Evening star., 1932-12-04


this direction for c kSSa
long time. AS za
THE Fost Cffi2e
Department Of the .;r. GIarrr.
United States has
been directed from washington ever
since May 90, 1900. Bit there were no
proper postage stamps issued until lS40,
when Great Britain authorized penny
and 2 penny stamps. The first general
issues of the United States appeared in
184T--a Scent red-broWn stamp bear
ing Benjamin FTanklin's portrait. and
f0-ceat black stamp adorned with a
representation of the countenance OF
Genrge Washington These were en-
sra~ed on blush paper, and now arc
worth about $40 and $40 c7~'. r.
sPeetively. Since stamp collecting prac-
tloally began with tl2s Issuance ( So,
first stamps. philateiy now is approx
mately 80 years old in England and 85
years old in the United States There
was steady but not phenomenal growth
IN both countries until the period of
the World War Since then stamp COL
Letting has spread like wildf1re.
Official Aid to Collectors.
When the Philatelic Agency was es-
tsblished IN 1922 the United States as
sumed leadership in giving official aid
to collectors. The agency disposed of
$4,000 worth of stamps in the first
month 1t was operated. During the
decade OF its history to date it has
turned into the Treasury many hun
dreds OF thousands of dollars from sales
which were especially profitable IN The
sense that the department was obliged
to render no carrying service in con-
nection with them.
"of course. 1t is wholly natural that
washington Shoula sakc preceded.
over all other cities in philatalic signif-
caflce. 1t is here. in the Bureau of
Engraving, that the stamps of the
United States are manufactured. It is
from here that they are distributed to
the Pos Offiees throughout the coun-
try. 1t is here that incorrectly ad-
dressed mail is returned for the atten-
aan OF the Dead Letter Division. The
archives of the department are here
The Government Printing Office, print
ing official pamphlets and bulletins
concerning stamps, is here In the
Smithsonian Institution. National Mu-
scum, is the philatelic collection for
merly owned by the department. in
charge of Mrs. c. L. Manning, curator
In the Library Of Congress are hun
uttlS u upphs doOut stamps. MANY
OF Ihe great collectors, like Senator
J. 8. Fre'inghuyssn, Representative
-ErafsS r. Alderman and Judge C. E
Wright, have made their homes here.
70 n Pre- ident Hoover and Gov. Roose-
yeir fre collectors of many years ex-
retitnce. Col William N. McKelvv.
president of the Society of Philatelic
Amer cans, resides here. The Washing
ton Pililcte,ic Society. Albert F. KunZe,
rresioent, meets regularly each week.
The city newspapers and the Washing
ton bureaus OF all the important PRESS
serVfce5 csrrv much philatelic news
e1c.l year. Collectors throughout the
lsnd have e helpful friend in Michael
l. Eiosness. il, superintendent of the
Division Of Stamps of the Post ONCE
Department and chief of the Philatelic
Agency since it was founded, an
acknowledged expert on current issues.
Other Contributing Factors.
1.-THE presence in Washington of many
historical and educational institutions
also contributes TO the city's Importance
in the stamp world The National
Geographic Society, the Carnegie IN
stitution, the Naval Observatory, the
Bureau of Standards, George Washing
ton University, Georgetown University,
Catholic University American Univef-
sityS- the Pan n-American Union, the
United States Chamber of Commerce,
= the American Council of Learned So
! cieties, the American Federation of
: Arts, the American Historical Society,
the Brookings Institution, the Amer
lean Forestry Association, the National
Education Association, the American
Federation of Labor, the Daughters of
the American Revolution, the American
Red Cross, the American Institute of
Architects, the Folger Shakespeare
Library and the National Association Of
Manufacturers are but few of the or
ganizations which have large foreign
and domestic correspondence Stamps
received in their Offices either are pre-
served as matter Of routine or are
distributed through the ordinary chan
nels to collectors. All the Government
Departments receive stamps which staff
members do not permit to be lost. Every
Senator and Representative has con-
stituents who beg for the stamps which
come In their mail. And all the en-
bsSstes and legations are receiving and
distributing centers for stamps from
every quarter of the globe
European philatelists as well as
~tstIt Ae~Ai AColAAC bitdt w WdSliilIklUIl 10
city In a special class for all these rea
sons. 1t is beyond all doubt the cap
ttal OF the philatelic world"
Mr.. Glover disclosed that in the new
Post Office Department Building. now
under construction, the Philatelif
Agency WIN have commodious rooms fol
the exhibition of United States stamps
Every modern idea will be employed tc
make the display convenient and at.
traetive TO visitors.
May Have Branch Offices.
He also said that consideration is be.
ing given to plan for establishing
branch Offices of the agency in othel
eltlss. but they would be subsidiary tl
the Washington Office.
There has been a vast Improvement.
he declared. in the artistic values O
stsmps. The earliest Issues were fire
qufrtl9 crude and defec.iye in design
But &c ha very greatest artists ar
called l Il 10 aid in the production O
stamp, nd beautiful works of art re
suit. This tendency will ccntinu
Through years to come"
Mr.. Glover was interviewed in hi
ONCE in the Post Office Department
Building. The rcom is a museum @
valuable and interesting souvenirs @
the development Of the department dur
ing his Il years Of service under Post
-The School for the fndiUiduai
Secretarial-Susiress