Stellenbosch Filatelistevereniging

Stellenbosch Philatelic Society

Posbus/P.O. Box 555

STRAND

7139

Telephone : 072-933-8444 (Elliott)

E-pos/mail : stellenboschstamp@gmail.com

Webwerf : stbphilatelic.wordpress.com

Klubaand : 1ste Dins van mnd om 19:00

Club night : 1st Tues of month at 19:00

Jaargang/Volume: 39 No/Nr: 2

Venue: Le Donjon, La Societé, La Clemence, Webersvallei Road, Stellenbosch

NUUSBRIEF MAART 2017

VORIGE BYEENKOMSTE 6 FEBRUARIE Met die skryf van die nuusbrief vir Maart 2018 was die notule van die vergadering van 6 Februarie 2018, sowel as die notule van die Algemene Jaarvergadering nog nie beskibaar nie. At the time of writing the newsletter for March 2018, the minutes of the meeting on 6 February 2018, as well as the minutes for the Annual General Meeting were not available.

FACTS AND FEATS: THE POSTAL SERVICES The lowest face value expressed on stamps and actually postally valid was 1/10 (one-tenth) of a

cent, on stamps of French Indochina issued in 1922-39, equivalent at that time to 0.01 penny sterling (0.01d.).Some other very low values were the ½ milesima of Puerto Rico of 1881-98 (0.025d), the ½ milesima of Cuba of 1888-94 (0.025d), the ½ centime of France of 1919-22 (0.05d), the 2 cash of Travancore of 1943 (0.08d), the ½ pice of Dhar of 1897 (0.125d) and the 2 pies of Cochin of 1909-46 (0.16d). The lowest rate in the UK was a halfpenny, on newspapers, printed matter and postcards, introduced in

1870. The most worthless stamp ever issued was the 3000 pengö definitive of Hungary issued on 5 Feb 1946. Originally intended as the top value of a post-war series, the stamp was delayed several months after the rest of the series. By the time of its issue, however, the pengö had plummeted in value in the worst case of hyper-inflation the previous century. By Feb 1946 the value of the pengö had dropped to the equivalent of 150 000 000 000 000 to 1p in modern British decimal currency. The highest value, in real terms can be found on certain British Commonwealth stamps which were intended mainly for revenue purposes, but are regarded as postage stamps because of their inscription Postage and Revenue. Pride of place goes to East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika) which in 1925 issued stamps with face values of £75 and £100, the highest denomination ever issued with a postal inscription. The same year Ceylon issued a stamp valued at Rs 1000, which at the rate of exchange at the time (Rs 1 = 1s6d sterling) would be worth £75. The highest value of any British stamp is £5 (issued in 1887 and demonetised in 1915). No further £5 stamps were issued for postage until 1977. The highest value of any US stamp was $100, the highest denomination of the newspaper stamp series of 1895. The highest values expressed on stamps appeared during times of severe inflation and had consequently little real

value in relation to other currencies at the time. During the German inflation of 1923the most astronomical value ever to appear on a stamp (the top denomination of the October-November issue) was 50 000 000 000 marks. In 1946, however, Hungary easily topped this. On 13 July of that year a stamp with a face value of 500 000 000 000 pengös was issued, but superseded by stamps valued in tax pengös only three days later.

Facts and feats come from: Mackay, James, The Guinness book of Stamps, Guinness Publishing Ltd, Enfield, 1988

If you have other information, please let me know with the necessary reference, as there is a need to confirm the information - Ed. (I wonder what the equivalent of the Zimbabwean dollar would have been. Also note the drop in the value of money worldwide may soon make some of the information above obsolete – Ed).

THE EVOLUTION OF MAIL AND POSTAGE STAMPS (4) This is an article written by Tom Fortunato, and can be found at the indicated website, and an excerpt will be featured over the next few months. (http://www.frontiernet.net/~stamptmf/exhibits/stampcollecting/index.html) (Continued) Stamps can easiest be separated into four major categories:

Commemoratives - stamps printed in limited quantities and available for a short period of time in honor of important people, places, events or subjects. They are often larger and more colorful than other types of stamps.

Definitives - stamps often reprinted to meet continual use by the public paying a standard rate or value to make up a specific need. Many times these are smaller in size than commemoratives and have a common look, design and/or theme among many denominations.

Special purpose or service stamps - like definitives, but issued for a particular need and oftentimes an exclusive use. These include: airmail stamps, postage due stamps (non-payment of fees), semi-postal stamps (surtaxed stamps for a charitable cause), special delivery stamps, and alike.

Revenue stamps - non-postage receipts representing a tax paid for a variety of needs. Shown above are the following: Canadian law stamp, Irish dog license stamp, revenues from Japan, Mexico and South Africa. Same Design, Different Stamps There are many ways to differentiate stamps that have the same design. Knowing these basics allow collectors to tell whether they have a stamp worth a few cents or several thousand dollars. Take a look here and view examples of the one cent "Washington-Franklin" U.S. definitive issued between 1908-1922.

One stamp is worth $7, the other $7,500. Can you tell which is which? First, check for straight edges. Stamps were released in three formats: sheets, coils (strips for use in vending machines and by mass-mailers), and booklets.

Sheet Stamps Stamps can have 0, 1, or 2

straight edges.

Coil Stamps Stamps always have 2 straight

edges on opposite sides.

Booklet Stamps Stamps can have 0, 1 or 2 straight

edges.

Some sheets were never run through a

perforator and needed to be cut from each sheet. These are known as

"imperforates."

A full sheet of stamps with a

Salem, Ohio precancel overprint

vertical pair

horizontal pair

The lines in the center of each pair

only occurs every 20th stamp. These are

called "line pairs."

pane of 6

pane of 30 placed in booklets

used by troops in Siberia

(To be continued)

TIMELINE PHOTOS

23 February 1945 - U.S. Marines plant the flag on the crest of Mount Suribachi. The Battle of Iwo Jima (18 February – 26 March 1945) was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The American invasion, designated Operation Detachment, had the goal of capturing the entire island, including the three Japanese-controlled airfields (including the South Field and the Central Field), to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the Pacific War of World War II. The Imperial Japanese Army positions on the island were heavily fortified, with a dense network of bunkers, hidden artillery positions, and 18 km (11 mi) of underground tunnels. The American ground forces were supported by extensive naval artillery, and had complete air

supremacy provided by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators throughout the entire battle. Japanese combat deaths numbered three times the number of American deaths although, uniquely among Pacific War Marine battles, American total casualties (dead and wounded) exceeded those of the Japanese. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima at the beginning of the battle, only 216 were taken prisoner, some of whom were captured because they had been knocked unconscious or otherwise disabled. The majority of the remainder were killed in action, although it has been estimated that as many as 3,000 continued to resist within the various cave systems for many days afterwards, eventually succumbing to their injuries or surrendering weeks later. After the heavy losses incurred in the battle, the strategic value of the island became controversial. It was useless to the U.S. Army as a staging base and useless to the U.S. Navy as a fleet base. However, Navy Seabees rebuilt the landing strips, which were used as emergency landing strips for USAAF B-29s. Joe Rosenthal's Associated Press photograph of the raising of the U.S. flag on top of the 169 m (554 ft) Mount Suribachi by six U.S. Marines became an iconic image of the battle and the American war effort in the Pacific. International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors, Wikipedia and other sources Geskryf deur Robert Harm 25 February 2018

CLUB PROGRAMMES (Western Cape)

Bellville Philatelic Society, at the Bellville Public Library at 19:00 on 2nd Wednesday of the month. 14 Mar 2018 Auction open to all. 11 Apr 2018 Programme for 2018 awaited.

CASPIP, home of Dennis Landau, 24 Lochiel Road, Rondebosch at 20:00 on 3rd Wednesday of month. 21 Mar 2018 18 Apr 2018

Fish Hoek Philatelic Society, at Minor Hall, Fish Hoek Civic Centre at 19:30 on 1st Tuesday of the month. 6 Mar 2018 AGM; Two small exhibits. 14 Apr 2018 Annual auction on Saturday from 09:00 till 12:00. Visitors welcome,

Paarl Filateliste, MBA Boland-Gebou, Concordia Street, Paarl at 19:30 2nd Thursday of the month. 10 Mar 2018 Jaarlikse ete vir lede alleen. 12 Apr 2018 Tema: Letter Z.

Pinelands Stamp Circle, at Activities Room, Pinelands Library at 19:00 on last Wednesday of the month. 28 Mar 2018 Thematic evening; Personalities with letter C. 28 Apr 2018 The Future of Philately – Jannie Hofmeyr; Personalities with letter D.

Royal Philatelic Society of Cape Town, at Atenaneum on 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. 13 Mar 2018 All members and guests with their favourite pages. 27 Mar 2018 British West Indies – Rob Allan; Philatelic Terms – Betty. 10 Apr 2018 The rare and Mysaterious Columbian Airmails – Barry Fletcher. 24 Apr 2018 German Colonies – David Wengrowe. 245 Apr 2018 Rare and Mysterious Columbian

Stellenbosch Philatelic Society, at La Clémence, Webersvallei Rd, Stellenbosch at 19:00 on 1st Tuesday of month. 6 Mar 2018 Leon Smith’s evening. 3 Apr 2018 Programme for 2018 is awaited.

Walker Bay Stamp Club, at the Hermanus Bowling Club/Kleinmond Public Library at 17:30 on 1st Monday of month. 5 Mar 2018 2 Apr 2018

Thematics SA (WC Chapter), at Church Hall of the DRC Bergsig, c/o Boland Road/Protea Street, Durbanville at 11:00. 3 Mar 2018 Robert talks on the future of thematic collecting. 7 Apr 2018 Theme will be announced.

STAMP FAIRS Durbanville,at Church Hall of the DRC Bergsig, c/o Boland Way and Protea Street, Durbanville at 09:00 until 12:30. 3 Mar 2018 7 Apr 2018 The date of the next auction will be announced later.

PHILATELIC TERMS : C-7 Bibliography: McKay, James, Philatelic Terms Illustrated, Stanley Gibbons Publications, Ringwood, 2003. Nováček, Jiři, Guide to Stamp Collecting, Chartwell Books Inc, New Jersey, 1989. Smith, Anna H. (Ed), The language of stamp collecting, Johannesburg Public Library, 1959. Wood, Kenneth A. (Ed), This is Philately, Van Dahl Publications, Albany, 1982 Graham, Harold T. (Ed), A Glossary of Philatelic Terms, Philatelic Congress of Great Britain, 1951 Wikipedia Encyclopaedia at www.wikipedia.com. Compulsory registration This is a practice adopted by many postal administrations when coins, jewellery or other valuables are detected in ordinary, unregistered packets in transit. Such packets are then registered and handled more securely to their destination, but the registration fee and a fine are levied on the recipient. Special postmarks and labels were used for this purpose by the British PO from 1862 till the 1970s. Computation of official postage

Stamps have been issued by two countries for the purpose of computing the amount of postage due on official mail. Germany produced sets of stamps inscribed FREI DURCH ABLöSUNG for use in Prussia (1903) and Baden (1905), each set being used for 12 months in order to assess the amount of revenue owed to the imperial postal service for government mail carried. A similar device was used in Thailand in 1963-4. Stamps inscribed in Thai signifying for Government service statistical research were compulsory

used on official correspondence to determine the amount handled by the various departments Computer-designed stamps Micro-chip technology first affected philately in 1970 when the Netherlands issued a set of 5 stamps with spiral or geometric patterns produced by a computer. In 1985 Martha Poppe designed a definitive series for Brazil in which the motifs were originated by dot-matrix printer. In recent years the use of computer technology has been extended considerably, using highly sophisticated graphics software to create designs which formerly would have been drawn by hand. Computer-generated labels These are labels whose design and text are entirely produced by dot-matrix or ink-jet printer from a word processor. This system was pioneered in the United States to produce explanatory labels affixed to undeliverable mail and it was subsequently developed in Britain for labels on redirected mail. Some postage paid impressions have been produced by computer in conjunction with the addressing of packets used in mail-shots. Concentration camp mail

The term refers to mail from the concentration camps established by the Nazi regime in Germany and later in occupied Europe, distinguished by special postmarks, stationary and even stamps. An undenominated green label was issued in 1943 to allow the relatives of inmates of Theresienstadt camp to frank parcels addressed to the camp. The Jewish Council in Lotz ghetto were permitted to organise an internal post and issue stamps inscribed in German. In 1945 displaced persons in the former concentration camp at Dachau-Allach organised their own postal service and issue stamps and a

miniature sheet with a premium in aid of the Red Cross. Concessionary parcel stamps

These are bipartite stamps issued by Italy since 1953, inscribed Trasporto Pacchi in Concessione, and used by carriers and freight companies operating local parcel delivery services at rates lower than the government service. These stamps denote the payment f a small fee to the state or permission to operate the local services. Both Germany (1942-4) and the USA (1968) issued stamps to indicate concessionary rates in respect of servicemen’s parcels.

Condensed type The term refers to lettering in a narrower style than normal, often used for long inscriptions in registration labels.

Condition Condition refers to the state of stamps. Ideally in unused stamps there should be full gum with no trace of a mount, in both mint and used stamps with well-centred margins, no blunt or pulled perforations, no surface rubbing or thinning on the back, no tears, and light cancellation. Condominium The term refers to a government shared by two or more powers over another territory, e.g. Canton Island (Anglo-American), the Sudan (anglo-Egyptian) and the New Hebrides (Anglo-French), Only in the last case however, have stamps been issued, thus inscribed and bearing captions in English and French respectively. Confetti flaw The term refers to a small circular albino patch in the design of a stamp, caused by a piece of paper (usually a perforation cut-out) adhering to the surface during printing, and later falling off. Conjoined portraits

The term refers to two or more profiles overlapping. This has been a feature of coins for more than 2000 years. Notable examples on stamps include portraits of Christian IX and Frederik VIII of Denmak (Iceland in 1907), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (Silver Wedding omnibus of 1948), Ranier III and Prince Albert (Monaco in 1981), Queens Victoria and Elizabeth on the double-head definitives of 1990 celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the first adhesive stamp, and the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh (Silver Wedding of 1972). Multiple conjoined portraits include some Sweden’s Nobel Prize stamps and the six prime ministers of South Africa.

Consular mail This is mail transmitted from consulates acting as postal agencies, often using distinctive cancellations. Stamps inscribed B.C.M. were used on British Consular Mail from Madagascar (1884-7). The French operated a consular postal service from Jerusalem in 1948 when the posts of the Palestine mandate broke down, while the Russian embassy in Berlin used consular stamps, surcharged in German currency, on airmail to Moscow in 1922. Continuous line E term refers to a jubilee line in the sheet margins of stamps extending without break, as opposed to co-extensive lines. Continuous overprint

The term refers to a multiple, overall overprint, applied without regard to positioning on the individual stamps in a sheet. Good examples are the republican overprints of Spain in 1931 and the multiple Posthorns of West-Germany in 1948.

Contract mailing This is a procedure whereby mail posted in country A is air-freighted by a company under contract to country B for sorting and onward despatch, either within that country, or re-mailed to country C. The system was pioneered in the USA about 1985 to overcome the high charges of sending individual items by airmail. Such items can be recognised by the return address in one country and the meter mark or postage paid impression of a second. Although originally confined to business mail, in recent years similar facilities have been offered to tourists in Italy, Spain and other countries, and denoted in many cases by special stamps known as pre-paid tickets. Control letters The term applies to the letters inscribed in the sheet margins of some British stamps from 1881 onwards as an accountancy measure. From 1904 until 1947, when these controls were discontinued, they also incorporated numerals indicating the last digits of the year of issue.

Compiled by Robert Harm 24 February 2018