Stamps 'n Things

Entertainer Don Ho

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-10:00

The 10th issue of my Manoa Valley Local Post commemorated legendary Hawaii entertainer and icon, Don Ho. The label was issued on May Day 2007 in Honolulu.

Live performance shows in Las Vegas, Tahoe and New York City propelled Don Ho to national recognition.

His most famous song, "Tiny Bubbles," was released in 1966 and rose to #8 on the Billboard pop chart. It also did well on the easy-listening chart. Ho's "Tiny Bubbles" LP album, released later, remained in the album top 20 for nearly a year. He also made guest appearances on a number of television shows, including I Dream of Jeanie, Sanford & Son, and Charlie's Angels.

Don Ho died of heart failure on April 14, 2007, in his Waikiki home.

1947 French Anti-TB Label

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-10:00

Each year, the French anti-Tuberculosis has issued publicitylabels publicizing its work. In 1947, the theme of the 5-franc stamp was Guéri… je travaille (“Healed … I work”).

During World War I, America’s Rockefeller Foundationlaunched a program of preventive medicine in France, mostly to protectAmericans from venereal disease.

When the war ended, the program was convertedto the National Committee for Defence against Tuberculosis in 1919.

The program’s triple objective of issuing TB protectionpropaganda, screening, and a training program for visiting nurses and publichealth doctors was far-reaching and highly effective.

10/14/44: El Salvador Postal Card

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-10:00

Posted from the city of San Salvador and sent to France via the Transatlantic Clipper, this postcard received the usual World War II United States censor rubber stamp markings.

It is franked by the 2-, 5-, and 10-centavo values (Scott #575, #575 and #579) of the 1938-1939 local industry stamps, and the 20- and 30-centavo values (Scott #C74 and C76) of the Nov. 27, 1940 coffee industry airmail issue.

French Antarctic Ornithological Mission

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-10:00

This cover commemorates J.B. (Jean-Baptiste) Thiebot and the 57th ornithologic mission to Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises (French Southern and Antarctic Territories, aka TAAF).

It was posted on May 10, 2006 at the Martin de Vivies settlement in France's St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands, located in the South Indian Ocean.

The cover is franked with the TAAF 50-centime stamp (Scott #357) noting the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of Paul-Emile Victor, a French ethnologist and explorer, for whom Mt. Victor, in the Antarctic Belgica Mountains, is named. Additionally, it is franked with the .01 and .02 Euros values (Scott #295 and #296) of the Arms design issued on Jan. 2, 2002.

Remember Pearl 31

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-10:00

First-day covers of stamps issued during World War II often bore patriotic cachets with the "Remember Pearl Harbor" battlecry.

Franked by two copies of the 3-cent violet "Win the War" issue (Scott #905), the cover received the July 4, 1942 Washington D.C. "First Day of Issue" cancellation.

The cachet exhorts citizens to keep U.S. servicemen flying and rolling, with the "V for Victory" emblem, a determined Uncle Sam with his cuffs rolled up and ready to right, and the U.S. Capitol.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T08:00:00.001-10:00

Bahamas 928-32 issued on Dec. 11, 1998

The Song of Christmas

2011-12-18T08:00:00.000-10:00

Issued on Oct. 2, 1978, this large (142 mm x 160 mm) Christmas Island souvenir sheet (Scott #88) presents the words and music of "The Song of Christmas," also known as "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S."

The lyrics were written by Jenny Lou Carson in 1949, set to music by Eddy Arnold:

C is for the Christ child, born upon this day

H is for the herald angels in the night

R means our redeemer

I means Israel

S is for the star that shone so bright

T is for three wise men, they who traveled far

M is for the manger where He lay

A's for all He stands for

S means shepherds came

And that's why there's a Christmas day.

Each stamp represents one letter in the word "Christmas," and corresponds to the appropriate line in the song.

Great Britain 1966 Christmas

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-10:00

Children's drawings were featured on Great Britain's 1966 Christmas issue (Scott #478-479), released for public use on December 1.

The multicolored stamps included a drawing of a king on the 3 pence value, and a snowman on the 1 shilling 6 pence value. Both of the stamps identified the country of origin with a gold-impressed silhouette of Queen Elizabeth II.

(Great Britain, by the way, is the only country that does not imprint the country name on its postal issues.)

The stamps were printed using the photogravure process by Harrison and Sons, Ltd., of London.

Empty Album Pages

2011-12-06T08:00:00.000-10:00

The Hawaiian Honu

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-10:00

On April 10, 2007, my Manoa Valley Post issued two local post stamps featuring the Hawaiian honu, or green sea turtles.

The honu was considered by ancient Hawaiians to be sacred aumakua, or family gods. Known by its scientific nomenclature of Chelonia midas, the green turtle is so named not because of its body color, but because of the color of its fat.

The Hawaiian green turtle has been classified as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and is listed as threatened under the 1973 U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Chinese Scouting Label

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-10:00

This is an interesting and attractive label that seems to honor the scouting program in China.

I surmise this by the design of the logo, which obviously is quite similar to Scouting's identification.

Other than that, I have no other information about this label, and present it here with hopes that anyone with information can enlighten all of us.

It is roulette-perforated.

10/14/44: Tojo Caricature

2011-11-18T08:00:00.000-10:00

During World War II, a great number of cachets denigrating the enemy were created and posted by patriots the world over. The citizens of the United States were no exception, flooding the postal system with their creations.

Posted in San Diego on the day I was born, this cachet, the 16th by someone with the initials "JNL" (as indicated in the extreme lower-left corner of the cover), was sent to York, Pennsylvania.

It bears no postage, as the mailer was a member of the Armed Forces (a naval hospital) and enjoyed free-frank privileges.

The cachet lampoons Japanese Gen. Hideki Tojo, Japanese prime minister during World War II. The words "Iki, waki, konki, sookekki" are gibberish, and have no meaning in any known language.

Argentina Weddell Sea Postcard

2011-11-12T08:00:00.000-10:00

Almirante Irizar in the Weddell Sea

This postcard of the Almirante Irizar working its way through the ice in Antarctica's Weddell Sea is covered on the address side with autographs and cachets.

It was posted on Oct. 26, 2006 aboard the Argentina Antarctic Sector supply ship and is franked with the 75 centavo multicolored stamp (Scott #2271) depicting a helicopter approaching Orcadas Base. The stamp was issued on Feb. 21, 2004 to commemorate the base's centenary.

Nostalgic Advertisement

2011-11-06T08:00:00.000-10:00

One of the stamp companies that I used to buy approvals from when I was a mere lad of junior high age was the Kenmore Stamp Company.

Many were the days when a fat envelope stuffed with stamps aching to be hinged into my Majestic Stamp Album arrived at my father's office for me. Ah, those were the days. I didn't care if the stamps were mint or used, if they were hinged or not, ir they had original gum or heavy cancellations.

All I cared about were the stamps. They transported me all over the world for a few pennies and in later years, would emerge as unforgotten memories that would help me when I did crossword puzzles. Amazing.

And that's why I was happy to see an ad for Kenmore Stamps in the newspaper a month or so ago. It told me they were still bringing happy smiles of anticipation to young people throughout the U.S.

The Penny Red

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-10:00

Using the same basic design as the "Penny Black," considered to be the world's first postage stamp, the "Penny Red" was issued in 1841 and was the country's principal stamp until 1871.

The problem with the penny black was its color, which made it difficult to cancel with traditional black ink. Black cancels showed up beautifully on the penny reds.(Scott #3), which were issued on bluish paper.

Alphabetic letters in the lower left and right corners indicated the position and row of each individual stamp. For example, in the illustrated copy herein, the "D" in the lower left indicates the stamp was in position 4 from the left side of the second row (indicted by the "B" in the lower right).

The stamp features a bust of Queen Victoria (1819-1901); the design underwent a number of changes during its use, most notably the addition of letters in the upper corners in 1971.

Remember Pearl 30

2011-10-20T08:00:00.000-10:00

The Oklahoma City Stamp Club produced this patriotic World War II cover that exhorted American citizens to be vigilant and protect the nation's overseas territories.

Among the many slogans printed on the cover is the famous "Remember Pearl Harbor" battlecry.

Despite the battle theme of the cachet illustration, a two-line statement below where the address would go promotes amity, reciprocity, friendship and peace. Because, it says, there should be no ill will among friends.

The cover was postmarned on May 8, 1945 at San Marcos, Texas, with a "Navigation School Br(anch" six-line killer. It is franked by the ubiquitous violet "Win the War" American Eagle stamp (Scott #905) issued on July 4, 1942.

The Oklahoma City Stamp Club is still in existence and conducts regular meetings of its membership, along with national level exhibitions and competitions.

Philatelists Never Give Up!

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-10:00

The Year of the Boar

2011-10-08T08:00:00.000-10:00

The seventh stamp created for my Manoa Valley Post local post service was based on a small artwork piece that I picked up from a Fisherman's Wharf vendor in San Francisco.

It was one of several depicting animals in the Asian Zodiac (also known as the Chinese Zodiac). This label commemorated the Year of the Boar and was issued on Feb. 1, 2007.

For Germans Abroad

2011-10-02T08:00:00.000-10:00

I wish I knew more about this particular octagonal seal. TheGerman words surrounding the woman in the center translate into something like,“Meant for Germans Abroad.”

So far, it’s a mystery to me who produced the label, and forwhat purpose.

That’s one of the things that makes cinderella collecting sointeresting – finding stamps like this and being completely in the dark …something that leaves everything to conjecture.

If you know anything about this seal, please let me know.

10/14/44 First Tank Landing Ship

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-10:00

Seaman First Class R.L. Sooby mailed this cover on the day Iwas born, posting from U.S.S. LST-1, thefirst tank landing ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Itwas the lead ship of 390 tank landing ships built during WWII.

It bears the Navy duplex cancellation, plus the ubiquitous U.S.Naval Censor rubber stamp in the lower right-hand corner. The cover was sentfree of postage, a privilege enjoyed by members of the armed forces duringwartime, to Seaman Sooby’s wife in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

LST-1 was launchedon Sept. 7, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and commissioned on Dec. 14 ofthat year with Lt. W.L. Chessman in command. A few months before this cover wasposted, LST-1 had participated in theNormandy invasion on D-Day (June 6, 1944).

The ship was decommissioned in 1946, after having earnedfour battle stars for its World War II service.

British Antarctic Brabant Island

2011-09-20T08:30:00.000-10:00

Postcard Front: West Coast of Brabant Island, 1984

Postcard Reverse

This picture postcard was posted during the 1984-1985Antarctic summer at Brabant Island on Feb. 19, 1985.

The second-largest island in Antarctica’s Palmer Archipelago,Brabant Island is situated within the British Antarctic Territory. It was namedby the 1897-1899 Belgian Antarctic Expedition after the province of Brabant,Belgium.

Franking the picture postcards are two stamps from the Antarcticfauna set of 16 issued on March 15, 1984 – the 2p stamp (Scott #103) pictures aDesmonema gaudichaudi jellyfish; the20p stamp (Scott #112) pictures a Todarodessagittatus flying squid.

The various cachets include the H.M.S. Endurance and the rubber-stamped 1983-85 Joint ServicesExpedition insignia. The cover commemorates the first landing on Brabant byAdrien de Gerlache’s expedition in 1886.

Republic of China Lions Club

2011-09-14T14:49:00.000-10:00

On Oct. 8, 1977, the Republic of China issued two stamps (Scott#2062-2063) honoring the 60^th anniversary of Lions Clubs worldwide.

The two stamps featured identical designs, except that the$2 value featured a green background, and the $10 value had a blue background.Unwatermarked, the stamps are perforated 13.

The central graphic illustrated the emblem of LionsInternational, supported by a base of ideographs depicting Lions Clubactivities.

Lions Clubs International, a service organization, has morethan 1.36 million members in 44,500 clubs situated in 191 countries. Itsheadquarters are in Oak Brook, Illinois. Their service focuses are on eyesightand youths.

Remember Pearl 29

2011-09-08T14:36:00.001-10:00

It’s another familiar patriotic theme – the American Eaglewith arrows and olive branch grasped in its talons, perched atop ared-white-and-blue shield, with a patriotic ribbon held in its beak.

In this example, the Ruage Stamp Company of Cleveland, Ohio,used the eagle and “Remember Pearl Harbor” themed ribbon in its corner card.

Posted on May 20, 1942 from Cleveland, the cover is frankedby two ½¢ olive brown Nathan Hale stamps (Scott #551 issued April 4, 1925) ofthe 1922-1925 regular definitive series, and a 2¢ rose carmine Army-Navyantiaircraft gun stamp (Scott #900 issued Oct. 16, 1940) of the NationalDefense issue.

Philatelic Impertinence

2011-09-02T10:09:00.002-10:00

Coqui Frog

2011-08-27T10:22:00.000-10:00

On Jan. 17, 2007, my Manoa Valley Post issued a 50¢ local post label picturing what has become quite a pest in Hawaii – the Coqui Frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui Thomas).

Accidentally introduced in Hawaii from Puerto Rico or Florida via potted plants, the frog calls out with quite a loud “Ko-kee” that drives residents crazy. Not only that, they also have big appetites and eat Hawaii’s indigenous insects and spiders.

The coqui have no natural predators in Hawaii -- no owls, snakes, tarantulas, or scorpions – and so have flourished. The population has exploded and they are now found on the Big Island of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu and Kauai, at elevations ranging from sea level to 4,000 feet.

Anti-coqui coalitions have sprung up, as well as “save the frog” groups.

Henkel 75th Anniversary

2011-08-16T11:33:00.001-10:00

Henkel, a Germany multinational company that produces household cleaning, personal care, and adhesive products, called attention to its 75th anniversary in 1951 with this green, red and gold foil adhesive.

Founded in 1876 by Fritz Henkel, a young merchant with an interest science, Henkel was first based in Aachen, then moved two years later to Düsseldorf, giving them access to the Ruhr industrial region.

The company was affected by the two world wars – French and Belgian troops occupied Düsseldorf during World War I, disrupting its supply of raw materials and severely hampering its production of adhesives. Then, during World War II, American troops occupied the Düsseldorf site.

Among its leading products are Pril washing liquid, Dial shower and hand soap, and Persil laundry detergent.

The Marion Dufresne

2011-08-10T11:18:00.000-10:00

This cover, posted aboard the French Antarctic research vessel Marion Dufresne, bears a number of rubber-stamped cachets.

Named after Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, an 18^th Century French explorer of the South Indian Ocean, the Marion Dufresne is maintained by the Institut Polaire - Paul Émile Victor (IPV) and the Terres Australies et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF).

As the cachets on the left indicate, the cover was posted at sea while the ship was on an Antarctic mission. It received a Réunion postmark on July 7, 1983. Réunion is a French island in the South Indian Ocean, located east of Madagascar.

The cover is franked by a 1.60-franc TAAF stamp picturing navigator Martin de Vivies that was issued on Jan. 3, 1983. The stamp is tied to the cover with a one-line “Paquebot” notification, indicating that it was mailed at sea.

Lesotho Christmas Souvenir Sheet

2011-08-03T11:31:00.000-10:00

In 1982, Lesotho – a former enclave within the Republic of South Africa that became an independent British Commonwealth state in 1966 – issued a Christmas-themed set of eight stamps and a souvenir sheet.

The designs depicted scenes from Walt Disney’s The Twelve Days of Christmas, with the multi-colored souvenir sheet (Scott #389) completing the lyrics: (9) ladies dancing, (10) lords a-leaping, (11) pipers piping, and (12) drummers drumming.

Mickey Mouse is holding the door open for them, and Minnie Mouse is ducking under the leaping lord.

It’s a whimsical collectible that appeals to the young and young-at-heart, but is often classified by those who consider themselves “serious philatelists” as “wallpaper.”

Remember Pearl 28

2011-07-28T12:56:00.000-10:00

The “V for Victory” symbol was used extensively during World War II. It became popular when Belgians heeded a suggestion by Victor de Laveleye, the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) director of Belgian French-speaking broadcasts, to use the "V" symbol.

When the campaign grew, BBC Assistant News Editor Douglas Ritchie suggested using the Morse code symbol of three dots and a dash and employing the opening bars of Beethovan’s Fifth Symphony as the BBC’s call sign during foreign-language broadcasts.

The campaign took off like a shot, and one of the iconic symbols of England’s participation in the war was the picture of Prime Minister Winston Churchill flashing the “V” sign when photographers were present.

The U.S. Navy provided this “Remember Pearl Harbor” cachet, which features the Navy Department insignia and the “V …– “ symbol. It was mailed free of postage charges by Sgt. Lewis D. Howell on March 1, 1945 at Columbia South Carolina and sent to Highland Park, Michigan.

Alternative to Philately?

2011-07-21T10:39:00.002-10:00

The Falls of Clyde

2011-07-17T12:02:00.001-10:00

On Dec. 28, 2006, my Manoa Valley Post issued a local post stamp honoring The Falls of Clyde, the world’s last surviving iron-hulled, four-masted, full-rigged sail-driven oil tanker.

Purchased by Hawaii’s Matson Navigation Company, the ship was registered in 1899 under the Hawaiian flag and it required an act of Congress for the foreign-built (Scotland) ship to sail as an American ship.

She was bought by Associated Oil Company (later Tidewater) and used as an oil/kerosene/molasses transport – among other duties – through the years. Destined for the scrap heap in 1963, she was saved by a mere couple of days.

The ship is berthed in Honolulu Harbor, having been brought back to Honolulu later that year. Five years and a whole lot of refurbishment later, it was opened to the public in 1968. It’s been declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark (1989), having been entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Its condition has since deteriorated due to lack of funds for proper maintenance, and is now closed to the public. However, the non-profit “Friends of Falls of Clyde” intends to restore her.

French ‘Hope’ Seal

2011-07-13T10:39:00.002-10:00

This charity seal (c. 1940s) was issued by the French National Committee of Defense Against Tuberculosis to raise finds that would help fight the crippling respiratory disease.

The seals were sold for two pennies; receipts were earmarked for health purpose. The label pictures a young nurse looking toward the heavens with hope (Espoir) in her heart, and a TB hospital where the afflicted are treated.

The National Committee of Defense Against Tuberculosis was created in 1919 when an emergency World War I relief program was converted with funds from the Rockefeller Foundation. Its objectives were three-fold: An anti-tuberculosis prevention campaign, screening, and training for nurses and public health doctors.

The organization continues its work today.

10/14/44: Diplomatic Pouch Mail

2011-07-07T11:13:00.001-10:00

This cover was sent from the American embassy in Horta, Payal, Azores (Portugal) via the U.S. Department of State by the American Assistant Delegate in the American Maritime Delegation.

So why are the Portuguese stamps cancelled in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 14, 1944 (the day I was born)? It’s because the cover arrived via diplomatic pouch before being placed in the mail stream on that date.

The person mailing the letter (which contained a check, according to a hand-written notification on the front of the envelope) was John Belfort Keogh, a U.S. vice consul.

The cover was intended to receive airmail service and is franked with four copies of the Portugal indigo 1.75-escudo ancient sailing vessel definitive stamp (Scott #623) issued in 1943.

Chilean Antarctic Homage

2011-07-01T10:56:00.000-10:00

This cover was in a bundle of about a dozen identical covers I found in a box I’d bought on eBay, and is the best-looking one of the lot.

It bears a January 5, 1959 Chilean “Territorio Antartico” postmark and is addressed to Father Dr. Wolfgang Wallisfurth, Secretary General of Caritas (charity) in Santiago, Chile.

Born in Dessau, Germany, Wallisfurth arrived in Chile to be ordained as a priest. His untiring work in health and education, and his never-failing energy earned him the nickname “The Volcano” until his passing on July 11, 1992.

The cover is franked by two stamps:

The 40-peso rose carmine stamp (Scott #305) pictures a map of Antarctica; it was issued on Aug. 28, 1958, to commemorate the 1957-1958 International Geophysical year.

The 20-peso violet stamp (Scott #C199) is part of a four-stamp set issued in 1958. It recognizes in a scroll, Alonso de Circilla y Zuñiga’s epic poem, “La Araucana,” about a famous and fertile province in Chile’s Antarctic region. The Araucanian Indians occupied most of South-central Chile and resisted the incursion of the Spanish in the late 16^th Century.

The Coliseum: Then and Now

2011-06-25T10:24:00.003-10:00

On May 8, 1980, Italy commemorated the London 1980 International Stamp Exhibition with a set of two stamps arranged checker-wise on a sheet, picturing a view of London in 1850. This format produced a number of se-tenant pairs (horizontal or vertical).

They continued the format each year after that for other stamp exhibitions: WIPA ’81 in Vienna, PHILEXFRANCE ’82 in Paris, BRASILIANA ’83 in Rio de Janeiro, Ausipex ’84 in Melbourne, ITALIA ’85 in Rome, AMERIPEX ’86 in Chicago, HAFNIA ’87 in Copenhagen, FILACEPT ’88 in Holland, culminating with the World Stamp Expo ’89 in Washington DC.

This multicolored ITALIA ’85 issue's se-tenant pair (Scott #1099a) pictured two identical views of Rome’s Coliseum in 85 BC (1,000 lire) and 1985 AD (1,500 lire). The stamps were printed on granite paper by Courvoisier of Switzerland.

It’s one of the most beautiful se-tenant pairs of stamps in my collection.

Remember Pearl 27

2011-06-19T10:04:00.000-10:00

This is a pretty common “Remember Pearl Harbor” cachet design that I’ve seen in various colors. In each case, the name of a U.S. Navy ship is imprinted in the box at the bottom of the cachet.

The cachet was used to publicize “Another Ship Commissioned to Bring Revenge” (the “sign” posted on the palm tree to the left). This one commemorates the destroyer USS Lansdowne (DD 486) built by Federal Ship Building and Dry Dock Company of Kearny, NJ.

Cancelled at Kearny on April 29, 1942, the date of the ship’s commissioning, the cover bears the 2¢ rose carmine national defense stamp picturing a 90-millimeter anti-aircraft gun (Scott #900) that was issued on Oct. 16, 1940.

Named after Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Lansdowne, the ship was launched on Feb. 20, 1942, saw its first action along the United States’ Atlantic seaboard before transiting the Panama Canal to fight in the South Pacific, where she served until 1945. Lansdowne earned 12 battle stars in World War II.

After the war, in 1949, she was transferred to the Turkish Navy and was renamed TCG Gaziantep (D344) until she was retired and scapped in 1973.

Hawaiian Petroglyphs

2011-06-13T10:22:00.000-10:00

Many years ago, I owned and operated The Pineapple Post, issuing and selling my own local post “stamps” – more accurately, “labels.”

As work demanded more and more of my time, I discontinued the service, stopped producing the labels, and sold my entire stock to a dealer in Australia.

When I retired in 2006, the bug bit me once again and I started The Manoa Valley Post. Like its predecessor, the name served not only to identify my local post service and its labels, but also my part-time stamp business.

My very first Manoa Valley Post stamps featured Hawaiian petroglyphs, which are found carved on rocks (similar to prehistoric cave paintings). The first day of issue was Dec. 7, 2006 (Pearl Harbor Day); 50 first-day covers were produced.

The label subjects included:

25¢: The sun

50¢: Surfer

75¢: Green turtle (honu)

$1: Family (ohana)

First-day covers are still available ($4.50), along with the stamps (face value).

How to Design a Stamp

2011-06-07T16:02:00.001-10:00

Pearls to Swine Comic Strip

Swedish National Sanatorium

2011-06-01T11:06:00.000-10:00

This seal pictures Jesus Christ (“The Healer”) looking down on doctors and nurses tending to a tuberculosis patient at the Swedish National Sanatorium in Denver, Colorado. The earliest known use of this design (tied by a postmark) is Nov. 29, 1949.

Founded in 1905 as the Swedish Consumptive Sanatorium by Dr. Charles A. Bundsen, its first chairman, the Swedish National Sanatorium was renamed in 1909. Earlier that year, the Swedish Ladies Consumptive Aid Society was formed to promote the idea of a sanatorium, which would treat Swedish people for tuberculosis.

Denver was an ideal area for such an institution because of its high altitude, low humidity and considerable sunshine, all considered essential in treating tuberculosis at the time.

Five acres of land were purchased in nearby Englewood, and 25 patient cottages and an administration building were constructed. The facilities were expanded in 1921 via a “mayflower” program that sold artificial mayflowers (majblomman).

Today, the complex also houses two other hospitals; The Swedish Medical Center is now one of Denver’s largest hospitals.

10/14/44: Baghdad to Bombay

2011-05-26T11:29:00.005-10:00

Front

This airmail cover was posted by N.J. Patel, ESOR, who apparently worked for P.K. Sethna, an importer who dealt in Indian films and carbons.

Back

Mailed on Oct. 14, 1944, the franking postage was applied on the reverse and is cancelled with what I am presuming is the Baghdad date stamp. It was received on Oct. 24 at Bombay, receiving a backstamp on that date.

The letter was twice censored. First by Iraqi postal authorities (the censor tape with Arabic writing) and then by the British postal authorities (the handstamp on the orange stamp and the censor tape with the English “OPENED BY EXAMINER” and the “DHC/384”) on the opposite side.

A square “Airmail” indicia has been rubber stamped on the front in both English and Arabic.

The cover is franked by a 30-fil deep orange stamp (Scott #93) picturing the Malwiye of Samarra (Spiral Tower) issued in 1941, and a 50-fil deep brown stamp (Scott #73) picturing King Ghazi, issued in 1934.

Operation Deep Freeze 1958

2011-05-20T10:53:00.000-10:00

The United States began a series of Antarctic missions in 1955-56, code-naming them “Operation Deep Freeze.”

This cover is from the 1958-1950 U.S. Navy expedition – Operation Deep Freeze III – and was posted on the U.S. base at Little America in July. It bears the Deep Freeze rubber-stamped cachet of the U.S. Navy Task Force 43, and its slogan, “Seapower Supports Science.”

Two stamps from the 1954-1968 “Liberty” definitive series provide the necessary postage – the ½¢ red orange Benjamin Franklin stamp (Scott #1030) issued on Oct. 20, 1955, and the 1½¢ brown carmine Mount Vernon stamp (Scott #1032) issued on Feb. 22, 1956.

Little America actually was a series of five bases located on the Ross Ice Shelf. All have been either abandoned or set to see when the portion of ice shelf they were on broke off and set to sea.

Christopher Columbus Tribute

2011-05-15T10:01:00.003-10:00

On Sept. 29, 1930, Spain issued a set of 16 beautiful stamps (Scott #418-32 and E8) honoring explorer Christopher Columbus, the Italian from Genoa who completed four voyages across the Atlantic and “discovered” the Americas in his quest to find a western route to the Spice Islands of Southeast Asia.

Four basic designs were utilized:

A triangular format pictured Columbus’ three ships, the Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria).
A horizontal format pictured two scenes (Columbus leaving Palos, and Columbia arriving in America)
Two vertical formats pictured the bow (the ultramarine stamp) and stern (the violet stamp) of the Santa Maria.

This is one of my favorite sets in my collection. They are beautifully lithographed (the eight lower values) and engraved (higher values). Issued perforated 12½, the set does exist imperforate and is valued at five times that of the perforated stamps.

Remember Pearl 26

2011-05-10T12:03:00.001-10:00

This is an Etsuo Sayama cover created by the well-known Hawaii cachet-maker whose covers have beome World War II classics.

It's one of his generic pre-printed designs picturing King Kamehameha the Great, standing on the Island of Oahu, just above Pearl Harbor. The cachet reminds us to "Remember Pearl Harbor," and is rubber-stamped in purple ink with the fallen rising-sun flag of Imperial Japan, a rifle and a katana (Japanese samurai sword).

Notice the bomb appearing out of the upper-right corner heading straight for Hawaii, and Uncle Sam in the upper left.

The cover was posted in Honolulu on Sept. 2, 1945, and is franked by the United States 3¢ yellow green Iwo Jima Marines stamp (Scott #929), which was issued on July 11, 1945.

What? You Said What?

2011-05-05T10:15:00.002-10:00

Nation’s White Spot

2011-04-24T09:15:00.000-10:00

In a collection of “cinderella” seals and labels that I acquired was this quite humorous one that promotes the State of Nebraska as “The Nation’s White Spot.”

Nebraska, the label boasts, has NO sales tax, NO income tax, No bonded debt, and No nuisance tax.

Unfortunately, Nebraska today has a state sales tax of 5.5%; it does have a state income tax, and it has a bonded debt of about $1,240 per resident. Yet, as far as I know, Nebraska still does not have a nuisance tax, but there are fire and automobile nuisance laws and fines.

My goodness, how things have changed!

Andorra Chapel Stamp

2011-04-19T13:25:00.002-10:00

The tiny principality of Andorra, high in the Pyrenees Mountains separating France and Spain, operates with two postal administrations, a historical result of being under joint control of the two countries.

Spanish administration stamps are inscribed “Andorra” or “Principat d’Andorra”; French administration stamps are inscribed “Andorre,” “Vallees d’Andorre,” or “Principat d’Andorra.”

The first French administration issue of 1931 consisted of French definitive stamps overprinted “ANDORRE.” The second series was issued in 1932-1943 and was inscribed “Vallees d’Andorre.”

One of the subjects in the second series was a view of the Chapel of Meritxell; the Andorran coat of arms is incorporaed in the lower left of the border design, opposite the stamp value. The 2.25F value (Scott #58) pictured was issued in 1939. The ultramarine stamp was engraved by M. Antonin Delzers and perforated 13.

Argentine Antarctic 1973

2011-04-14T09:43:00.000-10:00

This cover was posted on January 4, 1973 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and received two Antarctic rubber-stamp cachets and an Antarctic observation station postmark a month later on February 2.

An interesting rectangular cachet notes that glacial conditions prevented marine biology studies in the natural sciences. The blue-green cachet at left indicates marine biology studies by Argentine scientists at South Orkney Islands

The circular date stamp in lower-left center reads, “Observ. Meteor. Groadas” (Groadas Meteorological Observation). I haven’t been able to determine what “Groadas” means.

Franking the envelope are a 5-peso stamp of Tierra del Fuego (Scott #925) issued in 1971, and a set of two Antarctic birds stamps – 1.80 + 0.90 pesos picturing Emperor Penguins, and 4.20 + 2.10 pesos picturing a Blue-Eyed Shag. Both were issued on February 25, 1961. The surcharges helped fund child welfare.

Remember Pearl 25

2011-04-09T09:13:00.000-10:00

Although Pearl Harbor has been made famous by the “Remember Pearl Harbor” battle cry, some patriotic Americans also chose to remember the devastation of Manila, as well as to promote the sale of war bonds.

This label was attached to an October 6, 1943 cover mailed from Portland, Oregon, to North Tonawanda, New York, and is nicely tied to the envelope with a slogan cancel that reads “Buy War Savings Bonds and Stamps.”

The cover is franked by the 1942 3¢ violet Win the War American eagle stamp (Scott #905) issued on July 4, 1942.

The person who mailed this cover – William S. Linto of Portland, Oregon – was a well-known and prolific cachet-maker of the period. (I have a 1937 Hawaii Territorial first-day cover designed by him.)

I actually met the husband of the recipient. Don Graff of North Tonawanda attended a Lions Club International convention here in Honolulu back in the ‘70s and contacted me before he arrived. We shared a nice afternoon coffee together and corresponded for years after that.

Helen Hayes (1932-1993)

2011-04-05T10:36:00.000-10:00

The beautiful Helen Hayes, one of America’s most beloved actresses, will be honored by a U.S. postage stamp on Monday, April 25. First day of issue ceremonies will be held in Washington, DC.

Ms. Hayes is one of only a dozen performers who have won all four major entertainment awards – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. She also was awarded America’s highest honor – the Presidential Medal of Freedom – in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

The Helen Hayes Awards were named after her, recognizing professional theater in Washington, D.C. And in 1955, the Fulton Theater in New York’s Broadway theater district was renamed the Helen Hayes Theater. Also, the West Haverstraw Hospital in Albany, New York, was renamed in her honor in 1974.

Her stamp will be issued as a “Forever” stamp and will always be equal in value to the current first-class one-ounce rate, no matter how many times the rate is changed.

First-day covers are available at the United States Postal Service website at The Postal Store (pre-orders until April 25 are accepted) – shop.usps.com.

Blow Me Down!

2011-04-01T11:50:00.000-10:00

UCI Jerusalem

2011-03-27T10:44:00.000-10:00

The United Charity Institutions (UCI) of Jerusalem was founded in 1903 and raises funds to help maintain 13 institutions in Jerusalem, including libraries, schools and free kitchens.

The organization issued this charity label picturing the Israeli city of Netanya (also spelled “Nathania”), which is located in the country’s northern center district. Netanya is the capital of the Sharon Plain.

I do not know what structure is depicted on the label, or when it was issued, although I would guess it was published in the 1950s or 1960s.

UCI Jerusalem (aka “Etz Chaim Tora Center Jerusalem”) is currently located in Brooklyn, New York. It’s a private social service and welfare organization with annual revenues of $500,000+ and a staff of two. It is classified as a U.S. tax-exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service.

10/14/44: Southern California Stamp Club

2011-03-22T09:51:00.001-10:00

This cover is simple enough and nothing really special, except to me – it was mailed in San Pedro, California, on the day I was born – Oct. 14, 1944.

Someone from the Harbor District Philatelic Club of San Pedro (at Los Angeles Harbor) applied its cachet and sent it cross town … apparently to the wrong address. Luckily, the mistake was caught at the post office and the cover was redirected to Mr. Neal’s post office box.

The post office paid attention to things like this in the old days.

The cover is franked with the 3¢ purple stamp (Scott #925) noting the final resistance of the United States and Philippines defenders on Corregidor during World War II. The stamp was issued on Sept. 17, 1944.

Chinese-Romanian Antarctic Cooperation

2011-03-16T10:58:00.002-10:00

For a number of years, Romanian research in the Antarctic has been facilitated by agreements with various other countries’ Antarctic research teams to host Romanian scientists aboard their polar research ships – Russia and China in particular.

The illustrated cover was posted during the 2005-05 Antarctic summer at the People’s Republic of China’s Zhong Shan Station and is franked by the first stamp (Scott #3215) in the 2002 Antarctic Scenes set issued on July 15, 2002.

Additionally, the cover received the cachets of Romania’s Law-Racovita Base, the Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition’s 21^st year, and the MV Xue Long ice-breaker.

The cover was prepared by engineer Teodor Gheorghe Negoita, PhD, director of the Romanian Polar Research Institute, as indicated in the lower left-hand corner.

Camel Stamp

2011-03-11T11:01:00.002-10:00

There is a United States postage stamp that pictures a camel. It is, in fact, the ONLY United States stamp with a camel on it.

It’s the 3¢ henna brown Fort Bliss Centennial stamp (Scott #976), issued on November 5, 1948.

You have to look carefully to spot the camel. It’s one of the tiny figures in the triangle bordering the rocket blasting off into space. Up there on the left, near the apex of the triangle.

The U.S. Army experimented in the mid-1800s with a “camel train,” utilizing 75 camels that were imported from the Middle East. The “train” passed through Fort Bliss on its way from Camp Verde, Texas, to Fort Tejon, California.

The experiment was a failure and the camels were turned loose in the desert.

Remember Pearl 24

2011-03-06T10:44:00.000-10:00

Not all “Remember Pearl Harbor” covers sported printed cachets, labels, or even large rubber stamps. Some were simple messages created with small rubber stamps and applied to business envelopes.

This is a good example of that technique.

A rubber stamp cachet was applied just below the Rio Grande Steel Products Co. corner card and the window envelope was dropped into the mail on Jan. 20, 1942, at Albuquerque, New Mexico, a little more than a month after Pearl Harbor was attacked.

The cover is franked by the 2¢ rose-carmine National Defense Issue stamp (Scott #900) issued on Oct. 16, 1940. The stamp pictures a 90-millimeter anti-aircraft gun.

Forever? Maybe Not

2011-02-28T11:24:00.000-10:00

Sometimes it doesn't pay to plan too far ahead!

Veterans Day 2006

2011-02-23T12:33:00.001-10:00

The 442^nd Regimental Combat Team was – and still is – the most highly decorated regiment in the history of the United States armed forces. Among its honorees are 21 Medal of Honor recipients.

Composed mostly of second-generation Japanese-Americans, the unit fought in Europe during World War II while many of the soldiers’ family were being held in internment camps.

In honor of Veterans Day 2006, I produced a limited edition of cachet covers picturing the American flag, the 442’s regimental insignia, and part of a well-known photograph picturing the unit’s color guard.

The cover was postmarked on Nov. 11, 2006, and franked with the 39¢ United States “Purple Heart Medal” stamp (Scott #4032) issued on May 26, 2006.

Only 50 covers were prepared and serviced. This is cover #1, so numbered on the reverse, with the red “Miyamoto” ideograph applied to the cachet.

Leonhardi Ink

2011-02-18T10:05:00.001-10:00

These poster stamps publicize the August Leonhardi Ink Company of Dresden, Germany; Tinten u. Farbbander translates as “ink and ribbon.” The stamp designs picture a boy with school bag and ink bottle.

This same design was issued in various colors, including red and blue (both pictured), green, and black.

Christian August Leonhardi’s 16^th Century (1854) chemical plant in Dresden, Germany, produced Alizarine ink. Leonhardi added Alizarin dye, which gave the ink a beautiful blue-green color that when dried turned deep black.

Because it did not contain gum Arabic as other inks did, it was free flowing, indestructible and resistant to acids, fumes and time. It was perfectly suited to steel pens.

Leonhardi was born on April 29, 1805 in Langensalza, and died on Jan. 15, 1965 in Dresden. The company name, Leonhardi, survived until 1953. It currently produces ink under the trade name “Barock.”

10/14/44: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

2011-02-14T12:49:00.002-10:00

On the day I was born, Armand J. Banger Jr. of Sampson, New York, sent something to the Concord, New Hampshire, Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

One can only speculate, but it was probably an application or a registration fee.

The letter was mailed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. As Seaman Second-Class Banger was in the U.S. Naval Reserve, he was able to post the letter free of postage charges. All he had to do was put his unit and serial number in the return address area, and scribble “Free” where the stamp usually goes.

Iceland to Antarctica

2011-02-09T08:04:00.002-10:00

The German ship, MV (“Motor Vessel”) Iceberg, carried this cover from Iceland (way up in the North Atlantic Ocean) to Casey Station in the Antarctic.

When the Iceberg arrived at the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) station, a “penguins in crate” cachet was applied in the upper left-hand corner.

A $1 face-value Australian Antarctic Territory stamp picturing Royal Penguins franks the cover, which is cancelled November 13, 1995 at the start of the Antarctic summer. The stamp (Scott #L86A) was issued on Jan. 14, 1993, as part of an eight-stamp set featuring regional Antarctic wildlife.

Papua New Guinea Small Birds

2011-02-03T13:56:00.002-10:00

Everybody knows about Papua New Guinea’s famous birds of paradise. So to publicize other birds that call the island nation home, Papua New Guinea issued stamps featuring smaller birds found there.

The second set in the series (Scott #715-719) was released on July 12, 1989. Designed by W.S. Peckover and printed by House of Questa Ltd. of England, the set pictured:

20t (se-tenant pair): Oreocharis arfaki (Painted Berry pecker), highlighting the contrasting male and female plumage – black and yellow of the male, subtle plumage of the female. This species is found in mountain forests.
35t: Ifrita kowaldi (Blue-Capped Ifrit), a mystery bird found in the central mountain chain and Huon Peninsula ranges of mainland New Guinea.
45t: Peocilodryas albonotata (Black-Throated Flyrobin), largest of the flyrobins, found in the central mountains from Milne Bay Province to the Vogelkop Mountains of West Irian.
70t: Sericornis nouhuysi (Noisy Scubwren), with its immaculate dress of rich browns and buff tonings, it’s the largest of the New Guinea scrubwrens, found in the central mainland mountain chain.

Remember Pearl 23

2011-01-29T09:50:00.002-10:00

The “Remember Pearl Harbor” battle cry is added almost as an afterthought at the bottom of the featured cachet commemorating Base Argentia in Newfoundland.

According to the cachet, the base had been leased for 99 years from Great Britain to berth 50 U.S. Navy destroyers. The cachet pictures a map of the base’s location; the cover also bears a naval censor’s rubber stamp.

The cover is postmarked at the base on Feb. 23, 1942, a little more than a year after the U.S. first occupied the base on Jan. 25, 1941. Naval Air Station Argentia was commissioned on Aug. 28 of that year.

Argentia proved to be important during World War II and during the Cold War, and was decommissioned in 1994 when the U.S. Navy shut down operations there and left.

Stamp Collectors Always Think Ahead

2011-01-25T09:49:00.000-10:00

25th Infantry Division

2011-01-20T10:00:00.002-10:00

Since 1941, the U.S. Army’s 25^th Infantry Division, known by their sobriquet “Tropic Lightning,” has been based at Hawaii’s Schofield Barracks.

Two months after it was activated, the division saw its first combat on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

Tropic Lightning saw service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, particularly at Guadalcanal and Luzon. During the Korean War, the division contributed to the critical breakout of American forces from the Pusan Perimeter. It was the largest American division in the Vietnam War in 1966-1967.

On Aug. 7, 2007, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 41¢ postage stamp commemorating the Purple Heart Medal (Scott #4164). To produce first-day covers of the stamp, I designed a cachet bearing Tropic Lightning’s patch, honoring the 25^th Infantry Division’s service to American.

A limited edition of only 25 first-day covers bearing this cachet was serviced. This is cover #1, noted by a number on the reverse, and the red “Miyamoto” ideograph in Japanese.

Colombia Anti-TB Campaign

2011-01-15T10:34:00.001-10:00

Quite a few countries conduct anti-tuberculosis campaigns. One of the best-known examples is the American Lung Association’s Christmas Seals program that began in 1907.

The funds collected by citizen donation are used for research and treatment of lung diseases. And yet, despite these efforts, tuberculosis still is a significant health hazard in many parts of the world.

This seal was issued by the Colombian Red Cross in conjunction with the Anti-Tuberculosis League of Colombia. Unfortunately, I do not have any further information on the seal.

10/14/44: APO 133 (England)

2011-01-11T10:11:00.000-10:00

Posted on my birth date, this cover was mailed at the U.S. Army Postal facility at APO (Army Post Office) #133, located in the town of Grantham, Lincolnshire County, in England.

Grantham is in the South Kesteven District; the headquarters of the U.S. Army’s IX Troop Carrier Command was located there during World War II. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was born in Grantham in 1925.

The 6¢ orange (Scott #UC3) air post envelope, issued on July 1, 1934, was posted by Lt. C.A. Jack to Mrs. A.N. Jack in Vista, California.

Spanish Antarctic Research 1996

2011-01-06T13:35:00.000-10:00

San Juan Carlos I Antarctic Base was established by the Spanish Antarctic Research campaign in 1988, and is noted on this cover that bears the station cachet in upper right.

The cover was posted at San Juan Carlos base during the 1996-1997 Antarctic summer and sent to Berlin, Germany. It was carried from Livingston Island, Antarctica, on the Spanish Navy ship, A33 Hesperides, the country’s principal Antarctic support vehicle.

With a crew of nine officers and 46 other crewmembers, Hesperides can transport 30 scientists and their equipment. She has enough stores for 90 days at sea.

The cover is franked with (clockwise from upper left): 15-peseta “after-dinner speaker” painting stamp by Guiterrez Solana (Scott #1711) issued March 24, 1972, for Stamp Day; 1.50-peseta light blue-green General Franco 1956 definitive stamp (Scott #827); vertical pair of 20-peseta bright red-lilac King Juan Carlos I 1977 definitive stamps (Scott #1986); and 3.50-peseta 1969 Europa common design stamp (Scott #1567) issued on April 28, 1969.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T10:04:00.000-10:00

Asian countries that observe the Oriental Zodiac usually issue stamps at the end of each year to be used on the traditional New Year’s greetings sent by its citizens. Many of them issue not only stamps, but souvenir sheets as well.

To commemorate New Year 1973, the Republic of Korea issued two stamps – a 10-won green and multicolored stamp (Scott #840) picturing children and an ox (1973 was the Year of the Ox), and another 10-won blue and multicolored stamp (Scott #841) picturing children in a balloon.

Accompanying the two singles, and also issued on Dec. 1, 1972, were two souvenir sheets (Scott #840a and #841a), each with a pair of the respective stamps. The souvenir sheets and the stamps from the sheet were valid for postage.

Heavy Metal

2010-12-28T10:37:00.001-10:00

Considering the large quantities issued, I doubt this will come about ... but one never knows!

Diamond Head Lighthouse FDC

2010-12-24T09:16:00.004-10:00

Hawaii's Diamond Head Lighthouse on Oahu was one of five Pacific lighthouses honored by the U.S. Postal Service in 2007. Four other lighthouses featured in the five-stamp strip (Scott #4150a) were Five Finger in Alaska, Grays Harbor in Washington, Umpqua River in Oregon and St. George Reef in Northern California.

The lighthouse is run by the U.S. Coast Guard and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

I created a very limited edition of 10 first-day cover sets/5, which were officially canceled on June 21, 2007, at Westport, Washington. The most popular cover in Hawaii, as you might imagine, was the Diamond Head FDC (Scott #4146). It sold out at the first stamp show where I put it on sale.

Pictured is cover #1 (so numbered on the reverse), which also features the red “Miyamoto” ideograph in Japanese.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-20T10:52:00.000-10:00

Fund-raising Christmas seals

St. Lucia Historic Buildings

2010-12-16T10:23:00.002-10:00

The islands of the Caribbean have a pretty rich English history, and on April 6, 1984, the island nation of St. Lucia released a four-stamp set picturing the island’s architectural heritage.

The set (Scott #645-648) depicted a range of architecture, much of which was destroyed in disastrous fires in 1927 and 1948. The stamps were designed by John Cooter and printed by House of Questa Ltd. of England.

The designs:

· 10c – Mid-19^th Century architecture

· 45c – Late 19^th Century colonial architecture

· 65c – Early 20^th Century wooden chattel

· $2.50 – The Treasury on stilts after the 1906 earthquake.

Remember Pearl 22

2010-12-12T10:24:00.000-10:00

Added on to the American flag cachet that exhorted any who saw this cover to “Remember Pearl Harbor!” was a line drawing of a four-engine trans-Pacific seaplane.

The Boeing 314 “flying boat” was the principal aircraft used by Pan American Airways to transport passengers and mail from the mainland USA to the Hawaiian Islands and beyond. Called “Clippers” to evoke memories of the 19^th Century clipper ships that used to roam the high seas, they were the only American passenger aircraft capable of intercontinental flights.

Cancelled in Waimanalo (located in Hawaii in Windward Oahu) on March 20, 1942, three months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the cover is franked by the 20-cent bright-green twin-motored transport plane airmail stamp (Scott #C29) issued on Aug. 27, 1941.

We Want Frosty!

2010-12-08T10:12:00.001-10:00

Pineapple Postal Card

2010-12-04T09:59:00.003-10:00

On May 12, 2007, the U.S. Postal Service issued a new 26¢ domestic-rate postal card featuring a pineapple as its “stamp” motif. In and of itself, it’s a nice design but the card itself is rather plain.

So of course, I set about making it into a collectible – TWO collectibles, actually.

My first design recognized the pineapple’s history as one of Hawaii’s icons. The pineapple industry once had flourished here and that fact is noted in the text that graces the bottom of the card. The photograph of the pineapple plantation worker is a historical archive shot.

The second design was a little more pop-culture oriented. The cachet pictures Annette Funicello, ‘60s movie and recording star whose song, “Pineapple Princess,” was often heard on the airwaves in Hawaii. The illustration is from her album cover.

Both were limited issues of 25 each (numbered on the back). In addition to the red “Miyamoto” ideograph next to the cachet, each bears the official May 12, 2007, Washington, D.C. “First Day Of Issue” postmark.

1914 Electrical Expo

2010-11-30T09:22:00.000-10:00

This label publicizes The Electrical Exposition and Motor Show of 1914, October 7-17, at Grand Central Palace.

Unfortunately, I could not find any information about the show itself or its history. The only thing I can add is that Grand Central Palace is in New York City.

10/14/44: Destination Wuppertal

2010-11-26T10:58:00.001-10:00

This Nazi Era World War II letter was mailed in the German district of Northeim, Lower Saxony and was sent to the city of Wuppertal in North Rhine-Westphalia, also in Germany.

The majority of Wuppertal is in green belt – woods, meadows, gardens and fields. In fact, the area is replete with public parks or woodland paths.

As an industrial center, much of the city was destroyed by the Allies. After the war, Wuppertal was part of the British Zone of Occupation. More than 4,500 buildings are classified as national monuments.

Wuppertal’s greatest claim to fame is that it’s the home of Bayer AG, the first major producer of acetylsalicylic acid , a modification of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a folk remedy found in the bark of the willow. Acetylsalicylic acid was trademarked by Bayer AG as “Aspirin” – Bayer Aspirin.

The cover is franked by a pair of the 6-pfennig purple Adolph Hitler portrait definitive stamps (Scott #510) issued in 1941.

Australian Antarctic Expedition 2007

2010-11-22T09:59:00.003-10:00

Claimed by the United Kingdom in 1933, the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) operates under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is divided into nine districts that have housed as many as 15 research stations administered by Australia, as well as Russia, China and Romania.

This beautiful cover was posted at Casey Station on March 28, 2007, during the 2006-2007 Antarctic summer. In addition to the station cancel, the cover bears Aurora Australis (southern lights) and skate cachets at center, as well as an AAT Airmail etiquette at the top.

Addressed to Santiago, Chile, the cover is franked by stamps from the territory’s 2006 set picturing fish life: a gutter pair of the 50¢ Mackerel Icefish (Scott #L132), and the $1 Eaton’s Skate (Scott #L134). The stamps were issued on Aug. 1, 2006.

Australia’s Antarctic research has been administered by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) since it was established in 1947. The list of Australian expeditions in Antarctica is long, commencing with Douglas Mawson’s exploration in 1911.

Cayman Islands 40th Anniversary, Queen Elizabeth II

2010-11-18T09:35:00.003-10:00

On Feb. 5, 1992, the Cayman Islands issued a five-stamp set celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne of England.

Designed by Derek Miller, the stamps were printed by The House of Questa, Ltd. of England (the $1 value) and Leigh-Mardon Pty., Ltd., of Australia (the balance of the set).

This set is part of a British Commonwealth-wide celebration. The omnibus designs (the portrait motif is common to all countries participating in the series) show Queen Elizabeth with various Cayman Islands scenes; the $1.00 value is exclusive to the Cayman Islands.

Remember Pearl 21

2010-11-14T10:54:00.000-10:00

World War II “Remember Pearl Harbor” battle cachets weren’t always printed on the envelopes. Sometimes rubber stamps were used, as they were cheaper to make and one could apply as few or as many on the covers as desired.

A bloody knife motif is rubber-stamped on this cover. It is dated January 18, 1942, and is franked by a block of four of the 1/2¢ deep-orange Benjamin Franklin stamp (Scott #803, issued on May 19), the first stamp in the 32-stamp 1938 Presidential issue (“The Prexies”). The block of four paid the 2¢ local delivery or parcel post rate of the period.

The cover was posted aboard the U.S.S. Mayo, a World War II Benson-class destroyer named after Adm. Henry Thomas Mayo.

Stupid Stamps?

2010-11-10T09:22:00.002-10:00

Oh, the nerve of some people - especially non-collectors!

Air Force Week 2007

2010-11-06T10:39:00.003-10:00

From Sept. 10-16, 2007, the U.S. Air Force celebrated the service’s 60^th anniversary, honoring its past, present and future during Air Force Week 2007, in Honolulu.

The city was one of six locations selected to host the observance. The others were Phoenix, AZ, March 19-25; Sacramento, CA, June 4-10; St. Louis, MO, July 2-8; New England, Aug. 18-26; and Atlanta, GA, Oct. 8-14.

To commemorate the event, I created a cachet picturing movie actor and Air Force colonel Jimmy Stewart receiving a medal for his service as a World War II command pilot. He retired as a brigadier general.

The cover is franked with the United States 41¢ Legends of Hollywood stamp (Scott #4197) bearing his portrait. The stamp was issued on Aug. 17, 2007, a few weeks before I had the Sept. 13, 2007 Honolulu cancellation applied to my covers.

Only 25 cacheted covers were prepared and serviced. This is cover #1, numbered as such on the reverse, and bearing my red “Miyamoto” Japanese ideograph on the front.

Sicilia 59 Poster Stamp

2010-11-01T09:53:00.002-10:00

The centenary of Sicilian stamps was celebrated in Palermo on October 16-26, 1959 at Sicilia 59, an international philatelic exhibition co-sponsored by the Unione Filatelica Siciliana, Palermo and the Italian Federation of Philatelic Societies under the patronage of the Federation Internationale de Philatelie (FIP).

Their publicity poster stamp reproduces Sicily’s 1859 issue -- the 2-grana blue imperforate stamp picturing King Ferdinand II (Scott #13g). Ferdinand, born Ferdinando Carlo in 1810 in Palermo, was King of the Two Sicilies from 1830 to 1859.

Additionally, the exhibition honored the 150th anniversary of the birth of Tommaso Aloysio Juvara (1809-1875), the noted Sicilian artist and engraver.

10/14/44: Great Britain Field Post Office

2010-10-26T09:38:00.004-10:00

This is an interesting postcard. It’s typical of the sort used by solders in the British Army to let family and friends back home know a little bit about their World War II participation without giving away any important logistical details that could be used by the enemy if their mail were intercepted.

As far back as 1799 the British government recognized an essential need for troop postal service in the field. It was not, however, until 1808 during the Peninsular War that the First Army Post Office was put into operation.

This particular field service card was mailed free of postage from Field Post Office (FPO) 431, located in Poland, to Mr. Stanistav Kuliberda in Edinburgh, England.

Of particular interest is the back of the postcard. Preprinted phrases allowed for a minimum of writing (in actuality, the only writing the sender need do was to insert dates and sign the card). The inapplicable phrases were just crossed out.

Argentine Antarctic Campaign 1963-1964

2010-10-21T10:01:00.002-10:00

Issued by the Argentina Polar Postal Association (APPA), this cover features the organization’s cachet. The left circle notes airship exploration of the North Pole (note the Big Dipper constellation); the right circle honors sea exploration in the South Pole (the Southern Cross constellation).

The two polar regions are linked by a ribbon and post horn.

The cover is franked with Argentina’s four-peso light blue and black stamp honoring the 150 anniversary of the country’s 1813 Assembly, and bears a Jan. 17, 1964 Matienzo Base cancellation.

Founded in March 1961, Base Aérea Teniente Benjamin Matienzo is a seasonal (Antarctic summer) base managed by the Argentine Air Force. When fully staffed, the base’s population numbers 15. Having undergone several name changes over the years, it is one of seven seasonal bases in the Argentine Antarctic sector.

Papua New Guinea Rhododendrons

2010-10-16T08:57:00.000-10:00

More than 100 unique (one-of-a-kind) species of rhododendrons are found in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, and on Jan. 25, 1989, the country featured a few of them in a set of four multicolored stamps.

The set was designed by I. Loe of N.E.G. Cruttwell, and printed by Leigh-Mardon Pty, Ltd. of Australia.

Featured are:

· 3t: Rhododendron zoelleri, favors moist grassy slopes but sometimes grows on trees

· 20t: Rhododendron cruttwellii, typical moth-pollinated flower with long, tubular scented flowers.

· 60t: Rhododendron superbum, second-largest in the species, pollinated by bats.

· 70t: Rhododendron christianae, flowers profusely, plants can be seen from air as orange splashes

Remember Pearl 20

2010-10-11T10:20:00.000-10:00

The Axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) were often caricaturized and denigrated in World War II cachets, usually portraying them as powerless and/or cowardly.

This cover, posted on June 11, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, shows Mussolini, Hitler and Tojo bottled up and on display for the world to see. The bottle (“jug”) represents U.S. Defense Bonds, which were sold to the public to raise funds that would support the war effort.

A sailor, sporting the “thumbs-up” gesture, exhorts citizens to “Help put ‘em in the jug!” The right hand of Uncle Sam has his thumb over the spout, holding the Axis trio captive and sweating over their predicament.

The battle cry, “Remember Pearl Harbor” reminds the people of the event that drew the nation into the war. The cover is franked with the three-cent bright violet “Torch of Enlightenment “stamp issued on Oct. 16, 1940, as part of the U.S. National Defense issue.

Fort Shafter Centennial

2010-10-06T13:47:00.000-10:00

Located on the outskirts of Honolulu, Hawaii, Fort Shafter is the headquarters of the U.S. Army Pacific Command. Located in the Mapunapuna area of the city, Fort Shafter is the oldest military base on Oahu and celebrated its centennial in 2007.

As the auspicious birthday was on June 22, I decided to produce a commemorative cachet honoring the event, and had a small number of cachets (25) postmarked on that exact date at the downtown Honolulu post office.

Fort Shafter is known for its infantry battalion cantonment named “Palm Circle,” which has been designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Palm Circle is partially visible in the cachet, along with the base’s centennial seal.

This particular cover is #1 of 25 (numbered on the reverse), and shows my red “Miyamoto” Japanese ideograph in the lower left corner.

Stamps May Be Art, But ...

2010-09-30T09:47:00.000-10:00

Get the specifications right the first time!

RFC Corsets

2010-09-25T14:47:00.000-10:00

The slogan, “Beste Corsetmarke der Welt” translates as “Best Corsetmaker in the World.” And, they obviously think their product is made for Princesse (a princess).

Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with what “RFC” means, but I’m presuming it’s the name of the company.

It’s a beautifully created and executed publicity label in the German language; I just wish I could find more information on it.

10/14/44: German Soldier's Mail

2010-09-19T10:17:00.004-10:00

Posted in the German district of Northeim, located in Lower Saxony, this soldier’s letter was mailed using the Germany military mail service (“Feldpost) during World War II. It bears a Germany military censor's "eagle" mark.

Military mail is carried from soldiers to addressees free, without the usual required payment of postage. Consequent agreements between Germany and other countries allowed transmission of the letters between them, including many neutral countries.

The battalions were coded by a Feldpost number to maintain secrecy of troop movements.

Unfortunately, I am not able to decipher the addressee’s name or address. Preprinted on the fold-over seal (reverse) is “Nur hier öffnenl.” “Nur” means “only,” and “hier” means “here,” I am unable to find a translation for “öffnenl.” My guess is that the letter form was for use only within Germany.

Chinese-Australian Antarctic Cooperation

2010-09-14T09:47:00.000-10:00

The People’s Republic of China has rapidly developed its Antarctic interest, and has located two of its bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The red legend at the top of this cover recognizes the two countries’ growing cooperation on scientific research. Additionally, the cover was mailed during the 2007-2008 International Polar year, prompting the cover creator to apply an additional rubber stamp at the bottom.

Posted at the Australian Antarctic Territory’s Davis Station on March 1, 2007, the cover bears a Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition cachet over the recipient’s address and a red cachet at the left with Chinese writing.

The cover is franked by four self-adhesive (syncopated-perforations) stamps from Christmas Island’s 2007 Oriental Zodiac sheet picturing a snake (Scott #463f), rat (Scott #463a), dragon (Scott #463e) and rabbit (Scott #463d).

As an Australian territory, Christmas Island’s stamps are valid for postage in Australia.

Fiji World Cup Soccer 1990

2010-09-10T09:02:00.001-10:00

In 1989, Fiji issued a beautiful set of four stamps (Scott #611-14) honoring the sport of soccer (futbol) and the upcoming 1990 World Cup tournament.

Soccer has been a competitive sport in Fiji since the 1938 formation of the Fiji Football Association. The first World Cup Tournament was in Uruguay in 1930 and is held every four years.

Released on Sept. 25, 1989, the stamps illustrate exciting soccer scenes:

· 35c – Goalkeeper making a save

· 63c – Goalie and player challenging for ball

· 70c – Player running with the ball

· 85c – Two players competing for the ball.

The set was designed by S. Noon, and printed on Crown Agents watermarked paper by The House of Questa Ltd., in England.

Remember Pearl 19

2010-09-05T10:18:00.001-10:00

The battle cry cachets that exhorted American citizens to “Remember Pearl Harbor” sometimes were quite frank in their patriotism.

For example, this cachet presents a stereotypical image of a Japanese military man (slanted eyes and buck teeth), and the words, “Keep ‘Em Dying.” The cachet is obviously hand-drawn before being reproduced on the cover.

The cover was mailed post-free as military field mail, without stamps, and with the indication “Free” in the upper right corner – the usual practice.

It was mailed from Army Post Office (APO) 35, at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, by Private First Class Bud Boshell, Company B, 110^th Combat Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army 35^th Infantry Division, to the San Francisco Examiner newspaper in San Francisco – a contest entry.

Also known as the “Santa Fe Divison,” the 35^th had been spread out along the California coast. It was reorganized on March 1, 1942 (a month before this cover was mailed). The various units finally came together at San Luis Obispo in early 1943.

The 110^th Engineers had moved from Ft. Ord, California, to San Luis Obispo on January 17, 1942, for intensive training. In April, it moved to the Los Angeles area, then returned to San Luis Obispo in January 1943. The unit saw action in the Pacific during World War II.

An altered version of the design was used to produce a first-day cover of the 1944 Transcontinental Railroad stamp (Scott #922) issued May 10 in Omaha, Nebraska.

At Least Stamps Don't Shrink

2010-08-31T13:26:00.001-10:00

Sometimes stamps are preferable over 401-K investments, no?

Pelikan Tinte

2010-08-26T12:59:00.000-10:00

This is a poster stamp (c. 1920s) publicizing Pelikan ink, produced by Günther Wagner, a chemist who took over Carl Hornemann’s Paint and Ink Factory of Hanover, Germany, in 1871.

In 1878, Wagner renamed the company “Pelikan,” in honor of his family crest – the pelican symbolized the company’s allegiance and protection of its employees, whom Wagner considered to be family.

Although Pelikan produced ink, it wasn’t until 1929 that the company began manufacturing and selling its innovative piston-fill fountain pens.

10/14/44: New York to Chile

2010-08-21T09:51:00.005-10:00

Bearing two Grand Central Station, New York City postmarks, this cover was airmailed to Santiago, Chile on the day I was born.

The envelope has a Ritz-Carlton Hotel corner card, so the sender (indicated by “Rem.:” which I believe to mean “remitter”) must have been a guest there. Or perhaps an employee, say a reservations manager, who was communicating with an expected guest – perhaps confirming a reservation?

As it was mailed during World War II, the cover has been censored and examined, then resealed on the left side with red-and-blue-striped cellophane tape bearing the censor’s number (5611).

It is franked by two stamps in the 1938 Presidential series – the 15¢ blue-gray James Buchanan (Scott #820, issued on Oct. 13), and the 24¢ gray-black Benjamin Harrison (Scott #828, issued on Dec. 2). The cover also bears the 1943 1¢ bright blue-green Four Freedoms stamp (Scott #908) issued on Feb. 12.

Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition XXIX

2010-08-16T09:31:00.000-10:00

Japan’s National Institute of Polar Research annually sends teams of scientists to their Antarctic stations – Syowa, Mizuho, Asuka, and Dome Fuji.

This cover was carried by helicopter on the Icebreaker Shirase, named after Lt. Nobu Shirase, leader of the first Japanese venture into the Antarctic that reached the frozen continent in 1911.

It bears the Shirase’s circular red cachet noting the 29^th Antarctic Operation (1987-1988). The cover, which bears the Shirase circular date stamp illustrating Japan, the ship, and penguins, is franked by a se-tenant pair of stamps (Scott #1612a) picturing Izumo-Ishidoro sandstone lanterns issued on Nov. 15, 1985, and a pair of 1967 chrysanthemum stamps (Scott #881).

The cover was also cancelled on Dec. 18, 1986 in Tokyo, Japan.

Cayman Islands Christmas 1991

2010-08-11T09:31:00.000-10:00

The Cayman Islands issued a set of four stamps (Scott #632-635) on November 6, 1991, in observance of the Christmas traditions and local flora.

The set was designed by Jennifer Toombs, and printed by The House of Questa, Ltd. of England.

Design themes include:

· 5c – Angels, and the Angel’s Trumpet flower (Datura candida), which flowers at various times throughout the year.

· 30c – Mary and Joseph en route to Bethlehem, and the shrub Allamanda cathartica.

· 40c – Adoration of the Magi, and the well-known “Christmas flower” poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

· 60c – Mary, Joseph and Christ Child, with Lignum Vitae (“Tree of Life”), Guaiacum officinale.

Remember Pearl 18

2010-08-06T10:28:00.000-10:00

Just as airmen during World War II used to paint slogans and challenges to the enemy on bombs they were loading into bombers, so did cachet-maker Harrington, who wanted to send a message to Japan.

His patriotic cachet shows a “Remember Pearl Harbor” bomb falling on Japan, surprising a stereotypical caricature of a Japanese soldier.

Franked by a 3-cent deep-violet Thomas Jefferson “prexie” stamp (Scott #807, issued June 6, 1938), the cover was posted aboard the U.S.S. Guilford, a Bayfield-class attack transport used during World War II in 1945-1946. Named for Guilford County, North Carolina, she was commissioned on May 14, 1945.

The Guilford served in the Pacific theater, then was sold in 1947 to Pope and Talbot Lines and was renamed “S.S. P&T Navigator.” In 1963 she was renamed the “S.S. American Oriole” when the American Foreign Steamship Company bought her. She was scrapped in 1973.