NEWSLETTER OF THE ROYAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF NZ

ROYAL LINES

www.rpsnz.org.nz

                PO BOX 1269, WELLINGTON 6140 TEL: (04) 472-2590 FAX: (04) 472-5426 rpsnz@orcon.net.nz

 

Vol.47 No 3           April 2008

 

1.  April Meeting

 

The next meeting of the Society will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8 April in the first floor rooms of Turnbull House, Bowen Street, Wellington.,.

 

NOTE: Tbe library will be open for members from 7.00pm to 7.25pm on meeting nights.

 

Programme:   Business

Items of Interest

Members' Night - Frugal Philately

 

Items from the upcoming sale and new additions to the Library, will also be on display.          .

2. March Meeting

This month's meeting was a joint one with the Wellington Philatelic Society. Wellington's- President, . Patrick Brownsey welcomed the 21 attendees and invited items of interest.

 

Notable amongst these were items including a selection of African covers to the United Kingdom, a Maori-language newspaper posted in 1898 bearing a  ˝d. SSF, a complete vertical strip of the 1960 3/- multi-colour with a progressive brown colour shift and an Iraqi medical certificate with revenue stamps front and back.

Adam Miller then introduced the evening's speaker, John Kersel, with a display on New Zealand Airmails 1934-1947. John's aim was to cover New Zealand's four early airway companies, which eventually became National Airways Corporation (NAC). He started with a potted history of flight in New Zealand commencing with Richard Pearce, and leading up to the initial flurry of entrepreneur­ial aviators using 'free' planes obtained by the New Zealand Government from Britain after WWI. The first air covers were flown in April 1920 in the far north. In 1933 the Transport Co-ordination Board was set up to regulate airway companies. Air Travel New Zealand was the first to be formed, flying on the West Coast of the South Island and carried mail under a government subsidy.

 

East Coast Airways was formed in 1935, initially to fly between Gisborne and Napier. Gisborne Airport gave many problems, restricting the number of passengers the planes could carry. The Union Stem Ship Company held a majority of their shares, and eventually absorbed them into Union Airways in 1938.

 

Cook Strait Airways formed in 1936 and started flying between Wellington, Blenheim and Nelson although they eventually flew to the West Coast as well. Rongotai Airport as originally laid out also caused problem$, with the Wellington City Council spending 128,000 pounds removing the top of the hill near Moa Point to assist landings.

Union Airways was formed in early 1936, to fly between Palmerston North and Dunedin. Govern­ment assistance with obtaining the more powerful US Lockheed Electra planes allowed flights to commence involving Auckland and New Plymouth. During WWII most were shut down as flights were restricted and the government requisitioned planes for the war effort. Post war the Govern­ment decided to nationalise the airways and in 1947 NAC was formed and took over the remaining companies.

 

John's display was full of the many first flight covers for the various routes flown, as well as much scarce ephemera from the various companies, such as photos of planes and pilots, baggage labels, tickets and in-flight hand-outs. Ron Allan gave the vote of thanks.

 

3. Tarapex 2008

This National Exhibition, is to be held in November, at the TSB Stadium, Mason Drive, New Ply­mouth. Entry forms will need to be in by the 30 June 2008 and entries by 1 November. Further information can be had from the Secretary, Tarapex 2008, P 0 Box 7129, New Plymouth or email tarapex@xtra.co.nz

 

4. May Postal Sale

A reminder that the closing date for bids in the May Sale is 15 May. If you happen to fancy an item for your collection or are desperate to get hold of rare material then make sure your bids are in on time. This postal sale is a trial with a quarter of the lots in the sale presenting polar material. There is a focus on the Antarctic with items associated with the early expeditions from New Zealand and a substantial offering of covers from a range of countries. The Ross Dependency material is noteworthy as are the items from the British and French Antarctic Territories and from the American involve­ment over the years. The Campbell Island lots cover the development of postal material associated with the scientific parties.

 

The Society is offering material from a collection formed in Oamaru during the later 19th and early 20th centuries. In this sale many of the New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria lots come from this source and they provide an opportunity to acquire useful early items.

Checking the material on offer from Russia and the USSR will also be rewarding. There is also a collection of postal stationery being worked through at present and this includes some interesting early covers. The New Zealand lots feature nearly 50 Full Face Queens, including a 1/- on pelure paper, blocks of Second Side Face issues and Edward VII issues, prate blocks of the 1935 Pictorials, scarce postal stationery items, RNZAF commemorative covers, and a 1954 Health cover-. signed by. the late Sir Edmund Hillary. The 4c surcharge sheet missing black is a remarkable item. If you prefer bulk material there is plenty on offer to fill the Winter-or Summer-hours.

 

5. New Members                                                                       

There was one new member during the past month, Michael Howard from New Zealand. Royal Lines welcomes Michael to our society.

 

6. Volume IX                                                  ­

Don't forget to order your copy of the award winning Postage Stamps of New Zealand Volume IX.  Priced at $140.00 plus packaging and postage this volume, the latest in the handbook series, covers all aspects of postal stationery. Contact the office for details and an order form.

 

7. Important Auction

Noble Numismatics Australia advice of an important auction in Sydney from the 8 to 11th of April which includes the Russell Collection of New Zealand stamps. The collection is very strong in Chalon heads, first side faces, Universals, 1906-1913 Exhibitions, Officials and postage dues. Catalogues available online from mid-March or call (612) 9223 4578 for further information.

 

8. Important Notice

The renewal of subscriptions is now only a couple of months away. As last year, your invoice for the 2008-2009 year will be posted out with the June issue of the New Zealand Stamp Collector. You will find some changes contained on the invoice, but the most important relates to the rebate period. Despite the opportunity the Society gives members to save on their membership fees, there are many who don't, which means a long administrative effort to contact and remind them of their obligation.

 

Previously the rebate period ended at the end of August. Council have now decided that this amount of time may well be too long with the consequence some members forget the cut-off date so from this year the rebate will only apply until the 31 July. So please make a note of this date and when your invoice arrives and you wish to apply the rebate, send your remittance in by 31st July.

 

The newsletter is always happy to publish any items of interest you may have so please either fax material to the Editor on 04 971 8537 or email to the Society's office. As usual, we reserve the right to publish.