Stamp News Australia January/February 2025

Dear Stamp News reader, As I am sure most of you will be aware, times are quickly changing Worldwide in the publishing industry. It has been estimated that in the USA alone 400 magazines ceased publication during Covid, and many more in the past two years. We in Australia are not immune to this, and the number of newsagencies closing gathers momentum with every passing month. Just local to us in South East Melbourne our three closest newsagencies have all closed in the past 12 months. In addition postage costs rose by 25% in January 2024. In the light of this, and with the success of our combined November/ December issue, we have decided to go Bi-monthly from this issue, which is badged January/February 2025. Effectively the magazine will grow…

The book details the flights of the Graf Zeppelin LZ-127 airship to and from South America using the flight covers contained in the authors philatelic exhibit of the same name. The book allows additional information to be added that exhibit space does not allow. The major purpose and intent of the book is to preserve the details of the exhibit and in particular the postage rates associated with the flights illustrated. The book also details the history of this airship, which was the most successful of its time, flying for nine years without fatality or significant issues. The book shows the Exhibit Title Page and then has five sections, as follows: • Section 1 – 1930 & 1931 Pre-commercial South America flights• Section 2 – 1932 Launch of commercial scheduled…

Citation I am pleased to announce that the recipient of the E.M. Hasluck Medal for 2024 is Trevor Spencer. Trevor has been nominated by the Darling Range Stamp Club for his services to general philately and in particular, aspects of Western Australia. Trevor joined the Kalamunda Stamp Club in 2009 and over the following years contributed a great deal to the philatelic scene. He has served on the committees of Kalamunda Stamp Club, Southpex and the Western Australian Philatelic Council. In 2013-2014 he was the President of the Philatelic Society of Western Australia. He provided his services to events such as Stampmart, Swanpex and national Exhibitions. Youth Development was one of his main interests. Part of his duties included the setting-up of stalls at schools and Scouting venues for the…

Postal pickup pilot for pensioners in Japan Reported at www.asahi.com Along with delivering packages and parcels, postal vans in a village in Hokkaido, Japan, are now transporting another important cargo: elderly passengers. The delivery vehicles are providing transportation for elderly residents living in a rural area with limited cab service, under a public ride-share program launched on a trial basis. The test, conducted in the town of Kami-Shihoro, is the first of its kind across Japan, as local governments elsewhere typically rely on private automobiles under their fee-based ride-sharing systems. “Post offices are already equipped with vehicles and delivery networks, so any infrastructure facilities need not be newly put in place,” said Kami-Shihoro Mayor. “Postal workers are familiar faces to local residents, which allows people to feel safe using the…

Welcome to the postal stationery column. This column looks at Australian new issues, literature and exhibition news. Christmas Postal Cards 2024 On 1 November 2024, Australia Post issued ten postal cards for Christmas in five designs with each design issued in both the usual small format (Figure 1) and the large format (Figures 2 and 3). The five designs are Red Kangaroo, Kookaburra, Koala, Annunciation to the Virgin, and Annunciation to the Shepherds. The small design postal cards were sold as a set for $11.70 while the larger format cards were sold singly for $2.85 and would be useful for sending a Christmas card to friends and relatives overseas. The animal design cards were designed by Anita Xhafer. The two Annunciation designs were taken from a manuscript book, the Aspremont–Kievraing…

This special stamp issue from the Falkland Islands Post Office commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965). One of the 20th century’s most significant figures, Churchill remains popular in the UK and the rest of the English-speaking world. Although Churchill was a statesman, military officer, writer (receiving a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953), amateur artist and devoted father, he is generally viewed as the victorious wartime leader who defended liberal democracy against the spread of fascism, and as a liberal reformer who spurred the creation of the modern welfare state. Historians and the British public often rank Churchill as one of the greatest prime ministers in British history, serving from 1940 to 1945 (during WW2) and…