Evening star., 1940-04-14
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News the Phatec World Its Interests and Peope-Reve
The Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings
Bv James Waldo Fasccetf.

The Press Bureau of the Post
Ofi1ce Department yesterday re-
leased q statement to the effect that
no commemorative will be issued
for the Postage Stamp Centenary
Celebration.
Such decision was disappoint-
ment to the philatelic public, but 1t
was not entirely unexpected. For
several weeks passed, 1t had been
known that there had been inter-
ference with the plans for the COM
morative. Charles A. Kenny, editor
and publisher Of the National Stamp
News, in his edition dated April Is,
tells the story as follows:
"For more than q year, American
philatelists of all classes have agreed
In an appeal to their Government
to make formal acknowledgment of
the debt Of gratitude which the
whole world owes to Sir Rowland
HILL, the great postal reformer, and
to Jacob Perkins, the Massachusetts,
engraver who perfected the process
OF printing which made possible the
Penny Black, released on May 6,
1840.
President Roosevelt, the Nations
No. l stamp collector, it was known,
favored the lane for commemora-
tive - Up to a few days ago it
seemed that there would be no OBJ
lection to the granting of the COL
lectors' request. The Post Office De-
partment, naturally, was enthusi-
astic about the matter. Artists in
the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing had developed designs which
they believed would please the Presi-
dent and crafty the entire philatelic
public.
But the poison Of propaganda
was poured into the ear of some
unidentified critic. It was quietly
suggested to Mr.. Roosevelt, to POST
master General Farley and others
that such stamp would be consid-
cred gesture of sympathy to Great
Britain and France. The German
and the Russian dictators, it was
limited, would be offended; American
neutrality would be impaired; all
sorts Of dire consequences were fore
told.
Such timidity as resulted, it
might have been supposed, would
have been regarded as unworthy of
. free nation, but there is every
reason to doubt that the Postage
Stamp Centenary commemorative,
50 long expected, will appear. The
only force that might move the Gov
ernment OF the United States to a
favorable decision would be that of
the protests of American collectors
against concessions to the Nazis and
the Bolsheviks. If the philatelic
public wants the centenary COM
memorative, let it say so"
Mr.. Kenny then suggests that COL
lectors telegraph the President, Mr.
Farley and their representatives in
Congress. Whether or not a strong
demonstration of interest would ree
suit in authorization of the proposed
commemorative remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, other plans for the
postage stamp centenary celebra-
ton are being brought to perfection.
The program, as it stands at present,
includes: Thursday, May 2. all day,
registration at official headquarters,
Hotel Mayflower, 8 pm, reception
and opening of the centenary exhi-
bition Of stamps and covers, National
Museum, Constitution avenue, DR..
Ellis Haworth, chairman, Exhibition
Committee, Philip H. Ward, jr., di-
rector; Friday, May 8, II am, OPEN
ing Of Philatelic Fair, centenary
bourse, with branch post Office, Hotel
Mayflower, Edward B. Martin, chair
man, Bourse Committee, $50 pm,
cafeteria supper, tour of Stamp
Printing Division and centenary
meeting in auditorium, Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing, Fourteenth
street S.W., addresses by Alvin w.
Hall, director, and William McP.
Bigelow, Bureau Issues Association,
showing of Secret Service film,
"Know Your Money" and Post Of
41ce Department movie, presentation
Of third Michael l.. Eidsness, jr., en-
graved silver memorial plate to Mr..
and Mrs. Hugh M. Clark of New
York, editors Of Scott albums and
catalogues: Saturday, May 4, 10:30
am, reception Of guests by officials
Of Post Office Department, phi
latelic exhibition room, Post Office
Department Building, Pennsylvania
avenue, / pm, centenary auction,
Philatelic Fair, Hotel Mayflower,
sale Of stamps and covers under di-
rection Of John r. Ewell, 3 pm, re-
ception and opening of centenary
exhibition Of philatelic literature,
stamps, proofs and essays, Library
Of Congress, First and East Capitol
streets Sc, Archibald MacLeish
librarian Of Congress, William G.
Bond, superintendent of buildings,
and DR.. Emil r. Ferdinand. Cata-
logue Division; 7:30 pm, centenary
banquet, Hotel Mayflower, President
Roosevelt invited guest of honor:
patron Of the celebration, Post
master General James A. Farley,
Secretary Of the Interior Harold L.
1ckes, Secretary of the Treasury
Henry Morgenthau. jr., Senator
James M. Mead of New York, Rep
resentative Charles A. Plumley Of
Vermont, Rolhn E. Fower, president
of the American Philatelic Society.
Sunday, May S, 10 am, Philatelic
Writer'S breakfast, Hotel Mayflower,
pm, War Covers Club meeting,
Hotel Mayflower, program arranged
by Deli Norona. postal historian
Joseph F. Garland, assistant chief
postal inspector. invited speaker
$3.50 pm, centenary broadcast of
the Smithsonian Institution, "The
World Is Yours" postal and phila-
telic history dramatized, script pre-
pared with assistance Of Mrs. Cath
crime L. Manning, philatelic curator
program to be carried by red net
work stations Of National Broad
casting Co., 8 PM, inaugural meet
ing, Cover Collectors of America
Washington Division, Hotel May.
flower, c. w. Inglee presiding.