I thought it might be it might be interesting to look at what was taking place in Australian philatelic circles century or so ago. I came across a fascinating article in The Australian Journal of Philately. October 17, 1904. Vol V. No.1. Edited by James H. Smyth (a Sydney Stamp Dealer). It gives a brief and fascinating history of Colonial philatelic journals. He discusses about his own journal, the starting its fifth year of publications, contemporary publications and some of those, which preceded them. Readers of Philatelic Database may be surprised to learn just how many were available.

“Having served what might be termed a four year’s apprenticeship, we may fairly claim to consider our journal an established institution, and not of the ephemeral character which has distinguished many
philatelic periodicals. This paper was started at a time when Federal postal matters were looming big on the horizon, and when it was assumed that the ushering in of the new century would cause a rush of new issues and a deviation from old paths of procedure. Since then Federal postal affairs have continued in a very transitory and an unsatisfactory state. At the present we are not much nearer the solution of the difficulty than we were four years ago. The death of her late majesty Queen Victoria certainly provided excellent copy for stamp journals generally, the unprecedented supply of new issues providing writers with material to fill their pages. Another matter considerably in favour is that the study has been much more in evidence of late, and is now considered as an important branch of the hobby. The latter fact has led us to before our readers a list which, if not now complete, will give them a fair idea of most if no all the philatelic journals which have been published in Australia up to date. On searching through our archives we were agreeably surprised to find several old journals, which long since have been forgotten; these, together with information, which we trust will be of interest to our readers.

“Avancez,” writing in Vindin’s Philatelic Monthly, January, 1882, said: “I find by far the New South Wales Stamp Collector’s Magazine for August 1882, that no less than seven philatelic magazines had previously appeared in the colonies. Since that time three others have made their appearance, of which two are now in existence, namely, one in Sydney (Vindin’s Philatelic Monthly and the other in Melbourne (Barry’s Philatelic Monthly). None of the eight extinct magazines reached the end of their first year.”

THE NEW SOUTH WALES STAMP COLLECTOR’S MAGAZINE – No.1, vol. 1, was published on 1st November 1879 by Edward Buckley, Sydney, the subscription being 5/- per annum. It consisted of sixteen pages, twelve of which were reading matter. The title page stated that it would be published monthly, but no.2 did not appear until April 1880, the publishers being Buckley, Blumsem & Co., the size being reduced to eight pages, and the price to 2d. per copy. The editorial contains the following: “Five months since we made our appearance in a neat cover, fondly hoping and foolishly believing the collectors of Australian colonies would rally round, thus assisting us In our desire of publishing s monthly philatelic periodical that would be read with interest by all collectors in this part of the Southern Hemisphere, and the price fixed was, we thought, within the reach of all; but, as collectors denied us the sixpence a month we asked, we have made up our minds to issue at regular intervals of every few months, odd numbers of this magazine, till the time comes when the philatelists themselves step forward and give us sufficient inducement to resume our monthly issue.”  N0.3 9VOL. 10, appeared in April, 18881, and consisted of our pages reading matter and four pages advertisements. It opens as follows: “In April, last year, we issued No.2 magazine, and now we make a third appeal to the colonial philatelist, to see if they are willing to subscribe 2/- a year for a quarterly. We heartily thank the thirty- two enterprising friends who favoured us with their names as subscribers. Everyone knows the history of Bruce and the spider; well we do not mean to have his patience, and this is our last appeal. Of No.1 we published 1000 copies; of No. 2, 1500; and of the present number we issue 3000, and in return for 300 subscribers at 2/- each….” In August 1882, a new series was begun, again labelled Vol 1, No.1., the publisher being D.A. Vindin, Sydney, the size eight pages, and the sub. 2/- per annum, to be published quarterly. At that time (the editorial says) there was no journal in Australasian devoted to our interesting science, only one number appeared, and the somewhat chequered career the New South Wales Magazine was terminated.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES PHILATELIST. – On the 25th November 1882, Mr. D.A. Vindin altered the name of his paper, published in August 1882, and labelled it Vol. 1, No. 1. On 30th January 1883, No. 2 saw the light of day, and the expired through want of nourishment.

THE AUSTRALIAN STAMP COLLECTOR’S JOURNAL. – Mr. D.H Hill, of Melbourne, writes us that he believes a journal bearing the above name was published about 1869 or 1880, and that four numbers were issued, but he could not find particulars. They may be forthcoming later.

BARRY’S PHILATELIC MONTHLY was published in Melbourne. The first number appeared in November 1887. It consisted of four pages, three of which were devoted to reading matter, the subscription being 2/- per annum, post-free. It had a short existence, the last number we have being No. 6, published in April 1888; this consisted of eight pages.

VINDIN’S PHILATELIC MONTHLY began publication in August, 1887, the price being 2d. per copy. It consisted of eight pages, half of which, however were devoted to advertisements. It appeared at monthly intervals up till May, 1888, comprising ten numbers. No 11 was published in December 1888, and No.12 in January, 1889. In February, 1889, the size appears to have been reduced to four pages. Half of which consisted of advertisements for the publishers, Dawson A. Vindin & co., Sydney. No. 29, which appeared on July 20, terminated Volume 3, and on August 20, of the same year,  new series was inaugurated, marked Volume 4, No.1, price 3d. At this time the journal was considerably enlarged, and consisted of 16 to 20 pages. In continued uninterruptedly for four years, Volume 7 terminating existence remained in existence at this price for one year, the subscription to the second volume being reduced to 1/- per annum; but, as the philatelists at that time did not appear to appreciate the somewhat advanced matter which the journal contained, it ceased publication at the end of the second volume, through lack of support, and was incorporated with  Vindin’s Philatelic Monthly. As a work of reference it stands head and shoulders over many of the leading journals of the present day.

THE AUSTRALIAN STAMP NEWS published by J.E. Newell Bull, of Queens land, began in July 1893. It was issued in magazine form, and consisted four to eight pages, most of which were devoted to advertisements. It appeared at regular month concluding volume 1. No.1, volume 2, was issued in book form in July 1894ly intervals up till June 1894 of twelve pages, six of which were reading matter. With N0.2 the publication was suspended until April 1898, when it reappeared, eight pages quarto, labelled New Series. Eight numbers were issued, and on January, 1899, an the Australian Philatelist to the effect that the publisher had acquired the only other philatelic paper published in the colonies, the Australian Stamp News, hitherto conducted by Mr. Newell Bull of Queens land. Mr. Bull’s second effort

THE AUSTRALIAN STAMP COLLECTOR AND PHILATELIC ADVERTISER, published by T. Webb, Melbourne, appeared in 1893, priced 3d. per copy; the size being eight pages, including advertisements. Its appearance was somewhat spasmodic. It had an uninterrupted issue of 13 numbers, it then closed publication until February 1895. No. 15 was issued in March, Nos 16 and 17 consisting of eight pages, five of which were advertisements, were issued  together in May 1896; No. 26 issued in July; and the last file in our possession is No. 28, dated September, the same year, and we are under the impression that the publication ceased that month.

October, 1893THE AUSTRALIAN PHILATELIST (in reality a continuation of Vindin’s Philatelic Monthly) first saw the light of day on August 25, 1894, and was labelled Volume 1, price 3d., of Sydney. Mr. Schulze, a printer also of Sydney, published volumes 5 and 6. With Volume 7 Mr. Hagen resumed publication, and that journal began Vol. 11 on September 1st, 1904. Being our contemporary, we refrain from making further commenting July 1894.

THE FEDERAL AUSTRALIAN PHILATELIST, published by Mr. A.F. Basset Hull, of Hobart, appeared in June 1890. It was published quarterly, and consisted of twenty-six pages of reading matter, the price being 1/-. It.

THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PHILATELY (our own paper) began publication in September, 1900. It consisted of twelve pages of reading matter, the subscription being 2/-  per  volume, post-free. It continued uninterruptedly at monthly intervals until June 1902, when, in consequence of the now defunct firm of “Smyth and Nicolle,” no number was issued that month. Publication resumed in July; and this begins our fifth volume. At the commencement of the fourth volume the subscription was raised to 3/- per annum, postage abroad 1/- extra, at which it now stands. Rather than express an opinion concerning the merits of our paper, we would prefer to leave it to our readers to pronounce judgment.”