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 Since then some of the information may be out-of-date depending on how far back you're reading.

September 1999

The 3 W's

School's open again with new books, classes and friends for everyone, but before we open our new books, it's time to look back and see where we've been.  It's time to review the sites of real value that have come across our screens over the last year.  

You may have lent out a "AP" copy or two, or just joined APS, so here's your chance for a little catch up.

The syllabus is simple; Net sites and software, PC software, Stamp sites and software.  Okay. Power up and log-in. Set your browser to surf and point your cursor to these URLs to begin.  As always, this is a self-grading experience.

Stamp Traders List

The Stamp Traders List is mirrored around the world four times and is so popular the monthly updates have previews.  There are five sites and no fees of any kind.  Just check the list of collectors' wants, contact them via email to see if you two can trade successfully and you're off.

Phil Guptill's Stamp Trader's List at
http://www.stamptraderlist.dk/

Stamp Tags

Stamp Tags is a shareware blessing.  It's a small word processing program that prints tiny descriptive tags to slip into stock books and glassines. It comes with a macro set-up for those repetitive phrases like "perf 10½ x 11," and has many of the usual word processor options.

Stamp Tags
http://stamptags.com/

Stamp Albums Web

William E. Steiner designs album pages and puts them on his website for you to download, print out and use.  He's produced a long list of country albums some complete with overprint and variety illustrations.  The page design and the site are high quality, though the paper and printer you use will determine your album's quality.  He asks that you consider making a donation if you use his page designs.

Stamp Albums Web at
http://www.stampalbums.com/

Flag Over Porch

Definitives are the backbone of stamp collecting. Their complexity of issuance and usage is matched only by the rich collecting experience they provide, and the US' Flag Over Porch is one of the modern workhorses of the postal system.  Maligned by some, perhaps this site can show you the inner light.

FOP, I Love You at
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/7314/

Sixth Bureau Issue

This is a series of classic U.S. designs of timeless subjects.  The Bureau Issues Association (BIA) 1954 Liberty Series Study Committee's site helps you to understand and appreciate the richness of the Issue, and even if your little philatelic heart is already spoken for, you owe it to yourself to educate yourself on this matter.

Sixth Bureau Issue at
http://members.aol.com/raustin13/studygrp/liberty.htm

Museum of US Essays and Proofs

This is a superbly illustrated informative site by Peter Schwartz and Ralph R. Zerbonia.  It's not your average web site, and if you haven't already, you'll enjoy it.  The main collections area has four wings, but there are also various other galleries and a cluster of exhibits, plus articles, a glossary and a FAQ.

Museum of United States Essays and Proofs
http://www.essayproof.net/

ACDSee32

A good Widows image viewer is an invaluable tool on the Net, and ACDSee32 is one of the very best available.  It's easy to use, but offers a healthy menu of options to tailor operations to your taste.  It's fast and light and it's shareware, though it's very pro.

http://www.acdsystems.com/pages/acdsee32.htm

EditPad

This is a small, essentially free and powerful replacement for Window's Notepad.  EditPad is possibly the best of the breed, and is such an improvement over the Microsoft accessory, it's like comparing apples to rhinos.  The programmer asks that if you keep it you send him a postcard.

NotePad at
http://www.jgsoft.com/