Evening star., 1937-05-30
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT,

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
The Washington Philatelic Society
will be host to the stamp conference
to be held at the Carlton Hotel, Six
teenth street, Monday and Tuesday,
June 81 and %. A decision to that
effect was reached by the Board of
Governors at meeting on Wednesday
evening. The committee in charge OF
arrangements includes all the officers
Of the society and the following mem
bers: Gerard Ten Eyck Beeckman,
Albert F. KunDe, Joseph A. Herbert,
Miss Irene M. Pistorio and Miss Agnes
johnson.
Plans for the conference have been
under discussion since April Is. The
purpose OF the meeting has been out
lined as AN effort to promote interest
IN more attractive and better printed
stamps" Invitations to participate
are to be sent to "all branches of the
Government concerned and all phila-
telic organizations" The project al
ready has been endorsed by many rep
resentatives Of the stamp collecting
fraternity; likewise, Informally, by
many Government officers.
c. M Plummer writing in Mekeels
Weekly Stamp News for May "a, says:
"A conference Of philatelists with
Post Office Department officials would
do well to place on its agenda a topic
which sorely needs consideration: The
careful planning of new stamp designs
Tar enough in advance to permit the
elimination Of Objectionable and de-
fective designs and the proper CO.
ordination Of designs in any projected
series. The Army and Navy series was
issued IN catch-as-catch-can fashion
illustrative Of deplorable MANAGEMENT
and resulting in a hodge-podge of
stamps. According to reports, no one
had any real idea Of what the designs
OF the scent denominations would be
until long after the other eight stamps
had been released. And so it went for
the preceding stamps. Surely the Post
Once Department of the largest West
ern Nation has enough capital to en-
gage sufficient designers, engravers
and mechanics to make our stamps
representative OF the art of our coun-
try. Such bungling as was ID lemon
strated in the Army and Navy series
would never be tolerated in a private
concern"
A correspondent who prefers that
his name be withheld writes: IT think
the conference plan is an excellent
Idea. But If 1t should happen that it
Is to be merely critical talk-fest, I
would rather not attend. Good con-
structive discussion Of the problems
and difficulties involved might help
II only to educate collectors. But the
conference ought to represent the best
and most efficient thought of the Ma
tons philatelits; not Just their
preJudices and their peeves. It should
be made clear from the beginning that
collectors cannot dictate to the Gov
ernment. Their interest, of course, is
involved, and they have the right to
advocate improvements, but good man.
hers must prevail. I personally would
resent any attempt to put the Gov-
eminent on the spot and believe the
sponsors Of the conference agree with
me In that respect"
Reports printed In The Star on
Thursday and Friday indicated that
hrst-day sales of the scent. Army and
Navy stamps at West Point and An
napolis would break all existing records.
The impression was confirmed when
the Post Office Department announced
the following figures for business at
the postal stations specified: West
Point, 250,000 stamps, 100000 covers;
Annapolis. 370,500 stamps, 2O2,80O
covers; Philatelic Agency, Thursday,
sales totalling $50,4l4.3O.
Army stamps reached Washington
IN time for first-day postmarks at
local post Offices. Clyde v. De Binder
arranged for sheets to be brought from
Newark by air express. He also sent
Navy stamps to New York by plane.
G. Robert Kay, philatelic editor, As
sociated Press, wires from New York:
"American collectors are receiving their
sets OF coronation stamps from Great
Britain and the crown colonies after
an exciting week end, during which
dealers harassed, wheedled and plead
ed with customs authorities to release
their consignments from London.
"A few fortunate dealers had their
Rfo oinY91 ar1fc hrNY1n1,f ;,,
friends who attended the coronation
celebration. These sets commanded
. wholesale quotation of as high as 81
for a few hours, while other dealers
fumed at having to wait until last
Monday to obtain their stamps which
had arrived the previous Friday.
Most OF the sets ordered in advance
have reached their destinations now,
after customs authorities assured
themselves that the packages con-
tained no contraband or dutiable ma
terial, and dealers are signing with
relief after the strain.
THE coronation set, with q face
value Of approximately IS, caused
something Of slump in the Ameri-
can stamp business, both for retail
ers and wholesalers. The low face
value enticed SPECTATORS to plunge
on the issue, remembering the 1895
Silver Jubilee sets, which doubled In
value shortly after becoming obso-
lete.
Funds of both dealers and collec-
tors were tied up for several weeks
preceding issuance. This condition Is
expected to prevail until July at least,
because the British dominions and
dependencies also are issuing corona
ton stamps. These sets, likewise
having . face value of approximately
IS, may not be purchased in London,
but must be shipped from the orig