One of the stamps that fascinated Kevin Burgess was the smiling boys from 1931, during the Depression.
Longtime Waipā resident and philately enthusiast Kevin Burgess believes stamp collections will have a place in society for many years to come.
There are still several societies enthusiasts can join including the Waikato Philatelic Society, the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand and the New Zealand Philatelic Federation.
Postal enthusiast Kevin Burgess with a sheet of health stamps and the smiling boys from 1931.
“There’s a future because what do you do as a hobby? It can’t be always connected with your phone or computer. People want something tactile that they can actually collect,” Burgess said.
“There’s been crazes over the years, Pokémon and telephone cards have been very popular.
“Stamp collecting or philately might come again for a dedicated bunch of enthusiasts.
“You could start a young person off by spending $20 – get a stamp album and fill it with low value stamps.”
Kihikihi Bookshop and NZ Post Centre Young Yeo said they sell stamps on a much smaller scale these days.
“When we started 16 years ago, some businesses were buying bulk quantities, but now businesses are buying everything online,” Yeo said.
“Now there’s foot traffic only. But still, people are using a stamp, especially the elderly.
“There used to be people collecting special stamps but it’s been a long time since people have asked me.”
Burgess’ love of stamps was initiated and fuelled by his beloved grandmother, Mary Burgess.
“My grandmother used to give all the grandchildren Christmas gifts. When I was 10 or 11, I got a stamp album and that piqued my interest,” Burgess said.
“I’d go to the Hamilton Central Post Office and buy little packets of stamps or individual stamps that I could afford. It was fascinating going to the counter to get a brand-new stamp that no one had seen.
“I got hooked on it but when I got into my teen years there were other priorities. But I always had a passion for it.
“Right through until I went into business in my mid-20s, I thought maybe I’d get back into it.”
Burgess has combined his love of sport, history and WWI with philately to create his collection.
His love of the stamps has led him to write a social history of the post offices in the Cambridge area.
“Post offices were the centre point of most communities. Postmasters were considered the top strata along with the mayor and councillors,” Burgess said.
Kevin Burgess’ stamp collection was inspired by his grandmother.
“The first post office in Cambridge was in 1864; the militia camped there at one of the redoubts. As Cambridge grew, they had to get the post closer because people would hardly get to town. They had little post offices, probably 17 or 18 around Cambridge – Pukerimu, Bruntwood, Karāpiro. Which is quite fascinating.
“It’s not just stamp collecting, it’s how small towns like Cambridge and Te Awamutu evolved. That’s what I’m fascinated in.”
Even in the business world as a pharmacist, Burgess got his staff to cut out stamps and postal markings off envelopes for him.
“One of the stamps I was fascinated with was the smiling boys from 1931, during the Depression, because my grandmother had talked about it,” Burgess said.
“There was a blue boy and a red boy. During the Depression, few letters were written or stamps used as they couldn’t afford to buy stamps – there was only a small supply.
“She got me interested in stamps to help others. In New Zealand, there were about six health camps for children who were disadvantaged for health reasons including malnutrition and lack of physical development.
“They’d have a stamp for sale from the Post Office for, say, three pennies. Two pennies would be for postage and one penny would be for the health camps.
“They raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to keep those going.
“In my first business in the early ‘80s, I said I’m going to support buying health stamps, to boost my collection, but help people in need.
“I would buy whole sheets and put them away safely.”
For many years, Burgess broadened his collection before narrowing it down to certain types.
“I decided to just do really well with new issues. From the early 1980s, right up to 2015, I got first day covers, some plate blocks, about six types of stamps and some miniature sheets. That brought my collection up,” Burgess said.
“Then a friend of mine, who had written a book about the Gisborne postal area, said, ‘Kevin that’s great. That’s generalising but what’s your passion?’
“I said, I’m studying military history – piqued by the interest, my wife’s, [Jane’s] grandfather, who sent 50-60 letters to his wife from 1915 to 1919.
“I was fascinated by the stamps and troop ship stamps. That got me thinking, if I do want to specialise, it needs to be something that has meaning to me – military history, postal history, New Zealand Olympic stamps and rugby.”
He’s enjoyed spending the past 15 years searching the globe for the missing pieces of his collection.
His collection is made up of more than 30 albums of first day covers, 40 albums of stamps and boxes of others yet to find homes.
“I’ve had so much fun looking to add to my collection, that maybe one day I’ll complete – maybe I’ll never complete it,” Burgess said.
“For me, there aren’t too many thrills that beat finding a unique cover or a unique stamp or something to complete your collection. Postal markings, as well, are quite valuable.
“At my stage of life. A lot of people say to me, ‘I’ve got a stamp collection somewhere that I started when I was 12. Do you want it? My children don’t want it.’ I’ve taken them on board or given advice if they want to sell it.
“I’m sure there are enough enthusiasts to carry on, because stamps still are being made.
“The postal [service] – collecting stamps, history, the social history has been pretty big in my life. That’s why I’m a dedicated, and a bit narrow minded, stamp collector. It’s our history.”
One of the stamps that fascinated Kevin Burgess was the smiling boys from 1931, during the Depression.
