Evening star., 1941-12-21
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News of the Phaec World Its Interests and PeopReve
the Stamp Press List of Local Meetings
By James Waldo Fawcen.

The stamp division of the Pan
American Union announces an eX-
hi5ition of Latin American stamps
and covers to be staged in the main
lobby and north corridor of the
Pan-American Union Building, Sew
enteenth street and Constitution
avenue NV, beginning tomorrow.
Arranged according to a new con-
ception of philatelic display, the
show will include historical docu-
nents illustrative of the develop
ment OF Western Hemisphere soli-
darity during the past hundred
years.
One feature of the exhibition Is
to be q copy of the original cir
cular distributed by Philippe Bunau
varilla, Minister of Panama, during
the congressional debate on the
Panama Canal. The proposal to dig
the ditch" between the Atlantic and
the Pacific along the so-called Mica
raeua route was defeated by his
dramatic distribution of copies OF the
Mount Momotombo stamps OF Mica
raeua. the design of which mis-
takenly suggested that a volcano was
active in the region through Whlch
the canal was to pass.
Philatelic literature OF many OIL
ferent South and Central American
countries likewise will be displayed
Hours of admission are: Monday
to Friday, inclusive, 9 to 4:3O; Satur-
day, 8 to IL; Sunday, closed.
A letter from Marjorie Ann Cham
bers, Bethlehem, Md, reads in part !:
This year I am making a special
effort with my Christmas cachet,
hoping to instill in the minds OF as
many people as possible the lmpor-
tance of the peace which at last
must come.
-Four years ago, when sent out
the first cachet from the little town
of Bethlehem in Maryland, I had
no thought that the original Christ
mas theme would be violated here In
America. But we are at war! Al
ready friends and relatives OF SOL
diers and sailors are asking me to
send the little souvenir cachet from
this quiet Eastern Shore village
Last years cachet was sent to every
State in the Union and to seven
foreign countries.
'Only two requirements are nee
essary: The orders must be in by
December "a and cents in stamps or
coins must be included. Cachets
always are sent by flrst-class mail.
If there are any profits after the
expenses Of stamps, printing, etc,
are paid, I will devote them to Red
Cross and defense work.
The covers are 10 be postmarked,
December 25."
In the philateic affairs of the
world the part played by the stamp
collectors of Japan has been rela-
lively inconsequential.
From time to time, however, 1t
was made evident that the imperial
japanese government was con-
scious of the existence Of the
hobby of kings and the king OF
hobbies"
At some unrecorded date prior to
1886 a philatelic agency on the
American model was established
for the sale Of selected mint speci-
mems, current y sen to so sen, l
ven to 10 yen. The director was
K. Naito, and his office was at
the Bureau Central des Portes IN
Toxic.
Later, about 1888, the Nippon Yu-
bin Kite Kai or Japan Postage
Stamp Association was formed COR
reorganized) within the compound
of the department of communlca-
tions." 1t was announced tnat
Baron Takaharu Mitui, "a we'll
known collector and teacher OF
postal history" would serve as presl-
dent. The society" allegedly had
for it's object the promotion OF
better understanding and OF friendly
relations between nations through
stamp collecting" More specifically
1t subsequently was explained that
"the work of the association con-
sists, among other things, OF spread
ing a knowledge of postage stamps
and of philately, of selling stamps, OF
giving facilities to those wishing TO
sell, buy or exchange stamps, ana
of negotiating with foreign post
Offices and bodies interested In
stamp collecting. Members
are also privileged to procure pref
erentially newly issued stamps at
their face value up to a fixed
amount"
The Yubin Kite Kai published
monthly journal under the title
japan Philatelic Magazine, con-
tanning articles written in English
and japanese 1t was in this "house
organ that the association adVer-
tised seven sets Of national park
stamps" issued in imitation of the
United States national parks pro
motion labels" of 1894. The list OF
the unnecessary productions, frankly
intended for the foreign market, IN
cluded: Nikko, 1898; Daisen and
D'Asso, 1899; Daisetsuzau and Klr-
ishima, 1910, and Dalton and Nu-
TAXA Artisan and Fugitaka-Taroko.
1941. Each group embraced four
denominations-2, 4, 10 and 20s, and
each stamp was issued in sheets
of so copies and as fourth por-
ton of a souvenir sheet. The place
of release commonly was park
post office-and the Imperial Hotel
in Toxic. Few Japanese ever saw
any of the tourist novelties" but
they were available in profusion at
piers from which trans-Pacific
steamers departed for America. 1t
was at the same places that thou
sands of neatly mounted counter
feits of the 18th century stamps of
Japan were peddled to Yankee Gus
toners, who simply could not resist
q bargain. An album of the period
of the 1905, recently discovered in
Washington, showed these fraudu-
lent stickers in quantity, indicating
that the racket dated back at least
STAMPS AND COINS.
.-~0~-~1 q ~TC"V az