New arrivals at the APRL, August 2011

APRL acquisitions, July 16-August 14, 2011. To request loans, copies, or scans, or to search our catalog, visit the APRL website.

Parastamp All-China Philatelic Federation. Writing the philatelic history together: a present of the ACPF for the China ‘99 world philatelic exhibition (China: All-China Philatelic Federation, 1999): 100 p.: col. ill.; 30 cm.

American Postal Workers Union. Constitution and By-Laws of the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO (Washington, D.C.: American Postal Workers Union, 1984): 55 p.; 17 cm.

Apercu Historique des Postes Bernoises (1350 – 1850) ([1967]): 30 p.; 29 cm.

Association Internationale Editeurs de Catalogues de Timbres-Poste. Small Philatelic Lexicon (Lugano, Switzerland: Association Internationale Editeurs de Catalogues de Timbres-Poste: 6 p.; 21 cm.

Babcock, Alfred Penn. Tropic isles and things (Cranford, N.J.: Alfred Penn Babcock, c1957): 288 p.; ill., maps; 19 cm.

Bangladesh Post Office. Information on Postage Stamps (Bangladesh: Bangladesh Post Office, [1993]): [24] p.: col. ill.; 23 cm.

Bartholdy, Martin. Der Generalpostmeister Heinrich v. Stephan und die deutsche Reichspost von Stephan bis heute (Berlin [Germany]: Verlag fur Sozialpolitik, Wirtschaft und Statistik, Paul Schmidt, 1938): 196 p.: ill.; 25 cm.

Beneteau, Jean-Louis. Les types des Semeuse: et quelques varietes connues (Angouleme: Carto, 1995): 96 p.; ill.; 15 cm.

Continue reading “New arrivals at the APRL, August 2011”

The Philatelical Library

The Philatelical Library During the Tiffany Dinner at StampShow earlier this month, Scott Trepel auctioned a rare piece of philatelic literature with proceeds going to the Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship. (You can listen to Trepel’s talk on the APS website.)

The item auctioned was a copy of The Philatelical Library: A Catalogue of Stamp Publications by John K. Tiffany. This bibliography of the early literature of philately, published in 1874, is not a volume you’re likely to own unless you are a literature collector. Only 150 copies were printed. The APRL’s copy is in our rare book room and not available for loan.

You can read the book without even getting up from your computer though, because the Smithsonian Institution Libraries copy (no. 37) has been scanned and made available through the Internet Archive Texts database. From the Internet Archive, you can read the book online or download it in a variety of formats, including EPUB and Kindle. You can also search the text.

When we find examples of philatelic works that have been scanned and made available on the web, we add links to the entries for these books in our online catalog. If you find digital books, please let us know and we’ll add even more links to our catalog. In this way, some of the rarest philatelic literature is now becoming some of the most accessible literature!

Make your plans now for the Postal History Symposium

This year’s Postal History Symposium – a joint production of the APS, APRL, and Smithsonian National Postal Museum – will be held at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte this year. The same weekend, September 16-18, the United States Stamp Society will host a stamp show here.

Future APRL building — Lunch on Friday and Saturday will be held in the future home of the APRL at the American Philatelic Center. While much work remains to be done before this space is a working library, it now has a roof and windows and is a beautiful room. The current APRL is also located at the APC and will be available to visitors during the symposium and show.

There will also be several meal functions during the weekend for which reservations are required. The USSS will host a Dutch Treat dinner on Friday, and there will be free lunches at the APC on both Friday and Saturday. On Saturday evening, there will be a banquet and symposium keynote by Dr. David Hochfelder.

For more information and to make reservations and purchase banquet tickets, please see our symposium website.

Our hotel blocks are sold out. See our list of area hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts for accommodations.

StampSelector Scarce Stamp Quantities Issued List

SSSSQIL The StampSelector Scarce Stamp Quantities Issued List is now available online. Compiled by Alex of StampSelector, the website provides quantities issued for stamps issued in small numbers (fewer than 100,000). It aims to be comprehensive but is, as might be expected, a work in progress and Alex plans to update it periodically. You can browse the website by country or region, or you can search.

From the APS Archives: The 1908 convention in Columbus

The American Philatelic Society’s StampShow will be in Columbus Aug. 11-14. One of the noncompetitive exhibits at the show will be on the history of the APS, which will celebrate its 125th anniversary in September.

Our APRL intern, Robbin Zirkle, spent the last few weeks selecting items from the APS Archives, describing them, and mounting them. One of the items she selected was a photo from an APS convention in Columbus – in 1908. That convention was important, as the society officially changed its name from the American Philatelic Association to the American Philatelic Society.

If you are attending the show, be sure to check out Robbin’s exhibit. She has also written a guide to the 19th century portion of the APS Archives which will be published in the 3rd quarter issue of the Philatelic Literature Review.

New arrivals at the APRL, July 2011

APRL acquisitions June 16-July 15, 2011:

American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors. The Best of the Philatelic Exhibitor [electronic resource] (New York: American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors: Philatelic Foundation, [2009]): 1 computer optical disk; 4 3/4 in. [Call No. Philatelic Exhibitor]

Brumell, George. British post office numbers 1844-1906 (Cheltenham, England: R.C. Alcock (Worcester, England: Redman Designs, Ltd.), [1960?]): 136 p.; 22 cm. [Call No. G5741 .P855 B893p 1960]

Burrows, Peter C., ed. British Empire civil censorship devices, World War II. Section 6. British West Indies & Falkland Islands (Somerset, UK; Colorado Springs, CO, USA: The Civil Censorship Study Group, 2010): 1 v. (in various pagings): ill. (col. on cover), facsims., charts, tables; 28 cm. [Call No. G5731 .C396 C582b Sec.6 2010]

Burrows, Peter C., ed. British Empire civil censorship devices, World War II. Section 7. Canada and Newfoundland (Somerset, UK; Colorado Springs, CO, USA: The Civil Censorship Study Group, 2010): 1 v. (in various pagings): ill. (col. on cover), facsims., charts, tables; 28 cm. [Call No. G5731 .C396 C582b Sec.7 2010]

Classic Belgium [exhibit]: ca. 150 p.: ill.; 28 cm.

Continue reading “New arrivals at the APRL, July 2011”

Summer Seminar in the APRL: then and now

Robert Dalton Harris in the APRL, June 2011

Harold Sollenberger in the APRL (PLR, 3rd quarter 2001)

When I started working at the APRL, the staff warned me about APS Summer Seminar. They told me the library would be busy, that table space would be scarce, and that we would need an extra photocopier. The 2011 group of students did not disappoint! They filled the library from the time we opened until we closed – which was often later than our usual 4:30 closing time – except, of course, when they were in their classes.

Ten years ago, in the 3rd quarter 2001 issue of the Philatelic Literature Review, Kim Kowalczyk wrote an article called “Summer Seminar Storms APRL Stacks” about how busy the library was during seminar week. Accompanying the article are photos of students in the library – including one of Harold Sollenberger lying down in the stacks.

Some things don’t change. During this year’s Summer Seminar, we snapped a photo of Robert Dalton Harris (instructor for “Geography and Postal History: A Writer’s Institute”) stretched out on the floor of the library, browsing the duplicate books for sale.

Ronald Martell makes copies in the APRL, June 2001

David Straight using the APRL book scanner, June 2011

Some things do change, however. We did make two photocopiers available in the library, and they did get used. The piece of equipment that seemed to get people excited, though, was the new book scanner courtesy of the Mighty Buck Club donors.

Everyone who used the scanner loved the easy touchscreen interface, the beveled edge for scanning books, and the ability to take home color images. Best of all, the scanner was free to use. During the week of Summer Seminar, it scanned more than 1,300 pages!

APS to honor authors in "Philatelic Articles of Distinction" archive

The American Philatelic Society is creating a “Philatelic Articles of Distinction” archive on its website to honor authors. All APS affiliates and chapters can submit one “best article” per year and the APS will post the article to the online archive, along with a link to the affiliate, as well as provide a certificate to the author.

More details and a submission form are available from the APS.

Philatelic Literature Review 2nd quarter 2011 features

The online edition of the Philatelic Literature Review 2nd quarter 2011 issue is now available to subscribers. If you are a PLR subscriber and we have your email address, you should have received an email with instructions for accessing the online edition.

The 2nd quarter PLR includes such articles as “Where is A Librarian’s Guide to the Literature of Philately,” “Government Documents & Philatelic Research,” and “Finding Philatelic Literature Online.” Also in this issue are regular columns: “What’s on Your Bookshelf,” book reviews, and buying and selling opportunities through the Philltelic Literature Clearinghouse.

Philatelic Librarians Roundtable to meet by teleconference and in person

APRL and RMPL librarians meet during the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show

The Philatelic Librarians Roundtable, a group of staff, volunteers, and board members from philatelic libraries and other library supporters, has held in person meetings at APS StampShow and AmeriStamp for several years. In order to hold more frequent discussions and include more people, this year we started holding meetings by teleconference in between shows. The APS has hosted these telephone meetings.

Our next telephone meeting is coming up on July 12 at 1pm Eastern. If you would like to join the meeting, contact me and I will provide details.

We will also meet during StampShow in Columbus, on August 12 at 11am.

Recent discussions have included the Philatelic Union Catalog, journal indexing, digitization projects, and the exchange of duplicate materials and literature wantlists.