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Encyclopedia Updates

Encyclopedia Update (April 2005)

Final editing of The Encyclopedia of United States Stamp Collecting is well under way as you read these words. The completed manuscript will go to the designer shortly after our annual meeting in July at Indypex, and the hardbound, full color Encyclopedia will be released next year during Washington 2006. We can report to you that a special release ceremony for the book will be held at 2PM on the opening day of the international show, May 27, 2006. Washington 2006 will be the philatelic event of the decade, and we are looking forward to releasing our new book at this event.

Many people are contributing financially to help subsidize the cost of publishing this monumental work. Your gift will help us achieve the widest possible distribution at a price that will be attractive to beginning or intermediate collectors. If you give a gift of $100 or more, your name will be listed in the book as one of its patrons. Donors of $100 or more will receive a copy of the book when it is published, and may specify a library to receive an additional copy in their name. Let’s flood our nations libraries with hundreds of encyclopedias! Donors will also receive a special BEP engraved certificate of appreciation, and will, of course, be honored at the May 27 release ceremony. But most importantly of all, donor will have the satisfaction of making a positive contribution to the future health of the hobby. It is worth emphasizing no one is being compensated for their work on the Encyclopedia, so 100% of your contribution will go directly to underwrite production costs.

Contributions must be received by the end of June 2005 in order for donors’ names to be listed in the book. Download the donation form and send your gift to the U.S.S.S. Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 6634, Katy TX 77491-6634. If you have any questions, contact me by e-mail.

– Rod Juell
Project Manager

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNITED STATES STAMPS

Foreword

Stamps of the United States

  1. Stampless Covers
  2. Postmasters’ Provisionals
  3. Series of 1847
  4. Series of 1851 and 1857
  5. Series of 1861 and 1869 Pictorials
  6. Bank Notes of 1870-1894
  7. Series of 1894
  8. Series of 1902
  9. Washington-Franklin Heads Issue
  10. Series of 1922
  11. Presidential Series
  12. Liberty Series
  13. Prominent Americans Series
  14. Americana Issue
  15. Great Americans Series
  16. Transportation Coils
  17. Late Twentieth Century Definitives
  18. Nineteenth Century Commemoratives
  19. Twentieth Century Commemoratives, 1901-1933
  20. Twentieth Century Commemoratives, 1933-1971
  21. Twentieth Century Commemoratives, 1971-2000
  22. Twenty-first Century Stamps
  23. Airmail Stamps
  24. Special Usage Stamps
  25. Federal Revenue Stamps
  26. State Revenue Stamps
  27. U.S. Possessions, Usages Abroad, and Occupied Areas
  28. Postal Stationery
  29. Precancels and Perfins
  30. Carriers and Locals
  31. Confederate States of America

History, Production, and Technology

  1. United States Post Office Department
  2. United States Postal Service
  3. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
  4. Stamp Production – The Flat Plate Press
  5. Stamp Production – The Stickney Rotary Press
  6. Stamp Production – Modern Presses
  7. Stamp Production – Non-BEP Printers
  8. Stamp Separation, 1857-1980
  9. Stamp Separation, Since 1980
  10. Self-Adhesive Stamps
  11. Watermarks
  12. Plate Construction and Layout
  13. Plate Numbers
  14. Marginal Markings
  15. Plate Varieties
  16. Stamps in Booklets, 1900-1977
  17. Stamps in Booklets, Since 1977
  18. Stamps in Coil Rolls, 1907-1980
  19. Stamps in Coil Rolls, Post 1980
  20. Inks, Colors, Papers, and Gum
  21. Errors, Freaks, and Oddities
  22. Essays and Proofs
  23. Luminescence
  24. Test Stamps

Expanding the Collector’s Scope

  1. United States Stamp Society
  2. United States Stamp Research
  3. Postal History – Markings
  4. Postal History – Rates and Classifications
  5. First Day Covers
  6. Ephemera

Glossary of Terms
Acknowledgments

Encyclopedia Progress (January 2005)

As 2005 begins, work on the Encyclopedia of U.S. Stamp Collecting is kicking into high gear! The deadline for submission of chapters was New Year’s Eve. Now the work of editing and putting the book together begins in earnest. As you may know, this full color, hardbound book will be released at Washington 2006.

Included in your annual dues notice was an appeal for contributions in support of the Encyclopedia. If you have already sent in your contribution, thank you very much! If you have not yet made a contribution, please consider doing so now. No one is receiving any compensation for their work on the Encyclopedia, so all contributions are used solely to help underwrite publication costs of this important work. We want to keep the price as low as possible in order to achieve the largest possible distribution. Those who can give a gift of $100 or more will receive a complimentary copy of the Encyclopedia when it is published. These contributors may also designate a library to receive an additional copy of the book in their name. Contributors will also be recognized as “Benefactors,” recognized as such by a listing in the Encyclopedia, at a special ceremony at Washington 2006, and by a Bureau of Engraving and Printing-produced certificate. Contributions can be sent to the Executive Secretary, Larry Ballantyne. If you would like a contribution form, please request one from me by e-mail.

Listed below is the Table of Contents for the Encyclopedia. If you would like to perform a critical review one or more of these chapters, e-mail your request to me.

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNITED STATES STAMPS

Foreword

  1. Stampless Covers
  2. Postmasters’ Provisionals
  3. Series of 1847
  4. Series of 1851 and 1857
  5. Series of 1861 and 1869 Pictorials
  6. Bank Notes of 1870-1894
  7. Series of 1894
  8. Series of 1902
  9. Washington-Franklin Heads Issue
  10. Series of 1922
  11. Presidential Series
  12. Liberty Series
  13. Prominent Americans Series
  14. Americana Issue
  15. Great Americans Series
  16. Transportation Coils
  17. Late Twentieth Century Definitives
  18. Nineteenth Century Commemoratives
  19. Twentieth Century Commemoratives, 1901-1933
  20. Twentieth Century Commemoratives, 1933-1971
  21. Twentieth Century Commemoratives, 1971-2000
  22. Twenty-first Century Stamps
  23. Airmail Stamps
  24. Special Usage Stamps
  25. Federal Revenue Stamps
  26. State Revenue Stamps
  27. U.S. Possessions, Usages Abroad, and Occupied Areas
  28. Postal Stationery
  29. Precancels and Perfins
  30. Carriers and Locals
  31. Confederate States of America

History, Production, and Technology

  1. United States Post Office Department
  2. United States Postal Service
  3. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
  4. Stamp Production – The Flat Plate Press
  5. Stamp Production – The Stickney Rotary Press
  6. Stamp Production – Modern Presses
  7. Stamp Production – Non-BEP Printers
  8. Stamp Separation, 1857-1980
  9. Stamp Separation, Since 1980
  10. Self-Adhesive Stamps
  11. Watermarks
  12. Plate Construction and Layout
  13. Plate Numbers
  14. Marginal Markings
  15. Plate Varieties
  16. Stamps in Booklets, 1900-1977
  17. Stamps in Booklets, Since 1977
  18. Stamps in Coil Rolls, 1907-1980
  19. Stamps in Coil Rolls, Post 1980
  20. Inks, Colors, Papers, and Gum
  21. Errors, Freaks, and Oddities
  22. Essays and Proofs
  23. Luminescence
  24. Test Stamps

Expanding the Collector’s Scope

  1. United States Stamp Society
  2. United States Stamp Research
  3. Postal History – Markings
  4. Postal History – Rates and Classifications
  5. First Day Covers
  6. Ephemera

Glossary of Terms
Acknowledgments

We appreciate the efforts being made by many people, both intellectual and financial, to bring this book to reality.

– Rod Juell
Project Manager

Encyclopedia Update (May 2004)

Good progress is being made on The Encyclopedia of United States Stamp Collecting, and we are looking forward to the successful completion of this effort with its publication in 2006. All writers for the Encyclopedia, potential writers and any other interested people are invited to gather at 2PM on Saturday, May 29, during our Annual Meeting, for an update and discussion of the project. Watch for room assignment.

As of early April, we still needed authors for the following chapters:

  • The Stampless Era
  • Postmasters’ Provisionals
  • Transportation Series
  • 21st Century Definitives
  • 21st Century Commemoratives
  • Possessions
  • Carriers and Locals
  • Confederate States
  • Stamp Production – Modern Presses
  • Stamp Production – Non BEP Production
  • Stamp Separation – Post-1990
  • Self-Adhesive Stamps
  • Plate Layouts
  • Stamps in Coils (Post-1980)
  • Test Stamps
  • United States Stamp Research
  • Ephemera

If you even might be interested in helping with one or more of these chapters, please contact me, Rod Juell, project manager, P.O. Box 3508, Joliet, IL 60434. I’ll send you a Writers’ Guide, and assist through the entire process.

January, 2004

During the recent annual meeting of the USSS at CHICAGOPEX, significant decisions were made as we progress toward our goal of publishing The Encyclopedia of United States Stamp Collecting. Chapters will continue to appear monthly in The Specialist, with the work being published in book form at Washington 2006.

The revised plan is to have chapters written by volunteers, with the final work edited by a single person to ensure uniformity of style and purpose. At the Annual Meeting a number of our members agreed to write chapters. Additional chapters need to be assigned to other writers. Help is needed now.

All chapters will appear using a standard format, such as the one found in the chapter on the 4th Bureau Issue found in this issue of The Specialist and in the chapters published in recent issues of The Specialist. A “Writer’s Guide” is available from the project manager, Rod Juell, by e-mail or by writing to Rod at P.O. Box 3508, Joliet, IL 60434.

Below is the Table of Contents for the encyclopedia. Chapter titles followed by an asterisk (*) have writers committed to them. Chapters without an asterisk still need writers as of early December. If you even might be interested in contributing to this project, please contact Rod for a copy of the “Writer’s Guide” or to make further inquiry. You do not need to be an accomplished writer to participate in this project; you just need a good knowledge of your chosen subject. We will provide all the help and support you need! This project is our opportunity to make a positive impact on the future of our hobby. How will you be a part of it?

The Postage Stamps of the United States

  1. The Stampless Era
  2. 1847s
  3. 1851s-1861s
  4. Bank Notes
  5. 1st Bureau Issues
  6. 2nd Bureau Issues *
  7. 3rd Bureau Issues *
  8. 4th Bureau Issues *
  9. Presidential Series (5th Bureau Issues) *
  10. Liberty Series *
  11. Prominent American Issues *
  12. Americana Issues *
  13. Great American Issues *
  14. Transportation Issues
  15. 21st Century “Definitive Issues”
  16. 19th Century Commemoratives *
  17. 20th Century Commemoratives thru 1932 *
  18. 20th Century Commemoratives 1932-1971
  19. 20th Century Commemoratives 1971-2000
  20. 21st Century Commemoratives
  21. Airmail Stamps
  22. Special Usage Stamps *
  23. Revenue Stamps *
  24. U.S. Possessions
  25. Postal Stationery *
  26. Precancels & Perfins *
  27. Confederate States

History, Production and Technology

  1. The United States Post Office Department *
  2. The United States Postal Service *
  3. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing *
  4. Stamp Production – The Flat Plate Press *
  5. Stamp Production – The Rotary Press
  6. Stamp Production – The Modern Presses
  7. Stamp Production – Non-BEP Production
  8. Imperforate Stamps *
  9. Stamp Separation – 1857-1990
  10. Stamp Separation – post-1990
  11. Self-Adhesive Stamps
  12. Watermarks
  13. Plate Layouts
  14. Plate Numbers *
  15. Marginal Markings
  16. Plate Varieties
  17. Stamps in Booklets – 1900-1979
  18. Stamps in Booklets – post-1980
  19. Stamps in rolls – 1900-1990 (including VAMPS)
  20. Stamps in coil rolls – post 1990
  21. EFOs
  22. Essays and Proofs
  23. Test Stamps

Expanding the Collector’s Scope

  1. The United States Stamp Society
  2. United States Stamp Research
  3. Postal History *
  4. Postal Markings
  5. Rates and Classifications *
  6. First Day Covers *
  7. Ephemera

* – Volunteers have already been found for these chapters.

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