Capital Philately

Vol. 4 No. 1 November 1985 I,' ''' ••••••• • ...... • • •• •• • • • • ••• • • • • • : ····: :···· : ·:·· ····: : .• .•.••••• . .::.············.:·.: .. : ...... ·... : :::::::: .·····• .• .• : : :. : : :. : ·.: ······· .... : :....• : ·...... : : . .... .. ... •. •~ •. REGISTERED by AUSTRALIA POST - Publication no. NBH5925 of the Philatelic Society of Canberra Capital Philately Vol. 4, No.1 November 1985 Contents Page Editorial 3 Sunpex 85 Impressions 6 Judy Kennett The Philatelic Society of Canberra (Founded 1932) The Postal History Column - Mixed Frankings 9 President: P. Barsdell E.C. Druce Hon. Secretary: B.S. Parker G.P.O. Box 1840, Canberra A.C.T., 2601, Australia Queensland - the 6d with value in Lower Corners only 18 C. De Goede Capital Philately: Early New Guinea Mails 21 Editorial Committee - E.C. Druce ., Ken Humphreys A.G. Salisbury (Editor) .,..,' A.R. Tippett I§ A Philatelic History of France (continued) 27 I .~.· P. Saxby •l.l I This journal is published quarterly, and is supplied free to j~~, I members of the Society. Other subscriptions are welcome - $10 per :\' 'i! I year, post free within Australia. f. ' ,·, I Editorial '.!I Articles and contributions should be sent to the Editor. For subscriptions and advertising, apply to the Business Manager: One of the first and most important things to be learned by anyone who aspires to become a philatelist, as distinct from a collector, G.P.O. Box 1840, accumulator or hoarder, is the need to be continually studying Canberra, everything about the hobby. Even those who have devoted a whole A• C. T • , 260 1 • life-time to the pursuit of stamps can never claim that they know it all. A fuller knowledge of what philately is all about can add COPYRIGHT: The copyright of the contents of Capital Philately is a new dimension to one's outlook. held by The Philatelic Society of Canberra. Items may only be reproduced with the written permission of the Over many years, the Philatelic Society of Canberra has Editor. conducted philatelic courses as one of the services to its members. Each course has comprised half a dozen· sessions over a Cover design (c) Judith Parker. period of weeks, where people who might know something of a particular subject are ready to impart knowledge, and to try to I.S.S.N. 0729-8765 encourage the others to broaden their studies. Such instruction -3- Capital Philately November 1985 Capital Philately November 1985 periods often involve a great deal of time and care in their that a potential keen student may be lost to the hobby, so that he preparation, and the courses are conducted at various levels of may go over to collecting tea-spoons. expertise, so that anyone, from the beginner to the expert, may expect to derive some benefit and interest, and maybe even This is why it is important that Societies should do their enjoyment, from attendance at them. utmost to encourage their members to advance themselves. It is no use investing large sums in building up a library, such as the One of the curious features of these courses has been the lack excellent collection owned by this Society, if there is no use of interest shown by the general run of those who are eligible to being made of it. It is no use running courses and workshops if participate. Despite advance publicity, it has been found usually only a handful of members take advantage of them. It is no use that a mere handful of people enrol, and often this is achieved organising events like the National Philatelic Conventions if the only by last-minute canvassing. Attendance consists largely of net result is to acquire one or two new members. Sometimes it those who have been members only for a short time, or who may even seems hard to find out what the members really want, and it may be then only thinking of joining the Society. Long-term members even turn out that, when asked, they are unable to formulate their are conspicuous by their absence. It must be said, though, that views. Again, in running a library, the members need to be the enthusiasm of the participants prevent the speakers from instructed about the resources which it can provide. How wondering if it is worth while. frequently does it happen that someone encounters a problem which presents a major difficulty, when the subject is already the Why is this? Is it that members feel that they know it all? subject of a large, and readily-available, volume of published This is probably not the case - a more likely explanation is that information? many collectors have not had opened up to them the boundless possibilities of exploring other areas, but a far worse situation Any governing body of a philatelic society would do well to arises if the reason is that they are reluctant or afraid to enrol. consider these questions, and decide on a positive and affirmative policy to excite its members to look around them to see what can be Let this not be misunderstood. The vast majority of people found. We all know of the success of events like AUSIPEX 84, but who collect stamps do so because they want a relaxing hobby which we tend to forget that the actual entertainment is provided by the will not make too heavy a demand on their time. It provides an very few, who have branched out to take their hobby almost to the outlet for relaxation, and certainly extends the field of general ultimate extent. If the present body of collectors do not branch knowledge. But many want to go further than acquiring one copy of out, who will provide the entertainment in another twenty years? every stamp from the countries of their choice, and they seek more than an activity which requires the minimum of time and expense * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (but which nevertheless can still be the cause of real enjoyment). Those who are content to remain at what might be Manuscripts of articles for publication in "Capital Philately" called the "beginner level" are in the majority, and their are always welcome. They should be sent as quickly as possible to interest, like their numbers, is not to be dismissed. But the Editor, at G.P.O. Box 1840, Canberra, A.C.T., 2601, without discussions with such people often reveal that they wonder what to waiting until the dead-line for publication • do next. There is a limit to what can be achieved by a simple . collection, and if they are in it only for the attraction of an Articles should comprise about 1 , 500 words, although shorter ever-increasing value of their investment, the facts of life, when I or longer items are acceptable. It makes it so much easier for the it comes to the time for realisation, often bring a rude shock. A Editor if they are typed in double-space! recent chance remark during a conversation with one who felt that he had reached the limit of achievement in his field, led to his branching out in an entirely new, and, for him, unorthodox, direction, which he has proceeded to pursue with enthusiasm. Senior and more advanced collectors are not always blameless in their attitude to the tyros. The questions raised seem to show a lack of gumption, and may even be regarded (or, even worse, described) as stupid. Discouragement in the early stages means -4- -5- Capital Philately November 1985 Capital Philately November 1985 SUNPEX 85 IMPRESSIONS humorous touch in an excellent display of Denmark Postal History to 1920, which was illustrated by two delightful cartoons showing a Judy Kennett postal coach and a foot postman with bell. Most interesting also was a display on Russian postal rates in the inflation period from I had three overall impressions.- First, there was the obvious 1916 to 1924. hard work, long hours and efforts put into the Exhibition by the organising commit tee and a team of devoted helpers. Second, the In a generally good field in Aerophilately, a most unusual efficiency and helpfulness of the security staff, particularly in subject was dealt with in "Interrupted Air Mail", showing unusual my own case. I lost a favourite watch on the second day, and felt markings and damaged covers from aircraft crashes. it was gone forever. The next morning it was waiting for me at the office. Third, Australia Post was very involved in the Exhibition, The range of subjects covered in the Thematic class was wide, and the staff at the post office counters were accommodating in and included technical features such as design errors and the arranging for the despatch of strange packages and for producing methods of stamp separation. There were four displays on Captain strange combinations of postal cancels. James Cook, R.N., and it was most interesting to compare the different methods of approach. Now for the impressions of exhibits. Australian Commonwealth included an interesting collection of early Federation and King Of the Cinderella class, it must be remarked that there was no George V period stamp booklets, some scarce. In the Australian serious attempt to display general fiscal material, except in a States, there were two particular displays - South Australian narrow field, such as tax stamps. Only a small range of countries Departmental issues included some hard-to-get Departments and was covered in Australasia/Oceania - the rest were from the United Volunteer Force covers, while the Tasmanian pictorials displays States of America. were impressive. Australian Territories dealt only with Papua New Guinea (only two entries). Where were the other Territories? The Junior class reached a commendably high standard, with three silver and two silver-bronze medals being awarded. Postal History was notable for a most interesting display on a challenging subject "Early Australian Military Postal History 1854- 191011.

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