Chapter VIII.
Miscellaneous Wars and Commemorations.—Patriotic Empire Stamps — [Victoria] — [New Zealand] — [Barbados' Nelson Stamp] — [A Dutch Naval Commemoration] — [Balkan Wars — Greece] — [Albania] — [Epirus] — [Bulgaria] — [Roumania] — [Italy] — [Portugal] — [Spain] — [Mysterious Melillas] — [China].
324 325
Australasia has not had much occasion for war stamps, but it is worthy of note that at the time of the South African War Victoria issued two postage stamps of patriotic designs, obtained in public competition. The Victoria Cross design (Fig. 324) gained the prize for the penny stamps and the prize for the twopence stamps was awarded for the other design (Fig. 325) showing a picket on foot and armed scouts scanning the horizon of the open veldt in the Transvaal, whilst in the distance are the faint outlines of the hills which the British have had to scale. The central figures in the latter design are in the uniform of the Victorian contingent. These stamps sold at 1s. and 2s. each although they only prepaid 1d. and 2d. postage respectively, the balance going to the Patriotic Fund.
326
In connection with the same campaign New Zealand issued in 1901 a stamp printed in a khaki colour to commemorate the sending of a New Zealand contingent to the war. The stamp (Fig. 326), designed by Mr. J. Nairn of Wellington and engraved in New York, pictures the part of the contingent sent as New Zealand's response to "the Empire's call."