Evening Star Newspaper, April 8, 1935, Page 8

A—8 wxw : BYRD COVER DATE STIR PHILATELISTS Three Different Times of Cancellation Arouse New Tempest. BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT. Postmaster General James A. Far- ley’s well-meant effort to belp Ad- miral Richard E. Byrd finance his second expedition to the Antarctic Continent has brought down upon the postal chief a new avalanche of pro- tests from the stamp collectors of the Nation. The covers which the Post Office Department invited the philatelic pub- lic to send to Little America have come back and their recipients are critical of the cancellations affixed to them. According to the terms of the con- tract, the collectors were to pay 50 cents for each envelope postmarked at the “southernmost post office in the world,” and approximately 54,000 pa- trons paid their money with the un- derstanding that all the postmarks would be alike—all of the same date, January 30, 1934. But the covers now returned show three different dates of cancellation. Some are inscribed January 31, 1934, and some January 30, 1935. The number actually postmarked on the day specified by the Post Office De- partment—President Roosevelt's birth- day anniversary—were a scant frac- tion of the total sent to Antarctica, and thus have a scarcity value greater than the others. Byrd Stamp Brought Protest. 1t happens, also, that the postal aspect of the Byrd Expedition never was popular with collectors. There was complaint when the special 3- cent Byrd stamp was announced, Sep- tember 22, 1933. The Postmaster General told the press on that occa- sion that the new issue’ would be available exclusively at Little Amer- fca—if collectors wanted it, they would have to pay the extra cover fee | of half a dollar to get it. Reporters asking for a precedent for such a rul- ing were answered: “There isn't any precedent. We like Dick Byrd, and we think the stamp collectors of the United States ought to be willing to | help him.” But philatelists felt that they were being coerced. They did not relish | paying 53 cents for a 3-cent stamp. | And when the stamp itself appeared | with the words “U. S. Postage” on its | face, they demanded that the issue be sold in the Philatelic Agency for use on domestic mail. The disturbance finally convinced Mr. Farley, and the | stamp was released by the agency, October 3, 1933. Then it began to be rumored that the covers designated for Antarctica really were not being sent there. | Hundreds of collectors heard and be- lieved that a great quantity of them Wwere being held at Norfolk, Va., or in | ‘Washington. The report probably | ‘was untrue, but it enjoyed wide cur- | rency, just the same. | Long delays followed before any | covers were returned to the United States, and the publicity bureau of | the Post Office Department finally an- nounced that, “because of transporta- tion difficulties,” customers would have to wait until the expedition itself | came back. | Sailor Cancels Covers. i Meanwhile, Dr. John Oliver La | Gorce, vice president of the National Geographical Society has been sworn | in honorary postmaster at Little America, with the understanding that the actual work was to be done by | LeRoy Clark, secretary to Admiral Byrd, as assistant postmaster. | Mr. Farley late last Fall sent! Charles F. Anderson, department | mechanical expert, to the Byrd | expedition headquarters to “clean up the mess.” But Mr. Anderson found most of the covers canceled—Mr. Clark had done his best under diffi- culties. | ‘The whole affair probably will come | before the American Philatelic So- ciety Convention here next August. { CITY NEWS IN BRIEF. TODAY. Buffet supper, Jesters’ Club, Ham- ilton Hotel, 7 p.m. Dinner dance, Junior Red Cross, | Mayflower Hotel, 8 p.m. Instruction in advanced contract bridge, auspices of the Massachusetts | Society of Washington, Roosevelt High School, 8:15 pm. Dinner, Dartmouth College Alumni Association, Carlton Hotel, 7 p.m. Supper dance, Ohio State Society, Shoreham Hotel. Lecture by Manly P. Hall, “The Ten Greatest Thinkers of All Time,” Masonic Temple, 801 Thirteenth street, 8:15 p.m. Meeting, Washington section of the Baltimore Archdiocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, St. Francis De Sales Church, 8 pm. TOMORROW. Luncheon, Women's National Press Club, Willard Hotel, 1 p.m. Dinner, Propeller Club, La Fayette Hotel, 6 pm. Luncheon, Civitan Club, Hamilton Hotel, 12:30 p.m. Lenten lecture by Dr. Joseph R. Bizoo, Carlton Hotel, 11:30 a.m. Lecture by William C. Lee, “Liberty and Restraint,” Society for Philo~ sophical Inquiry, National Museum, €:45 pm. Luncheon, Sigma Chi Fraternity, University Club, 12:30 p.m. SAVE MONEY ON STORAGE and MOVING Long-Distance Movers Ags. Mayflower Trans. Co. Rugs Cleaned or Shampooed Crate and Pack by Experts 1313 U St. Phone North 3343 ‘BrewaeD Zngravers and Fine Printers OGII TWELFTH STREET Producers of Distinctive Business STaTioNER e/ Business CArpS Let us add power to our Business Correspondence Phone for our Representative without obligation PHONES DI £668-4869 & bine B, oy at hese THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, - DIDYOU GET ONE Of These Announcements of Qur 'n'il{.x",f‘_yhh’y D. C, MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1935. Golden Jubilee Anniversary Sale? More than 145,000 of them were distributed today throughout Greater Washington, carrying news of the biggest sale event in all the fifty years of the history of this store. Truly a Golden Jubilee with hundreds of Golden Opportunities in commemoration of this memorable occasion. As we say in the circular you have received: Few are the business or- ganizations that survive the vicissitudes of time and reach the “golden age.”” Butit is a matter of demand and supply. Two things are essential. You must be WANTED; you must FILL A NEED. The success that has continuously attended this store gives evidence that it has carved for itself an enviable place in the confidence of the Washington public by ren- dering service which has met those ever-expanding requirements of home furnishings. We are proud of the distinction that is ours, and you will have reason to remember the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Sale. What It Means to You! Just go over that big broadside that was left at your home today, item by item. Weigh values and prices critically and you will see why we say it is the biggest event in fifty years. Because of the exceptional values the prices are extraordinarily low. You can’t help seeing the big actual savings that will be yours in every se- lection made in thisevent. If you valuereal quality as expressed in intrinsic worth and artistic character, you will sit down with our announcement in your hand and make a list of where you want to refurnish, what you want to replace, check it off the announcement and make a special trip here at once. There must be prompt action, for duplicating at anything like these prices is wholly beyond possibility. It just can’t be done—and we don’t want you to be disappointed. That Isn’t All! Look especially at the two special pages on the inside of the circular— and read about the Golden Jubilee Premium Coupons With every purchase you make in the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Sale you will receive one of these Premium Coupons to the amount of 10% of your purchase—redeemable in merchandise—now or at any time up to December 31, 1935. However, the Coupons will only be issued on purchases made during the Anniversary Sale. This is the first time anything like this has ever been done-but we want to make this a real Golden Jubilee for you—as well as for us. Another thing you don’t have to worry about—the paying. part. Our convenient credit plan takes care of that—makes buying easy, pay- ing easier, and you are welcome to the genuine accommodation in addition to the wonderful savings—Jubilee Premium Coupons—and all! P s If you didn’t receive one of these announcements o ® phone us—District 3180—or drop us a postal card and we’ll send one to you immediately. Sale Begins Tomorrow— Tuesday Morning at 9 O’Clock Housk & HerrmaNN “Furniture of Merit”, Seventh at Eye 8433-35 Georgia Ave. House & Herrmanr's Golden Jubileel DINING ROOM s