tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post6421626728304964051..comments2024-03-27T15:49:28.147+00:00Comments on Commonwealth Stamps Opinion: 776. Goodbye Norfolk Island Post.White Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968199477827266643noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-28168709524441409762016-06-20T02:17:54.770+00:002016-06-20T02:17:54.770+00:00I'd actually like to see a regular (maybe annu...I'd actually like to see a regular (maybe annually, or biennial) joint issue between Australia and its four territories. The last one consisted of a four stamps (one each for Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos and AAT) for WWF, and then a miniature sheet for each territory. There are hundreds of topics to chose from - birds, plants, marine life, military heritage, postal history, etc.Chris de Haerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01103852699388056651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-2953475338327306412016-06-20T02:11:54.152+00:002016-06-20T02:11:54.152+00:00It will be interesting to see how Australia Post h...It will be interesting to see how Australia Post handles Norfolk Island. We used to have just a single AAT issue, now we have often have two a year. Cocos is still restraint, but there's only 500 odd people. Christmas Island's Lunar New Year issue is growing larger no doubt due to popularity of this series, and no doubt it is one way Australia Post can contribute to Philatelic making a profit.Chris de Haerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01103852699388056651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-90227993331459921832016-06-20T01:50:26.670+00:002016-06-20T01:50:26.670+00:00I believe that Norfolk Island Post has been losing...I believe that Norfolk Island Post has been losing money on philatelic sales for a number of years. Numbers issued have been very small, and at times the release of issues has been rather chaotic (stamps have been printed but lost in transit, planned issues were designed, publicised but never eventuated, issue dates moved around etc.)<br /><br />Despite this, it is still impressive that a territory with just under 2000 people still managed to design, organise the printing, and distribution of their own stamps 'in house' and not go to an agency, though I believe those in the philatelic bureau were under a lot of strain, due to staff leaving and not being replaced etc.Chris de Haerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01103852699388056651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-41727858588380670932016-06-19T06:18:39.562+00:002016-06-19T06:18:39.562+00:00Hello stewie1911 - I agree that Australia Post has...Hello stewie1911 - I agree that Australia Post has been more restrained with its "territories" issues than the rest of its general programme but there's no denying that in recent years the annual issue for Christmas Island to commemorate Lunar new year has been excessive what with "prestige booklets" and multiple sheetlets and miniature sheets and gummed and self-adhesive versions of the same stamps as well its Christmas issue with the so-called "embellished" stamps and so on. It seems unlikely that Australia Post will not take advantage of another income-generating opportunity with a whole new "territory" in its grasp. <br />Best wishes.White Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17968199477827266643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-69019762121404545472016-06-17T08:44:55.857+00:002016-06-17T08:44:55.857+00:002 or 3 sets a year for each territory I mean.2 or 3 sets a year for each territory I mean.Stewie1980https://www.blogger.com/profile/17215449288925099410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-20663845765726818722016-06-17T08:43:17.632+00:002016-06-17T08:43:17.632+00:00I don't think Australia Post will issue many s...I don't think Australia Post will issue many stamps inscribed Norfolk Island, seeing they issue only 2 or 3 sets a year inscribed AAT, Christmas and Cocos. <br />And, correct me if I am wrong, I never seen expensive $5 stamps like Norfolk's last issue from the other territories.Stewie1980https://www.blogger.com/profile/17215449288925099410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-2142118332476397942016-06-16T13:10:46.409+00:002016-06-16T13:10:46.409+00:00Dear Chris, thank you so very much for taking the ...Dear Chris, thank you so very much for taking the time to write such an interesting and helpful comment. There does seem to be quite a number of people who read this blog so I'm sure your comment which help a lot of people and reach an audience who may not all read Stamp Boards for instance. These are interesting times for those who collect modern Australian stamps and those of their territories, are they not?White Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17968199477827266643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005756131065514338.post-80326116050613436672016-06-16T06:20:29.939+00:002016-06-16T06:20:29.939+00:00Regarding Norfolk Island, the first stamps to be i...Regarding Norfolk Island, the first stamps to be inscribed 'Norfolk Island, Australia' will be released in September 2016 (no set date at the moment), but a set of six postage paid postcards will be on sale from early July featuring scenes from Norfolk Island.<br /><br />I can only suggest the reason for the delay is the need to wind up Norfolk Island Post, and for Australia Post to establish itself and to take over. Norfolk Island Post is/was run by the Norfolk Island Government, which had an agreement with Australia Post for the transfer of mail to and from the island, and then for sending it on to its destination. Norfolk Island Post is planning to send refunds to standing order account holders by September, and will still be selling stamps until the end of the year. A similar situation occurred with Cocos (Keeling) Islands, when Australia Post took over on 1 January 1994, but didn't release stamps until end of February 1994. Christmas Island's transfer was apparently much more orderly, with Australia Post taking over on 2 March 1993, and the first stamps being released on 4 March 1993. I has always had excellent dealings with the post office staff on Christmas Island, and this probably contributed to the smooth transition.<br /><br />I will add that both Christmas and Cocos had far less autonomy than Norfolk Island (Norfolk Island is allowed to set its own taxes for example), and up until the mid 1990s Australia Post also acted as an agent for Christmas and Cocos, selling their stamps through mail order and philatelic desks (although they were not valid for postage). No doubt this made the transfer easier.<br /><br />The most interesting thing is that from 1 July 2016, Norfolk Island stamps will no longer be valid for postage. This is a different situation to what happened with Christmas and Cocos, where their stamps continued to be valid for postage after the transfer (but only from the individual islands). Two possible reasons are:<br />* Norfolk Island had greater autonomy, its own tax regime, and hence greater independence. Australia Post is essentially taking over another government's post office, and so probably doesn't want to take on the responsibility of handling their stamps as well.<br /><br />* Also, the total value in unused stamps sold by Norfolk Island is a liability, as past stamps could be used at any time for postage. In 1993, Christmas Island had only been issuing stamps for 25 years, and in 1994, Cocos only had been issuing its own stamps for 15 years (stamps issued from 1966 to 1978 were produced by Australia Post), but Norfolk has been issuing stamps for 50 years - that's a lot more potential postage out there!Chris de Haerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01103852699388056651noreply@blogger.com