Fundy Stamp Collectors Club
c/o 37 Saunders St.
Moncton N.B.
E1B 4N8
Since 1997
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The Fundy Stamp News
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The Queen's Stamps My selection for this month is for those collectors who wanted to see the Queen's Collection but were not able to view this grand collection when it was presented in Washington at the APS and the Ottawa Postal Museum last December. Indeed, "The Queen's Stamps" by Nicholas Courtney, edited by Methuen in 2004 offers the reader to acquire an exceptional overview. Although this book cannot be considered a classic yet, this authorized history of the Royal Philatelic Collection presents one with the essential elements of the world's most extensive classic collection. The author is not a philatelist but he is an accomplished writer and has written extensively about the Royal Family. His writing style is clear, concise, and captivating. The material is well documented and presented. Given that he is well-versed in the history of the Royal Family, he was able to focus on this aspect of the Royal Family life and give the reader a glimpse of the making of this Royal Collection. Contrary to most of the classic books presented in this column for the last few years, this book blends historical facts, events and rare philatelic material in a fashion that holds the reader's interest and attention. Even for the uninitiated philatelic collector, this book provides a factual account of the mounting of a collection that will never be equaled. The book has 10 chapters which cover the sequence of events and key players in this undertaking. Many pictures of the rarities are housed in the vault of the Stamp Room in St. James Palace. Undoubtedly, this is the Fort Knox of the stamp world or perhaps the stamp heaven. The book also shows covers, essays and sketches of British Stamps. Even the Connell Stamps are presented in this book. |
This book, illustrated in color, was written for the general reader; however, the expert philatelist will certainly appreciate the stories surrounding the purchases of rare stamps. For instance, the story around King George V's purchase of the two pence post office Mauritius stamp is most amusing. He purchased the rarest stamp in the world at a record price of 1,450 British pounds in 1904. Another story, about how fortunate King George VI was able to acquire a first flight cover from Newfoundland to Italy made by the Marchase of Pinendo in 1927. The sixty cents black stamps were overprinted with the words "Sir Mail, de Pinendo, 1927". Only 300 copies of this stamp were available. On the occasion of this purchase, two other famous collectors, President Roosevelt and King Carol of Romania were also bidding on this lot. The cover sold for 140 British pounds. Well now you know why stamp collecting is also known as the hobby of kings!
In closing, this book should be easy to find and it is affordable. For the aspiring collector and the expert philatelist, this book is certainly a fine source of information on the Royal Collection.
Feature Article
THE POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY |
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I didn’t intend to bid on anything, other than some good classic stamps of New Zealand, or some Canadian Admiral coil pairs. I was fortunate to find some, and entered my bids accordingly. Then there was this intriguing item from the Channel Islands - a quantity of covers, and some FDCs (First Day Covers) from both Guernsey and Jersey. I thought to myself "I don't think so." "I don't collect covers - at least not many." I reasoned. However, I had just finished reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", an interesting novel set in the days of the German occupation of the Channel Islands. The novel used an unusual method to tell the story of Guernsey during this time in their history. It made me feel a part of their experience. Somehow, I could better understand the material I had already collected from these islands off the coast of France. I looked at the auction item again, and in spite of what I thought were my good intentions, I scratched down a bid some percentage points below what the auction house suggested that I would need to win the bid and gain the material. And I won the bid ! Well, I am not really sure that I "won" it or not, but at least it sits upon a corner of my desk. |
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I've gone through it several times already. After all that, I can't exactly understand what I have won. There are well over 100 pieces of material, in addition to 12 - 15 booklets, 75+ loose stamps, and several souvenir sheets. But every time I go through the material I find something new - such as a set of Jersey Occupation stamps (N3 - N8) on covers. By the way, there are two one-half pence values affixed to one cover - the stamps alone catalogue at $11.00 US each. Also I found an interesting half penny Queen Victoria newspaper wrapper, postmarked 'Jersey, Aug. 20, 1892', and sent to Springfield, MA, USA. And there were two envelopes sent to a man in Guernsey. |
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The first went to a "Mr. Peter Duquenin, Builder, Guernesay." Note the old spelling of Guernsey. It has a numeral postmark of "409", and beside it a Jersey cancellation date "Sp 19 - 72". The stamp is embossed into the paper. It is of a young Queen Victoria, with what I would call a filigreed background and border. It is an intricate and very delicate design. At the bottom of this one is the number "2", and off to the left a number "4", and on its right a number "72". The embossed stamp is pinkish in color while the head itself is a cameo design. The envelope is cancelled on the back with a Guernsey cancellation, but the date cannot be determined because the envelope has been ripped. The flap of the envelope is also embossed, telling us that the letter originated from Groggan and Co.", whose business was located on a wharf at 10 Upper Thames SE, London. |
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The second letter is addressed to the same "Monsieur Pierre Duquenin", at "Carteret, Guernsey". It originated in Guernsey on July 14, 1880, the postal cancellation being "324". According to the "Collect British Postmarks, Fifth Edition" compiled by Dr. J. T. Whitney (published 1990) the Jersey cancellation would be 226G and the Guernsey would be 227H. This last of the two letters is franked with a one penny red-brown (#79), which catalogues at only 25c, according to Scott. The journey through my auction material has been fun - and isn't this really what stamp collecting is all about? Thanks for sharing the bits and pieces of this journey with me. And all from reading a certain book not related to philately. Oh, as an afterthought, the postmarks are worth about a hundred times more to the postmark collector than the stamps - this is, unless I find out something more about the value of the embossed stamp. |
The spring stamp collecting season is winding down, as collectors everywhere begin to lean towards summer pursuits, and the inevitable placing of philatelic interests on the back-burner. The early spring we have experienced in the Maritimes has undoubtedly hastened this process. My lawn required cutting by the end of April, which I cannot remember ever having to do before.
The Fundy Stamp Collectors Club held its meetings on the first Thursday, monthly at the CN Pensioners Club on Curry Street, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. This year, a first occurred, albeit a negative one, in that a club meeting was cancelled due to a snow storm on March 4. I do not recall this happening during the past 10 years that I have been a member.
Club meetings averaged 10 members in attendance over the winter. The Club had accumulated excess funds in recent years, and voted to purchase a Stanley Gibbons catalogue, as well as an electronic watermark detector for use by club members. While there is no official position as "Club Librarian", Rod Allison has agreed to undertake control of these items.
The Club web site (www.fundystampclub.ca) has been in operation since October 2006, and has received 1994 hits, from all over the world. Code Monkey Reid Eisenhauer continues to update the web site, which contains a variety of club and member information.
In an attempt to bring some lively discussion to the next club meeting, a theme was chosen for members to select their "least favorite" items from their collection, show them and discuss them.
Until the next edition (October 2010), keep in mind the fall BRUNPEX 2010 show, scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 2010 at the Moncton Rotary Lodge, St. George Blvd., from 10am to 4pm. Also, remember the fall NOVAPEX 2010 show in Dartmouth, NS from Friday to Sunday, September 24-26.
e-mail: donmillscanada@yahoo.com
The rest of the paper newsletter was a reprint of a Beginners circle item
These can be seen in the beginers section which can be found on the main page of this site.
