NEWSLETTER OF THE ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC FOR JULY 2013 1. June 2013 minutes & the treasurer’s report are on the back are on the back (but not on the pdf version)

The NEWSLETTER OF THE

ORANGE COIN AND 25 JULY 2013 ISSUE #138 STAMP CLUB

INCORPORATED

Web page: www.philas.org.au/orange

WELCOME TO OUR 2012-3

ANNUALGENERAL MEETING

Immediately following our 30th July 2013 monthly meeting is the Club’s annual general meeting. All Club positions will be declared vacant at the meeting.

At the conclusion of the annual general meeting your $5 membership subscriptions for the 2013-14 year will become due.

The APF public liability insurance component of your membership fee, which we pay to PHILAS, has just increased from $2 to $2.50

Your annual subscription can be posted to the President Tony Read serves a customer (Mr Gibb from secretary at PO Box 324, Orange 2800, or even Guyong) at the Club dealer’s table (Mr Gibb) at our Expo better, posted to the treasurer, at PO Box 9288, 2013 held in April. Orange 2800. You will also be able to catch up with Howard Lyons at the monthly Orange Coin & Stamp Fair in the Cultural Centre.

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Section 4 of the Club’s constitution provides that a on winning the Andy Auld Perpetual Shield for person ceases to be a member if they fail to pay the 2013.’ annual membership fee within 3 months after the “Lawrie Sherwin, Ron Mills & Derek Dolstra fee is due. were involved in giving talks to an Orange U3A seminar on Coins & Stamps in April. I believe it 2012-2013 ANNUAL REPORT OF was a great success. Audrey Ferris must also be congratulated with her work of organising & THE CLUB’S PRESIDENT, TONY running events for the Club’s junior members in READ the school holidays, at Expo and at the Spring Fair. ‘ “Tax-time and the annual general meeting seem “The monthly bourse at the Orange Cultural to come round more quickly every year! Our Centre is well attended by Club members; Club has been running continuously for 47 years, however, we may need to look at spending and with 45 paid-up members, the interest & money on appropriate advertising to encourage involvement of the Club continues. ‘ more public participation. The Cultural Centre is “This year we saw the retirement of our long- not in as good a position as the former Quinn’s time exchange book supervisor, John Stoker. Arcade venue. ‘ John’s efforts have been appreciated by all Club It has been another busy year for the Club and I members. Tony Richards has since ably filled this thank all members for making my time as position, showing enthusiasm & dedication to president an enjoyable one! the job.’ “Monthly meeting nights are well supported Tony Read President with 20-25 members attending on average – even in the winter months! I feel the highlights are always the “talks”. This year’s best for me were Ron Mills’ and Derek Dolstra’s. The Club auctions were always entertaining, thanks to the humour introduced by our two auctioneers, Norm Bins & Col Davidson. The standard of the monthly display competition remains high, & a reasonable effort is required to win.’ “The lunchtime meetings fluctuate with the numbers attending. Often our Cowra members could find this disappointing. We could look at improving this.’ “The 2013 Spring Fair auction was co-ordinated by Col Davidson with 263 stamp & coin lots (down from over 1,000 last year). With approximately 300 non-member visitors it was Audrey Ferris with her display of Wales at the Club’s Expo again a success. Unfortunately, several days prior 2013 in April. to the Spring Fair, the Club lost one of its greatest supporting members, Meree Barrasch.’ “In November 2012 some of the Club were 2012-13 ANNUAL REPORT OF involved with the inaugural Mudgee Coin & THE YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR, Stamp Fair’ “We all enjoyed the annual barbeque get- AUDREY FERRIS together, organised by Geoff Henry at the “There are currently 12 junior members of the Orange Botanic Gardens. ‘ Orange Coin & Stamp Club Inc., with two more “March 2013 saw the Club recognise the work children “interested’. done by our newsletter editor & secretary, Derek “A planned meeting of the Juniors was cancelled Dolstra, by presenting him with a life in September 2012 due to lack of numbers, but membership badge.’’ the meetings in January & July 2013 went ahead. “Expo 2013 saw two dealers withdraw at the last These are “fun & games” afternoons, which also moment. Although attendance was down on contain some educational components. My previous years, it was enjoyable, but not one our thanks go to Col Davidson, who gave a talk on better ones. Congratulations to Klaus Barrasch ‘coins’ in January, and to Norm Binns, who was “auctioneer at our July meeting. Educational

- Page - 3 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER JULY 2013 material was supplied by Yung Benson the New except in December at the Orange Community South Wales youth co-ordinator this year. Some Information & Services Centre (Woolworth’s Car parents stay for the afternoon & bring afternoon Park side ), 79 Kite St, Orange. There is no tea.’ access from the Kite St front door. “A ‘youth activities” table was provided at Expo 2013 and the October 2012 Spring Fair. The meeting venue is- the Orange Community Unfortunately the Spring Fair was notable Information & Services Centre at 79 Kite St, because not one child entered the Hall all day! Orange. Entrance is via the back kitchen door However, at the April Orange Expo 2013 there from the Woolworth’s Car Park. There is no were enough children to conduct a “Design-a- access from the Kite St front door. Stamp” competition = with prizes donated by the Odeon 5 Cinema & Jane Silvester from East NEXT DAYTIME MEETING IS ON th Orange Post Office. Three new members were MONDAY 12 AUGUST 2013 signed up that day. It was also a pleasure to have several of our Junior members “helping” at The next lunchtime meeting will be on Monday Expo.’ 12th August at midday in the meeting room in the “My sincere thanks go to the members of the Orange Community Information & Service Centre, Orange Coin & Stamp Club who donate material Kite Street. and readily support all my efforts.’ The theme will be Africa.

Audrey Ferris Youth Co-ordinator OUR 2013 SPRING FAIR & AUCTION IS IN THE KENNA NEXT MONTHLY ORANGE COIN HALL ON SATURDAY 12th & STAMP FAIR TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER THE ORANGE CULTURAL CENTRE ON SATURDAY 3rd AUGUST 2013

The next monthly Coin & Stamp Fair will be held on Saturday3rd August 2013. The Fair from 9am till about 3pm. The venue for our monthly fair is the Orange Cultural Centre. It is held on the 1st Saturday of each month

The Orange Cultural Centre is the white-stuccoed, odd-shaped building, with trees out the front on the right as you enter the Woolworth’s car park from Sale St. If you make your way past the junior ballet dancing classes you will find us in the room on the south side of the building.

OUR NEXT CLUB ‘NIGHT’

MEETING, AFTER THIS th ONE, IS ON TUESDAY 27 Our Spring Fair & auction is to be held in the AUGUST 2013. Kenna Hall on 12th October in the Kenna Hall. The Spring Fair involves Club dealers, member’s Our next night-time general monthly meeting (after displays and the annual Club auction.

th the current July 30 meeting) is to be held on Please think about preparing some displays. th Tuesday 27 August 2013 at 7.30pm. The Club always meets on the last Tuesday of each month,

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Col Davidson has again agreed to co-ordinate the book purchasers have been showing a barely- 2103 Spring Fair Club auction. He is very keen to decipherable ‘squiggly’ signature. Tony Richards obtain your lot listings for that auction and he has said that he finds it hard to identify the should be contacted as soon as possible. purchaser.

BATHURST COLLECTABLES STILL FOR SALE SWAP MEET & GEM EXPO FOR 30th NOVEMBER & 1st 5-volume Stanley Gibbons DECEMBER 2013. Stamps of the World 2006 edition Bathurst Club will be holding a massive Bathurst In colour; lists mini-sheets Collectables Swap Meet & Gem Expo at the $80 the set, or near offer Bathurst Showgrounds on Saturday 30th November Contact Tony on 6361 7681 & Sunday 1st December 2013. Dealer & seller information sheets have been finalised & the DEALERS WHO registration forms. They have 6 dealers coming. Advertising will include TV ads and an e- ATTENDED OUR EXPO newsletter. 2013

ITEMS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER Dealers who attended Expo 2013 & deserve AND CORRESPONDENCE TO your support were - -

THE CLUB A. Byrne Coins (Tony Byrne from

Items for this newsletter need to be posted to the Canberra – PO Box 53, MITCHELL, A.C.T. Secretary at the Club’s postal address: -PO Box 324 2911, ph (02) 6255 4044) ORANGE 2800. They can always also be e-mailed to: - [email protected] Leo Jakimow -Or phone 63 614 872. PO Box 1082, CANBERRA ACT 2601; The opinions expressed in this Newsletter are those phone (02) 6241 5292. E-mail: - of the editor & are not necessarily the Orange Coin [email protected] & Stamp Club Inc. Wynyard Coin Centre 7 Hunter TURN YOUR STAMPS INTO Arcade, , 2000 – Lower Concourse, Wynyard Railway Station; Ph CASH! GET SOME PAGES READY (02) 9299 2047 & Fax (02) 9290 3710 FOR THE CLUB’S EXCHANGE BOOK Orange Stamps and Coins (Howard Lyons) PO Box 9288, ORANGE NSW Turn your unwanted stamps into cash! 2800; Ph/fax (02) 6362 2368; E-mail: - Pages are needed for our next Exchange Book. [email protected]

Tony Richards, the circuit book supervisor, can Conrad & Jane Silvester (operators of be contacted by phone on (02) 6361 7681. the Orange East Licenced Post Office). Although Tony has moved house to Cox’s Avenue his phone number remains the same. Buy your new-issue stamps from this long- time supporter of our Club

CLUB CIRCUIT BOOK NEEDS THANKS TO EXPO 2013 YOUR PRINTED INITIALS – NOT SPONSORS - PLEASE SUPPORT A “SQUIGGLE” THEM IN RETURN Tony Richards has asked that circuit book users clearly PRINT their initials over the ‘vacant’ space  Conrad & Jane Silvester of East left where a stamp was taken. A number of circuit Orange LPO

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 House, in Orange information visit their website.  A.B.C. Shop / Boomers Books  Australasian Coin & Banknote Orange Coin & Stamp Club Spring Fair & magazine Auction, Kenna Hall. 90  Australian Stamp Professional Hill St, Saturday 13 October 2013 magazine  Apple City Paper, for A4 paper PHILAS House open day, PHILAS House, 17  M.R. Roberts & the Wynyard Brisbane St, Surry Hills, th Saturday 19 October Coin Centre 2013, 9.30-16.00. Dealers,  Seven Seas Stamps auction & displays.  Orange Odeon5 Cinemas Sutherland Stamp Fair, Saturday 26th October 2013, 10.30-3.30. Unites Services Club, 7 East Parade, Sutherland. 6

DATES FOR 2013 dealers & 4 clubs.

Bathurst Stamp, Coin, Collectables & Lapidary St George Stamp Fair, Sat 10 August 2013, Club’s Bathurst Rockdale Hall, 36 George Collectables Swap Meet & St, Rockdale Gem Expo, Bathurst Showgrounds, 30 Shoalhaven Annual Stamp Day & Coin Fair, also November to 1st Sat 10 August, 83 Berry St, December 2013 Nowra Orange Club Christmas & end-of-year function at National One-Frame Exhibition & Qld Stamp the Orange Botanic Show 2013, 86 Green Gardens. Friday, 6pm, 29 Terrace, Windsor, November 2013 Brisbane Qld, 21-22 September 2013. For more

THE NEXT LUNCH-TIME ‘MEETING is at 12 midday on MONDAY 12th JULY 2013, at the Orange Community Information & Services Centre, 79 Kite St. The theme for stamp swaps will be Africa.

The lunch-time meetings are normally planned for the 2nd Monday of each month. ……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thanks to Australian Stamps Professional Magazine for their kind donation of back copies EXPO 2013. Pick the current issue up at your newsagent or email [email protected]. Most Orange newsagents now keep it. www.australianstampspr

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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Thanks to Orange’s ODEON5 Cinema for donating prizes for the Expo 2013 youth competition www.odeon5.com.au/

PAPUAN & OTHER POSTAL NOTES

Tony Read has sent an image, shown opposite, of a pre-World War II, 6/- postal note issued at Kokoda in Papua - before Kokoda became famous for other things. Also illustrated id a 6d United Kingdom postal note issued in what looks to be 1948.

Postal notes were used for sending money in the mail. They were not legal tender, but a kind of promissory note similar to a cheque. They came in fixed denominations. Postal notes were used widely throughout almost every Commonwealth country, but also in a number of other countries including the United States & Argentina. They were very popular in .

Papua issued its first postal notes on 11 September 1917. They could be purchased and/or made payable at the Territory of Papua money order offices: - Port Moresby, Samarai, Daru, Kalumadau (Woodlark Island), and post offices at Kokoda, Buna, Naniaro, Ioma & Misima. They were also payable at Australian money order offices.

Papua was absorbed in to the combined Territory of Papua & New Guinea in April 1942. It was under Australian military administration until 1946. Postal notes inscribed “PAPUA” were replaced by notes reading “TERRITORY OF PAPUA & NEW GUINEA”.

The demise of postal notes in Australia and in Papua & New Guinea occurred on 31 May 1966 when they were replaced by the Postal Order system.

Postal orders in the United Kingdom are descended from the money order established privately in 1792, but taken over by the British Post Office. During World War I and World War II British postal orders were temporarily declared legal tender to save paper & labour. Postal orders can be redeemed at any British Post Office, but if crossed, can only be paid in to a bank account. Until April 2006 British postal orders came in fixed denominations, but after then, like in Australia, the amount was variable. They remain available, and despite the inroads of electronic funds transfer and cheques, have had resurgent popularity for purchasing items in the internet.

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- Page - 9 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER JULY 2013 EARLY “REPUBLIC” OF INDONESIA STAMPS PRINTED IN AUSTRIA & THE U.S.A.

Tony Read also brought along to the June midday meeting a page of Republic of Indonesia stamps that he could not find any mention of in the Stanley Gibbons Stamps of the World catalogue. These are shown on the page at the left.

Japan unconditionally surrendered to the Allies on 15th August 1945. On 17th August 1945, Dr Sukarno, Dr Hatta & Dr Soebandjo proclaimed the independence of the Indonesian Republic. This was while the Japanese Army was still in control and before any of the Allies, including the Netherlands were able to occupy the country. The Netherlands was not pleased with this declaration of independence and refused to acknowledge it. A war, which the Netherlands called a “police action” and which the Indonesians called the Indonesian National Revolution lasted until 1949. The “Republic” was largely confined to East Java, the Netherlands having successfully re-occupied the rest of Indonesia.

To help assert their claim the Republican representatives in New York placed an order with philatelic agent J & H Stolow to print a number of “REPOEBLIC INDONESIA” stamps. The primary purpose was propaganda, though Indonesian officials said they intended to have the stamps issued in the area they controlled in East Java. They were delivered in January 1949 – but spelling reform had changed the name to “REPUBLIK INDONESIA”. This meant a new series of stamps needed to be prepared. Most stamps were printed by the Austrian State Printer in Vienna, though the three high values, the 5, 10 & 25 rupee and the blockade stamps inscribed “REPOEBLIK INDONESIA” were printed by the E.A. Wright Bank Note Co. of Philadelphia.

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Subsequently there were common overprints of “MERDEKA DJOKJAKARTA / 6 DJULI 1949” on five of the stamps.

Another set of four stamps was printed in Vienna in 1949 to commemorate the failure of the Dutch sea & land blockade of East Java: -

Special Universal Postal Union stamps were “issued” on 1 December 1949 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the U.P.U.

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In addition there were a number of stamps for airmail, “POSUDARA”, and for official use, “RESMI”. There were stamps for express mail, express airmail & postage due.

There were a total of five commemorative overprints applied to stamps: - MERDEKA DJOKJAKARTA Republic Indonesia Serikat 27 Des ‘49 RIS RIS Merdeka RIS Djakarta

Used stamps of all of these issues are only known with philatelic cancellations. First day of issue covers are unknown, but philatelic covers with the dates 17 August 1949 and 12 December 1949 have been recorded. This is why they have not been included in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue.

- Page - 12 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER JULY 2013 THE 2012-2013 CLUB COMPETITIVE DISPLAY COMPETITION

At every monthly meeting Club, except in July, when we also hold our annual general meeting, members are invited to bring along competitive displays. At each meeting members vote for the three displays that they liked. The display they liked best gets 4 vote points, their next choice gets 3 vote points, and their third choice gets 2 vote points. You can only vote for three displays. The vote points are added up (generally when the auction viewing is taking place). The most popular display on the night is awarded 4 competition points. The display that comes 2nd gets 3 competition points. The display that comes 3rd gets 2 competition points. All other displays get 1 competition point.

The winners are decided by adding up the competition points for 10 meetings from August to June.

For 2012-2013 competition points accrued as follows: - Derek Dolstra 33 points 1st Tony Read 24 points 2nd Graham Doherty 14 points 3rd Ray Norman 10 points 4th Rob Willis 6 points 5th Wendy Stoker 4 points 6th

28 AUGUST 2012 There were two competitive displays: - Display “A” Derek Dolstra 2 frames of The Prince of Wales’ 1st Marriage (Part I), & Display “B” Ray Norman Vanuatu Stamps & Notes in a coin case

On voting Display “A” received 50 points and display “B” received 44 points.

25 SEPTEMBER 2012 Displays were brought along by: - Display “A” Graham Doherty Endangered Species: - Elephants, Hippo’s & Rhinos – Leather-sided Giants. 12-page frame Display “B” Ray Norman United Nations stamps – Recent Issues Display “C” Derek Dolstra “Scroll” First Day Postmarks

On voting, Display “A” received 54 points, Display “C” received 46 points and Display “B” received 44 points.

30 OCTOBER 2012 Display “A” Derek Dolstra, two-black-frame display: - Victory 1946 Omnibus stamp issues. Display “B” Derek Dolstra, one-frame display: - Silk covers cancelled & carried on the Stage Coach at AUSIPEX ’84 Display “C” Graham Doherty, one black frame display, “C”, of Caribbean Islands: Barbados: a selection. Display “D” Wendy Stoker Queen Elizabeth II [originally for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee display at the Orange Art Gallery] Display “E” Tony Read, coin flat display of Sassanian Empire coins from the period 250AD to 650AD Display “F” Ray Norman, one case display of : Latest Issues stamps.

On voting, Display “D” (Wendy Stoker) as 1st with 39 vote points. Display “A” (Derek Dolstra) was 2nd with 28 vote points Display “E” was 3rd (Tony Read) with 24 vote points Display “C” (Graham Doherty) obtained 17 vote points Display “”B” (Derek Dolstra) obtained 14 points Display “F” (Ray Norman) obtained 12 points 27 NOVEMBER 2013 Displays were brought along by: -

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A Derek Dolstra Singapore stamp issues 1959-1971 (2 frames) B Ray Norman Hungarian Banknotes (in coin case) On voting, Display 'A' received 52 points. Display ‘B’ received 42 points

29 JANUARY 2013 The following displays were brought along: - Display “A” Derek Dolstra postmarks 1 frame Display “B” Tony Read Ceylon coins 1 case Display “C” Derek Dolstra Quorn, South Australia 1 frame

On voting, Display “|B” was 1st with 58 points. Display “A” was 2nd with 54 points. Display “C” was 3rd with 42 points.

26 FEBRUARY 2013 Displays were brought along by: - Display “A” Derek Dolstra, British Solomon Islands Postal Agencies Postmarks. 1 x 12-page frameDisplays were Display “B” Tony Read, French-Influenced Coins of Syria. Case On voting, Display “B” was 1st with 41 vote points. Display “C” was 2nd with 35 vote points. Display “A” broughtwas 3rd with along 32 vote points. by: - Ray Norman Display A Mediterranean stamp & coins. Coin case 26 MARCH 2013 Displays were brought along by: - Rob Willis Display B Banknotes of Czarist Russia. Frame. Display “A” Tony Read Famous Coins [English gold Noble, 4 silver Reales, Byzantine gold Solidus of 602-613 A.D., Greek silver Tetradrachm of 450 B.C., &, Greek silver Stator of 400 B.C., & Macedonian Tetradrachm ofDerek 310 B.C. Coin case Display “B” Derek Dolstra The 1966 Football World Cup Omnibus Stamp Issues. . 2 x black stamp Dolstraframes Display C Post-War issues of George VI. 1 frame Display “C” Rob Willis Assignat [notes] of the French Revolution, small banknote frame Tony Read Display D Stamps of . 1 frame Display “D” Graham Doherty France: Post-War Issues On voting, Display “A” was 1st with 47 vote points. Display “B” was 2nd with 44 vote points. Display “D” was 3rd with 41 vote points. Display “C” achieved 30 vote points. Display B 30 APRIL 2013 was first with Displays were brought along by: - Tony Read Display “A” Dutch Coins in Early Australia. Coin flat 51 points. Derek Dolstra Display “B” South Australian covers. Black frame of 12 pages Graham Doherty Display “C” Apes 2 black frames Display D nd Display A was 1st with 45 points. Display “B” was 3rd with 33 points. Display “C” was 3rd with 28 pointswas 2 with 47 points. 28 MAY 2013 Displays were brought along by - Display C Ray Norman Display “A” Mediterranean stamps & coins. Coin case Rob Willis Display “B” Banknotes of Czarist Russia display frame was 3rd with Derek Dolstra Display “C” Post-War Stamp Issues of George VI black frame Tony Read Display “D” Stamps of Tasmania 1 frame 39 points, &

Display B was 1st with 51 points. Display D was 2nd with 47 points. Display C was 3rd with 39 points. DisplayDisplay A was 4Ath th with 25 points. was 4 with

JUNE 2013 25 points Displays were brought along by: - Tony Read Display “A” Morocco Derek Dolstra Display “B” Russian New Year’s Card\ postal stationery Graham Doherty Display “C” Endangered Species: African Fauna

On voting Display “B” was first with 47 points. Display “A” was 2nd with 37 points. Display “C” was 3rd with 33 points

- Page - 14 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER JULY 2013 Soviet-era New Year postcards (НОВЫМ ЃОДОМ)

The Bolsheviks banned Christmas celebrations in 1917. Christmas was not re- instated as a public holiday until 1992, when the Soviet regime fell. In the Soviet era presents & cards were exchanged on New Year’s Day. The relatively few adherents to the Russian Orthodox Church used the older Julian, but not the Gregorian calendar. This meant they celebrated Christmas Day on 7 January. The celebration of Christmas was considered a strictly private matter & was actively discouraged by the State.

After fasting for most of the day, Russian Orthodox Christians spend Christmas Eve (6th January) at a very long church service. Families then return home for a traditional Christmas Eve “Holy Supper” that was meatless, but festive. It traditionally consists of a sequence of twelve different dishes, symbolic of the twelve Apostles. The most important ingredient was a special porridge called Kutya, made from wheatberries & other grains.

Due to the suppression of religion during the Soviet period, St Nicholas (Santa) was replaced by his look-alike, Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), the Russian spirit of winter, who brought gifts on New Year’s Day. He was often accompanied by the beautiful Snegurochka, the Snow-maiden, who helps distribute the New Year’s gifts.

Ded Moroz, often dressed like the ‘Coca-Cola’ -derived Santa Claus popularised in America in the 1930’s, appears in many of the New Year’s greeting cards in the display. The ‘cult (or custom) of Ded Moroz & New Year’s, rather than Christmas, gift- giving was encouraged by Stalin after 1927.

Ded Moroz delivers gifts to all Russian kids. However, unlike the secretive Santa Claus, the gifts are delivered “in person” by him at New Year’s Eve parties and other New Year’s Eve functions.

The Christmas tree (Yolka) was another Soviet-era tradition. People decorated New Year’s trees, but as ornaments were either costly, or unavailable, family trees were trimmed with home-made cloth decorations or with fruit. The Yolka appears in a number of the postcards.

A number of, mostly “cute”, animals seem to be associated with New Year festivities & are shown on New Year’s postcards: - a rabbit, a bear cub, and a hedgehog.

Some postcards show New Year stars illuminating what at first look to be church steeples (as in Western Christmas cards), but on closer inspection they are recognisable as the spires on the Kremlin buildings.

The Official postal stationery New Year’s postcards all had 3 or 4 kopek Russian Post Office imprints and were sold either through the post office or the various official G.U.M. store outlets. Soviet Russia was not a country where a private printer could legally print or sell New Year’s cards, let alone Christmas cards. Printing was a monopoly of the State. The price of these cards was absurdly low. A rouble is worth about 3 to 4 Australian cents, and there 100 kopeks to the rouble, so 3 or 4 kopeks are not even equivalent to one tenth of a cent.

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2012-13 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CIRCUIT BOOK MANAGER – TONY RICHARDS

I would like to thank all members that provided pages for our circuit books, and to all those members that made purchases from said books. When I took over last year we started with Book #64 (2012). Since then we have completed Books #64 to #68 & have book #69 circulating. Book #70 is about to be released. I need more pages for the next book. I would like to take this opportunity to remind members that it is easier for all concerned if you initial your purchases rather than make an unrecognisable signature, e.g. “A.I.R” for myself. Most circuit books so far have had between 57 & 72 pages, & I would like to make best use of these pages by ensuring that we don’t have too many first day covers, which in a lot of cases, provide very little commission.

FACTS & FIGURES BOOK No. PAGES VALUE OF SOLD COMMISSION PAGES 64 72 $617.20 $187.00 $18.65 65 60 $487.56 $345.55 $34.60 66 55 $657.40 $234.75 $23.35 67 62 $692.60 $283.55 $28.35 68 60 $371.75 $212.85 $28.35 69 57 $289.60 Still circulating

Circuit books contributed $126.25 to the Club in commission.

Please note my new address is 1/62 Cox Avenue, Orange 2800 & my phone number is 02 6361 7681.

Tony Richards, Circuit book manager

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MINT UNCIRCULATED European exchanges Readers of this '' will have noticed its absence over the past couple of months, the reason being my absence in Europe. I didn't buy any coins but did have no trouble assembling a mini collection with small change. Although much of western Europe is now tied to the euro my route seemed to be through states with anything but euros.

First port of call was Switzerland where there is an understandable attachment to the very stable Swiss franc. The range of denominations in circulation ranged from 20c to five francs, the range of dates going back to the nineteen seventies. The five francs is the largest size in circulation, being only just smaller in diameter than our 50c, although at current exchange rates it is about ten times as valuable. Both coins are made of the same cupro-nickel alloy. Despite being an expensive country the 10c is still common in circulation but I saw only one 5c coin and that had seen minimal circulation.

In neighbouring Austria the euro has been in use for several years. As is the case in all euro-using states the coins in circulation come from all other euro states, although in Vienna it is not surprising that most of the 'foreign' euro coins are from next-door Germany. The euro 1c and 2c pieces are little seen in circulation these days. From Austria it was switch to forints in next door Hungary. At current exchange rates there are about 200 forints to the $A, so even the price of a cup of coffee looked alarming on the bill. Hungarian cab drivers were nonetheless happy to be paid in euros. I recall any denominations smaller than 5 forints and all the coins I received were well circulated.

Next stop was Prague in the Czech Republic, which has hopes of becoming a euro state but for the time being is sticking to the Czech crown. The 1, 2 and 5 crown coins looked to have just come from the mint but the larger 10 and 20 crown pieces had seen considerable circulation. This was not altogether surprising because they were dated nearly twenty years ago. Odd that the smaller denominations were dated only a couple of years ago despite having rather minimal purchasing power.

Germany was back to the euro, mostly nomi9nal German issues, but I did come across an isolated Irish euro. My stay in Denmark was just an overnight rest, so that a credit card sufficed for everything and I didn't handle a single Danish coin. I had a conference to attend in neighbouring Sweden and the chance to acquire some Swedish crowns. Here too a stable currency was indicated by a one crown from the seventies struck during the reign of the current king's grandfather. A commemorative crown had an inscription too small to read without a magnifying glass.

In neighbouring Norway it was odd to see coins with a central hole, the sort of thing associated with third world countries where coins are carried on a length of string because of the shortage of pockets. The 10 and 20 kronor were notably well circulated; perhaps indicative that they are the minimum values used in general circulation. Norway is not known for low prices.

In England the most obvious difference was the disappearance of the two pounds coin, certainly in comparison with previous visits over the past few years when this denomination was particularly common. Ticket machines on the tube and elsewhere were equipped to accept two pounds coins. The diameter is exactly the same as the Australian 20c and I wondered if any Down Under tourists tried to use the latter, a big saving seeing that the two pounds coin was about 16 times the value. However, the significantly lower weight of the Australian 20c coin would probably cause it to be rejected

Lawrence Sherwin

- Page - 22 ORANGE COIN & STAMP CLUB INC NEWSLETTER JULY 2013 Correspondence list for the general meeting of the Orange Coin & Stamp Club Inc for 30 July 2013

ITEM DATE IN ACTION 1. The Wagga Stamp Club 1 July 2013 On the back table Inc Newsletter for July 2013 1A. Phoenix Auctions. 3 July 2013 Auction has finished. Catalogue Catalogue for Auction #22 is on the back table for 2o July 2013 2. Maitland & District Coin 3 July 2012 On the back table Club Inc. Newsletter for July 2013 3, Letter from Philatelic 3 July 2013 $20million policy covers Association of NSW dated 25 meetings, open days, trips, June 20013 advising that the exhibitions, stalls, barbeques APF’s public & property etc. liability insurance from 13 This requires a motion for July 2013 has increased to $2.50 approval to pay PHILAS per member 4. Philatelic Association of 3 July 2013 (enclosed with A motion for approval to pay NSW form for re-affiliation for above) PHILAS affiliation at 10c per 2013-4 member is required. 6. Philatelic Association of 3 July 2013 (enclosed with Is any member interested in NSW agenda for next Council above) becoming a delegate to meeting 9am Sat 24 August PHILAS? 2013 & minutes of meeting of 27 April 2013 7. Queensland Numismatic 8 July 2013 On the back table Society Inc. Monthly Magazine for June 2012 8. M.R. Roberts’ 4 July 2013 On the back table NUMI$NEWS for July 2012 8. Leon G Morel of 5 Duffy St 8 July 2012 On the back table ESSENDON NORTH VIC 3041: - List 7 of 2013 – 2 lists of coins 8a Nambucca Stamp Club 11 July 2013 CD with catalogue for August auction. 9 Fiveways Philatelics (Alf & 11 July 2013 On the back table Karen Clark of PO Box 53, Box Hill VIC 3128) July – August – September 2013 Direct Sale Catalogue 10. The Gladstone Bag, 11 July 2013 On the back table Newsletter of the Gladstone & District Philatelic Society Inc for July 2013 11. Australian Stamp 15 July 2013 On the back table Professional magazine for June/July 2013 12. The Earlwood & Districts 18 July 2013 On the back table Stamp Club Waratah Philatelist June 2013 13 Tamworth Philatelic 18 July 2012 On the back table

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Society Inc Newsletter for August 2012 13. APF News for July 2011. 21 July 2013 On the back table 15 copies