Evening star., 1938-01-30
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News of the Phaec World Its Interests and PeopeRevew of
the Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings.
By James Waldo Favceff.

By James Waldo Fawceff.
President Roosevelt, it was an
nounced at the White House on Fri
day, has signed the stamp illustra-
tions bill. Negotiations concerning
regulations for reproductions now will
be started. Whether the final outcome
will help philately is problematical.
Ramsey S. Black. appointed Third
Assistant Postmaster General to sue
ceed the late Clinton B. Eilenberger. is
expected to enter upon his duties
Tuesday. He was railroad conductor
in his youth and has been postmaster
at Harrisburg, Pa, more recently.
Stephen Macy. president, and dele
cation of members of the National
Capital Amateur Astronomers Asso-
ciation were guests Of the Washington
Philatelic Society, Hotel Carlton
Wednesday evening. The program was
devoted to stars and stamps. More
than 200 specimens Of foreign issues
showing celestial bodies, including the
sun, comets. the Southern Cross. etc.,
were exhibited. Explaining the at
traction of sky-gazing as a hobby, Mr..
Macy argued for planetarium in
washington. Such an institution, he
said, should have great educational
significance.
The philatel!c estate of Col. E. H.
r. Green has been appraised at ST.
298.444: but final figures may be
larger. Whether or not the accumu-
lated stamps and covers will be sold at
auction remains to be decided. 1t is
understood that representatives of
British dealers already have expressed
an interest in the problem.
DR.. George Winton Field, biologist
and stamp collector. died on January
19. His philatelic speciality was Greece,
and he was recognized expert on
the postal issues of that country.
DR.. Hugo Eckener has announced
that Germany's newest Zeppelin prob
ably will be ready to make her first
transatlantic crossing in May. Trial
flights are scheduled for late in April
Collectors interested to obtain covers
are advised to arrange for them with
out delay.
Thieves recently broke into the Rafl-
way, N, j., post Office and stole pre-
Cancelled stamps to the face value of
$4,000 If they attempt to dispose
OF their loct they will find that it is
worthless. Without a precancel per-
init from the postal authorities no mail
bearing such adhesives can be trans
mitted. Attempt to use them should
lead to the capture of the criminals.
Musical Quarterly for January con-
tains an interesting and well-written
article on stamps and music by VIM
throp S. Boggs. The story is gener-
ously illustrated.
Kent B. Stiles. writing in the New
York Times for January %. says: IN
quiry at the Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing brought an explanation of the
unusual richness of the coloring of
the Constitutional Sesquicentennial
Scent commemorative released on
September II and the Puerto Rico
possessions Scent issue on Novem-
Der Is.
Most Of Uncle Sans recent 'spe-
Gals have been violet or light or deem
violet, but the Constitution and Puerto
Rico offerings appear in a magenta
Ike shade which catalogue publishers
nave decided to call red violet This
last Is 50 obviously different from the
normal that collectors were promptly
intrigued.
1T Is revealed that for the Consti-
tuition stamp President Roosevelt
wanted color which would be some-
thing distinctive and that when he
made his selection the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing found that it
did not have ink of the chosen color
IN stock. The Bureau did not have
sufticient time to experiment in color
blending Of inks on hand, and 50 was
1orced to turn to private manufacture
ers OF Ink in order to obtain the re-
qulred color. The latter created a
favorable public impression, and it
was then decided to use the same red
Vlolet INK for the Puerto Rico stamp.
The ink purchased from the pri-
vate manufacturer is understood to
nave cost the Government about four
tlmes what 1t would have cost the
bureau to prepare ink Of the same
color had there been time for the
necessary blending. The result was
an extraordinary warmth in the ap-
pearance Of the two stamps, which
nave been widely acclaimed by COL
lectors as welcome additions to the
album page.
spokesmen for organized philatelic
groups have long been clamoring for
Improvement in the colors of United
States stamps and they are citing the
Constitution and Puerto Rico ad-
hesives as examples Of what Is possible
II the bureau would make use of better
grades of ink
The Dominican Republic has brought
out two stamps-half-centa orange
and hve-centavo violet-in homage to
the memory OF Father Billini, founder
OF San Luis Gonzaga College and "the
greatest philanthropist the country
ever had"
Al Burns, writing in Weekly Phi
latellc Gossip frankly declares: phi
lately in the United States has entered
upon new era. Where most Of us
have been partial to United States
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