Evening star., 1934-02-18
BY JAMES WALDO FAwCETT.

WaShingto on phllatellStS are engaged
in a grand scrimmage to obtain f1rSt-
day covers for the emergency airmail
service beginning tomorrow, but lack
of definite information has handi-
capped their effort.
In the circumstances, the best
advice appears to be that OF Francis
B. Leech, president, Washington Air
mail Society, who says: There is
little doubt that covers flown in Army
planes and by Army personnel will
have considerable historical value. I
suggest that collectors should send
self addressed stamped envelopes to
the postmasters at Chicago Cleve-
land. Akron, Columbus. Toledo, New
York, Philadelphia, Richmond, Allan
ia. Louisville or Nashville, as desired,
asking in each case the courtesy OF
dispatch by first available Army
plane. Also, I recommend that col
lectors send covers addressed to them
selves in care of friends in other
cities. The latter would have first
day cancellation at washington"
Schedules announced by Postmaster
General Farley indicate that there will
be airmail dispatched out Of Wash
ington in Army planes tomorrow, as
follows: To Miami, route 8, SIS pm;
to Cleveland, route 7, $40 pm, and
to Atlanta, route 5. 1880 pm. The
first Army mail plane to leave the
Capital Tuesday will be for Newark,
N. j., 2 am.
The special sheets of imperforate
Byrd stamps will go on sale at the
Philatelic Agency tomorrow morning
at 9 O'Clock. Covers bearing complete
blocks of six will be eminently desira-
BILE. The price of the sheets is ID
cents each.
Mr.. Farley yesterday announced
that the proposed Mothers day stamp
has been authorized. He explained
that the Post Office Department is
happy to have an opportunity to
that President Roosevelt, after con-
sidering the matter from different
angles, had expressed himself as ia
voring the plan. But no details OF
size, color. design or value will be
available for several days.
The stamp should have f1rSt-day
sale in Washington exclusively. and
May l would be an appropriate date.
1t is understood that the American
War Mothers organization, which
sponsored the campaign for the
stamp, will arrange an appropriate
cachet.
Mr.. Farley also has announced
that the Maryland tercentenary stamp
will be authorized as soon as PreSi-
dent Roosevelt has selected the design.
AS forecast in The Star several weeks
ago, the commemorative probably will
become available at st. Marys City
March 25.
The proposed Wisconsin and Con-
necticut stamps also are supposed to
be receiving favorable consideration,
but the Charles W. Eliot stamp, re-
Quested' by Massachusetts, collectors,
will rot be issued.
Plate numbers for the new reprint
of the Scent Lincoln. bright violet,
stamp are 21185 and 21l86.
Criticism has been rife about ar
rangements at the National Stamp
Exhibition, New York, last week.
Patrons of the branch Philatelic
Agency, desiring to purchase Byrd
imperforateS, were obliged to pay the
regular admission fee of IS cents at
the gate. Since about 10000 sheets
were sold over the counter, the spon-
sors of the exhibition had a hand
some profit in the circumstances, and
it is that fact principally that has
aroused the resentment of the phil
atelic public. The branch agency,
collectors says, should have been set
up outside.
A local visitor wrote on his return
home: "Washington's startling men,
ace is nothing compared to the Blue
Byrds of New York You got pasted
every time you turned around, in
cluding the 25-cent admission charge
before you could buy an 18-cent
sheet of imperforates from Mr.. Fell
lers. The streets of Manhattan were
terribly slippery, also some of the
booth 'barkers' There were lots of
free catalogues, but no free lunch. Few
people ate, as it cost another two bits
to return. No rain checks we're issued.
The only man 1 saw with pleasant
expression on mis- face got in on
pass and had some one stand in line
at the stamp window for him. The
storekeeperS sold out of paste early
In the day, and after that even
French pastry was not to be had.