Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-01

| were failures.
OF course, the element Of increased
cost will have to be taken into account,
but it may be supposed that the phil
atheists will pay the bill in the future
| as they have in the past. A popular
stamp sells more readily than one that
is not popular, and it follows that it
| is good business" for the Government
to be guided by high esthetic ideals in
such matters.
Robert E. Fellers, superintendent,
division Of stamps, Post Office Depart
| ment, announces that first-day sales
of the Maryland stamp at st. Marys
City. March %. reached a total of
s14,425. The number Of covers can
celled was l48,785. At the Philatelic
Agency, Washington. the following
day. 6l,984 stamps were sold.
Eight plates have been used In
printing the Maryland stamp-21188
to 2119l, inclusive, and 21196 to 211e9,
| inclusive.
The ultimate philatelic value Of the
Maryland stamp, it now seems clear,
will be much greater than originally
was estimated. 1t happens that in
each sheet of 100 there are approx
mately so which are of center and
therefore of defective worth. Collectors
will want perfect copies and compe-
! tition for them will increase as the
years pass. With total of only So
100000 printed, it is not likely that
more than 100000 ever will be ac-
corded philatelic preservation. And
a conservative guess places the num-
Der of collectors in the United States
/ at 100000.
| Wise stamp enthusiasts will obtain
and keep all the Maryland stamps
they can afford.
Final choice of the design for the
Mothers day stamp devolved upon
Postmaster General Farley in the alb
sence of President Roosevelt. He Sc
lected a model showing Whistler's
Portrait of My Mother"
As previously announced, the stamp
will be a Scent value, probably will
be lavender in color and will 60 on
exclusive irst-day sale in Washing
ton May /.
Orders for the official cover Of the
American War Mothers continue to
pour into national headquarters, 1927
| New Hampshire avenue.
A stamp in tribute to Lafayette is
said to be under consideration, and it
is expected that the proposed Con-
nectlcut commemorative will be au-
thorized.
The much-debated presidential series
OF regular stamps does not seem to be
wanted. At recent philatelic gath
ering in Washington a poll was taken
and not one single favorable vote was
registered. All present went on record
as opposed.
Century of Progress stamps are on
the presses again at the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing.
AS forecast in The Star several
months ago the Massachusetts, Bay
commemorative now is no longer
available at the philatelic agency. 1t
was withdrawn March "a.
1CAdlu Lei EyCk o66CkIIldI Oh The
Office of National Park Service, De-
partment Of the Interior, is the spon-
SCR OF a philatelic philanthropy Of
national proportions. He is the pa
tron of the stamp clubs of the coast
forecast network of Civilian Conser-
walton Corps camps.
The work began on Armistice day
last when Mr.. Beeckman became
philatelic editor of Happy Days, the
c. c. c. weekly. He says: Il had
reason to suppose that there must be
many boys in the camps who would
be interested In stamps if only some
one had time and the wish to cul-
tivate their inclination, and when I
asked for show of hands the re-
spouse was so encouraging that I felt
my bunch had been amply justified.
"On inquiry discovered that I
could count on the cooperation of
several different departments of the
Government. Even busy cabinet
| members gave me a hearing and
readily agreed to assist in gathering
stamps Of authentic philatelic value
Tor the boys. In the course Of onIy
a few days the flood of covers began
to flow in and by December l there
were IS large packages of high de-
nomination and good commemorative
specimens ready to be mailed out to
an equal number of camp clubs.
BY March Is a total of approxi-
mately half a million stamps had
been distributed, and the work in
creases daily. New clubs are being
formed. and the old ones are gaining
new adherents. Altogether, I estimate
that about 1000 new collectors have
been enlisted. keep in touch with
the various groups through Happy
Days and by direct correspondence,
and I cannot help but feel that the
work has given me a fresh insight
into human nature. These G, C. G.
boys are the young Americans who
are to be the citizens of tomorrow,
and 1t Is a pleasure to be acquainted
with them, to learn how they are re-
acting to public questions and to hear
how they are adjusting themselves to
new conditions.
Mr.. Beeckman personally examines
and sorts out the stamps he receives
from cooperating Offices. No perfor-
ated or damaged specimens are pre-.
served. He - q careful IN making