News
A long history of disinfected mail
An 1828 folded letter mailed from present-day Québec to France during a cholera pandemic was exposed to smoke and vinegar for disinfection. Two vertical cuts on the front helped to ensure proper disinfection. (Photo by Auktionshaus Felzmann)
In the time of COVID-19, disinfected mail is perhaps one of the most intriguing and relevant areas of postal history for collectors to explore. It’s an aspect of postal history similar to disaster mail, which refers to mail disrupted by natural or human-made events such as fires, floods, shipwrecks and plane crashes. Arising from seemingly... Continue reading →
Exhibitors focused on importance must ask, ‘Is it worth the effort?’
From 2015-19, the evolution of Jean Wang’s award-winning thematic exhibit on blood 'brings tears to my eyes,' said long-time philatelic judge Bill Schultz.
When it comes to the sometimes muddy waters of judging, there is perhaps no criteria more perplexing than philatelic and subject importance. It’s true for both exhibitors and judges: the former frets over how to justify their exhibit’s importance while the latter is burdened with determining “the challenge in creating the exhibit,” as it’s explained... Continue reading →