Evening star., 1938-12-11
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News of the Phaec World Its Interests and People-Review of
the Stamp Press-Lst of Local Meetings.
BvJames Waldo Fawcetf.


Of the same kind.
In q paper read at the fourth
American Philatelic Congress, Hart
ford, November II, he said: 1T Is
now more than year since the
National Stamp Conference was
held in Washington, In an ehort
to promote interest in more at
tractive and better printed United
States postal paper. In the time
that has elapsed since then there
has developed much to confirm the
wisdom and judgment of those re-
sponsible for that gathering, which
was refererd to by distinguished
New York philatelic writer as a
philatenc gathering unprecedented
In our hobby's history attended,
as 1t was, by Government officials,
collectors and philatelic news writ
ers, with more than 10 registrants
from II cities
"The conference, as indicated,
brought together, face to face, for
the presentation of their respective
thought on the subject of the meet
Ing, men and women representing
every phase of philatelic interest.
It was designed no less to give col
lectors an insight into the problems
of the Government officials respon-
sible for our stamp issues than to
give the Government the views of
collectors. AS stated by Secretary
of the Interior Harold L. Ickes: The
idea which brings this conference
together is one of cooperation
between all parties interested in
stamps. 1t is, then, meeting Of
the very highest consequence
1.-THE resulting interchange of
views developed, as such an inter-
change always does in this free
democracy of ours, divergent views
and better understanding by each
of the other fellows problems.
Such q result can never be unde-
sirable-and certainly not when
every element represented in the
discussion evinces broad spirit OF
cooperation. There was frank and
understanding recognition by Gov
ernment officials of the desire of
stamp collectors that our Govern
ment produce the best postal paper
possible under all the circumstances.
And there was equally clear and
sympathetic understanding on the
part Of the collectors of the prob
lens faced by those who design and
manufacture our stamps.
aside from the general good that
comes from such 'get-together gath
erings,' the conference of 1887 pro-
duced at least one great concrete
result, which has since given us a
new regular series Of United States
postage stamps, the designs Of which
are the product of a competition
among American artists, sponsored
by the Treasury Department, in a
spirit Of cooperation with American
stamp collectors. With fine courtesy
to the philatelic devotees of the
United States represented in the
conference, Treasury officials made
their first public announcement Of
the projected competition in letter
to the secretary Of the conference.
True, the Post ONCE Department
was under no obligation to adopt the
WAAAAAA8 OCSA6AA VI 0AAy VI VAAC OVAACAo
submitted in the competition, but
the Post Office Department did
choose and utilize the winning de-
sign; and the result was a series Of
stamps representing sincere off1cial
effort to give stamp fanciers (and
the public, of course, as welD some
thing better than they have had
before. Surely this was worth while.
Further improvement is posi-
ble-not, perhaps, with the means
at hand, but certainly with means
obtainable. I refer, of course, to
j.. the mechanical aspect of stamp
production. It is our right and
privilege, both as philatelists and
citizens, to seek to bring about such
Improvement. We may rest assured
we will meet with no unreasonable
opposition from the executive au-
thorities Of the Government-and
none from the Congress when it shall
have been educated to the need
for better mechanical facilities for
the production of United States
stamps. The time is ripe for another
conference.-the time specifically to
consider, in the same open minded
spirit as before, the possibilities of
procuring for our national stamp
manufacturing plant such facilities
OF machinery and personnel as may
be necessary to put out stamps
the equal from mechanical stand
point, of any in the world. The only
difference would suggest in ar
ranging for such a conference would
be that invitations be extended to
those of our representatives in the
National Legislature who are charged
with the duty of determining the
policies Of our great stamp manu-
featuring establishment. These gen.
tlemen should be made acquainted
with our desires and we should
learn what they think of them"
Mr.. Caldwell is an attorney in
the Department of Justice. He was
legal adviser to the American Phila-
telic Society during the admin
istration of Eugene Klein of Phila-
delphia and is a member OF the
A. P. S. Illustrations Committee. A
collector since boyhood, he now
is second vice president of the
Washington Philatelic Society.
The date for the proposed second
national stamp conference has been
tentatively set for WashingtonS
Birthday, Wednesday, February a..
Robson Lowe of London, British
postal history expert. will be in
STAMPS,
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