Philosateleia
Kevin Blackston
PO Box 217
Floresville TX 78114-0217
United States of America

Philosateleian Blog

Railroad station first day cover shows up in post office box

We’re not even out of June yet, but here in South Texas, we’re already seeing triple-digit temperatures, and the heat index has been well over 110°F several days within the past week. Summer has arrived without a doubt.

There hasn’t been a great deal going on in my post office box, but I did receive this first day cover from longtime reader Kenneth M. this past week. The cover bears one of the Cincinnati, Ohio, railroad station stamps issued in March, along with a stylized cancellation designed to look like a train ticket.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Railroad Station first day cover
Cincinnati, Ohio, Railroad Station first day cover

Although I’m not a first day cover collector as a general rule, this is a nice sort of suprise to find in my mailbox!

Summer 2023 update for The Philosateleian

As we move into the final month of the first half of 2023, it’s time to update our stamp albums once again. The Summer 2023 Supplement (74.8 KB, 1 file, 8 pages) for The Philosateleian U.S. Stamp Album is now available and ready for you to download and print at your convenience.

This update includes spaces for all United States postage stamps issued since early March, more than five dozen stamps in all. I haven’t personally seen any of them used yet, but no doubt a few will eventually begin showing up on our incoming mail.

Thank you for your continued support and for using The Philosateleian!

Southworth tabletop perforating machine for sale in Texas

Update: this machine has been sold. Thank you for your interest!

In 2016, my family and I drove from Jacksonville, Florida, down to the Tampa area so that I could purchase a Southworth perforating machine. That perforator has served me well ever since.

I recently had the opportunity to purchase another Southworth perforator, and it’s time now to find a new home for my old machine.

Southworth tabletop perforating machine
Southworth tabletop perforating machine

Details

This Southworth perforator, which was most likely manufactured sometime in the 1910s or 1920s, can perforate a straight line approximately 15 inches long. It is the largest tabletop model of which I’m aware; although Rosback did much later reportedly manufacture a tabletop machine that could perforate a 12-inch line, most antique tabletop perforators can punch a line only 10 inches long.

Page from 1923 American Type Founders Company catalogue
1923 advertisement for Southworth perforators

The perforator has wood (ash) tables and is complete with metal paper alignment guides or brackets on both front and rear. With the tables, the machine measures approximately 2 feet square, and being comprised primarily of cast iron, it is very heavy.

There is evidence of repairs (i.e., apparent welding) to the lower arms attaching each end of the head to the metal posts that keep it aligned. Whatever caused the break appears to have happened long ago, and certainly long before I ever acquired the machine.

Although the repair was done solidly, it was not done perfectly. The right end of the head rides slightly higher than the left end, and as a result, I have from time to time had issues getting clean perforations if I align the paper I'm perforating toward the right end of the perforator head. This is not a problem that occurs frequently, but I mention it for full transparency.

Although the pins in the machine are in good condition, I’ve confirmed that Rosback perforator pins fit perfectly just in case you ever need to replace them.

Pins in Southworth tabletop perforating machine
Pins in Southworth tabletop perforating machine

Price

I’m asking $500 for this Southworth perforator with local pickup available in the San Antonio, Texas, area. Due to the machine’s size and weight, I regret that I’m unable to offer to ship it as there is simply no way for me to do that economically.

The end table on which the perforator is sitting in the photo at the beginning of this blog post is not included in the purchase price.

If you’re interested, please contact me and I’ll be happy to provide additional photos and answer any questions you might have.

Adanaland issues semipostal stamp to raise Turkey relief funds

I recently received a note from Alan B. of Adanaland fame, and he included a copy of his newest cinderella stamp. The 6d + 2d stamp is printed in green, gray, and red, and it depicts an ambulance.

6d+2d Adanaland Post stamp picturing ambulance
6d+2d Adanaland Post Ambulance stamp

According to Alan, this is Adanaland’s first semipostal stamp. It was issued as part of an effort to raise relief funds for areas of Turkey affected by the February 2023 earthquake that caused nearly 60,000 deaths in Turkey and Syria.

All Adanaland stamps are printed on a letterpress, and the result is very striking indeed!

Angeles City Local Post issues Community Pantries stamp

On April 14, 2023, Angeles City Local Post issued a new stamp celebrating the second anniversary of the establishment of community pantries in the Philippines. The 15-peso design features a lilac border and an illustration of a cart loaded full of groceries.

15-peso Angeles City Local Post stamp commemorating second anniversary of community pantries in the Philippines
Angeles City Local Post Community Pantries stamp

During the COVID-19 pandemic, local citizens in the Philippines created the community pantries or food banks to help neighbors in need. According to Wikipedia, some organizers were questioned by the government under suspicion of sympathizing with communist insurgents, but the community pantries were ultimately permitted to continue.

I’ve mentioned Angeles City Local Post a couple of times previously as being affiliated with the Philippine Stamp Collectors’s Society. It is delightful to see new emissions from an international local post, and I look forward to seeing future stamps from Angeles City Local Post’s operator, James C.

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