Profile of a Professional Philatelist Sidney D. Harris by Roger Harris

Transcription

1 NOVEMBER 2006 Volume 50, Number 3 Whole Number 203 The Journal of the Vermont Philatelic Society Profile of a Professional Philatelist Sidney D. Harris by Roger Harris J. Edgar Hoover, Director-for-Life of the FBI, in comments made in the 1970 s regarding Combating Thefts of Stamp and Coin Collections, said: A stamp dealer in an Eastern City, Sidney D. Harris of Rutland Vermont received several packages of stamp albums worth well over $5,000 in the mail from an individual in the Midwest. The haphazard arrangements of the stamps in one of the photo albums led him to doubt the sender s knowledge of the hobby and to suspect that the items might be stolen. He promptly notified the FBI office in his city of his suspicions. Because of the value of the stamps and their shipment into another state an immediate inquiry by the FBI was instituted. The stamps proved to be stolen, and the thief who had attempted to sell them through the mail,was quickly apprehended. The thief had been a male nurse working at the home of an ill and elderly collector in Chicago. continued on page 3

2 2 Table of Contents Profile of a Professional Philatelist, Sidney D. Harris by Roger Harris President s Message The Vermont Connections Project by John A. Lutz Post Horn by Bill Lizotte Postage Rates on Stampless Covers by Bill Lizotte A Vermont Trading Stamp by Terence Hines Lake Champlain Quadricentennial by Glenn Estus Notes from the Executive Director For The Record It Happened 25 Years Ago VPS Auction # Editor s Notebook Vermont Stamp Clubs The Vermont Philatelic Society Founded in 1956 APS Chapter Officers and Directors President: Glenn Estus, PO Box 451, Westport, NY (518) Vice President: Phillip Mollitor, PO Box 102, Gaysville, VT (802) Sec/Treas: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, N Clarendon, VT (802) Director: Peter DuPuy, PO Box 1500, Keene, NH (603) Director: Stan Sumner, 3 Dwinell St, Montpelier, VT (802) Brattleboro: Peter DuPuy, PO Box 1500, Keene, NH (603) Chittenden: Wendell Weston, 1119 VT Rte 15, Underhill, VT (802) Bennington: Roberta Breese, 211 Breese Hollow Rd, Hoosick Falls, NY Memphremagog: Charles Cilwik, 1695 Nelson Hill Rd., Derby, VT (802) Rutland: Nick Nikolaidis, 1398 Brink Hill Rd., Bethel, VT (802) Alternate: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, N Clarendon, VT (802) Upper Valley: John A. Lutz, PO Box 501, Hartford, VT (802) Washington: Robert Edson, 693 West Hill Rd, North Middlesex, VT (802) Alternate: Steve Pettersen, 38 Liberty St., Barre, VT (802) Executive Director: Bill Lizotte, 98 Brooklyn Hts #5, Morrisville VT (802) Auction Coordinator: Stan Sumner, 3 Dwinell St, Montpelier, VT (802) The Vermont Philatelist [ISSN ] is the official quarterly journal of the Society. Editor: John A. Lutz, 3 Elm Street., Randolph, VT (802) VPS Photographer: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, North Clarendon, VT Dues: $10 per year Contributing member: $15 Sidney D. Harris Profile (continued) In another case, a U.S. Postal Service employee and part-time stamp dealer, Harry C. Heindel of College Hill, Maryland, was arrested in 1972 and charged with applying forged grills to copies of the 3 Washington stamp of 1861 and the 2 Black Jack of 1863 to convert them to the more valuable varieties of His arrest resulted from a complaint of Sidney D. Harris, a stamp dealer of Rutland, Vermont, who had been offered faked stamps with forged American Philatelic Society certificates. A search of Heindel s house uncovered several such altered stamps and three grilling instruments, together with various foreign counterfeits and several forged APS Expertising Committee certificates. (quoted from Varro Tyier's book Philatelic Forgers). Sid was serving on the Expertising Committees of the American Philatelic Society for coils and for grills on United States stamps, areas which he had studied over the years and had become one of the premier experts in these fields. Sid Harris was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1906 and would live until 1976, when he succumbed to heart disease. With today s advances in treatment, his life probably would have been prolonged. At age 6 his older brother gave him a batch of stamps and the youngster, after keeping what he wanted for his own collection, decided to make little packets and sell them to his classmates at school. Thus he would always have some pocket change for penny candies, movies, and of course more and more stamps. In his teens he worked with his father in the real estate business and was the youngest person (at age 15) to hold a real estate license in New York City. But real estate being a fickle field, he soon found himself working in a shoe last factory. In the days before safety precautions, he complained to his boss about the chemical fumes and poor ventilation. The boss ignored him and the pissed-off Harris tussled with him. A friend pulled him off and told him, Sidney, this guy can tell you to go to hell or whatever he wants to for the Sidney and Rosalie Harris in 1970s $2.00 a day he is paying you. 3

3 Right then and there the young man determined he would never work for anyone again and would be his own boss. In the late 1920s, with a $500 loan from a doctor friend, he went into the stamp business. His wife Rosalie would be his secretary throughout his career; her secretarial skills were superb, but she never learned a thing about the stamps themselves. Sid began by making up packets for consignment to five and dime stores and various retail establishments. But his interest in the classic stamps of our country would soon lead to his specialization in this area. Through reading, studying quantities of stamps, and questioning the then experts like Stanley Ashcroft, Les Brookman, Elliott Perry, George B. Sloane, he would eventually gain a reputation for his knowledge. At first he would only deal in pre-1888 issues and auctioneers at the top houses of the day would announce after getting through the Bank Note issues through Scott #18, We will pause for Sid Harris to leave as the later issues just do not appeal to him. Eventually, Harris came around and would handle issues prior to the year He had always done business from offices in his home, but for about a year in the late 1930s he took an office in the famous NYC center of philately, 116 Nassau Street. But there were so many interruptions from collectors and other dealers that he had to give this up and return home. Alas, his devoted wife, who had married him for better or for worse... but not for lunch, had to relent on this issue. With the advent of World War II, Harris felt that when hostilities ceased there would be a deflationary period where the dollar would buy more than ever; so he sold his stamp stock, moved to the country and became a gentleman farmer, raising chickens and turkeys. He 4 Sid Harris with son Roger at Coney Island NY amusement park in 1950s. raised the turkeys on wire porches, never allowing them any range and after eight weeks gave them a complete diet of pellets only. As it turned out, this was a perfect feeding program which made the meat extremely tender. Often, birds were dressed down at as much as 42-pounds! As history would have it, when the hot war ended the Cold War began and expected deflation did not develop. Harris used his accumulated funds and again built up a substantial stock of USA stamps. A main source for his purchases was post-war Europe, especially Germany, where the populace had stashed away their collections and were now willing to sell them for needed commodities. The Harris family (with their two sons who were born in 1937 and 1940) lived in the country, in Mahopac, New York which was fifty miles north of New York City. In 1955 Sidney decided to move to Vermont. The State had always had a romantic appeal to him. One of his prime clients had been Bob Noorduyn, a Dutch-Canadian airplane manufacturer and who produced the noted Norseman plane, a small craft used for reconnaisance and as an Alaskan bush plane. Noorduyn had a home in Burlington and along with his friends Don Johnstone and Douglas Green, convinced Sid that Vermont would be the place to live. And thus would begin a deep friendship with Green, an optometrist and charter member #3 of the VPS, and our esteemed founder Dr. Donald B. Johnstone. When the VPS was formed, Harris used his regular two-inch space in Stamps Magazine to promote membership for the Vermont Philatelic Society. Dr. Johnstone honored him with Charter Membership #2. Rutland County Stamp Club in 1960s. Sid Harris is fifth from left in back row. Reflections on Sid Harris Donald B. Johnstone I first became acquainted with Sidney D. Harris, a very knowledgeable stamp dealer, in 1953 at his home in a small town in southern New York State. Dr. Douglas Green of Burlington and I travelled frequently to stamp shows and 5

4 dealer shops throughout the northeast, and thus became friendly with Sid, his charming wife, Rosalie, and their two teenaged sons, Roger and Lowell. When they moved to Rutland, Vermont in 1955, we saw much more of this friendly family, joining them on occasion for meals at the Dog Team Tavern. Sid operated a mail order stamp dealership from his home with the help of his wife and Roger. As a recognized authority on certain U.S. stamps, particularly coils and grilled issues, he was a welcome passenger on some of our trips to shows. We three travelled to meetings in Canada and on one occasion to an APS show in Atlantic City when we stopped in New Jersey to pick up Elliott Perry and stayed overnight with Elliott and Chrissy Perry. We all had a memorable evening there in stamps. As a dealer in U.S. classic stamp issues, Sid maintained his stamps in large albums of stock sheets. Whereas I had always used stamp tongs to pick up stamps in order to avoid damaging them with my fingers, Sid often used no tongs or forceps and used his fingers with remarkable dexterity. I thought little about this method of handling inexpensive stamps, but was completely amazed to see him move many high denomination Columbian issues in and out of the stock sheets with his fingers. When I approached Sid about the possibility of forming a Vermont state philatelic society, he heartily endorsed the concept and encouraged me. And when we later convened the first organizational meeting of the Vermont Philatelic Society, Sid demured at the suggestion of his holding an office, feeling it should be staffed by collectors and not professional dealers. Nevertheless, he did become Charter Member No. 2 and was the featured speaker at the banquet following the show, BURLPEX in I shall always remember Sid as a kind, thoughtful, and generous man who provided such an important segment to my philatelic life's interest. 6 Reminiscences of My Stamp Dealer Father Lowell S. Harris My earliest remembrances of my father include sitting on a leather chair in his office in our apartment in Brooklyn, New York, about 1942 or The office was tastefully decorated and I enjoyed spending time with my father while he filled orders for customers. Many years later, when I was in college or raising a family and returned to Rutland for a visit, we would still enjoy talking while he filled more orders and worked on his stock books. Besides being a very loving and nurturing father, my greatest comfort was knowing he would be up late at night when I was sleeping. I say this because as a child, I was afraid of the dark and always wondered if there were monsters lurking either in my clothes closet or outside the windows. One night, I fell asleep in his bed while he was in the living room. Suddenly, I woke up just as the window shade rolled up and I imagined I saw someone's face close to the glass staring in at me. I was so frightened I immediately leaped from my bed and rushed into his arms. I ll never forget how much he comforted me at that time by just holding me tight and reassuring me everything was alright. Sidney also tried to teach me the stamp business when I took an interest in developing packets for wholesale and retail businesses in Florida when I was in my 40s. I finally understood what an amazing knowledge and ability he had to be able to discern the various grades, conditions, and markings of stamps that most dealers had difficulty identifying correctly. I have always regretted not sitting down with him and writing what I m sure would have been one of the profession's more important encyclopedias. Advice to a New Stamp Dealer Michael McMorrow I first met Sidney Harris in 1961 when I joined the Rutland County Stamp Club. For the next 15-years, until his death in 1976, I visited his home many times and occasionally joined his family for dinner. This was a special treat. Sidney was not only a renowned philatelist, he was also a gourmet cook. When I started dabbling in the postal history business in the early 1970 s, Sidney took me aside for some entrepreneural lessons. The most important lesson was on business longevity. This lesson sounds simplistic but, as I look at the hoard of wannabe on-line (Ebay, etc.) dealers, I realize how important this lesson was then, is still today, and how few people practice it. Sidney started by asking: How long do you want to be in business? The answer, of course, is Forever. That can only happen, said Sidney, if you make your customers want to deal with you.they must receive a fair product for their money.they must be treated with respect. You must let them understand that you care about them and that you will be fair and honest with them.the customer isn't always right and there will be situations when you will have to do what s fair to you but in every other situation, you must make every customer feel like they are your best customer. Remember, in the collectibles business we are selling happiness. People love what they collect and they should be as happy about the transaction as they are with the product that you are selling to them. This was not only the way Sidney Harris taught business it was also the way he practiced it. 7

5 8 President s Message As we head into the winter season, I would like to thank both the Brattleboro and Rutland Stamp Clubs for their hospitality when I visited the clubs in August and September. I was impressed and encouraged to see such active clubs. I presented a philatelic overview of the 1939 Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada, the United States and Newfoundland. I also presented the same program to the Chittenden County Stamp Club, my home club earlier in the summer. I am available to present this program to any of the other Vermont stamp clubs next Spring and Summer. Just contact me. The 2006 donation auction ended in mid-october and thanks to the bidders we can add $ to our VPS treasury. Our basic level VPS dues don t cover the annual cost of printing and mailing the 4 issues of the Vermont Philatelist. Activities such as the donation auction help to bridge the gap between income and expenses. For your information, the special VT DPO Guide issue sent in May 2006 to all members, was paid for by advertisers and national sales. We will be scheduling another donation auction in More information in the next VP. If you have duplicate Vermont material that you don t wish to donate to the Society itself, don t overlook our quarterly member s auction. I m sure Stan Sumner would be happy to accept your material for that auction. As mentioned in an accompanying article, I was able to attend the September 14, 2006 ceremony at Ste. Anne s Shrine in Isle LaMotte, kicking off the Champlain Quadricentennial celebration. On October 17, I was invited to attend a meeting of the full Vermont Quadricentennial Committee at the Echo Center in Burlington. Much is being planned and we hope that the VPS will be actively involved in any philatelic commemorations. Finally, don t forget that the Vermont State Stamp Show will be held in Montpelier on Saturday, June 9, At the VPS Directors Meeting in Quechee in October the Board decided to sponsor the Grand Award for the Best of Show. It s not too early to begin to think about exhibiting. Contact Bob Edson, show chairman for the host club, the Washington County Stamp Club. I am discussing with the Vermont Historical Society Museum (in Montpelier) the possibility of placing a permanent exhibit highlighting Vermont postal history. I am hopeful that by the time of my next President s Message that plans will be finalized and an exhibit ready by the time of the June State Show. Also at the Director s Meeting, John Lutz reminded us that he plans on retiring as editor of the VP in about 3 years. It s time to begin to think about a replacement. John is willing to share his experience and skills with a new editor. Interested persons should contact me (gestus@vermontps.org) or John (john@vtstamp.com). Happy Holidays! Glenn Estus The Vermont Connections Project by John A. Lutz Lhoyd T. Hayward had many philatelic interests. One that combined his love of history and stamps was his Vermont on Stamps project. He stated, America s stamps are vignettes of America s history. Because Vermont and Vermonters have played such an important part in our national history, it is no wonder that many United States stamps reflect Vermont and her sons and daughters. He thought a Vermont on Stamps activity would be of special interest to young collectors and school teachers. Lhoyd T. Hayward created the first comprehensive log that listed United States stamps with Vermont links up until From time to time, in past issues of The Vermont Philatelist, articles added additional information on a specific stamp with a Vermont connection. In 2002, the late Jason J. Granger also submitted several articles under the title Vermont Related Stamps. The most recent features on the Vermont on Stamps theme are the ones I have published in The Vermont Philatelist under the heading of Vermont Connections. In these articles I attempted to not only show the featured stamp, but to also give a brief background history. Each Vermont Connection article has covered two pages. Reformatted versions of these features will also eventually appear at our Society s web site as downloadable PDF files in album page format. This should enable any collector to easily create an interesting topical collection of Vermont on Stamps. It should also be of interest to any Vermont teacher who wants to integrate the beauty of stamps with the teaching of Vermont subjects. We start with the original list prepared by Lhoyd T. Hayward supplemented with clippings and notes on the subject that I have found as part of other estate lots. And then we have the recent issues that should be added to the list. Now we have the opportunity, as a special 50th Anniversary Project, to edit, revise and expand this list. Please examine this first listing for additions and corrections. And, since this is a Vermont on Stamps project, it need not only to be limited to United States stamps. What stamps should be added from Canada, or perhaps Great Britain? Perhaps international stamps showing the portrait of Vermont native Paul Harris (Rotary International)? Or Bolivia? Bolivia? Yes, one of the entries you will find on this first list is Bolivia #423-28, C , a set of stamps featuring the violinist Jaime Laredo who is now the conductor of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. 9

6 To start, here is the first portion of the 88 stamps I have identified so far: Scott No. Year Description Lincoln Memorial built of Vermont marble Vermont Sesquicentennial - First Day at Bennington, VT 8/3/ Burgoyne Campaign - Bennington VT, Saratoga, Ft. Stanwix, and Oriskany NY Daniel Webster. In 1840 Webster was orator for the big Whig rally for Harrison and Tyler in Stratton, VT Thomas MacDonough, War of 1812, Lake Champlain George Dewey, Battle of Manila Bay. Born in Montpelier, VT 12/26/ Constitutional Sesquicentennial. Art by Julius Brutus Stearns, born in Arlington VT Millard Fillmore, US President, his father, Nathaniel, was born in Bennington, VT Rutherford B. Hayes, US President, his father Rutherford, was born in Brattleboro, VT James A. Garfield. US President, taught penmanship at local academy in Pownal, VT Chester A. Arthur, US President, born in Fairfield, VT 10/5/ William H. Taft, US President, his father Alphonso, was born in Townshend, VT Calvin Coolidge, US President, born in Plymouth, VT 7/4/ Stephen Day Press now in the Vermont Historical Society Museum Pony Express. Started by William Russell born in Burlington, VT Statue of Liberty. The designer of the pedestal was architect Richard Morris Hunt, born in 10 Brattleboro, VT in th Anniversary Statehood, First Day at Montpelier, VT 3/4/ Transcontinental Railroad. Major General Grenville M. Dodge, a Norwich University graduate, was in charge of building the Union Pacific Railroad Utah Centennial. Settled by Mormons under the leadership of Vermont natives Brigham Young and Joseph Smith California Gold Centennial. Frederick Billings, native of Woodstock, VT, was General Sutter s lawyer California Statehood. Frederick Billings, native of Woodstock, VT, was president of Northern Pacific Railroad Four Chaplains. Rev. George Fox served in several Vermont churches Wisconsin State Capitol at Madison, WI built of Barre, VT granite Oregon Territory. Jason Lee, an Oregon pioneer, was born in Stanstead (then in VT) in Supreme Court Building built of Vermont marble Boy Scouts. First Boy Scout Troop in America was organized in Barre, VT in 1909 by William Foster Milne Colorado Statehood. Early mining operations in state were by Horace Austin Warner Tabor who was born in Holland, VT in Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Daniel Willard, president of the B&O born in Hartland, VT Lafayette's Arrival in America. Toured Vermont in Trucking Industry, farm scene on stamp is the James K. Howe farm in Tunbridge, VT Paul Revere. Seven of the bells cast by Revere are in Vermont. Woodstock (4), Bellow Falls, Norwich, and Montpelier Nebraska Territory. Stephen A. Douglas, born in Brandon, VT, introduced the 1854 Territorial Bill Kansas Territory. Stephen A. Douglas, born in Brandon, VT, introduced the Territorial Bill Land-Grant Colleges. Created by the Morrill Act of 1862, by US Senator Justin S. Morrill, born in Strafford, VT in Rotary International, founded by Paul Harris who grew up in Wallingford, VT Fort Ticonderoga, Ethan Allen s role in capturing the fort School Teachers of America, National Educational Association. First normal school in America for teachers was established in Concord, VT by Samuel Read Hall Birth of Marquis de Lafayette. Toured Vermont in Atlantic Cable Centenary. Curtis M. Lampman, vice-president of company that laid the Atlantic Cable, was born in New Haven, VT 9/21/ Stephen A. Douglas, senator and presidential candidate, born in Brandon, VT 4/23/ Overland Mail. Adams Express (one of 7 companies involved) founded by Alvin Adams, born in Andover, VT Petroleum Industry. First well sunk at Titusville, PA by Col. Edwin L Drake who spent boyhood near Castleton, VT Boy Scouts - 50th Anniversary. Art by Norman Rockwell who lived in Arlington, VT Pony Express. Wells-Fargo & Co. partner was Henry Wells born in Thetford, VT Horace Greeley, learned the printing and newspaper trade in East Poultney, VT Girl Scouts. Roundup at Button Bay. First Day 7/24/ John Dewey. Philosopher and educator born in Burlington, VT 10/20/ National Grange. The Grange played an important part in the rural-social life of Vermont Bennington Flag. First Stars and Stripes design used in the Revolutionary War. On exhibit at the Bennington, VT Museum Grandma Moses. The Bennington Museums owns the largest public collection of Grandma Moses paintings in the US Dartmouth College Case. Most of Wheelock, VT was chartered in 1785 to Dartmouth College. The college offers scholarships to Wheelock young men by birth or residence Robert Frost. Spent many summers in Ripton, VT and was the Poet Laureate of Vermont. This is just the first half of the list. The balance will appear in the February 2007 VP. Surely there are more, but I ask that your Vermont connections be as valid as possible. There could be hundreds of loose connections. For example, Charles Lindbergh visited Vermont in 1927 and landed at the private airport of his host, James Hartness. Does that qualify as a Vermont Connection? This first listing I ve arranged in Scott catalog order. Is this the logical format? Should it be by year instead? This is a VPS project, so you as members of the VPS can set the rules. Please mail or <jalutz@yahoo.com> your additions or corrections. I ll include them in an update to our list in future May and November issues. 11

7 Post Horn By Bill Lizotte early examples of a Riverton postmark in Here is an example of the first and fairly scarce Riverton postmark, a common type of four bar device, but not common from this small office. The Riverton Post Office was permanently discontinued early in For this issue of the Post Horn, I will concentrate on a few twentieth century pieces, an area too often overlooked by collectors. While the nineteenth century offers the gamut from the classic stampless covers, through manuscript postal markings and various rates, plus a wide variety of early postage stamps, oval, octagonal, and multiple circle postmarks, even struck in a wide range of vibrant colors, the twentieth century also has its variety to celebrate. It begins with the four and five bar Doane postmarks in early 1903, the RFD straightline postmarks, the several other four bar types through the 1980s, and many duplex postmark types, plus the huge range of machine postmarks used mostly at the larger Post Offices. Even of these there are many great rarities, and all are worthy of collecting. Rutland Cover Has Story to Tell This 1939 Rutland cover bears a fine copy of the 1927 Vermont stamp (Scott #643), plus an add-on cachet replicating the stamp design, which celebrated the fourth annual stamp exhibition held in Rutland on April 28-29, This would put the first philatelic exhibit in Rutland, perhaps the first in Vermont, at 1936, two years after the Rutland County Stamp Club was established. All Vermont philatelists will join me in saluting this very important stamp club, and its many contributions to our hobby in nearly seventy five years. Early Riverton Postmark is Scarce The West Berlin Post Office was established in 1884, but anti-german sentiment during the First World War was strong, and the name of this office (but not of the Town of Berlin) was changed to Riverton in August, The old Vermont virtue of use it up and wear it out explains the continued long use of the West Berlin postmark after the name change. Hence, there are no Ludlow Cover Bears Scarce Airmail Stamps Rarely do airmail covers originating in Vermont have interest to postal historians. This 1926 Ludlow cover is an exception. It is addressed to Covina California, and bears three copies of the eight cent airmail stamp of the 1923 series (Scott #4). The three stamps are detached, two of them margin copies, and the third from the interior of the sheet. Centering is satisfactory at the left, top, and bottom, but the design is clearly shifted to the right into the perforations. Bearing twenty four cents in postage, the letter arrived in California with one cent postage due. (cover illustrated at top of next page) 12 13

8 Final Chapter of Postage Rates on Stampless Covers This article is the final of a four part series on the changing postal rates during the early and mid nineteenth century. As the population of the young country grew, and literacy increased dramatically, the need for a reliable postal system increased. The volume of mail increased exponentially, hence the postage rates declined steadily, even as service improved, becoming faster and more reliable Ludlow cover bearing scarce airmail stamps. The Postal Act of 1845 The Postal Act of March 3, 1845 provided for lower postage rates as follows: Under 300 miles Over 300 miles Local (Drop) Letters Circulars 5 cents 10 cents 2 cents 2 cents per sheet Effective March, 1847 the rate for single page circular is increased to 3 cents. Distance Under 300 Miles, Five Cents The Centre Rutland Post Office opened for business on May 1, This very early cover bears a perfectly struck red Centre Rutland circle postmark dated October 8, and an internal date of The matching boxed five rate marking is appropriate for a distance under 300 miles, and Manchester is likely about one tenth that distance. VPS president, Glenn Estus, had a limited supply of the new personalized stamps created with the VPS 50th Anniversary logo. These were mailed to charter members, past officers, editors, and others who had served the Society in past years. He wrote, It is due to the work of members like you that the VPS is well known and respected, one of the premier state and postal history organizations in the United States. It was mailed in a covering envelope that was postmarked with the Fort Ticonderoga first day cancel shown on page 27. continued on next page 14 15

9 right corner indicating the postage for a drop or local letter, which doesn t leave the Post Office of mailing. Drop letters are somewhat scarce during the stampless period. Distance Over 300 Miles, Ten Cents McIndoes Falls is a village in the Town of Barnet which has been serviced by a Post Office since its establishment in This folded letter bears the circle postmark of the office struck in what appears to be a true brown, and a rate mark of ten cents in the upper right corner to note postage for a distance greater than three hundred miles, to the nation s Capitol City. The postmark is dated December 22, and the year 1849 is included with the inside message. Local or Drop Letter, Two Cents This Middlebury cover bears the blue circle postmark, usually denoted as Middle Bury, dated October 1, and internally The letter is also addressed to Middlebury, hence the manuscript numeral two in the upper 16 Single Page Circulars, Three Cents After March, 1847 Yet another Middlebury cover, also using the same blue postmark, is dated June 17, and inside a printed circular dated The manuscript numeral three in the upper right corner is the proper rate for such a circular after March of Note the blue Paid marking to indicate that the circular was not sent collect. The three cent postage rate after June 30, 1851 is extremely common, but somewhat scarce before that date. The printed circular calls upon the sheep herdsmen of the region to exchange raw wool for manufactured finished cloth of many kinds. I presume the exchange is proposed on site in Middlebury, but only the business name of Davenport & Nash is furnished. Readers will know that Vermont, and especially Addison County, was a major supplier of wool to the outside world during the early and mid nineteenth century. The Postal Act of 1851 The Postal Act of March 3, 1851, effective after June 30, 1851, provided for the following reduced postage: Not exceeding 3,000 miles prepaid Same if not prepaid Distance greater than 3,000 miles prepaid Same if not prepaid Drop Letters 3 cents 5 cents 6 cents 10 cents 1 cent 17

10 the office dated June 17, and a manuscript rate of five cents to Stephen Thomas in West Fairlee. Since the letter was sent collect, the rate is five cents. Stephen Thomas ( ) was a native Vermonter with a distinguished career in politics, and served his native state admirably in the Civil War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for service at the Battle of Cedar Creek in Virginia in 1864, and appointed a Brigadier General very early in Not to Exceed 3,000 Miles, Prepaid 3 Cents This embossed ladies cover originated in Lyndon, bearing a red circle postmark dated December 29, and the internal letter is dated The three cent rate marking is also struck in red. You will note that every rate marking of three cents includes a marking to indicate that the rate was prepaid. This unusual flat-top three, unique in Vermont s postal history, stands over an attached Paid marking. The cover is addressed to Miss Mary Webber in Craftsbury. This cover was in the Lhoyd Hayward collection at one time. Not to Exceed 3,000 Miles, Not Prepaid 5 Cents Moretown did not use any handstamp postmarking devices during the stampless period. This 1853 folded letter bears the manuscript postmark of 18 Distance Greater Than 3,000 Miles, Prepaid 6 Cents This Newbury cover is addressed to Mr. I. H. Darling at Mission San Jose, California. The typical red circle postmark of Newbury is nicely complemented by numeral six and Paid handstamps for the prepaid rate to the west coast. California covers are moderately scarce, and add a good dimension to a collection of postal history. Greater Than 3,000 Miles, Not Prepaid 10 Cents A Peacham cover addressed to Mr. Thomas Knight at Placerville, Eldorado County, California, bears the black circle postmark of Peacham during the early 1850s, and a manuscript ten cent rate, noting the absence of any indication of prepayment, and was sent collect. The ten cent rate is somewhat more difficult to locate than the six cent. (cover illustrated at top of next page) Keep up-to-date on VPS affairs, visit the Society s website at: 19

11 passed on it. More than a decade later, I found the cover available again, for a price that was far more reasonable. Peacham, Vermont cover 10 not prepaid rate Double Rate Cover, Double Use of Rate Marking This interesting Fayetteville (now Newfane) cover bears the large circle postmark of the office known during the 1850s, but the interesting element of this cover is the twice strike three cent paid in circle rate mark so common at most Vermont post offices, but very scarce when struck twice to indicate prepayment of postage on a cover with two letter sheets. The letter is internally dated This is an especially fun cover for me, since I saw it in a dealer s stock about twenty years ago priced at $200. I decided the price was too high, and I 20 Illegal Use of Stampless Cover at Rutland This stampless cover bears the circle postmark of Rutland struck in black with a matching Paid handstamp. In the upper right corner is a manuscript notation of Paid 1 to indicate the prepayment of postage. The postmark bears a date of May 21, 1858, more than two years after postage stamps were mandated as proof of prepayment. We may surmise the likelihood that the Rutland Post Office was temporarily out of the current one cent stamps at that particular day. End of the Stampless Period The demise of the classic stampless cover occurred on January 1, 1856, when the adhesive postage stamp was mandated as proof of prepayment. There were, however, occasional shortages of postage stamps at numerous Post Offices in Vermont, and mail was forwarded with the old postal markings brought out of storage and used as proof of prepayment. Particularly during 1858 postage stamps were unavailable in Benson for a time, and the following year in Bellows Falls stamps were not in use for some time. Such usages after the end of 1855 are quite scarce. Again during the early days of the Civil War, copies of the new 1861 stamp issue, as the old postage stamps were demonetized to prevent usage by the Confederacy, were in short supply in some small town Post Offices, and the lack of postage stamps was not going to hold up the mail. 21

12 The epilogue of the stampless cover, the legal requirement of postage stamps notwithstanding, must also include the Free Franking privilege of Postmasters which continued until about 1861, and the same for many high ranking officials, most notably members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, which continues to this day. 22 A Vermont Trading Stamp by Terence Hines Until the 1970s, trading stamps were a popular means of giving retail store customers incentives to shop in particular stores. One received one stamp for every ten cents spent. I recall from my childhood in Hanover, NH that Wednesdays were double stamp days, this because a New England tradition had retail stores closed on Wednesdays and retailers were trying to overcome this. There were nation-wide trading stamp companies. Top value stamps (yellow and orange) and S&H green stamps come to mind. But there were also many smaller producers. Unfortunately, no catalog yet exists, although the late state revenue collector Charles Herrmann was working on one at the time of his death. One of the smaller trading stamp companies was the Retailer s Stamp Co. of Island Pond, VT. I have recently acquired a booklet (4 by 5 7/8 in.) issued by this company for its stamps. The text on the inside front page shown here identifies the stamps as being the product of this Vermont company. An example of one of the stamps is also shown, cropped from a full page of stamps. The booklet has 40 pages with spaces for 30 stamps per page, or a total of 1200 stamps. Fifteen and a half pages are covered with stamps. The stamps in the booklet all have the same design. But the color varies from dark red through light red to orange. In addition, there are separation varieties. The stamps in the earlier pages are perforated (perf 12) while those later in the booklet are rouletted (14). Unfortunately, there are no dates anywhere in the booklet but it appears to date from the 1950s or 1960s. Lake Champlain Quadricentennial by Glenn Estus 2009 is the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of Samuel de Champlain in the Champlain Valley region of Vermont and New York State. In early September, Governor James Douglas unveiled Vermont s Quadricentennial logo for the upcoming celebration. One week later on September 14, 2006 the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) headquartered in Grand Isle, Vermont sponsored the International Samuel de Champlain Stamp Cancellation Day. According to the LCPB website, The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is a federal, state, provincial, and local initiative to restore and protect Lake Champlain and its surrounding watershed for future generations. We work in New York, Vermont and Quebec. Five post offices in the Champlain Valley region had one-day pictorial cancellations honoring Champlain and the Quadricentennial. The post offices involved included two in New York (Champlain and Rouses Point), two in Vermont (Alburgh and Isle LaMotte) and one in Quebec (Lacolle). Special ceremonies were held in Isle LaMotte, Champlain and Lacolle. Phyllis Richardson Isle LaMotte postmaster since 1971 (and clerk ), oversees the stamp cancellation while Ferrisburg postmaster Theresa Marron cancels the stamps. Gov. Douglas, Ginny Friedman, Burlington Post Office Customer Rep., Jerome Reen, Jr., Milton Postmaster and Commissioner Bruce Hyde in front of the Champlain Statue. 23

13 I was able to attend the Vermont ceremonies held at Ste. Anne s Shrine in Isle LaMotte. Participating in the Vermont ceremony was Governor James Douglas, Bruce Hyde, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing and also Chair of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial. Other speakers included Bruce Howland, LCBP manager and Celine Paquette, Ste. Anne s Shrine and also vice chair of the New York Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission. 24 Ste. Anne's Shrine Trustee Dr. Celine Paquette welcomes Gov. Douglas and Commissioner Hyde Ste. Anne s shrine was chosen for the Vermont site because it was the location of the first European settlement in Vermont, Fort Ste. Anne founded by Pierre LaMotte in The ceremony and stamp canceling took place beside a statue of Champlain and a native American, originally carved from a piece of Vermont granite at the Vermont pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. The statue was placed on the grounds of Ste. Anne s shrine in Dr. Paquette remarked that the statue and the ground it stands on belong to the state of Vermont completely surrounded by Ste. Anne s shrine. A small contingent of collectors and locals observed the ceremony. The cancels from Isle LaMotte and Alburgh are identical. Vermont Quadricentennial Logo. They show the Notes from the Executive Director In its fiftieth year, the Vermont Philatelic Society has prospered under the leadership of our new President Glenn Estus, and moved forward with several projects to mark the occasion, especially with interesting articles in this journal, and participation at the Vermont History Exposition in Tunbridge. By early November, we have had twenty three new members in this calendar year, expanding our membership to near record levels of the early 1990s. The success of the Vermont Philatelic Society is the result of hard work by a great many people over the years. However, none have had a greater impetus than Dr. Donald Johnstone, who suggested such a Society by letter in 1955, soliciting interest from members of the several stamp clubs in Vermont. He received a positive response from many people, and proceeded to create the first issue of our journal, The Vermont Philatelist, in May, This journal has been issued quarterly since that time, missing only one issue in 1959, through more than two hundred issues to-date. We are very proud and pleased that Don is still present to share in the enthusiasm for our hobby and the philatelic passions that the Vermont Philatelic Society has fostered for more than fifty years. Finally, in the November issue some three years ago I tentatively assigned locations for the Vermont State Stamp Show through Such assignments are always flexible, pending the ability of each local stamp club to produce a fine show. The schedule should be repeated frequently as a reminder of those responsibilities. The current list of assigned locations extended to 2012 is as follows: 2007 Montpelier (June 9th) 2010 Quechee 2008 Brattleboro 2011 Bennington 2009 Burlington 2012 Rutland This listing includes only the changed assignment for Burlington in 2009, allowing for the location of that show to celebrate the 400 th Anniversary of the discovery of Lake Champlain, one of Vermont s best known and most endearing landmarks. That pushes forward Quechee s assigned show to 2010, with Bennington and Rutland to follow in subsequent years. We urge any club or contact person which believes it will be unable to properly support a good show to please contact VPS President Glenn Estus as soon as the situation is known. Bill Lizotte 25

14 26 For The Record 2007 Philatelic Event Calendar April 7, 2007: Crossroads State Stamp Show, Quechee, VT April 13-15, 2007: 44th Lakeshore Club Show, Montreal, Canada May 4-6, 2007: Philatelic Show, Boxborough, MA June 9, 2007: Vermont State Stamp Show, Montpelier, VT October 6, 2007: Crossroads State Stamp Show, Quechee, VT New Members 819 John Schweizer, 170 Boyer Circle Suite 20, Williston VT Glenn Marshall, 55 Mt. Hermon Road, Gill MA Robert Page, 25 Lexington Avenue, Brattleboro VT Helaine Rappaport, 230 St. Paul St. #1101, Burlington VT Wayne Foster, 7 Greenfield Terrace, Montpelier VT Alice D. O Traynor, P.O. Box 175, East Corinth VT Michael O Traynor, P.O. Box 175, East Corinth VT Clifford Douglas, 1976 Mountain Road, Addison VT Edward L. Dorey, 110 Wheatly Court, Colchester VT Jon R. Ojala, 9 Buxton Lane, Jericho VT Alan Bassett, 1345 Rue Berthier, Chambly PQ J3L 3A5 830 Henry C. Beck, 86 County Road, Walpole NH First VPS Donation Auction Results The first Donation Auction to benefit the Vermont Philatelic Society closed on Sunday, October 15, All except five lots were sold. The lots that were unsold were later listed on ebay at lower starting prices. Below are the results of the auction: Lot Amt Lot Amt Lot Amt Lot Amt 3 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $97.50 Jason J. Granger WASHINGTON, DC Jason Judkins Granger, 82, formerly of North Randolph, died November 12, 2006, at the Soldiers and Airmen s Home in Washington, D.C. where he had been a resident since He was born July 2, 1924 in St. Johnsbury, the youngest son of Albert C. and Eliza M. (Judkins) Granger of Passumpsic. He attended grammar school in Passumpsic and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in He also studied at the University of Maine, Orono and the University of Madrid, Spain. He served with the 63rd Infantry Division in Europe during World War II and the 30th Engineer Battalion in the Southwest Pacific and Japan. In 1949 he joined the Air Force and was in the Strategic Air Command for the remainder of his military career, retiring in Spain in After his return to the States, he was a reporter and photographer with the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus and later worked for 15 years as a dispatcher for the Vermont State Police. Prior to his move to Washington, he lived for several years in North Randolph and was a member of Sts. Donatian and Rogatian Parish in Randolph. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus. A long-time philatelist, he was a member of the Vermont Philatelic Society, the Bureau Issues Assn., Lakeshore Stamp Club of Montreal, the United States Stamp Society, and a life member of the American Philatelic Society. Survivors include his brother, John A. Granger, of Northfield; two nieces, Mrs. Wayne (Sally) Barrett of Calais and Mrs. Stephen (Judith) Rivard of Williston; as well as several cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Martin C. Granger in Memorial services were held at Rose Chapel at tlie Soldiers and Airmen s Home and interment was at the National Soldiers Home Cemetery in Washington D.C. This pictorial firstday-of-issue cancel was used in Ticonderoga, NY on May 28, 2006 for the US Champlain Surveys the East Coast stamp issue. 27

15 28 It Happened 25 Years Ago from the November 1981 Issue Post Offices whose Postmarks Are Rarely Found featured South Burke. Named after the English statesman, Edmund Burke ( ), the town was chartered in The South Burke post office was opened on March 10, In addition, there were post offices at Burke, East Burke and West Burke. The finding of this cover removed South Burke from the unknown list. Another feature article was an update of Backstamps, how they were used and their importance to postal history. CHAMPEX '81 was co-hosted by the Chittenden County Stamp Club and the Plattsburg Stamp Club at the Sheraton Inn, Burlington, VT on November 7, An article about RFD cancels featured a newly discovered Ludlow, VT R.F.D flag cancel. In the early days, the RFD carriers were furnished with a handstamp postmarking device. If the mail was for someone further along the route, the carrier could postmark the mail and deliver it the same day. Many of these cancels simply read R.F.D. This Ludlow example carries the additional No. 2 addition. Since there was no time or date on the stamp, it could only be legally used to postmark mail to be delivered on the same route. The final article showed a cover that was postmarked a century ahead of its time. A 1847 cover carried the manuscript cancel Et St Johnsbury Vt. A post office for East St. Johnsbury was not actually established until July 1, There was also a note of caution about patriotic covers postmarked from Victory, VT. Although there are many genuine covers, there was growing evidence that someone possessed a rubber stamp and was continuing to create covers for sale at high prices to unsuspecting collectors. Vermont Philatelic Society Auction #84 CLOSING DATE - December 20, 2006 Standard auction rules and conditions apply. Errors returnable within 5 days. Successful bidders will be notified; lots mailed upon receipt of payment. No buyer s fee. Successful bidders will be charged postage and insurance at cost. Bid increments: under $25 =.50; $25-50 = $1.00; $50 and up = $5.00. Mail bids to: Stanley Sumner, PO Box 956, Montpelier, VT WE NEED AUCTION LOTS Please send in some material for the VPS Auctions. Lots should be in VG or better condition and should relate to Vermont Postal History. Small amounts of other philatelic material will be accepted. Please provide your minimum bid per lot. A 15% fee of the sale price will be deducted for the Society on consignment lots. Please mail lots to Stanley Sumner, Auction Coordinator, POB 956, Montpelier, VT LOT# DESCRIPTION MIN. BID VERMONT PPC S: 1. 4 Diff. D.P.O s - Braintree, E. Clarendon, S. Wallingford, N. Shelburne F/VF to VF Towns - E.Montpelier, Pownal, E. Corinth, E. Calais, E. Ryegate, S. Royalton F/VF Towns from 1906 to 1917, i.e. Isle Lamotte, Brownsville, N.Hartland, E.Thetford, South Londonderry, etc Small towns on more recent PPC s, i.e. East Dover, East Calais, Morgan, Manchester Center, etc D.P.O s - Ely, East Clarendon, North Craftsbury, Manchester Depot F/VF D.P.O s - North Sheldon, East Shoreham (As Receiving) Hubbarton, Amsden, Healdville, F/VF Tyson to Healdville F/VF 5.00 MISC. VERMONT COVERS: 8. Hubbarton mourning cover VF Rutland Heartwell Station Opening Day of P.O. VF South Newbury - D.P.O. on #10 Envelope - National League of District Postmasters (2) Victory VT. Unused catches May 8 very nice & VF Stampless - Bellows Falls (SFL) with contents Paid F Stampless - Burlington, 5 Rate 1848 F/VF (some burn marks) Westmore postmark on 3c green BN early & scarce

16 VERMONT STAMPLESS COVERS: 15. Brookfield red NOR postmark, rate 5 F Burlington red cds rate 5 inside circ. VF Chelsea red cds, ms rate 10 VF Derby Line red cds, Paid 3 in circle F Highgate red cds, boxed 5 rate, pretty F/VF Hydeville bold black cds, Paid 3 in circle F/VF Manchester black cds, ms rate 6 F/VF Middlebury blue cds postmaster free frank (Sprague) - ) notes on cover relate to 1854 State Democratic Convention in Middlebury) F/VF North Pownal black cds, Paid 3 in circle VF Proctorsville red cds, ms rate 12 1 /2 F Randolph red cds, hs free F Wells River black no outer rim pmk, scarce F VERMONT MANUSCRIPT STAMPLESS COVERS: 27. Barton Paid 10 VF Bellows Falls rate 6 VF Bridport rate 5 VF Corinth rate 12 1 /2 VF Cornwall rate 6 DPO VF Coventry rate 10 VF East Bethel rate 5 DPO VF Perkinsville rate 5 VF Rochester rate 12 1 /2 VF Roxbury rate 5 F/VF West Haven rate 5 DPO F/VF West Townshend Paid 12 1 /2 Border Cover VF PRICES REALIZED AUCTION #83 Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt AUCTION BID FORM ENCLOSED Remember, the Auction #84 closing date is: December 20, 2006 WE NEED AUCTION LOTS: Submit lots of VG or better condition that will be of interest to collectors of Vermont material. List your minimum bid for each lot. A 15% commission is earned by the Society on consignment lots. Mail your lots to Stanley Sumner, Auction Coordinator, PO Box 956, Montpelier, VT Editor s Notebook by John A. Lutz john@vtstamp.com Let s take a moment to look back over 2006 from this editor s chair. Entering the year, it looked like a daunting set of deadlines lay ahead. It was the 50th anniversary of the Vermont Philatelic Society and there was the missing issue from1959 to make up. Relatively few articles had been submitted for publication and some past active authors died. Now almost a year later, how things have changed! The updated and expanded DPO catalog, first appearing as an issue of the VP, has met with great approval. An interesting biography in this issue introduces you to Sidney Harris, another person who played an important role in the early success of the VPS. You ve told me, more people articles, please. New authors have been identified to write important articles that feature the postal history of Vermont towns. The February 2007 issue will lead off with James Oliver s extensive article about the post offices of Albany, Vermont. I first became aware of the material Jim had gathered when some of it was featured in the Albany, VT exhibit at the Vermont History Expo. Later in the year you will read more about the postal history of Halifax, Vermont. Several of the features you have read in past issues were from information collected by individuals who did not feel they could write finished articles. Please send your gathered material, and I will help you shape it into acceptable publishing form. Other future articles will acquaint you with how mail is moved around the state and the day-to-day operation of the two major mail centers in Vermont. You will also read about how many of the major stamp auction houses came to have their auction catalogs printed here in Vermont. On the plus side, I m hearing from more VPS members as I meet them at various events. The consensus is, I like the mix of new and old features in the VP, keep them coming! Now I ll await your response to the Vermont Connections project. When the list is complete, it will become a 8-10 page booklet for easy checklist reference. John Lutz 31