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Winter 2008 Newsletter

HOW ARE LOOS RELATED TO STAMPS?

Minou Button

We have been to New Zealand as tourists and to see family the last two months. We spent a few days in the Northland, doing all the touristy things: admiring the Kauri, wandering through the forests, racing against the tide on 90 mile beach, going on a boneshaker called the Excitor through the hole in the rock, recovering over a creamy chowder in Russell, marvelling at the ingenuity of the first settler but… Bryan’s sister was waiting for us.

So, we reluctantly left the Bay of Islands under a drizzle and arrived in Kawakawa and that was it, we fell in love with …. the loos, the public loos, gorgeous, horrid, colourful, kitsch, beautiful, imaginative. It is the very first time I have sat in a loo taking pictures and going wow, wow… Putting all sense of propriety aside, I went in both the men’s and the ladies’ side. A whole party of Dutch tourists arriving on a coach did not stop the frenzied clicking of my camera, nor Bryan’s.

They are impeccably maintained by the local council and the guide’s job is shared by two ladies; a very nice and informative lady told us all she could.

They were designed and built, with the help of the local population and especially young people by Friedrich Hundertwasser, a renowned, originally Austrian, architect, self-taught, who had become a New Zealander. He died in the year 2000 aged 71. The Kawakawa toilets were his very last creation.

A life-long ecologist, the Kawakawa bush at the back of the toilets is the last tree he ever planted, though he was buried naked in a very shallow grave and his friends planted a tulip tree above him. What has this got to do with philately you will tell me; well the story does not end there. He designed several stamps for various countries, including the UN, some first day covers, and even Cinderellas. In his lifetime he offered to design a stamp for the New Zealand Post Office and was refused; this was remedied later. Oh how joyful the hunt is going to be.

A LUCKY FIND

Dennis Boot

Just over 15 years ago I purchased a Stock Book from Cavendish Auctions which contained 3000 + 113 1881 1d Lilacs for about £125. I was interested in the different postmarks, but at the back of the book were a couple of pages of Perfins and the Official Overprints. On checking the catalogue for the Inland Revenue Overprints, one of the varieties was inverted watermarks, which were then catalogued but un-priced. On checking through mine, I found one with a 242 Derby postmark, an Inland Revenue overprint and an inverted watermark. I double checked the others, but it was the only one! As it came in a mixed lot and as I didn't pay a premium for it, I think that it is genuine and the overprint shows through at the back, proving that it was printed under pressure. The basic 1K Official overprinted stamp is catalogued at £l and the inverted watermark variety one G 03c is now catalogued at £1250.

A LUCKY LITTLE LAD

George Kirkham

Once or twice during my collecting career, things have just come my way- quite legally I must add. Two examples spring to mind. House clearance as such never appealed to me; there were specialist firms who could do this sort of thing much cheaper and easier than employing building trade bods. Anyway, on this occasion a man with a skip turned up and started to fill it with household rubbish and bric-a-brac. It was already bagged and he just heaved the stuff over the side. One sack split open and I saw a distinctive shape of a stock book. I was in the skip pretty smartish and rescued a 100% complete collection of Montenegro 1874-1913. Very nice too! As some of you know, I write some nonsense in the local parish magazine. It gets us talked about and we have had one or two new members as a result. One Sunday afternoon, the front door bell rang. A lady stood there and inquired if I was the chap that wrote the articles. I admitted the offence. She said that her uncle had recently died and that in his lifetime he enjoyed my rubbish and that I could have first refusal of his collection. By this time, his ‘collection’ had diminished to one country only, Latvia. Here again, it was virtually complete, only needing about 4 stamps for completion. Look at the catalogue, and you can tell which 4. On another occasion, I bid at auction for a Poland (General Govt) 1939-1945 mint and used. Naturally I thought that meant a mix but, no, I got 2 collections. One mint (m/m) and the other used. Not bad for £40, I think.

STAMP COLLECTING IN NEW ZEALAND

Peter Goodwin.

I have been asked to contribute a short piece on the hobby of Stamp collecting in NZ and how it compares with the UK. This is somewhat difficult as I left Nottinghamshire some 34 years ago to live in New Zealand, so with this lapse of time and being 12,000 miles apart there could be differences in making the comparison.

In NZ there are stamp dealers who have reasonable stocks of general material, but for the specialist looking for particular items, one has a better chance in bidding in auctions which carry the higher grade material. It also pays to buy from abroad as Overseas buyers do not pay the local levy of Purchase Tax (VAT/GST).

If one buys in the local market, you might have to pay a premium commission plus VAT so your item is well overvalued for a number of years until the price paid reaches market value, and though the collection benefits from the addition of the items bought, its resale value is below what you paid for it until time restores the difference, but even if you have time to wait for the price to catch up in catalogue value, you have to also take into consideration inflation, and so even if the price you paid reaches resale value, inflation has eroded the buying amount paid originally.

For my collections, I usually buy from the UK in the Club Auctions of the Societies of which I am a member. At least the commission I pay on the lot goes to the club, which helps keep club running costs to a minimum. I have yet to try and delve into sales online. I would imagine there is a greater spread, but whether the material you want is there would depend on how scarce it is?

Being of modest means, my purchases are also at the lower end of the scale, and so collecting is done as a hobby rather than from the investment angle-have fun and enjoy whatever suits you- happy collecting. [Peter Goodwin is a former member of the Society-Ed.].

MISCELLANY

A STAMP CLUB IN AUSTRALIA

Having received news from Peter Goodwin in NZ, I thought it would be appropriate to include part of a letter from my stamp exchange friend in Australia: ‘I hope you have someone ready to take over [as President]. That is always a problem here. Regarding our daytime meetings, these are popular, but we do not have displays or talks, business etc.-2 hours of stamp talk, exchange sheets (circuit books) and a small auction (15-20) lots. These meetings are purely stamps and we have an average attendance of about 20. For our evening meetings, we usually have about 35 attend. Total membership of our club is 72. Main source of income for the club is subscriptions and auction commission. Material for our December auction is donated by members, so all proceeds go to the club. In 2006, we raised $180. I am afraid we are not a wealthy club!’

7TH ABPS NATIONAL PHILATELIC EXHIBITION: Sandra Poole

(23/24 November 2007 at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon)

If you want to see top class philatelic exhibits, you really do have to visit these exhibitions, which are now held annually. According to the handbook, ‘These exhibitions will now host the sole national competitive competitions, judged in accordance with FIP rules, by which philatelists in the UK can obtain the necessary qualifications to compete in International exhibitions.’ Having looked at the entries, I wonder how many of us will be amongst future competitors- the material displayed over almost 400 frames was absolutely superb. Space does not permit a full resume of all that was on view, but some of the more unusual items included a 1632 Royal Proclamation ‘concerning the Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts’; Oliver Cromwell, Feb 1st 1654, Messenger Exchequer Warrant; and a hat duty stamp printed on the cloth lining- one of very few examples known.(this from an invited display, not a competitive one) I counted 75 competitive entries in the usual classes, both national and international- Postal History, Postal Stationery, Traditional, Revenues, Aerophilately, Social Philately, Special Studies, Open and Cinderella (National). The jury comprised 12 members, chairman, secretary and 2 apprentices. Judging started on the Thursday and the awards were as follows: 1Large Gold (Cape Triangulars), 10 Gold, I Large Silver, 12 Silver, 3 Silver-Bronze, 1 Bronze, 14 Large Vermeil, 33 Vermeil. There were also literature classes, which I did not see. A high standard was also achieved in the Youth Exhibits, which augurs well for the future of the hobby. Unfortunately, I missed most of the critique as it coincided with my Cinderella Stamp Club AGM. Other society meetings were also taking place over the event, as was a stamp fair attended by c. 40 dealers. Two Congress papers were read and material from the Royal Philatelic Collection was on view. The next ABPS Exhibition will be held on 2/3 May 2008 at Harrogate. Details on www.harrogate2008.org.uk. Strongly recommended.

LINE ENGRAVING : E Wella

( From our twin society in Gozo, submitted by L. Sutton)

The early line-engraved stamps by the process invented by Jacob Perkins of the British firm of Perkins, Bacon & Petch consisted of hand engraving with a steel tool known as a burin on softened steel. The ‘mother’ or original die was then hardened, and a softened steel roller passed over it under very great pressure to produce the ‘matrix’ or secondary die. After hardening, this roller was used to produce multiple impressioned plates from which the actual printing was done- the tertiary dies. The final plate bore the design in intaglio (recess). Printing was done by inking the plate, wiping the surplus surface ink and applying pressure to an imposed sheet of dampened paper, the paper picking out the ink, from the incised design in the plate. Modern recess printing is done from a plate mechanically inked and wiped on specially designed high-speed rotary presses.

MORE ABOUT AUCTIONS: Sandra Poole

I was recently chatting to a member of our Society who expressed surprise that at public auctions a premium was payable by the buyer in addition to the commission paid by the vendor. I seem to remember hearing, when this was first introduced, that it was a fairer system for both vendor and buyer to share the costs (certainly not to boost profits!) It was interesting to read, therefore, the following from a Bonham’s catalogue: ‘In its role as auctioneer of lots. Bonham’s acts solely for and in the interests of the Seller. Bonham’s job is to sell the lot at the highest price obtainable at the sale to a Bidder. Bonham’s does not act for Buyers or Bidders in this role and does not give advice to Buyers or Bidders’ The buyer’s premium was 17 ½ on the first £30,000 (!!), 10% thereafter. (Plus VAT, of course.) Premiums vary, but as a buyer in a Danish auction, I was charged 20%. It was admitted that this was a bit on the high side, although some others apparently charged more. I wonder what the vendor’s commission was?

LABELS OR STAMPS?

When did you last see a stamp on a parcel, unless it came from another stamp collector? My local sub-postmaster explained that the Post Office prefer the use of automated labels as it speeds the sorting- they know that the weight has been checked at the point of departure and the correct postage applied. Otherwise, parcels have to be checked further up the line. Although sub-postmasters get paid more for using labels, mine is quite happy to accept my stamps. There is an official directive that these should be cancelled using the (sub) post office’s own date stamp If we want to see more proper stamps, it is up to us to buy commemoratives, to always use them and get decent cancels to boot!

SOCIETY NEWS

Since the last newsletter, we have welcomed one new member-Mr George Hall. Mr. D .Armstrong has resigned from the Society as he was moving away from the area. Mr. H. Bailey has rejoined,

Allen Wood has received the honour of becoming a Fellow of The Royal Philatelic Society.

There was a bumper attendance on the evening of Lord Dearing’s display. As interesting as the wide range of material was his insight into the working of the Post Office, his insider knowledge and his lively anecdotes.

The Christmas meeting with festive fare was also enjoyed by all and, as usual, was well attended. Thirteen members gave short displays. Change of date and venue of our auction- this is now to be held on Saturday 1 March at St.Peter’s Rooms, Church St., Ruddington.

Annual Dinner, March 14. This year’s Annual Dinner is to be held at The Pullman Inn, Widmerpool.(Railway Station) 3 courses, plus coffee, £18 .

YOU REPLY…From Mike Siverns.

Re the visit in 1974 to the Royal Philatelic Society-although only Ken Smith is mentioned as a fellow of the Royal, both David Banwell and Peter Johnstone became Fellows. It is a rare privilege for a local society to be invited to show. Normally, only specialist societies or eminent individuals get that privilege. The last Notts Member to do so was the late Norton Collier, who showed 300 plus sheets of Sudan and received the Tapling Medal for his efforts. Incidentally, David Banwell became the Regional representative for the Royal and when he retired, Norton & I replaced him. During my presidential year, one evening was devoted to displays by people who were members of both Notts PS and the Royal namely, Norton Collier, David Banwell, Ian Jakes, Bill Whitaker and myself. It was entitled ‘A Right Royal Evening’

DISCLAIMER: Whilst every care is taken during the production of this newsletter, neither the editor nor the Society officials can accept any liability for views, opinions or unintentional publication errors which occur in this newsletter.

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