Evening star., 1942-01-18
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News the Phaec World Its Interests and PeopleRevew of
the Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings.
By James Waldo Fawceff.

SOICCCOlS dllu oCdlCl 1luVC JOlklC0
to challenge the accuracy of q story
put out by the Treasury Department
to the effect that agents of the
Axis powers have disposed of vast
quantities of made-to-order stamps
in America.
The oflcial "handout," released on
Friday. alleged that "a $4,000, 900
Nazi postage stamp racket" had been
destroyed" by an order banning
the importation Of stamps from
Axis or Axis-occupied nations"
No particulars as to what stamps
were marketed in the United States
or when or by whom were given.
The Treasury Department merely
declared that: Catering to the mil
lions of American stamp collectors,
Axis presses had poured out many
new issues Of stamps for the Axis
and occupied countries. First,
the occupied country's regular
stamps are overprinted. circulated
and sent to the Western Hemisphere
for distribution to dealers and ulti-
mate consumption by enthusiastic
American collectors. Secondly, an
occupation stamp is introduced and
sent through the same channels used
In dispensing overprinted stamps.
Finally, a series of new German
stamps for that country Is issued,
and within few weeks those stamps
begin to fatten the albums of stamp
collectors and dealers in America.
Each issue is exploited to the fullest
possible extent. Whenever Nazi au-
thorities note drop-off in the num-
Der OF stamps sold through the un-
derground channels to American
collectors. they crank up the presses
and grind out another series in order
to keep the vital flow of American
exchange coming into the hands of
NaN agents in the Western Hemi-
sphere. These stamps are purchased
from Nazi agents by astute stamp
dealers who operate in neutral mar
kets and act as distributing agents
for such stamps to dealers and COL
lectors throughout the world"
In contradiction Of these charges,
dealers and collectors denied that
any prodigious number Of unneces-
sary stamps have been issued by the
postal authorities Of the Axis ma
uons. Few OF those that have ap-
peared have reached America. The
Axis governments long ago forbade
the expectation of stamps, and such
specimens as came to the United
States generally were brought by
refugees in violation Of existing
totalitarian laws.
1t also was pointed out that "the
millions Of American stamp COL
lectors" do not possess $4,000 900
or any substantial part of that sum
to spend on postal paper produced
IN countries unpopular with the
philatelic rank and file. Dealers
certainly have no surplus capital to
send abroad and their patrons are
much too patriotic to wish to buy
unlimited quantities of Axis issues
at the present time.
1t was noticed that the Treasury
Department mentioned no names in
support OF the allegations contained
In its publicity release. Persons
concerned with the writing and dis
tribution OF the "handout" admitted
that they had not consulted repre-
sentatives OF the philatelic public
before proceeding.
Linns' Weekly Stamp News, Co.
lumbus. Ohio, says: DO not 20 war
crazy. The Trading With the Enemy
Act takes care of any resolution that
would take American money and
pay for stamps from any of the
countries now classed as enemy
countries. - This, of course, means
the purchase at the present time
from such countries and in no way
involves the collecting of stamps Of
any Of the countries involved or the
purchase from dealers or the trad
Ing among collectors of stamps of
the countries concerned. To destroy
all the Japanese, German or Italian
stamps In this country would in no
way injure - 4" any of the countries
concerned and there is no reason
why one should do such thing"
Harry L. Lindquist, writing in
Stamps Magazine for January IT,
says: In times such as these, when
war news and fear of raids are in
the minds of most people, relaxa ton
Is absolutely essential and it is no
time to give up your hobbies or
even curtail your activities in them.
Keep calm under all circumstances,
Tor 1t is the calm, balanced person
who is the tower of strength during
an emergency. The jittery people
are the one menace that we must
guard against"
According to Stamp Collecting
Magazine. London, certain current
postal adhesives of Great Britain
have been overprinted m. E. F."
Tor the use Of the Middle East Force
IN African territories formerly under
Italian control The denominations
mentioned are Id, red; I'd, orange:
2lad, blue; Sd, violet, and Sd, yellow
brown.
SaraWak was to have a centenary
series January l, but the japanese
invasion has halted the enterprise
momentarily.
Philatelic sales of the Canadian
post office during the past fiscal
year were 8.O32 as compared with
$1l8,361 for the previous calendar
period.
Approximately 89.45 per cent of
the total postal revenue of the
United States is derived from the
postage collected on mail matter.
The receipts from this source dur
ing the fiscal year 1901 amounted
to $727,089 ,55504, which was an in
crease Of s42,260,618,Ss over the
previous year.
Senator Joseph c. OMahoney of
wyoming recently received a letter
franked with one Scent postage
stamps and one 25-cent National De-
fence Stapop Thu eopIa~ u,o- n;.l