Our March GCSC General Businees meeting is March 2, at 2 pm in the St. Martin Library. Very important details and preparations will be made for GULFPEX 2019. You need to attend and participate. Club members input and participation is very important for our success.
Valentine Philately
The Valentine Day Post Card material and cover was provided by Bob Marousky.
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1937 Valentine Day Cover from USS Fairfax.
USS Fairfax, a 1090-ton (standard displacement) Wickes class destroyer, was built by the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Commissioned in April 1918, she went to the Atlantic a few months later and was employed on convoy duty. In October, Fairfax crossed the ocean to Brest, France, to take up similar work in the submarine-infested approaches to France's western ports. World War I soon ended, and the destroyer returned to the U.S. early in 1919. The next three years were occupied with routine operations off the East Coast and in the Caribbean, punctuated in May 1919 by a trip to the Azores to participate in the trans-Atlantic flight of the Navy NC flying boats.
From June 1922 until May 1930 Fairfax was out of commission, laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. During 1930-1932 she was mainly used for Atlantic Coast Naval Reserve training, and continued to perform this function while based at San Diego, California, in 1932-1933. Back in the Atlantic for the rest of the decade, Fairfax made several U.S. Naval Academy training cruises and also served off Cuba and Central America. After September 1939, when World War II began in Europe, she was assigned to the Neutrality Patrol in addition to training service.
Fairfax was decommissioned in November 1940 and transferred to the United Kingdom as one of fifty old destroyers traded for basing rights in the Western Hemisphere. Renamed Richmond, she served in the British and Canadian Navies as a convoy escort until late 1943. Following a half-year in reserve, in June 1944 the ship was leased to the Soviet Union and renamed Zhyivuchi. She was returned in June 1949 and broken up in Scotland. USS Fairfax was named in honor of Rear Admiral Donald M. Fairfax (1818-1894), who performed distinguished service during the Civil War.
From June 1922 until May 1930 Fairfax was out of commission, laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. During 1930-1932 she was mainly used for Atlantic Coast Naval Reserve training, and continued to perform this function while based at San Diego, California, in 1932-1933. Back in the Atlantic for the rest of the decade, Fairfax made several U.S. Naval Academy training cruises and also served off Cuba and Central America. After September 1939, when World War II began in Europe, she was assigned to the Neutrality Patrol in addition to training service.
Fairfax was decommissioned in November 1940 and transferred to the United Kingdom as one of fifty old destroyers traded for basing rights in the Western Hemisphere. Renamed Richmond, she served in the British and Canadian Navies as a convoy escort until late 1943. Following a half-year in reserve, in June 1944 the ship was leased to the Soviet Union and renamed Zhyivuchi. She was returned in June 1949 and broken up in Scotland. USS Fairfax was named in honor of Rear Admiral Donald M. Fairfax (1818-1894), who performed distinguished service during the Civil War.
Groundhog Day
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In Germany, there was a custom where the remaining amount of cold weather was determined by whether a badger would leave its burrow on Candlemas. This tradition continues today, but you might know it as Groundhog Day, a US tradition brought from Germany that predicts how much of Winter is left based on a Groundhog seeing its shadow on 2 February (silly Woodchuck).
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For centuries, farmers in England and France looked to a bear to predict further winter; in Germany, they kept their eye on the badger. In the 1800s, German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought the tradition with them. Finding no badgers they adopted the groundhog to fit the lore. Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil has announced spring's arrival since 1887. Other groundhogs also have carried on the tradition, including Ontario's Wiarton Willie.
The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. 
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Candlemas
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What is Candlemas? “The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple”
Candlemas is a Christian holiday occuring annually on February 2 commemorating the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple when he was a baby. It occurs 40 days (inclusively) after Christmas Day. In some churches it is celebrated on a nearby Sunday. The term "Candlemas" (meaning Candle Mass) refers to the practice of the blessing of candles by the priest during a church service ("mass") for use during the year in church and in the homes of the faithful. Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus. |
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While in many countries Christmas decorations are traditionally removed on Twelfth Night (January 5, also known as Epiphany Eve), for other countries it is customary to remove them on Candlemas. Its roots are found in the Biblical passage of Luke 2:22-40.
The festival is called Candlemas beacuse this was the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed. |
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On Candlemas night, many people place lighted candles in their windows at home.
Like some other Christian festivals, Candlemas draws some of its elements from Paganism.
In pre-Christian times, it was the festival of light. This ancient festival marked the mid point of winter, half way between the winter solstice (shortest day) and the spring equinox. Some people lit candles to scare away evil spirits on the dark winter nights. People believed that Candlemas predicted the weather for the rest of the winter.
"If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,
Winter won't come again."
For some people, different superstitions surround this festival. For instance, if a candle drips on one side when carried in church on Candlemas, this denotes a death of a family member during the year. If someone brings snowdrops into the house on Candlemas day it symbolises a parting or death. Any Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night (January 5th) should be left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down.
Candlemas is a public holiday in Liechtenstein and is always celebrated on 2 February. Candlemas used to be a national holiday in Scotland.
As early February is the mid-point between winter solstice and the spring equinox, this time of the year was an important time to mark the coming of Spring and celebrating the increasing light.
The ancient Romans observed a mid-season festival on 5 February, and the pagan Irish celebrated one around 1 February. In many parts of Europe, an early February might herald the start of spring, when crops could be planted, so any way of predicting the weather at this time of year was popular. Early Christians had a tradition that if it was sunny on Candlemas, winter would last for six weeks more.
Like some other Christian festivals, Candlemas draws some of its elements from Paganism.
In pre-Christian times, it was the festival of light. This ancient festival marked the mid point of winter, half way between the winter solstice (shortest day) and the spring equinox. Some people lit candles to scare away evil spirits on the dark winter nights. People believed that Candlemas predicted the weather for the rest of the winter.
"If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,
Winter won't come again."
For some people, different superstitions surround this festival. For instance, if a candle drips on one side when carried in church on Candlemas, this denotes a death of a family member during the year. If someone brings snowdrops into the house on Candlemas day it symbolises a parting or death. Any Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night (January 5th) should be left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down.
Candlemas is a public holiday in Liechtenstein and is always celebrated on 2 February. Candlemas used to be a national holiday in Scotland.
As early February is the mid-point between winter solstice and the spring equinox, this time of the year was an important time to mark the coming of Spring and celebrating the increasing light.
The ancient Romans observed a mid-season festival on 5 February, and the pagan Irish celebrated one around 1 February. In many parts of Europe, an early February might herald the start of spring, when crops could be planted, so any way of predicting the weather at this time of year was popular. Early Christians had a tradition that if it was sunny on Candlemas, winter would last for six weeks more.
GCSC is proud to recognize February as Black History Month
March Circuit
- USA Used Plate Number Singles
- Cuba 337 to 441 Mixed Mint and Used
- USA Coils Mint and Used
- Australian States
- Italian Colonies
- USA Back of Book (C1-U, C5-U, C6 Mint NH)
- USA Coils Washington/Franklin’s +
- Newfoundland
- Italian Colonies
- Germany – Modern Used
- Global Air Mail – Liberia to Monaco
- Global Air Mail – Romania to Slovakia
- Global Air Mail – Somalia to Tonga
- Global Air Mail – Uruguay to Yugoslavia
New Stamps for 2019
Cactus Flowers
Issue Date: February 15 Place of Issue: Mesa, Arizona at AmeriStamp Expo/Aripex Format: Ten designs in a booklet of 20 stamps, self-adhesive Denomination: 55¢, forever stamps 
Issue Date: 1/27/2019
Denomination: $0.15 Originally issued by the USPS in 2017, Uncle Sam's Hat, an additional ounce stamp, will be available in 2019 in a coil. The words "ADDITIONAL OUNCE" on this stamp indicates its usage value. Like a "Forever Stamp" , this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it. |
Alabama Statehood
Issue Date: February 23 Place of Issue: Huntsville, Alabama Format: Single design, self-adhesive Denomination: 55¢, forever stamp 
Issue Date: 1/27/2019
Denomination: $0.70 California Dogface Butterfly issue. Non-machinable for square envelopes. For greeting cards, invitations, or announcements. |
Trivia Question: How many stamps were there in the 1964 Christmas issue?
