Society News Archive (2003)



Dec 9, 2003


From the Executive Secretary

The Holiday Season is fast approaching.  If you haven't sent in your dues for 2004, please do so before you forget.  You receive a $3.00 discount off the $25.00 annual dues only if you pay by December 31st.  If you want a copy of the 2004 bound volume of The Specialist, pay for it now along with your dues.  It will be mailed to you in the Spring of 2005.  Also remember to return your ballot for the Society officers and governors.  Lastly, don't forget to send your free classified word ads directly to Leonard Piszkiewicz, the Editor of The Specialist

The Society has a Hardship Fund for those who are unable to pay their annual dues because of job lay-offs or other hardships.  If you find yourself in one of these situations, let me know and I will arrange for your dues to be paid for 2004.  We don't want to lose anyone because of a poor economic or other unfortunate situations.

- Larry Ballantyne
Executive Secretary



Dec 9, 2003


Nojex Prospectus Available

The Society's 2004 Annual Meeting will be held at NOJEX in Secaucus, New Jersey, during the Memorial Day weekend.  The show dates will be May 29, 30 and 31, 2004.  In addition to the United States Stamp Society, the show will host the Ottoman and Near East Philatelic Society and the New Jersey Postal History Society.  There will be approximately 250 exhibit frames available and it is anticipated that they will sell out early.  If you would like to exhibit at the annual meeting, please contact the Exhibits Chairman, Glen Spies, P.O. Box 1740, Bayonne, NJ 07002 or by email for a prospectus, show information, and a reduced rate hotel reservation card.  The deadline for exhibit entries is April 15, 2004 but again, early application is recommended.



Dec 9, 2003


Your Excess Postage Can Help Our Society

A major expense for the United States Stamp Society is postage.  Each year the official business of the USSS requires approximately $2,000 in postage.

Discount postage usually sells for 75% of face value.  Any member who wishes to make a contribution of discount postage will receive a tax deductible contribution for the full face value of the postage plus mailing costs (including insurance).

Please mail discount postage to the Treasurer for distribution, or drop it off at any show where the USSS has a Society table.  A receipt indicating the amount of your tax-deductible, charitable contribution will be sent for all contributions in excess of $5.

- David Sugar, Treasurer
20 North Wacker Dr., Suite 2250
Chicago, IL  60606



Dec 9, 2003


Moving ??

The notice "Address Changes" appears in every issue of The U.S. Specialist requesting members to notify the Executive Secretary 30 days in advance of an address change.  Many members have become so accustomed to the notice that they do not realize the importance of it to both the society and themselves.  In order for your Executive Secretary to ensure the timely delivery of your journal, the lead time required with the printer forces notification to them by mid-month before the month of issue of The Specialist.  This in turn requires the member to notify the Executive Secretary no later than the second week of the month for the coming month's issue.  To account for mail deliveries and other delays, that's how your society arrived at the "30 days" requirement.  However, there is another factor that enters the picture that is costly to your society and not merely an annoyance for the member who misses an issue of the journal; that member should stop to consider the ramifications of moving and forgetting to notify the USSS.  The Specialist like most periodicals carries a notice that the publisher wishes notification by the U.S. Postal Service that address changes have occurred should delivery not be completed.  Hence, for every issue that is undeliverable, the mailing label from The Specialist is returned to the USSS with a service fee of $0.60 charged your society.  Merely notifying the post office of your move only forwards the mail for a limited period of time; you must eventually notify the USSS.  When an issue is undeliverable and a request is made by a member for its eventual replacement, additional costs are then incurred by your society, as the replacement copy cannot be mailed using the bulk-mail rate as the printer did in its initial mailing.  In order to keep the journal at the lowest possible price, the USSS prices its membership at less than break-even cost, with the idea of making up the difference with book sales and member donations.  Your cooperation in keeping these costs down with timely notification of address changes is appreciated by all.

- Larry Ballantyne
Executive Secretary



Dec 9, 2003


Show Report: New York Fall Mega Show - October 23-26, 2003
By Nicholas Lombardi

The four day New York Mega Show was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center located on 11th Avenue between 33rd and 35th Streets in Manhattan.  The show floor was occupied by more than one hundred dealers, postal administrations/agencies, and societies, including the United States Stamp Society.  Our booth, located near the front of the hall, was staffed throughout the four days of the show and served as both a meeting place for current members as well as a means of attracting new members.  The Society banner along with a display of our current books, reprints, and past copies of The Specialist made an attractive showing and helped in recruiting a number of new members.

The show served as the venue for the First Days of two different U.S. issues.  On Thursday, the four Holiday Music Makers stamps were issued, and on Friday the Snowy Egrets stamp was released.  Both ceremonies were well attended and the USPS was kept busy selling the new stamps during the entire show.  In addition, a real treat for show goers was the USPS exhibit, "Treasures from the Stamp Vault."  In a Thursday morning ceremony, Postmaster General John E. Potter officially opened the exhibit, which featured archival material ranging from approval die proofs of the 1930 Graf Zeppelin stamps to the mail pouch that carried philatelic items to the moon.

Speaking of exhibits, the show once again hosted the annual Dealers Choice Awards, but with a twist.  This year the competition was made up entirely of single frame exhibits.  Among the 36 one-framers were nine U.S. related exhibits covering topics such as production varieties of the 1902 series, parcel post postage due issues, and 90¢ postal stationary of the 19th century.  In fact, two of the three show awards presented were captured by U.S. exhibits.  Harvey Mirsky received the top honor with "Using America's First Issue to Prepay Domestic Letter Rates."  Ed Tricomi took third place with "Civil War Playing Card Revenues."  Congratulations to both of these fine exhibitors.

As mentioned earlier, our booth was a popular place for members to get together and exchange information.  Although most of those who stopped by were from the immediate area, we were pleased to meet members from as far away as Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.  We even had our one and only member from Switzerland, Dieter Kohler, spend some time there.  Those visiting the booth included:
Richard Nazar Robert M. Levy
Stan Sablak Gary Weiss
Charles Groneman Jonathan Humble
Yuonne Powell Jim Kloetzel
Bob Rabinowitz Bert Kubak
Denis Donohue Stephen Goceliak
R. Zallen Gene Fricks
Sara Calogere Rob Loeffler
Frank Kagter Andrew Marussich
Fred Skvara Andy Kupersmit
Harvey Tilles Stan Polchinski
Gerald Kremer Joseph Napp
Benjamin Lee Helen M. Galatan Stone
Frank Magnovitz Tom McFarland
Sol Gold Roger Brody
Alan Warren Labron Harris
Robert Ausubel Dieter Kohler
Andrew McFarland Ken Zierer
Frank Braithwaite  



Nov 8, 2003


Wallace Cleland Receives 2002 Hopkinson Memorial Literature Award

Wallace Cleland of Madison, Wisconsin has been selected to receive the Walter W. Hopkinson Memorial Award for the best article or series of articles published in The United States Specialist during 2002.  The award is given annually by the Society.

Cleland authored a series of articles on Plate Numbers and Plate Markings on a variety of subjects and stamps.  The selection committee noted the high quality of all of his articles and in particular his two three-part checklists, notably "Plate Numbers for Engraved Plates in the Miscellaneous Series Made by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing" and "Offset Plates for Revenue Stamp."  Cleland's eclectic studies spanned the gamut from Beer stamps to Confederate Plates and his contributions to The Specialist appeared in every issue of Volume 73 for the year 2002.

Wallace Cleland is widely recognized for his service to the Society.  A former member of the Board of Governors, he served as President and Chairman of the Board.  He is a frequent contributor to The Specialist and, along with John Larson has assisted editor Kim Johnson to produce the 1997 and 2000 Durland Standard Plate Number Catalogs.

The selection committee for 2002 consisted of the three most recent winners: Roger S. Brody, who won the award in 1999 for an article entitled "Y1.9K - Handling the Mails at the Turn of the Century"; Larry Weiss, awarded the trophy in 2000 for his two-part article, "Detecting Watermarks"; and John Meek, for his series on Twentieth Century Marginal Markings.

The award was established in 1953 in honor of Walter W. Hopkinson by his wife, Mrs. Constance B. Hopkinson, in view of Hopkinson's interest in philatelic scholarship and the dissemination of research and knowledge through the Society's publications.  Hopkinson was a plate number specialist as well as a vigorous supporter and long-time member of the Bureau Issues Association, as the Society was then known.  The first award was given in 1954, and it has been presented annually thereafter. Cleland joins a select handful of members that have received the Hopkinson Memorial Literature Award more than once.  His articles on the Washington-Franklin Coil Waste Issues received the honor in 1986.



Nov 8, 2003


Society Table at Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the USSS will be held November 21-23, 2003 at Chicagopex in Arlington Heights, Illinois.  As usual we will staff a Society table at the stamp show, at which members may gather, Society publications are sold and new members are recruited.  Your help is needed in this effort.  If you are willing to staff the table for an hour or two during the show, please contact Rod Juell by e-mail or at P.O. Box 3508, Joliet, IL 60434.  Thanks for your help. 



Nov 8, 2003


Dues Mailing and Election Ballot

You will soon be receiving your 2004 membership renewal notice and ballot for the election of Officers and Board members.  We would appreciate your help in sending in your 2004 dues early, before you become too busy with the holiday season.  You can also order a bound volume of the 2004 United States Specialist for delivery in 2005.

Please remember that The United States Specialist and USSS membership is on a calendar year basis.  To avoid missing an issue of the journal, please renew before the end of the year and take a $3 discount from the yearly dues of $25.

Many members give additional contributions for the work of the Society. The continued generosity of our members who make additional contributions allows our Society to provide in-depth research information monthly as well as the popular Research Papers, Reprints, and Books published for our members' use.

We would like to recognize those members who contribute to the Sustaining, Contributing, and Patron levels by listing them in our journal.  If, however, you wish to contribute but remain anonymous, there is a place to so indicate on the dues notice.

Your Society's operations require four to five weeks to process address changes and renewals.  When members do not renew until February or March, continuation of The Specialist is not guaranteed.  The restarting of the journal to a delinquent dues payer adds expense.  Please let us know if you plan to drop your membership, too.

Lastly, members have received a ballot, sent with their 2004 dues notice, for the election of Officers and Board members.  Please remember to return your ballot with your dues renewal.

- Larry Ballantyne
Executive Secretary



Oct 14, 2003


Final Call for USSS Annual 2003 Meeting

The USSS is on the eve of our 2003 annual meeting in Illinois.  The United States Stamp Society meeting will be held in conjunction with CHICAGOPEX, the annual stamp show sponsored by the Chicago Philatelic Society.

The USSS will gather during the weekend of November 21-23, 2003, at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest, 3400 West Euclid Avenue, in Arlington Heights, a suburb of Chicago.

(more...)



Oct 14, 2003


Election of Officers and Governors Nominees Selected

President Jay Stotts named Steven Rod, William Schuman and Charles Shreve to serve on the nominating committee with Steven Rod chairman.  All three members of this committee are well qualified and are long time supporters of the Society, two of whom served as officers or members of the Board of Governors in the past.

The committee will formally present the slate of officers and board members to the general membership for election at the 2003 Fall Annual Meeting in November in Chicago.  The new officers and board members will serve a three-year term beginning in January, 2004.

(more...)



Oct 14, 2003


USSS at StampShow 2003
By Nicholas A. Lombardi

StampShow 2003 was held from August 7th to 10th in Columbus, Ohio.  The show venue, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, was one of the best in recent memory.  It was clean, spacious, and well lit.  There was ample seating space near the inside concession stand as well as additional areas outside of the main hall and outdoors near a second concession area.

The United States Stamp Society and the efforts of our members were very visible at the show.  The Society hosted Booth A on the show floor and was a favorite meeting place for members as well as an excellent location for recruitment.  Twenty new members were signed up at the show itself and information was given to many others.  A revised edition of A Glossary of Terms for the Collector of United States Stamps was available and once again proved to be very popular.

(more...)



Sep 6, 2003


Major Publication Planned - Steven Rod Accepts Commission

The Board of Directors of the United States Stamp Society is delighted to announce the launch of a major new publication that will benefit our hobby and our Society for generations to come.

To be known as The Encyclopedia of United States Stamp Collecting, it is being written by the New Jersey philatelic author Steven Rod.

Beginning in [the current] issue, it will be serialized in the pages of The United States Specialist over the next several years.  The work will eventually be published as a hardbound book, and will be released during Washington 2006, the Decennial International Stamp show to be held in the nation's capital in May, 2006.

We estimate that the completed work, a comprehensive introduction to U.S. philately, will contain in excess of 50 chapters.  It will cover subjects from the stampless era right up to 21st century innovations, and everything in between.  This 500+ page book will be indispensable for any serious collector of U.S. stamps.

Our members can look forward to a superbly written and well illustrated book in 2006, and can enjoy portions of it each month right here in the [Specialist] over the next several years.

We are truly fortunate that Steven Rod is undertaking this project.  Steven's work has appeared in the pages of The U.S. Specialist, and for nearly a decade in the pages of Linn's.  He has written "Introduction to Stamp Collecting" published by the USPS.  He was elected to the Writers Unit Hall of Fame in 1996 and cited for making, "the complicated simple, yet specific, while avoiding useless generalities."  USSS Chairman Roger Brody noted that this attribute of being easy to read will characterize the Encyclopedia.  Rod can be contacted by e-mail



Sep 6, 2003


Nicholas Lombardi to Chair Second Bureau Issue Committee

Nick Lombardi of Mountainside, New Jersey will become Chairman of the Second Bureau Issue (Series 1902 Regular Issue) Committee.  Roger Brody, current Chairman, will be passing the mantle of committee leadership and will remain an active member.  Nick, an active member of the committee has authored many articles in The United States Specialist and other stamp publications on Series 1902 topics, especially the 2¢ Washington "Shield" stamp, his specialization.  Nick has put together perhaps the finest exhibit ever assembled of the "Shield" stamp.  This gold medal exhibit recently garnered the Grand Award in the highly competitive 2003 New York MEGA show this past Spring.

Lombardi is also involved in his local club in Westfield, NJ.  He has held several offices and currently serves as President of the Westfield Stamp Club.  On a regional level, as a member of the North Jersey Stamp Federation, he served as Awards and Publicity Chairman for the 2003 NOJEX stamp show.  Nick also serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the USSS.  Current Chairman Roger Brody said, "The committee currently consists of a dozen members, whose interests cover the many subspecialties comprised by the Series.  Nick will bring energy and imagination to the Chairmanship and I look forward to working with him."



Aug 14, 2003


Update on the Annual 2003 USSS Meeting - CHICAGOPEX

Chicago, Illinois, will play host to the annual meeting of the United States Stamp Society this year.  The meeting will be held in conjunction with CHICAGOPEX, the annual stamp show sponsored by the Chicago Philatelic Society.

The USSS will hold two formal meetings and sponsor three other events during the weekend of November 21-23, 2003.

(more...)



Aug 14, 2003


Earl K. McAfee   1931-2003

Long-time USSS member and Chairman of the Dummy Booklets Study Group Earl McAfee passed away on June 9, 2003 at age 71.  He was born December 10, 1931 in Paducah, Kentucky.

Mr. McAfee graduated from Miami University in Ohio in 1953 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  In 1958 he married Nila McCool who survives him along with three sons.  He owned and operated Paper Works in Champaign, Illinois.

Earl collected errors, freaks and oddities of all types, especially on booklets, U.S. booklets and booklet panes by cover type and pane position, U.S. test/dummy booklets and coils, and worldwide stamps before 1940.  He was very involved with several clubs and study groups and joined the Bureau Issues Association/United States Stamp Society in 1974, and had been Chairman of the Dummy Booklet Study Group since 1991.  Earl was a major contributor to Dummy Stamp Booklets, BIA/USSS Research Paper #3 and a major contributor to The EFO Collector (a long-running series on booklet pane EFOs).  He was a charter member of the EFO Collectors Club (1974) and active in the club's leadership, a long-time member of the Champaign-Urbana (Illinois) Stamp Club, CUPEX Show Chairman for nearly 20 years and CUSC Newsletter editor for many years.

Old friends and study group associates remember Earl as research-oriented, always asking questions to learn more about a particular stamp issue.  He was always more than willing to share information with other collectors, with an ability to help others see what he saw.  And all remember Earl's ever humorous enthusiasm for his collecting interests and his club activities.

Booklets and Booklet Panes Chairman Mike Perry remembers Earl as all of his friends did: "My friendship with Earl began in 1974 when we were both trying to understand the Process Marks that could be found on then-current miscut booklet panes of eight.  The result of our studies was a series of articles in The Specialist a year later showing methods to identify positions of booklet panes printed from 320/400 subject plates.  Neither of us would have been able to write those articles individually; Earl taught me the value of research by committee.  Earl also taught me a lot about writing, but he was never able to get me to eliminate all the technical jargon that he believed only confused the average collector.  His goal was to simplify everything so that anyone could find the articles interesting (and perhaps get hooked and become a collector of EFO booklets).  His long-running series of concise articles about booklets in The EFO Collector rate among the best articles I've ever read on this subject.  Earl has left a big footprint and his name will be recognized years from now because of his willingness to share his knowledge in a way that brought new collectors into a very narrow specialty."



Jul 7, 2003


The USSS at APS StampShow 2003 - Columbus, Ohio

Join other USSS members and guests at Stampshow for dinner and an evening of fellowship:
    Friday August 8, 2003
6:00 PM Cash Bar
7:00 PM Dinner
The cost of dinner is $25.00: entree choices are.....
1) Damon's Famous Barbequed Ribs  or
2) Prime Rib (12 oz.)  or
3) Herb Grilled Atlantic Salmon
To be assured of a place, please e-mail David Eeles  for your reservations by August 1st (with entree choice).  Or mail to...
      David Eeles
      P.O. Box 933
      Columbus OH  43216-0933

After August 1st, space available registration will be at the USSS Table at StampShow.

Visit the Society Table

The United States Stamp Society will have a Society Table at StampShow to be held in Columbus, Ohio August 7-10.  We hope you will be able to attend the show and will stop by the table.  We always need volunteers willing to staff the table to tell visitors about the USSS and help recruit new members.  If you are willing to help, just stop by the table and sign up for an hour or so.  The newly expanded and revised A Glossary of Terms for the Collector of United States Stamps will be in print and will be available for sale to members for only $2.  (You can also get a copy by mail from the USSS Recruiting Committee, P.O. Box 3508, Joliet, IL  60434.)



Jul 7, 2003


Your Excess Postage Can Help Our Society

A major expense for the United States Stamp Society is postage.  Each year the official business of the USSS requires approximately $2,000 in postage.

Discount postage usually sells for 75% of face value.  Any member who wishes to make a contribution of discount postage will receive a tax deductible contribution for the full face value of the postage plus mailing costs (including insurance).

Please mail discount postage to the Treasurer for distribution, or drop it off at any show where the USSS has a Society table.  A receipt indicating the amount of your tax-deductible, charitable contribution will be sent for all contributions in excess of $5.

- David Sugar, Treasurer
20 North Wacker Dr., Suite 2250
Chicago, IL  60606



Jun 4, 2003


2003 Annual Meeting - Chicago, Illinois

The United States Stamp Society is in the early stages of planning our annual meeting to be held in conjunction with CHICAGOPEX, the annual stamp show sponsored by the Chicago Philatelic Society.  The venue will be the Sheraton Chicago Northwest, 3400 West Euclid Avenue, in Arlington Heights, Illinois.  The show will be held November 21-23, 2003.

(more...)



May 6, 2003


Show Report: New York Spring Mega Show - April 3-6, 2003
By Nicholas Lombardi

Nick Lombardi at Spring Mega Show
Nick Lombardi, intently reading, during a lull at the USSS table at the Spring Mega Show.
The four day New York Spring Mega Show was held at Pier 88 located at 48th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan right next to the Intrepid Air & Sea Museum.  The Spring Mega Show was a WSP-qualifying show and 34 exhibits comprising 180 frames were shown in competition.  Fourteen of the exhibits were of U.S. material.  The U.S. Stamp Society's Statue of Freedom Award was won by Nick Lombardi's "The 1903 Two Cent Washington Shield Issue," which also won the Grand Award for the show.  The Single Frame Grand Award went to Ed Tricomi for his exhibit "1894 'On Hand' Playing Card Revenue."  The bourse was made up of 80 dealers and 10 philatelic societies.  The United States Stamp Society was represented at a table on the main show floor.  Visitors were offered an opportunity to learn about our organization, and a supply of journals, publications, research papers and reprints was available for viewing and purchase.  We also had a supply of our newly released A Glossary of Terms for the Collector of United States Stamps.  This new publication proved to be a tremendous recruiting tool.

Prominently featured was the attractive United States Stamp Society banner and a sign noting our web-site usstamps.org.  During the show, several membership applications were handed out to visitors and ten new members were signed up at the Society table.

The show also featured the First Day of Issue for the Old Glory souvenir booklet.  The ceremony was attended by more than 200 people.  The fact that the booklet is to have a restricted availability at post offices created a strong demand, and the USPS counter was kept busy for the entire four days.

The following members stopped by the table to assist and/or visit:
Roger S. Brody Tom Goretts
Stanley Polchinski Alan Warren
K. David Steidley Frank Magnavito
Stan Sablak Frederick Skvara
Nick Lombardi Benjamin Lee
Gerald Tierney Mike Borut
Bob Loeffler Labron Harris
Jim Kloetzel Andy Kupersmit
Andrew McFarlane R. Zallen
Jonathan Humble R. Hartnett
Steve Rod Earl J. Dischner
Ray Rossi  



Mar 6, 2003


Moving ??

The notice "Address Changes" appears in every issue of The U.S. Specialist requesting members to notify the Executive Secretary 30 days in advance of an address change.  Many members have become so accustomed to the notice that they do not realize the importance of it to both the society and themselves.  In order for your Executive Secretary to ensure the timely delivery of your journal, the lead time required with the printer forces notification to them by mid-month before the month of issue of The Specialist.  This in turn requires the member to notify the Executive Secretary no later than the second week of the month for the coming month's issue.  To account for mail deliveries and other delays, that's how your society arrived at the "30 days" requirement.  However, there is another factor that enters the picture that is costly to your society and not merely an annoyance for the member who misses an issue of the journal; that member should stop to consider the ramifications of moving and forgetting to notify the USSS.  The Specialist like most periodicals carries a notice that the publisher wishes notification by the U.S. Postal Service that address changes have occurred should delivery not be completed.  Hence, for every issue that is undeliverable, the mailing label from The Specialist is returned to the USSS with a service fee of $0.60 charged your society.  Merely notifying the post office of your move only forwards the mail for a limited period of time; you must eventually notify the USSS.  When an issue is undeliverable and a request is made by a member for its eventual replacement, additional costs are then incurred by your society, as the replacement copy cannot be mailed using the bulk-mail rate as the printer did in its initial mailing.  In order to keep the journal at the lowest possible price, the USSS prices its membership at less than break-even cost, with the idea of making up the difference with book sales and member donations.  Your cooperation in keeping these costs down with timely notification of address changes is appreciated by all.

- Larry Ballantyne
Executive Secretary



Mar 6, 2003


Your Contribution Can Go Farther

This year more members than ever are making contributions to the USSS.  All contributions beyond the regular annual dues of $25 qualify under current IRS guidelines as a tax deductible charitable contribution.  We acknowledge all contributions of $5 or more with a written receipt.

It has come to our attention that your contribution may be eligible for a matching grant from your employer.  Many companies have matching programs for contributions made by employees to eligible, recognized charitable organizations.  If you have recently made a contribution to the USSS and your company has such a program, please consider applying for a matching grant.

- David Sugar
Treasurer



Feb 3, 2003


From the Executive Secretary

Reminder postcards were sent out in January to those who have not paid their dues for 2003.  A final reminder is being mailed in early February.  If you have not paid your dues and do not respond promptly, this will be your last issue of The Specialist.  The annual dues of $25.00 buys you an excellent monthly journal on U.S. philately, discounts on Society books, two free ads per year in The Specialist, and access to research papers, reprints, and copies of member exhibits.

Please renew now before you forget.  You will be doing a service both to yourself and to the Society.

- Larry Ballantyne



Jan 5, 2003


From the Executive Secretary

Dues for 2003 are $25.00 when paid after December 31st.  While most members have paid their dues, several members have not.  Please renew ASAP as it costs the Society money to send out reminder notices.  More importantly, we really don't want to lose you as a member.  So if you have set aside your dues notice, please pull it out and mail it along with your dues today.

Some members have asked about membership cards.  We no longer issue membership cards.  In case you need your membership number, it is on the address label of The United States Specialist in the upper left-hand corner with the letter B in front of it.

- Larry Ballantyne



Jan 5, 2003


U.S. Glossary Released

The United States Stamp Society announces publication of A Glossary of Terms for the Collector of United States Stamps.  This glossary has two purposes.  It is intended for use by the collector of United States stamps who wishes to understand better a term that is encountered while reading The Specialist or another philatelic publication.  It is also intended as a stand-alone educational tool.  It may be read in whole or in part to learn more about U.S. philately, and may spur interest in some new area of U.S. collecting!  The Glossary is printed on 8.5" x 11" paper, stapled between cardboard covers and is 38 pages long.  The Glossary, edited by Rod Juell, is a project of the USSS Recruiting Committee, and has been compiled with the generous assistance of a number of USSS members.  The Glossary is available to USSS members for $2, postpaid, from The United States Stamp Society, Recruiting Committee, P.O. Box 3508, Joliet, IL 60434.  The Glossary may also accessed at no charge on the United States Stamp Society website.  The direct link to the glossary is http://glossary.usstamps.org/.

The Glossary will be made available to non-members for $5, who will receive a coupon good for $3 off a new one-year membership in the Society.  Anyone who is interested in joining the Recruiting Committee and its work of promoting our Society is invited to contact Rod Juell at either the postal address above or by e-mail



Jan 5, 2003


Updated U.S. Rates Available

The publisher of the books U.S. Domestic Postal Rates, 1872-1999, Revised 2nd Edition and U.S. International Postal Rates, 1872-1996 has announced the availability of Updated United States Domestic and International Rates©.  The previously published books include almost all the rates of the United States from 1872 until 1996 and 1999, respectively.  However, the United States Postal Service marches on, petitioning for new rates on a frequent basis.  The author, Tony Wawrukiewicz, has updated the domestic and international rates up until and including the rate changes of June 30, 2002.

The updated rates are almost complete, with a few exceptions (which are usually noted in notes under the appropriate tables).  These exceptions include the domestic second-class rates which are not included for reasons already expressed in the second edition of the domestic book.  Also, there are some rates where the full tables are not given.  These rate tables, which include those for domestic Priority Mail and international Parcel Post, are truncated because uses for the heavier items are NEVER seen and therefore full rate tables that include them are superfluous.  Note that even without these complete tables, the rate information updating encompasses over 50 pages.

For domestic and international rates, where no added space was wasted in the update, some older rates are also included (e.g., see Table 1: First-Class Letter and UPU Surface Postal Card and Post Card Rates).  Also included are one or two domestic tables from the interim period 1995-99 which were inadvertently excluded from the second edition.

These updated rates are available on the author's web site, http://home.teleport.com/~tonyw/.  This material is copyrighted but may be downloaded free of charge.  Upon reaching the first page of the web site, to access the updated rates, go to the bottom of the page and click on the link "Updated Rates."  You will then be linked to a page where you can click onto and thus access the two PDF files that contain the updated domestic and international rates.  However, to access the PDF files, one needs to be able to read them.  In order to do this, Acrobat Reader is needed, which can be downloaded free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Those who do not have the latest domestic book or the international book can find information about them as well as ordering forms on this same web site (see links at the bottom of the web site pages).

 

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