continued on page 3

The Journal of the Vermont Philatelic Society

NOVEMBER 2006Volume 50, Number 3

Whole Number 203

J. Edgar Hoover, Director-for-Life of the FBI, in comments made in the 1970’sregarding Combating Thefts of Stamp and Coin Collections, said: “A stampdealer in an Eastern City, Sidney D. Harris of Rutland Vermont received sev-eral packages of stamp albums worth well over $5,000 in the mail from an indi-vidual in the Midwest. The haphazard arrangements of the stamps in one ofthe photo albums led him to doubt the sender’s knowledge of the hobby and tosuspect that the items might be stolen. He promptly notified the FBI office inhis city of his suspicions. Because of the value of the stamps and their ship-ment into another state an immediate inquiry by the FBI was instituted. Thestamps proved to be stolen, and the thief who had attempted to sell themthrough the mail,was quickly apprehended.” The thief had been a male nurseworking at the home of an ill and elderly collector in Chicago.

Profile of a Professional PhilatelistSidney D. Harris

by Roger Harris

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Table of ContentsProfile of a Professional Philatelist, Sidney D. Harris by Roger Harris . . . . 1President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8The Vermont Connections Project by John A. Lutz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Post Horn by Bill Lizotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Postage Rates on Stampless Covers by Bill Lizotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15A Vermont Trading Stamp by Terence Hines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Lake Champlain Quadricentennial by Glenn Estus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Notes from the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25For The Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26It Happened 25 Years Ago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28VPS Auction #84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Editor’s Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Vermont Stamp Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

The Vermont Philatelic SocietyFounded in 1956 • APS Chapter 165 • http://www.vermontps.org

Officers and DirectorsPresident: Glenn Estus, PO Box 451, Westport, NY 12993 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (518) 962-4558Vice President: Phillip Mollitor, PO Box 102, Gaysville, VT 05746 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (802) 234-9794Sec/Treas: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, N Clarendon, VT 05759 . . . . . . . . . . (802) 773-7826Director: Peter DuPuy, PO Box 1500, Keene, NH 03431 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (603) 357-7400Director: Stan Sumner, 3 Dwinell St, Montpelier, VT 05602 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (802) 223-6284Brattleboro: Peter DuPuy, PO Box 1500, Keene, NH 03431 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (603) 357-7400Chittenden: Wendell Weston, 1119 VT Rte 15, Underhill, VT 05489 . . . . . . . . . . . . (802) 899-3816Bennington: Roberta Breese, 211 Breese Hollow Rd, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090Memphremagog: Charles Cilwik, 1695 Nelson Hill Rd., Derby, VT 05829-9659 . . . . (802) 766-8043Rutland: Nick Nikolaidis, 1398 Brink Hill Rd., Bethel, VT 05032-9463 . . . . . . . . . . (802) 234-5064

Alternate: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, N Clarendon, VT 05759 . . . . . . . . (802) 773-7826Upper Valley: John A. Lutz, PO Box 501, Hartford, VT 05047 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (802) 296-7015Washington: Robert Edson, 693 West Hill Rd, North Middlesex, VT 05682-9659 . . (802) 223-2953

Alternate: Steve Pettersen, 38 Liberty St., Barre, VT 05641 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (802) 223-4387Executive Director: Bill Lizotte, 98 Brooklyn Hts #5, Morrisville VT 05661 . . . . . . . . (802) 888-5343Auction Coordinator: Stan Sumner, 3 Dwinell St, Montpelier, VT 05602 . . . . . . . . . (802) 223-6284

The Vermont Philatelist [ISSN 1053-9204] is the official quarterly journal of the Society.Editor: John A. Lutz, 3 Elm Street., Randolph, VT 05060-1004 . . . . . . . . . (802) 728-6212

VPS Photographer: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, North Clarendon, VT 05759-0147Dues: $10 per year • Contributing member: $15

Sidney D. Harris Profile (continued)

In another case, “a U.S. Postal Service employee and part-time stamp dealer,Harry C. Heindel of College Hill, Maryland, was arrested in 1972 and chargedwith applying forged grills to copies of the 3¢ Washington stamp of 1861 andthe 2¢ Black Jack of 1863 to convert them to the more valuable varieties of1867. His arrest resulted from a complaint of Sidney D. Harris, a stamp deal-er of Rutland, Vermont, who had been offered faked stamps with forgedAmerican Philatelic Society certificates. A search of Heindel’s house uncov-ered several such altered stamps and three grilling instruments, together withvarious foreign counterfeits and several forged APS Expertising Committeecertificates.” (quoted from Varro Tyier's book Philatelic Forgers). Sid was serv-ing on the Expertising Committees of the American Philatelic Society for coilsand for grills on United States stamps, areas which he had studied over theyears and had become one of the premier experts in these fields.

Sid Harris was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1906 and would live until 1976,when he succumbed to heart disease. With today’s advances in treatment, hislife probably would have been prolonged. At age 6 his older brother gave hima batch of stamps and the youngster, after keeping what he wanted for his owncollection, decided to make little packets and sell them to his classmates at

school. Thus he would alwayshave some pocket change forpenny candies, movies, and ofcourse more and more stamps.In his teens he worked with hisfather in the real estate busi-ness and was the youngest per-son (at age 15) to hold a realestate license in New YorkCity. But real estate being afickle field, he soon found him-self working in a shoe last fac-tory. In the days before safetyprecautions, he complained tohis boss about the chemicalfumes and poor ventilation.The boss ignored him and thepissed-off Harris tussled withhim. A friend pulled him offand told him, “Sidney, this guycan tell you to go to hell orwhatever he wants to for the$2.00 a day he is paying you.”Sidney and Rosalie Harris in 1970s

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Right then and there the young man determined he would never work for any-one again and would be his own boss.

In the late 1920s, with a $500 loan from a doctor friend, he went into the stampbusiness. His wife Rosalie would be his secretary throughout his career; hersecretarial skills were superb, but she never learned a thing about the stampsthemselves. Sid began by making up packets for consignment to five and dimestores and various retail establishments. But his interest in the classic stampsof our country would soon lead to his specialization in this area.

Through reading, studying quantities of stamps, and questioning the thenexperts like Stanley Ashcroft, Les Brookman, Elliott Perry, George B. Sloane,he would eventually gain a reputation for his knowledge.

At first he would only deal in pre-1888 issues and auctioneers at the top hous-es of the day would announce after getting through the Bank Note issuesthrough Scott #18,“We will pause for Sid Harris to leave as the later issues justdo not appeal to him.” Eventually, Harris came around and would handleissues prior to the year 1940.

He had always done business fromoffices in his home, but for about ayear in the late 1930s he took anoffice in the famous NYC center ofphilately, 116 Nassau Street. Butthere were so many interruptionsfrom collectors and other dealersthat he had to give this up andreturn home. Alas, his devotedwife, who had married him for bet-ter or for worse... but not for lunch,had to relent on this issue.

With the advent of World War II,Harris felt that when hostilitiesceased there would be a deflation-ary period where the dollar wouldbuy more than ever; so he sold hisstamp stock, moved to the countryand became a gentleman farmer,raising chickens and turkeys. Heraised the turkeys on wire porches, never allowing them any range and aftereight weeks gave them a complete diet of pellets only. As it turned out, this wasa perfect feeding program which made the meat extremely tender. Often,birdswere dressed down at as much as 42-pounds!

As history would have it, when the hot war ended the Cold War began andexpected deflation did not develop. Harris used his accumulated funds andagain built up a substantial stock of USA stamps. A main source for his pur-chases was post-War Europe, especially Germany, where the populace hadstashed away their collections and were now willing to sell them for neededcommodities.

The Harris family (with their two sons who were born in 1937 and 1940) livedin the “country,” in Mahopac,New York which was fifty miles north of New YorkCity.

In 1955 Sidney decided to move to Vermont. The State had always had aromantic appeal to him. One of his prime clients had been Bob Noorduyn, aDutch-Canadian airplane manufacturer and who produced the notedNorseman plane, a small craft used for reconnaisance and as an Alaskan bushplane. Noorduyn had a home in Burlington and along with his friends DonJohnstone and Douglas Green, convinced Sid that Vermont would be the placeto live.

And thus would begin a deep friendship with Green, an optometrist and char-ter member #3 of the VPS, and our esteemed founder Dr. Donald B. Johnstone.When the VPS was formed, Harris used his regular two-inch space in StampsMagazine to promote membership for the Vermont Philatelic Society. Dr.Johnstone honored him with Charter Membership #2.

Reflections on Sid HarrisDonald B. Johnstone

I first became acquainted with Sidney D. Harris, a very knowledgeable stampdealer, in 1953 at his home in a small town in southern New York State. Dr.Douglas Green of Burlington and I travelled frequently to stamp shows and

Sid Harris with son Roger at ConeyIsland NY amusement park in 1950s.

Rutland County Stamp Club in 1960s. Sid Harris is fifth from left in back row.

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lurking either in my clothes closet or outside the windows. One night, I fellasleep in his bed while he was in the living room. Suddenly, I woke up just asthe window shade rolled up and I imagined I saw someone's face close to theglass staring in at me. I was so frightened I immediately leaped from my bedand rushed into his arms. I’ll never forget how much he comforted me at thattime by just holding me tight and reassuring me everything was alright.

Sidney also tried to teach me the stamp business when I took an interest indeveloping packets for wholesale and retail businesses in Florida when I wasin my 40s. I finally understood what an amazing knowledge and ability he hadto be able to discern the various grades, conditions, and markings of stampsthat most dealers had difficulty identifying correctly. I have always regrettednot sitting down with him and writing what I’m sure would have been one ofthe profession's more important encyclopedias.

Advice to a New Stamp DealerMichael McMorrow

I first met Sidney Harris in 1961 when I joined the Rutland County StampClub. For the next 15-years, until his death in 1976, I visited his home manytimes and occasionally joined his family for dinner. This was a special treat.Sidney was not only a renowned philatelist, he was also a gourmet cook.

When I started dabbling in the postal history business in the early 1970’s,Sidney took me aside for some entrepreneural lessons.The most important les-son was on business longevity. This lesson sounds simplistic but, as I look atthe hoard of wannabe on-line (Ebay, etc.) dealers, I realize how important thislesson was then, is still today, and how few people practice it.

Sidney started by asking: “How long do you want to be in business?”

The answer, of course, is “Forever.”

“That can only happen,” said Sidney, “if you make your customers want to dealwith you.They must receive a fair product for their money.They must be treat-ed with respect. You must let them understand that you care about them andthat you will be fair and honest with them.The customer isn't always right andthere will be situations when you will have to do what’s fair to you – but inevery other situation, you must make every customer feel like they are yourbest customer. Remember, in the collectibles business we are selling happi-ness. People love what they collect and they should be as happy about thetransaction as they are with the product that you are selling to them.”

This was not only the way Sidney Harris taught business – it was also the wayhe practiced it.

dealer shops throughout the northeast, and thus became friendly with Sid, hischarming wife, Rosalie, and their two teenaged sons, Roger and Lowell. Whenthey moved to Rutland, Vermont in 1955, we saw much more of this friendlyfamily, joining them on occasion for meals at the Dog Team Tavern.

Sid operated a mail order stamp dealership from his home with the help of hiswife and Roger. As a recognized authority on certain U.S. stamps, particularlycoils and grilled issues, he was a welcome passenger on some of our trips toshows. We three travelled to meetings in Canada and on one occasion to anAPS show in Atlantic City when we stopped in New Jersey to pick up ElliottPerry and stayed overnight with Elliott and Chrissy Perry. We all had a mem-orable evening there in stamps.

As a dealer in U.S. classic stamp issues, Sid maintained his stamps in largealbums of stock sheets. Whereas I had always used stamp tongs to pick upstamps in order to avoid damaging them with my fingers, Sid often used notongs or forceps and used his fingers with remarkable dexterity. I thought lit-tle about this method of handling inexpensive stamps, but was completelyamazed to see him move many high denomination Columbian issues in andout of the stock sheets with his fingers.

When I approached Sid about the possibility of forming a Vermont state phila-telic society, he heartily endorsed the concept and encouraged me. And whenwe later convened the first organizational meeting of the Vermont PhilatelicSociety, Sid demured at the suggestion of his holding an office, feeling it shouldbe staffed by collectors and not professional dealers. Nevertheless, he didbecome Charter Member No. 2 and was the featured speaker at the banquetfollowing the show, BURLPEX in 1957.

I shall always remember Sid as a kind, thoughtful, and generous man who pro-vided such an important segment to my philatelic life's interest.

Reminiscences of My Stamp Dealer FatherLowell S. Harris

My earliest remembrances of my father include sitting on a leather chair in hisoffice in our apartment in Brooklyn, New York, about 1942 or 1943. The officewas tastefully decorated and I enjoyed spending time with my father while hefilled orders for customers. Many years later, when I was in college or raising afamily and returned to Rutland for a visit,we would still enjoy talking while hefilled more orders and worked on his stock books.

Besides being a very loving and nurturing father, my greatest comfort wasknowing he would be up late at night when I was sleeping. I say this becauseas a child, I was afraid of the dark and always wondered if there were monsters

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The Vermont Connections Projectby John A. Lutz

Lhoyd T. Hayward had many philatelic interests. One thatcombined his love of history and stamps was his “Vermont onStamps” project. He stated, “America’s stamps are vignettesof America’s history. Because Vermont and Vermonters haveplayed such an important part in our national history, it is nowonder that many United States stamps reflect Vermont andher sons and daughters.”

He thought a “Vermont on Stamps” activity would be of special interest toyoung collectors and school teachers. Lhoyd T. Hayward created the first com-prehensive log that listed United States stamps with Vermont links up until1970. From time to time, in past issues of The Vermont Philatelist, articlesadded additional information on a specific stamp with a Vermont connection.In 2002, the late Jason J. Granger also submitted several articles under thetitle Vermont Related Stamps.

The most recent features on the Vermont on Stamps theme are the ones I havepublished in The Vermont Philatelist under the heading of VermontConnections. In these articles I attempted to not only show the featuredstamp, but to also give a brief background history. Each Vermont Connectionarticle has covered two pages. Reformatted versions of these features will alsoeventually appear at our Society’s web site as downloadable PDF files in albumpage format. This should enable any collector to easily create an interestingtopical collection of “Vermont on Stamps”. It should also be of interest to anyVermont teacher who wants to integrate the beauty of stamps with the teach-ing of Vermont subjects.

We start with the original list prepared by Lhoyd T. Hayward supplementedwith clippings and notes on the subject that I have found as part of other estatelots. And then we have the recent issues that should be added to the list.

Now we have the opportunity, as a special 50th Anniversary Project, to edit,revise and expand this list. Please examine this first listing for additions andcorrections. And, since this is a “Vermont on Stamps” project, it need not onlyto be limited to United States stamps. What stamps should be added fromCanada, or perhaps Great Britain? Perhaps international stamps showing theportrait of Vermont native Paul Harris (Rotary International)? Or Bolivia?

Bolivia? Yes, one of the entries you will find on this first list isBolivia #423-28, C217-222, a set of stamps featuring the vio-linist Jaime Laredo who is now the conductor of the VermontSymphony Orchestra.

President’s MessageAs we head into the winter season, I would like to thankboth the Brattleboro and Rutland Stamp Clubs for theirhospitality when I visited the clubs in August andSeptember. I was impressed and encouraged to see suchactive clubs. I presented a philatelic overview of the 1939Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toCanada, the United States and Newfoundland. I also presented the same pro-gram to the Chittenden County Stamp Club, my home club earlier in the sum-mer. I am available to present this program to any of the other Vermont stampclubs next Spring and Summer. Just contact me.

The 2006 donation auction ended in mid-October and thanks to the bidders wecan add $250.00 to our VPS treasury. Our basic level VPS dues don’t cover theannual cost of printing and mailing the 4 issues of the Vermont Philatelist.Activities such as the donation auction help to bridge the gap between incomeand expenses. For your information, the special VT DPO Guide issue sent inMay 2006 to all members, was paid for by advertisers and national sales.

We will be scheduling another donation auction in 2007. More information inthe next VP. If you have duplicate Vermont material that you don’t wish todonate to the Society itself, don’t overlook our quarterly member’s auction.I’m sure Stan Sumner would be happy to accept your material for that auction.

As mentioned in an accompanying article, I was able to attend the September14, 2006 ceremony at Ste. Anne’s Shrine in Isle LaMotte, kicking off theChamplain Quadricentennial celebration. On October 17, I was invited toattend a meeting of the full Vermont Quadricentennial Committee at the EchoCenter in Burlington. Much is being planned and we hope that the VPS willbe actively involved in any philatelic commemorations.

Finally, don’t forget that the Vermont State Stamp Show will be held inMontpelier on Saturday, June 9, 2006. At the VPS Directors Meeting inQuechee in October the Board decided to sponsor the Grand Award for the Bestof Show. It’s not too early to begin to think about exhibiting. Contact BobEdson, show chairman for the host club, the Washington County Stamp Club.

I am discussing with the Vermont Historical Society Museum (in Montpelier)the possibility of placing a permanent exhibit highlighting Vermont postal his-tory. I am hopeful that by the time of my next President’s Message that planswill be finalized and an exhibit ready by the time of the June State Show.

Also at the Director’s Meeting, John Lutz reminded us that he plans on retir-ing as editor of the VP in about 3 years. It’s time to begin to think about areplacement. John is willing to share his experience and skills with a new edi-tor. Interested persons should contact me (gestus@vermontps.org) or John(john@vtstamp.com). Happy Holidays! — Glenn Estus

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To start, here is the first portion of the 88 stamps I have identified so far:

Scott No. Year Description571 1923 Lincoln Memorial built of

Vermont marble.643 1927 Vermont Sesquicentennial -

First Day at Bennington, VT8/3/1927.

644 1927 Burgoyne Campaign -Bennington VT, Saratoga, Ft.Stanwix, and Oriskany NY.

725 1932 Daniel Webster. In 1840Webster was orator for the bigWhig rally for Harrison and Tylerin Stratton, VT.

791 1937 Thomas MacDonough, Warof 1812, Lake Champlain.

793 1937 George Dewey, Battle ofManila Bay. Born in Montpelier,VT 12/26/1837.

798 1937 Constitutional Sesquicen-tennial. Art by Julius BrutusStearns, born in Arlington VT 1910.

818 1938 Millard Fillmore, USPresident, his father, Nathaniel,was born in Bennington, VT.

824 1938 Rutherford B. Hayes, USPresident, his father Rutherford,was born in Brattleboro, VT.

825 1938 James A. Garfield. USPresident, taught penmanship atlocal academy in Pownal, VT.

826 1938 Chester A. Arthur, USPresident, born in Fairfield, VT10/5/1830.

831 1938 William H. Taft, USPresident, his father Alphonso,was born in Townshend, VT.

834 1938 Calvin Coolidge, USPresident, born in Plymouth, VT7/4/1872.

857 1939 Stephen Day Press now inthe Vermont Historical SocietyMuseum.

894 1940 Pony Express. Started byWilliam Russell born inBurlington, VT 1812.

899 1940 Statue of Liberty. Thedesigner of the pedestal was archi-tect Richard Morris Hunt, born in

Brattleboro, VT in 1828.903 1941 150th Anniversary State-

hood, First Day at Montpelier, VT3/4/1941.

922 1944 Transcontinental Railroad.Major General Grenville M.Dodge, a Norwich University grad-uate, was in charge of building theUnion Pacific Railroad.

950 1947 Utah Centennial. Settled byMormons under the leadership ofVermont natives Brigham Youngand Joseph Smith.

954 1948 California Gold Centennial.Frederick Billings, native ofWoodstock, VT, was GeneralSutter’s lawyer.

954 1948 California Statehood.Frederick Billings, native ofWoodstock, VT, was president ofNorthern Pacific Railroad.

956 1948 Four Chaplains. Rev.George Fox served in severalVermont churches.

957 1948 Wisconsin State Capitol atMadison, WI built of Barre, VTgranite.

964 1948 Oregon Territory. Jason Lee,an Oregon pioneer, was born inStanstead (then in VT) in 1803.

991 1950 Supreme Court Buildingbuilt of Vermont marble.

995 1950 Boy Scouts. First Boy ScoutTroop in America was organized inBarre, VT in 1909 by WilliamFoster Milne.

1001 1951 Colorado Statehood. Earlymining operations in state were byHorace Austin Warner Tabor whowas born in Holland, VT in 1830.

1006 1952 Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.Daniel Willard, president of theB&O born in Hartland, VT 1861.

1010 1952 Lafayette's Arrival inAmerica. Toured Vermont in 1825.

1025 1953 Trucking Industry, farmscene on stamp is the James K.Howe farm in Tunbridge, VT.

1048 1958 Paul Revere. Seven of thebells cast by Revere are inVermont. Woodstock (4), BellowFalls, Norwich, and Montpelier.

1060 1954 Nebraska Territory. StephenA. Douglas, born in Brandon, VT,introduced the 1854 Territorial Bill.

1061 1954 Kansas Territory. Stephen A.Douglas, born in Brandon, VT,introduced the Territorial Bill.

1065 1955 Land-Grant Colleges.Created by the Morrill Act of 1862,by US Senator Justin S. Morrill,born in Strafford, VT in 1810.

1066 1955 Rotary International, found-ed by Paul Harris who grew up inWallingford, VT.

1071 1955 Fort Ticonderoga, EthanAllen’s role in capturing the fort.

1093 1957 School Teachers of America,National Educational Association.First normal school in America forteachers was established inConcord, VT by Samuel Read Hall.

1097 1957 Birth of Marquis de Lafay-ette. Toured Vermont in 1825.

1112 1958 Atlantic Cable Centenary.Curtis M. Lampman, vice-presi-dent of company that laid theAtlantic Cable, was born in NewHaven, VT 9/21/1806.

1115 1958 Stephen A. Douglas, senatorand presidential candidate, born inBrandon, VT 4/23/1813.

1120 1958 Overland Mail. AdamsExpress (one of 7 companiesinvolved) founded by Alvin Adams,born in Andover, VT 1804.

1134 1959 Petroleum Industry. Firstwell sunk at Titusville, PA by Col.Edwin L Drake who spent boyhoodnear Castleton, VT.

1145 1940 Boy Scouts - 50th Anniver-sary. Art by Norman Rockwell wholived in Arlington, VT.

1154 1960 Pony Express. Wells-Fargo &Co. partner was Henry Wells bornin Thetford, VT 1805.

1177 1961 Horace Greeley, learned theprinting and newspaper trade inEast Poultney, VT

1199 1962 Girl Scouts. Roundup atButton Bay. First Day 7/24/1962

1291 1968 John Dewey. Philosopherand educator born in Burlington,VT 10/20/1859

1323 1967 National Grange. TheGrange played an important partin the rural-social life of Vermont.

1348 1968 Bennington Flag. First Starsand Stripes design used in theRevolutionary War. On exhibit atthe Bennington, VT Museum.

1370 1969 Grandma Moses. TheBennington Museums owns thelargest public collection of Grand-ma Moses paintings in the US.

1380 1969 Dartmouth College Case.Most of Wheelock, VT was char-tered in 1785 to DartmouthCollege. The college offers scholar-ships to Wheelock young men bybirth or residence.

1526 1974 Robert Frost. Spent manysummers in Ripton, VT and wasthe “Poet Laureate of Vermont”.

This is just the first half of the list. The balance will appear in the February2007 VP. Surely there are more, but I ask that your Vermont connections be asvalid as possible.There could be hundreds of “loose connections”. For example,Charles Lindbergh visited Vermont in 1927 and landed at the private airportof his host, James Hartness. Does that qualify as a Vermont Connection?This first listing I’ve arranged in Scott catalog order. Is this the logical format?Should it be by year instead? This is a VPS project, so you as members of theVPS can set the rules.Please mail or e-mail <jalutz@yahoo.com> your additions or corrections. I’llinclude them in an update to our list in future May and November issues.

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early examples of a Riverton postmark in 1918. Here is an example of thefirst and fairly scarce Riverton postmark, a common type of four bar device,but not common from this small office. The Riverton Post Office was perma-nently discontinued early in 1988.

Rutland Cover Has Story to Tell This 1939 Rutland cover bears a fine copy of the 1927 Vermont stamp (Scott#643), plus an add-on cachet replicating the stamp design, which celebratedthe fourth annual stamp exhibition held in Rutland on April 28-29, 1939.This would put the first philatelic exhibit in Rutland, perhaps the first inVermont, at 1936, two years after the Rutland County Stamp Club wasestablished. All Vermont philatelists will join me in saluting this very impor-tant stamp club, and its many contributions to our hobby in nearly seventyfive years.

Ludlow Cover Bears Scarce Airmail StampsRarely do airmail covers originating in Vermont have interest to postal his-torians. This 1926 Ludlow cover is an exception. It is addressed to CovinaCalifornia, and bears three copies of the eight cent airmail stamp of the 1923series (Scott #4). The three stamps are detached, two of them margin copies,and the third from the interior of the sheet. Centering is satisfactory at theleft, top, and bottom, but the design is clearly shifted to the right into the per-forations. Bearing twenty four cents in postage, the letter arrived inCalifornia with one cent postage due.

(cover illustrated at top of next page)

Post HornBy Bill Lizotte

For this issue of the Post Horn, I will concentrate on a few twentieth centu-ry pieces, an area too often overlooked by collectors. While the nineteenthcentury offers the gamut from the classic stampless covers, through manu-script postal markings and various rates, plus a wide variety of early postagestamps, oval, octagonal, and multiple circle postmarks, even struck in a widerange of vibrant colors, the twentieth century also has its variety to cele-brate.

It begins with the four and five bar Doane postmarks in early 1903, the RFDstraightline postmarks, the several other four bar types through the 1980s,and many duplex postmark types, plus the huge range of machine postmarksused mostly at the larger Post Offices. Even of these there are many greatrarities, and all are worthy of collecting.

Early Riverton Postmark is ScarceThe West Berlin Post Office was established in 1884, but anti-German senti-ment during the First World War was strong, and the name of this office (butnot of the Town of Berlin) was changed to Riverton in August, 1918. The oldVermont virtue of “use it up and wear it out” explains the continued long useof the West Berlin postmark after the name change. Hence, there are no

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VPS president, Glenn Estus, had a limited supply of the new personalizedstamps created with the VPS 50th Anniversary logo. These were mailed tocharter members, past officers, editors, and others who had served the Societyin past years.

He wrote, “It is due to the work of members like you that the VPS is well knownand respected, one of the premier state and postal history organizations in theUnited States.” It was mailed in a covering envelope that was postmarked withthe Fort Ticonderoga first day cancel shown on page 27.

Final Chapter of Postage Rates on Stampless Covers

This article is the final of a four part series on the changing postal ratesduring the early and mid nineteenth century. As the population of theyoung country grew, and literacy increased dramatically, the need for a reli-able postal system increased. The volume of mail increased exponentially,hence the postage rates declined steadily, even as service improved, becom-ing faster and more reliable.

The Postal Act of 1845The Postal Act of March 3, 1845 provided for lower postage rates as follows:

Under 300 miles 5 centsOver 300 miles 10 centsLocal (Drop) Letters 2 centsCirculars 2 cents per sheet

Effective March, 1847 the rate for single page circular is increased to 3 cents.

Distance Under 300 Miles, Five CentsThe Centre Rutland Post Office opened for business on May 1, 1850. Thisvery early cover bears a perfectly struck red Centre Rutland circle postmarkdated October 8, and an internal date of 1850. The matching boxed five ratemarking is appropriate for a distance under 300 miles, and Manchester islikely about one tenth that distance.

continued on next page

1936 Ludlow cover bearing scarce airmail stamps.

! ! ! ! !

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Distance Over 300 Miles, Ten CentsMcIndoes Falls is a village in the Town of Barnet which has been serviced bya Post Office since its establishment in 1825. This folded letter bears the cir-cle postmark of the office struck in what appears to be a “true brown,” and arate mark of ten cents in the upper right corner to note postage for a distancegreater than three hundred miles, to the nation’s Capitol City. The postmarkis dated December 22, and the year 1849 is included with the inside message.

Local or Drop Letter, Two CentsThis Middlebury cover bears the blue circle postmark, usually denoted as“Middle Bury,” dated October 1, and internally 1849. The letter is alsoaddressed to Middlebury, hence the manuscript numeral two in the upper

right corner indicating the postage for a “drop” or local letter, which doesn’tleave the Post Office of mailing. Drop letters are somewhat scarce during thestampless period.

Single Page Circulars, Three Cents After March, 1847 Yet another Middlebury cover, also using the same blue postmark, is datedJune 17, and inside a printed circular dated 1850. The manuscript numeralthree in the upper right corner is the proper rate for such a circular afterMarch of 1847. Note the blue Paid marking to indicate that the circular wasnot sent collect. The three cent postage rate after June 30, 1851 is extreme-ly common, but somewhat scarce before that date.

The printed circular calls upon the sheep herdsmen of the region to exchangeraw wool for manufactured finished cloth of many kinds. I presume theexchange is proposed on site in Middlebury, but only the business name ofDavenport & Nash is furnished. Readers will know that Vermont, and espe-cially Addison County, was a major supplier of wool to the outside world dur-ing the early and mid nineteenth century.

The Postal Act of 1851The Postal Act of March 3, 1851, effective after June 30, 1851, provided forthe following reduced postage:

Not exceeding 3,000 miles prepaid 3 centsSame if not prepaid 5 centsDistance greater than 3,000 miles prepaid 6 centsSame if not prepaid 10 centsDrop Letters 1 cent

1918

Not to Exceed 3,000 Miles, Prepaid 3 CentsThis embossed ladies cover originated in Lyndon, bearing a red circle post-mark dated December 29, and the internal letter is dated 1851. The threecent rate marking is also struck in red. You will note that every rate mark-ing of three cents includes a marking to indicate that the rate was prepaid.This unusual flat-top three, unique in Vermont’s postal history, stands overan attached Paid marking. The cover is addressed to Miss Mary Webber inCraftsbury. This cover was in the Lhoyd Hayward collection at one time.

Not to Exceed 3,000 Miles, Not Prepaid 5 CentsMoretown did not use any handstamp postmarking devices during thestampless period. This 1853 folded letter bears the manuscript postmark of

the office dated June 17, and a manuscript rate of five cents to StephenThomas in West Fairlee. Since the letter was sent collect, the rate is fivecents.

Stephen Thomas (1809-1903) was a native Vermonter with a distinguishedcareer in politics, and served his native state admirably in the Civil War. Hewas awarded the Medal of Honor for service at the Battle of Cedar Creek inVirginia in 1864, and appointed a Brigadier General very early in 1865.

Distance Greater Than 3,000 Miles, Prepaid 6 CentsThis Newbury cover is addressed to Mr. I. H. Darling at Mission San Jose,California. The typical red circle postmark of Newbury is nicely comple-mented by numeral six and Paid handstamps for the prepaid rate to the westcoast. California covers are moderately scarce, and add a good dimension toa collection of postal history.

Greater Than 3,000 Miles, Not Prepaid 10 CentsA Peacham cover addressed to Mr. Thomas Knight at Placerville, EldoradoCounty, California, bears the black circle postmark of Peacham during theearly 1850s, and a manuscript ten cent rate, noting the absence of any indi-cation of prepayment, and was sent collect. The ten cent rate is somewhatmore difficult to locate than the six cent.

(cover illustrated at top of next page)

! ! ! ! !

Keep up-to-date on VPS affairs, visit the Society’s website at:http://www.vermontps.org

2120

Peacham, Vermont cover — 10¢ not prepaid rate

Double Rate Cover, Double Use of Rate MarkingThis interesting Fayetteville (now Newfane) cover bears the large circle post-mark of the office known during the 1850s, but the interesting element ofthis cover is the twice strike three cent paid in circle rate mark so commonat most Vermont post offices, but very scarce when struck twice to indicateprepayment of postage on a cover with two letter sheets. The letter is inter-nally dated 1854.

This is an especially “fun” cover for me, since I saw it in a dealer’s stock abouttwenty years ago priced at $200. I decided the price was too high, and I

passed on it. More than a decade later, I found the cover available again, fora price that was far more reasonable.

Illegal Use of Stampless Cover at RutlandThis stampless cover bears the circle postmark of Rutland struck in blackwith a matching Paid handstamp. In the upper right corner is a manuscriptnotation of “Paid 1” to indicate the prepayment of postage. The postmarkbears a date of May 21, 1858, more than two years after postage stamps weremandated as proof of prepayment. We may surmise the likelihood that theRutland Post Office was temporarily out of the current one cent stamps atthat particular day.

End of the Stampless PeriodThe demise of the classic stampless cover occurred on January 1, 1856, whenthe adhesive postage stamp was mandated as proof of prepayment. Therewere, however, occasional shortages of postage stamps at numerous PostOffices in Vermont, and mail was forwarded with the old postal markingsbrought out of storage and used as proof of prepayment.

Particularly during 1858 postage stamps were unavailable in Benson for atime, and the following year in Bellows Falls stamps were not in use for sometime. Such usages after the end of 1855 are quite scarce. Again during theearly days of the Civil War, copies of the new 1861 stamp issue, as the oldpostage stamps were demonetized to prevent usage by the Confederacy, werein short supply in some small town Post Offices, and the lack of postagestamps was not going to hold up the mail.

2322

The epilogue of the stampless cover, the legal requirement of postage stampsnotwithstanding, must also include the Free Franking privilege ofPostmasters which continued until about 1861, and the same for many highranking officials, most notably members of the US Senate and House ofRepresentatives, which continues to this day.

A Vermont Trading Stampby Terence Hines

Until the 1970s, trading stamps were a popular meansof giving retail store customers incentives to shop inparticular stores. One received one stamp for every tencents spent. I recall from my childhood in Hanover, NHthat Wednesdays were “double stamp” days, thisbecause a New England tradition had retail storesclosed on Wednesdays and retailers were trying toovercome this. There were nation-wide trading stampcompanies. Top value stamps (yellow and orange) andS&H green stamps come to mind. But there were alsomany smaller producers. Unfortunately, no catalog yet exists, although thelate state revenue collector Charles Herrmann was working on one at thetime of his death.

One of the smaller trading stamp companieswas the Retailer’s Stamp Co. of Island Pond,VT. I have recently acquired a booklet (4 by5 7/8 in.) issued by this company for itsstamps. The text on the inside front pageshown here identifies the stamps as beingthe product of this Vermont company. Anexample of one of the stamps is also shown,cropped from a full page of stamps. Thebooklet has 40 pages with spaces for 30stamps per page, or a total of 1200 stamps.Fifteen and a half pages are covered withstamps. The stamps in the booklet all havethe same design. But the color varies fromdark red through light red to orange. In

addition, there are separation varieties. The stamps in the earlier pages areperforated (perf 12) while those later in the booklet are rouletted (14).Unfortunately, there are no dates anywhere in the booklet but it appears todate from the 1950s or 1960s.

Lake Champlain Quadricentennialby Glenn Estus

2009 is the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of Samuel de Champlain in theChamplain Valley region of Vermont and New York State. In early September,

Governor James Douglas unveiled Vermont’sQuadricentennial logo for the upcoming celebration.One week later on September 14, 2006 the LakeChamplain Basin Program (LCBP) headquartered inGrand Isle, Vermont sponsored the InternationalSamuel de Champlain Stamp Cancellation Day.According to the LCPB website, “The LakeChamplain Basin Program (LCBP) is a federal, state,provincial, and local initiative to restore and protectLake Champlain and its surrounding watershed forfuture generations. We work in New York, Vermontand Quebec.”

Five post offices in the Champlain Valley region had one-day pictorial cancel-lations honoring Champlain and the Quadricentennial. The post officesinvolved included two in New York (Champlain and Rouses Point), two inVermont (Alburgh and Isle LaMotte) and one in Quebec (Lacolle). Special cer-emonies were held in Isle LaMotte, Champlain and Lacolle.

! ! ! ! !

Phyllis Richardson Isle LaMotte post-master since 1971 (and clerk 1961-1971),

oversees the stamp cancellation whileFerrisburg postmaster Theresa Marron

cancels the stamps.

Gov. Douglas, Ginny Friedman,Burlington Post Office Customer Rep.,Jerome Reen, Jr., Milton Postmaster

and Commissioner Bruce Hyde in frontof the Champlain Statue.

2524

Notes from the Executive DirectorIn its fiftieth year, the Vermont Philatelic Societyhas prospered under the leadership of our newPresident Glenn Estus, and moved forward withseveral projects to mark the occasion, especiallywith interesting articles in this journal, and par-ticipation at the Vermont History Exposition inTunbridge. By early November, we have hadtwenty three new members in this calendar year,expanding our membership to near record levelsof the early 1990s.

The success of the Vermont Philatelic Society is the result of hardwork by a great many people over the years. However, none have hada greater impetus than Dr. Donald Johnstone, who suggested such aSociety by letter in 1955, soliciting interest from members of the sev-eral stamp clubs in Vermont. He received a positive response frommany people, and proceeded to create the first issue of our journal,The Vermont Philatelist, in May, 1956. This journal has been issuedquarterly since that time, missing only one issue in 1959, throughmore than two hundred issues to-date. We are very proud andpleased that “Don” is still present to share in the enthusiasm for ourhobby and the philatelic passions that the Vermont Philatelic Societyhas fostered for more than fifty years.

Finally, in the November issue some three years ago I tentativelyassigned locations for the Vermont State Stamp Show through 2010.Such assignments are always flexible, pending the ability of eachlocal stamp club to produce a fine show. The schedule should berepeated frequently as a reminder of those responsibilities. The cur-rent list of assigned locations extended to 2012 is as follows:

2007 Montpelier (June 9th) 2010 Quechee2008 Brattleboro 2011 Bennington2009 Burlington 2012 Rutland

This listing includes only the changed assignment for Burlington in2009, allowing for the location of that show to celebrate the 400thAnniversary of the discovery of Lake Champlain, one of Vermont’sbest known and most endearing landmarks. That pushes forwardQuechee’s assigned show to 2010, with Bennington and Rutland tofollow in subsequent years. We urge any club or contact personwhich believes it will be unable to properly support a good show toplease contact VPS President Glenn Estus as soon as the situation isknown. — Bill Lizotte

I was able to attend the Vermont ceremonies held at Ste. Anne’s Shrine in IsleLaMotte. Participating in the Vermont ceremony was Governor JamesDouglas, Bruce Hyde, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Tourism andMarketing and also Chair of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial. Otherspeakers included Bruce Howland, LCBP manager and Celine Paquette, Ste.Anne’s Shrine and also vice chair of the New York Hudson-Fulton-ChamplainQuadricentennial Commission.

Ste. Anne's Shrine Trustee Dr. Celine Paquette welcomes Gov. Douglas and Commissioner Hyde

Ste. Anne’s shrine was chosen for the Vermont site because it was the locationof the first European settlement in Vermont, Fort Ste. Anne founded by PierreLaMotte in 1666. The ceremony and stamp canceling took place beside a stat-ue of Champlain and a native American, originally carved from a piece of

Vermont granite at theVermont pavilion at Expo ‘67in Montreal. The statue wasplaced on the grounds of Ste.Anne’s shrine in 1968. Dr.Paquette remarked that thestatue and the ground itstands on belong to the state ofVermont completely surround-ed by Ste. Anne’s shrine.

A small contingent of collectors and locals observed the ceremony.

The cancels from Isle LaMotte and Alburgh are identical. They show theVermont Quadricentennial Logo.

2726

For The Record2007 Philatelic Event Calendar

April 7, 2007: Crossroads State Stamp Show, Quechee, VTApril 13-15, 2007: 44th Lakeshore Club Show, Montreal, CanadaMay 4- 6, 2007: Philatelic Show, Boxborough, MAJune 9, 2007: Vermont State Stamp Show, Montpelier, VTOctober 6, 2007: Crossroads State Stamp Show, Quechee, VT

New Members819 John Schweizer, 170 Boyer Circle Suite 20, Williston VT 05495820 Glenn Marshall, 55 Mt. Hermon Road, Gill MA 01354821 Robert Page, 25 Lexington Avenue, Brattleboro VT 05301822 Helaine Rappaport, 230 St. Paul St. #1101, Burlington VT 05401823 Wayne Foster, 7 Greenfield Terrace, Montpelier VT 05602824 Alice D. O’Traynor, P.O. Box 175, East Corinth VT 05040825 Michael O’Traynor, P.O. Box 175, East Corinth VT 05040826 Clifford Douglas, 1976 Mountain Road, Addison VT 05491827 Edward L. Dorey, 110 Wheatly Court, Colchester VT 05446828 Jon R. Ojala, 9 Buxton Lane, Jericho VT 05465-0035829 Alan Bassett, 1345 Rue Berthier, Chambly PQ J3L 3A5830 Henry C. Beck, 86 County Road, Walpole NH 03608-4903

First VPS Donation Auction ResultsThe first Donation Auction to benefit the Vermont Philatelic Society closed onSunday, October 15, 2006. All except five lots were sold. The lots that wereunsold were later listed on eBay at lower starting prices. Below are the resultsof the auction:

Lot Amt Lot Amt Lot Amt Lot Amt3 $3.00 4 $6.50 5 $3.50 6 $1.007 $1.00 8 $1.00 9 $12.00 10 $6.0011 $1.00 12 $1.50 13 $1.00 14 $1.0015 $1.00 16 $1.00 17 $1.00 19 $3.0020 $6.00 21 $1.00 22 $1.50 23 $2.5024 $5.50 25 $1.50 26 $1.00 27 $4.0028 $1.50 29 $2.50 30 $1.50 31 $1.0032 $1.50 33 $1.00 35 $160.00 36 $16.0037 $97.50

Jason J. GrangerWASHINGTON, DC—Jason Judkins Granger, 82, formerly of NorthRandolph, died November 12, 2006, at the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Homein Washington, D.C. where he had been a resident since 1991.

He was born July 2, 1924 in St. Johnsbury, the youngest son of Albert C.and Eliza M. (Judkins) Granger of Passumpsic. He attended grammarschool in Passumpsic and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in1942. He also studied at the University of Maine, Orono and theUniversity of Madrid, Spain.

He served with the 63rd Infantry Division in Europe during World WarII and the 30th Engineer Battalion in the Southwest Pacific and Japan.In 1949 he joined the Air Force and was in the Strategic Air Commandfor the remainder of his military career, retiring in Spain in 1965.

After his return to the States, he was a reporter and photographer withthe Barre-Montpelier Times Argus and later worked for 15 years as adispatcher for the Vermont State Police. Prior to his move to Washing-ton, he lived for several years in North Randolph and was a member ofSts. Donatian and Rogatian Parish in Randolph. He was also a memberof the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus.A long-time philatelist, he was a member of the Vermont PhilatelicSociety, the Bureau Issues Assn., Lakeshore Stamp Club of Montreal,the United States Stamp Society, and a life member of the AmericanPhilatelic Society.Survivors include his brother,John A.Granger,of Northfield; two nieces,Mrs. Wayne (Sally) Barrett of Calais and Mrs. Stephen (Judith) Rivardof Williston; as well as several cousins.He was predeceased by his brother, Martin C. Granger in 1976.Memorial services were held at Rose Chapel at tlie Soldiers’ andAirmen’s Home and interment was at the National Soldiers’ HomeCemetery in Washington D.C.

This pictorial first-day-of-issue cancel

was used inTiconderoga, NY

on May 28, 2006 forthe US “Champlain

Surveys the EastCoast” stamp issue.

2928

Vermont Philatelic Society

Auction #84CLOSING DATE - December 20, 2006

Standard auction rules and conditions apply. Errors returnable with-in 5 days. Successful bidders will be notified; lots mailed upon receiptof payment. No buyer’s fee. Successful bidders will be charged postageand insurance at cost.Bid increments: under $25 = .50; $25-50 = $1.00; $50 and up = $5.00.Mail bids to: Stanley Sumner, PO Box 956, Montpelier, VT. 05601

WE NEED AUCTION LOTSPlease send in some material for the VPS Auctions. Lots should be in VG orbetter condition and should relate to Vermont Postal History. Small amountsof other philatelic material will be accepted. Please provide your minimumbid per lot. A 15% fee of the sale price will be deducted for the Society onconsignment lots. Please mail lots to Stanley Sumner, Auction Coordinator,POB 956, Montpelier, VT. 05601.

LOT# DESCRIPTION MIN. BID

VERMONT PPC’S:1. 4 Diff. D.P.O’s - Braintree, E. Clarendon, S. Wallingford,

N. Shelburne F/VF to VF 10.002. 6 Towns - E.Montpelier, Pownal, E. Corinth, E. Calais, E. Ryegate,

S. Royalton F/VF 3.003. 12 Towns from 1906 to 1917, i.e. Isle Lamotte, Brownsville,

N.Hartland, E.Thetford, South Londonderry, etc. 5.00 4. 9 Small towns on more recent PPC’s, i.e. East Dover, East Calais,

Morgan, Manchester Center, etc. 2.005. 4 D.P.O’s - Ely, East Clarendon, North Craftsbury,

Manchester Depot F/VF 5.006. 5 D.P.O’s - North Sheldon, East Shoreham (As Receiving)

Hubbarton, Amsden, Healdville, F/VF 8.007. Tyson - 1917 to Healdville F/VF 5.00

MISC. VERMONT COVERS:8. Hubbarton - 1915 mourning cover VF 3.009. Rutland 1956 - Heartwell Station Opening Day of P.O. VF 2.00

10. South Newbury - D.P.O. on #10 Envelope - National League of District Postmasters 2.00

11. (2) Victory VT. Unused catches 1945 - May 8 very nice & VF 5.0012. Stampless - Bellows Falls (SFL) with contents Paid 5 1848 F 10.0013. Stampless - Burlington, 5 Rate 1848 F/VF (some burn marks) 10.0014. Westmore - 1870 postmark on 3c green BN early & scarce 75.00

It Happened 25 Years Agofrom the November 1981 Issue

“Post Offices whose Postmarks Are Rarely Found” featured South Burke.Named after the English statesman,Edmund Burke (1729-97), the town waschartered in 1782. The South Burke postoffice was opened on March 10, 1838. Inaddition, there were post offices at Burke,East Burke and West Burke. The finding ofthis cover removed South Burke from theunknown list.

Another feature article was an update of “Backstamps”, how they were usedand their importance to postal history.

CHAMPEX '81 was co-hosted by the Chittenden County Stamp Club andthe Plattsburg Stamp Club at the Sheraton Inn, Burlington, VT onNovember 7, 1981.

An article about RFD cancels featured anewly discovered Ludlow, VT R.F.D flagcancel. In the early days, the RFD carri-ers were furnished with a handstamppostmarking device. If the mail was forsomeone further along the route, the car-rier could postmark the mail and deliverit the same day. Many of these cancels

simply read R.F.D.This Ludlow example carries the additional “No. 2” addi-tion. Since there was no time or date on the stamp, it could only be legallyused to postmark mail to be delivered on the same route.

The final article showed a cover that waspostmarked “a century ahead of its time.”A 1847 cover carried the manuscript can-cel “Et St Johnsbury Vt.” A post office forEast St. Johnsbury was not actuallyestablished until July 1, 1952.

There was also a note of caution aboutpatriotic covers postmarked from Victory,VT.Although there are many gen-uine covers, there was growing evidence that someone possessed a rubberstamp and was continuing to create covers for sale at high prices to unsus-pecting collectors.

3130

Editor’s Notebookby John A. Lutzjohn@vtstamp.com

Let’s take a moment to look back over 2006 from this editor’s chair. Enteringthe year, it looked like a daunting set of deadlines lay ahead. It was the 50thanniversary of the Vermont Philatelic Society and there was the missing issuefrom1959 to make up. Relatively few articles had been submitted for publica-tion and some past active authors died.

Now almost a year later, how things have changed! The updated and expand-ed DPO catalog, first appearing as an issue of the VP, has met with greatapproval. An interesting biography in this issue introduces you to SidneyHarris, another person who played an important role in the early success ofthe VPS. You’ve told me, “more people articles, please.”

New authors have been identified to write important articles that feature thepostal history of Vermont towns.The February 2007 issue will leadoff with James Oliver’s extensivearticle about the post offices ofAlbany, Vermont. I first becameaware of the material Jim had gath-ered when some of it was featured inthe Albany, VT exhibit at theVermont History Expo. Later in theyear you will read more about thepostal history of Halifax, Vermont.

Several of the features you have read in past issues were from information col-lected by individuals who did not feel they could write finished articles. Pleasesend your gathered material, and I will help you shape it into acceptable pub-lishing form.

Other future articles will acquaint you with how mail is moved around thestate and the day-to-day operation of the two major mail centers in Vermont.

You will also read about how many of the major stamp auction houses came tohave their auction catalogs printed here in Vermont.

On the plus side, I’m hearing from more VPS members as Imeet them at various events. The consensus is, “I like the mixof new and old features in the VP, keep them coming!”

Now I’ll await your response to the Vermont Connections proj-ect.When the list is complete, it will become a 8-10 page book-let for easy checklist reference. – John Lutz

AUCTION BID FORM ENCLOSEDRemember, the Auction #84 closing date is: December 20, 2006

WE NEED AUCTION LOTS: Submit lots of VG or better condition thatwill be of interest to collectors of Vermont material. List your minimum bidfor each lot. A 15% commission is earned by the Society on consignment lots.Mail your lots to Stanley Sumner, Auction Coordinator, PO Box 956,Montpelier, VT. 05601-0956.

VERMONT STAMPLESS COVERS:15. Brookfield - 1846 red NOR postmark, rate 5 F 55.0016. Burlington - 1848 red cds rate 5 inside circ. VF 12.5017. Chelsea - 1843 red cds, ms rate 10 VF 20.0018. Derby Line - 1852 red cds, Paid 3 in circle F 15.0019. Highgate - 1849 red cds, boxed 5 rate, pretty F/VF 35.0020. Hydeville - 1852 bold black cds, Paid 3 in circle F/VF 35.0021. Manchester - 1835 black cds, ms rate 6 F/VF 25.0022. Middlebury - 1854 blue cds postmaster free frank (Sprague) - )

notes on cover relate to 1854 State Democratic Conventionin Middlebury) F/VF 30.00

23. North Pownal - 1852 black cds, Paid 3 in circle VF 30.0024. Proctorsville - 1838 red cds, ms rate 12 1/2 F 35.0025. Randolph - 1845 red cds, hs free F 20.0026. Wells River - 1843 black no outer rim pmk, scarce F 60.00

VERMONT MANUSCRIPT STAMPLESS COVERS:27. Barton - 1835 Paid 10 VF 40.0028. Bellows Falls - 1829 rate 6 VF 40.0029. Bridport - 1845 rate 5 VF 30.0030. Corinth - 1839 rate 12 1/2 VF 35.0031. Cornwall - 1842 rate 6 DPO VF 65.0032. Coventry - 1840 rate 10 VF 40.0033. East Bethel - 1846 rate 5 DPO VF 60.0034. Perkinsville - 1848 rate 5 VF 30.0035. Rochester - 1843 rate 12 1/2 VF 45.0036. Roxbury - 1850 rate 5 F/VF 35.0037. West Haven - 1847 rate 5 DPO F/VF 60.0038. West Townshend - 1843 Paid 12 1/2 Border Cover VF 75.00

PRICES REALIZED AUCTION #83Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt Lot - Amt2 - 3.00 12 - 18.00 19 - 11.00 25 - 62.00 31 - 31.00 37 - 31.003 - 7.00 14 - 5.50 20 - 17.00 26 - 52.00 32 - 48.00 38 - 11.005 - 3.00 15 - 5.00 21 - 86.00 27 - 37.00 33 - 32.00 39 - 26.009 - 13.00 16 - 4.00 22 - 31.00 28 - 41.00 34 - 21.00 40 - 80.0010 - 17.00 17 - 11.00 23 - 51.00 29 - 61.00 35 - 27.00 41 - 18.0011 - 13.00 18 - 9.00 24 - 46.00 30 - 41.00 36 - 26.00 42 - 62.00

32

Vermont Stamp ClubsBrattleboro Stamp Club. 452 Williams St, Brattleboro VT 05301. MeetingsSept-June on 3rd Monday of each month at Brooks Memorial Library exceptJune, when the annual picnic is held. Pres: Bob Mellish; VP: Mike Nieckoski;Secretary: Janet O’Keefe; Treasurer: Joe Nicholas; and VPS Representative:Glenn Minshall.

New officers were elected at the September meeting.An information formwas included in the October newsletter in preparation for the upcomingproduction of a membership directory.

Chittenden County Stamp Club. 60 Adams St., Burlington, VT 05401.Meetings first Wednesday of every month at IDX building on Shelburne Rd.Pres: Karl Zurn; VP: Wendell Weston; Treas: Merilyn Weston; Newsletter:David Banks; VPS Representative: Wendell Weston.

The CCSC Fall Auction, with 104 lots, was held at the IDX building onWednesday, November 8th. Elections will be held in December.

Green Mountain Stamp Society. Roberta A. Breese, 211 Breese HollowRoad, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090. Meetings second and fourth Wednesday, 3:30pm at the Grace Christian School, 14 Kocher Drive, Bennington, VT. Pres:Robert Breese; Sec: Mrs. Roberta Breese; Treas: Emil Czerwinski. VPSRepresentative: Stuart E. Libby.

Memphremagog Stamp and Coin Club. RR 1, Box 171A, Derby,VT 05829-9716. Meetings second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Pres: CharlesCilwik; Sec/Newsletter: Phil Wood; Treas: Charles Cilwik. VPSRepresentative: Charles Cilwik.

Rutland County Stamp Club. 1398 Brink Hill Rd., Bethel,VT 05032-9463.Meetings every other Thursday, September-June. Pres: Michael McMorrow;VP: Paul E. Cook; Sec: Maureen Covell; Treas: Nick Nikolaidis; Directors:Roger Harris, Nick Nikolaidis; Newsletter: Nancy & Walter Coan; VPSRepresentative: Nick Nikolaidis; Alternate: Michael McMorrow.

Upper Valley Stamp Club. 3 Elm St., Randolph, VT 05060-1004. Meetingssecond Monday of each month at 7 pm at the Quechee,VT library. Pres: DavidPollak; VP: Gary Richardson; Sec/Treas: John Lutz; Newsletter: EugeneVigneault; VPS Representative: John Lutz.

Attendance at regular UVSC meetings continues to average 20-28 per-sons. Five new members recently joined the club.

Washington County Stamp Club. 98 Brooklyn Heights,Apt. 5, Morrisville,VT 05661. Meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September-June. Pres:Robert Edson; VP: Peter Huntsman; Treas: Bill Lizotte; Newsletter: ThomasS. Bailey; Silent auction coordinator: Thomas S. Bailey; VPS Representative:Robert Edson; Alternate: Steve Pettersen.