Evening star., 1935-07-21
STAMPS1A|gA A
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
One way to ruin 'philately is dis
by Charles F. Danver and published
in. Pittsburgh newspaper: There's
q young attorney in Pittsburgh who's
bugs on collecting stamps. He'd walk
o mile for new one to paste in his
album. But walking miles Won't bring
home the bacon-that is, the stamps.
1t takes dough. And the law busi-
ness being what it is, he needs all
his pennies to buy 2 and 3 centers
with which to send bills to his clients
who haven't kicked in.
"But he didn't go to college for
nothing. Neither does he have sister
who teaches school for nothing. tThat
doesn't sound just right-but you get
the drift.) Anyhow, the young attor-
ney had an idea one day and sat
down and drew up a letter And the
letter read something like this: Dear
sir: am little boy only IL years
old. I collect stamps and paste them
into book. I have many nice stamps
and hope to have many more. I
would like to have some stamps from
your country. Please send me some
stamps. Thank you
1.-The young attorneys sister took
the letter to school, After all, she
had to give the kids some kind of
writing lesson, so why not just have
them copy her brothers letter? So
each kid made a nice copy of the
letter. written in pencil on yellow
paper, and she collected them and
carried them home.
1T was a cinch for the young at
torney to sign his name and put his
address on each letter and send them
out to the consuls in a couple of dozen
foreign countries. And did it work?
Ever since he has been receiving bales
of stamps from Turkey, Australia and
even Adds Abada-of course you all
know where that is.
THE only catch in the whole thing
was that his sister demanded a cut
in the takings. You see, she collects
stamps, too."
An attorney. it would seem, should
know about the laws respecting the
use of the mails to defraud. But be
that as it may, Post Office Department
inspectors are investigating.
Michael L. EidsneSS, jr., former su-
perintendent, Division of Stamps,
Post Office Department, and now as
sociate editor and Washington corre-
spondenr, Stamps Magazine. NeT
York, was the guest of honor and
principal speaker at the last meeting
of the season of the Rhode Island
Stamp Club. Providence, Tuesday eve
ming. In his address he took oc-
casion to urge policy of caution.
''We have come to a crisis" he said,
"and it is vitality necessary that We
proceed with the maximum care
through the years that lie Immediate
" ahead. Nothing must be permitted
full effect upon the unprecedented
prosperity of philately in America.
When I say that, I have in mind
the fact that thousands of men and
women, boys and girls. have their saw
ingS invested in stamps. A genera
ton ago the case was different; there
were not so many collectors, stamp
prices were not so high, a person
could collect without spending much
money. Now, for a multitude of rea-
sons, conditions have changed. There
are perhaps, 100000 collectors in
the United States, each individual
having some investment, large or
small, in stamps. And desirable
specimens no longer can be acquired
gratuitously. The era when it was
possible to accumulate a good collec-
ton without much effort and eX-
pense has passed forever.
''Unexampled publicity, of course,
has been the factor which magically
has worked the changes to which I
refer. But publicity is a two-edged
sword-it can and sometimes does cut
both ways; it has helped philately
and, by the same logic, it can hurt
philately. Suppose, for instance, that
the great news-gathering and news
distributing systems, ike the Asso-
ciate Press, suddenly turn hostile,
what would be the result? Without
wishing to frighten anybody, can tell
you that the effect would be both
tragic and costly.
ITO illustrate, let me cite the case
Of one of the smallest countries of
Europa little country new among
the nations and unfamiliar with the
basic rules of the game. The post
master general was an enthusiast.
He had heard that stamps were a
commodity as well as a postal con-
venience. He printed some stamps
for collectors to buy, and they did buy
them. Then, he printed some novel;
ties which only rich collectors could
afford. And nobody omplained-un-
til his printer ran off private edition
of the made-to-order rarities. The
fat then was on the fire. In the
philatelic press the scandal was dis
cussed with scientific moderation, but
in the regular press it was reported
in such sensational language that it
brought about complete change in
The postmaster gen.
eral lost his job, his party lost its
power, his King nearly lost his royal
head. Nowadays even the most inno-
cent mention of the word stamps in
that country is dangerous error.
Philately is utterly discredited there,
and no honorable citizen dares to eX-
press any interest in the subject.
"Of course, I am not so timid ror
so foolish as to imagine that any,
thing so devastating could happen in
America. But neither am so gullible