Evening star., 1937-08-08
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BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT,

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
Memorial services for Michael L..
Eidsness. ir., superintendent Of the
Division Of Stamps from 1921 to 1858
and founder of the Philatelic Agency
will be held by the Washington Phi
latelic Society at the Hotel Carlton
Sixteenth street, Wednesday evening,
September /.
News of Mr. Eidsness' sudden and
tragic death on Monday night shocked
Washington stamp collectors beyond
comparison with any other sorrowful
event in recent years. 1t was gen.
orally known that he was i'll, but not
even his most intimate friends anti
cipated the termination of his career.
His final public appearance was
at the National Stamp Conference,
where, in an extemporaneous address,
he demonstrated the depth OF his
knowledge of philatelic problems.
Among other disclosures, he an
nounced that the Post Office Depart
ment itself has been critical of the
poor designs and indifferent printing
Of United States stamps
Mr.. Eidsness left unfinished the
autobiography upon which he had
been working since his resignation
from Federal employment. A literary
executor probably will be appointed
to complete the manuscript and to
arrange for the publication of his COL
lected writings.
The Washington Collectors Club,
Branch 5, Society of Philatelic Amer
leans, on motion Of Alden H. Whitney,
expressed regret for his passing and
sympathy for his family Tuesday eve
ming.
Funeral services on Thursday were
attended by Philip Simms Warren,
treasurer; Miss Irene M. Pistorio, Mrs
Madeline c. Nickles, Valdemar Weier-
gang and Albert F. Kunze, represent
ing the Washington Philatelic So
ciety. Also by delegation of former
associates in the Post Office Depart
ment.
1nterment was at Mr. Eidsness'
birthplace, Graettinger, Iowa, yes
terday.
c. Robert Kay philatelic editor of
the Associated Press, wires from New
York: Hundreds of airmail letters,
some Of them six years old, finally
have been delivered to collectors, who
began sending them to Lexington,
KY, in 1881 in anticipation of the
establishment of pickup airmail serv-
ice, which finally was inaugurated
two weeks ago.
This is something of record for
delay OF collectors mail. Airmail
cover enthusiasts often send letters
addressed to themselves in anticipa-
ton Of airline inaugurals and airport
dedications, some of which never take
place. In this event the letters are
returned minus the priced cancella-
tions expected.
The letters which We're serviced by
the Lexington Board of Commerce,
bore wide variety of postage stamps
Virtually every commemorative stamp
issued from 1881 to date was on the
mail, and some bore the old 8-cent
alrmail stamp, as that was the rate
at the time the service was proposed.
The pickup service, operated by
the Tri-State Aviation Corp, is
feeder service connecting with estab-
lished airlines operating out of Louis
vile.
The envelopes which finally were
distributed to collectors had a blue
cachet illustrating the pickup de-
vlce-a triangular rope to which
mailbag was attached. The airplane.
instead of landing, swoops down and
intercepts the rope and departs with
the mailbag streaming out behind.
The letters also were stamped with
winged device inscribed Inaugural
Airmail Service. First Flight, July Is,
1887, Lexington, KY They were
signed by Hop OBryan; pilot, and were
cancelled at Louisville, before being
placed on regular airmail planes"
Mr.. Kay also says in a supple
mentary dispatch: Postage stamp
dealers expect a profitable sales season,
starting in September. and are re-
plenishing their stocks during the dull
Summer months.
collecting frenzy over the British
coronation issues will have subsidized
IN the Autumn, and normal buying in
al likelihood will be resumed.
Some wholesalers who cut prices
during the Summer are restoring their
normal quotations for the month of
August in anticipation of increased
orders from dealers.
Many collectors are critical Of the
design OF the Northwest Territory
stamp, recently issued, some contend
ing that 1t is the worst example of
engraving released by the United
States in years.
This stamp is likely to add support
to collectors demands, presented at
the National Stamp Conference in
Washington, that the Post ONCE De-