Qasimi of Sharjah. Before 1918 it was considered as a remote part of the Ottoman Empire. Until about 1940 much of the coastline was still controlled by pirates.
In 1952 Fujiera entered into a treaty with Great Britain, becoming the last of the Emirates to join the loose alliance called the Trucial States. “Trucial” meant a Persian Gulf state that had agreed to enter into a Treaty with Britain (the first was in 1843), in an attempt to attempt to control pirates, and to protect them from sea & land attacks. Fujeira’s coast used to be called the Pirate Coast. Under the Treaty each of the states also got a resident British Political Adviser.
THE STORY OF FUIJIERA’S STAMPS
Fujeira stamps were only officially issued between in the short period between 1964 and 1972. The post office was taken over by the United Arab Emirates postal administration on 1 August 1972. Fujeira stamps were replaced by issues of the United Arab Emirates from 1st January 1973. For collectors it is now a “dead country”
In the early period there was no mail service to the Trucial states. Since 1882 mail, parcels and trade goods had been carried by the British India Steam Navigation Company, who had a monopoly for doing so in the Persian Gulf. . At Bombay, the Company’s home port, letters from Trucial and other Persian Gulf states were unloaded and introduced to the Indian Postal System. Indian stamps were available on the ships.
An early “player” in the history of Fujiera’s stamps was a “maverick” businessman called Bruce Conde. In 1963 there were questions about which of the Trucial states oil, and which did not. To attract oil exploration companies the local rulers needed to provide infrastructure like ports and roads. The local British Political Advisers could have recommended using
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Michel Stephen lived in Beirut and ran the Baroody Stamp Co as well as the Dubai Postal Agency
The rulers of Fujiera and adjoining Um al-Qiwan signed agreements on 6th September 1963 with Baroody Stamp Co of Beirut on which the company will establish a small post office in their Emirates and pay the rulers a fee for the concession of printing and marketing their stamps.
On 15th October 1963 the Baroody Stamp Co announced that the rulers of Fujeira, Um al- Qiwan and Ajman would open post offices as follows:- Fujiera from 22nd November 1963 Um al-Qiwan from 27 November 1963 Ajman from 29th November 1963, And, that ordinary and registered, and sea mail and airmail would commence on these dates.
When the Fujeira Post Office opened, unfortunately, the stamps had not been printed. For the initial period British stamps of the types used in Muscat & Dubai were used. On 30th December 1963 H.M. Political Agency in Dubai wrote a letter to the Political Agency in Bahrain:- “The company representative, Mr Stephen, after a long absence turned up last week. He said he was now ready to open the three post offices, nut for the first month to use in them British stamps overprinted (as in Muscat). Furthermore he had concluded an agreement with the largest stamp firm in the World, J.H. Stolow Inc, in New York, assigning them all rights in the three Trucial agreements. He also brought with him quantities (1400 at a time) of specially-designed stamps, which he proposed would eventually be issued from the three states.”
During the 1964 the Baroody Stamp Co did end up buying quantities of four British low value stamps (5np, 10p, 15np and 20np) “value only” from the Dubai post office and surcharged them “FUJIARA” for general use throughout the emirate. The number of these stamps actually used, however, was very small. The inhabitants of Fujeira had not had a post
- Page - 22 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL 2016 office before and there was no culture of letter-sending. Also there was little literacy in the population until the United Arab Emirates embarked on universal education in the mid- 1970’s. There was only one post office &the Baroody Stamp Co certainly did not provide any local delivery
Use of the “FUJEIRA” overprinted U.K. stamps on a 1964 cover. This cover was back- stamped Abu Dhabi, where the air mail portion could commence. Fujeira had no airport.
Fujeira mails in the period before it joined the United Arab Emirates in laTE-1972 were sent via Dubai or Abu Dhabi in bundles. The quantity of mail was never large enough for a mail bag.
The first “Baroody” stamp issue of Fujeira in 1964 consisted of 19 values showing Sheik Mohamed bin Hamad al Sharqi against images of 18 different animals. These may have actually had some real postal use. The Stanley Gibbons catalogue (2009) lists the used price of the lower values at 15p each. The highest value, the 10 rupee Falcon is listed used at £5.25.
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Later in 1964 another 9 stamps were issued showing the Sheik and 9 images of athletes on the ready for the Mexico Olympics.
1965 saw the release of 9 stamps showing images of President John F Kennedy. These sold well in the United States and are still in demand by topical collectors. Again the high values, new & used, are worth good money.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue lists about another 10 issues for which they had evidence of postal use. One popular issue was the 8 stamps and mini-sheet released in 1966 to commemorate the then recently-departed Winston Churchill.
The early, “genuine” stamps of Fujeira and the other “sand” states of the Persian Gulf, once considered a philatelic joke, are actually increasing in value. They are not the joke the used to be. There is a rising standard of living in the Gulf and an increasing domestic demand for their early stamps. For this reason, as well as their potential use in topical displays, the stamps listed in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue from 1964 to 1967 (but not those in the Appendix) are probably worth keeping. They may even increase in price. Stamp which have
- Page - 24 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL 2016 had actual postal use and commercial covers ought to be worth serious money. The market, though, will be Middle East-based collectors.
Beyond these earlier issues, the remaining stamp issues of Fujeira belong to the murky world of chronic oversupply, unauthorised issues and general ‘shonkiness’. They will and must remain a joke.
The Stanley Gibbons 2009 Stamps of the World catalogue listed 166 Fujiera stamps between 1964 and 1967. At the end of the listings, however, is an Appendix with the following note. : “The following stamps have either been issued in excess of postal needs or have not been available to the public in reasonable quantities at face value. Such stamps may later be given full listing if there is evidence of regular postal use.” It also notes that "During 1970 a number of other sets came on the market, but their official status is in doubt", and, “A number of issues on gold & silver foil exist, but it is understood that three were mainly for presentation purposes, though valid for postage.” Another note states:- that after the “United Arab Emirates took over on the Fujeira postal service on 1 August 1972…further stamps were released without authority and had no validity”.
The Michel Catalogue (1999) lists 1542 stamps and 207 sheets, issued between 1964 and 1972. Michel writes that on 9 May 1970 the Fujeira PA terminated its contract with an agency and charged another agency with issuing of stamps. The old agency still brought on the market other stamps, that weren't accepted as official ones by the Fujeira PA. In its most prolific year, 1972, Fujeira issued about 700 stamps and 200 sheets (!). Comparing these figures with Liberia's 2000 high of 677 stamps and 94 sheets, the quantity of stamps issued by Fujeira is really impressive, and indicates when the big problems of the topical philately actually begun.
Amazingly enough, the RCSD newsgroup reported in 2002 that in souvenir boutiques in Egypt they even sold even fakes of Ajman, Sharjah and Fujeira stamps, showing old Egyptian topics”. You would wonder why you would bother to fake them.
A commentator on www.stampcommunityforum.org described Michael Stephan, as a Lebanese citizen “who more or less ran the Baroody Stamp Company”. They allude to him as having traded in forged overprints and for creating fake “official” covers. He retained a large stock of Trucial states stamps, much of which was only released about 2010-12.
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There are still large stocks of Fujeira, Sharjah and Um al-Qiwan stamps available to be off-loaded on the market.
Most of the unauthorised issued seem to have been printed & distributed by a man called Clive Kenny, trading as the Middle East Stamp Co., based in Beirut.
Even the former Fujeira Post Office had had enough. They sent out warning letters on 39th July 1970 objecting to the so-called stamp issue for the Expo 70 Osaka pavilions, which it described as “spurious private emissions not postage stamps”. They also complained that “Any statements that the Post Office of Fujeira should be addressed via Beirut or Sharjah and/or some other territory are illegal and fraudulent”.
This is the sort of philatelic “wallpaper” we need to avoid.
Compiled by your editor from Internet sources
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OUR NEW $5 BANKNOTE The Governor of the Reserve Bank released images of the new $5 banknote on 12th April 2016. It’s due to start circulation on 1st September 2016. It is supposed to have “a new tactile feature for the visually-impaired”. It also has a “top-to- bottom” clear window and a number of other anti-counterfeit features.
It is intended to be the start of a new series of banknotes for Australia. Each one will show a different type of wattle in the design. The $5 note shows the Prickly Moses wattle and an image of the Eastern Spinebill bird on both the signature side and the serial number sides. The Reserve Bank has stated that the colour palette & size of the current $5 will be retained.
Your editor couldn’t help notice that the ABC Central West regional radio Morning Show sought comment from a member of the Mudgee Stamp Coin & Banknote Club.
Already some wags on the internet have suggested some design alterations:-
Do they also have an image handy for the King-in-waiting Charles? The Queen is no younger. The image of Elizabeth II on the note looks like a 60-year old, not the 90-year old who celebrated a birthday this week. No one seems to really hate the new note’s design so far, but there is lots of speculation in the media about the long-term future of polymer & paper currency in the digital age. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… LETTERS FROM JACK Will continue in the June Newsletter
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Many members will fondly remember Ivy Lyons. She always seemed to be present, sitting & knitting away, just behind Howard Lyons’ tables at all our fairs and shows, at Wagga, and even at Petersham. Mrs Lyons seemed a fixture of all of our events. She wasn’t young, but was still able to her “eagle-eye” on all the coins, stamps & accessories, lest anyone make off with them without paying. Ivy Lyons passed away in 2010.
The eulogy for Mrs Lyons was found recently and is reproduced below:-
Ivy Beryl Lyons – A Eulogy.
“Ivy was the eldest of 5 children born to Joshua & Myrtle Whiley at Molong on July 17th1913. She had three brothers: - Raymond, Mervin & Cliff all now deceased and has one surviving sister Joyce.’
‘She spent her childhood on a farm at Billabong, Eurimbla, where, apart from her household duties she spent all he spare time gardening and teaching herself to knit, crochet and sew.’
“At the age of 13 she told us how she would go to bed each night by candlelight and carefully push paper under the door so no one knew she was still out of bed. Then she would sit and knit, night after night. She was knitting herself a fully length dressing gown using two-ply wool.
In 1938 she met up with Albert (Bertie) Lyons and was married, moved to Cumnock and had 5 children. Beverley, Barbara, Allan, Max & Howard plus 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grand-children. ‘
‘During the years of her marriage she spent her time looking after her family. Travelling to shops for general items during these times was difficult so she found herself knitting jumpers and socks for her children to wear.’
‘As the years went by, money wasn't easy to come by so to help with the family income she began to take in dressmaking. A little to begin with, but as word passed around of her dressmaking skills, a “little” became a “lot”. In the finish she found this had become a full time job.’
‘In between her dressmaking and household duties she had a passion for gardening that would never go away. When she wasn’t sitting behind the sewing machine she could be found somewhere out in her two-acre garden pulling weeds on her hands and knees.’
“Once things started to improve she found that both the dressmaking and gardening was becoming too much for her to handle and that one would have to go. Need I say which one. The gardening naturally won hands down.’
‘To Ivy gardening was pure pleasure and work never came into it. She always said” it was easier to grow a flower instead of a weed”.
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‘In 1988 Bertie died and Ivy thought it was about time to slow down ( she was nearing 75 years of age). So she decided to move to Port Macquarie to live with her daughter Barbara. Not having any garden to look after her interests turned back to her knitting and crocheting skills, where she picked up from where she previous left off and a whole new chapter of her life began... creating items for sale at the local markets in Port Macquarie. She loved to knit babies’ jackets and booties etc., and sold these on a regular basis at the markets.’’
‘During the warmer months she returned to Cumnock/Orange to visit the remainder of her family and would return to Port Macquarie for the winter. In 1996 she came down to Orange to stay with her son Howard. She found that the travelling to and fro from “Port” was becoming a bit too hard to keep up with, and decided to stay.’
‘The climate in Orange being rather nasty during winter kept her indoors and again he passions for crocheting and knitting took hold...She found an outlet to sell her goods at the Craft Shop in Canowindra where her talent for quality and perfection was recognised. She supported this shop for the past 14 years and gives her thanks to her hobby and interests that gave her the ability to survive for as long as she did.’
‘We have all been told that you have only one mother and that you will never really miss her until she has gone. In the case of Ivy, we the children all know now, just how true this is.”
“You will remain in our hearts for ever.”
“May you rest in peace.”
“14th March 2010.”
Howard Lyons at Expo 2016. Ivy used to sit, always knitting, on a chair behind
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