The American First Day Cover Society has announced that the digital edition of its journal First Days will be available to all classes of membership, including online, regular, silver, gold, family, and youth. Previously, regular members did not have access to the digital edition. The exact date of implementation has not yet been determined.

“We’re pleased to offer this benefit to all members of the AFDCS at no additional cost, said webmaster Todd Ronnei. “Philatelic publishing is becoming increasingly digital, and this benefit is a reflection of that.”

The Library of Congress is inviting proposals for digitization of materials in its collections by third parties – “essentially seeking collaborators interested in digitizing Library collection materials at no cost to the Library.” (The Signal: Digital Preservation) Collaborators can be for-profit or nonprofit entities.

This guest post was written by Scott Tiffney, APRL Reference Assistant.

While I was attending SANDICAL on behalf of the APS back in February, Bill O’Connor afforded me the opportunity of visiting the San Diego County Philatelic Library at its new location in Poway, CA. The SDCPL had its genesis in 1923 but its actual appearance came in the late 1970’s through the revenues of the annual SANDICAL show and under the leadership of the newly formed San Diego Philatelic Council. The SDCPL has grown over the years to include an extensive collection of over 7,000 books, catalogs, monographs, journals, and other ancillary items. Staffed part-time six days a week by volunteers from area stamp clubs with Don Hager as the current Librarian, the SDCPL is believed to be the only philatelic library open to the general public and members in Southern California. While Don and the other volunteers are still in the process of acclimating the collection to its new location, the library’s catalog can currently be accessed via a .pdf file on its website: SDCPL Catalog.

One very unique and inspiring aspect of SDCPL’s history occurred fairly recently and was articulated by Bill O’Connor at the annual SANDICAL awards banquet in February. It concerns a new SANDICAL award, the Ralph M. Armington Memorial Award. Ralph M. Armington was a long time volunteer with the SDPCL. He was a retired Navy Chief and lived in San Diego in his retirement. Ralph was never married, and had no close family members. Over the years he volunteered tirelessly at the last three locations of the SDCPL. He did not drive, but was able to manage a very difficult bus schedule, often taking up to two hours to make his weekly shifts at the library. Upon his untimely death a short time ago, very little was known of his personal life outside of his volunteering at the SDCPL. Ralph died alone but left the largest portion of his estate to the SDCPL and a smaller portion to a San Diego area Children’s Hospital. His generous donation will enable the SDCPL to continue its mission of providing not only a place where the general public and members can meet and conduct research, but his gift will also enhance the stamp collecting hobby in Southern California for years to come.

Beginning tomorrow, the British Library is going to archive the web. Well, the UK portion of it, anyway. This will, of course, include several important philatelic sites.

Read more about the project, including media coverage, on the UK Web Archive blog.

The Ned Smith Center for Nature & Art in Millersburg, PA has an exhibit (through September 1, 2013) of the work of Bob Hines, America’s National Wildlife Artist who oversaw the federal Duck Stamp program for more than 30 years.

The exhibit includes material from the archives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Conservation Training Center, as well as private collections, notably that of Hines biographer John Juriga, whose book Bob Hines: National Wildlife Artist is available from the APRL. Juriga used the APRL in researching his book.

The Perkins Bacon Archive Facsimile is a two-volume set just published by the Royal Philatelic Society London.

The Perkins Bacon Archive held by the RPSL is available to researchers for consultation by appointment, but that requires a trip to London. In order to make this primary resource more accessible, the RPSL is making high resolution images available on its website. These books are a reproduction of the General Account of Postage Labels 1840 and Postage Stamp Warrants 1840-1845, and are intended to be part of a longer series with additional titles forthcoming.

Perkins Bacon Archive No. 1: The General Account of Postage Labels 1840.
189+xxiii pages. As well as facsimile copies of every page, a summary is provided of the work of every individual named printer.
Perkins Bacon Archive No. 2: Postage Stamp Warrants 1840-1845
122+x pages. The RPSL holds 120 original warrants ordering 1d, 2d and VR stamps. These show exactly what was ordered when. The front and back of each warrant is illustrated.

Two-volume set: £30 (£27 for RPSL members), plus shipping, from the RPSL.

Book reviews are a popular section of our journal, Philatelic Literature Review, and we thank the individuals who contribute reviews.

Have you read any good (or not so good) books lately? Consider submitting a review. We welcome short, thoughtful reviews of books (including digital books). Please include as much bibliographic information as possible, including ordering details. Address all submissions to Barbara Boal, Philatelic Literature Review, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or baboal@stamps.org.

If access to books is the only thing holding you back, the APRL can lend you books for review at no cost to you. If you are interested in being a reviewer, please contact Tara Murray. Include the subject area(s) in which you are qualified to review books. (Please note we can only supply books for review to APS/APRL members in the U.S.)

The United Nations Philatelists announced that beginning with the February 2013 (vol. 37, no. 1)) issue of the Journal of the United Nations Philatelists, the journal is being published in full color. This issue is available in PDF format on the UNP website.

The journal section of the UNP website also provides access to PDF files of the journal from volume 1 (1977) through volume 34 (2010), an index to volumes 1-34, and the tables of contents of recent issues.

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) has just published a brochure with recommended practices for the presentation and identification of e-journals (click the link for the PIE-J Brochure). If you edit a journal that has a digital version, take a look at the brochure for recommendations on handling title changes, volume and issue numbering, and preservation. Following these recommendations will not only make your librarian happy, but it will help your readers and potential readers find and access your publication – now and in the future.

APRL acquisitions, February 16, 2013-March 15, 2013. To request loans, copies, or scans, or to search our catalog, visit the APRL website.

In this month’s listing, you’ll notice quite a few lists of money order post offices. We have only a few of these at the APRL, but Gary Loew has scanned many early lists from microfilm, and Chester Smith has scanned others from the originals. Both generously shared their scans with the APRL so that we could make them available for research. We’ll continue to add more lists and other U.S. Post Office Department documents as we have time. 

To access the digital copies, search our catalog for the title, click on “Full Record,” then click the link. 

Additional list of money-order offices of the United States [electronic resource] (1872 Jul 15): 6 p.

Furman, Josh. U.S. precanceled postal cards: an historical perspective [exhibit] [electronic resource] ([n.l.]: Josh Furman, 2012): 1 computer optical disk; 4 3/4 in. [CD Furman, Josh]

LaBlonde, Charles J. Post D-Day Swiss mail to/from Great Britain and the Americas (Asheville, N.C., U.S.A.: American Helvetia Philatelic Society, c2012): iv, 134 p.: col. ill., maps; 29 cm. [HE6238 .L121p 2012]

LaBlonde, Charles J. The censorship of World War II Danish mail [exhibit]: a primer (Colorado Springs, CO, USA: A & C Publishing, c2012): 160 p.: ill.; 28 cm. [EXHIBITS G6921 .C396 L121c 2012]

» Continue reading “New books at the APRL, March 2013″