What's New At the PF>
Greetings from the New Executive Director
Well, the first bit of news is I’m now the Executive Director! Much thanks to Steven Belasco who steered the ship and captained the PF vessel on a good steady course for 2½ years. It’s now in my hands and I’m looking forward to revving up those big engines and plunging into those huge philatelic education waves.
Certificate Search Made Easy
If you have been off the planet, the biggest news is our online image project. From our website just click on “Certificate Search” on the homepage and you will be able to access the opinions we have issued from April 2000 through a few months ago. This includes data from our banks of certificate 353,001 through 485,999. This is about 133,000 items for the mathematically challenged. We will continue to update with new opinions as time goes forward. We are also working on the earlier certificates before 2000. These require different technology which will take more time. Walking backwards is harder than walking forwards. Eventually we will go back to the time of black and white photography. One more thing to point out—the images are amazing! If you ask for Scott Catalogue #11 you can review 597 certificates. If you want to see $5.00 Columbians there are 345 to look at. If you like inverted Jenny’s you can see the certificate opinions and review the faults on 30 examples of upside down airplanes. It’s fun for all ages and there’s something for everyone, as they say. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the David Beals III Charitable Trust for helping us bring this project to you.
Coming Up
My agenda contains a long list of educational projects which will get posted to this website. The first one is entitled “Why Expertise?” This should be ready soon. Look for it.
More PF News
I just got back from Richmond, Virginia were I attended StampShow 2010. Mucho traffic on the highway from Maryland to Richmond but the trip was well worth it. My exhibit “Carrier Service in the Major Cities 1842 – 1863” won the Grand Award to my delight and to the dismay of the other 100+ entries. If you’re one of those, look on the bright side—this exhibit can’t be entered competitively again this year. Special congratulations to Richard Malmgren who won the “Champion of Champions” award with his exhibit “Hawaiian Postage Stamps.” To the 33 runners-up, known as the “ataboys group” of which I am a member—look on the bright side—the winning exhibit cannot compete nationally again. If you are an exhibitor on the highest level ponder this—you can win up to 34 Grand Awards with the same exhibit and then it must be retired, and you will be tired as well.
Special congratulations to PF trustee Donald Sundman who received the esteemed Luff Award at the StampShow Awards dinner. Don has truly given outstanding service to the APS. This is the highest recognition accorded by the American Philatelic Society.
If you ask me what I enjoyed most at the StampShow I will tell you how exciting it was to meet the youth group and hear them speak about our wonderful hobby. I intend on doing more here.
Expertising
Our turn-around time is about 25 days for standard service. Submitting items for certification is one way of helping the PF. Please select some items from your collection and get them certified..
Donations
Ideas cost time and money. We have people willing to spend the time. Money is needed for educational promotion and running this super fleet vessel at which I am at the helm. Won’t you consider sending in your tax-deductible donation today?
Thanks and Happy Collecting,
Larry Lyons,
Executive Director
Fast Service
The Experts at The Philatelic Foundation continue to do an amazing job returning stamps and covers much faster than the average turnaround times listed on our applications. For example, the turnaround time on stamps and covers submitted for Priority Service has been averaging less than three weeks (15 business days) rather than the four weeks (20 business days) indicated on our applications. Even more important for most of our clients, the average turnaround time for our Standard Service has been only four weeks (20 business days) rather than the six to seven weeks (30-35 business days) shown on our applications. Now is a great time to submit your stamps and covers and enjoy this fast service.
The PF's Grading Manual
As you may recall, the Philatelic Foundation published an easy-to-use grading manual in April 2009. This publication has been well received for its clarity and utility. This manual evidences The Philatelic Foundation's belief that grading, when used properly, can help new and non-specialist collectors understand how stamps can be evaluated and compared using a numerical system. If you would like a free copy of our Grading Manual, please call us at 212-221-6555 or e-mail sbelasco@philatelicfoundation.org and we will send you one. You can also view and use the online version on this web site. (Please be aware that this is a large file that may take several minutes to download).
Contributions
The PF is nonprofit educational organization chartered by the State of New York. Donations to the PF are tax deductible to the full extent of the tax law. In order to help us fulfill our mission to educate stamp collectors and promote our hobby, we need assistance from the philatelic community we serve. Contributors receive a number of benefits outlined on our web site at including the right to submit items for expertization without making advance payment. Click here to find out more. Please make a contribution today.
I hope that you will contact me at gjkk@optonline.net with comments and suggestions about how we are doing at the PF and how we can continue to serve philately.
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