MY DAY AT THE SPELLMAN STAMP MUSEUM

This January Thursday came alive for me. I grabbed the bull by the horns and headed to Regis College in Weson. Weston is a suburb of Boston and is best known for the Mass Pike toll both of yesteryear. Today all of my philatelic memories came to life. I was in heaven!






Only a boy or girl who collected postage stamps as a child can truly appreciate today's memories. Francis Cardinal Spellman is quoted as saying 'Stamps are miniature documents of human history,' and boy, do the lights of heaven shine at his stamp museum.






Since 1954 I have delighted in the hobby, as a collector, a historian, a Vietnam mail clerk, as a janitor in the St. Albans,VT Custom House finding high denomination postage in the baskets and the rest. My mission in my stamp collecting hobby has been to created messages.You can do so much with a stamp besides licking it ( before adhesive came about.)






Traditionally, ink wells and black ink did the job. Then fancy fountain pens were the fad( and still are.) Bromfield Pen in Boston is awesome if you want the best.  I have a Monte Verde Tiger Eye  fountain pen which replaced my Esterbrook desk set I owned for decades. Then one day the black ceramic base fell and broketo smithereens..


THE CONCEPT OF POSTAL HISTORY encompasses the bigger picture. Envelopes are the home for the postage. Design allows creative-types to go wild. Frank Tencza, Artist, crafted air mail  letter from Vietnam 50 years ago.


In all eras and design, postal history, from perfumed loved letters to V-Mail from WWII, give the curious mind satisfaction.


The Francis Cardinal Spellman is the  premier philatelic library second only to the massive collections at the Smithsonian in Washington,DC. Today, at the "Spellman" I resurrected my story published in the Scott Stamp Monthly of November, 1995! I hit pay dirt quickly upon arrival.  The folks at the museum were gracious and responsive to my visit. My article is named  "My Presidential Surprise." It's about how I sent a Holy Cross postcard  UX171
to President George Bush.


This stamp and postal history museum is alive and invites everyone. February is filled with activity as are the shelves and display areas. I can't think of a better way to inculcate the youth of today in something of a bygone era.. or so it seems.You can check out the

Eads Bridge, St. Louis

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website:www.spelmanmuseum.org.for more info or call the good people dedicated to philately at 781-768-8367! The knowledge to be gained will be priceless and endless. Just look at old Bob all those years later. Remember, hobbies are healthy no matter what your age is!