Inside Linn’s: Having fun with first-day covers

By Charles Snee

The April 22 issue of Linn’s Stamp News just landed on the presses and goes in the mail to subscribers Monday, April 8. And if you subscribe to Linn’s digital edition, you’re at the head of the line with early access Saturday, April 6. While you wait for your issue to arrive in your mailbox, enjoy these three quick glimpses of exclusive content available only to subscribers. 

Having fun with first-day covers

Lloyd de Vries, in First-Day Covers, features a marvelous FDC for the United States 2006 10¢ American Clock coil stamp. The FDC, shown here, is the creation of Andrew McFarlane, who “chose a clock as his theme — a real clock,” de Vries explains. “He serviced six to eight cards that could be inserted into clocks.” In the end, McFarlane created just two 10¢ American Clock FDCs using Westclox clocks, one of which de Vries now has in his collection. De Vries writes about several other topics, including an important correction to his column that appeared in the March 25 issue of Linn’s.

It’s time to consider exhibiting

In memory of his friend and philatelic colleague Janet Klug (1950-2023), Dollar-Sign Stamps columnist Charles Snee is giving what he calls “serious consideration” to assembling an exhibit for the first time. He’s eyeing putting together a single-frame exhibit of covers franked with the $1 Eugene O’Neill sheet stamp. “I envision this 16-page display as an overview of contemporaneous rates and uses of the $1 O’Neill stamp,” Snee says. Readers with ideas and suggestions are encouraged to contact Snee. His contact information is provided at the end of the column.

Kitchen Table Philately: 100 worldwide stamps for $2

In each weekly issue of Linn’s, either E. Rawolik VI or E. Rawolik VII dissects the contents of a stamp mixture offered to collectors. E. Rawolik is a pseudonym that is also the word “kiloware” (a stamp mixture) spelled backward. This week, E. Rawolik VI looks over half of a packet of unused and used worldwide stamps. A total of 108 stamps were received, eight more than advertised. Of the 54 stamps, one was faulty, leaving 53 for the review. “I noticed stamps from North America, South America, Europe and the Pacific,” Rawolik writes. “The dates of issue ranged from 1897 to 2008.” A stamp from Germany captured the high Scott catalog value of $3.75. Enjoy the full review in this issue.

Connect with Linn’s Stamp News: 

    Sign up for our newsletter
    Like us on Facebook
    Follow us on Twitter