Evening star., 1934-05-27

SlCy, bOA 400, E1lklCWOOds ~. Oss JULIO
/, 250th anniversary of Perth Amboy,
Murray Hart, 305 Market street, Perth
Amboy, N. j.; June 2, centenary of
Bowery Savings Bank, John H. Hugs,
ITO East Forty-second street, New
York City; June 5, 150th anniversary
of Whitestown, Cliff Wells, 1906 Neil
son street, Utica, N. Y, unsealed;
June Z, Monmouth College celebration.
S. E. Kyle, 1873 East Broadway, Mon
mouth. ILL.,; June 8, centennial event,
Stephen Platania, 1873 Northland ave-
nue., Rochester, N. Y, and June II.
rose festival. Louis R. Diesing. 1927
Northeast Seventy-third avenue, Port
land, Greg.
Standard 6% size envelopes, self-ad-
dressed and stamped. specified. Use
stamps of philatelic value on wrappers
In compliment to sponsors.
The Bureau of Navigation, Navy
Department. bulletin 210, says:
Throughout the country there are
thousands of philatelists, many Of
whom specialize in the collection of
naval cachets. and the cancellation
postmarks of naval vessels. The bu-
reau receives many inquiries, particu-
larly from inland States, as to the
method of obtaining these cachets
Provided no expense to the Navy is
involved. and no United States postal
regulations are violated, friendship
for the Navy will be built up by all
reasonable cooperation of naval per-
sonnel in complying with such re-
quests"
The U. S. S. Constitution cold
Ironsides'') is back in her home port"
at Boston Navy Yard, where she was
built 1877 years ago. 1t is reported that
during the visit to the Pacific Coast
more than 100000 visitors trod her
decks.
1--WE stand at the gateway of a new
era in philately." Michael L. Eidsness,
jr., associate editor, Stamps Maya
zine, New York, told the Baltimore
Philatelic Society at its annual ban
quet Friday evening.
Nothing pauses long in this
world" he said, land stamps have not
been exempt from the natural prin-
ciple of growth.
THE change which has taken
place since 1924 has included a
gradual elevation of philately until
now men and women of the very
highest rank in government, busi-
ness, education and art are proud to
be known as collectors President
Roosevelt, King George. former Pres
ident Hoover. Secretary of the In
terror Ickes, Secretary of the Treas
ury Morgenthau-all practice the
philatelic science, and the list might
be prolonged indefinitely. The stamp
collecting public in the United States
has been estimated at 100000: I
should place the figure at twice that
many. And the salt of the earth,
the finest people living, are repre-
sented in the crowd.
"The Federal Government is en-
titled to a great deal of credit in
the circumstances. It was the ac-
ton of Postmaster General Will Hays,
suggested by Third Assistant Post
master General Warren Irving Glover,
that furnished the driving force
which promoted stamp collecting
from juvenile pastime to the
status of a legitimate avocation of
matured adults. I refer to the de-
cision which resulted in the open
ing of the Philatelic Agency in 1922
by all odds the most significant event
in the history of philately in Amer
ica.
Granted that the effect was not
instantly discernible, the official in
dorsement of stamp collecting i'm
piled by Mr.. Hays order had value
which was positively dynamic. The
newspaper men of Washington caught
the vision-and stamps became news.
From that day to this not one single
week has passed that the press has
not given publicity to philatelic en-
terprise. +**
I'm every land, among every peo-
pie and every class, philately has
blossomed like a rose. I think I am
correct when I declare that it is
the only game that is played inter-
nationally. by rich and by poor, by
old and by young. And the end is
not yet. On the contrary, as the
captain of the Show Boat says: ''It's
only the beginnin', folks; only the be-
ginnin'."
OBVIOUSLY Mr.. Eidsness continued,
"the destiny of collecting lies in the
hands Of collectors. It will be those
who buy and save and study stamps
who will decide what the fate of phil
ately is to be. The government will
continue to do its part, the press will
print the news, but the future of the
hobby or the science, call it what you
will, is bound to be dictated by its
loyal and faithful practitioners. Out
siders may try to dominate the field,
but I cannot believe that they ever
will succeed"
The speaker warned against specu-
lation in mint-condition United
States stamps and the neglect of other
worthwhile issues. This may seem
like heresy. coming from one who for
IL years was the directing chief of
the Philatelic Agency" he declared,
but let there be no mistake about
it-I care more for the welfare of
collectors than I care for any Govern
ment Office in Washington, and if the
agency cannot do a legitimate busi-
ness by catering to the reasonable
wants of the philatelic public, it ought
to be abolished. The Post Office De-
partment does not need to sponsor or
connive at a racket in order to make
the agency useful institution of
public service"
Mr.. Eidsness insisted on a conserva-
tive policy and expressed disapproval
of the Graf Zeppelin and Byrd
stamps of 1888. Neither issue, he said
was needed for any proper postal use
They were and are just as indefensible
as the speculative issues of certain
foreign countries which are denied
catalogue listing"
He also condemned "commemo-
ratives of purely local significance, u
saying: II believe that only events
of truly national character should be
given philatelic recognition. 1t should
be remembered that a stamp is ma
tional, not a neighborhood affair If
present tendencies were to be con-
tinued, the result would be to dis