Evening star., 1933-10-15
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BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.


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BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
The major event Of the past week in
philatelic circles was the resignation Of
Michael l.. Eidsness. jr, for IL years
superintendent Of the division of stamps
and chief Of the philatelic agency OF
the Post ONCE Department.
Changes effected since the beginning
OF Pr .sident Roosevelt's administration,
he announced. had prompted him to ask
resignation was not accepted by Post
master General Farley until Wednesday
Mr. Eidsness entered the postal service
July l, 1907. His first position was that
Of page in the office of the Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General He was
appointed head Of the stamps division
June Is. 1921. His whole career in the
department was one Of steady progress
from the bottom to the upper rungs of
the ladder. On the way he served in
many capacities and gained many
varieties Of experience until in recent
years he had been considered one OF
the best-informed men in the postal
organization.
But his most notable achievement was
the elevation of stamp collecting in the
United States from the status of a mere
paStime to that of an authentic science.
II any one individual may claim to be
responsible for the tremendous growth
OF intelligent interest in philately in
America during the past decade, Mr..
-Eidsness Is that person.
He viSioned the possibilities from the
beginning, and entered upon his duties
In the stamps division with contagious
enthusiasm. Possessed of rare genius
for showmanship, he stimulated all with
whom he came into contact, and his
following among collectors became
legion in number. He attended every
important national gathering Of philatel-
lists, encouraged the expansion of
philatelic news in the regular press of
the country. furnished special material
for the philatelic press, and did much
to create q more serious and productive
psychology among collectors.
He also worked out an improved
technique for first-day sales occasions,
protecting the collecting public against
spectators who were anxious to exploit
the less wary. Acting with the authority
OF his position he corrected abuses
which had been long standing ag-
gravation. Entirely disirterested and
not himself a collector, his whole pur-
pose was to benefit philately as an
educational and patriotic activity, and
the efficiency of his devotion and
methods is demonstrated by the fact
that philatelic agency business rose from
s20,906 in 1922 to s302,6l9 in 1888.
Sales for the first three months Of the
current fiscal year have reached total
Of s123,000.
+, A man Of personal charm, kindly and
tolerant, patient and earnest, he pro-
NOTED a similar endowment among the
members of his staff. His assistants
Robert C. King. Herbert Chamberlain,
Mrs. Myrtle C. Shaughnessy. Miss
Louise Shawen and others. caught his
spirit and, laboring toward the same
goal, have been among the best friends
Of collectors amateur and PROFESSIONAL
Mr.. Eidsness. it is good to know, will
not be entirely lost to philately. He
will be connected with a Western in
dustrial concern with headquarters in
Washington, and his leisure will be en-
ployed in writing a book on his obser-
vations and experiences in the postal
service.
Postmaster General Farley has not
appointed a successor in the stamps
division position. Mr. King, 1t is under
stood, Will be in charge beginning to-
morrow.
The new 3-cent Byrd Antarctic Ex-
pedition stamp went on first-day sale
at the philatelic agency Monday. A
long line of collectors was on hand
nightfall more than $7,400 had passed
over the counter in exchange for the
earliest available copies of the special
issue. The agency staff proved COM
petent to the exigencies Of the rush OF
business, but mail orders to the number
of 5000 perforce had to be handled at
night.
Originally intended for use only on
mail from Little America, the Byrd
stamp now has been ruled to be valid
for all legitimate postal uses. Inscribed
~. S. Postage" there was no legal way
in which it could be restricted. But
it will not be sold at ordinary post
Offices and the agency stock Is limited.
cancellations may obtain them begin
ming tomorrow by sending self-ad-
dressed envelopes and SO cents for each
cover wanted to the Byrd Antarctic
Expedition, care Postmaster, Washing
ton, D. C. Remittances should be in
the form of money orders. No stamps
or checks can be accepted.
The new scent Kosciuszko stamp
became available in Washington yes
terday and the scenes of Mondays
rush were repeated when f1rst-day cover
enthusiasts formed long lines before
the sales windows in the lobby Of the
City Post Office.
Postmaster General Farley gave seri-
GUS consideration to the suggestion
that he authorize initial distribution
in the Capital Thursday, but the
philatelic agency, already swamped
with orders, begged to be excused De-
troit, Boston, ST. Louis. Pittsburgh,
Chicago, Buffalo and Kosciuszko, Miss,
therefore, were left to divide the honors.
The Kosciuszko stamp is of stand
ard size, bright metallic blue in color.
The design shows the statue in Lafay-
cite Square, and the captions read:
~. S. postage-Five cents-Kosciuszko
-1783-1933-5c."
The philatelic agency still has small
stocks of the following stamps: Arbor
day, Ohio Canal, Massachusetts, Bay,
Red Cross, Pulaski, Olympic Games,
William Penn, Oglethorpe, Webster and
all but the " cent and / " cent George
Washington Bicentennials. Also a few
sheets of the special Century of Prog
ress- American Philatelic Society l and