Evening star., 1937-01-31
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
From reliable sources in England,
The Star learns that special corona
ton stamps for each of "a territorial
divisions of the British Empire will
be issued in May. American collectors
interested are advised to make ar
rangements for specimens, on cover
or unused, well in advance Of release.
Richard Mop. Cabeen, philatelic
editor, Chicago Tribune, writes: "Ru-
mors that the Post ONCE Department
would issue a set Of stamps to honor
outstanding members of the Indian
race have met with approval among
Midwestern collectors. Only few Of
the Nations stamps have been con-
cerned with the red men who peopled
this country when the whites arrived
and who have been unceremoniously
pushed around from that day to this.
THE earliest use of an Indian sub
feet for a United States stamp ap-
gears to have been in 1875, when Min
nehaha was shown on the $50 periodi-
cal stamp. Several values of the Co
lumbar series show minor Indian fig
ures, most noteworthy Of which are
the 1-cent with an Indian in the
right panel Of the vignette and the
10-cent, which shows Columbus pre-
senting natives at the court of Spain.
Likewise. the trans-Mississippi Sc
fies includes several Indians in Incl
dental pictures. The 1-cent shows
Marquette with several Indians, and
the 4-cent, Indians hunting buffalo.
The 1-cent Jamestown issue has small
oval medallions showing Indian por-
traits, and the scent value portrays
Pocahontas as its feature. The Hud-
son-Fulton stamp of 1909 shows Q
minute Indian in a canoe in the fore
ground as q foil to the steam-pro-
PEELED Clermont Of Robert Fulton. The
14-cent stamp Of the 922 issue utilizes
an Indian chief for its subject, the
portrait shown being that Of Hollow
Horn Bear. The Carolina Charleston
commemorative stamp shows an In
dian as one of two figures in the CEN
trail feature of the design.
"A short series Of stamps, portray.
ing the really great Indian leaders,
sachems as well as chiefs, would be
an acceptable addition to the albums
Of collectors Of United States stamps,
and would be saved by many nom
collectors who are interested in the
early days Of this land"
From an unidentified British news
paper. the following paragraphs are
quoted by courtesy Of Mrs. Mary A.
Pace, Washington philatelist: "Our
postage stamps are used by all Of US,
SO they are Of interest to all Of us
and not to philatelists and artists
alone. Furthermore. they 60 abroad
and so are national insignia, and their
Importance in that direction should
not be under-estimated.
During the past year we have had
the opportunity to compare two dif-
ferent designs Of British stamps-the
George v, with its decorative. but con-
ventional, design, and the boldly mod
ern Photographic model Of King Ed
ward VIII-the latter available only in
VllC oIlld4lCA QCuOlllAuatlOAlc. IlC CO1ls
f1ct Of styles In these two issues has
been striking. Six months ago the
Edwardian breakaway from late Vic
torian tradition was hailed with gen.
eral public relief-though greeted with
acidulated comments by that school
Of designers which still regards the
Photographic process as outside the
province Of true art. Now the post
office must face the problem Of the
George vi stamps, and the question
Is whether we are to continue in the
Edwardian manner or return to the
convoluted framework and writhing
dolphins which surrounded the royal
head In former reigns in this century.
Or will we, with our inevitable British
inclination to obtain the best Of both
worlds, seek compromise between
the two types?
Some Of the critics of the Edwardian