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 Since then some of the information may be out-of-date depending on how far back you're reading.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 2001

Listopedia is something of a well-organized public library and the place to go to see what's readily available on a certain stamp topic.  Start here when you start your surfing, and if you exhaust the links here without success move over to Stampsites.

I've also found that obscure references to stamps can best be found on Google.  I have the Google search toolbar on my Internet Explorer and it's quite good at locating obscure place names and stamps.  Sometimes I find that obscure bit of information I want on personal homepages that have nothing to do with stamps.

Google
http://www.google.com

JavaScripts

This is for the Webmasters out there who put as much thought into the design of their stamp Web sites as to the content.  

JavaScript is one of the easiest ways to solve many navigation or user activity problems, and the look and feel that these little JavaScript's give a Web site are not only accepted but have come to be expected by surfers, who by the way, are probably the most jaded audience any medium has ever had to deal with.  

JavaScripts are simply text included in the page's html that directs the actions of the browser, and it seems that anything is allowable just as long as the Webmaster does not usurp the user's control of the browser.

Like html, JS has it's own conventions, but like html it isn't rocket science.  The source is written in plain text, which makes it easy to learn, and there are dozens of Web sites that not only teach JS but also have libraries of free JavaScript files.

Java Boutique
http://javaboutique.internet.com/cathome.html

Freesite JS Library Site list
http://www.thefreesite.com/Free_Java_JavaScript/

ZDNet JS Library
http://www.zdnet.com/devhead/resources/scriptlibrary/javascript

Scriptsearch
http://www.scriptsearch.com/Java/Applets/

JavaScript Tutorial
http://www.webmonkey.com/programming/javascript/tutorials/jstutorial_index.html

Malta

The Malta Philatelic Society is all about the study of postage stamps of the small island of Malta in the western Mediterranean and the society concentrates its efforts toward the education of collectors and the public, so a Web site is a natural.

Their new Web site is one of the better sites in the latest generation of sophisticated design.  Besides a good look and feel, navigation is intuitive and straight forward.  There are a few added effects but all serve to enhance the experience.