VOL . XII, NUMBER 3JUNE 1986

VOICE OF THE

AMERICAN HELVETIAPHILATELIC SOCIETY

A " MINI " CONVENTION

Pictured at the Mid-Hudson Stamp Show in Poughkeepsie,New York are (L-R) Emil Tobler, Chuck LaBlonde, RudySchaelchli, Dale Eggen, Jack Haefeli, and Frank Young.Thanks to Chuck LaBlonde for the picture .

86 TELL June 1986

PresidentCharles J . La Blonde

HELP WANTED

Most publications put their want ads in the back,but ours are so important that they appear right upfront . With this issue of TELL, the term of officefor the current AHPS officers is three quarters over.

The founding fathers of our society felt that nopresident should serve more than two years . Thereare two reasons for this, both of which make sense.The policy prevents anyone from "taking over" thesociety - it also spreads the workload around.

For years 1987 & 1988 we need volunteers to fill thefollowing jobs :

PresidentVice President

Regional Director EastAwards ChairmanEditor of TELL

So what are you doing for the next two years? Letme hear from you . Be part of the world's greatestphilatelic society.

By the way, the complaint/suggestion department isalways open . All letters answered within 5 days ofreceipt. It's your society ; the people listed onthe other side of this page are only the caretakers.

Happy collecting,

June 1986 TELL 87

AMERICAN HELVETIA PHILATELIC SOCIETYOFFICERS 1985-1987

ELECTED OFFICERS

APPOINTED OFFICERS

AHPS REPRESENTATIVES

PresidentCharles J . LaBlondeP .O . Box 264Chelmsford, MA 01824Home: (61 7) 256-3904Office : (617) 271-7164

Vice-PresidentRobert T . Clarke1 708 Autumn LaneArlington, TX 76012Home: (817) 460-6092Office : (214) 851-8481

Secretary & LibrarianRichard T . HallP.O . Box 2425Gaithersburg, MD 20879Home: (301) 869-4009Office : (202) 488-6038

TreasurerFrank Young412 North Main StreetHerkimer, NY 13350Home: (315) 866-7822Office : (315) 894-9981

Regional Director WestJohn B . Ballard2054 East Rancho DrivePhoenix, AZ 85016Home: (602) 955-6703Office : (602) 264-1856

Regional Director CentralAuction ManagerWilliam R . LucasP .O . Box 2067Glen Ellyn, IL 60137Home: (312) 790-2665Office: (312) 892-7651

Regional Director EastAwards ChairmanRudy SchaelchliP .O . Box 515Millerton, NY 12546Home : (518) 789-3594

TELL EditorSteve P. Turchik727 E . Pleasant StreetSanta Paula, CA 93060Home: (805) 525-6362

TELL Associate EditorFelix Ganz

Northern New Jersey ChapterP .O . Box A-3843

Frank J . LawsonChicago, IL 60690

35 Hudson DriveHome: (312) 939-2889

Newburgh, NY 12550(7-9 p .m .)

TELL PublisherLeroy WanamakerPost Office Box 1467Johnson City, TN 37605Home: (615) 257-6779After 5 p .m . (Ex. Tues . & Sat .)

TELL Advertising ManagerJohn HaefeliP .O . Box 8645Albany, NY 12208Home: (518) 482-1594

Circuit Sales ManagerEmil L . Tobler98 Olde Wood RoadGlastonbury, CT 06033Home: (203) 633-7007

Slide ChairmanHoward Bauman511 Summit DriveWest Bend, WI 53095Home: (414) 334-41 38

APS RepresentativeE . Ben . Henson102 Adams StreetBurlington, VT 05401

Union of Swiss PhilatelicSocieties RepresentativeRalph Soderberg20160 Mack AvenueGrosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236Home : (313) 885-41 25

Chairman LiechtensteinStudy GroupMax Rheinberger1 00 Elizabeth St ., Apt. 510Duluth, MN 55802Home : (218) 728-3925Office: (218) 728-4264

Immediate Past PresidentChm . Phil . Lit. Research GroupDale R . EggenPO Box 430New Hartfort, NY 13413

New England ChapterCharles J . LaBlondeP .O . Box 264

Chelmsford, MA 01824Home : (617) 256-3904Office : (61 7) 271-7164

Publicity Chairman

1987 AHPS Convention - SUNPEXChm. Postal Hist Study Grp. Chairman : Bruce MarsdenHarlan F . StoneP .O . Box 299Summit, NJ 07901Home: (201) 377-7322

1989 AHPS Convention - INDYPEXOffice : (212) 51 2-4786

Chairman : Bob Zeigler

Chm. Revenue Sty . GroupGene Kelly15 Steinerstrasse8253 DiessenhofenSwitzerland

AHPS AttorneyRobert Zeigler4806 N . Capitol AvenueIndianapolis, IN 46208

1988 AHPS Convention - SEPADChairman : Harlan Stone

88 TELL

TELL is the official journal of the American Helvetia Philatelic Society (AHPS),affiliate *52 of the American Philatelic Society (APS) and a member of the Union ofSwiss Philatelic Societies and is published six times a year.

Subscription for 1 986, included in the Societies dues . is $9 for North America, $1 5for overseas delivery, or $11 for surface delivery.

Advertising rates are published periodically . All editorial . as well as, advertisingcommunications, should be addressed to the editor.

Articles on Swiss . Liechtenstein . UN Geneva and related philately are alwayswelcome. Opinion expressed in this journal are those of the authors and are notnecessarily endorsed by the society or the editor.

June 1986

WHAT ARE THEY WORTH?

STEVE TURCHIK

SPERATI FORGERIES

Photo Plate II, Harmers of London Sale, January 16, 1986

FORGERIES, FANTASIES, AND REPRINTS was the title of an 800 lotsale on January 16 by Harmers of London . Some of the Speratiforgeries of Swiss stamps are pictured above . Having lookedthrough the catalog when first received, then again when pricesrealised arrived - it was interesting.

For your information, I will list some of the above lots.All prices are in English pounds . Lot #2171 - Est . £ 30, soldfor £ 104 ; Lot #2172 Est . i 20 sold for £ 110 ; Lot #2177 Est.£ 20 sold for C 104 ; Lot #2188 Est . C 50 sold for £ 170 ; Lot#2188 Est . £ 50 sold for 170 ; Lot # 2182 Est . E 25 sold fort 132 . Lot 2170 (Sweden) Est . £ 100 sold for £ 242.

Total for the sales E 64,731 -includes 10% buyer's premium.

June 1986 TELL 89

LIECHTENSTEIN POSTAGE STAMPS

By Harold Strong

Aloha! Most of you will be reading this just after attending AMERIPEX '86.I am sure at this time the way it is shaping up to be the event of the decade.Also a hearty "Gruezi!" to all our new friends we met at the AHPS Conventionand our study group at the show.

The Philatelic Service had a special cacheted cover at the show . It featuredthe Vaduz castle set and the Ameripex logo. I hope you all visited theirstand at the show.

Felix Ganz writes to say that the Postal History Journal (#72 February, 1986pp 41-43) has a brief article on "some Liechtenstein Documents" by FredMuche . The period discussed is 1840-56.

There will be a Liechtenstein showing at the Nov . 1-2, 1986 gathering inReutlingen, Fed . Rep . of Germany. The special cancel for the event mentionsthe FL . Write me for details about securing an example of the cancellation.

In the continuing saga of the Moskow Olympic non stamps it now appears asecond "source" has been uncovered in addition to the items kept or "lost"by dealers . When the issue was scrapped the remainders were ordered burnedin the Buchs, Switzerland municipal disposal facility . The process was notproperly done and stamps from the center of incompletely burned pads ofsheets were salvaged by persons unknown after the fact . Also now on themarket FDC's of the Alpine Utensils and Postal Museum issues bearing theoriginal June 8, 1980 cancellation . These items were not officially issueduntil September 8, 1980 . The investigation continues.

Now is the time to buy in the USA and sell in Europe . The strong europeancurrencies make for an attractive marketplace which accounts for the largeEuropean dealer group who attended AMERIPEX . Feel free next time to wadeinto the bourse with them and keep some of the profits on the home front.

I received word my design for the show cancellation for Philatelic LiteratureDay was chosen by the AMERIPEX Committee . It was substantially modifiedby the USPS for overall uniformity but the $100 prize check has my name onit, thank you.

Have fun and good collecting.

HAROLD STRONG

Box 15027

Waikiki StationHonolulu, Hawaii 96815

90 TELL

June 1986

FUN THINGS

WILLIAM TURNEY

BODENSEE ODDITY - This cover was dispatched for a round tripon Lake Constance December 31, 1897 . Five post offices wereinvolved before the letter arrived in Schaffhausen, January1, 1898 . Even so - the sender affixed insufficient postageas indicated by the postage due!

TOUCH OF HUMOR - Courtesy covers popular in earlier years -above Twelve * Twelve * Twelve * Twelve . Below consecutivedates 11-12-13, the last year for this to occur! On the otherhand * if this cover had been dated ten days earlier!

June 1986 TELL 91

APS REPRESENTATIVE

E . BEN HENSON

REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED FOR STAMpsHOW '86

We are in urgent need of a volunteer in the Washington,D . C . area for STaMpsHOW ' 86 . This special person mustbe a member of both the APS and AHPS to serve at the showbetween August 21 -24.

If you call or write me, I will give you all the informationneeded to do the job . This person will be our AHPS repre-sentative at this APS function . Please Help!

E . BEN HENSONP . O . Box 114

BURLINGTON, VT 05402

CALL 1-802-862-7926

INDEX NOW AVAILABLE

DALE R . EGGEN

INDEX INTRODUCED AT AMERIPEX '86

By the time you read this notice, AMERIPEX will be a greathappening of the past . At our convention we will haveintroduced our Intex (see April, 1986 for full report).

Because we want to encourage our members to write articlesand do research is why we did so much work to completethis publication . We hope you will support our effortsand reserve a copy for your library . Only 100 copies havebeen printed and the final cost is under $10.

Dale R . Eggen

P . O . Box 430New Hartford, NY 13413-0430

Editor's Note : 1'r . Eggen is immediate Past President of AHPS and Chairman of AHPS's

Swiss Philatelic Literature Research Group . With the help of 1r . Henson & his wife as

well as many others the Index has been completed . TELL is housed in the APS Library,

and the Western Philatelic Library is completing a collection at this time . Recent back

issues of TELL can be obtained by writing our Secretary, Richard T . Hall.

92 TELL

June 1986

Dear Members,I have received ridiculous low bids from one or two

members for the last auction or two . These bids are notconsidered, so do us all a favor and submit only bids thatcan be taken seriously . Thank you.

Zumstein's Catalog shows discounts on unused stampsthat are hinged . The values shown are the discounted pricesNOT the full price . Please take this into consideration whenbidding.

Values are from Zumstein and Amateur Collector Catalogsor estimated retail unless otherwise stated.

For Auction #66 1 sfr = $ .55 and The British pound =$1 .54 .

The Closing Date for Auction #66 is July 13, 1986.

June 1986 TELL 93

94 TELL June 1986

It's our needs that bring us together.

Do you want to consign stamps to our next auction?

June 1986

TELL 95

96 TELL

June 1986

AWARDS CHAIRMAN

Rudy Schaelchli

SATISFIED WITH RESULTS

The Mid-Hudson Stamp Show in Poughkeepsie, NY is over and donewith and we are very satisfied with the results . We had 17competitive exhibits and each was different from the other.When it came to the awards, our AHPS members were all winners:Harlan Stone earned the Best in Show, the APS Certificate anda AHPS Certificate .

The exhibit was Switzerland ' s Cross &Numerals and Standing Helvetia issue 1882-1907 .

Charles LaBlonde earned a Silver with "Swiss Machine Cancels from 1911to Present . " Rudy Schaelchli earned a Silver and AHPS Cert-ificate with " The Vaduz Castle " and a Silver with "Who ' s Whoon Swiss Stamps . "

One of the highlights of the day was the get-together withChuck LaBlonde, Dale Eggen, Frank Young, Emil Tobler, and JackHaefeli for a mini convention in the east . We probably hadmore board members together than at a big convention . Manythanks to them, as they travelled from 2 to 3 hrs . or more toget here . Picture of the group is on this issues front cover.

I notice John Ballard earned a Silver at ARIPEX '86 with hisSwitzerland "The Cross and Numerals 1882-1899 ; 1905 . "

At VAPEX in November Wayne Fitzgibbons took a Silver for his" Switzerland Zeppelin Flights . " Yours truly took a Silver Bronzeat Filatelic Fiesta in San Jose, CA for "Who ' s Who on SwissStamps . "

At MILCOPEX in Milwaukee, WI Ralph Soderberg garnered the ReserveGrand for Switzerland, " The Standing Helvetia issue of 1882-1907 ." He also received an MPS Gold . A Silver went to WayneFitzgibbons for his "Zeppelin Flights . "

At BEPEX in Montvale, NJ Harlan Stone earned a Gold and AHPScertificate for Swiss Postal Wrappers 1871-1959.

I am sure or I hope that there are many more Swiss andLiechtenstein exhibits that received awards in a show across the countrythat I don ' t know about, and I wish them lots of luck andcongratulations.

Included on another page in this issue of TELL are the revisedrules and regulations that govern the issuing of AHPS awards.If you have any questions regarding awards, please write me.

June 1986 TELL 97

SALES NOTES

Emil L . Tobler

As of this date (4/13) 10 members have signed up for the circuitparticipation . Remember that no new circuits will be sent unlessyou have completed and submitted the green circuit participationform which appeared in the April issue of TELL . There arepresently 6 circuits outstanding which were based on the oldcircuit participation forms, so some members will be receivingcircuits in May and June, but none after that unless the greenparticipation form is submitted . There are 38 books in inventorywaiting for an appropriate number of buyers to sign up so mailinga circuit becomes worthwhile . Many of the books contain verydesirable and in some cases seldom seen material, generallyat very reasonable prices.

My activity on circuit affairs will be somewhat restricted duringMay and June .

I'm presently finishing a new house in RhodeIsland, and we expect to move into it in June .

Normal circuitoperation, based on a list derived from the green circuit par-ticipation forms, will probably commence early in July . Allcorrespondence pertaining to the circuits should be addressedas follows :

EMIL L . TOBLER

GENERAL DELIVERY

BRADFORD, RHODE ISLAND 02808

IF YOU BUY SWISS PHILATELIC MATERIAL, THE AHPS SALES CIRCUITSARE A GOOD DEAL .

IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY, SIGN UP NOW!

98 TELL June 1986

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

Richard T . Hall, Secretary

NEW MEMBERS2195 Jose L . Alvarez A ., Mexico 2199

2196 Robert Fischer, Italy 2200

2197 Louis E . Schwager, Texas 2201

2198 Thomas W . 5eagriff, New Jersey

The following have been dropped for non-payment of dues:

1011 C . Albert Altwegg, Jr . 1948 Paul E . Hauser1036 John B . Beck 1949 Joseph W . Reilly1083 G . William Debetaz 1961 Michael M . Dziewulski1167 Robert E . Jones 1962 Bill Chambers1188 Wayne L . Kramer 1966 John M . Dean1206 Paul P . Luchsinger 1968 Frederick H . Berry1275 Mariano Romaguera 1969 Martin MULLER1329 George W . Struble 1976 Mary M . Olsen1382 John F .Woodhouse 1993 Carlos G . Grocco1421 Zig Udris 1997 Timothy G . Wait1428 Robert J . Holland 1999 Sheldon Bruce Goudreau1540 Justin R . Fuelleman 2036 Edwin J . Isler1571 Vern Gideon 2067 Richard H . Winters, Jr.1579 Richard T . Davis 2068 Kurt Kimmel1604 Alfred H . Mueller 2072 Donald E . Frein

1607 Raymond D . Hill 2078 Robert Franklin Segle1609 Oscar Steg 2082 George V . Holland1617 New England Chapter 2087 Walter L . Jones1667 Joseph A . Ross 2090 Jack Yao1755 Elmer A . Blaser 2093 Esmaiel Ebrani1768 Mrs . Louise D . Kielbasa 2103 Anthony Makowsky1790 Irene Écuyer 2115 Carl F . Massopust1795 John E . Tomlin 2127 Gary James Schultz1804 Aubrey H . Stemple 2129 Alice Hoelzer1816 M . B . London 2132 Thomas Weiant1850 Chris Fuchs 2134 Mike Armus1876 J . Leonard Diamond 2138 Douglas Elwyn Turner1886 Capt . William Howes Collins 2141 Felix V . Bass1893 Harold Steltzer 2142 Walter Battistella1917 Glenn H . Reinier 2145 Al Couturier1919 Mrs . Ruth Moser 2147 Jean Marie Lutes1922 Emil Rellstab 2150 David C . Anderson1925 Leon J . Segal 2155 David M . Drew1933 George Alevizos 2156 Joseph S . Long1936 Martin E . Deggeller 2157 John Massera

1939 Alfred M . Beck 2160 Robert A . Varrin2169 John Arnosti2170 Pierre R . Guardiola

Respectfully submitted.

Richard T . Hall

Donald J . Kegg, OhioMrs . J . Shepeard, Great BritainPaul M . Yarman, Ohio

June 1986TELL 99

POSTMARKS

100 TELL June 198

DESIGN REJECTED, Artist Now Broke!THOSE WHO select the winning

designs for Swiss PTT publicitystamps seem overly fond of dots,discs, circles, and spin-offs.

Resolved to exploit their ob-vious preference, an artist cameup with the Entwurf shown above.Sure his idea would beat out all

competition, the schemer rushedto buy a Mercedes on credit.

Shortly after, he was rebuf-fed . (Note panel at right sidedoes not have any words readingfrom bottom to top . De rigueur!)

FOR SALE : used chrome-platedcompass and car driven 750 Ian.

June 1986 TELL 101

AHPS AWARDS CHAIRMAN RUDY SCHAELCHLI

AMERICAN HELVETIA PHILATELIC SOCIETY

APS Affiliate No . 52

The American Helvetia Philatelic Society (AH PS) is dedicated to the advancement of Swissand Liechtenstein Philately . In order to publicize our society on a broader scale, we have an awardprogram that supplies philatelic exhibitions with certificates and medals . Only exhibits that relateto any area under the Swiss and Liechtenstein Postal Administration (including Campione, UnitedNations Geneva and other International Organizations) qualify for our awards . Exhibitors do nothave to be members of the AHPS, but must earn at least a Bronze show award to qualify for theAHPS certificates and medals.

Certificates and medals will be awarded in the following manner:1) AHPS Novice Award : A certificate available to any show.2) AHPS Certificate : Up to three certificates available to any show.3) AHPS Gold, Silver& Bronze Awards : A set of three medals available to any National Show that

participates in the APS World Series of Philately and includes a minimum of three qualifyingexhibits . AHPS medal winners must earn at least an equal show award to the AHPSmedals.

4) AH PS Grand Award : A special traveling award for the best exhibit at the annual AH PS NationalConvention . Also available to the host show is a set of AHPS medals, as many AHPS certificatesas the judges wish to award, and the AHPS Novice award.a) The award can only be given to the best Swiss or Liechtenstein exhibit by an A .H .P .S . mem-

ber, earning a Gold or better in the show.b) The trophy shall not be awarded more than once to the same exhibit, even if it is expanded

or changed to some extent.c) No A .H .P .S . member, inc . former winners, shall be excluded from the competition for the

Grand Award.5) Only one AHPS award per exhibitor per show (Novice Award not incl .).

Awards shall be given only to exhibits deserving them in the opinion of the show judges.

We request that you mention our society in your show program and submit the program to uswith a list of the winners, so we can publicize them in our journal, the Tell . Anyone inquiring aboutour society should be referred to the undersigned.

The AHPS reserves the right to determine the overall quality of a show to justify our givingany awards.

Your request for awards must be in our hands a minimum of three weeks before the show toallow times for processing . Do not hesitate to write if more questions arise or more informationis needed.

Rudy Schaelchli, AHPS Awards Chairman, POB 515, Millerton, N .Y. 12546

102 TELL

June 1986

June 1986 TELL 1 03

VOICE OF THE

AMERICANHELVETIAPHILATELICSOCIETY

EditorSteve P . Turchik727 E . Pleasant StreetSanta Paula, CA 93060

Associate EditorFelix GanzP .O . Box A-3843Chicago, IL 60690

Advertising ManagerJohn HaefeliP .O . Box 8645Albany, NY 12208

PublisherLeroy WanamakerP .O . Box 1467Johnson City, TN 37605

In Thisissue:

Page

Presidents Corner 87

What Are They Worth? 89

Liechtenstein Report 90

Auction 93

Awards Chairman Report

and more

97