Evening star., 1933-12-03
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCEIT.

OF stamps and chief Of the philatelic
agency Wednesday morning, two days
in advance of the announced date OF
the ceremony.
In a letter to The Star Mr. Fellers
said: Il will do all in my power for
the philatelic societies, or any one else
interested in the art of stamp collect
ing. and promise my help in every
undertaking that is consistent with the
policies ct the department"
Robe c. King, acting superintendent
before MIR. Fellers' appointment, de-
serves Collectors eratlN,h for the brave
way in which he carried on the agency
work while it was in his charge. He
has had the satisfaction of reporting
the most profitable season as business
IN Inc QhQlS history.
Gonseto5s e should saI be on g9ard t againss niss
scheme Tor scattering branches of the
agency over the country. The plan
would have the effect of impairing eff
cheney in the agency. 1t would add to
the prevailing confusion, would increase
operating expenses and might result in
favoritiSm of the most Objectionable
variety.
A. S. Jessop IS responsible for state
fnent to the effect that pittsburgh had
10000 Kosciusko stamps for flrst-day
and at least 10000 were so off-center
that some collectors who wanted sheets
turned away in disgust"
If the charge Is true, 1t is another
argument for assigning to the philatelic
agency all flrst-day cover business and
for releasing all new stamps in Wash
1ngton. 1t appears abundantly mani
fest that the ordinary post Offices are
not competent to handle rush occasions
properly. A trained member of the
agency staff would have corrected the
off-center fault instantly had he been
in charge.
When Maxim Litvinoff, foreign COM
miSsar Of Soviet Russia, dined at the
White House, conversation around the
table turned not on politics, diplomacy
and economics, but on philately. Presi-
terror Ickes, Mr.. Litvinoff and Mr..
UmanSky participated in the discussion.
Chester L. Lankford. president Frank
lin D. Roosevelt Stamp Club Douglas,
Ga, declares that the 50-cent Zeppelin
stamp includes a serious fault in de-
sign. The dirigible hangar shown, he
says, is that of Glendale, Calf, not
that of Friedrichshaven, Germany, the
home port of the Graf.
A stamp honoring the U. S. S. Con-
stttution, "Old Ironsides,' has been
The Associated Press reports: THE
desire of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy to have stamp issue
bearing the likeness Of Gen. Robert E
Lee will be at least temporarily baked
by the fact that the Post Office De-
partment already is overloaded with
orders for special stamp issues
The Ridgefleld. N. j.. Stamp Club
has filed with Postmaster Gen. Farley
protest against the poor centering of
the 50-cent Zeppelin stamps offered for
sale in New York
The Collectors Club. St. Louis, Mo-
has approved the Scent Byrd stamp
while the Central New England Stamp
Clubs Association has condemned it.
Meanwhile, wise collectors are hoard
ing" all they can afford of them, both
used and unused.
Ralph A. Barry reported the Hind
sale for the New York Herald Tribune
York Times on the same assignment.
They performed a service to philately
In general as we'll as to their immediate
readers.
John H. Clapp and H A. Robi-
nette of washington attended the auc-
ton.
The total amount realized at the five
sessions was approximately S243 900, or
about half the valuation which Mr..
Hind placed upon his treasure IN 1922
The Dayten; Ohio, hi! Journal ;, says edi. IL
taken up stamp collections and dropped
them after the novelty passed than any
arouses interest that grows until it
either consumes itself or makes one a
professional collector for the money to
be made in the work. Some very nice
fortunes have been made and lost in
what most people regard as hobby.
"a recent sale of a famous collection
In New York found buyers paying $210,-
900 for rare bits of postal paper. The
owner spent 40 years and many thou
sands of dollars building up his collec-
ton. An outstanding manufacturer,
he used what time he could spare pur-
suing an avocation in which he doubt
less found as much enjoyment as any
that others pursue. He knew his
stamps. loved them and could not be
induced to part with them. although in
his lifetime he had many flattering
offers. some higher than the value he
placed upon his collection. He bought
and sold raw materials and finished
products in his business but the stamps
he bought remained with him, The
total obtained for his collection at auc-
tion exceeds greatly any possible re-
turn from an equal sum OF money in
vested in almost an other kind of
property he might have purchased.
Hobbies are good for men, especially
so if they interest others. In this case
stamps with face value not amount
dollars were made to return many
thousands. 1t is another Illustration
of the homely fact that little things
count, provided one sticks to them and
makes them grow
Portions of the valuable stamp COL
lection Of the late Representative Ernest
r. Ackerman of New Jersey will be sold
at auction in New York beginning
Tuesday afternoon.
Protests have been filed against Bel
GUMS charity stamp policy. The new
Orval Abbey semi-postals would cost
an American collector about S6 SET
mint condition. The question is: Are
they worth the price? 1t must be con-
ceded that the stamps are handsomely
designed and printed.
Switzerland has a beautiful new set
of Pro Juventute stamps The designs
show three types of Swiss girlhood and
a portrait of Gregoire Girard.
The annual charity stamps of Id1xem-
burg will be issued December IL. The
design reproduces a portrait of Count
Henry VII who reigned from 1888 to
1910 and was unanimously elected king
and emperor of Germany. The de-
nominations announced are: 10c plus
SC, 75c plus 10c lfr plus Csc, 1.25fr plus
ood 7Ifr r,1Irc | 5ffr