Evening star., 1940-05-12
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News Of the Phaec World Its and People-Revew
The Stamp Press-Lst of Local Meetings
By James Waldo Fa,rceff.

private hands In the world is to be
purchased by American stamp COL
lectcrs for presentation to the
Library Of Congress, where 1t will be
available for practical use for years
to come.
Plans for raising the necessary
funds to buy the books, pamphlets,
journals. files and indexes assembled
by the late Fred j. Melville, Inter
national dean Of philatelic writer's"
who died in London, January IL.
were announced at the Postage
Stamp Centenary banquet at the
Hotel Mayfower, Washington. Sat-
urday evening, May 1.
The library was described as IAN
amazing accumulation Of matter re-
lating to philately and postal his
tory" There are many hundreds OF
books. many Of them rare: bound
volumes of most of the philatelic
magazines Of repute from their
start; collections Of historical en-
cravings. prints, photographs; much
matter relating to philatelic artists,
patents. the production Of postage
stamps, printing, paper; an excep-
tional collection of books and other
matter relating to United States
stamps. The card index alone con-
tains more than 100000 references.
AS lodged in Mr.. Melville's home, the
material literally filled the house" !"
Its weight has been estimated at
from eight to ten tons.
Mr.. Melville, a student Of stamps
and a writer about them for more
than 40 years, was the founder and
president of the Junior Philatelic
Society of Great Britain, and a
member of the Royal Philatelic So
ciety Of London, the Swedish ia
maica and Boston Philatelic Socie-
ties, the Academy Philatelique Of
France and the Roll of Distin-
guished Philatelists. He was editor
of the British Philatelist, the Stamp
Colltcors' Fortnightly and the
Stamp Lover; stamp editor Of the
London illustrated News and stamp
writer for the Encyclopedias Britain
MICA. His last trip to the United
States was In 1896. when he at
tended the Tipex Exhibition as a
member of the International Jury,
was feted at a philatelic writers
breakfast and came to Washington
as the guest of the Washington
Philatelic Society.
Contributions large and small are
invited from independent collectors
and from philatelic organizations.
They should be sent to David D.
Caldwell, treasurer, Melville Library
Committee, care Department Of
Justice. Washington, D. G.
All contributions will be listed in
a gift book to be maintained with
the collection in the Library Of
Congress.
Reports have been placed in cir
culation to the effect that the postal
stationery collection of the late
A. Eugene Michel will be on exhi-
bition at the New York Worlds
Fair, but such rumors are mac
curate. The authorities of the
Smithsonian Institution, custodians
of the collection under the will of
the donor. have no power to lend
the property or any part thereof.
The Michigan Stamp Club has
brought out three postage stamp
centenary poster labels bearing a
portrait of Sir Rowland Hill. Speci-
mems may be had from E. B. Cook
son, 602 Press Building. Detroit.
Send 10 cents and elf-addressed
stamped envelope.
'Where did you get that hat?"
Is the question which stamp collec-
tors in Washington would like to
ask John Philip Sousa, the cele-
brated march king. whose portrait
adorns the 2-cent value Of the COM
posers' group of the Heroes Of
Peace" series.
The headpiece is odd in shape, but
still more curious in the decoration
which 1t bears-a spread eagle
adapted from the great seal of the
United States.
It is known that Sousa played in
the Marine Band from his 18th until
his 18th year: also, that he was con-
ductor Of that famous aggregation
from 1880 to 1892 Biographers
likewise say that he was director OF
the 9Th Army Corps bands during
the Spanish-American War. 1893
1899, and that he was a lieutenant
In charge of Navy bands during the
flrst World War, 19l7-1918.
He was entitled, then, to wear
Marine Corps and Navy symbols at
different times in his career. and 1t
probably is true that for a while he
was licensed to wear the Army
insignia.
But the fact is that Sousa in
vented his own cap and had it en-
broidered with the spread eagle
without special authority. The
headgear he is wearing in the stamp
issued in homage to his memory is
not service hat of any sort. He
designed it himself, and at the time
there was nothing to prevent such
originality on his part. The regu-
lations restricting the Army emblem
to the Army personnel was framed
later.
The stamp, therefore, is tech
nically correction Sousa. But, if it
is regarded as conforming to service
standards, it is sadly wrong.
Covers Cancelled in the Mailomat
machine at the Hotel Mayfiower,
during the postage stamp centenary
celebration, May 3 to 6, inclusive
are announced as: May 3, 1882; May
4, 1902; May S, 1923; May 6, 1910;
total. 11,717.
New members of the Washington
STAMPS.
d25 different stamps from Haiti, Victoria,
Eritrea, 0ueensland,. Albania. ETC.. All
stamp Co.. 1928 Lincoln Pl., Brooklyn. N. Y.
CZECHO-sLOvAKIA, MINIATURE SHEET,
n 4.