Quarterly Newsletter of the San Diego Philatelic Library and Council
Dedicated to the Advancement of Philately in Southern California
Volume I, Issue # 1, Whole #1 -- 1 March 2002
Years ago a newsletter entitled Philately San Diego served the San Diego philatelic community well but for some unknown reason was discontinued. In memory of those times, we have decided to reinstate the newsletter under a new title and pedigree. This is our first issue of the quarterly San Diego Philatelic Library newsletter, The Philatelic Reader, in its new format. Although we are just getting started, we hope that this publication will serve the San Diego philatelic community by: providing information relative to philatelic events scheduled in the area; becoming a medium for expression of philatelic research and thought; serving as a forum for review of books, catalogs and periodicals held at your Library; and providing a means for collectors, dealers, and clubs to advertise within the Southern California community. Information of interest to the philatelic community, newsworthy articles, book reviews and recommendations, adventures in philately, and advertisements are most welcome at any time and should be submitted to the Editor of The Philatelic Reader at the San Diego Philatelic Library, 7403-C Princess View Drive, San Diego, CA 92120.
SWAPEX - An opportunity to get to know other collectors over coffee and doughnuts, trade stamps, postal history, and supplies with other collectors, or just browse the Library for a good book on your area of interest. The first one, held in January, was a great success. The next one is-
Saturday, March 2, 9:00-1:00 PM @ San Diego Philatelic Library 7403-C Princess View Drive San Diego, California
SANDIPEX Monthly Stamp Show
Sunday, March 17, 10:00-5:00 PM @ the Al Bahr Shrine 5440 Kearny Mesa Road San Diego, California
SANDIPEX Long Range Schedule - The recent consolidation of several San Diego stamp shows into a single SANDIPEX appears to be a success with a waiting list of dealers and a well attended show. To help the reader in reserving future dates for this monthly show, the following are SANDIPEX dates for the rest of the year - all at the Al Bahr Shrine:
March 17 September 22 April 21 October 20 May 19 November 24 June 23 December 15 July 21
SO-CAL Stamp Show
Saturday, March 16, 10:00-6:00 Sunday, March 17, 10:00-4:00 @ the Radisson Hotel 1850 N. Harbor Boulevard Anaheim, California
VENPEX
Saturday, March 16, 10:00-5:00 Sunday, March 17, 10:00-4:00 @ the Santa Clara High School 2121 Saviers Road Oxnard, California
PASPEX
Friday, May 3, 11:00-6:00 Saturday, May 4, 10:00-6:00 Sunday, May 5, 10:00-5:00 @ the Pasadena Convention Center 300 E. Green Street Pasadena, California
Poway Stamp Club Voice Sale
Wednesday 22 May 6:00-9:00 PM Carmel Mountain Ranch-Sabre Springs Recreation Center 10152 Rancho Carmel Drive San Diego, California
Maybe your uncle gave you a stamp album and a few stamps when you were a kid. Maybe you went to a department store and begged your parents to buy you a stamp packet filled with far-away treasures. Remember the thrill you got from looking through those stamps and wondering how a little piece of paper could come from so far away.
If these memories seem familiar, then you'll appreciate the San Diego Philatelic Council and local stamp clubs' effort to energize new initiatives to extend our hobby to kids. Young people are truly the future of our hobby if it is to survive. Consider that as more mail is sent electronically, as fewer stamp collectors visit stamp shows, as fewer stamp shows are offered, the hobby itself is threatened. But if kids can be wrestled from their computers; if they can be unplugged from their headphones or from their TV sets; and if they can take a break in between soccer games, then they can be encouraged to collect stamps.
Undoubtedly, many initiatives have been attempted in the past with mixed success. One of the most successful initiatives has been accomplished under the auspices of Karl Deibel and his assistant volunteers Neil Lyles, Bill Ketzbeck, and others. They've established a viable stamp club for kids which meets Thursday afternoons at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos. For many years, Olga De Mendoza has given away thousands of stamps to kids at local stamp shows. Undoubtedly, Olga's gifts have given incalculable joy to the kids. And, Al Kish and Keith Rathbone have been selling $.05 stamps to kids and/or giving away stamps and supplies to kids at the shows they participate in. Karl, Olga, Keith, and Al have devoted countless numbers of hours encouraging young people to collect stamps.
Now it's time for others to step up to the plate, to offer suggestions for new initiatives and to volunteer to support them.
The Pacific Desert Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which includes most of San Diego County, is searching for volunteers to serve as stamp collecting merit badge counselors. Scouts will be introduced to the stamp collecting merit badge requirements during special program nights at the San Diego Philatelic Library on the first and third Tuesday nights of each month.
Another initiative being planned involves local stamp clubs "adopting" after-school programs at elementary schools. For example, the Poway Stamp Club has volunteered to adopt Turtleback Elementary's Extended School Session (ESS) this summer. Volunteers will visit the School every other Friday to introduce kids to stamp collecting.
What can you do to help? Here are several ideas:
One diversion for me in collecting is to pursue a complete collection in a specific field or topic. The omnibus issues of the British Commonwealth offer a very specific collecting area. The stamps can be fairly easy to collect, but a complete set of covers may prove far more challenging. For the past decade or so, I have been trying to collect a cover for all the stamps of George VI's coronation in 1937. King George as you may know was the brother of King Edward VIII, the erstwhile monarch who married the woman that he loved, and gave up the throne of England and its dominions. A total of 202 stamps form the basis of this series. Most of the stamps have a picture of George and his wife Elizabeth, the current Queen Mother. South Africa, South West Africa, Namibia today, Southern Rhodesia, Zimbabwe today, and a few island colonies have different designs.
I am down to just a few countries to have a complete set on cover. Gambia, Montserrat, and Somaliland Protectorate, are needed as complete sets. Bermuda, Newfoundland, South Africa, and South West Africa are not quite complete, or the stamps are not in pairs for the last two countries mentioned. I did pick up one cover at the recent SANDICAL show. I have a good shot at completing this collection at fairly reasonable prices. Most covers have been found in the one dollar boxes of dealers. Although most of the covers available are first day philatelic ones, it is still interesting to me to look at a past that is almost gone.
In January of this year I forwarded two pre-addressed covers to a friend in Sweden where they were passed to Dr. Fred Goldberg and his expedition of 100 (including 20 related to Otto Nordenskjold). Dr. Goldberg's expedition was bound for Antarctica via the Swedish Embassy in Buenos Aires. The expedition left from Ushuaia by icebreaker on the 28th of January and subsequently landed at Paulet Island where they were met by a joint Argentine-Swedish research team. Investigating the stone hut remains of Captain Larsen from 1903, the Swedish government gave Dr. Goldberg permission to act as Postmaster for one day at Snow Hill (where the hut is located). The expedition party took a table from inside the hut and used it to handle collectors' mail. Sweden issued two beautiful 10 Kr. Antarctic stamps on the 22nd of January which were to be affixed and cancelled on my two envelopes as well as those of other collectors. I am looking forward to receiving them back soon and will place them in the newsletter when received.
Recently, during a local stamp show, I came across three aged glassines in a dealer's tray - stuffed with stamps and, interestingly, bearing no price or descriptive data. The stamps, clearly from Poland, carried dates ranging from 1915 to 1919 and inscriptions such as "Stadt Przedborz," "Warszawa," and "Poczta Miejska." When asked the price, the dealer advised me that he hadn't had time to catalog them yet and wasn't sure what they were worth - but he'd let me have them for $10.00. Obviously a curiosity tweaking situation! Not knowing whether to pass on this "bargain," I continued shopping at other dealer tables, taking the opportunity to research my "find" in the first Scott Catalog I could locate. Interestingly enough, the stamps in question were not listed in Scott. By that point my curiosity had overloaded my better judgment - I returned to the dealer and purchased the lot of three glassines for $10.00.
Subsequently, in my effort to identify my newly found treasures and their value, I came across a copy of Poland Locals by A. Hall at the San Diego Philatelic Library. This 123-page monograph provides a comprehensive look at Poland's local stamps during the 1915 to 1918 period. Noting that from 1915 to 1918, Poland was under German and Austro-Hungarian occupation, Hall points out that numerous local regional posts were created during that period. Interestingly enough, many of the stamps I had purchased were overprinted German and Austrian stamps of that era. Hall further points out that regional issues appeared with the founding of the Republic on 11 November 1918 and, during the 1919 to 1923 period, Poland acquired various territories including West and East Galicia, Poznan, Upper Silesia, Central Lithuania, parts of West Prussia, Lower Silesia, White Russia, and Volkynia. This bit of historical background, along with maps, illustrations, and a city index was immensely helpful in that the remainder of his book is broken into local issues by area such as Germania overprints, Brzezing, Przedborz, Poznan, Warsaw, Checiny, Zorki, and Krakow among others. Although prices reflected in British Sterling were dated (no publication date was found in Hall's book), the book is most useful for identification purposes. Among the 44 stamps that I had purchased were a mint 1917 two groszy from Przedborz in western Poland, cataloged in Hall's book at 7.50 pounds sterling and a 1915 six groszy surcharge on 5 groszy blue and light brown local from Warsaw cataloged at 10.00 pounds sterling. Considering the inflation that has occurred since Hall's monograph was published, and the other 43 stamps I'm still working on, I am fairly certain the lot is worth more than the $10.00 I paid. Certainly, my purchase opened for me an entirely new area of philately, and that alone makes these little treasures invaluable.
This space in our Newsletter is reserved to record your comments relative to articles in the previous issues of The Philatelic Reader. Obviously, since this is the first issue, there haven't been any prior articles on which to comment. We do, however, look forward to hearing from you and printing your comments in the next issue of the newsletter scheduled for 1 June 2002. All comments must be submitted typed or handwritten, signed and dated, and will be published with attribution to the sender. So that we can publish your comments, please submit them by 21 May to: Editor, The Philatelic Reader, San Diego Philatelic Library, 7403-C Princess View Drive, San Diego, CA 92120. Comments can also be submitted by e-mail to the Editor at jgunderson@iopener.net.
The following new books, catalogs, and periodicals have been received -
The Canadian Stamp Revenue Catalogue - Written by E. S. J. Van Dam, this soft bound publication of approximately 200 pages provides a unique look at the revenue stamps of Canada. Covering issues by Federal, provincial, and municpal entities as well as by various trade and other organizations, this catalog features all currently known Canadian revenue stamps including Wildlife conservation stamps, in full color and with up-to-date, realistic price information for both used and uncancelled stamps. Along with the normal catalog data for each stamp, the author makes a special effort to present Canada's revenue stamps with useful technical and historical information. With each revenue stamp illustrated in true colors, this publication is an excellent reference tool for the Canada collector.
The Buyers Guide - In his second printing of July 2000, Stephen R. Datz provides information about the qualitative aspects of selected United States stamps. As he indicates in his introduction, this book is not intended to be an identification or price guide, but rather is to be used as a spot reference, "a convenient way to check on the characteristics of any random stamp." Divided into four sections--scarcity, comments, premium characteristics, and caveats--Mr. Datz selects stamps for review based on value and rarity. Considerations include gum and hinging, centering and margins, color and freshness, faults and imperfections, fakes and problem stamps, as well as what to watch out for and when to expertise. A well illustrated and easy to use format make this a useful reference tool for those contemplating major purchases.
Catalog of the 19th Century Stamped Envelopes and Wrappers of the United States - Published in 2001 by the United Postal Stationery Society, under the direction of Allen Mintz, this catalog represents an update of the 1984 version. Designed for both the experienced collector and the novice, this excellent publication provides detailed instructions for use of its contents including detailed explanations of cancellations, inks, gums, colors and qualities of paper, and watermarks, as well as a section on historical notes relative to the introduction of stamped envelopes and wrappers. Additional sections are provided on die illustrations, envelopes and wrapper pricing, full corner and cut square pricing, and rarity information. A stamped envelope size chart is also included. This book of 353 pages is an excellent reference tool for collectors of envelopes and wrappers, as well as for the general philatelist.
Where in the World? - Written by a prolific writer of philately, Kenneth A. Wood, this book of 414 pages is another example of the superb literature that has been contributed to our Library. Organized alphabetically by subject, this book/atlas provides a unique combination of geography, history, and philately, satisfying expert and novice curiosities about those little pieces of paper that we all collect. This book is divided into six very usable sections--
Section One: an alphabetic index to stamp issuing countries/entities;
Section Two: stamp issuing countries that no longer exist or which have changed their names;
Section Three: maps showing the location of current issuing entities with smaller maps of subordinate and less well known geographic areas;
Section Four: maps of areas that have issued local stamps of limited validity;
Section Five: a cross index of old and new city names; and
Section Six: additional recommended reading and references.
Along with maps and pictures of related stamps, Kenneth Wood provides a history of the stamp issuing entity and its evolution both geographically and culturally. Good reading for the collector who would like to travel without really getting on a train, in a bus, car or plane.
The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps - This 28th Edition published by the United States Postal Service provides not only a well illustrated guide to U.S. stamps from 1847 through the year 2000, but also several informative chapters on stamp collecting, its perspective on the artist's craft, and the Art of Illustration. With a color-coded index, it is easy to access information on planned issues, an explanation of catalog prices, 19th Century stamps, Turn of the Century through World War II stamps, Post World War II, Bicentennial, Air Mail and Special Delivery stamps. Souvenir pages and American commemorative panels are given special sections as are stamped envelopes, aerogrammes, and stamped cards. There is a great deal of useful information for the U.S. collector packed into a compact, 611 page soft-bound handbook.
Pitcairn Islands Selection - With the recent donations by David Tomeraasen of two monographs--The Pitcairn Islands Radio Station and Its Postal History by Taffy Hook and Pitcairn Islands Postal Markings 1883-1991 by Cy Kitching--the San Diego Philatelic Library is gradually increasing its coverage of this corner of the world. For the basic Pitcairn Island collector, the Library's 128 page The Pitcairn Islands Stamp Catalogue authored by Bill Hornadge in 1976, continues to provide a unique glimpse at the history of Pitcairn Island itself, the Pitcairn community's migration to and from Tahiti, and its on-going dilemma in retaining its young people on the island. Interspersed throughout by black and white illustrations of covers, stamps, and design variations, and two and three page vignettes pertaining to some unique aspect of postal history, this book services not only as a basic catalogue but as a general back drop for the two monographs donated by David Tomeraasen. Both fairly specialized, the first, Pitcairn Islands Radio Station and Its Postal History, is a comprehensive look at how the Island's Radio Station was developed and its associated postal history. With cover illustrations, copies of letters, an explanation of postmarks, and ham radio cards, this monograph is enjoyable reading. The second, Pitcairn Islands Postal Markings 1883-1991, provides a comprehensive catalog of official and unofficial cancellations applied on the Island as well as those applied off the Island (for example, paquebot markings) and back of the book markings. If the Pitcairn Island enthusiast has read all three of these publications, he/she may be well on the way to becoming an expert. There is also one other monograph published by The Pitcairn Islands Study Group entitled The Pitcairn Anthology which we don't as yet have. For those of you who have enjoyed this short excursion into Pitcairn Island postal history, the bibliography of Hornadge's book also provides lots of additional reading. And certainly, there is the Pitcairn Island Study Group that offers considerably more at Secretary, 1825 Spring St., Quincy, IL 62301-2842.
Your Library staff has been busy lately sending letters to many of the major philatelic clubs, specialty societies, and study groups, asking if they would be willing to contribute a complimentary subscription of their journal to our Library collection. We are pleased to report that the vast majority thus far have responded positively, providing us with our first issue of their periodical. Our commitment to each of them is that their publication will be displayed prominently in the Library and that by such display we will encourage greater participation of Library users in these philatelic organizations. To live up to our commitment, we need a means of displaying current issues of these magazines as they arrive--a wall mounted magazine rack or stand alone magazine rack. If you have one available or would like to donate one to the Library, please let us know as soon as possible. Our intent is to place all new issues of periodicals in a rack, easily accessible to Library users with back issues in the stacks and available for check-out/loan. If you would like to have access to a particular periodical, let us know and we will pursue it. New additions to our Library thus far include:
The Canal Zone Philatelist - Published quarterly by the Canal Zone Study Group of Tucson, Arizona, this magazine of approximately 40 pages includes interesting articles written by Study Group members such as "S.S. Brennan and the Canal Zone Connection" and "Fake Overprints on Canal Zone Stamps" as well as announcements of Study Group auctions, book reviews, and availability of additional reference materials.
Shovel: Israel Philatelic Federation Magazine - Published bi-monthly by the Israel Philatelic Federation in Tel Aviv, Israel, this excellent magazine of approximately 30 superbly illustrated pages, contains many interesting articles dealing with new issues, stamp design, postmarks, postal history, general philately, auction and dealer advertisements. For those who can read Hebrew, this magazine offers a fascinating adventure into Israeli philately. For those of us who can't read Hebrew, each picture is worth a thousand words. For all of us, this magazine is a great addition to our Library collection.
Japanese Philately - Published bi-monthly by the International Society for Japanese Philately, this fifty page periodical provides a wide range of Japanese philatelic topics from postal history to new issues and includes categories of Regular Stamps, Special Stamps, Prefectural Stamps, Postal Stationery, Foreign Post Offices in Japan, Japanese Territories, Publication Reviews, as well as general topics. Articles in the latest issue include "Japan's Admission to the UN," "Philatelic Week" stamps, "Flowers of 4 Seasons," "Dairen is not Darien (Panama)," "Pacific War POW & Internee Mail"--among many others. Lavishly illustrated, this magazine is an adventure awaiting the philatelic expert and novice alike.
Postal Stationery - The official journal of the United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS), this 40 page periodical touches on every aspect of postal stationery and wrappers for the worldwide collector. The most recent issue received, December 2001, includes articles on "The Saalburg Postal Stationery of Germany," "U.S. Anthrax Envelopes," "Nicaragua - Unusual Envelope Usage to Gambia," as well as question/answer forum, literature reviews, an auction and classified advertisements. Even if you aren't a collector of postal stationery and wrappers, this magazine presents information and illustrations useful for philatelists of all venues. Your Library has a large inventory of back issues which contain much interesting reading and can be borrowed for two weeks at a time.
The Israel Philatelist - Published by the Society of Israel Philatelists, this exceptional 40 page English language periodical provides the latest and greatest information in Israel philately. Easily recognized by its blue cover, this periodical contains a section on the Society itself, a section on philatelic articles such as "The Largest Known Multiple of the London II Inverted Watermark Stamps," a section on Judaica with articles like "Jewish Photographers, Their Contributions to the Annals of World War II," and a section of features such as "Errors and Varieties." Well illustrated and with informative advertising, this magazine is a source of much enjoyment for the worldwide collector as well as the Israeli philatelist. Your Library has many back issues of donated copies of The Israel Philatelist which can be borrowed on a loan basis.
Bull's Eyes - This periodical, the quarterly Journal of the Brazil Philatelic Association, is devoted to the study and exchange of information on Brazilian postal and revenue issues and postal history. With articles like "A Few Tintureiro Pages" and "O Tintureiro: A Single Item Collection" and a well- illustrated auction section, it is hard not to add just one more area of specialization to one's portfolio of collections. Well illustrated, very focused, and well written, Bulls Eye's is a much needed addition to our Latin America and Brazilian selection.
Handoverprint - A well illustrated, colorful study of the postal history of Occupied Germany, this 20 page periodical issued by the Russian Zone Handoverprint Study and Research Group (a Germany Philatelic Society Study Group) contains a number of pertinent articles including "Those Changing Berlin Street Names," "37 Binz a,", and "Post Offices in Sachsen-Anhalt." Published five times a year, this gem will add significantly to our already comprehensive collection of Germany postal history.
France and Colonies Philatelist - A superb compilation of articles by the France & Colonies Philatelic Society, this periodical packs tremendous detail into a mere 30 pages. Addressing such topics as "Monaco Bisets-A Trap for the Unwary," "The Unissued Vichy Colonial Stamps of 1942-1944," and "Foreign Rates from the French Post Offices in Egypt," this well illustrated journal presents the French specialist with a full plate of substance, as well as regular and special features concerning the Society itself.
The G.B.C.C Chronicle - The 36 page quarterly publication of the Great Britain Collector's Club, this issue provides not only special features on "Yes Virginia, There Are Authentic FDC's from the Strike of 1971," and "The History and Present State of the Post Office (1833)," but regular columns including the "Channel Hopper: Changes at the Guernsey Post Office," "Mystery Stamp," and "Answer to Mystery Cover." A wide range of Club news and substantive topics, this periodical is good reading for all philatelists, beginning to advanced.
Each quarter we will portray a mystery stamp with the hopes that you the reader will tell us as much about it as you can. We will include as much as we know but we are counting on you letting us know a great deal more.
This quarter we have two. The first of these is Italy Scott No. 924 overprinted in black "5 centesimi de corona" with serifs making it an Italian Occupation of Austria stamp (Scott No. N66). It was then overprinted "Porto S.T." in vermillion making it a postage due stamp???
The second stamp is a Hungary Scott No. 127 overprinted in black "Porto 10" in a circle.
What can you tell us about it?
Send your comments to the San Diego Philatelic Library, 7403-C Princess View Drive, San Diego, CA or by email to the Editor at jgunderson@iopener.net.
Finding What You Want- As you may be able to tell from the foregoing, we are trying to revitalize your San Diego Philatelic Library through a number of different efforts. We have recently finished a complete inventory of every document in the Library. Each item has been loaded into a computerized data base that offers various search and locate techniques so that we can quickly find whatever topic you desire. We have also printed an alphabetic index, which is available at the front desk for easy location of any publication. To help those who just want to browse for a particular subject, we have consolidated and reorganized our shelving so that all of a particular country's books are located on one shelf or in one specific area. It is now much easier to find a particular book or a particular topic for you. Specialized searches can also be conducted for you if needed. We are not only trying to add new and current issues of periodicals, but are also interested in expanding our selection of books. We welcome your recommendations for new books to acquire. Funds are available for new book purchases-- you need only to identify your wishes.
Reading Room- You may also notice that we have moved the computers out of the side room to the front office where they are now available to you as needed. Our goal is to make the side room into a periodical reading room with a nice round table, reading lamp, and comfortable chairs. As previously mentioned, we are trying to locate some magazine racks for our current issues and are in the process of acquiring a nice table and lamp. Donations of comfortable and appropriate furniture, including the foregoing, for use in the reading room would be appreciated and can be arranged by contacting the San Diego Philatelic Library at 619-229-8813.
Stamp Trading- Your Library staff is also considering a schedule of various programs and events for the Library to offer to the philatelic community. We held our first SWAPEX in early January--a chance for collectors to trade their duplicates or stamps they don't wish to keep for those they need, along with free coffee and freshly baked doughnuts and an opportunity for some socializing with other collectors. The event was attended by 18 collectors with lots of philatelic material - individual stamps, entire collections, postal history, and stamp collecting supplies. Those who attended had a great time and went away looking forward to the next session--which will be Saturday, 2 March 2002, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. See you there for some more coffee, doughnuts and good trading!
Programs- Additionally, we are exploring a schedule of educational programs such as slide shows, lectures, and demonstrations to be held in the Library once or twice a month in the evening. Your suggestions are most welcome. This newsletter is itself an effort to provide better communication with our patrons. Articles you would like to publish are certainly welcome and can be submitted to the Editor, San Diego Philatelic Library, 7403-C Princess View Drive, San Diego, CA 92120. Articles need not be great works of literature, but simply a sincere desire to pass on some piece of philatelic information - so don't be bashful.
Expanded Hours - Last but not least, we have expanded our Library hours. In addition to being open Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:00 PM and Saturday from 12:00-3:00 PM, we are also open from 6:00-9:00 PM on Tuesday and 12:00-5:00 PM on Wednesday. We are always looking at expanding our hours further - so, if you would like to help out for a few hours each week or even on a one time basis, let us know - you will be most welcome and will find the Library a fascinating place to work!
Poway Stamp Club - Meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at the Carmel Ranch-Sabre Springs Rec Center, 10152 Rancho Carmel Drive, San Diego.
At each meeting, a presentation is given to expand members' knowledge of philately. Past presentations have included slide shows dealing with the Kicking Mule cancel and Down Under (Australian Philately) and member presentations on "Dag Hammarsjkold on Stamps" and "Organizing Your Collection." Come join us and share your favorite topic or a favorite collecting interest.
Getting the younger generation involved in philately is an on-going project for the Poway Stamp Club. Under the project leadership of Mark Schwartz, Karl Deibel, and Denes Bogner, the Poway Club is sponsoring a youth program at Turtleback Elementary School--including educational programs, free stamps, albums, and assistance for interested children. Considering this project to be of significant importance to the future of stamp collecting, the Poway Club has initially allocated $100 toward this effort. Mark has also been designated as a Stamp Merit Badge Counselor for the San Diego Boy Scouts and is exploring additional sources of new stamp collectors such as the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station Youth Club.
The Poway Stamp Club will be sponsoring a Voice Sale of stamps, albums, postal history, and supplies at the evening Club meeting on Wednesday, 22 May 2002. All lots for sale will have a starting price of at least $5.00 per lot and with your bidding, could go anywhere or be sold at the minimum price. Come join us (and bring a fellow stamp collector or two, or more) and get some great bargains.
San Diego Stamp Club - Meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at the North Park Recreation Center, 4044 Idaho Street, San Diego. Interested in adding some excellent items to your collection at unbelievably bargain rate prices? Don't miss the San Diego Club stamp auction held at each meeting. Unusual items at unusual prices along with a postal history lesson by George Kaler makes for a most interesting evening.
San Diego Philatelic Council - George Toussaint, one of three Library Trustees, recently returned from a trip to the San Francisco Bay area. While there he visited the Western Philatelic Library at Sunnyvale. In addition to reviewing their procedures and bringing home many good ideas, George provided them with a listing of all our duplicate publications in hopes that we could arrange a trade with them for publications that we might need. One of the excellent ideas that we will work on is the development of a tear-sheet library from which Library patrons and stamp show attendees can obtain useful articles on all aspects of philately. As we build our tear-sheet inventory, we will publish an index so that you will know what is available.
The Federated Philatelic Clubs of Southern California - The Federated Philatelic Clubs of Southern California is a regional stamp collecting organization with over 30 member clubs. The Federation is perhaps best known for its sponsorship of SESCAL, the premier stamp show of Southern California. The 58th show is expected to be held at the Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel, on West Century Blvd., in early October. Ten collecting societies held their conventions at our Show in 2001. The Poway Stamp Club is the most recent member of this organization. For more information contact our web page at www.sescal.org. The next meeting of the Federation will be 16 March at VENPEX, Santa Clara High School, 2121 Saviers Road, Oxnard, CA. The meetings are open to all. (Submitted by Bill O'Connor, President-elect, FPCSC.)
Recently, the Library has received several tremendous donations of philatelic material -
Mr. David Tomeraasen donated two recent monographs, Pitcairn Islands Postal Markings 1883-1991 by Cy Kitching and The Pitcairn Islands Radio Station and Its Postal History compiled by Taffy Hook - both published by The Pitcairn Islands Study Group. David was a significant contributor to the preparation of both monographs and his contribution is acknowledged by both authors.
Mr. John Lutkin donated a large inventory of books, monographs, catalogs, and periodicals dealing with German and United States philately. Many of the books he donated are classic studies of Altdeutschland, written in both English and German.
Mr. John Ironfield donated 13 new albums (Minuteman, Scott, National, etc.) and several envelopes of Cinderella stamps as well as several blank circuit books. All of this material is being used by the San Diego Philatelic Council's youth program to encourage greater involvement by children in our hobby.
Mr. Norman Starr donated a large inventory of Scott, Krause-Minkus, Kolar Israel, and U. S. Postal Service catalogs, several American Commemorative Albums, and a Minkus Spain and Colonies album with pages. Additionally, Mr. Starr provided several envelopes of postage stamps from around the world that will be made available to our youth development program.
One of our most active collectors, a good citizen, and a great friend, Pierre (Pete) Balliet, recently passed away. A stamp collector since childhood, Mr. Balliett expanded his collection while living in Munich and assembled volumes of stamps from around the world. Active as a volunteer interpreter for the San Diego Police Department, and a veteran of international book publishing and Radio Free Europe, Mr. Balliett was active in civic affairs as well as a leader of the philatelic community. As Vice President of the San Diego Philatelic Council, President-Elect of the Federated Philatelic Societies of Southern California, and President of the local chapter of the Germany Philatelic Society, Mr. Balliett will be greatly missed.
Needed - Postal history reflecting the construction of the Alaskan-Canadian (Alcan) Highway. Please contact Dick Gunderson at the San Diego Philatelic Library (619-229-8813) or email address jgunderson@iopener.net.
Needed - Older Falkland Island used stamps and particularly any postally used covers prior to 1935. Contact John Roth at jc@tmisnet.com.
Needed - Covers of Coronation of George VI. Bermuda, Gambia, Montserrat, Somaliland, the long set of Newfoundland, and complete pairs of South Africa and South West Africa. If you have any of these, please contact Bill O'Connor at e-mail CONOCON@AOL.com.
Your Library depends almost entirely on volunteerism and donations for its continuing operations. Donations of collections, books, catalogs, periodicals, and philatelic supplies are always welcome. For your donations, we provide a receipt for tax purposes as you may deem appropriate. What we can't use in our library (for example, duplicate copies of what we already have), we will trade with other libraries or sell at local stamp shows--with all proceeds going back to the Library fund--or give to our youth development effort. In addition to the foregoing, your Library currently has a need for the following:
Magazine Racks (Wall Mounted) Small Xerox Copier Computer Laser or Deskjet Printer Magnifying System Watermark Detector Internet Access For Library Service Provider Home Page Support Small Round Table & Chairs Subscription to "China Clipper"
Please contact Dick Gunderson or George Toussaint at the Library, 619-229-8813 to arrange for a donation of any of the above or to coordinate donations of collections, books, periodicals, catalogs, supplies, etc. Thank you.
Thanks for your Continuing Support .... and Keep on Stampin'!!!