1938-09-09 — Page 10

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THE STAMP COLLECTOR'S CORNER

FINLANDIA

By Muriel Nissen-

FEW weeks ago Finland and the United States exchanged postage stamp honours when each issued a stamp in honour of the three hun- dredth anniversary of the founding of Delaware, an event in which the Swedes and Finns collaborated.

Now, Finland is issuing another stamp to honour the 20th anniver- sary of her own independence, and this seems to be an appropriate oc- casion to acquaint you philatelists with a few interesting facts concern- ing the land from which you will be receiving several new stamps. in the near future.

The Finns are a very superior people and have wrested a comfort- able living from a very obdurate land. They have, moreover, placed a great 'importance on education and have developed a culture superior to that of many countries enjoying a far more favourable geographical loca- tion. Many splendid pieces of litera- ture have been written in the beauti- ful Finnish tongue, but the greatest of these is the "Kalevala”, a folk epic from which Longfellow took the meter of "Hiawatha."

By far the most important contri- bution of Finland to the arts is the genius of Jan Sibelius who has, by. general consent, been given a fore- most place among the music masters of his time.

Finnish Independence, dates from 1918, when the revolution in Russia made way for self-government. Fin- land was then intended to become a monarchy, and the crown was offer- ed to Prince Frederick Charles of: Hesse, brother-in-law of the German Emperor. Although he accepted, the, honour, he did not go to Finland. When the armistice was signed, the Finns adopted the democratic form of government which has allied them to England and America. A republic was officially established on June 17, 1919. The stamp. commemorating this event has a value of 21⁄2 markka, is printed in blue and pictures a Boldier. The inscription is only the name of the country and the dates,. "1918-1938".

"Another new stamp set from Fin- land marks the 300th anniversary of the postal system in that country and consists of the following stamps: 50 pennia, post office; 1 markka 25, old post-office; 2m., air post; 3m.50, train post office.

Finnish stamps customarily bear two inscriptions for the country de- signation, "Suomi" and "Finland."

LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION

JE'VE been waxing rather ecstatic

lately over the general excel- lence of current stamp issues, but now comes a set that has little to re- commend it from an artistic stand-

point. As an Album filler, however, it is a corker for it provides a total of 21 new designs. The designs themselves are interesting, but the printing and...... colour

work leaves much to be desired.

The country sponsoring this ambi- tious project, if your curiosity is by now aroused, is Bolivia. There are 12 values in the regular postage series, and nine values for air post. The postage set is described first:

2 centavos, brick red--native schoolhouse.

10c., pink-oil derricks. 15c., yellow-green-plane over group of buildings.

Hongkong $ Directory

1939 EDITION

B

IGGER RIGHTER ETTER

rmine map of Bolivia.A olet-Indians and Book of

Knowledge.

75c., indigo-symbolical figure of

learning,

1 boliviano, brown-allegory of in- dustry.

20., tan-farmer and tractor, in triangular- format appear the following postage dues:

bc, scarlet-young boy.

10c., green-tøren of learning.

- sve,, uitramarine—Bolivian cout of arms...

The nine air post values are do- scribed as follows:'

LUC., red-patio with plane over- head.

suc, gray-miner at work.. 40c, yellow-young woman,

50c, green-piane over grain field. 16., red-alegorical design with legend, "Honesty, Work, Discipline, Social Justice.”

20., tan-plane above river.

8b., light brown-crossed sword and hammer.

bb., violet-four transport planes abové, map of country.

FRENCH COLONIAL NOTES

DEVALUATION of the franc has

resulted in changed postal rates throughout the French colonies, with consequent alterations in postage In most cases three new values have been added to the postage roster- 35, 55 and 80 centimes. The most recent colonies announcing these ad- ditions are French Oceanica, Ivory Coast, Martinique, Niger, and Wallis and Futuna. New values have all. been on re-issues of old designs with- colours altered to cónform to the Universal Postal Union regulations.

STAMPS FROM SURINAM

THEA

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HE 75th anniversary of the aboli- tion of slavery in the Dutch co- lony of Surinam has been philateli- cally commemorated on a set of four stamps. Un the 2% cent deep, green. appears a stylized bird against a shield. At the top of the shield are the dates, 1863 and 1988, while the word "Emancipate" appears at the bottom." The head of a young native girl illustrates the remaining values, which are 3c., gray-black, 6c. deep brown and 71⁄4ác. dark blue.

STAMP TEASERS”,

Vincent Lopez is a very familiar name to us, but can you find, a stamp bearing the portrait of an- other man of that name?

2. A picture of St. Anthony preach- ing to fishes appears on a stamp issued in 1895 by the Azores. -

3. Where—are --Victoria Falls and ›

what stamp pictures them?

4. A scene depicting cattle at a-river

is shown on what stamp ?.. 5. On-what stamp will you see‹ sal-

armony leaping-falls.

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S QUIZ

1. The Yarra River is in Australia (and is shown on a stamp of that

dominion-issued in 1934. .

2. A Mussulman cemetery appears on an "Algerian stamp of 1936. 3. You will find St. Publius on an

adhesive issued by Malta in 1926.. 4. There is a Pasteur Institute in Brazzaville, Middle Congo,. and you will find it on a 1938 stamp. "The insignia of a rifle club ap-

pears on a Portuguese stamp 1899.

DON'T DELAY

ENTRY FORMS AND ORDERS

FOR COPIES ARE NOW BEING

RECEIVED FOR THE 1939

Hongkong $ Directory

JUST RECEIVED.

FIRST SUPPLY OF

· FLOWER AND VEGETABLE

SEEDS.

GRACA & CO.,

Dealers in Garden Seeds, Postage Stamps, Religious Goods,

Toys, Etc.

No:10, WYNDHAM STREET- PO. Box No. 680. RONG TONG