Philatelic Society of Lancaster County

The James Buchanan Chapter #173 of the American Philatelic Society
Chapter #118 of the American Topical Association

Welcome – Enjoy your Visit!

The Philatelic Society of Lancaster County (PSLC) is an award-winning, non-profit community organization dedicated to promoting stamp collecting as a hobby for education and fun, from the teenager to adult, from the beginner to postal historian, serving members from south central PA, Northern Maryland and beyond. For Membership Benefits and/or to become a member, click JOIN US.

2023 SOCIETY PROGRAMS

We meet in-personon the second Wednesday of the month in The Crossings Meeting Room at Landis Homes on 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA (Directions below). Doors open at 6:30 PM. We hold a brief business meeting, followed by our keynote speaker, then a Show, Tell & Ask, where members & guests can share their favorite stamp, cover, or other philatelic item and take a question or two. There are refreshments, snacks, and a bourse. Come Early to Share, Buy, Sell, and/or Trade.

As an added bonus to our members & friends far & wide, we host a Virtual Zoom meeting on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Visitors always welcome! Contact Paul Petersen at +1 (717) 299-5640 or pcpetersen@comcast.net for more info or to sign-up for one of our speakers bureau slots.

October 11: “U.K. Inland Airmail: 1933-1943,” by Mike Bach. This presentation depicts the story about the start of domestic airmail within the United Kingdom. In 1933 Imperial Airways (now British Airways) carried a substantial amount of mail around the world however zero was carried by air domestically even though there were many airlines throughout the United Kingdom. Why you may ask? The answer is the railways. However, it was to a railway company, The Great Western Railway Company specifically, to whom the Post Office turned to in 1933 start the first air letter service. After that there was a scramble, sanctioned and mostly non-sanctioned by HM Postmaster General to imitate this service. There were many failures but ultimately successes. All the stamps on the covers being shown are termed as “Cinderella’s” even though some were sanctioned by the Post Office. Most I will show you are fairly common but others are extremely rare. The cover below is the starting point…or is it?

October 25: “Only You Can Collect Smokey the Bear,” by Rick Barrett. Yes, Rick is back once more with another great collecting story, a fun philatelic talk merging postal history, the U.S. Forestry Association, his promotional Cinderella stamps, and the story of Smokey Bear all in one!

Engaging PSLC member and storyteller, Rick will share his love for all three with us, while showing gems from the collection he has put together over the last 55 years. Be sure to enjoy another fast paced, eye-catching presentation of his, called “Only You Can Collect Smokey Bear.”

November 8: “The Development of Perforations on U.S. Postage Stamps by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Company: 1855-1857,” by Dr, Charles J. DiComo. Charles will revisit the events preceding the purchase of the perforating machine by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. (TCC); review the inventors of the rotary perforating machine and the rouletting trial period by TCC with Perkins, Bacon and Bemrose in England; the conversion to a perforator by TCC, and the issuance of perforated 3¢ stamps in February 1857. Research has determined that examples of the stamp with a vertical line that looks like it was made with a felt-tip marker, are in fact proofs utilized during the perforation trials. The proofs are also on a thinner paper that distinguishes them from normal stamps. Charles’ never-ending research has been in progress for decades and is in tribute to his mentor W. Wilson Hulme, who pioneered this area and passed along his database and unpublished research prior to his passing.

November 22: “The Peak of Post-Great War Hyperinflation in Germany and Eastern Europe,” by Scott Ney.

December 13: December Lunch or Dinner, Venue and Time TBA.

December 27: “Advertising Covers with Interesting Philatelic Features”, by Mike Wilson. Join us this evening and view an array of advertising covers from the 1850s through the 1930s. These represent a variety of businesses (including the USPOD) with their economic and social histories as available. Augmenting these covers are the interesting philatelic stories represented in the franking, cancels, and paper. Included are the earliest uses of the 2-cent (#210) workhorse stamps, the rotary press issues usage from 1914, the American Postal Machine and Barry Machine cancels, and many others such as the Zepps and an 1886 Telephone Co. Cover. This is just the start.

2023 REGIONAL SHOWS, BOURSES & GATHERINGS

Lancaster Stamp Show

Kevin Kellman

k2stamps@gmail.com

November 4: Reading Stamp Collectors Club 22nd Annual Stamp Show. Place: the Leesport Farmer’s Market, Center Court Meeting Room, 312 Germant’s Church Road, Leesport, PA 19533. Free Parking, Free Admission, Saturday, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. For more information, contact Mike Bach at mbach1@comcast.net or leave a message at +1 (610) 937-2826

December 15-16: Two-day Lancaster Stamp Show being held on Friday & Saturday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Farm & Home Center of Lancaster County, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Affiliated Dealers: K2 Stamp Mobile (K2 Stamps & Collectibles), George Papandreou, Doug McCullough, Frank Soder, Papatella’s Stamps, Lesley Botte, Hugh Clark, Jack Houser, Bill Snyder & Jack Zerby. Table fee is $120 for 8 feet “L’s” (8″ front & 8″ side) with an 8″ back table. Setup starts 8:00 AM. For more information, contact Kevin Kellman at k2stamps@gmail.com

2024 SOCIETY PROGRAMS

We have returned to in-person meetings on the second Wednesday of the month in The Crossings Meeting Room at Landis Homes on 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA (Directions below). Doors open at 6:30 PM. We hold a brief business meeting, followed by our keynote speaker, then a Show, Tell & Ask, where members & guests can share their favorite stamp, cover, or other philatelic item and take a question or two. There are refreshments, snacks, and a bourse. Come Early to Share, Buy, Sell, and/or Trade.

As an added bonus to our members and friends, far and wide, we will host Virtual Zoom meetings on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Visitors always welcome! Contact Paul Petersen at +1 (717) 299-5640 or pcpetersen@comcast.net for more information or to sign up for one of our slots.

10 January: Society Auction. The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. Doors open at 6:30 PM, auction starts at 7:00 PM after a short business meeting.

Procedures: (1) Please register for a numbered paddle when you arrive. Place this number on all of your items to be auctioned, and use this paddle during the auction when you are bidding. This will ensure that what you buy and what you sell are accurately credited and debited. (2) Be sure that all of your lots are accompanied by an accurate and detailed description, as this helps buyers to better understand what they are examining. (3) Auction lot description forms have already been emailed and a limited number of hard copies will be available at the meeting. You may also access this form on the website at any time. While the auction lot description sheets have been sent out and are available, you can make your own as long as the pertinent info is included. (4) Fiscal transactions will be completed after the last lot has been sold. No early settlements will be made.

The Auction Committee recommends that you: (a) bring cash to pay for the items that you win; (b) keep a running total during the auction of the items and prices of the lots that you sell and win; (c) Attach your sales information very securely to the lots you are entering into the auction. This will help avoid misidentification with other sellers’ lots. (6) Bidding Rules: i. Minimum bids are $1.00 per lot; ii. The minimum bidding increment is 50 cents; iii. Only dues-paying PSLC members may participate in the auction; iv. Auction participants are limited to seven (7) lots.

Finally, you may also donate items to the auction, as donations are a welcomed, necessary source of funds for operating a viable Society, such as special events, the PSLC newsletter, website expenses, and advance deposits to secure special event locations. See you there!!

24 January:

14 February: “Future Glimpses of The Hobby; Nick Carter Award,” by Scott English.

28 February:

13 March: “U.S. Earthquakes (Not) on Stamps,: by Rob Sternberg.

27 March:

10 April:

24 April: “Radio Reception Verification Labels,” by Ron Breznay.

08 May:

22 May:

12 June: Society Auction. The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. Doors open at 6:30 PM, auction starts at 7:00 PM after a short business meeting.

Finally, you may also donate items to the auction, as donations are a welcomed, necessary source of funds for operating a viable Society, such as special events, the PSLC newsletter, website expenses, and advance deposits to secure special event locations. See you there!!

26 June:

10 July:

24 July:

14 August: PSLC Picnic, Memorial Park, Millersville, PA.

28 August:

11 September: Society Auction. The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. Doors open at 6:30 PM, auction starts at 7:00 PM after a short business meeting.

For existing members who want to renew their membership for 1 or more years, and/or make a donation to support our Society activities and programs, you can use PayPal-Friends by remitting payment to President Charles J. DiComo, PhD at charlesdicomo@gmail.com and denote in Notes section the reason for payment, your name, and now many years. Venmo can also be used @charlesdicomo. For new members, please mail/email your Membership Application along with a check or money order to Treasurer, Lou DiFelice.

MEETING LOCATION

The Crossings Meeting Room and/or High Conference Room at Landis Homes on 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA (Directions below).

The Society meets in person monthly on the 2^nd Wednesday (except August).
Doors Open at 6:30 PM. Visitors Welcome!
Come Early to Share, Buy, Sell, and/or Trade.
Contact Paul Petersen at (717) 299-5640 or pcpetersen@comcast.net for more information

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING LOCATION

Landis Homes is located on 1001 East Oregon Road, also known as Route 722. Route 722 runs in a somewhat East-West direction between the Lititz Pike (Route 501) and the Oregon Pike (Route 772). You can easily reach this facility from either direction.

(1) From the North or the South via Lititz Pike: Take Lititz Pike (Rt. 501) toward Neffsville. Just 0.3 – 0.4 miles north of Neffsville is a traffic light at East Oregon Road (Rt. 722). Turn east, and it is two miles to Landis Homes, which is on the south side.
(2) From the North or South via Rt. 222: Take exit for Oregon Pike (Rt. 272). On Oregon Pike, turn north for 0.3 miles. Turn left on Creek Road for 0.3 miles, and then left on Oregon Road. Landis Homes is about 0.8 miles on the south side.
(3) Entering the Facility: Off Oregon Road there are three entrances to Landis Homes: an (1) East, (2) a West entrance, and (3) a middle or Main entrance. Enter here at the Main Entrance, the large building right in front of you is the Calvin and Janet High Learning and Wellness Center (this is the purple building on the map with #5 attached). Park here. The Crossings Meeting Room is on the second deck of this building, and is there is an elevator which you can take up one floor. The High Conference Room is on the first floor just past the front desk on your right.

Below are the driving directions from the Landis Homes website www.landishomes.org.

From Lancaster: Take Route 501 North (Lititz Pike) through Neffsville. At traffic light, turn right onto East Oregon Road (Route 722 East). Continue 2 miles to Landis Homes entrances on the right.
From Lititz: Go south on Route 501. About one mile past the Lancaster Airport turn left at traffic light onto Route 722 East (also known as East Oregon Road) and continue 2 miles to Landis Homes entrances on the right.
From Harrisburg: Take Route 283 East, approximately 30 miles, which leads directly onto US Route 30 East. Follow Route 30 East to the Lititz Pike Exit (Route 501 North). At the stop light, turn left onto Route 501 North. Follow 501 North through Neffsville. At traffic light for East Oregon Road (Route 722 East) turn right. Continue 2 miles to Landis Homes entrances on the right.
From Philadelphia: Take Reading exit (Old exit # 21, at milepost 286) off the PA turnpike at US 222 South towards Lancaster. Continue south on US 222 to the Brownstown Exit. Go right (Route 772 West) a short distance to Rt. 272, which is at a traffic light. Turn left onto Rt. 272 South for 1.8 miles and turn right onto Rt. 722, East Oregon Road. (Speedway gas station is at the intersection.) Continue 1 mile to Landis Homes entrances on the left.