Evening star., 1936-06-14
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Ry LANES vvAI,nu FAWCETT.

Monthly Stamp News, was guest OF
honor at a meeting of the Washing
ton Philatelic Society, Hotel Carlton,
Wednesday evening, and in the course
of his address raised several questions
of interest to the entire philatelic
public.
THE true function of the editor
of a philatelic magazine" the visitor
said, 'is to reflect pfilatelic trends.
He should know, when controversy
arises which affects the hobby, just
what collectors majority opinion is
In that controversy.
"Is the buying of mint stamps, in
preference to used ones, being over
done? Is the Philatelic Agency CIV
ing the collector square deal and
the dealer a square deal, or has the
agency quit being service-giving in
stitution and become a commercial
bureau with3 money-making as its
primary objective? Do collectors want
Spanish Goyas and other speculative
issues of foreign governments or
would they prefer stamps printed to
meet legitimate postal needs? Does
American philately want a 32-stamp
constitution commemorative series in
1887, as proposed by Representative,
Sol Bloom, or would the hobby's
standards be better served by short
set with low values? Such questions
as these are constantly confronting
collectors, and it is the stamp maga-
zine editors job to place his finger
on the pulse Of collector sentiment
so that he can ascertain majority
opinion. Unless he knows this ma
iority opinion-unless he familiarizes
himself with trends-he is not equip
ing himself to write intelligently and
has no business being stamp maga-
zine editor.
Presentation Of news alone, in a
stamp magazine, is not enough. The
editor has to go behind the mere news
itself He must inquire into back
grounds and motives. And he must
write interpretively-honestly and
without bias, but interpretively, so
that collectors can perhaps the better
formulate their own judgments as to
what is best for philately's welfare.
The greatest weakness of the
American philatelic press today, as I
see it, is a lack of interpretive edi-
torial writing. There is, distinctly
q distinction between propaganda and
Interpretation. And most Of the
American stamp magazines contain
altogether too much propa ganda OF
one sort or another That is one
editors opinion. I may be wrong"
Mr.. Stiles called on the readers OF
the stamp press to cooperate with
stamp writer's. "The collectors" he
argued, "can be Of assistance, if they
will They can aid by deluging the
editors with opinions-not neces-
sarily for publication, because in a
magazine of limited size there would
not be room enough to publish them
all, but for the guidance of editors.
Whenever controversial ques-
ton arises the editors inevitably Won
der what collectors are thinking. II
they could have answers from Their
readers they could sense what prob
ably would be philately's majority
opinion, and they would be guided
intelligently in their efforts TO make
interpretive presentation. What
the letters contained would be re.
feCoed in the editors writings, anc
philately would be benefited, because
the interpretive picture presented by
an editor would not be one mans
opinion, but rather the collective
judgment Of a cross-section Of the
hobby's followers"
Mr. stiles was introduced to the
club by Philip Simms Warren, treas
urer.
The exhibition Of the evening was
In charge Of Walter A. Hitchcock
who displayed and discussed British
occupation war stamps and German
Offices abroad.
Collectors interested in perforated
initials are urged to read a fasci-
mating article on that subject, writ
ten by George H. Harnden and
printed in Weekly Philatelc Gossip
for June 13.
A story to the effect that POST as
ter General Farley will ask President
Roosevelt to disapprove the proposed
Harvard University commemorative
has been in circulation, but appears
to have no merit. The bill calling for
the stamps has passed the Senate and
is expected to pass the House. A
veto is very unlikely.
The Arkansas centennial commemo-
rative-3-cent, purple, Old State Capt.
tal-will go on sale at Little Rock at
one minute after midnight or, as the
postmaster Of that city expresses it, "at
1901 am. Monday, June 15."
No final announcement has been
made regarding first-day sale ar
rangements for the Oregon Terri
tory stamp. The matter is under dis
cussion, but nothing definite has been
decided.
The next Clipper Ship fight to
Manila is scheduled to leave San
Francisco Tuesday, June 80. To date
there have been exactly a dozen round
trips.
Arrangements for the extension Of
the service to China have not been
completed.
Several different shades of purple
have been detected in the TIPEX
souvenir sheets issued May 8. Also,
it Is known that an accidental print
ing of 1900 sheets with black ink
occurred during the night of April %.
The mistakes" were destroyed by
order of Alvin w. Hall, director of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Post ONCE Department profit on
the regular editions, 500 900 sheets
will Approximate $290,000.
A revised edition of Volume I of
"The United States Postage Stamps
Of the Twentieth Century" by Max
=. joni and the late Beverly King, is
to be published shortly.
Nn-l