EXPLORING THE FASCINATING WORLD OF STAMPS INDEX INTRODUCTION Page 2: Long ago... Page 23: CHAPTER 7 If you thought stamp collecting was a boring Enhancing the quality of life pastime practised by people who had noth- Page 4: CHAPTER 1 ing better to do, you’re in for a great surprise. Stamp collecting – what and why Page 26: CHAPTER 8 Stamp collecting has been called the hobby Miniature works of art Page 9: CHAPTER 2 of kings and has been enthusiastically pur- Collecting classes for Page 29: CHAPTER 9 sued by kings, presidents, academics, scien- competitive collectors So, you want to start collecting? tists, millionaires, schoolchildren and count- less other enthusiasts all over the world. Page 10: CHAPTER 3 Page 31: CHAPTER 10 Historical, rare, unique and odd Selling your collection In addition to being a fascinating hobby that can be enjoyed from youth right through to Page 15: CHAPTER 4 Page 33: CHAPTER 11 old age, stamps have educational value, his- What a “wow” Submit your proposal for a stamp issue torical and cultural value, aesthetic value, Page 19: CHAPTER 5 Page 34: CHAPTER 12 therapeutic value and investment value, to Educational and creative A personal encounter with name but a few of its benefi ts. value of stamps postage stamps With this booklet, we hope you’ll explore Page 21: CHAPTER 6 Page 36: CHAPTER 13 with us the fascinating world of stamps. How to start and run a stamp Stamping’s structures club for children 1 LONG AGO... Before embarking on our journey of explo- Rowland Hill, then Secretary of the South As a result, the world’s fi rst postage stamp, ration, let’s look at how and why postage Australian Commission, fi rst came up with the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in May stamps came into the world. the idea of an adhesive stamp to indicate 1840. The stamp became known as the Pen- prepayment of postage. It was part of his ny Black because the profi le of Queen Victo- Long ago, before there were postage stamps, proposal in 1837 to reform the British postal ria’s head depicted on the stamp was placed postage rates for delivery of letters in many system. The postal reforms led to a uniform against a black background, and the stamp countries depended on the distance travelled postal rate, the Penny Post, based on weight. had a denomination of one penny. and the number of sheets of paper used. Fur- thermore, the persons who received the let- ter or package - not the senders - had to pay the postage when they received mail! Before postage stamps were used, letters were hand-stamped or postmarked with cancellers in ink. Postmarks were fi rst called ‘Bishop’ marks after Henry Bishop who in- vented them. These postmarks, which indi- cated the date on which postal items were mailed, were fi rst used in 1661 at the London General Post Offi ce. A BRITISH STAMP DEPICTING SIR ROWLAND HILL A BISHOP MARK FROM 1766, DATED 20 NOVEMBER 2 Since Britain was the fi rst country to issue adhesive stamps, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – the international regulating body - granted it exemption from the rule that the name of the issuing country must appear on a stamp. Therefore, only the ruling monarch’s head is depicted on all Britain’s stamps. Today, it usually appears as a silhouette in a corner of the stamp in combination with the overall stamp design. THE WORLD’S FIRST POSTAGE MODERN BRITISH STAMPS DEPICTING THE REIGNING MONARCH In South Africa, the fi rst postage stamp, the STAMP, BRITAIN’S PENNY BLACK Cape Triangular, was issued on 1 September 1853 in the Cape of Good Hope, then a British colony. The Cape Triangular was designed by Charles Davidson Bell, a surveyor by profes- sion who was Surveyor General of the then Cape Colony. It had a peculiar shape that was unique in the stamp designs of that period. The background of the stamp featured wavy lines coupled with short thicker vertical and diagonal lines. The female fi gure represent- ing Hope appears in a sitting position. STAMPS COMMEMORATING THE OPENING OF THE UNION THE WORLD FAMOUS CAPE TRIANGULAR FIRST ISSUED IN 1853 PARLIAMENT IN 1910 3 CHAPTER 1 Stamp collecting – what and why What is philately? Before exploring the wows and wonders of Philately encompasses stamp collecting, but stamps, let’s get some answers to questions refers mainly to the study of postage or reve- that will guide us along the way. nue stamps, postmarks, stamped envelopes and postal history. This includes aspects How did it all start? such as the history, design, production, errors The issue of the Penny Black stamp by Great in printing and uses of stamps. Britain in 1840, triggered the start of stamp collecting and philately. Stamp dealers started The word ‘philately’ comes from the French trading in stamps as early as 1850 and have word ‘philatelie’, which, in turn, is derived REVENUE STAMPS FROM BRITISH COLONIES since played a vital role in supplying stamps from the Greek words ‘philos’, meaning ‘the to collectors. Stamp catalogues, magazines tiser, was published in 1862 in Liverpool. love of’, and ‘atelia’ meaning ‘exemption and albums were available by the Initially, collecting pursuits covered all stamp from tax’ (which can also translate to ‘post- early 1860s. The world’s types, i.e. postage and revenue stamps, as age prepaid’). fi rst stamp well as postal stationery, namely postcards Why collect stamps? magazine, The and envelopes with imprinted stamps. But it People collect stamps for many different Monthly Adver- soon became clear that some stamps were reasons. Some start at a young age and enjoy much more valuable or rare than their collections so much that it becomes a others and therefore more sought life-long passion. Some are spellbound by the after by collectors. The most ex- beauty of stamps as tiny works of art, some tensive collection of rarities, love the way stamps teach them about other especially of Great Britain countries of the world, some are fascinated and its colonies, belong to by rare stamps and others are interested in the British Royal Family. The the stories and history behind the stamps. collections of King Farouk of But most of all, stamp collectors have fun Egypt, Tsar Nicolas III of Russia with their stamps – there is always a chal- and King Carol of Romania were lenge because no collection is ever really also renowned. complete. New stamps are issued, old ones are discovered and research leads to new 4 facts about prized collections. And, of course, stamps issued by the postal authorities to pay culation for several years. it’s a hobby the whole family or groups of for a range of commonly used postal rates. Cur- Commemorative stamps are issued to mark people can enjoy together. Strangers become rently, defi nitive stamps issued by some coun- a specifi c event, honour a prominent person friends when they discover that they share a tries are denominated in words which specify or celebrate a signifi cant event in the issu- passion for stamps. their use, e.g. ‘standard mail’, ‘airmail postcard’, ing country’s history. They are printed in lim- etc. The stamp designs in a defi nitive series usu- What are defi nitive and commemora- ited quantities and are found in Post Offi ce ally refl ect a particular theme peculiar to the tive stamps? branch offi ces for limited periods only. issuing country. Defi nitive stamps remain in cir- Defi nitive stamps are the day-to-day postage STAMPS FROM THE 1ST REPUBLICAN 2ND DEFINITIVE, 1974 3RD DEFINITIVE, 1977 DEFINITIVE SERIES, 1961 5TH DEFINITIVE, 1988 4TH DEFINITIVE, 1982 6TH DEFINITIVE, 1993 REDRAWN 6TH DEFINITIVE, 1998 7TH DEFINITIVE, 2000 5 What are mint stamps? What are fi rst-day covers (FDCs)? No, they don’t taste like mint when licked! First-day covers, or FDCs as they are also called, Mint stamps are stamps that are still in ‘mint’ are envelopes bearing stamps that have been condition as opposed to stamps that have cancelled on the fi rst day on which the stamp been used on envelopes. This means that was issued. Modern fi rst-day covers usually they remain in their original state of issue, bear designs that relate to the theme of the namely unused and undamaged with its stamp issue. original gum still intact (if issued with gum). Used stamps are stamps that have been used for their intended purpose, namely prepay- ment of postage or other duties. A B LEFT:A STAMP IN MINT CONDITION (UNUSED WITH GUM), AND RIGHT: A CANCELLED STAMP, RIGHT C D FIRST DAY COVERS FOR: A. MEDICAL OUTREACH, B. WOMEN’S MARCH TO THE UNION BUILDINGS, C. ANIMAL TRACKS, STORIES IN THE SAND AND D. CLIVIA 6 What are cancellers? commemorative stamps are issued, a match- What is a control block? A stamp is ‘cancelled’ with a post offi ce ing commemorative canceller is usually also Control blocks, also known as cylinder ‘canceller’ or ‘date stamp’ to indicate that it designed. It indicates the date of the fi rst day blocks, are stamps in blocks of four or six has gone through the post. The canceller is of issue and usually echoes the theme of the taken from a corner of a sheet of stamps. The designed to prevent a stamp’s re-use. When stamps. COMMEMORATIVE CANCELLERS FOR: WOMEN’S MARCH TO THE UNION BUILDINGS, ROCK ART, WORLD POST DAY AND MEDICAL OUTREACH CONTROL BLOCK FROM A SHEET OF STANDARD RATE STAMPS COMMEMORATING CHRISTMAS What are miniature sheets? that forms a picture or part of the overall design.