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aheller2 [2020-02-10 23:05:35 +0000 UTC]

Hi again. Well, I have to take my last comment back, because I do have the article about the Oz stamps. For some reasojn, the pictures of the stamps themselves do not copy here, but if you send me an email (aheller2@verizon.net), I will send you copies of the stamps my daughter and I designed. Here the original article, anyway:

CELEBRATING OZMA: THE SILVER JUBILEE ISSUE

By Andrew and Rachel Heller

Stamp designs by Rachel Heller (based on original drawings by John R. Neill)

    The famous Silver Jubilee issue is for many reasons the most popular set of stamps ever issued by the Royal Oz Post, both with collectors and Ozites. This commemorative issue was the first to make use of several magical innovations for stamps. The subject was scenes from the life of the beloved Royal Princess. These reasons, as well as the beauty of the stamps themselves account for the popularity of this issue. (Figure 1)

Figure 1

   The occasion for the issue of these commemoratives was the 25th anniversary of Ozma’s reign. Each stamp depicts a different scene from the life and adventures of Ozma. This issue was the first to use the liquefied emerald process developed by Professor H.M. Wogglebug, T.E. in the green frames of every stamp. Actual emeralds were dissolved in the ink, which was then applied (by magical processes) to the stamps. All of the stamp designs were based on original drawings by John R. Neill.

   Another innovation of the Silver Jubilee issue was the use of sound spells in the vignettes (the central pictures) of the stamps. When the stamps were touched, the figures depicted moved, a feature of the earlier definitive issue commemorating Dorothy and the destruction of the Wicked Witches, the so-called Liberation issue (Scott Catalogue # 8- 13), but in addition, they also talked, reproducing the words originally spoken at the time. These talking stamps produce faint but clear tones which grow louder when the stamp is viewed under magnification. As a security device, the stamps would not move or talk after cancellation, to prevent the re-use of cancelled stamps which were subsequently cleaned. This is also a good way for a collector to test if the stamp is mint or used.

   The stamps were printed in panes (sheets) of 50. They are self- perforating, meaning that they separate from the pane when the user firmly grasps a stamp between thumb and forefinger and says “Stamp away”.  The self-perforating feature was introduced in Oz postage in the Famous Ozite issue (S.C. # 37-48).

    This issue, as with all Oz stamps , is denominated in “P”, that is, Powers of magic, as money is not used in Oz. The higher the Power of the stamp, the further it is able to travel. The Silver Jubilee issue stamps were also like other Oz issues in that they were self-delivering, meaning that the stamps contain magic power to deliver the letters themselves to the destination.  The stamps are obtained at the Post Office (they are, naturally, free), where the letters are weighed are weighed and appropriate postage is affixed. The position of Postmaster General is considered tedious and undesirable by the Ozites, and was for this reason unfilled for a long period of time, which in turn long delayed the launching of the postal service. Eventually the wooden Post Man from the Quadling Country was persuaded to take the appointment by Prince Randy of Regalia. As his employees, the few surviving Gargoyles from the great fire were obtained from the ashes of the Gargoyle Country. There have been numerous complaints about the service from the Oz Post office because all of the clerks are deaf as posts and service is consequently poor. Complaints to the Postmaster General have invariably fallen on deaf ears. There has been no improvement in service however, since no one else wants to work there.

    The 2p, “Confronting the Nome King”, is taken from early in Ozma’s reign, when she personally led an expedition to rescue her royal relatives, the ruling family of Ev, who had been captured and transformed by the Nome King. This stamp was used for postal cards rate between any two points in Oz. An unknown number of panes of this stamp were not self-perforating, and would simply tear when pulled from the pane. Curiously, when the any of these talking stamps are torn, they emit faint but distinct screams.

    The 3p, “Ozma and Dorothy”, was used for letters within Oz. Dorothy Gale, originally from Kansas, is a mortal girl who liberated Oz from the reign of the Wicked Witches and was later made a Princess by Ozma. The two girls are also the closest of friends. They are depicted sitting together in a comradely pose.

            The 5p, Ozma, Glinda and Dorothy”, shows Ozma with her closest advisor, who is also the most powerful magic-worker in Oz. Glinda was the ruler of the Quadling Country, the southern quarter of Oz, long before Ozma appeared on the scene, but Glinda has always proved loyal to the Ruler. This stamp was later overprinted for local use in the Quadling Country only, with the words “Glinda, Our Queen” in red to celebrate five centuries of Glinda’s rule.

    The 8p, “The Court of Ozma”, shows a number of the strange creatures who serve as Ozma’s advisors and friends in the Emerald City, including Jack Pumpkinhead, the TinWoodman and the Cowardly Lion. This stamp was used for international mail to countries bordering on the Deadly Desert surrounding Oz, such as Ev, Noland and Ix. A rare variety of this stamp was produced when one sheet of blank paper was inserted in the printing press backwards , resulting in the famous Double Invert. The Double Invert is so-called because both the frame and central vignette are inverted, so that the stamp looks like a normal 8p stamp upside-down. (Figure 2)

 Figure 2

Forgeries of this rarity are common, and anyone purchasing an 8p Double Invert would be well advised to get the stamp examined by an expert on Oz philately.

    The 10p, “Ozma and the Magic Picture”, shows the Princess using one of her most prized magical adjuncts, the famous Magic Picture. This device looks like a normal picture in a frame, but can show anyone and anywhere in the world at a word of command. Originally, the Magic Picture depicted in the stamp was to have the same power as the original, but for various reasons this plan was dropped before the stamps were printed. From a collector’s point of view, it is a shame that the original plan was not carried out. Imagine every owner of an unused 10p being able to view scenes of anywhere in the world in his/her own (admittedly tiny) Magic Picture! The 10p was used for international airmail to islands in the Nonestic Ocean, such as Pingaree and Regos, and a small number were overprinted to commemorate the commencement of this service “By Ozoplane to Nonestic Ocean” in the afore-mentioned emerald ink. This was the only stamp of the Silver Jubilee issue that was not self-delivering.

    With its beautiful and colorful designs, with its interesting subjects and with its philatelic innovations, the Silver Jubilee Issue will long remain a favorite with collectors of Oz stamps.

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aheller2 [2020-02-10 22:37:37 +0000 UTC]

As a matter of fact, I designed several Oz stamps, then wrote an article about them in the style of a philatelic magazine. It was published in the 2009-2010 issue of Ozania (an annual magazine ofr short Oz fiction.) It is still available for purchase, if you're curious. Here's a link:

www.lulu.com/shop/l-frank-baum…

Unfortunately, I can't forward the original to you, because I lost it when my hard drive croaked.

BTW: I don't know if you are already a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club, but if not, you sound like  you would fit right in. Here's the link to the club:

ozclub.org/join-the-club/

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xXDeadlyNightshadeXx [2012-03-07 01:27:19 +0000 UTC]

I agree with this so much! Although to be honest, I just started reading the books but I can say that I'm hooked on them and I've been planning some fan art for them for a while. ~saintfighteraqua mentioned about how so many people fawn over Wicked but could care less about the original books which is incredibly sad. I don't really hate Wicked and it is an interesting idea, but so many things don't match up with the original story lines. But I digress...

Loving the stamp, hopefully more people can get into the books! c:

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RokuzFanGirl [2011-09-16 15:18:57 +0000 UTC]

SO terribly true.
Here in Italy the Oz books simply don't exist - I mean, there is the first one, of course, and I think someone translated the second and third one in 50's; still I searched for the original versions a LOT, and I'm really proud to know them by now. <3
As saintfighteraqua said, it's sad so few read them.

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saintfighteraqua [2010-10-11 15:57:05 +0000 UTC]

It's sad that so few read them.
I can't understand how someone can read "Wicked" and call that Oz but won't read the real Oz.
Great stamp.
I love it!

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