Evening star., 1940-01-28
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News of the Phatelc World Its Interests and PeopRevew of
The Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings
By James Waldo Fa,ccetf.

By James Waldo Fa,ccen.
Fred j. Melville, international
dean of philatelic Journalists died
In London on January IL. News Of
his passing. delayed by censorship.
was received in Washington on
Wednesday last
It always will be remembered that
Mr.. Melville was the original spon-
sor of the plans for the celebration
of the centenary of the postage
stamp. Speaking at dinner given
in his honor by the Washington
Philatelic Society in 1886, he pro-
posed the observance of the centen-
nial which now is being arranged
for next May.
Mr.. Melville was the founder of
the Junior Philatelic Society of
Great Britain and its president from
1899 onward He was a member of
the Royal Philatelic Society of Lon
don, the Society of Philatelic Amer
leans, the Sveriges Filatelist Foren-
ing and the Postal History Society,
Also of the London Stamp Club, the
International Philatelic Union, the
Academic de Philatelie, the Boston,
Philatelic Society and the ia
maica Philatelic Society. In recog-
milton of his services to stamp
collectors, his name was inscribed
on the Roll of Distinguished Philat-
elists in 1921. His writing career
extended nearly half a century
He was among the first of stamp
collectors to realize that scholar
ship in philately is a necessity,
and his contributions to the Brit
ish press did much to break the
barrier which long had hindered
the publication of philatelic data
He wrote regularly for many years
for the Illustrated London News and
was the editor of the British Phil
atelist, the Stamp Collectors Fort
nightly and the Stamp Lover. His
books included specialized studies of
the stamps of the Leeward Islands,
Angorra, Siam, SaraWak, China, the
Hawaiian Islands, Great Britain and
the United States. THE A. B. c. of
Stamp Collecting" The Tapling
Collection of Stamps" Postage
Stamps Worth Fortunes" and "A
Penny All the Way" Articles on
philately from his pen appeared in
the Encyclopaedia Britannica and
other standard references works
His library of philatelic publications
was one of the most valuable in ex-
istence. 1t was housed in his home
at 10a Ardbeg road, Herne Hill, Lon
don, where he entertained American
visitors with gracious hospitality.
&. Mrs. Bessie Wilmarth Calm. 4l20
Fourteenth street NV approves
the suggestion of H. w. Cramer
assistant chief clerk of the Kansas
House of Representatives, for
stamp to mark the sesquicentenary
of the Act of Congress establishing
the District of Columbia as the seat
of the Federal Government, but
wants the date designated for first
day release to be March 30, 1941,
instead of July is. 1940 She argues
that formal proclamation by
George Washington, issued from
Suffers Tavern, Georgetown, de
clared and made known" the exact
location of the Capital territory
tnd, inferentially, is more important
1<han the congressional resolution
which authorized the first President
to select a site.
But, in comment upon Mrs.
Gains preference, it may be re-
marked that there is no certainty
that Postmaster General Farley will
be in office on March 80. 1941. 1t
would seem that the Whole project
might be defeated by official appro-
val Of her choice. Also, it is beyond
controversy that Washington never
could have proclaimed" the loca-
tion of the District of Columbia had
1t not been for the authorization
given him by Congress following the ,
compromise between Jefferson and
Hamilton on July 16, 1870.
A request for stamp to COM
memorate the tercentenary of the
settlement of Greenwich, Conn, has
been refused by the Post Office De-
partment.
j. o. Peavey. president, and Miss
Alice B. Cilley, secretary of the
Washington Air Mail Society, ex-
hibited airpost covers and baggage
labels before meeting of the Wash
ington Philatelic Society, Hotel
Mayflower, Wednesday evening.
Other guests present were: DR..
Prichard Won David, Edwin w. Belt
cell, c. H. Vaughan, Sol Glass and
? Victor w. Rotnem.
On February II Japan will bring
out two stamps to celebrate the al
legged 2600th anniversary of the
founding of the empire by the EN-
peror Jimmu.