Category: Uncategorized

As has been mentioned in previous blog posts and library columns, the collections of the American Philatelic Research Library truly span a wide variety of topics as well as formats. This diversity is a testament to the varied collecting interests of our members and of philatelists in general. This month’s highlighted resource is an example of such diversity. Back in the summer during Volunteer Work Week here at the APRL, there were two volunteers who spent their time during the week sorting and inventorying this month’s special resource, stamp posters. On the second floor of the library in the Archives area is a significant collection of promotional stamp announcement posters. In the collection we have two different types of these posters.

When first starting as a volunteer at the American Philatelic Research Library back in 2010 one of the first things that impressed me about  our APS members and visiting researchers was the depth and scope of their philatelic research interests. Their research interests went far beyond just the collection of stamps and covers in a stamp album. Before working at the APRL I knew nothing of plate blocks or plate numbers as it pertained to the hobby. Often in that first year in the library when assisting on occasion with a research request, I would be asked by a visiting researcher to look up some particular bit of plate block data in what was simply referred to as “Durland’s.”

Two corrections to the 2018 Third Quarter issue of the Philatelic Literature Review have been brought to the attention of the American Philatelic Research Library. Both appeared in the “New Books Noted” section of the issue. The first (page 204) under the title of “Austria” is a book by Alessandro Piani titled 1867-1884 La VI Emmissione D’austria Nel Litorale Austriaco (Kuestenland) 150th Anniversario 1867-2017. The publisher of this title was incorrectly identified as Vaccari. The book is however available through Vaccari as indicated in the listing.

Continue reading “Corrections to Philatelic Literature Review, 2018 3rd Quarter”

One of the challenges for non-U.S. worldwide postal stationery collectors is finding a reliable catalog for all types of postal cards, letter cards, envelopes, letter sheets and other stationery items officially produced by worldwide postal entities. Often postal stationery listings and values can only be found in specialized catalogs for a specific country meaning that for the worldwide collector a fair number of specialized catalogs would need to be consulted when researching a collection. There are just very few resources that include in one place listings and catalog information for worldwide postal stationery.

Continue reading “Resource of the Month – Higgins and Gage Postal Stationery Catalog”

APRL new acquisitions for August 2018. To request loans, copies, or scans, or to search our catalog, visit the APRL website.

Alaimo, Salvador, 1934-. Buques argentinos en las Islas Malvinas = Argentine ships in the Falkland Islands ([n.l.]: Group de filatelia naval (Produccion Grafica de Jarmat),  2007).  [IP69855]

Aleksandrov, Yu.; Birch, Brian. S.E.P.S. trans. 7, Perforations on postage stamps from prerevolutionary Russia:  Filateliya SSSR, Feb. 1973, (2), 34  ([Wigan? U.K.]: [B. Birch],  [1975?]).[HE6035 .B617s no.7]

Continue reading “New Resources at the APRL, August 2018”

“Any Colour You Like” is the title of a memorable song from a timeless album but in philately one of the trickiest and most challenging aspects of the hobby that can change a stamp from regular to rare is the particular color or hue of a given issue. The color of stamps is a hotly debated topic in philately among collectors as one shade of difference can have a tremendous impact on a stamp’s identification and thereby value.

Continue reading “Resource of the Month – Color Guides”

APRL new acquisitions for June 2018. To request loans, copies, or scans, or to search our catalog, visit the APRL website.

Barbelin, Herve. À l’aube de la philatélie, Oscar Berger-Levrault, ouvrages et correspondances (1860-1869) ([Pont-a-Mousson, France]: Académie de Philatélie (Canéjan : Imprimeur Copymédia), c2018). [IP 68589 NEW]

Bhatnagar, O.P. Jaipur Raj Postal Administration (Bani Park, Jaipur, [India]: [n.p.], [1995]). [G7653 .J25 B575j]

Brunel, Georges, b. 1861. Les timbres-poste de l’Ile Maurice: emmissions de 1847 à 1898, ouvrage illustré de 95 figures et de 9 planches, dont une en couleurs (Paris: Editions Philatelia, 1928). [G9185 .B894t 1928 CLOSED STACKS 1]

Continue reading “New Resources at the APRL, June 2018”

Every year the week following Memorial Day here in the U.S. is filled with ready young spellers competing in what has become known as Scripps National Spelling Bee. Begun in 1925 the contest of pitting budding young orthographers against each other has grown from a series of regional contests to a national competition broadcast annually on a major sports network. Within the regulations of the oral competition contestants are permitted to ask certain questions regarding the word they have been chosen to spell. Often you will hear competitors ask “what is the language of origin for the word?” or “can I hear the use of the word in a sentence?” However the most common question asked by participants in an attempt to better understand the word in question is “what is the definition of the word?”

Continue reading “Resource of the Month – Philatelic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias”

APRL new acquisitions for May 2018. To request loans, copies, or scans, or to search our catalog, visit the APRL website.

Alderfer, David; Larry, Rosenblum, Larry. Linn’s Introduction to the stamps of Great Britain (Sidney, Ohio: Linn’s Stamp News, 2004). [IP67959]

Bansal, S.P. Plate varieties of ‘5’ def. 1981 & 1982 (Firozabad, India: S.P. Bansal, c2018). [IP68461]

Bansal, S.P. A study of 5 family planning stamp (Firozabad, India: S.P. Bansal, c2018). [IP68462]

Continue reading “New Resources at the APRL, May 2018”