I’ve been a bit slow about mentioning this, but the American Philatelic Society earlier this year released the first issue of its newest publication, StampEd.
StampEd is a quarterly publication the APS says is aimed largely at younger stamp collectors, and as such it’s available only online. I browsed the first issue a few weeks ago, and I must say I’m favorably impressed. There were articles about younger collectors and their interests, sure, but there was also a lengthy write-up about modern United States postal counterfeits.
Although I’ve been collecting stamps for roughly 30 years, and consider myself very much in the “middle-aged” category, I still found the publication interesting and informative and worth browsing.
The best part of all is that unlike the American Philatelist, the APS’s monthly journal that’s a benefit of membership, StampEd is free, and you don’t even have to sign up for anything to view the magazine.
What do you think of this new publication? I hope you enjoy it as I did, and I look forward to seeing what the APS’s editorial staff has planned for future issues.
Purgatory Post marks 250th anniversary of Boston Port Act
New Hampshire-based Purgatory Post recently commemorated the 250th anniversary of the Boston Port Act, also known as the Trade Act of 1774, with the issuance of a 2-sola local post stamp. The stamp was released April 1.
The stamp, which has a blue frame reminiscent of the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition commemorative issued by the United States, includes an illustration of British warships in Boston Harbor as its vignette.
Purgatory Post 2-sola Boston Port Act stamp
The British Parliament passed the Boston Port Act on March 31, 1774. The law, which went into effect June 1 of that year, enacted a blockade closing Boston Harbor to trade.
While the measure was intended to punish the people of Boston for the actions of the individuals who participated in the Boston Tea Party, it, along with the other four so-called Intolerable Acts, was one factor that helped unify the American colonies.
New Philosateleian Post stamp celebrates the accordion
Philosateleian Post will issue its second new local post stamp of 2024 in late May with the release of a special stamp celebrating the accordion. The 1-stamp design is slated for a first day of issue on May 30.
Existing accordion variants include diatonic button accordions, chromatic button accordions, and piano accordions. An example of the last of those is pictured on Philosateleian Post’s new stamp.
Philosateleian Post Accordion stamp
The earliest accordions date back to the 1820s. All accordion types (excluding digital) are part of the free reed aerophone family, which also includes other hand-pumped, bellows-driven instruments such as the concertina and harmonium as well as other instruments ranging from reed organs to harmonicas.
Philosateleian Post’s proprietor, Kevin Blackston, began learning to play a piano accordion in 2020.
“Although I had previously played around with guitar, and actually took piano lessons during high school, no instrument has ever captured my attention like the accordion,” says Blackston. “Although life’s other demands leave nowhere near as much time as I would like for making music, I still enjoy picking up my box and squeezing the bellows at every opportunity.”
Technical Specifications
Format: sheets of 63 (7×9). Plate number: P240414. Design size: 23×23 mm. Overall size: 26×26 mm. Separation method: perforated 12. Adhesive: water-activated dry gum. Printing method: laser.
Philatelic Services
To receive a mint single of Philosateleian Post’s Accordion 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 217
Floresville TX 78114-0217
United States of America
Less than two months have passed since the last time I wrote about new stamps from Como Park Post, but the Minnesota-based local post on March 28 issued a pair of new stamps.
The two triangular designs feature the wording “3 Cent Como Pk Post” and “Como Pk Post 3¢,” respectively.
Como Park Post 3¢ triangular stamps
The stamps are printed in pairs on light green paper. Como Park Post’s operator, Tom B., also provided me with some test prints on a dark green paper, but I think his ultimate color selection was the right way to go.
On March 22, Purgatory Post issued the latest in its long-running series of local post stamps picturing New Hampshire’s covered bridges. The 23-sola stamp pictures Blow-Me-Down Bridge, an 86-foot-long span across Blow-Me-Down Brook in Cornish, New Hampshire.
Purgatory Post 23-sola Blow-Me-Down Bridge stamp
Blow-Me-Down Bridge was built in 1877 for a total cost of just under $530, and was used for nearly a century without needing any substantial repairs. The bridge was closed to traffic in 1974, however, and remained closed for several years until needed repairs were effected. Following a second closure for repairs at the end of the 20th century, the bridge reopened in 2002 and has been in regular use ever since.
As do other stamps in this series, Purgatory Post’s newest bridge stamp utilizes a frame from one of the United States Pan-American Exposition stamps issued in 1901. It gives the stamp a classic look.
