U. S. Philatelic Classics Society

I just returned from viewing the exhibits on display at the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, 4th Annual Postal History Symposium held at the American Philatelic Building in Bellefonte, PA.

As many of the readers of this blog know, I do not collect U.S. stamps at all although I have done so in the past. I am a life member of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (RA818) so I do have some knowledge of these issues.

I do not know enough superlatives to adequately describe what I saw. There were so many, unique, only one known, one of two known, one of three known, largest known multiple, etc. that I can not mention them all.

I do enjoy seeing rare and unusual material from anywhere and virtually most of the aristocrats of U.S. classic material were on display. Anyone, who viewed the exhibits and walked away with out being astounded, is in my opinion not a true philatelist.

I am sure that the only venue where you may see such an array of outstanding U.S. classic material would be at an international exhibition.

I want to thank the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society for holding the symposium, the exhibitors for sharing their collections, and the American Philatelic Society for hosting the event. I shall remember this experience as long as I live.

El Salvador Finding Guide

Today I received the following notice from Thomas Lera, Winton M. Blount Chair in Research at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

"The new Specialized Collections of El Salvador Finding Guide is now online. Five different collections of El Salvador make up this finding guide.
I want to thank Joe Hahn for the time he spent going through these collections in great detail and helping in the preparation of this finding guide.
You can find the guide http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/findingguides/index.html"

Cheers.

Thomas Lera
Winton M. Blount Chair in Research
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE
MRC 570 PO Box 37012
Washington , DC 20013-7012