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Phil Ately [re the Kangaroo and Map stamps, 29 April 1931]

2 January 2023 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This untitled item, written by “Phil Ately”, regarding the Kangaroo and Map stamps, was published in the “Society” section in The Bulletin (Sydney, NSW), 29 April 1931.]

[“Phil Ately”]

“Phil Ately”: For some mysterious reason the postage-stamps that could be best spared linger the longest in circulation; the kangaroo sprawled across the map of Australia is an atrocity that still persists in the denominations above sixpence.

This was the long-deceased Charley Frazer’s contribution to Australian nationalism when he was P.M.G. in the second Fisher Ministry. Charley had a deep distrust of conventional artists and designers, and an aversion to hackneyed kings’ heads.

The storm of protest and condemnation that greeted the map-bestriding ’roo might have impelled some Ministers to have it withdrawn, or at all events to see that the stamp never got into a second edition; but Frazer, who had picked the design out of some dozens submitted to him, was genuinely proud of the issue and attributed the disparagement to professional jealousy.

He must have had them printed in wanton millions, too, for I have the assurance of a post-officer that it will be years before they are exhausted.



Source:
The Bulletin (Sydney, NSW), 29 April 1931, p. 11, column 1

Editor’s notes:
The author’s name, “Phil Ately”, is a place upon words with “philately”.

Charley Frazer = Charles Edward Frazer (1880-1913), engine driver, politician, Postmaster-General (1911- 1913); he was born in Yarrawonga (Vic.) in 1880, and died in Melbourne (Vic.) in 1913
See: 1) Ross McMullin, “Frazer, Charles Edward (1880–1913)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Charlie Frazer”, Wikipedia

Minister = (in the context of various British Commonwealth countries, including Australia) a Minister of the Crown (including the Prime Minister); a government minister who is responsible for overseeing a government department, formulating government policy, and/or making decisions on issues affecting the country; someone who is part of the government Ministry or Cabinet

philately = stamp collecting; the study and/or collecting of postage stamps, imprinted stamps, stamped envelopes, postcards, postmarks, and other items and subjects related to postal delivery and postal history (especially as a hobby, but also professionally and/or for investment purposes)

P.M.G. = (abbreviation) Postmaster-General (in some countries, the title of the head of the national postal service)

’roo = (abbreviation) kangaroo

[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]

Filed Under: letters to the editor Tagged With: 500x500, letter to the editor, publication The Bulletin (Sydney), SourceTrove, year1931

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