Evening star., 1937-06-27

| eOuC3tAuS S3plVOl k1AI.
From Otto Korte, editor and pub
Usher Of the standard American spe-
cialized catalogue OF the stamps oi
Germany. came . petition that "the
Government appoint = philatelic COM
mission for the sole purpose of passing
upon designs submitted by reputable
engravers and designers Then" he
prophesied, I'VE will be sure OF getting
stamps that will have philatelic as
well IS postage value"
| Michael L. Eidsness, jr., associate
editor OF Stamps Magazine. New York,
\ postal ofsicial for 23 years. stirred
the conference to prolonged applause
with a speech in which he outlined
the difnculties Of stamp manufacturing
since the beginning of "the speeding
up" period coincident with the World
War. He pointed out that the Post
Once Department repeatedly has pro-
tested against the rotary press sys-
tenn OF production.
Alvin r. MeiSsner and Clyde v. De
Binder of the bureau staff. however,
reminded the audience that circum-
stances over which the Government
has little or no control often Affect
the artistic character Of stamps. and
Capt. w. A. Courtney. representing
the American Bank Note Co.. de-
Tended steel engraving against all
other processes and paid tribute to
the bureau for doing 4 difficult Job
marvelously we'll"
The bureau also found friend in
Fred w. Green Of the Garfield Perry
Stamp Club Of Cleveland, who warned: !:
"Of course We are all in favor of
better-printed stamps, but don't let
us get too excited about it, and don't
let us overlook the very practical as
poets OF stamp manufacturing
better quality Of paper for stamps
was urged by Elmer C. Pratt and
Robert B. Patton, philatelic editors OF
the Camden Courier Post. and better
grade of ink was proposed by Her.
man Bocorselski Of Webb & Bocorsel-
ski, photographic printers. Paper. ink
and gum problems likewise were the
theme of Col. Joseph Hyde Pratt of
Chapel Hill. N. c.. who closed his
address by displaying to the confer
ence some horrible examples" of
postal cancellations-stam delib-
erately ruined by postal clerks in con-
travention Of regulations stipulating
neat and clear postmarks.
J. Michael Brown, president of the
Government Printing Office Stamp
Club, explained the Importance of hu-
| midlty control in the bureau and ad-
vocated the installation OF a modern
system for governing atmospheric
conditions.
Albert F. Kunze leader of the WASH
| ington Stamp Club of the Air. an
| alyzcd current difficulties in 4 paper
concluding: "As We beautify our pub
lie buildings and dedicate parks and
erect monuments and spend lavishly
| for the cultural development Of l20.-
900. 900 people, so let us spend 4 little
more to produce better-p printed and
more attractive postage stamps" equal
ly important to the esthetic progress
Of the Nation.
William H. Beck, Baltimore color
scientist. lecturing on his philosophy
OF optics at the final session, asked
| for the organization of a research So
ciety to pursue philately in line with
scientific methodology
Irving J. Stoller, president OF the
National Poster Stamp Society, Chi
ca9o. also addressing the last formal
gathering Of the conference. told OF
the pleasures OF poster label collecting
| and illustrated his talk with richly
beautiful commercial and educational
productions.
The Governments attitude toward
the conference was notably and gen.
erously friendly from beginning to
end. President Roosevelts greeting
WAS read at the opening assembly
by Mrs. Catherine L. Manning. phila-
| telic curator OF the Smithsonian In
stitution. Postmaster General James
A. Farley also sent kindly letter,
| expressing his interest and good will,
and Secretary Of the Interior Harold
L. 1ckes, i'll in Naval Hospital, COM
municated his approval Of the meet
ing in paper read by Mr. Beeckman,
IN part saying: Il conceive Of a stamp
as being a fragment Of history, a
| word in the annals Of human ex-
perience, 4 picture OF an ideal fresh
from the human heart. The design
impressed upon it signifies what the
Nation may be at the moment of Its
manufacture. In 1893 the public
mind was engaged with the celebration
NJ tho knntb oppjyerco of tha ,,,ort
important sea going enterprise since
Noah's voyage in the Ark-the marine
| adventure OF Christopher Columbus,
which resulted in the multiplication
OF the known habitable area OF the
planet by two 1t was fitting and
proper that the anniversary should
be observed by the authorization Of
a beautiful series Of stamps series
still. in my judgment. unsurpassed
Again, it was natural to mark the
opening of the West by the trans
Mississippi series of 1898, the Pam
American Exposition by the trans
portation series OF 1901. the accession
OF Alaska in the Seward 'commem-
orative' Of 1909. the end OF the World
War in the Victory issue of 1919,
the conclusion Of the Revolution in
the Yorktown issue of 1881, the COM
pletion Of Boulder Dam, the greatest
engineering feat of modern times.
in the dedication Issue Of 1885. Mean
while. approximately hundred other
stamps of historic value and sig
nificance had been brought out on
seasonable occasions. And each, as
look them over In my album, as
sumes the aspect Of page in the
chronicle Of the Nation. Taken
together, they constitute primer Of
Americanism in the very best mean-
ing Of the phrase.
But the past Is not enough. Men
and women, boys and girls live in the
present and, in effect, for the future
Therefore, it is desirable that the
stamps which they use for the trans
mission Of the written evidence Of
their progress should reflect the con-
Germs with which they are engaged.