The Philatelic Communicator Quarterly Journal of Writers Unit 30, American Philatelic Society. Volume 26, Number 1, Whole Number 99. First Quarter 1993. The Intellectual Legacy of The Essay-ProofJournal By Barbara R. Mueller In 1993 The Essay-ProofJournal will enter its 50th volume, and layout. This has resulted in a continuity of appearance that still a quality, professionally printed quarterly in substantially members seem to treasure. Efforts to “modernize” or even the same format and with the same look as Volume 1, Number economize are always shot down with pleas for maintaining 1, issued in 1944. Throughout this half century, six editors uniformity as a sort of emotional link to the past. (Clarence Brazer, Julian Blanchard, P. H. Thorp, Edith The numismatic influence on EPJ, which in my opinion, Faulstich, David Lidman, and myself) have struggled to eventually resulted in the decline of the society, was felt from maintain its status as a scholarly publication during great the very beginning, although foimding father Clarence Brazer changes in philately itself. himself was interested in currency only marginally. The Its thrust has always been the study of the artistic and attraction for him lay in the men, their companies, and their art, historical backgroimd of stamps. Paper currency was added to first evidenced through the production of paper money, and the mix almost from the start because of common connections then, in the 1840s, in postage stamps. And while he lived, the between the two by virtue of shared designs and producers. All numismatic segment never gained ascendancy; he kept it in its this has been carried out by a dedicated group that never place, as it were. approached the thousand mark but usually numbered half that But other influential members likeThomas F. Morris Jr. and membership. It seems that there have always been willing, Dr. Julian Blanchard, the latter eventually heading the society, generous, usually anonymous contributors to pick up the deficits contributed numismatic articles from the outset. Their benehcial when necessary as a service to philately. work was almost academic in quality but uninteresting to many The Journal has reflected the conservatism of the sponsoring philatelic members. I joined EPS in 1956 and as the years Essay-Proof Society, even shunning innovation in typography Essay-Proof. Page 20. How’s Your Favorite Publication Doing? By Frank L. Sente Gross national product, gross domestic product, consumer debt burdens. In the short term the refinancing scenario may price index, labor productivity, unemployment rate, inflation have taken as many dollars away from the economy as it rate, and so on and so forth; the list of indicators available to generated for it. economists to describe and make predictions about the business In contrast to the national economy, there are very few data cycle and the nation’s economy goes on and on. But even with indicators available upon which to gauge the health or direction the seemingly endless streak of data, economists often disagree of the philatelic marketplace or the state of the stamp collecting about the direction of the economy. hobby. While there are not many measurable philatelic business Differing perceptions of consumer sentiment and interpreta- indicators available, predictions about the state of philately still tions about the interplay of various market forces and other abound. Most current predictions are doom-and-gloom and the factors affecting the economy lead different economists to figures doomsayers most often point to are the declining differing predictions. Sometimes consumer sentiment can be circulations of most stamp periodicals and the declining mem- more important than standard economic indicators in deter- bership totals of many societies. mining the outcome,of a particular economic event. For the record, here are the average annual paid circulation When mortgage interest rates began to tumble, many figures as provided on the annual USPS Statement of Ownership economists predicted^the rush to refinance at lower rates would Publication . Page 21. put billions of disposable dollars into the hands of homeowners who, in turn, would help fuel the lagging economy by eagerly spending the net savings on their mortgage payments. WU30 Spring Breakfast However, as recently reported in a New York Times article, The featured speaker will be Bill Bauer, on becoming many homeowners also opted for shorter term mortgages when they refinanced, with the net effect in such cases usually being a philatelic literature judge. Rochester, New York, increased monthly payments, meaning less disposable income to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, March 28, 1993. See Secretary- spend! Rather than spending their windfall, many other re- Treasurer report back cover. financers siihply applied their net savings toward reducing other 1 The Philatelic Communicator Literature Exhibition Calendar ISSN 0147-3646 March 6-7, 1993 The Philatelic Communicator, quarterlyjournal ofWriters Unit 30 Springpex ’93, Springfield, Virginia. For information write to of the American Philatelic Society, 2501 Drexel St., Vienna, VA Springpex ’93 Literature Chairman, P.O. Box 505, Springfield, 22180. VA 22150. The Producer-Publisher is; March 27-28, 1993 Joe F. Frye Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum’s Seventeenth Annual P O Box 22308 Philatelic Literature Fair. For information write to Joseph W. Memphis TN 38122-0308 ......................... (901) 327-8984 Mullin, 235 Wellesley St., Weston, MA 02193. Thejournal is mailed by: Bulk Rate, permit 957, Memphis, TN, April 3-4, 1993 to U.S. ZIP code addresses; First Class to Canada and Mexico; AO Airmail (Printed Matter rate) to aU others. Please report address Colopex 93, Columbus, Ohio. Information from Gary D. changes to the Secretary-Treasureras soon as known in order to avoid Weaver, P.O. Box 1094, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. loss of issues. April 30-May 2, 1993 Writers Unit 30 has as its primary objectivethe encouragementand Royal 93 Royale at Orapex, Ottawa. Canada’s Second National improvement of philatelic writing in all of its various forms. Literature Competition. For information write to Orapex, c/o R. AllWriters Unit 30 business except editorial matter for this journal A. Centre, 2451 Riverside Dr., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIH should be handled through the Secretary-Treasurer: 7X7. George B. Griffenhagen May 7-9 1993 2501 Drexel Street Vienna VA 22180-6906 ............................(703)560-2413 Pipex 93, Vancouver, British Columbia. For information write to William Davidson, 1502 Harbour Dr., Coquitlam, BC, Editorial matters should be handled with the editor: Canada V3J 5V5. Ken Lawrence P O Box 3568 IP mO May 7-16, 1993 Jackson MS 39207 ................................... (601) 969-2269 Polska 93, Poznan, Poland. For information write to Seymour Banchik, U. S. Commissioner, P.O. Box 8, Rockaway Park, All submissions for publication, without exception, are subject to NY 60304. being edited. Opinions expressed in The Philatelic Communicator are those of their authors, but not necessarily of APS Writers Unit 30, its June 1993 officers, or agents. Letters received by the editor may be published Third New Zealand National Philatelic Literature Exhibition, unless labeled “Not for Publication.” Palmerston North, New Zealand. Information from Central Officers of Writers Unit 30, a non-profit corporation, in addition Districts Philatelic Trust, P.O. Box 206, Palmerston North, to the Secretary-Treasurerand Editor, are: New Zealand. Charles J. Peterson...........................................President July 30-August 8, 1993 P O Box 5559 Brasiliana 93, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For information write to Laurel MD 20726 ................................... (301)776-9822 John E. Lievsay, U.S. Commissioner, 20 Center Drive, Old Alan W arren............................................. Vice-President,East Greenwich, CT 06870. P O Box 17124 August 19-22, 1993 Philadelphia PA 19105____[Evenings] (215) 467-3730 STaMpsHOW 93, Houston, Texas. Information from American Robert D. Raw lins.......................... Vice-President, West Philatelic Society, P.O. Box 8000, State College, PA 16803. P O Box 981 Healdsburg CA 95448 .............................. (707) 431-1109 September 22-26, 1993 Wapex 93, first Australasian National Philatelic Literature The Executive Committee includes the officers plus Robert de Exlfibition, Perth, Australia. Information from Central Districts VioUni (immediate past president) and Steven J. Rod (elected vice- president), both ex-officio. Philatelic Trust, P.O. Box 206, Palmerston North, New Council Zealand. Dane S. Claussen Robert de Violini October 1-10, 1993 JanetKlug GeorgeM. Martin Bangkok 1993. Bangkok, Thailand. For information write to Norma L. McCumber R. V. Skavaril Mary Ann Owens, U.S. Commissioner, P.O. Box 021164, William L. Welch Brooklyn, NY 11202-0026. October 8-10, 1993 Sescal 93, Los Angeles, California. Information from James A. Colping Up in 1993: Bowman, 3459 Township, Simi Valley, CA 93063. October 17-24, 1993 WU30 Elections Philtema Philatelic Literature Fair International, Milan, Italy. For information write to George Guzzio, U.S. Commissioner, 134 Berkeley Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217. DEADLINES January 27-30, 1994 For receipt of copy by the editor: Hafiiia. Copenhagen, Denmark. Details to come. June 8-16, 1996 Second Quarter 1993 ...... March 20, 1993 Capex ’96, Toronto, Ontario. For information write to Capex Third Quarter 1993 ...................... June 20, 1993 ’96, P.O. Box 204, Station