Evening star., 1939-03-19
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News the Phlatelc World Its Interests and of
Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings.
By James Waldo Fa,vceff.

Without waiting for the American
Philatelic Society and the Society O.
Ph1latelic Americans to act, leadinf
stamp collectors throughout tn,
United States are considering way!
and means for putting into effect 6
boycott against unnecessary "com.
memoratives."
The problem has come to the fore
IN the past few days following re-
ceipt OF news from Rio de Janeiro
where it has been announced that
four special stamps are to be issued
to help the government of Brazil
to finance its exhibition at the New
York Worlds Fair and to pay for
new machinery and equipment in
the stamp manufacturing division
OF the Brazilian mint.
Such exploitation, representative
philatelic leaders declare, is "a
racket 1t already has been con-
demned by the Swedish Philatelie
Society, the Royal Philatelic Society
OF London, the Washington Phila-
telic Society and many other or
ganizations as we'll as by writer's for
the philatelic press.
The fact that the unwanted
"commemoratives" have been re
quested" by Americans does not
alter the character of the stamps
nor the high-pressure methods en-
ployed IN marketing them. Many
OF the labels never have been in
tended to do postal duty. The minia-
ture sheet of Guatemala, for ex-
ample, is utterly impracticable TO,
letter use. 1t was produced COM
mercially and yielded a profit OF
more than 5000 to the government
which ordered it printed
A conservative estimate indicates
that American collectors have spent
between four and five millions of
dollars in the past three years for
pretty pictures" of no authentic
philatelic value.
Foreign Communication News for
March 10 says: Many philatelists
have been eagerly looking for new
postal issues out of China as result
OF its turbulent conditions, but,
curiously enough. there have been
practically no new issues or pro-
visionals. The 9Th Route Army,
operating in Shensi Province in
Northwest China, has printed local
stamp for use in that particular sec
ton. They are quite rare and are
not on the Shanghai stamp market,
although a few copies have been
seen in philateic exhibits. So far,
PROFESSIONALS or other new issues have
not been attempted by the Japanese
sponsored provisional government
of North China" or the reformed
government of Nanking," the regular
postal issues Of the legitimate Ma
tional government Of China still
being used.
There are several very active
philatelic societies functioning in
Shanghai, the principal ones in
which foreigners participate being
the Shanghai Philatelic Society, 800
Szechuen road, and the Russian
Philatelic Society. 1925 Bubbling
Well road, both Shanghai. There
are also number of Chinese socie-
ties whose membership is wholly
Chinese"
Harry L. Lindquist, editor of
Stamps Magazine. New York City,
announces the publication of book
on The Stamp Club: It's Organiza-
ton and Management" written by
L. Winthrop Perkins of the Lower
Merton Junior High School, Ard
more, Pa.
The author explains his purpose
as being that of presenting "a
record of experiences in organizing
and conducting a club" in the hope
that it may contribute ito clarity
doubtful situations and to suggest
programs, procedures and ma
terials." His aim is to help sponsors
OF junior stamp clubs. particularly.
Plans for getting started" keep
Ing records and accounts, enisting
new members, preparing programs
and exhibitions and serving the
practical needs of individual COL
lectors are outlined at length. Many
discussion topics are listed.
AS a textbook, Mr.. Perkins pro-
duction should be invaluable to
teachers and to relatively advanced
students. 1t Is recommended with
out reservation.
At a meeting of the Washington
Philatelic Study Club. held at the
Washington Hotel on Thursday eve
ming, 1t was announced that all
papers read before the society dur
ing the year 1899 will be published
IN book form just before Christ
mas.
The papers thus far prepared in
clude THE Story of the Penny Black
Of Great Britain" by David D. Cald-
well, and The First Stamps of
Switzerland" by DR.. Albert c.
Schwarting.
Others now in preparation are
'The Early Stamps of Brazil" by
Philip H. Ward, jr., to be read at
the April meeting; THE Stamps
OF the italian States" by Irene M.
Pistorio, and The First Stamps of
Egypt" by John S. Petrie.
Mrs. Grace L. MacKnight presided
at Thursday evenings gathering. in
PRODUCING DR.. Schwarting and other
speakers. Those participating in
the general discussion were DR.. T.
S. Palmer, DR.. Emil Ferdinand, AL
den H. Whitney, Svend Yort, Gerard
Ten Elck Beeckman. George T. Tav-
enns5 liss Edith Mcdonald, Mrs.
Ethel'Tnompson. Miss Elizabeth and
Miss Margaret Vail, Mr.. Petrie and
Miss Pistorio.
Albert F.. Kunze, leader of the
Washington Stamp Club of the Air,
past president of the Washington