Evening star., 1935-06-02
BY ID. II. DAVENPORT.


phia's new post Office on May rs, an
autogiro dropped gracefully to the roof
OF the building to establish regular
air service between this metropolitan
Office and the Camden Airport.
Postmaster General James A. Far
ley, who had delivered the dedicatory
address, received a pouch of mail from
the pilot, Louis Levy, amid the cheers
of thousands of persons assembled at
the official opening of the $7,0O0,0OO
structure A few minutes later sec
ond autogiro, piloted by James G. Ray.
descended and Mr.. Farley delivered
the first pouch of mail ever to leave
the roof of United States post Office
building by plane.
The roof flying field is 1896 by 278
feet. AS the flights were the result
of last-minute plans, no arrangements
were made for special cover markings.
The California commemorative stamp
made its appearance in Washington
Friday and the post office counters
were crowded with collectors prepar-
ing covers Special canceling dies
were used with exceptionally SatiSfac-
been given exclusive first-day honors,
the initial sale here was not large.
The stamp was disappointment to
many as the subjects are too vague.
Pronounced shade differences have
been noted. Six plates were used in
printing-numbers 21405 to 21410.
The current issue of the migratory
bird hunting stamp will be withdrawn
from sale at post Offices at the close
of business June 90. A new stamp,
designed by Frank w. Benson, painter
and etcher, will be available July !.
Counterfeit center-line blocks of the
Farley reprints have appeared on the
market, according to the American
Stamp Dealers Association. who have
suggested that these blocks be pur-
chased only from dealers who are
willing to guarantee genuineneSs.
Prices for position blocks of the
imperforates are steadily increasing,
and sharp rise is expected to follow
the withdrawal of this special issue
June Is.
Collectors are somewhat bewildered
as to what they should buy. due per-
haps to the variety of offerings of
dealers. There is little question but
that the market is temporarily flooded
with the reproductions of "Farley,s
Gift Sheets" and the explanation is
simple. A large percentage of the
sl,000,000 sale of these sheets was
made to greedy spectators, who had
visions of large returns on their in
vestment, but found, to their sorrow.
that too many other than themselves
were likewise "speculating."
Canada placed 13 stamps on initial
sale yesterday. Color changes we're
made in three of the values. The 10
cent denomination, showing a Royal
horseback, is rose, instead of red as
originally announced: the 50-cent
stamp. portraying the legislative build
ings at Victoria, is purple. rather than
blue, and the ST value, depicting the
Champlain Monument at Quebec, has
been printed in blue, instead of olive
green.
Variety collectors are very much
excited over the omission of the COM
mercial mark through the cent" sign
on the second stamp from the plate
number on the upper right pane
printed from plate number 21395, as
signed to the recent Connecticut Ter
centenary issue. Although this item
is available at the Philatelic Agency
at face, advertisements have appeared
quoting prices up to $3.50 for a block
of four
The Collectors Club will hold
banquet at Sholl's Cafe, 1919 G street,
Tuesday evening at Z o'clock. Enter
tainment will be provided.
An auction will follow the meeting
of the Washington Philatelic Society
in the Carlton Hotel Wednesday eve
ming. Collectors are invited.
Poland will issue a series of six
mourning stamps in honor of one of
her most colorful heroes, Marshal Jo-
seph Pilsudski, whose death occurred
at Warsaw May 13. The story of his
eventful life is being dramatically
told in a series of broadcasts being
given by Albert F. Kunze, leader of
the Washington Stamp Club of the |
Air, over VOL each Tuesday eve
ming at o'clock.
The Post Office Department made
public yesterday the figures of first |
day sales of the California Exposition
stamps. At San Diego, where the
stamp was placed on initial sale
Wednesday, 343,202 stamps, having a |
value of S10,266.06, were sold and |
POI 800 covers were cancelled. The |
postmaster at Washington reported |
approximately $4,000 cancellations.
The first prospectus for the annual |
convention of the Society of Philatelic |
Americans has just been released. |
Meetings are to be held in the Mel
bourne Hotel in st. Louis, Mo-, for |
three days. beginning August %. Ar
rangements are in the hands of the |
Mound City Stamp Club.
Another prospectus issued this last |
week was for the International Phila- |
telic Exhibition at the Grand Central
Palace in New York City, from May
9 to II. 1886. The show will occupy
over 125,000 square feet of floor space |
-IIlC cllGIc 1TSG IIlTe6 IOOrS Oh the |
building. A copy of the rules and |
regulations for the entry of exhibits |
may be had by addressing the Sec
retary, Rear Admiral Frederic r.
Harris, q William street, New York
City.
Plans for the establishment of
trans-Pacific air mail service are |
being considered by the Post Office
Department and it is expected that
q special stamp will be issued in COM
memoration of the first flight.
An article by Fred ]. Melville, which
appeared in a recent issue o. The
Stamp Collectors Fortnightly, and to
which reference was made by James
Waldo Fawcett, in his letter from
London printed in this column last
week. is Of such timely interest be-
cause Of its relation to the British