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NOLAPEX 2020
New Orleans Stamp and Postcard Show February 28 & 29, 10 am - 6 pm Bourse only (no exhibits) Hourly Raffle Sponsor: Crescent City Stamp Club Location: Wyndham Garden Hotel 6401 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, Louisiana I-10 Exit 225 Open to the Public Free Admission and Parking Contact: Eric White Email: ericwhitegypsymoth@yahoo.com Phone: 504-478-8761 Website: http://ccscno.org/ Vertical Divider
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GULFPEX 2020
The Gulf Coast Stamp and Postcard Show, Bourse & Exhibits Friday, April 17th, 10 am - 6 pm Saturday, April 18th 10 am - 4 pm Sponsor: Gulf Coast Stamp Club Location: St. Martin Community Center, 15008 LeMoyne Blvd., I-10 Exit 50 Open to the Public Free Admission and Parking Drawing for Apollo XIII Memorabilia Exhibits Awarded Prize Levels by Chief Philatelic Judge Jay Stottes Website: https://www.gulfcoaststampclub.org/gulfpex-2020.html Exhibit Forms in Word (docx) and Adobe Acrobat (pdf) are below. Download the form you wish to use and bring the completed form to our March 7 meeting or mail that form to Tom Adams c/o Gulf Coast Stamp Club, Box 3906, Gulfport, MS 39505. |
Laissez les bons temps rouler
The Twelfth Night has passed --- beginning the Carnival Season. "Laissez les bons temps rouler"
In 2020, Mardi Gras Day is February 25. Fat Tuesday is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The most popular time to visit New Orleans is the extended weekend before Mardi Gras when you can catch parades, like Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, Rex and all of the festive celebrations throughout the whole city. The date of Mardi Gras changes every year because it's connected to Easter, which can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25. Mardi Gras day always takes place 47 days before Easter.
The Carnival season always begins on Jan. 6, which is King’s Day (Feast of the Epiphany). Mardi Gras day (Fat Tuesday), however, is on a different day each year. Fat Tuesday changes every year because Easter Sunday is never on the same Sunday each year. Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday.
Even though every parade is unique, Orpheus, Bacchus, and Endymion feature the most intricate, massive, and extravagant floats. For more information click on this link.
In 2020, Mardi Gras Day is February 25. Fat Tuesday is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The most popular time to visit New Orleans is the extended weekend before Mardi Gras when you can catch parades, like Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, Rex and all of the festive celebrations throughout the whole city. The date of Mardi Gras changes every year because it's connected to Easter, which can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25. Mardi Gras day always takes place 47 days before Easter.
The Carnival season always begins on Jan. 6, which is King’s Day (Feast of the Epiphany). Mardi Gras day (Fat Tuesday), however, is on a different day each year. Fat Tuesday changes every year because Easter Sunday is never on the same Sunday each year. Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday.
Even though every parade is unique, Orpheus, Bacchus, and Endymion feature the most intricate, massive, and extravagant floats. For more information click on this link.
Bob Marousky gives us a great Mardi Gras cover from 1936 post marked from the U.S.S. Arkansas.
There will be a GCSC GULFPEX 2020 MEETING at 1 pm on Saturday, February 15th. All members are invited to attend. We need volunteers to help out with the Club activities for this event. It is important that our membership shows our dedication to our stamp and post card collectors in the coastal area. It is very important that 'Youth Activities' show the personal value of collecting to young people. We can do this by providing a great show for collectors of stamps, postal cards, and all the other philatelic items showing our past and present. Come ready to roll up your sleeves and pitch in.
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A $7.75 Big Bend stamp will be offered for use on Priority Mail flat-rate envelopes. Illustration by Dan Cosgrove.
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A $26.35 Grand Island Ice Caves will fulfill a new rate for Priority Mail Express flat rate envelopes. Illustration by Dan Cosgrove.
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Year of the Rat
Issue Date: 1/11/2020 The USPS issues the first of 12 stamps in the third Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Rat begins January 25, 2020, and ends February 11, 2021. |
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Presorted Star
In 2020, the Postal Service will offer the Presorted Star stamp, sold in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000, intended for use by business mailers. This new stamp celebrates the beloved American Stars and Stripes by focusing on its vital components. The asymmetrical design includes one large white star, two white and three red stripes, and a brilliant blue background, as well as lettering and three small stars in gold. Greg Breeding was the art director and Matthew Pamer was the designer for the stamp. It will be issued Feb. 3. 
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Each stamp features a photograph of one of these nine species: Cypripedium californicum, Hexalectris spicata, Cypripedium reginae, Spiranthes odorata, Triphora trianthophoros, Platanthera grandiflora, Cyrtopodium polyphyllum, Calopogon tuberosus, and Platanthera leucophaea. Within the booklet, each stamp design is featured twice. The Wild Orchids stamps will be issued with 10 stamp designs in booklets of 20 and coils of 3,000 and 10,000. Issued Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.
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February Circuit
1. Canada and Providences (mostly 19th century)
2. Italy - Aegean Islands
3. Italian Colonies
4. USA – Mint Hinged
5. Philippines
6. USA Mint
7. USA – Back of Book
8. World Wide Airmails
9. Airmail and Aviation
10. USA – Back of Book
11. Australian States
12 Australia
13. Philippines
14. USA Coils – Mint NH
15. USA Coils
16. Canadian Providences and Canada
17. Philippines
18. World Wide Airmails
19. Germany – Modern (mostly used)
2. Italy - Aegean Islands
3. Italian Colonies
4. USA – Mint Hinged
5. Philippines
6. USA Mint
7. USA – Back of Book
8. World Wide Airmails
9. Airmail and Aviation
10. USA – Back of Book
11. Australian States
12 Australia
13. Philippines
14. USA Coils – Mint NH
15. USA Coils
16. Canadian Providences and Canada
17. Philippines
18. World Wide Airmails
19. Germany – Modern (mostly used)
Name John Barrett Email jstrubelboy@aol.com
Comment: Hi all, Am searching for CLEAR/READABLE cancels on Austria + 'Offices abroad' stamps from 1850 to end of WW1. Especially search for the SCOTT 'P' section(Newspaper stamps) cancels. NOT needed are 'WIEN', 'BUDAPEST' and the other major cities of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Will purchase direct or trade(I have lots of Swiss,Austria,Liechtenstein). GET LOOKIN! Thanks!
Name Bob Marousky Email marouspy@yahoo.com
Looking to trade, I have several country collections, Belgium, Swiss, Great Britain and more. Interested to trade for philatelic or non philatelic items. Contact Bob at marouspy@yahoo.com
Name John Barrett Email jstrubelboy@aol.com
Comment: The recent Notre Dame disastrous cathedral fire prompted me to consider doing a 4-page exhibit on the subject; I would try to locate: 1) the First stamp issued picturing Notre dame 2) history of the structure 3) stamps issued by any country picturing it 4) related material,etc.
I will purchase or trade( I have extensive Swiss,Austria,Liechtenstein for trades) for any of the above! Mint or fine used is OK. Get lookin!
Thanks! Dr. Barrett
Comment: Hi all, Am searching for CLEAR/READABLE cancels on Austria + 'Offices abroad' stamps from 1850 to end of WW1. Especially search for the SCOTT 'P' section(Newspaper stamps) cancels. NOT needed are 'WIEN', 'BUDAPEST' and the other major cities of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Will purchase direct or trade(I have lots of Swiss,Austria,Liechtenstein). GET LOOKIN! Thanks!
Name Bob Marousky Email marouspy@yahoo.com
Looking to trade, I have several country collections, Belgium, Swiss, Great Britain and more. Interested to trade for philatelic or non philatelic items. Contact Bob at marouspy@yahoo.com
Name John Barrett Email jstrubelboy@aol.com
Comment: The recent Notre Dame disastrous cathedral fire prompted me to consider doing a 4-page exhibit on the subject; I would try to locate: 1) the First stamp issued picturing Notre dame 2) history of the structure 3) stamps issued by any country picturing it 4) related material,etc.
I will purchase or trade( I have extensive Swiss,Austria,Liechtenstein for trades) for any of the above! Mint or fine used is OK. Get lookin!
Thanks! Dr. Barrett
February is one of the busiest celebration months on our modern calendar ... from Liechtenstein's celebration of Candlemass to Norway's Mothers Day to Spain's Andalucia Day. While many states/nations celebrate many different issues in February, in the U. S. we focus on: 1) Black History Month 2) Valentine's Day 3) Lincoln's birthday 4) Presidents' Day (Washingtons birthday) 5) Mardi Gras 2020 and 6) Groundhog Day
In the collage above there are just a few of the stamps reflecting how important we think Valentine's Day is.
In the past 70 years, over 100 accomplished Black Americans have been honored on U.S. postage stamps as a reflection of their contribution to American society. To learn about some of these outstanding men and women of African heritage, follow this link to read a 2004 publication from the USPS.
Contrary to popular belief, the observed federal holiday of Presidents Day is actually called "Washington's Birthday." Neither Congress nor the President has ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington's Birthday" be changed to Presidents' Day. Additionally, Congress has never declared a national holiday binding in all states and each state decides its own legal holidays. This is why there are some calendar discrepancies when it comes to this holiday.
"Laisseez les bon temps rouler,"... Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent) is celebrated 46 days before Easter Sunday. To see a schedule of New Orleans Mardi Gras parades click on this link. To see a schedule of Mardi Gras parades on the MS Gulf Coast click on this link.
In the collage above there are just a few of the stamps reflecting how important we think Valentine's Day is.
In the past 70 years, over 100 accomplished Black Americans have been honored on U.S. postage stamps as a reflection of their contribution to American society. To learn about some of these outstanding men and women of African heritage, follow this link to read a 2004 publication from the USPS.
Contrary to popular belief, the observed federal holiday of Presidents Day is actually called "Washington's Birthday." Neither Congress nor the President has ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington's Birthday" be changed to Presidents' Day. Additionally, Congress has never declared a national holiday binding in all states and each state decides its own legal holidays. This is why there are some calendar discrepancies when it comes to this holiday.
"Laisseez les bon temps rouler,"... Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent) is celebrated 46 days before Easter Sunday. To see a schedule of New Orleans Mardi Gras parades click on this link. To see a schedule of Mardi Gras parades on the MS Gulf Coast click on this link.
Groundhog Day
The Christian religious holiday of Candlemas Day has become most commonly associated with the current celebration, but it's roots are older than that. The celebration started in Christianity as the day, (February 2nd), when Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed. This, they felt, would bring blessings to their household for the remaining winter.
As time rolled on the day evolved into another form. The following English folk song highlights the transition to weather prognostication.
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.
This “interpretation” of Candlemas Day became the norm for most of Europe. As you can read, there is no mention of an animal of any kind in the preceding song. It wasn't until this traditional belief was introduced to Germany that an animal was introduced into the lore, hence another evolution of February 2nd. If, according to German lore, the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day there would be a “Second Winter” or 6 more weeks of bad weather. As German settlers came to what is now the United States, so too came their traditions and folklore. With the absence of hedgehogs in the United States, a similar hibernating animal was chosen. This leads us to yet another evolution in the legend and to present day Punxsutawney.
In Punxsutawney, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler's Knob. Each year since then has seen a steady increase in participation of the celebration from people all over the world.
Today, Groundhog Day remains what it was when the tradition first came to our shores and found its way to Punxsutawney. A day to take everything a little less seriously, and break up the winter monotony... at least for a little while!
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club
1548 Woodland Ave Ext.
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
https://www.groundhog.org/about
As time rolled on the day evolved into another form. The following English folk song highlights the transition to weather prognostication.
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.
This “interpretation” of Candlemas Day became the norm for most of Europe. As you can read, there is no mention of an animal of any kind in the preceding song. It wasn't until this traditional belief was introduced to Germany that an animal was introduced into the lore, hence another evolution of February 2nd. If, according to German lore, the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day there would be a “Second Winter” or 6 more weeks of bad weather. As German settlers came to what is now the United States, so too came their traditions and folklore. With the absence of hedgehogs in the United States, a similar hibernating animal was chosen. This leads us to yet another evolution in the legend and to present day Punxsutawney.
In Punxsutawney, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler's Knob. Each year since then has seen a steady increase in participation of the celebration from people all over the world.
Today, Groundhog Day remains what it was when the tradition first came to our shores and found its way to Punxsutawney. A day to take everything a little less seriously, and break up the winter monotony... at least for a little while!
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club
1548 Woodland Ave Ext.
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
https://www.groundhog.org/about
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Rob O'Dell has written an outstanding article on CSA stamps. The article not only takes us through the engraving and printing processes used but also gives us a glimpse of the difficulties encountered in producing stamps for the CSA. Click on this link to go to the article.
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