For the most part, I try to avoid getting into personal business here. You visit Philosateleia to read about stamps, not about what’s going on in my life. There are times, however, when so major a life event occurs that that general rule has to be set aside.
As you’re probably already aware if you receive the Philosateleian Post Horn, my mom, Anna Blackston, died back in March. She had been diagnosed with cancer in late 2017, and the effects of that terrible disease finally overwhelmed her body. There is no doubt in my mind that we will see her again, but there is also no question that her death was a major blow to our family.
Mama dedicated her life to taking care of my dad, sister, and me, and homeschooled both of us kids from first grade right on through high school. She always encouraged me to accomplish as much as I could, and to do the best job that I could, because she cared about me. Even during her illness, her primary concern seemed to be how it would affect the rest of us rather than how it would affect her.
In memory of my mom, who was such a huge influence in my life, Philosateleian Post this fall will release a local post stamp honoring her life. September 26 is the planned first day of issue.
Anna Blackston
The 1-stamp design features a photo of my mom taken in 2017, plus a peace lily that was given to us following her death. Each stamp is also surrounded by a black border, a feature historically encountered on mourning envelopes used to send notification of a loved one’s death.
Technical Specifications
Format: sheets of 48 (6×8). Design size: 28×28 mm. Separation method: perforated 12. Adhesive: water-activated dry gum. Printing method: inkjet.
Philatelic Services
To receive a mint single of Philosateleian Post’s Anna Blackston stamp, or for first day cover service, send either $2 or a self-addressed stamped envelope and your request to:
Kevin Blackston
Philosateleian Post
PO Box 17544
San Antonio TX 78217-0544
United States of America
New Boys Town mailing includes more faux stamp designs
Back in March, I mentioned receiving a Boys Town mailing that included a business reply envelope with several cinderella stamps or stickers on it. Today I received another mailing from the same charity, but this time the enclosed envelope featured five pre-printed images of flowers and butterflies that are roughly the same size as actual postage stamps.
Boys Town business reply cover with faux stamp designs
This sort of material is arguably on the boundaries of stamp collecting; after all, it would be difficult to argue that the images printed on the envelope are even cinderellas, much less real stamps. On the other hand, the designs are obviously intended to look enough like stamps to make people think that they’re stamps, so why not?
How many of these envelopes do you think will get saved? My guess is probably not very many at all.
Upper Slobovia souvenir sheets take tongue-in-cheek approach
Last month, I attended a meeting of the San Antonio Philatelic Association for the first time since delivering my “How to Make Your Own Stamps” presentation last summer, and the club treasurer had a packet of material he thought I might like given my interest in cinderella stamps: a stack of Upper Slobovia souvenir sheets produced by the Wilkinsburg Stamp Club of Pennsylvania. The dates on the souvenir sheets range from 1962 to 1983, and although the selection may be missing one or two sheets from that time span, there is without question some interesting material in there.
One of the souvenir sheets dates from 1970, and the designs of the “stamps” thereon are obvious spoofs of the XIth International Botantical Congress United States stamps of 1969, but with a baseball theme. The designs commemorate the 33rd anniversary of Wrigley Field in Chicago and also pay homage to the Apollo missions and the first manned moon landing.
1970 Wilkinsburg Stamp Club souvenir sheet
The 1976 sheet bears four stamps picturing “flags of states of our country ignored by the U.S. P.O. Dept.”: state of inflation, state of crimiinal prosecution, state of corporate political patronage, and state of phiatelic confusion. The designs spoof the 50-stamp state flags issue of 1976.
1976 Wilkinsburg Stamp Club souvenir sheet
The text along the left side of this souvenir sheet suggests the stamp issue picturing state flags did not impress the souvenir sheet’s designer: “There is a movement gaining momentum to ostracise from all philatelic organizations any member who reminds the Post Office Department that each state also has a state flower, state bird, state tree, etc.” This tongue-in-cheek protest apparently had little effect since the United States Postal Service did indeed issue a sheet of 50 stamps picturing each state’s official bird and flower in 1982.
The Wilkinsburg Stamp Club’s website indicates that the first of their Upper Slobovia souvenir sheets was issued in 1961, and the club has produced issues every year since then. An order form on their website indicates that all but the 1961, 1965, and 1966 sheets are still available for purchase.
Fake Canal Zone overprint will fool virtually nobody
While in the local stamp shop a few weeks back, I was flipping through stock cards when I found what was labeled as a Canal Zone Scott 92, the 20¢ Golden Gate fourth Bureau issue stamp with a Canal Zone overprint. Except for the overprinted 14¢ American Indian stamps from the same issue, Canal Zone stamps are not something in which I’ve ever taken much interest, and I almost certainly would have passed on this one except for one thing.
The overprint is fake. I mean really and truly fake, the sort that you don’t have to be an expert to spot. I thought it might be of interest to you, so I bought it so I could share it here.
Fake Overprint
Why do I say that the overprint is fake? For one thing, the letters in the overprint aren’t in a straight line; for example, look how the “O” in “ZONE” dips down below the vinette, while the other letters don’t. In addition, the “N” in “CANAL” looks like it can’t decide which way to lean—the left leg is bowed in at the top, while the right leg is more vertical but not overly straight—and the top of the “L” in “CANAL” is not far from being as long as the bottom! Yes, it’s a fake, and not an overly convincing one. Finally, the letters in the overprint have a generally smudgy appearance that’s a far cry from the sharpness of genuine examples that I’ve seen.
The basic United States stamp is valued at just over catalogue minimum even in very fine condition, which this stamp is not, but even if the overprint was genuine, it would still have a Scott catalogue value of less than $4. It hardly seems worthwhile to fake! Perhaps whoever added the fake overprint was simply practicing on a cheap stamp; I guess we should just be thankful they didn’t ruin something nicer.
Purgatory Post commemorates transatlantic flight centennial
The United States last year celebrated the 100th anniversary of airmail in the USA. Earlier this month, New Hampshire-based Purgatory Post commemorated another centennial: the 100th anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight, which originated in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on June 14, 1919, and ended in County Galway, Ireland, the next day.
The design of the 15-sola local post stamp is based on an unissued essay prepared by the British printing firm De La Rue in 1922.
Purgatory Post First Transatlantic Flight
Purgatory Post operator Scott Abbot notes that John Alcock, pilot, and Arthur Brown, nagivator, “carried a small amount of mail on this flight, making it also the first transatlantic airmail flight!” The Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps & Covers values covers from that flight at over $1,000 each.
