Evening star., 1935-07-21

port, Advertising Department,
The Star, Washington, D. G.
as to be willing to suppose that the
uninterrupted indefinitely. Sooner
or later there is certain to be day
of reckoning. And wise collectors will
not wait any longer to begin to be
prudent and cautious. Philately is
a science. and as such it should be
practiced with common sense. Hectic
speculation in stamps, think. is to be
deplored. Extravagant promotion pol
icies are perilous. Shady methods OF
trading and dealing are vastly to be
regretted and should be corrected
drastically and mercilessly.
In brief, we want or should want
a more pragmatic philosophy of col
lecting, less colorful technique OF
publicity. better code of manners IN
philatelic enterprise and exchange.
Growth might be slower were these
reforms effected, but it would oe
stronger and more substantial. The
alternative is a continuance of pre-
vailing currents of expansion with all
the risks of disaster which are in
volved therein.
The problem is plain to every col
lector who has eyes to see, ears to
hear and brain to use. 1t has been
considered by many, but not yet by
large enough section of the philatehc
public. The average collector, 1t
seems, has been led around by the
nose and has not discovered that he
had been deceived. exploited and
abused. He is due for shock, and
only the prcmptest kind of action will
serve to protect him from its penal
ties.
In his name, then. plead for care
full, constructive, conservative leader
ship. The American Philatelic So
ciety msy not know it, but the eyes
of the whole philatelic world are TO-
c':sed on it as it ballots for new off,
GERS. Two tickets are in the field, and
there are excellent men on both. The
issue, however. do not think is CON-
pletely understood. People simply do
not comprehend how important it is
that the very best minds the organ
ization has will be wanted during the
next two years. Nor do they realize
how imperatively necessary it is that
the whole membership should Coop
crate with the officers when they have
been chosen.
"a glance backward over the two
years just passed will demonstrate
Why caution, sound Judgment. wise
policies, a tried and true philosophy
are required. So many disturbing
things already have happened, there
is abundant reason to believe that
other even more definitely dangerous
things may threaten. Eternal vigil
ance. George Washington said, is the
price of liberty. 1t also is the price
of the only variety of progress that
is worth while
MY final word is: Forward march
but not too fast! Dot let philately
suffer the fate Of 'nah-jong, iig-saw
puzzles and Tom Thumb golf'
Postmaster General James a. Far
ley has left Washington on a vacation
tour which will take r i'm to Honolulu.
Before leaving he announced hat he
would authorize the Michigan COM
memorative 3-ceat stamp long since
forecast in the pnilatelic press.
Postal authorities have rejected an
appeal for stamp for the American
Airmail Society Convention.
The Fort Orange Stamp Club, Al
bany, N. Y, wants stamp to mark
the fiftieth anniversary of the estab-
ishment of special delivery service.
Rumors are current in New York
to the effect that the Post Office
Department still is in possession
of a quantity of each issue of the
Zeppelin series of 1880, which were
supposed to have been destroyed.
The Bureau of Engraving and
Printing is at work on a series of five
stamps to commemorate the establish
ment of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines. November Is is the ex-
pected release date.
Silver jubilee stamps are selling at
double face value in London, but the
supply is scant even at that price.
Delf Norona, Moundsville, W. Va,
has published Volume OF his "Cyclo-
pedia of United States Postmarks and
Postal History" The book is an in
valuable aid to collectors of cancella-
tions. It represents labor of love
on the part of its editor and is sold
at cost.
The official program for the Amer
ican Philatelic Society Convention,
Hotel Carlton, August IL to 16, has
been summarized as follows: Monday,
9 am. to 7 pm, registration; noon,
opening of the bourse; pm, preSi-
dents reception and formal opening
Of the exhibition, National Museum;
Tuesday, 10 am, business session;
12:45 pm. to 4 pm, tour. of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
beginning with luncheon in the bu-