By admin | July 2, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Actor Karl Malden has died of natural causes at his home in California. He was 97.
Malden was born Mladen Sekulovich in Chicago on March 22, 1912 and won a supporting actor Oscar in 1951 for his role in the film “A Streetcar Named Desire” — a role he also played on Broadway.
Besides being an Oscar winning actor, Malden was also a well-known stamp collector and served on the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) which reviews and recommends subjects for U.S. postage stamps.
Malden helped create the “Legends of Hollywood” stamp series that featured a number of his friends and fellow actors as well as the 2003 miniature sheet celebrating Hollywood’s directors, producers and other behind-the-camera technicians.
According to the Associated Press, “In 2005, the U.S. Postal Service honored Malden by naming the post office in Brentwood [CA] to honor his achievement in film and his contributions to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.”
On hand to honor him at the event were family members, and lifetime friend Kirk Douglas. Kirk’s son, Michael, could not attend, but sent a letter teasing his former Streets of San Francisco co-star with the line, “Karl — a stamp of your own wasn’t enough? You had to have an entire Post Office?”
At the ceremony, Postmaster General Jack Potter spoke glowingly of Malden’s work on behalf of the Postal Service and said, ““The Postal Service has had no better friend.” Malden also made a number of USPS public service announcements during his time on the CSAC.”
Shown above, Malden (on right) and Postmaster General Potter at the Karl Malden Post Office dedication ceremony in 2005.
For more on Karl Malden, click here.
By admin | July 2, 2009
Submitted by Akphilately Blog
Australia, 25 July 1962
The 5d value marking the centenary of Stuart’s Crossing of Australia from South to North. The stamp depicts the Scot John McDouall Stuart (1860-1862) who was the first explorer to cross the Australian Continent from south to north in 1862.
Printed in recess, engraved by P.E. Morriss
By admin | July 1, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
UK’s Sheffield’s Telegraph reports collectors and dealers from all over Great Britain attended the annual convention of the Yorkshire Philatelic Association hosted by the Sheffield Philatelic Society.
The Yorkshire Philatelic Association (YPA) was founded in 1947. Initially there were ten societies, but the Association has grown over the years to its present twenty-four.
According to the paper, “More than 300 middle-aged men – and a few women and children” attended the show.
It goes on to say, “There was a time when children were stamp collectors and adults were philatelists. These days, however, although children at philatelic shows are not quite as rare as a 24 cent American biplane flying upside down, they are pretty scarce.”
Nevertheless, the paper says there are still some young philatelists, such as 12-year-old Anna Spring who is quoted as saying, “I collect animal stamps because I’m an animal lover. It means you learn a lot about the animals of different countries.”
Shown above, a dealer helps a collector at the show.
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To read the entire article and watch a short video, click here.
By admin | July 1, 2009
Submitted by Akphilately Blog
I used to collect my Wilhelmina perfins the way I suppose many others do: on used single copies.
Although this is an easy way to collect them, I’ve since found that it is much nicer to try and collect them on cover. And especially on covers which have the name of the company printed on the envelope.
That way, the whole item not only shows that that particular stamp comes with a perfin, but also which company is represented by the perfin, something which may be hard to find otherwise, unless of course you belong to a perfin club! I must admit, though, that the perfin itself does not show up as nicely as when you mount it against a black background, but if you study the stamp a bit more closely you’ll see the perfin JTV / &Co easily enough!
Although I must admit that I cannot read the perfin on my 10c cover, even though I know it is sent by NV Hartelust’s IJzerhandel in Leeuwarden. The postmark is so heavy that I cannot distinguish the perfin at all. maybe I’ll have to be on the lookout for a better example! And I know that the whole thing takes up much more album space, of course, but as I’m not going for perfin completion here, but just a copy of each value of the set on cover, that’s not an unsurmountable problem.
Adrian
By admin | June 29, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
The Salt Lake Tribune reports, “In a ceremony Sunday on the plaza outside the park’s visitor center, the 79-cent international postage stamp, featuring a sandstone formation rising from surrounding slickrock, was unveiled before about 70 stamp collectors and visitors.”
Zion National Park Superintendent Jock Whitworth is quoted in the article by Mark Havnes as saying the stamp is the latest in a string of events commemorating the park that was established in 1909 as Mukuntuweap National Monument before being designated a national park 10 years later.
The 229-square-mile park, with 120 miles of hiking trails, makes it the seventh most popular park in the country with 2.7 million annual visitors according to Havnes.
Ken McArthur, district manager of the U.S. Postal Service in Salt Lake City said the Zion stamp is the second time the park has been featured on a stamp, with the first one being on an 8-cent stamp issued in 1934.
Other stamps commemorating Utah parks have included Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park, two for Bryce Canyon National Park, with one featuring the Wall of Windows and the other hoodoo spires and Rainbow Bridge in Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
The image on the stamp was taken from a photograph taken by Richard Cummins of Temecula, Calif.
Shown above, Superintendent Whitworth with the new stamp.
To read the entire article, click here.
By admin | June 29, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
On the Better Homes and Gardens magazine Web site are listed lots of projects the kids can do this 4th of July weekend.
Among them are postage stamp pins, some of which are shown here.
To get started, you will need.
- New or cancelled postage stamps
- Straight scissors
- Decorative edge scissors
- Strong adhesive, such as E6000
- Pin backs
The site gives these instructions:
1. Before beginning, refer to a postage stamp collector’s book to make sure the stamps are not rare or valuable.
2. If the stamps have been used, carefully remove any paper backing. To remove, tear or cut off the upper right-hand corner of the envelope. Soak it, stamp side down, in warm water. Once the stamp falls away from the paper, let it soak for a few minutes more to remove any remaining glue. Pick up the stamp with tongs and dry it between paper towels. Place it under a heavy book for several hours. If the stamp will not peel away from the backing, trim around the stamp using decorative-edge scissors.
3. Take stamps to a photocopy shop and have them laminated. You can fit several on one sheet, leaving approximately 1 inch between stamps for trimming.
4. Cut the stamps apart if several are on one laminating sheet. Trim around each stamp using decorative edge scissors.
5. Glue a pin back to the back of the laminated stamp near the top. Let dry.
For more patriotic projects, click here.
By admin | June 29, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Ken Martin, interim executive director for the American Philatelic Society, posts June 22 on the Virtual Stamp Club Web site, “Today APS was notified by WS Radio that the StampTalk show will be reduced in frequency to once a month for July and August and if we do not come up with a minimum of $250 a month in advertising, sponsorshps or other income the show will be discontinued effective September. We would welcome hearing from anyone interested in advertising or sponsorship of the radio show.”
Hosted by Nancy Clark a well know exhibitor, international level judge, author, editor and past Director and Treasurer of the American Philatelic Society. The show, which began airing on the Internet in 2005, features interviews with a variety of people involved in the hobby.
If you would like to help you can contact Nancy at nancy@stamps.org
To visit the APS Stamp Talk Web site where you can listen to previously recorded shows, click here.
By admin | June 29, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Going through some old American Philatelist magazines, I came across an interesting letter to the editor.
The writer lamented about how recent U.S. commemoratives were almost impossible to soak off in any sort of respectable condition and offered an alternative.
It’s called Bestine.
According to the company’s Web site, “Formulated for thinning rubber cement, Bestine is also a most versatile cleaner. Bestine readily cleans up inks, spray adhesive, and is an exceptional parts cleaner. Over the years, professionals have used Bestine for removing both decals and labels from all types of surfaces. But, most important, Bestine does not dissolve most plastics. It is available in 4, 16, and 32 oz.: 1, 5, and 55 gallon containers.”
Instead of soaking the stamp in the tradition way, you brush the liquid on the back of the paper the stamp is affixed to. Wait several seconds and amazingly the stamp will lift off easily. I know I tryed it and it works great.
However, there is one slight problem. The stamp will still be somewhat sticky when it is removed. However, a little baby or talcum powder sprinkled on the back of it will neutralize the stickiness and it will be ready for your album.
WARNING: This product should be used with care. It should not be used by unsupervised children. It is EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. It is also harmful or FATAL if swallowed.
However, that being said so is lighter fluid for watermark detection.
Bestine can usually be found with the rubber cement in art supply stores.
To locate a store near you that carries Bestine or to order in bulk from the company that makes it, click here.
By admin | June 29, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
The stamp collecting world mourns the passing of pop icon and music legend, Michael Jackson.
Jackson, 50, died yesterday of cardiac arrest at his home in West Los Angeles.
Jackson has appeared on the stamps of many countries around the world and was a popular topical subject.
In her book, Michael Jackson (1993), author Lisa D. Campbell writes,”In the spring of 1986, the British Virgin Islands announced plans to release postage stamps featuring Michael Jackson. Shortly before their release,in fact after a few hundred sets were already printed, the stamps were cancelled due to regulations stating that stamps bearing the likeness of living persons must be members of the the Royal Family, not the Jackson family. Stamps with Michael’s likeness were subsequently issued, however by a Caribbean Island, St. Vincent.”
For more facts and photos about Michael Jackson, click here.
Shown above, British Virgin Island stamps featuring Michael Jackson that were withdrawn.
By admin | June 29, 2009
Submitted by Akphilately Blog
Belgium, 15 February 1951
The 20c from the Belgian Lion definitive set. The only value to be printed in recess, with all the other values printed in letterpress.
Printed in recess, engraved by L. Janssons.
By admin | June 25, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
The Salt Lake City Tribune is reporting, “Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, wants your mail carrier to count you. Chaffetz said Wednesday he will introduce legislation to marry the U.S. Postal Service temporarily with the Census Bureau so that the postal workers can help with the once-a-decade count of how many people live in America.”
Chaffetz is quoted in an article by Thomad Burr as saying, “They really have the workforce in place to do this. They already go to everybody’s door.”
According to the article, Chaffetz proposes taking a “postal holiday,” so that mail carriers, instead of dropping bills and magazines to your mailbox, would count the number of people in each household.
Burr writes, “There are 760,000 postal employees, and the Census is anticipating it will need 750,000 temporary workers to conduct the Census next year. Congress is forking out $11 billion to do the count while the Postal Service is looking at a $1 billion revenue shortfall this year.”
Shown above, 1971 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Census stamp.
To read the entire article, click here.
By admin | June 25, 2009
Submitted by Akphilately Blog
Well, almost anyway. As happens so often, I think I’d like to change my collecting habits, only to find that in the end I end up with what I was already doing. Because, let’s face it, after so many years of collecting one might sort of already know what to do. And that’s how I went from expanding to all of Europe 1900-1950 (I even got myself some new Andorra stamps as I had started mounting there)
to all of Europe to all world to all world and all world used (thanks/due to Keijo). But when I received an e-mail from this American guy who gladly offered me his heaps of low value stamps, I suddenly remembered that I was so glad to be rid of all of that, so out of the window went the idea of used collections, to be followed by all world and all of Europe.
So now I’m basically back to where I started: Wilhelmina and European definitives between 1900 and 1950, and apart from that I mount everything that I have written articles on, so that’s still plenty to do! I’m rather content, although the idea of a fully mounted collection of Europe (either up to 1950, 1965 or everything) is still slightly tempting. So I’ll give that a bit more thought.
But having come back to my European definitives, I was very happy to come across this Swiss postcard which is an adaptation of the Helvetia with Sword stamps which forms a part of my European Definitives collection.
Nice, innit?!
Adrian
By admin | June 24, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
The Art on Stamps Web site is dedicated to the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpting, pottery, tapestry, enamel) as they appear on stamps.
Webmaster Victor Manta of Switzerland writes, “It provides information about new issues, offers free advertisement space, a huge free database (as a free download and also on-line), an extensive art gallery, a free Paintings and Arts on Stamps Internet Club (PASIC) membership, tips for beginners, useful links, a poll, a magazine, pages dedicated to thematic collection, to postal history and to other subjects. You will also find many images, the more recent of them being of a good quality.”
In 1997, Victor founded PASIC, the Paintings and Arts on Stamps Internet Club, counting at the time over 800 members from 85 countries. PASIC is affiliated since Jan. 2000 with the American Topical Association. Victor is also the founder and the president of the Philatelic Webmasters Organization.
According to Victor, “The Paintings and Arts on Stamps is a vast theme, probably the largest of all in the topical philately. There are 28,000 unique stamps and over 3,000 sheets that are listed in the present database. The first difficulty one has when she/he tries to put together a complete database (and a stamps collection too) of all stamps issues worldwide, is to define and then to identify which stamps belong to it. The task is not simple, because almost each stamp could be considered as a (kind of) piece of art. Somebody, normally/hopefully an artist, had to design it, to bring it on paper and to choose/specify the means by which his work will be ‘converted’ to a stamp.”
Shown above, art on stamps mosaic based on the painting “The Archduke William in His Gallery in Brussels”, by David Teniers the Younger (1610 - 1690).
To visit the Art on Stamps Web site, click here.
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Post Office (1971),the first novel written by Charles Bukowski, is said to be an autobiographical account of the author’s later years when he worked for the U.S. Postal Service.
According to a review by Michael J. Mazza on the Amazon.com Web site, “Post Office is the ultimate ‘I hate this job’ story. It’s also an intriguing, and highly unflattering look at a quintessential American institution…On one level, Post Office seems to have much in common with a classic ’social protest’ novel like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, which also portrays the suffering and degradation experienced by the working person.”
An entry on Wikipedia says, “…the book covers the period of Bukowski’s life from about 1952 to his resignation from the United States Postal Service three years later, to his return in 1958 and then to his final resignation in 1969. During this time, Bukowski worked as a mail carrier for a number of years. After a brief hiatus, in which he supported himself by gambling at horse races, he returned to the Post Office to work as a sorter.”
It goes on to say, “In Born into This, a documentary on Bukowski’s life, Black Sparrow Press founder and owner, John Martin, supposedly offered Bukowski 100 dollars per month for life on condition that Bukowski would quit working for the post office and write full time. He agreed and Post Office was written within a month. Post Office was Bukowski’s first foray into writing a novel. All of his earlier work had been poetry. Martin was actually a little worried that Bukowski would not be able to make the transition to prose. However, the fear turned out to be quite unfounded as Bukowski had no trouble writing stories about his life.”
To learn more about the book, click here.
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Florida’s
Villages Daily Sun reports Ted Harris is a stamp millionaire. It’s not that Ted has a lot of money, just a lot of stamps.
According to the paper, Ted has collected more than 1.5 million stamps. He got started in 1955 when his sister gave him a starter stamp album.
“Since that time, Harris goes to garage sales looking for stamps and trades with others from around the world, usually meeting people on stamp-related Web sites,” writes reporter Michael Ventura.
Ted’s collection is housed in several large binders in a separate room in his house. His wife, Susan is quoted in the article as saying, ““I think it’s a wonderful thing for a retired person because it keeps him in that room.”
Shown above, another stamp millionaire.
In an undated (probably 1950s) photograph on the Whitman Publishing Company Web Site, an unidentified worker at H. E. Harris & Co. helps sort out 25 million tons of stamps for the company’s $1 “Big Bag of Foreign Stamps” mixture.
As far as I know, there’s no relation between Ted Harris and H.E.(Henry Ellis) Harris except they both love(d) their stamps. H.E. Harris died in 1977.
To read the entire article, click here.
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909.
Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.
In 1926, a National Father’s Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father’s Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father’s Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother’s Day.
For more on Father’s Day, click here.
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by Akphilately Blog
Well, I never. I managed to forget about both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year, how rude is that?! Well, I’m hopefully excused as far as Mother’s Day is concerned for that is on a different day here in GB so by the time the Dutch Mother’s Day arrives everything has gone quiet here. But it was only yesterday, when I bought a card for someone, that I saw it was Father’s Day today! Oh well, too late for a card now, so I’ll just have to show one!
And it is a very apt one, for it comes from my dad’s former collection! He used to work for Philips and that’s how he got hold of one of these special jubilee flight postcards, with a special cancel, special air mail sticker and of course a special air mail stamp. All in honour of 75 years of Philips. A quick look at various on line auctions tells me that the flight cover is rather common, but I’ve not come across one single flight postcard like this one. Maybe they were only produced for Philips staff!
Adrian
PS: Oh, and notice the handwriting! If I could write like that, I wouldn’t need a computer to write up my collection! But alas, I did not inherit my dad’s handwriting, for mine is awful!
By admin | June 23, 2009
Submitted by Akphilately Blog
Austria, 18 August 1910.
The 5k value from the set to mark the 80th Birthday of Francis Joseph I. The stamp depicts the Hofburg and is a reworking of the 1908 stamp to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Emperor’s Accession, in that the two dates (1830 and 1910) have been added to the top and bottom of the design.
Printed in recess. Engraved by F. Schirnböck.
By admin | June 19, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
USPS’ online Beyond the Perf in an article titled A Delicate Balance says, “Developing stamp portraits for popular and historically significant figures often requires the Postal Service to balance competing viewpoints. Each stamp needs to feature an enduring, classic image that meets the public’s preconceptions while also acknowledging the more intimate perspective of the subject’s family.”
It goes on to explain, “Postal Service executives, researchers and artists frequently discuss proposed artwork based on a stamp subject’s public persona. However, the public usually hears little about the role of the family or estate. Their influence is profound: Often, their comments lead to minor alterations in stamp design; sometimes, their input results in a completely new piece of art.”
It goes behind the scene and talks about how the phiatelic of portraits of Anna Julia Cooper, Ronald Reagan, and Judy Garland came to be.
To read the entire article, click here.
By admin | June 18, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
A new Army Post Office has been dedicated to deceased military postal personnel serving in Iraq,”according to an announcement on the Military Family Network Web site.
The site reports, “Two years ago there was a bronze plaque hanging on the wall in the post office located in Baghdad, Iraq (Camp Liberty), dedicated to postal soldiers and civilians who had died in the line of duty. That post office, where the original plaque hung, was damaged beyond repair, but the original plaque was salvaged from the damaged building.”
It goes on to say, “Through the efforts of Capt. Matthew Fecteau of the 4/18th Postal Platoon, 847th Human Resources Company, 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, personnel at Joint Base Balad dedicated this newly-built post office on East Balad to the fallen Soldiers and civilian contractors that gave their lives for a greater purpose.”
Nine soldiers and civilian contractors are listed.
They are…
Spc. Darryl Dent, 21, 547th Transportation Co., D.C. Army National Guard, Washington, D.C., Aug. 26, 2003; Vernon Gaston, 45, KBR, Inc., contractor, Lampasas, Texas, Sep. 3, 2003; Spc. Jeremy Ridlen, 23, 1544th Transportation Co., Illinois Army National Guard, Moroa, Ill., Mar. 23, 2004; Spc. Charles Lamp, 23, 1544th Transportation Co., Illinois Army National Guard, Martinsville, Ill., Sep. 09, 2004; Sgt. Shawna Morrison, 26, 1544th Transportation Co., Illinois Army National Guard, Paris, Ill.,Oct. 5, 2004; Sgt. Jessica Cawvey, 21, 1544th Transportation Co., Illinois Army National Guard, Normal, Ill., Oct. 06, 2004; Pfc. Isaiah Hunt, 20, 497th Transportation Co., 1st Corps, Ft. Lewis, Wash., Green Bay, Wis., Nov. 15, 2004; Sgt. Rocky Payne, 26, 497th Transportation Co., 1st Corps, Ft. Lewis, Wash., Howell, Utah, March 16, 2005; Fred Bryant, 39, KBR, Inc., contractor, Jacksonville, Fla., Aug. 5, 2006.
The announcement concludes with, “These nine brave souls were sent out on numerous missions to support Soldiers throughout the Iraqi theater of operations and made the ultimate sacrifice. Whatever the price, postal operations are vital to completing missions successfully, and Soldiers depend on the mail for contact with their loved ones and for taking care of important business back home.”
Shown above, U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marc I. Lane.
For more on this story, click here.
By admin | June 18, 2009
Submitted by Akphilately Blog
Italy, 29 July 1946
The 100l from the Democratica definitive set. The stamp depicts a family and scales, symbolizing Work, Justice and Family.
Printed in recess, engraved by M. Colombati
By admin | June 17, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Britain’s Birmingham Mail has teamed up with Royal Mail to offer letter writers a range of prizes worth more than £2,000 over the next year.
According to reporter Vicky Farncombe, “Every week we will be assessing the quality of correspondence published on our ‘Your Say’ letters page and selecting the best of the week. The winning reader will be sent a sterling silver impression of the historic Penny Black stamp, which comes complete with a presentation folder packed with information from Royal Mail Heritage, the Royal Philatelic Collection and notable philatelists.”
Royal Mail spokesman Michael Dalton is quoted in the piece as saying, “Royal Mail are proud to sponsor the letters page of the Birmingham Mail as the art of letter writing is key to us an organisation. Letter writing continues to be an enjoyable pastime for many.”
To read the entire article, click here.
Shown above, 2008 Europa stamps from Ireland promoting letter writing.
By admin | June 16, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Doris Wilson sends a press release saying the Women Exhibitors (WE) held their first Festival for Philatelic Women at the American Philatelic Society headquarters in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania last month.
According to Doris, “More than forty women and men attended the event, where learning to create an eye-catching exhibit was the focus of the various speakers, seminars, and workshops. Member exhibits were on display throughout the building for everyone to enjoy. Additional activities included a special philatelic ‘rummage sale,’ access to Sales Division circuit books of stamps and covers, and browsing the American Philatelic Research Library’s overstock book sale. Attendees (including a mother-daughter team!) came from all over the United States and Canada, by plane, bus, and car.”
WE is open to all, but philately is explored from a woman’s point of view.
WE serves as a forum for women to discuss and explore issues relating to exhibiting. WE encourages newcomers to exhibiting and helps them get started. Continuing exhibitors serve as mentors and lend support to all as they share lessons learned in the wide world of exhibiting.
WE has meetings twice yearly at StampShow and AmeriStamp Expo. Summaries of programs and workshops held at these shows are shared through the newsletter and other communications. In addition, satellite meetings are held at national, regional, and local shows. Leaders of the satellite meetings discuss issues and share information from other meetings.
For more pictures taken at the Festival for Philatelic Women, click here.
For more information on the Women Exhibitors, one of more than 200 APS affiliates, click here.
By admin | June 16, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
Vanessa Farquharson writes on Canada’s National Post Web site, “When Sir Sandford Fleming, an engineer and the inventor of standard time zones, designed the first Canadian postage stamp in 1851, it was regarded as highly unusual - instead of portraying the image of a British monarch, it featured an animal.”
She goes on to pen, “A beaver, in fact. Profile view, with a smiling sun above it and the words ‘Three Pence’ written underneath the log on which it sat. The design was apparently conceived over breakfast one morning - Fleming thought it nicely represented “the industry, ingenuity and perseverance of our young country.”
“While Queen Victoria, whose image adorned every stamp in Great Britain at the time, must not have been too thrilled at sharing postage rank with a beaver, she was probably even less enthused at what happened in 1860: The postmaster in the colony of New Brunswick, Charles Connell, decided to change the look of the Five Cent stamp by replacing the queen’s image with his own. This caused quite a kerfuffle - the postmaster resigned, and the stamps were all pulled (well, most of them),” according to Vanessa.
Both the Three Pence Beaver and the Five Cents Connell will be on public display at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa as part of a new exhibition called “Her Majesty’s Stamps”, opening Friday and running until the end of the year.
A highlight of this exhibition is a sheet of 10 Penny Blacks acquired by the Queen in 2001 and estimated to be worth around $2-million.
There will also be a royal postal challenge, tea party, stamp talk and a performance of Beaveriffic, during which visitors can “meet Castor canadensis, the famous beaver in the first Canadian stamp.”
To read the entire article, click here.
By admin | June 16, 2009
Submitted by Stamp Collecting Round-Up Blog
The Virtual Stamp Club (VSC) is reporting the death of Charles J. Peterson. Peterson died at home in Laurel, Maryland last Friday according to a post by Nancy Clark.
Affectionately known as “Charlie”, Peterson achieved some of philately’s highest honors, including the APS John N. Luff Award and Roll of Distinguished Philatelists recognition. He served as President of the American Philatelic Research Library and as APS Vice President.
According to a post on the VSC attributed to well-known philatelist Richard Frajola, “He virtually invented philatelic literature competitions nationally and internationally, and served for many years as Chairman of the FIP Literature Competition. By crafting the criteria for judging philatelic literature, and as editor of Philatelic Literature Review, and as President of APS Writers Unit 30, and as proprietor of the WU30 Literature Critique Service, he set high standards of achievement. The consequent widespread uplift of quality and refinement in our hobby publications is Charlie’s permanent legacy to philately.”
For more information, click here.
