Evening star., 1939-06-04
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News of the Phatec World Its Interests and Peope-Review of
the Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings
Bv James Waldo Fa,ccen.

Douglas B. Armstrong, in his study
Of British and colonial postage
stamps, published by Methuen &
Co., Ltd, London, in 1920, antici-
pates the complaints of a small
philatelic minority which has little
patience with 'the story which
postal adhesives are designed to tell.
ITO the enlightened collector" he
says. "his stamp album represents
something more than a glorified
form of scrapbook; on the contrary,
1t is for him (or herr a compendium
of fascinating facts and fables upon
q vast number of topics, a store
house of knowledge and mine of
information. Its variegated con-
tents bring vividly before him the
history, geography, politics, peoples
and customs of the lands from
which they emanate. together with
thousand and one curious and
romantic incidents associated with
them. These tiny colored squares
of gummed paper, garnered from
the corners of the earth. are to the
philatelist signposts on the road of
SlNlllndllOli AC-
corders of the history of our times.
HE who hath eyes to see may
read many romantic and stirring
stories in stamps that are hid from
his less observant brother. Even
more than the bibliophile, of whom
LongfelloW wrote, the stamp COL
lector has his Rome, his Florence,
his whole glowing Italy not mere
ly within the four walls of his Ii
convenient compass OF his stamp
album. The story of the nations is
writ large upon their postage stamps
that he who runs may read
And it is not alone of modern
history that the stamp album has
to relate, with its mutely eloquent
record of the rise and fall of en-
pires, wars and rumors of wars, the
passing of kings and princes, the
march of progress and the rise of
invention, but of one of the great
est social reforms of the age-uni-
form postage-of which the adhesive
stamp is the attribute.
The philatelist, therefore, who
knows and studies his stamps can
lay claim to the distinction of be-
ing not only a minor scientist in
the minutiae of printing and en-
craving but an historian and STU
dent of social advancement also.
The modest postal label = has
become one of the most powerful
aids to communication that the
genius Of man has produced, COM
manding the service of the fastest
steamers and trains, motors or aero
planes, and to whose will even the
wireless telegraph is subservient for
the purpose of carrying its message
of peace and commerce and of the
concord of nations to the utmost
parts of the earth. 1t is in fact a
symbol-infinitely greater than a
mere form of official receipt for
moneys paid-fraught with deep
and enchanting significance for
those to whom its mysteries are
revealed"
The royal train and its post office
ear will arrive in Washington Thurs
day. Collectors desiring special can
cellations should send stamped, self
addressed covers to Second Assist
ant Postmaster General. Division of
Railway Mail Service, Washington.
Postmaster General James A. Far
ley announced Friday that airmail
service on the northern or so-called
Great Circle route of the trans
Atlantic airmail system would be
inagurated on June "a or as soon
thereafter as possible.
The northern route. it was ex-
planned. extends from New York to
Southampton, England, via Shediac,
New Brunswick: Botwood, New
foundland, and Foynes Ireland.
Mr. Farley revealed that special
cachet will be furnished to the
postmaster at New York for appli-
cation to all covers mailed from
that city to be carried on the first
flight over the Northern route. This
cachet will depict the trylon and
perisphere of the New York World s
Fair, the Tower of the Sun at the
Francisco, maple leaf for Canada,
the head of a Newfoundland dog
for Newfoundland, a shamrock for
Ireland and Big Ben clock in Lon
don for England.
Within five hours after the new
30-cent transatlantic airmail stamp
went on sale. May Is, specimens in
perfect condition were being sold
to Nassau street New York; brokers
at 10 per cent discount. They were
the remainders from panes pur-
chased for plate number blocks.
Many flrst-f1ight covers carried
by the Yankee Clipper over the
Atlantic to the Azores, Portugal
and France were ruined by careless
handling at Horta and Lisbon.
Post Office Department rumors in
dicate that commemorative soon
will be announced for North and
South Dakota, Montana and Wash
ington. admitted to statehood in
November, 1889.
Postal officials OF the Union of
South Africa, never overfriendly to
the philatelic public, have an
nounced: 1T is not a part of post
Office functions to assist in the
manufacture of special covers, such
as, for example, first day or special
fight covers, and requests to aff1x
STAMPS.
MAIDEN VOYAGE cover. S. S. Ancon
Ship ca ncelatiOn. Canal Zone StamnS LIE