Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-09
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News of the Phac World Its Interests and Peope-Revew
the Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings
By James Waldo Fascceff.

BY James ~ aldo FasCceH.
A stamp to advertise the merchant
marine is forecast in Post Office
Department circles, but no definite
authorization has been announced.
Plans for the heroes of peace"
series are being perfected and there
are many indications that official
notice of the number to be issued,
dates of release, etc, will be released
shortly. Portraits, obviously, should
be the central themes of the several
designs; but there may be symbolic
details in the frames which would
serve to show the cultural meaning
and intention of the set Suggestions
for subjects still are wanted by
Deputy Third Assistant Postmaster
General Roy M. North.
Nicaragua is reported to be plan
ming a series of commemorative to
publicize the visit of President
Somonza to the United States.
France announces three new
issues as follows: 90c, bluegray,
150th anniversary of the French
Revolution, reproduction of THE
Tennis Court Oath" q famous paint
ing by David; Toe, red-bistre, 50th
anniversary of the completion OF
Strasbourg Cathedral, facade of the
church and city coat of arms; 90c,
dark gray, 23d anniversary Of the
Battle of Verdun, medieval city
gates.
Supporting the minority of collec-
tors particularly interested in tech
meal details, Robert w. Richardson,
writing in Linns Weekly Stamp
News for July l, says: Many an
article merely mentions the stamp
and then wadeS into description
of the scene depicted. While this
sometimes gives an idea why that
scene was chosen, just as often 1t
doesn't add a bit of information. A
good instance of these stories, to
which there is little philatelic point
In the telling thereof, is the one
about Gregory Dosza on the 1919
Hungarian stamp. While the ter
fible punishment of this revolu-
zionist was unique, it adds nothing
to philatelic knowledge. An article,
from our viewpoint, about this issue
would tell of this grim story, but it
would be on an equal basis with such
elemental facts as who issued the
stamps and why, their period of
currency, etc. A story of the Scent
Army stamp which simply mentions
that it was issued in 1887 and then
goes on to give biographies of the
three generals is not a philatelic
article, for the same article would
equally well fit some Army journal
or historical publication as the read
ers of those would not be impeded
by philatenc material in it. How
ever, such an article, telling the
biographies in brief and also the
origin of the stamp, its design, place
and date of issue, period of currency,
plates used, size of plates, plate
markings, plate varieties and other
things connected directly with the
stamp-and not the men depicted
would make the article distinctly
philatelic, because those are phila-
telic facts and Sherman's siege of
Atlanta is not"
With such logic, of course, there
can be no quarrel. The present con-
troversy developed from the objec-
ton of "fyspeck hunters" to the
inclusion of any historical material
in the philatelic press. 1t is phase
of an ancient argument, with COL
lectors interested in technicalities
arrayed upon one side and collectors
concerned with the whole sig
nificance of each individual stamp
upon the other. The latter, it is adj
In which every philatelic writer
worthy of the name is happy to be
member.
The 1889 ST duck hunters license
stamp shows pair of winged
teal standing at the edge of
marsh with other birds of the same
species in the background. Lynn
Bogue Hunt was the designer.
Philip c. Elliott, professor of fine
arts at the University of Pittsburgh,
has submitted a design for the pro-
posed Stephen Collins Foster COM
memorative. The composition in
cludes portrait of the gifted but
unfortunate author of My Old
Kentucky Home" and a sketch of
the Foster Memorial at Pittsburgh.
1t has the fault of abbreviating the
name of the man it Is intended to
honor, but the necessary correction
could be made without difficulty.
Stamps for the golden jubilees of
Idaho and Wyoming are forecast
for next year. A precedent for them
has been established in the stamp
to be issued for North and South
Dakota, Montana and the State of
Washington.
President Roosevelt's collection of
covers is being mounted in albums.
Constituent societies of the Ma
tional Federation of Stamp Clubs
have voted overwhelmingly in favor
of the proposal to place stamped
envelopes on sale in the Philateic
Agency. They also have expressed
approval of the heroes of peace"
series, but withheld Endorsement
from the inclusion of Will Rogers,
the cowboy philosopher, in the list.
In preparation for the Postage
Stamp Centenary book to be pub
lished next Spring, Mrs. Grace l..
MacKnight is at work on a mono
STAMPS
Maiden Voyage S. S. Cristobal Seapost Cam
eelIafinnS IuSinR Panama Picfnrialxl &c