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.

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.

2023 SOCIETY PROGRAMS

We have returned to in-person meetings on the 2nd 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 4th 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.

February 22: “A Humorous Look at the Wilkinsburg Stamp Club Souvenir Sheets: Part-I, The First Thirty Years.” By Stevan & John Harding. The humorous sheets from the Wilkinsburg Stamp Show have appeared continually since 1960, and the current designer, John Harding is working on the 2023 issue for the WSC’s annual show this spring. Many of us have seen a souvenir sheet or two of these and have wondered what they are all about. Tonight we’ll learn of the story behind the stories. These sheets started as a spoof on the many issues of U.S. and foreign stamps, especially those stamps whose nature by design or topic invited a little parody. But vulnerable stamp issues were not the only targets for parody, as the souvenir sheets from Upper Slobbovia took aim at politics, current events, organizations, and much more. Join Stevan Cady, PSLC and WSC member and possibly souvenir sheet designer, John Harding for a wonderful night of storytelling from a stamp collecting perspective. This will be Part-I, those souvenir sheets from 1960 through 1989.

March 8: “The Postal History of Condom,” By Dick Colberg. In-Person, The Crossing Meeting Room, Landis Homes.

Several years ago while searching through a dealer’s French stock to locate additional covers for his RF railway exhibit, Dick noticed covers from Condom, France. Getting a chuckle out of this, the topic reemerged a few years later while engaged in a discussion with a collecting friend with a similar sense of humor. He notes that during that conversation, an exhibit was born, one that started out as a joke. Subsequent online searches, including Delcampe revealed a wide variety of available material from this town, and he found its postal history of interest. He ordered several covers, and he had them sent to his home in RF where he began his postal history study of Condom, France. Dick will share this with us tonight. This will be an ongoing project

March 22: “The 2022 Europa Issues: Myths and Legends,” By Ron Breznay. Online Zoom Meeting.

Europa stamps have been issued annually since 1956, when six countries participated. At first, the stamps had a common design. Later, that changed to a common theme with each country designing stamps to highlight their own national stories and treasures. For 2022, when at least 61 countries issued Europa stamps, the theme was Myths & Legends—everything from mythology to fairy tales to ghost stories. Ron will give a brief history of Europa stamps and then present a look at 10 of the 2022 issues that fit his topical collection of horror on stamps.

April 12, 2023: “Dining Cars-Epicurean Pleasure on the Rails.” By Bill Schultz. The Crossing Meeting Room, Landis Homes.

George Pullman introduced the first railroad dining cars in 1868. These were largely passenger cars with a kitchen, cooking facilities, seating, and the serving of good meals. Bill has collected picture postcards of these dining cars for over 30 years, and recently has turned them into an award-winning exhibit. He will tell the story of this bygone era of fine dining on the railroads. He points out the progression of railroad dining car design as well as the evolution of PPCs across the twentieth century. This period also reflects the social class struggle of the times. Bill will describe meal preparation, table settings, breakfast, lunch, dinner, desert, and display additional related ephemera such as menus and other items. Most postcards are pre-1935, and 90% are U.S. dining cars. Pictured nearby is an 1898 stereographic image of an Erie Railroad dining car interior.

April 26: “GAR-First Days: First Day Covers and History of the 1949 Grand Army of the Republic Issue,” by David H. Plunkett. Virtual Zoom Meeting. Wonder how many Civil War vets were there in 1949 to celebrate?

May 10: “EFOs-An Emphasis on Fold-overs,” By David Hunt. The Crossing Meeting Room, Landis Homes.

May 21: (Sunday) Outdoor Society Bourse, Freedom Memorial Park, Millersville, PA.

May 24: “The Stamp Man,” Rick Barrett. Virtual Zoom Meeting.

June 14: Society Auction, The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. Doors Open at 6:30 PM, Meeting starts at 7:00 PM. Host: TBA.

June 28: “Enhancing a Philatelic Collection or Exhibit with Ephemera and Artifacts,” Edwin Andrews, Virtual Zoom Meeting.

August 9: Society Picnic, Freedom Memorial Park, Millersville, PA.

September 13: Society Auction, The First Floor Conference Room at Landis Homes. Doors Open at 6:30 PM, Meeting starts at 7:00 PM. Host: TBA.

September 27: “A Prize Agent, a Naturalist, and a Navy Captain: A Penny Black Story,” by Mike Wilson.

October 11: “British Internal Airmail: 1933-1934,” by Mike Bach.

October 25: “Only you can collect Smokey the Bear,” by Rick Barrett

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

December 13: December Dinner, Venue and Time TBA

2023 REGIONAL SHOWS, BOURSES & GATHERINGS

Lancaster Stamp Show

Kevin Kellman

k2stamps@gmail.com

April 28-29: Lancaster Stamp Show being held on Saturday & Sunday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Farm & Home Center of Lancaster County, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Affiliated Dealers: 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

June 18: Lancaster Stamp Show being held on Sunday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Farm & Home Center of Lancaster County, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Affiliated Dealers: 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

August 27: Lancaster Stamp Show being held on Sunday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Farm & Home Center of Lancaster County, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Affiliated Dealers: 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

October 29: Lancaster Stamp Show being held on Sunday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Farm & Home Center of Lancaster County, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Affiliated Dealers: 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

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 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

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 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 info

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.