GREEN BAY PHILATELIC SOCIETY 2214 Allouez Ave., Green Bay, WI 54311 President: Dave Burrows 468-7566 Vol. 36 No. 1 January, 2016 Vice President: Randy Younger 619-3920 Secretary: Ray Perry 469-8925 Editor: Ray Perry 469-8925 Treasurer: Kirk Becker 680-1063 Publisher: Darryl Ruprecht 468-6348 JANUARY MEETING – Happy New Year WHERE: BROWN COUNTY AGING AND DISABILITY CENTER WHEN: January 21, 2016 (third Thursday of every month) TIME: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Business Meeting 7:30 pm PROGRAM: Mystery Presentation by Dave Burrows Reminder: We need volunteer members to pick up a key from the Senior Center by 4:00 pm on the day of the meeting. January’s volunteer is Dave Burrows. Note: Winter Months Reminder: in the event of adverse weather the meeting will be canceled if the Green Bay Public Schools are canceled.
December Meeting President Dave Burrows called the meeting to order. successfully. The clues and correct answers are The minutes of the October meeting were read and shown below. approved as read. The Treasurer’s report was given and a motion to approve that report was approved. 1. This stamp depicts a bird whose color is derived from its heavy seafood diet. Scott Committees: #2707 - Flamingo Properties: Ray volunteered to contact club 2. This stamp depicts the author of the historian, Pat Hull, to check on his membership following words, “O Divine Master, grant status. Ray also agreed to check with ADRC to that I may not so much seek to be consoled check on availability of storage space for the club at as to console; to be understood as to the Center. understand; to be loved as to love.” Scott #2023 – St. Francis of Assisi Unfinished Business: Clete’s nomination to the 3. This stamp from the well known Presidential GBPS Hall of Fame was submitted with a cover series paid the “transient second-class letter and three seconding letters from other clubs. postage rate” for a magazine weighing up to 16 ounces in 1942. Scott #813 – Martin Van New Business: A motion was made to second the Buren (1 cent for every 2 ounces) nomination of Michael Bloom to run for the APS 4. This car started out as an American made Director at Large position. vehicle, but its last car rolled off a Canadian assembly line in 1966. (1 of 2 possible December Program: stamps) Scott #3931 or 4354 - Studebaker 5. This Russian/American aviation pioneer is In addition to our annual Christmas Party or as our credited with developing America’s first illustrious president calls it “edible and quaffable viable helicopter and developing the rotor delights with jovial and convivial conversation” we configuration still in use today. Scott #C119 also had a Philatelic Scavenger Hunt. A large – Igor Sikorsky number of members participated including two that 6. This prestamped postal card commemorates couldn’t make the meeting (Darlene Waterstreet and the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase in John Spangler), they both answered all the clues 1806. Scott #UX91 - Lewis and Clark Expedition 7. This stamp portrays a flower whose name is I have taken the liberty of inserting some images of also used as a derogatory name for a wimpy the items Dave discusses in his deliberations this athlete (1 of 2 possible stamps). Scott #3027 month. They are shown below: or 4450 - pansy 8. This stamp commemorates a mode of transportation made famous in a popular song written by Harry Dacre over 100 years ago. Scott #2266 tandem bicycle 9. This stamp commemorates the Postmaster General under President A. Lincoln. Scott #C66 – Montgomery Blair 10. This stamp commemorates an American author and poet known as the Hoosier poet and Children’s poet. His best known work Mulready Letter Sheet was about a young girl who had lost both parents and was living in his home when she was a child. Scott #868 – James Whitcomb Riley So how did you do? Hope you had fun on your philatelic scavenger hunt.
Dave’s Deliberations
With few exceptions Rowland Hill’s name and fame is known by all stamp collectors. Fewer know of William Mulready, the artist responsible for the the William Wyon City Medal of 1837 Mulready letter sheet. Still fewer know of William Wyon.
William Wyon designed the City Medal of 1837 and this according to Stanley Gibbons was the portrait employed on all Great Britain stamps of the realm.
Mulready sheets and envelopes were each sold as a single sheet of twelve for fifteen pence, twelve pence for postage and three pence for the paper. Customers would separate individual items and fold each before mailing. William Wyon medal in octagonal stamp design
The Mulready design was not accepted by the populace and was quickly replaced in 1841 with an Ray’s Ramblings embossed Wyon design. Letter sheets and envelope sheets were sold in the manner of the Mulreadys. In So for some time now we’ve been going through 1845 a machine was patented that was able to crease U.S. stamps decade by decade. Last month we finished up the 1990’s. One could assume that we and fold precut individual sheets into an envelope. st The fastening of the envelope was by wax or glue at will start on the first decade of the 21 century next. the point all four corners of the diamond shape came Maybe some day we will, but right now that just together. seems too recent. We also have U.S. back of the book to consider in the future, but for this month I The Wyon design mentioned above has an oval think we’ll journey abroad. There are many stamp frame. Beginning in 1847 embossed adhesive collecting entities to choose from and I wasn’t quite stamps engraved by Wyon with an octagonal frame sure which one to choose. In the past we’ve touched were issued. on Canada, the Netherlands, Czeslaw Slania engraved stamps, warm weather countries in the Caribbean, and some that have issued joint issues with the U.S. Where to go? I was stumped, so I do what every married man should do when stumped – These cantonal stamps were used up until ask his wife . What did she say – Switzerland issued its first postage stamp in 1850. SWITZERLAND! I thought Switzerland, I don’t This first postage stamp of Switzerland is shown know much about Swiss stamps, sure I have a few, below. but have never really delved into the country. Then I thought this will be a great opportunity to learn about a country I have not spent much time collecting to date. So here goes on Switzerland.
As most of you know Switzerland is a small country in central Europe. The country is landlocked and is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. The capital is Bern. The country has a population of about 8 million people. Switzerland is composed of four main linguistic and cultural areas. Switzerland Scott #1 These are: German, French, Italian, and Romansh (a descendant of the Latin language). Switzerland has On many Swiss stamps we see Helvetia, or the long been a neutral country. It has existed in its female national personification of Switzerland. It is present form since adopting the Swiss Federal also this name that we most commonly associate Constitution in 1848, the same year Wisconsin with Swiss stamps. Early on in the history of Swiss became a state. The official name of Switzerland is stamps we find a number of definitives that depict the Swiss Confederation. In reality Switzerland this allegorical figure. One of these is pictured exists today as a federal directorial republic, but has below. retained the official name for historical reasons. The country is made up of three different geographical areas: the Alps, the Swiss Plateau, and Jura. The largest in area are the Alps, the population is predominantly located on the Swiss Plateau, and Jura is a separate mountain range from the Alps located along the western border with France. Switzerland is the founding place of the Red Cross. In addition it has the second largest U.N. office.
So now we have a little background on Switzerland, Switzerland Scott #133 what about its stamps? My Scott catalogue lists 1,244 regular stamp issues, 701 semi-postal issues, Another common topic on early Swiss definitives and 46 airmail stamps through May 9, 2006. Then was William Tell and his son. How could we talk there are postage dues, officials, War Board of Trade about Switzerland without mentioning the famous stamps, and League of Nations stamps. There were crossbow marksman. The legend goes that at the several Cantonal Administration stamps issued prior time of William Tell the Austrian emporers were to Switzerland Scott #1. What is a Canton? It is to trying to dominate Switzerland. The Austrian in Switzerland like states are to the U.S. Shown below charge was a man named Gessler. Gessler hung his are a couple of examples of these Cantonal stamps: hat on a pole and demanded that all bow down to it. William Tell refused. Gessler had Tell arrested and came up with a cruel punishment. Both Tell and his son would be executed. Gessler allowed for a way out. If Tell could shoot an apple off his son’s head their lives would be spared. As we all know Tell split the apple on his son’s head. However, Gessler noticed that Tell had removed not one, but two bolts from his quiver. He asked Tell what the second bolt was for and after being assured that his life would be
Zurich Canton Geneva Canton spared told Gessler that had he missed with his first shot and killed his son, the second arrow would be used on Gessler. Gessler was furious and had Tell imprisoned for the rest of his “spared” life. Tell philanthropist, and founder of the Red Cross. The managed to escape during a storm as he was being semi-postal stamp is shown below. transported by boat across Lake Lucerne. He assassinated Gessler sparking a rebellion leading to the formation of the Swiss Confederation. Stamps depicting William Tell and his son are shown below.
Scott #B48 Switzerland is also famous for the Swiss Army William Tell William Tell’s Son Knife, a useful knife with any number of added “blades” like bottle opener, can opener, scissors, and A couple more sets of earlier Swiss stamps that I so on depending on the model. It is pictured on the find attractive depict various scenic views and stamps shown below. various construction fetes. The scenic designs were issued in 1934 and printed using typography. A second set was issued from 1936-42 and was engraved. There were also some design and color differences between the two sets. Shown below are pictures of two stamps, one from the first set and one from the second set.
Two Swiss stamps issued in 2006 picturing Swiss Army Knives
Scott #224 (Typo.) Scott #235 (Engr.) Dues are now past due, if you have not yet paid the (Via Mala Gorge) (Balsthal Pass) $10.00 annual dues for 2016, please bring them to The various construction stamps were issued in 1949 the January meeting or mail them to me at the and depict significant construction achievements in address in the newsletter letterhead. Thank you. Switzerland. Images of a couple of these stamps are Stamp Shows shown below. (See Across the Fence Post for more details) Feb. 6 Janesville Exhibition and Bourse, Ramada Inn, 3900 Milton Ave., Janesville, WI Mar 5-6 Stampfest ’16, St. Aloysius Gonzaga Hall, 1435 S. 92nd Street, West Allis, WI
Schedule of Events Shown below is the program schedule for the current year: January Mystery Presentation by D. Burrows Scott #329 Scott #336 (Viaducts) (Harbor of the Rhine) February Show and Tell – show off your best SOTN Both of these issues included stamps that were cancel or some other fancy cancel. overprinted for official use. March Baypex ’13 Final Plans and Mystery Presentation by Mark Schroeder Earlier I mentioned that the International Red Cross was founded in Switzerland. It was founded in 1864 April Single Page Topical in Geneva, Switzerland to help provide neutral May medical assistance to men and women wounded in battle. Switzerland issued two stamps in 1939 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the organization. It also issued a semi-postal stamp in 1928 commemorating the 100th anniversary of Jean
Henri Dunant’s birth. Dunant was a Swiss author, Election of Officers
June Joint Meeting with Appleton in Green Bay, Surprise Program (no business meeting)
July & August Silent Auction (no business meeting)
Note: There will be a silent auction each month.