Philatelist Wants to Get Into Training

Question: I am interested in collecting stamps picturing railroad trains as well as any stamp with a special railroad post-office cancellation. Is there an organization for this?--E.L.

Answer: Yes, the Casey Jones Railroad Unit. For $5 per year you get six issues of the Dispatcher, the organization’s publication, which describes stamps and cancels for engines, streetcars, depots, bridges, subways and so on. More than 300 members of this national society are available to help you solve any railroad collecting problem. For information, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Oliver C. Atchison, Railroad Unit, P. O. Box 31631, San Francisco 94131.

Q: My Great Britain stamp is red in color and shows Queen Victoria. I believe that it was made in the late 1800s; I’d like to know its value.--J.C.

A: You probably have a penny red, Scott catalogue No. 33, first issued in 1864 and currently listed at $12 mint, 75 cents canceled. Some collectors specialize in these old English stamps, accumulating them by shade or cancel type.

Q: I have the first set of airmails issued by Vatican City. It includes the 1947 values and has 15 different stamps in the whole set. They are in mint and nice condition. What is their value?--W.A.N.

A: About $33 retail price for the set, listed in the Vatican section of Scott catalogues under numbers C1-C15.

Q: What are imperforate (no holes between) pairs of 20-cent American flag stamps worth? I have a few.--R.G.

A: Depending on the variety, they’re worth $10 and up. These are coil production errors and are eagerly collected by specialists in stamp EFOs (errors, freaks and oddities).

Q: I would like to become a member of a stamp club so I may exchange my foreign duplicate stamps. Do you know of any?--F.B.

A: Since you live in Pacific Palisades, try the Pacific Palisades Stamp Club, which meets at the library at 861 Alma Real Drive on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Stamp Calendar

Friday, Saturday and Sunday--Burbank Numismatic and Philatelic Exposition at Burbank Airport Hilton Hotel, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank. Combined stamp, coin and post-card show. Hours: Friday noon-8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $1; free to senior citizens and children under 12. Free parking.

Sunday--First Sunday Stamp Show at American Legion Hall, 14541 Sylvan St., Van Nuys. Twenty dealers will be present to buy and sell stamps. Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free admission and free on-street parking. A small but friendly show with many inexpensive stamps and covers for sale to beginning collectors, as well as more expensive items for advanced philatelists.

Jan. 11-13--Orcopex ’85 Stamp Show at the Sheraton/Anaheim Hotel, 1015 W. Ball Road (off Interstate 5), Anaheim. About 50 stamp dealers, 20 post offices, including the U.S. Postal Service and many foreign postal administrations. Special Disneyland cancel. Hours: Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Barry Krause, a member of several national stamp-collecting organizations, cannot answer mail personally but will respond to philatelic questions of general interest in this column. Do not telephone. Write to Your Stamps, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.