Evening star., 1940-05-03
Galleries Crowded
As Stamp Centenary
Exhibition Opens
Famous Treasures
Placed on DispIoy
At National Museum
By JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

Oy J<A2NAGo VVfAADO "A w SG -
Stamp collectors and their friends
from all parts of the United States
attended the opening of the cele-
bration of the centennial of the
first adhesive postal label and of
the beginning of "the worlds IA
vorite hobby" at the postage stamp
centenary exhibition in the National
Museum, Constitution avenue and
Tenth street NV. last night.
From the moment when the doors
were unlocked at 7:30 o'clock until
nearly midnight the galleries were
crowded with philatelic enthusi-
asts attracted by the public show
ing of many of the most valuable
stamp rarities in existence.
The list of treasures placed on
display included the 1869 24-cent
inverted center stamps of the United
States, block of four, owned by
Esmond Bradley Martin; 1901 COM
meHoratives, l, 2 and cent invert-
ed, in blocks, lent by Y Souren Of
New York; the 1918 airmail "a
cent inverted block of four, be-
longing to Mrs. Ethel B. Stewart,
and 1845 Baltimore postmaster's
PROFESSIONALS, 5 cents and 10 cents,
from the collection of Philip H.
Ward, jr, director Of the exhi-
bition.
Farley's Stamps on Display.
Pages from the albums of Post
master General Farley filled one
case, while selected portions of the
postal stationery collection of the
late A. Eugene Michel, bequeathed
to the Smithsonian Institution, were
displayed in another. Mr.. Michels
widow and daughter came from New
York for the opening.
The guests were received by David
D. Caldwell, chairman of the Postage
Stamp Centenary Committee; Dr..
Alexander Wetmore, assistant sec
retary of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton; Mrs. Catherine L. Manning,
philateic curator. and Mr.. Ward.
It was announced that the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing press
set up in the National Museum
lobby to illustrate the manufacture
of stamps, will be operated through
out today and tomorrow. The ex-
hibition is scheduled to continue
until May 20.
Centenary Fair Opens.
Meanwhile, the centenary phi
latelic fair opened at the Hotel
Mayfower this morning and the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
will be open for an inspection tour
and a meeting this evening. Col
lectors are invited to have supper
in the bureau cafeteria at $50
o'clock, then to visit the stamp
printing workrooms and finally to
attend a centenary ceremony in the
bureau auditorium, where William
Mop. Bishop of Philadelphia and
Mr.. Hall will speak, the Secret Serv-
ice movie Know Your Money" will
be shown and the engraved silver
memorial plate given each year in
memory of Michael L. Eidsness, jr.,
will be awarded to Mr.. and Mrs.
Hugh M. Clark of New York. editors
of the Scott albums and catalogues.
Celebration headquarters are at
the Hotel Mayf1ower. The program
for tomorrow includes: A reception
in the philatelic exhibition room of
the Post Office Department at 1890
am; centenary auction at the
philatelic fair at 1 pm; the opening
of the centennial exhibition of
philatelic literature, stamps and
essays at the Library Of Congress at
3 pm, and the centenary banquet
at the Mayfower at pm Speakers
at the last-named event will be:
Right Rev. James E. Freeman,
Bishop of Washington; Hjalmar ].
Procope, Minister of Finland; Rep
resentative Charles A. Plumley Of
Vermont, Mr.. Caldwell, Mr.. Ward
and others.