Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Friday 5 February 1892,
page 6
Postal Matters
Sir,—Now
that this colony has joined the Universal Postal Union, we may hope to have our
post-cards out to the union regulation sizes, which are, I believe 120 x 75
millimetres for inland, and 140 x 90 millimetres for foreign transmission.
Hitherto, excepting perhaps those of Western Australia, our colonial postcards
appear to have been cut "anyhow," each colony fixing its own standards,
and not always adhering to them. The inconvenience in many ways of this absence
of system need not here be enlarged upon; it is palpable. The same variation
from uniformity is manifest in the newsbands issued for the first time in
December. At that time they were issued gummed and with the inscription an inch
and three-quarters from the end of the band. Now they are being issued
ungummed, and with the inscription about a quarter of an inch from the end.
Whichever may best suit the publishers of newspapers, the wrapper as first
issued is most convenient for the general public, and should be reverted and
adhered to.
The new
rates of postage have rendered it desirable that one or two additions be made
to the present stamps, a 3d. stamp for the registration fee and parcel post
rates, and a 5d. stamp for inland postage and registration fee combined, and
for double weight foreign letters, are needed. I would therefore suggest that
the entrance of Queensland into the Postal Union might fittingly be
commemorated by the adoption of an improved issue of stamps. The existing
series has many defects, chief among which may be noted the superfluity of
scrollwork in the background and label. A less prominent groundwork would throw
up the designation and values of the stamps with a clearness they do not now
possess. Neither is there sufficient reason why we should go on perpetuating
the profile of her Majesty as she may have appeared fifty-four years ago. More
suitable would be a reproduction-full length if possible of the jubilee
portrait (a copy of which hangs in the Brisbane Museum), with straight labels
across the top and bottom of the stamp for the designation and values, which
should be printed in coloured letters and not in white ones as at present. Such
a design on a simple background of line crossed lines, or something equally
inconspicuous, the plate and counters engraved by Perkins, Bacon, and Co., De
la Rue, or Bradbury; produced in brilliant shades of suitable colours, and
comprising the value of ½d., 1d., 2d., 2½d., 3d., 4d., 5d., 6d., 9d., 10d., and
1s., would provide a utilitarian and uniform series of stamps worthy of the
Queen's land, and creditable to the artistic tastes of its people.
I am ,
sir, &c,
Q.L.
4th
February
