Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-10-06
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BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
War between Ethiopia and Italy
signifies increased interest in the
stamps of those countries. The strug-
gle is certain to be reflected in new
issues and in battle-zone covers.
Meanwhile. brief glance at the postal
paper already available is suggested.
Abyssinia, as most collectors know
the last independent African mon
archy's name, brought out its initial
series in 1894-four denominations
showing portrait of Menelik II, En-
peror from 1889 to 1918, and three
the symbolic Lion of Judah. Various
surcharges to accommodate changing
conditions kept the set in use until
1909. Then a new series appeared
14g, blue green. 1ag. rose, and 1g,
green and orange, coat of arms with
King Solomon's throne; 2g, blue, and
<g, green and carmine, Menelik in
native costume, and 8g. vermilion
and deep green, and log. vermilion
and carmine, Menelik in royal dress.
Commemorative surcharges for the
coronation of the Empress zauditu.
daughter of Menelik. were applied
February II, 1917, and high values
were oyerprinted with low value nu-
merals the same year.
The third Abyssinian series, re-
leased in 1919. was rich pictorial set,
officially described as follows: 1sg,
violet and brown, antelope; 14g, blue
green and drab, giraffes; l2g, scarlet
and olive green, spotted leopard; lg,
rose lilac and gray green, portrait of
Ras Tafari, granddaughter of Menelik,
now Q935) Emperor under the name
Halle Selassie I; 2g, deep ultramarine
and fawn, second portrait of Tafari;
4g, turquoise blue and orange, third
portrait of Tafari; 6g, light blue and
orange. Church of st. George: 8g,
olive green and black brown, rhinoc-
eros; 12g. red violet and gray, os-
triches; 81. rose and gray black. ele-
plant; 81, black and brown. buffalo;
SO, green and deep orange, lions; 81,
brown and lilac rose. portrait of En-
press Zauditu; SIS, carmine and gray,
second portrait of Zauditu. and $40,
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crown.
But the 1919 set, like its predeces-
sors, was mutilated by surcharges re-
peatedly until 1881, when a fourth
series was printed to mark the coro-
nation of Tafari as Emperor con-
fused composition involving the coro-
nation monument and symbols of i'm
perial power, seven values, 1g to St.
The current stamps of the coun-
try are: 1sg, red. portrait of Ras
Makonen; l4g. olive green, view of
Hawash River and railroad bridge;
lag, dark violet, Makonen; 1g, red
orange, portrait of Empress Manen;
2g. ultramarine, portrait of Halle
Selassie; 4g, violet, equestrian statue
OF Menelik; 8g, blue-green, Halle
Selassie; 1t, chocolate, statue of
Menelik; st. yellow-green, Manen, and
st. red brown, Halle Selassie.
There has been one airmail series,
1881. 1g to st, plane and symbols
over map.
Italy entered the ranks of stamp
issuing nations in 1852 The first Sc
ries was rude embossed quintet
portraying King Victor Emmanuel
II, and it soon was succeeded by a
set Of Renaissance designs. eight in
number, the higher values showing
ldentic profleS Of the monarch care
fully, but not attractively, engraved,
and by two single stamps, 1867-1877,
zoe, blue. and zoe, orange, known as
type Ais.
Then, in 1879, 1889 and 1891, there
were three sets presenting King Hum
bert I with the same full-face por-
trait used throughout the total of II |
different values. The accession of |
King Victor Emmanuel III was marked |
by a IL. brown and green. and a al, |
blue and rose, in 1901, since which |
date the reigning sovereign has been
the subject of II types for regular
postage.
But Italy, especially since 1910, has
specialized in commemorative issues,
and the gradual alteration of the ma
tional mind has been manifest in a
tendency from cultural to military
themes. In 1921 there was a set for
Dante Ahghieri. author of the Divine
in 1922 one for Giuseppe
statesman; in 1923 one for
The propaganda of the faith. depict
ng the Savior and His disciples: in
1924 one for Alessandro Manzoni poet
and novelist, and in 1926 one for St.
Francis of Assist
Later occasional sets were: Turin
Exhibition, 1923; Abbey of Monte Cas-
sino, 1929; Francesca Ferrucci, Tus-
can warrior, 1880; Royal Wedding
prince Humbert and Princess Marie
Jose Of Belgium, 1890; Virgil BIZ
nillenary, 1890; st. Anthony of
Padua. 1881; Royal Navy Academy,
1881; National Literary Fund to pro-
mote national letters, 1892; Garibaldi,
1882; Fascist tenth anniversary, 1882;
Universities Games, 1888; Holy Year,
1883; Fiume annexation, 1884; An
tonic Pacinotti. scientist. 1884; Soc