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 Since then some of the information may be out-of-date depending on how far back you're reading.

August 2000

Often I come to situations on the 'Net involving downloads, viruses, prgramming or business, and in the end it's always about people, who can you depend on and who can you trust.

Our tools may get more sophisticated, and our toys may get more elaborate, but we're the still the same today as we were in 1907, 1847 or 1961.  Despite centuries of science, technology, knowledge and wisdom, we humans are just plain folk beneath the skin, and all the rest is just the fancy wrapping paper we tear through to get to the essential human gifts.

The ancient Mediterranean peoples believed that the Dog Star, Sirius, which glows brightly in the constellation Canis Major, caused mid-summer's heat and brought pestilence in those pre-sanitary days.  Sirius doesn't do any such thing, but these are still the "dog days of summer."

Cryptozoology and Philately

Bigfoot, the Kraken, Nessie of Loch Ness and the Mapinguari are just some of the curious residents at Philip R. "Pib" Burns' "Cryptozoology and Philately" Web site, which is one of the most entertaining sites for kids I've seen.

First of all, cryptozoology is about animals that once were or still are considered legendary or fanciful but may actually exist. The animals are called "cryptids."  And secondly, I was surprised by the number of stamps issued in their honor.

Burns is a forty-year collector and computing pro at Northwestern University with a background in math who collects US, France and Colonies and a host of topcial areas, such as crytozoology and meteorite stamps.  

Cryptozoology and Philately works like a charm. Choose your monster (sorry Pub if that's not the scientifically correct term), click, look and read.  Quick loading, easy-on-the-eye design with nice write-ups about both the stamp and the animal.

My favorite so far is the Ogopogo of Canada's Lake Okanagan.  Imagine if you will, Loch Ness' Nessie with a lion mane and a multi-colored tale, and if you should think it totally fanciful, Burns writes that ancient rock carvings in the area depict a creature that may be the Ogopogo.  Besides that, no less authority than the Canadian Government has issued a stamp in his honor.

Burns combines his two hobbies on this topical site and also provides  a list of cryptozoology books that will help you learn more.  He now eyes a collection of over 900 Halley's Comet stamps and covers and contemplates his scanner.

Cryptozoology and Philately
http://www.pibburns.com/cryptost.htm

This is a good Web site to for kids.  Colorful and mysterious monsters on stamps