Ukraine Stamp Tells Off Russia

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Ukraine’s postal agency, Ukrposhta, is issuing a stamp to make clear how the Ukrainian people feel about the Russian invasion. According to Linn’s Stamp News and other sources, Ukrposhta invited proposed designs, then winnowed the 500 submissions down to 20 and invited voting on its Facebook page.The announced theme was, “Russian warship, go to —.”

“The stamp will have to be international so that everyone can send it to any country,” said Ukrposhta on its website.

This one, by Ukrainian artist Boris Groh, garnered more than 1,700 votes of the 8,000 cast — better than 1 in 5, according to Ukrposhta’s message on Facebook.

The issue date has not been announced.

According to Linn’s, Ukrposhta has said it may use the other designs on future postal products.

The Business Insider web publication had a short version of the story on March 8th.

Other postings on the Ukrposhta page show some of its employees during the crisis — emphasizing that 80% of its employees are women — and assuring Ukrainians who receive pensions that Ukrposhta offices will be open so that recipients can get those payments.

Free Cachetmakers Directory Available

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[press release]
Free AFDCS Current Cachetmakers Directory Updated

A new edition of the American First Day Cover Society’s AFDCS Directory of Current Cachetmakers is now available. The February 2022 version can be downloaded for free at www.afdcs.org/resources/CM_Directory_202202.pdf . Printed versions are available for $5.00 postpaid from AFDCS Sales, PO Box 44, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701 or may be ordered from the AFDCS website at www.afdcs.org/publications.html.

Compiled by John White of North Carolina, the directory seeks to list every individual or company currently producing cacheted first day covers, whether or not they are members of the AFDCS. There is no charge for listings; cachetmakers who wish to be included in a future edition should fill out the online form at www.afdcs.org/cmform.php

New editions of the directory are published when there are a number of additions or changes, so the next version may be next month or next year. The link to the latest edition — whatever it is — is on the home page. The February 2022 edition adds five cachetmakers, removes four and updates two.

The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization, with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status granted by the IRS. Established in 1955, the AFDCS also publishes handbooks, catalogues and its award-winning bimonthly journal, First Days. It also promotes first day cover exhibiting, both at Great American Stamp Show and at other stamp shows, and holds an annual cachetmaking contest.

For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246.

March-April First Days Magazine Is Available

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The March-April issue of First Days, the journal of the American First Day Cover Society, is now available for download for society members and should be in their mailboxes any day now.

A veteran FDC collector tells how his interest all-but-started with hearing the heart-wrenching words, “there were so many more boxes that we didn’t have room for, so we burned them.” The issue also contains a chronicle of the adventure of servicing unofficial-location FDCs (“UOs”) in the days before the interstate highway system — and during the winter in Vermont!

Michael Dodd discusses what to watch for if you come across FDCs of the 1967 British Discovery & Invention stamps. Another article describes first day covers honoring a Filipino stamp organization’s most famous member. You know him, but you don’t know the cachetmaker profiled by Gerald H. Strauss, at least, not as a cachetmaker.

Gary Dickinson’s “Canadian Cachets” series looks at a major cachetmaker’s recycling efforts in the 1940s. Michael Lake tells of the close connection between an ArtCraft variety and the stamp affixed to it.

Also in the March-April issue is the debut of a new series, “Technology and Techniques,” and Mary Ann Bowman’s youth column solicits ideas on using topical FDCs to interest children in our hobby.

Even the ads are informative: In one, a collector asks for scans of MacArthur and Nimitz FDCs missing from his website, while another seeks Stanley Steamer covers.

Not yet a member of the AFDCS? Go to www.afdcs.org/join.html

How Is Ukrainian Crisis Affecting Your Philately?

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In another article here, we tell how the Delcampe selling site has restricted sales and purchases by Russian and Belarussian users. PayPal earlier restricted transactions involving Russians. eBay is making allowances for sales to both Ukraine and Russia.

How about you? Has the crisis had any effect on how you collect, buy, sell or trade?

If you choose to comment, please only talk about how this affects philately, not your opinion of world affairs. This is not the place for that.

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How is the Ukrainian crisis affecting your philately?
How is the Ukrainian crisis affecting your philately?

Delcampe Restricts Russian, Belarussian Users

Aside

Delcampe, a buying/selling site similar to eBay, is suspending all Russian and Belarusian accounts. “Due to the conflict in Ukraine, which we deplore, we have decided to suspend all sales and purchases from Russia and Belarus,” said in an email on Monday, March 7, from the Belgian company. The actions taken include the “suspension of the account of users based in Russia and Belarus, specifically

  • cancellation of sales and purchases made by these users
  • commission fees on cancelled sales will not be accounted for
  • ratings will been turned into neutral feedback for all transactions affected by these measures”

The email ends with “We regret this situation. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the situation in Ukraine.”

PayPal has already restricted payments to and from Russian users. On February 25, eBay announced that sellers were having trouble shipping merchandise to Ukraine and Russia, and it would not penalize sellers for delivery problems, retroactive to February 21. It also expressed support for Ukraine in a message that begins “We stand with the people of Ukraine” and talks about donations the company and its employees are making to relief organizations. However, there is no mention of stopping transactions. [The eBay links may require a login.]

Comments only pertaining to the philatelic ramifications of the Ukraine situation, please.

  • Take our poll, “How Is the Ukrainian Crisis Affection Your Philately?” that is, how you are collecting, buying, selling and/or trading.

 

U.S. Scott Catalogue Update (March 2022)

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5660 (58¢) Love – blue gray background
a. Imperforate
5661 (58¢) Love – pink background
a. Imperforate
   b. Horiz. or vert. pair, #5660-5661
c. Imperforate horiz. or vert. pair, #5660a-5661a

5662 (58¢) Chinese New Year
a. Imperforate

5663 (58¢) Edmonia Lewis
a. Imperforate

5664 (5¢) Butterfly Garden Flowers coil stamp – Cosmos
5665 (5¢) Butterfly Garden Flowers coil stamp – Scabiosas
a. Pair, #5664-5665

150th Anniversary of the FA Cup (UK 2022)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup with Special Stamps
Issue Date: 8 March

  • A set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the Emirates FA Cup such a prestigious competition
  • A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue
  • Stamps in the set show:
  • Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
  • Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley
  • A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
  • Classic Finals – Keith Houchen equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final
  • FA Cup Upsets – In 2017, Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals
  • Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937
  • Royal Mail collaborated closely with The FA on the stamp issue
  • Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural season of the FA Challenge Cup in 1871/72 compared to the 729 clubs taking part 150 years later in 2021/22
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre order from today (1 March) at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641
  • The stamps go on general sale from 8 March

Royal Mail has announced the launch of a set of 10 stamps to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emirates FA Cup’s very first edition.

Royal Mail collaborated closely with the FA, choosing images that celebrate the heritage and tradition of the longest-running and most famous domestic football competition in the world.

The main set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the competition so prestigious, and a mixture of colour and black and white photographs relive some of the most famous moments in its 150-year history.

Stamps in the main set show:

  • Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
  • Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley
  • A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
  • Classic Finals – Keith Houchen equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final
  • FA Cup Upsets – Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 in 2017 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals
  • Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937

A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue.For 150 years, few other sporting events have produced as much joy and heartbreak or as many moments of raw emotion. It is a competition in which amateurs and semi-professionals can play in the finest stadia in the land, and the world’s best players run out in grounds holding only a few thousand people.

Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural 1871/72 edition, and while they might not have much else in common with the 729 modern day sides taking part in 2021/22, they shared the same dream: glory.

The Emirates FA Cup has always been a unique competition. For many fans it is about memories and moments on a football pitch that they associate with a time in their lives. Like the game itself, aspects of it have changed over the course of those years. But when fans of all ages think about the competition, they think of names, places, matches, moments. One thing is guaranteed – the Emirates FA Cup will keep creating memories for generations to come.

Natasha Ayivor, Royal Mail, said: “The Emirates FA Cup has given the world some of the greatest displays of competition football and these stamps celebrate the magic of those moments. We feel there is no more fitting tribute to its 150th anniversary than this collection of Special Stamps.”

The FA’s Director of Pro Game Relations, Andy Ambler, said: “The Emirates FA Cup continues to capture the imaginations of both football fans and the wider public in its 150th anniversary season. Its historic moments from the non-league to the very elite create lasting memories, and we’re delighted that a selection of iconic moments are being celebrated by these Special Stamps.”

The individual stamps in the set:

1st Class – Lifting the Cup
90th FA Cup Final
8 May 1971

 

1st Class – Wembley Stadium
48th FA Cup Final
28 April 1923

 

£1.70 – A Big Day Out
87th FA Cup Final
18 May 1968

 

£1.70 – Classic Finals
106th FA Cup Final
16 May 1987

 

£2.55 – FA Cup Upsets
FA Cup Fifth Round
18 February 2017

 

£2.55 – Royal Patronage
62nd FA Cup Final
1 May 1937

The individual stamps in the miniature sheet:

Supporter’s Memorabilia
A ticket stub from the 1959 Final between Nottingham Forest and Luton Town, held at the original Wembley Stadium (then known as the Empire Stadium). Forest beat Luton 2-1

An Everton rosette which dates from 1966 and features an image of the trophy and a Preston North End rosette which was taken to the 1954 and 1964 Finals

Painted rattle: A hand-painted Colchester United rattle, previously an air-raid rattle, which was taken to a Fourth Round home match against Arsenal in January 1959. The game was drawn 2-2.

Winner’s Medal and Trophy
A replica of the first FA Cup trophy, known as the ‘little tin idol’, which was used from 1896-1910 after the original Cup was stolen. A new trophy (the design still used today) was introduced in 1911.

The FA Cup winners’ medal awarded to Bradford City captain Jimmy Speirs in 1911. Speirs scored the only goal in the replay against Newcastle United, which secured a win for the ‘Bantams’.

Official Match-day Items
Manchester City’s distinctive red-and-black striped away shirt. It dates from the 1969 Final, when the club beat Leicester City 1-0

Match ball: The leather football used in the 1903 Final. Bury beat Derby County 6-0, achieving a record winning margin in a Final that was equalled only in 2019 when Manchester City beat Watford 6-0

An ornate gold-wire and silk badge, as given to The FA stewards at the 1903 Final between Bury and Derby County

Cup Final Souvenirs
A souvenir gramophone record and sleeve from the 1932 Final, when Newcastle United beat Arsenal 2-1. Each side includes a ‘meet the team’ feature, with the centre label in each team’s colours

A Leeds United FA Cup winners’ pennant, which celebrates United’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the centenary Final of 1972

A souvenir porcelain replica of The FA Cup trophy, which was made to commemorate Cardiff City’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the 1927 Final

The stamps and a range of collectible products can be pre-ordered now at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641.

The stamps go on general sale from 8 March.

VSC Note: If you click on the link, Royal Mail will also offer you a wide range of collectibles, including a £2 gold coin FDC for just £1,125.00 (US$1488, €1361).

WE Fest Set for Rocky Mountain Stamp Show In May

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[press release] [click on the picture for a larger version]
WE Fest Set for Rocky Mountain Stamp Show

Registration is now open for the Women Exhibitors semi-annual WE Fest, a series of exhibiting workshops. This year’s four-day event will be held in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show 2022, in Aurora, CO, May 27-29, 2022. WE Fest VII features speakers who will provide educational, informative, and entertaining presentations on Thursday May 26.

Dawn Hamman will share her expertise in “Competitive Postcard Exhibiting,” Marjory Sente will present “Tips for researching covers on the internet,” Elizabeth Hisey will have an interactive activity in which those attending get to be a “Judge for a Day,” and Sherri Soraci Jennings will introduce participants to “Thematic/Topical Exhibiting.”

There will be opportunities for socializing and networking throughout the show, including a pizza party, WE hospitality room and a farewell breakfast.

Women Exhibitors and WE Fest VII are open to all. Both men and women exhibitors, and those interested in exhibiting, are invited to join and participate. More information and the registration form is available at American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors – WE – Women Exhibitors (aape.org). Early Registration is $75 if received by March 28, 2022, or $85 if received after. For further information contact womenexhibitors@gmail.com.

Gini Horn, 1951-2022

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Gini Horn, the longtime chief librarian of the American Philatelic Research Library and the American Philatelic Society, has passed away at the age of 70. You can find her obituaries at on the APS website and that of a local newspaper.

Her coworkers and successors talk about her uncanny ability to find anything in the library’s collections, no matter how obscure.

In her 25 years as chief librarian, she not only grew the collection and staff, and oversaw the move to the new facility in Bellefonte, she was also a jack-of-all trades, often pitching in where needed. In the photo below, taken in 2004, she climbed onto the roof of “Building 1” and took photos of one of the dedication ceremonies for the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte.

According to the APS obituary, when she got the job in 1984, she told a family member, “It’s a stamp library, how big could it be?” Thanks to her, it got bigger.

I used to drive her crazy when I was on the APS board: She somehow was in charge of checking tickets for the banquets during AmeriStamp Expo and StampShow. I would never remember to bring them. “How will we know what entree to serve you?” “I don’t know. Pick one. Whatever you have too much of.” She wasn’t satisfied. I guess for professional librarians, everything has to be in its proper place and category.

I also remember one show where she was the designated APS staffer who was transporting the Inverted Jenny back from a show to headquarters. (In those days, a different staffer had the responsibility each time, and who it was was kept secret. Today, of course, a Brinks truck transports the stamp to the nearest military air base where Air Force Two is waiting.) I was walking through the airport with a group of APS staffers, including Gini, and every few steps, she would stop and check her pockets. Or stop and look around to see if anyone suspicious was following her.

— Lloyd A. de Vries

Writing On Newfoundland Award Winners Announced

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[press release]
CCC Announces 2021 Pratt Award Winners

CHICAGO, Feb. 21, 2022 – The Collectors Club of Chicago is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Pratt Award, which recognizes articles or other publications related to the philately of Newfoundland as judged by the Pratt Award Committee as being significant and of academic merit. It is awarded in the year following its publishing.

The 2021 recipients are the following (listed with their award-winning works):

    • Anthony B. Thompson, of Sweden, for “Newfoundland’s Moiré Patterned Bookend Paper 1937-1940” in the first quarter 2021 BNA Topics whole number 566.
    • John M. Walsh and Robin J. Moore (both residing in Canada) for two articles: “Newfoundland: Discoveries in the Design Sizes of the 1933 Gilbert; 1937 Long Coronation and 1938 Royal Family Issues” in the January 2021 issue of Maple Leaves whole number 359 and the follow up article: “Newfoundland: Discovery Design Sizes Found on the 5 Cent, 2 Cent Die ii, 4 Cent Rose Lake and 8 Cent Values of the 1932 Perkins Bacon & Co Issue. (Further Proof of Their Different Printing Press Uses and Capabilities)” in the July 2021 issue of Maple Leaves whole number 361.

The CCC Pratt Award is named for Robert H. Pratt, the eminent Newfoundland stamp and postal history collector, researcher, and author. Since 1997, the award has been bestowed upon the author(s) of the best-judged article(s) or book(s) published on Newfoundland philately.

The annual award is US$1,000, which is given to one or more winners. If there are multiple winners in a year, they share the prize. For 2021, a single researcher authored one winning article, and the other was co-authored.

[According to the club’s website, “Initiated in 1997, the CCC Pratt Award is named for Col. Robert H. Pratt, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the pre-eminent Newfoundland stamp and postal history collector, researcher, and author.”]

Further details about the award and past winners are available here.

Founded in 1928 and re-established in 1944, the Collectors Club of Chicago is a group of award-winning philatelists focused on increasing knowledge and education of stamp collecting and postal history. The club owns and operates a philatelic library and clubhouse in downtown Chicago and has hosted speakers from around the United States.