Evening star., 1937-06-06


ley. Secretary Of the Treasury Henry
Morgenthau, jr., and Secretary OF the
Interior Harold L. Ickes have been
requested to attend and to speak at
their convenience
All regular sessions of the conference
will be open to the public, but regis
tration fee Of 81 will be stipulated to
cover expenses of printing the con-
ference report, one copy of which will
be given to each individual registered.
There will be fellowship din
ner Monday evening under the man.
agement of John R. Ewell.
A phllatelic writer's breakfast. to be
held Tuesday morning, will be in
charge Of Mr.. Kunze, and cards of ad-
mission may be obtained from him.
Further details of arrangements will
be announced in the local and national
philatelic press from time to time dur
ing the next two weeks.
John Collier, commissioner of In
dian affairs, has added his Endorsement
OF the projected series of Indian
stamps to that of Secretary Ickes:
The service is very grateful to those
OF the stamp collecting community who
have brought forward this proposal" I"
he says. Although I am not a
philatelist, I have noticed from time
to time that well-known heroes, states
men and other figures OF national i'm
portance have been shown on our
postage stamps. The thought occurs
to me, however, that long before these
persons came to America the Indian
was in peaceful possession of this
country. I have always felt that the
average citizen does not realize how
much honor and credit is due the first
Americans. Such series could,
imagine, include well-known Indian
leaders q the past. native Indian art
work, and scenes from the present.
day Indian country. Postage stamps
OF all countries seem to carry a per-
sonal message to other lands, and I
can think Of no finer way to help peo-
Pile of other countries know more
about the American Indian than by
the use OF such series OF stamps"
The illustrated edition of the Post
Office Department Oficial Descrip-
ton OF United States Postage Stamps
was something worth waiting for.
Such is the verdict of Washington COL
lectors as class, following the release
OF the paper-bound copies placed on
sale at the office of the Superinten-
dent of Documents, Governmen.
Printing Office Tuesday.
Beautifully executed. the booklet is
an excellent example of graphic art.
It runs to ll9 pages Of text and in
cludes unmutilated full-size repro
ductions Of every stamp issued from
July l, 1847, to December 81, 1885
A foreword, signed by Postmaster
General James A. Farley, reads: Be
cause OF my belief in the values Of
philately, it is with the utmost pleas
ure that dedicate to the stamp COL
lectors of America this new booklet
which contains for the first time re-
productions of the postage stamps
described therein. 1t is my sincere
hope that the publication OF these
illustrations will contribute to q wider
and more profound study of our postal
issues, the designs of which portray
the history and accomplishments of
our great Nation"
The table of contents begins with q
notice" warning against unau-
thorized use Of stamp designs. quoting
section $50 Of the criminal code, re-
ferring to Government securities with
out specific mention Of stamps. It
closes with summary OF Presidents
and "other prominent persons" por-
trayed in the American philatelic gall
lery, list Of the quantities Of COM
memorative stamps issued from 1893
onward, a similar table for airmail
stamps and for Kansas and Nebraska
experimental overprints, q list Of
plate numbers for all commemorative
and airmail productions since the
Columbian series.
OF course, the booklet does not re-
place the specialized United States
catalogue. It deals principally with
types. not with varieties. No ap-
praisals are attempted and no guild
ance for sale or exchange is offered.
Watermarks and perforations, As well
as minor changes in color, are ignored.
But there can be little question about
STAMPS.