Evening star., 1934-10-28
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

States, are turning to other fields
Of philately.
The trend is obvious in every part
OF the country. Developments OF the
past few months have created in the
minds of great numbers of people
considerable doubt as to the wisdom
of responding to every new gesture
of the Post Or1:e Department. 1t
has been charged in the meetings of
representative clubs that certain
stamps have been designed to exploit
the philatelic public. The word
racket" has been employed to de-
scribe the 50-cent Graf Zeppelin and
the Scent Byrd stamps, which col
lectors never Endorsed, and there has
been a storm of protest against the
special imperforate sheets of Gen.
tury of Progress, Byrd and Parks
issues.
Also, it has been reported far and
wide that unfinished sheets Of stamps
have been allowed to pass from the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
through the Post Office Department to
the hands of personal friends Of
small group of officials and that these
sheets already have come into the
open market. The American Phila-
telic Society filed an official protest
against this practice, and many small
er clubs have taken similar action
Again a series of accidents at parks
post offices-particularly at Crater
Lake and at Gatlinburg-have disil-
lusioned collectors of first-day covers,
and the fault is laid at the depart
ment's door because it was department
officers who specified that the parks
stamps should be scattered all over
the map in utter disregard for the
convenience of patrons.
Other complaints have centered
about unwise speeches by department
representatives.; the alleged political
aspect of many department activi-
ties; the recent confusion of the
airmail service and the general in
efficiency of ordinary delivery service;
the chaotic condition of the Philatelic
Agency since December last; the pro-
posed department philatelic museum
at the expense of the Smithsonian In
stitution; and a nebulous but very
widespread conviction that the de-
partment co-operateS with collectors
only when it is convenient and profit
able for the department to cooperate.
Much of the criticism, it must be
conceded, is unjust and unfair; but
much of it, by the same logic, is natu-
raj and proper in the circumstances.
The philatelic business of the de-
partment is worth at least $4,000 900
a year, and the men and women, boys
and girls from whom that business
comes are entitled to square deal.
But an indication of how matters
stand at present may be found in
story, printed in the Philadelphia
Record. to the effect that Postmaster
General Farley has shut his doors
to philatelistS.
Meanwhile, stamp dealers in New
York and elsewhere report that they
are selling more foreign stamps than
at any time for years past.
The special sheet of 1-cent Yosemite
stamps, authorized and produced in
the face of violent protest, was a Post
Office Department courtesy to group
of $50 collectors organized in the
Omaha Philatelic Society. 1t is un-
derstood that the appeal was rejected
by Postmaster General Farley when
first submitted, but another depart
ment official was more easily con-
vinced.
Reports from Omaha indicate that
the Yosemite sheets available october
10 were insufficient to meet the de-
mand and that there were more
covers Cancelled the second than the
first day.
Third Assistant Postmaster General
Clinton B. Eilenberger told Omaha
stamp collectors that, in his Judgment,
the Scent Mothers day stamp has
been one of the most popular that
has ever been produced by the Post
Office Department" He also, when
speaking at the American Philatelic
Society Convention, praised the ma
tional parks series. But it is an in
controvertible matter of history that
originally he was opposed to all these
issues and gave his approval only
after those who wanted them carried
their campaign to the White House.
The credit in both cases belongs pri-
marily to groups Of collectors, not to
the Post Office Department.
There are two varieties of the s.
cent Mount Rainier stamp, perforated.
practically all collectors are familiar;
the other is longer, narrower and
red purple in color.
The Vicksburg (Miss) Evening Post
submits a cartoon on new series OF
"See America First" stamps. Among
the scenes" suggested for use are
Mount Taxmore," Grand Deficit"
Idle Capital Rock Mount Living
cost" and Hope Springs"
Don Grieve, stamp editor, Cleve-
land Plain Dealer, approves Wllllam
Shrader's plan for a series OF WASH
ington stamps. Under date OF Octo-
ber 81 he writes in his paper: the
movement in favor of the National
Capital set of stamps for the United
States is gaining support from all
sides, Prominent men and stamp
clubs all over the country are indors-
ing the idea. It would be a good plan
If the collectors and clubs in Cleve-
land and vicinity who are in favor OF
this set would send letters to Wash
ington to the Postmaster General. II
enough collectors write, perhaps we
can sidetrack the presidential issue
permanently and have the Capital set
instead, which would be great i'm
provement."
The New York Sun, considering the
same subject, says: Already we'll
supported project is the request for q
series of pictorial stamps showing the
natural and architectural beauties of
Washington Congressional support
has been assured. When it is realized
that there are many buildings and
monuments of great beauty within the
city and in nearby districts, 1t be-
comes more apparent why so many
people have advocated such an issue"
Douglass Campbell, writing to
STAMPS.