Stamp Column Archives

The Glassine Surfer Column Archive

This column originally appeared in the American Philatelic Society's monthly magazine, "The American Philatelist." Since then some of the information may be out-of-date depending on how far back you're reading.

March 2003

Showtime

Wherever you are, there's bound to be a stamp show near you in March, and March is the perfect month to take in a show. Maybe you can do a little road trip and stay overnight just for a break from the ordinary routine.

The APS show calendar lists the shows with exhibits sponsored by APS chapters or affiliates, and there's an APS World Series of Philately show in St. Louis, MO, that's bound to be as good as last year's.

Save a little, plan for a little r'n'r, and treat yourself to the show.

APS Show Calendar
http://www.stamps.org/directories/dir_ShowCalendar.htm#Mar

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US Essays & Proofs

Since 1999, the Web has changed so much that I wonder if we started comparing then to now we'd be talking apples and oranges, but The Museum of United States Essays & Proofs has only gotten better.

Collections & Wings contains Peter Schwartz's and Ralp Zerbonia's Collection, the Lincoln, Columbian, and a contributor's wing, where the site displays important items submitted to the site.

Under Galleries there are sections for postal stationery, airmail, revenue, tax-paids, and specimens, among others. In Galleries/Postage there are several complete in depth sections including: 1847, The Falk Finkelberg Proofs, Trial Colors, & Specimens;  1869 Invert Proofs;  The Geoffrey Noer Collection of 1869 Essays & Proofs, and the; 1898 Trans-Mississippi Essays and Proofs.

Complimenting the site is a body of articles and research, a glossary, and a who's who. An exhibit area was under construction while I was writing, but now it's easier to stay current by subscribing to their update mailing list.

The site has long been a favorite of mine and many others since its opening about three years ago and it's still the best of the breed, if not show.

US Essays and Proofs
http://www.essayproof.net/museum/index.html


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Henry Clay Philatelic Society

Lexington, Kentucky, is the home of the Henry Clay Philatelic Society, but you can drop in on them anytime through their home on the Web. The site covers the group's basic organization information of contact, membership, meetings, officers, and show details very nicely, and a sample newsletter is available in PDF format.

The HCPS spring show is coming April 12-13, and they have the show's prospectus and an exhibitor entry form online.

The Henry Clay Philatelic Society
http://henryclayphilatelic.org/

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ADB Stamps

When I happened to stop by a stamp site, I found a little gem of an online US gallery that covers all the issues from 1847 through today and then I found articles and links organized by US stamp issue. Then it was topped off with long section of how-to's.

The catalog was searchable by number or by year, and the how-to's covered how to avoid mistakes, buy stamps, get stamps expertized in Germany, keep track of your collection, store stamps, use hinges, mounts & tongs, among many others.