Pulaski Commemoratives Were Issued in 1931

Question: I have a full sheet of the 2-cent Gen. Pulaski U.S. stamp of, I believe, the 1930s. What is this sheet worth?--E.C.

Answer: Maybe $10 or more. You probably have a pane instead of a sheet of stamps. This 2-cent commemorative honoring the Polish patriotic hero of the American Revolution was issued in panes of 100 stamps, after being printed from a printing plate of 400 stamps--four panes, which were then cut apart. (What most people call sheets are really panes-- the typical format of stamps purchased at the post office.) The first day of issue date was Jan. 16, 1931, and the Post Office Department issued more than 90 million of these stamps, so they are not especially scarce today. The margin plate block of 6 with plate number attached, worth $5 to $10 retail, is the real value item in this pane. If you have a perfectly centered undamaged plate block, it is worth more than all the rest of the 94 stamps in the pane. Singles of the Pulaski issue retail for a dime each.

Q: I need an honest appraiser and dealer to buy my collection of Israeli stamps, which had a retail value of $3,500 in 1970-71. Ready to sell. Daughter to college. Please advise.--J.W.

A: Depending, of course, on which Israeli issues you have, it is quite possible that your collection, which retailed for $3,500 about 20 years ago, has appreciated in value since then. Select two dealers from the Yellow Pages and visit them with your stamps, saying that you want to sell outright, and ask for a wholesale appraisal. If their offers are similar, they are probably giving you a fair price. Call first to be certain they are interested in your material.

Stamp News

A new biography, “Rowland Hill, Genius and Benefactor, 1795-1879” by Colin G. Hey, has just been published. Hill is generally credited with having invented the postage stamp, Great Britain’s Penny Black, in 1840.

He also persuaded British postal authorities to lower postal rates drastically, demonstrating by arguments and statistics that the savings allowed by low prepaid postage stamps would reduce postal workers’ time and labor so much that the resulting postal revenues would actually increase.

And that is what happened. The printing presses couldn’t keep up with the demand for the new postage stamps. On the first day, large crowds poured into the streets of London to celebrate the introduction of cheap uniform postage rates, and the police had to be called in to keep traffic routes open. Queen Victoria honored the event by renouncing her free-franking privilege, which allowed her to send mail for free (as U.S. congressmen still do, with their printed signature in lieu of postage on the envelope).

Although it doesn’t deal only with postal matters, this new biography of Rowland Hill, whose name is synonymous with early British philately, treats many interesting aspects and accomplishments of his life. Available for $19.95 at B. Dalton and Waldenbooks stores, or directly from the publisher: Scott Publishing Co., 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365.

Stamp Calendar

May 4-6: ORCOEXPO “Spring 90” stamp show, Sheraton/Anaheim Hotel, 1015 W. Ball Road, Anaheim. Dealers will be there to buy and sell stamps and covers. Hours: Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $1. Call (415) 366-7589.

May 18-20: Glendale Stamp & Coin Expo, Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale. Stamp and coin dealers will buy and sell. The Glendale show is relaxed and pleasant, and if you’ve never been there, try it! Generally cheaper material and more “collector” oriented (as opposed to “investor”) than the Long Beach shows. Hours: Friday noon-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $2 admission; metered parking by the hour in adjacent lot south of the building. For more information call (213) 622-6293.