I had a pretty fair weekend.
I managed to reply to almost 100 e-mails.
Being disabled I sometimes have a difficult time doing simple things but what is really amazing is how impatient people can be if you fail to reply to an e-mail immediately.
I got some things done on my Stamp Collection.
I went through a collection that I recently purchased and found a few surprises.
The previous owner collected United Nations Stamps and had a huge collection of US Errors, along with that he had a large Confederate collection as well.
From going through the collection I have concluded that the collector started at a young age and collected all his life. He had left many notes with several stamps.
Real interesting how noted that he would go to the local businesses and ask them for the stamps off the envelopes. He would do this from local merchants, banks and local government offices, smart thinking.
It is really sad when a family chooses not to keep a collection of this magnitude in the family and pass it down.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Pan-American Exposition Stamps of 1901; Scott # 294-299
As with the Columbian and Trans-Mississippi Exposition stamps that preceded them and as with many of the "commemorative" sets issued in the following decades, the Pan-American stamps were issued to promote an exposition, not to commemorate anything. The term "commemorative" is somewhat misleading, most of our early commemorative stamps may just as well be referred to as promotional stamps.
To get around the law prohibiting the use of advertisements on U.S. postage stamps, "Commemorative Series, 1901" was placed on each stamp, rather than the name of the exposition itself. The inability to advertise directly, in part, gave rise to a variety of Pan-American Exposition cancellations promoting and providing souvenirs for the event. Many of the cancellations and covers bearing these cancellations are very collectible today.
The designs of the frames of the Pan-American stamps are quite large in comparison to the size of the stamps themselves and well-centered copies bring quite a premium. Straight-edges may occur at either the top or bottom of the stamps and care must be taken to insure that the stamp has not been reperforated to make a fully perforated well-centered stamp. Fortunately, there were no straight-edges at left or right, but even then the stamp may have been reperforated to hide a flaw, the point being that special care must be taken when examining a well-centered Pan-American stamp, particularly at top and bottom.
It is interesting to note that no less than half the stamps have "FAST" in the title and a fourth, has "AUTOMOBILE", although not yet reaching the distinction of being "fast", all signifying the role that increased speed would play in the delivery of goods driving the burgeoning economy. Opening in Buffalo, New York on May 1, 1901, the Pan American Exposition and World's Fair high-lighted technical achievement and the role it would play in America's future as the twentieth century began.
The 1¢ Fast Lake Navigation
The one cent stamp portrays the steamship "City of Alpena" which operated along the Great Lakes. The stamp was printed in two steps, first the vignette, the illustration of the steamship, was printed in black and then the frame surrounding it was printed in green. Since it was difficult for the printer to place the sheets in exactly the correct position for the frame to be printed perfectly centered, some misregistration was to be expected. In fact, the ship may appear nearly anywhere in the frame, leading to highly collectible items such as "fast", "slow" and "sinking" ship varieties. But the most collectible variety is the one in which the frame was actually printed upside down! These are known to collectors as "inverted centers" and are highly sought after.
The 2¢ Fast Express
The two cent stamp portrays the "Empire State Express" out of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads. Politics played a key role in the choice of the design, honoring a New York commercial venture. As with the one cent stamp, misregistration of the vignette was widespread, in fact more so on the two cent than on any others of the series. Shifts with the train well into the frame are known; "Fast" and "Slow" train varieties are very popular among collectors. Inverts are known, but are much rarer than the one cent inverts.
The 4¢ Automobile
The four cent stamp portrays an electric automobile, or more appropriately an "Electric Vehicle Service" as illustrated in the turn of the century Baltimore and Ohio Railroad flyer from which the engraving of the stamp was based, complete with Capitol Dome in the background. There has been some debate as to whether this stamp was the first U.S. stamp to depict a living person. It is argued that the 2¢ Trans-Mississippi stamp holds that distinction and there is merit in Gary Griffith's argument that the two men depicted in the "front" seat are both chauffeurs and that the man in the passenger compartment is actually the first living man depicted on a U.S. stamp - Samuel P. Hege.
Misregistration of the vignette was not as widespread on this stamp as on the 1¢ and 2¢ stamps. Inverts are known, but are the result of deliberate manipulation, not the result of error as were the one cent and two cent inverts. Still, this has not diminished the desirability of the contrived four cent invert, it actually brings a higher premium than the one cent invert, and is nearly equal in desirability to the non-philatelic two cent invert.
The 5¢ Bridge at Niagara Falls
The five cent stamp portrays what was then the largest single span steel bridge in the world, traversing the Niagara Falls. If you look closely you can see two trolley cars crossing the bridge linking the U.S. and Canada. Niagara Falls was of course an integral part of the World's Fair in Buffalo, and the hydroelectric power that it delivered turned on the spectacular "City of Lights", the most breath-taking display of electric light to date, and certainly one of the highlights of the Fair.
Five cents was the rate that paid the foreign destination fee for first class mail. Covers with an Exposition cancellation bring substantial premiums.
The 8¢ Canal Locks at Sault de Ste. Marie
The eight cent stamp portrays the canal locks at Sault de Ste. Marie. As with the "Bridge at Niagara Falls" stamp, this stamp illustrates a spirit of international co-operation, with the sister cities Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan and Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario sharing the honors. The locks were a great engineering feat and did much to promote commerce in the Midwest, providing navigational links between Lake Superior and Lake Huron and therefore the rest of the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
Eight cents paid the registered letter fee in 1901, and most covers bearing this stamp are joined by a 2¢ stamp, paying both the letter and registry fee.
The 10¢ Fast Ocean Navigation
The ten cent stamp portrays the American Liner steamship, St. Paul, with a touch of artistic license. The St. Paul's claim to fame was that it was the first commercial ship to be commissioned as a warship during the Spanish-American War, still fresh in the minds of the designers of this series.
Ten cents paid the letter and registry fee in 1901, and solo usage is common for covers bearing this stamp, although the covers themselves are not at all common.
To get around the law prohibiting the use of advertisements on U.S. postage stamps, "Commemorative Series, 1901" was placed on each stamp, rather than the name of the exposition itself. The inability to advertise directly, in part, gave rise to a variety of Pan-American Exposition cancellations promoting and providing souvenirs for the event. Many of the cancellations and covers bearing these cancellations are very collectible today.
The designs of the frames of the Pan-American stamps are quite large in comparison to the size of the stamps themselves and well-centered copies bring quite a premium. Straight-edges may occur at either the top or bottom of the stamps and care must be taken to insure that the stamp has not been reperforated to make a fully perforated well-centered stamp. Fortunately, there were no straight-edges at left or right, but even then the stamp may have been reperforated to hide a flaw, the point being that special care must be taken when examining a well-centered Pan-American stamp, particularly at top and bottom.
It is interesting to note that no less than half the stamps have "FAST" in the title and a fourth, has "AUTOMOBILE", although not yet reaching the distinction of being "fast", all signifying the role that increased speed would play in the delivery of goods driving the burgeoning economy. Opening in Buffalo, New York on May 1, 1901, the Pan American Exposition and World's Fair high-lighted technical achievement and the role it would play in America's future as the twentieth century began.
The 1¢ Fast Lake Navigation
The one cent stamp portrays the steamship "City of Alpena" which operated along the Great Lakes. The stamp was printed in two steps, first the vignette, the illustration of the steamship, was printed in black and then the frame surrounding it was printed in green. Since it was difficult for the printer to place the sheets in exactly the correct position for the frame to be printed perfectly centered, some misregistration was to be expected. In fact, the ship may appear nearly anywhere in the frame, leading to highly collectible items such as "fast", "slow" and "sinking" ship varieties. But the most collectible variety is the one in which the frame was actually printed upside down! These are known to collectors as "inverted centers" and are highly sought after.
The 2¢ Fast Express
The two cent stamp portrays the "Empire State Express" out of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads. Politics played a key role in the choice of the design, honoring a New York commercial venture. As with the one cent stamp, misregistration of the vignette was widespread, in fact more so on the two cent than on any others of the series. Shifts with the train well into the frame are known; "Fast" and "Slow" train varieties are very popular among collectors. Inverts are known, but are much rarer than the one cent inverts.
The 4¢ Automobile
The four cent stamp portrays an electric automobile, or more appropriately an "Electric Vehicle Service" as illustrated in the turn of the century Baltimore and Ohio Railroad flyer from which the engraving of the stamp was based, complete with Capitol Dome in the background. There has been some debate as to whether this stamp was the first U.S. stamp to depict a living person. It is argued that the 2¢ Trans-Mississippi stamp holds that distinction and there is merit in Gary Griffith's argument that the two men depicted in the "front" seat are both chauffeurs and that the man in the passenger compartment is actually the first living man depicted on a U.S. stamp - Samuel P. Hege.
Misregistration of the vignette was not as widespread on this stamp as on the 1¢ and 2¢ stamps. Inverts are known, but are the result of deliberate manipulation, not the result of error as were the one cent and two cent inverts. Still, this has not diminished the desirability of the contrived four cent invert, it actually brings a higher premium than the one cent invert, and is nearly equal in desirability to the non-philatelic two cent invert.
The 5¢ Bridge at Niagara Falls
The five cent stamp portrays what was then the largest single span steel bridge in the world, traversing the Niagara Falls. If you look closely you can see two trolley cars crossing the bridge linking the U.S. and Canada. Niagara Falls was of course an integral part of the World's Fair in Buffalo, and the hydroelectric power that it delivered turned on the spectacular "City of Lights", the most breath-taking display of electric light to date, and certainly one of the highlights of the Fair.
Five cents was the rate that paid the foreign destination fee for first class mail. Covers with an Exposition cancellation bring substantial premiums.
The 8¢ Canal Locks at Sault de Ste. Marie
The eight cent stamp portrays the canal locks at Sault de Ste. Marie. As with the "Bridge at Niagara Falls" stamp, this stamp illustrates a spirit of international co-operation, with the sister cities Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan and Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario sharing the honors. The locks were a great engineering feat and did much to promote commerce in the Midwest, providing navigational links between Lake Superior and Lake Huron and therefore the rest of the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
Eight cents paid the registered letter fee in 1901, and most covers bearing this stamp are joined by a 2¢ stamp, paying both the letter and registry fee.
The 10¢ Fast Ocean Navigation
The ten cent stamp portrays the American Liner steamship, St. Paul, with a touch of artistic license. The St. Paul's claim to fame was that it was the first commercial ship to be commissioned as a warship during the Spanish-American War, still fresh in the minds of the designers of this series.
Ten cents paid the letter and registry fee in 1901, and solo usage is common for covers bearing this stamp, although the covers themselves are not at all common.
The following postage stamp varieties were first issued by the U.S. in 1901:
No new major varieties of regular issue U.S. postage stamps were issued in 1901
No new varieties of U.S. Special Delivery stamps were issued in 1901
No new varieties of U.S. Postage Due stamps were issued in 1901
Commemoratives:
Scott 294 - 1¢ Fast Lake Navigation - 91,401,500 issued - First Day: May 1, 1901
Scott 295 - 2¢ Fast Express - 209,759,700 issued - First Day: May 1, 1901
Scott 296 - 4¢ Automobile - 5,737,100 issued - First Day: May 1, 1901
Scott 297 - 5¢ The Bridge at Niagara Falls - 7,201,300 issued - First Day: May 1, 1901
Scott 298 - 8¢ The Canal Locks at Sault de Ste. Marie - 4,921,700 issued - First Day: May 1, 1901
Scott 299 - 10¢ Fast Ocean Navigation - 5,043,700 issued - First Day: May 1, 1901
source
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Pan American Exposition ; Scott # 295
1901. Scott #295 Pan American Exposition
Plate # pair, Fresh
Mint Original Gum Hinged
I just had to get it. I hope to receive it by this coming Monday.
Famous Stamp Collectors
The stamp collection assembled by French/Austrian aristocrat Philipp von Ferrary (1850–1917) at the beginning of the 20th century is widely considered the most complete stamp collection ever formed (or likely to be formed). It included, for example, all of the rare stamps described above that had been issued by 1917. However, as Ferrary was an Austrian citizen, the collection was broken up and sold by the French government after the First World War, as war reparations.
Several European monarchs were keen stamp collectors, including King George V of the United Kingdom and King Carol II of Romania. King George V possessed one of the most valuable stamp collections in the world and became President of the Royal Philatelic Society. His collection was passed on to Queen Elizabeth II who, while not a serious philatelist, has a collection of British and Commonwealth first day covers which she started in 1952.
Franklin Roosevelt, who designed several American commemorative stamps while U.S. President, was a stamp collector. Late in life Ayn Rand renewed her childhood interest in stamps and became an enthusiastic collector. Several entertainment and sport personalities have been known to be collectors. Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the band Queen, collected stamps as a child. His childhood stamp album is in the collection of the British Postal Museum & Archive. John Lennon of The Beatles was a childhood stamp collector. His stamp album is held by the National Postal Museum.
Several European monarchs were keen stamp collectors, including King George V of the United Kingdom and King Carol II of Romania. King George V possessed one of the most valuable stamp collections in the world and became President of the Royal Philatelic Society. His collection was passed on to Queen Elizabeth II who, while not a serious philatelist, has a collection of British and Commonwealth first day covers which she started in 1952.
Franklin Roosevelt, who designed several American commemorative stamps while U.S. President, was a stamp collector. Late in life Ayn Rand renewed her childhood interest in stamps and became an enthusiastic collector. Several entertainment and sport personalities have been known to be collectors. Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the band Queen, collected stamps as a child. His childhood stamp album is in the collection of the British Postal Museum & Archive. John Lennon of The Beatles was a childhood stamp collector. His stamp album is held by the National Postal Museum.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Stamp Collecting Articles of Interest
I have spent several days logging many stamps. I is so exciting when I discover stamps that I had not clue that I had in my collection.
The other day while going through a collection that I bought online, I was going through my normal routine of removing the stamps from pages, envelopes etc and I discover several glassine envelopes filled with Air Mail Stamps C-1 -C127. All in mint condition and unused. What a find.
Over the last few weeks we have gained some new members in the Yahoo Group and on the Facebook Page. I am looking forward to further participation from our new members. Feel free to join in the conversation or start a topic if you wish, such as something about your collection, what you have to sell, trade or wish list.
West Michigan Stamp Collector Facebook
West Michigan Stamp Collector Yahoo Group
Stamp Collecting Articles of Interest
*Weather vanes featured at LINPEX 2012 stamp show
*Stamp exhibit honors African-Americans
*Say it with stamps
*Africa Set To Explore Revenue Generation From Stamp Collection
*Stamp collecting offers high returns and history lessons
Thursday, February 9, 2012
New Love Ribbons Forever Stamp
The U.S. Postal Service today announced the new Love Ribbons Forever Stamp is on sale today at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724. Stamps are arriving in Post Offices over the next few days and will be sold as soon as they are available.
“We are excited to bring this colorful new stamp to our customers in time for them to mail their Valentine’s Day greeting cards and letters,” said Stamp Services Manager, Stephen Kearney. “We will continue selling the Garden of Love stamps too.” The official dedication ceremony for Love Ribbons will be held Feb. 14 in Colorado Springs, CO.
Evoking images of romance and elegance, this year’s Love stamp features a graphic design of satin ribbons that spell out the word “Love” in a graceful, cursive script.
Like stamps, ribbons often adorn special packages to friends and family. Attached to floral arrangements, boxes of candy, and gifts of all kinds, ribbons beautify and embellish gestures of romance, friendship and caring. Silk, satin, taffeta and organdy ribbons often are used to enhance the beauty of bridal bouquets and invitations for weddings and other special celebrations for friends and loved ones.
Graphic designer Louise Fili worked with art director Derry Noyes on this stamp.
The Love Ribbons stamp is being issued as a Forever Stamp in self-adhesive sheets of 20. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. At the time of issuance, the Love Ribbons stamps are being sold at a price of 45 cents each, or $9 per sheet.
Customers may view the Love Ribbons Forever Stamp, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through http://www.twitter.com/uspsstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/stamp-releases/2012. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for background on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark, Love Ribbons Forever Stamp
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at a local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others) and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:
Love Ribbons Stamp
Postmaster
201 E. Pikes Peak Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-9998
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes by mail. There is no charge for the postmark.
All orders must be postmarked by April 14, 2012.
How to Order First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
Information Fulfillment
Dept. 6270
U.S. Postal Service
P.O. Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products
There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
source
“We are excited to bring this colorful new stamp to our customers in time for them to mail their Valentine’s Day greeting cards and letters,” said Stamp Services Manager, Stephen Kearney. “We will continue selling the Garden of Love stamps too.” The official dedication ceremony for Love Ribbons will be held Feb. 14 in Colorado Springs, CO.
Evoking images of romance and elegance, this year’s Love stamp features a graphic design of satin ribbons that spell out the word “Love” in a graceful, cursive script.
Like stamps, ribbons often adorn special packages to friends and family. Attached to floral arrangements, boxes of candy, and gifts of all kinds, ribbons beautify and embellish gestures of romance, friendship and caring. Silk, satin, taffeta and organdy ribbons often are used to enhance the beauty of bridal bouquets and invitations for weddings and other special celebrations for friends and loved ones.
Graphic designer Louise Fili worked with art director Derry Noyes on this stamp.
The Love Ribbons stamp is being issued as a Forever Stamp in self-adhesive sheets of 20. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. At the time of issuance, the Love Ribbons stamps are being sold at a price of 45 cents each, or $9 per sheet.
Customers may view the Love Ribbons Forever Stamp, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through http://www.twitter.com/uspsstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/stamp-releases/2012. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for background on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark, Love Ribbons Forever Stamp
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at a local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others) and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:
Love Ribbons Stamp
Postmaster
201 E. Pikes Peak Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-9998
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes by mail. There is no charge for the postmark.
All orders must be postmarked by April 14, 2012.
How to Order First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
Information Fulfillment
Dept. 6270
U.S. Postal Service
P.O. Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products
There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:
- 577261, First-Day Cover, $.89.
- 577265, Digital Color Postmark, $1.60.
- 577291, Ceremony Program, $6.95
- 577299, Cancellation Keepsake (Digital Color Postmark w/Pane), $10.95.
source
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
An Amazing World Wide War Collection of Stamps
I open up a Stamp Collection that a friend purchased a year ago from an estate sale in Fla. When he comes across collections he will buy them and send them to me with a bill.
To my amazement the collector started collecting stamps while serving in the U.S. Military.
In his collection, I found his diary, he wrote about everyplace he was, things he had done, saw and his own thoughts of the different parts of the world.
In his Stamp Books he had the stamps logged, dated the day he got the stamp and country.
This collector had been in Austria, France, Germany, Hungry, Italy, Romania and the South Pacific.
He was in both WWI & WWII along with being in the Korean War.
He has an extensive world wide collection with some amazing stamps in it. The other great thing about this collection is the post cards that he had sent to his wife, children, parents and others along with the postcards he received from 1917-1954.
Just when I am awed by all this I find in the bottom of the box, envelopes and cigar boxes with currency from all the countries he had been to along with military scrip, service metals and several photographs.
I am going to organize this and take it to a local historian and get his opinion on this find. It is truly amazing.
I just can not believe what people will sell or throw away without realizing what they have.
To my amazement the collector started collecting stamps while serving in the U.S. Military.
In his collection, I found his diary, he wrote about everyplace he was, things he had done, saw and his own thoughts of the different parts of the world.
In his Stamp Books he had the stamps logged, dated the day he got the stamp and country.
This collector had been in Austria, France, Germany, Hungry, Italy, Romania and the South Pacific.
He was in both WWI & WWII along with being in the Korean War.
He has an extensive world wide collection with some amazing stamps in it. The other great thing about this collection is the post cards that he had sent to his wife, children, parents and others along with the postcards he received from 1917-1954.
Just when I am awed by all this I find in the bottom of the box, envelopes and cigar boxes with currency from all the countries he had been to along with military scrip, service metals and several photographs.
I am going to organize this and take it to a local historian and get his opinion on this find. It is truly amazing.
I just can not believe what people will sell or throw away without realizing what they have.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Stamp Collecting Articles of Interest
Stamp Collecting Articles of Interest
Each Collection Tells a Story
Stamps are Miniature Works of Art
I will keep you updated.
You can find me, West Michigan Stamp Collector on;
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Michigan-Stamp-Collector/235273056533660
Yahoo Groups
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/W_MiStampCollector/
Each Collection Tells a Story
Stamps are Miniature Works of Art
West Michigan Stamp Collector;
Over the weekend I spent several hours working on my collection. Over the years I have acquired so many stamps from E-State Sales, On-Line Purchases and Donated to me I have yet to really go through many of them. So as a New Years Resolution I decided that I was going to go through all the boxes and bags of stamps, log them and decide whether to sell, trade or donate the ones I do not want.I will keep you updated.
You can find me, West Michigan Stamp Collector on;
https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Michigan-Stamp-Collector/235273056533660
Yahoo Groups
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/W_MiStampCollector/
Friday, February 3, 2012
Biggest Stamp Bourse on West Coast is Today
The biggest regularly scheduled stamp bourse on the West Coast is in its second day today in Garden Grove. It's the annual ORCOEXPO, a commercial bourse at Embassy Suites – South, 11767 Harbor Blvd.
The annual event is presented by Stephen Pattillo, who runs smaller events almost every weekend in Orange and Los Angeles counties. The bourse started Friday and continues today (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and features 53 dealers, the United Nations Post Office and an auction by Regency Superior with sessions each day. Admission and parking are free.
The dealers come from as far away as Australia.
The annual event is presented by Stephen Pattillo, who runs smaller events almost every weekend in Orange and Los Angeles counties. The bourse started Friday and continues today (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and features 53 dealers, the United Nations Post Office and an auction by Regency Superior with sessions each day. Admission and parking are free.
The dealers come from as far away as Australia.
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