THE ALBUM PAGE July 2011 President: Eric Hummel

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1 July 2011 President: Eric Hummel Volume XXXIV, No. 7, Whole No. 320 Vice President: Bill Seymour The Boy Scouts and The Boer War of 1900 See Page 10 Stamp Collecting Activities Abound in July: See Pages 9, 11, and Cover of The Month USS West Compo Sailor Mail from Trieste Austria a Cargo Ship Built in Portland for The US Navy Near the End of WW I See Page 4 THE OREGON STAMP SOCIETY

2 OSS Board of Directors President: Eric Hummel Vice Pres.: Bill Seymour Secretary: Jerry Rottman Treasurer: Steve Brandt ( ) OSS Directors Ula Mae Neligh Paul Malan Larry Spray OSS Administration Collectors Corner Manager: Rod Steelman Property Manager: Ula Mae Neligh Rose City Stamp Fair Manager: Bob Burger Sales Manager: Jim Correy ( ) Album Page Editor: Eric Hummel => ephummel@easystreet.net APS Representative: Len Lukens ( ) => llukens@easystreet.net PAGE 2 Oregon Stamp Society 4828 NE 33rd Ave Portland OR OSS Message Phone Number: The Album Page is published 12 times per year by the Oregon Stamp Society. A subscription to the Album Page is included as a part of the annual membership dues. For a membership application, write to the OSS at the above address. Opinions expressed in features and columns in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not represent those of the Society. The OSS cannot be responsible for the accuracy of any information presented herein. ABOUT THE CLUB Regular meetings are held in the OSS Building, 4828 NE 33rd Ave. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 8 PM, unless otherwise stated in the monthly calendar. The Rose City Stamp Fair is an official OSS function and is held at the OSS Building on the second Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Stamp Collector s Corner also is an official OSS Bourse, and is held on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 4 PM. Visitors Are Always Welcome Contents Articles The Dumpster Diver Chronicles #6 6-7 Additional RPO Postmarks 7 The Boy Scouts and The Boer War of OSS - NPL Fund Raising Sale - July 30th 11 Columns OSS News 3 Cover of The Month - USS West Compo 4-5 PIPEX PIPEX Needs You!!! 8 Calendar - April Events and Local Stamp Shows Northwest Philatelic Library Book Reports 13 Advertisers Michael Jaffe - Largest Sale in 36 Years - Don t Miss It 9 Unique Estate Appraisals 13 Harmer Schau 14 Gary Hoecker 14 Brookman Stamps / Michael Jaffe 16 OSS NEWS A Tribute To Albert Hanson On June 6 th, Albert Hansen completed three years of service on the Oregon Stamp Society's Board of Directors. During his time with the board, he frequently assisted two club Presidents. In December 2010 he succeeded Grant Babb as club President when Grant found it necessary to resign due to increased work and family responsibilities. Prior to becoming Vice President Albert was the OSS Circuit Manager. The Board of Directors wishes to thank Albert for his service to the club during these challenging times and wish him the best in the future. From the Officers and Board of Directors of OSS. July 2011 PAGE 3

3 Cover of The Month - USS West Compo Cover through the Courtesy of Bob Burger Text by Eric Hummel Toward the end of World War I, the United States Shipping Board USSB, contracted with at least ten Shipbuilding companies on the West Coast of the US to build the West Class of Cargo Ships for the War effort. They were all steel-hulled, steam-powered single screw (propeller) ships with top speeds in the 9 to 12.5 knot range. Sixty-one of the ships built were acquired by the US Navy and commissioned into the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS). The vast majority of these ships came from the shipyards in Seattle (34) and Portland (21), the balance from San Francisco (2) and San Pedro (4). Twenty-nine of these ships only made one voyage for the NOTS before being decommissioned and returned to the USSB. The earliest commissioned ships made up to 5 trips before being decommissioned. Some of these latter ships sailed to Chile to pick up cargoes of Nitrates which would be used in the production of explosives. All of the ships traveled via the Panama Canal to Eastern Coast ports, with some loading additional Army cargoes bound for the War in Europe. Four of these ships were decommissioned when they reached their East Coast destinations - not fit for continued service in the Navy. One ship was sunk by a German submarine before reaching its European destination. Close to and after the end of the War, the vast majority of the ships left the West Coast with cargoes of flour and other foodstuffs, bound for the War ravaged countries of Europe. On their return trips many brought back thousands of tons of Army cargoes, some only ballast. Most sailed to New York, were decommissioned and turned over to the USSB. After decommissioning, some of the ships saw service with the USSB, some were sold to private shipping companies and some later saw service in World War II. The majority however, were eventually Abandoned in the 1930 s due to age and deterioration. The envelope illustrated on the cover is from the USS West Compo (NOTS #3912). This was the 20th ship built by Northwest Steel Co. of Portland - one of twelve ships Commissioned by the Navy from this shipyard. It was acquired and Commissioned by the Navy on February No pictures are available on the web for the USS West Compo, according to several sources. This is a sister ship built by the Northwest Steel Co. in Portland - the USS West Shore - with camouflage paint design. Considering how slow these ships were, they needed to employ every subterfuge. 3rd The USS West Compo took on board a cargo of flour and sailed for the east coast on February 12th. The cargo vessel transited the Panama Canal on March 1st-2nd and reached Norfolk, Va., on March 11th. Three days later, she got underway for the Mediterranean and arrived at Trieste, on the Adriatic, on April 9th and spent the next 10 days discharging her cargo. She then took on sand ballast, got underway, and proceeded via Gibraltar to the east coast of the United States. She arrived at Philadelphia on May 15th and was decommissioned on May 22nd. Returned to the USSB, she remained in the custody of that agency until 1933, when she was abandoned. This cover was sent to a Chief of the Portland Fire Department and has a return address of Lt. Geo. N. Hampson, U.S.S. West Compo, Trieste, Austria. Trieste was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time of WW I. It was not formally annexed by Italy until the Treaty of Rapallo in It is FREE franked Sailor Mail with a postmark Squadron 2 Patrol Force April (no day) Fourteen of the Commissioned West Class Cargo Ships had ship board Post Offices - the West Compo did not. At this time a Squadron referred to a large number of ships, organized in several Divisions. The USS Olympia was the Flagship of the Eastern Mediterranean Naval forces. That ship had its own postmarks, so this cover was probably not postmarked from the Flagship, but from another ship in the Squadron. PAGE 4 July 2011 PAGE 5

4 THE DUMPSTER DIVER CHRONICLES # 6 by John Lowell This episode finds the dumpster diver still loitering in the vicinity of the rail yards, trying to hitch a philatelic ride and stay one step ahead of the freight yard security in his search for philatelic material with connections to railway posts. From Portugal is a sharp ambulancia cancel on an otherwise common stamp found at an OSS kilo night. Ambulancia on Spanish or Portuguese cancels are from rail posts. Information I gleaned from perusing books in the NPL, an activity that can be highly rewarding as a source of more specialized philatelic knowledge. Moving across the ocean to the Americas Scott #262, 40 centavos value of a long series of stamps issued from be a ship cancellation of some sort. The mystery was solved at a recent APS show in Portland where I was able to meet with some members of a Canada specialist club who helped me by identifying it as being carried on the Campbelltown and Levis Express train to meet an eastbound transatlantic steamer at Levis, on the St Lawrence Seaway. Found from further south is is the stamp from Canada with what was a mystery to the dumpster diver for some time. The cancel reads Camp & Levis Ocean Limited. For years the dumpster diver had agonized over the stamp. It was assumed to Scott # 248, third in a set to commemorate the visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada and the US. the stamp from Cuba, with a particularly nice cancellation reading Habana y Santiago Ambulante, or Havana and Santiago Railroad. Scott #337, the low value in a set of stamps issued to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the Sugar Cane Industry. Belgian Parcel Post and Railway Stamp Sc. #Q177-4 Franc stamp on transmittal document with Postal Cancel dated June Used to ship a 1.6 KG package from Rumbeke east about 70 miles to Leuven Belgium. To the specialist, these stamps with postal cancels are far more desirable than the more common railway cancels. (Ed.) Not only did the dumpster diver find a multitude of stamps with interesting rail usages, he was able to spend hours at stamp shows often without having to break a dollar bill! In addition, this entire article in the Album Page is based on about 30 cents of stamp purchases. My Scottish ancestors must be rejoicing! The 1939 Royal Visit to Canada and the US by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth produced a unique Railway Mail Service from May 17th at Quebec City, to Toronto on the 22nd (where the Dionne quintuplets were presented to the King and Queen), Winnipeg on the 24th, Vancouver on the 29th, then back across Canada and down to Washington DC on June 7th, up to New York City and the World s Fair on the 9th, and finally to Halifax on the 15th where the Royals boarded the Empress of Britain to return home. This Tour could be an article all by itself. (Ed.) PAGE 6 July 2011 PAGE 7

5 PIPEX 2012 needs volunteers to help before, during and after the show. If you can help, please contact Ron Sumner at YOUR ADVERTISEMENT COULD BE DISPLAYED HERE!! Advertising Rates 6 Issues 1 Issue 1/8 Page $ $ /4 Page $ $ /2 Page $ $11.00 Full Page $ $22.00 Contact The Album Page Editor THE LARGEST SALE IN OUR 36 YEAR HISTORY July 15-24, NE St James Rd #102 VANCOUVER WA (two doors down from our store at #103B) Sale Hours: Friday, July 15 10:00-6:00 July :00-5:00 (other times by appointment) OVER 6000 SQ FEET OF PHENOMENAL BARGAINS Within the past 60 days, we have made a few very large purchases that will be offered for the first time at this sale. OVER 150 BOX LOTS, PRICED AT $ $350.00; DEALER STOCKBOOKS UP TO 90% OFF; FOREIGN STAMPS & S/S YOUR CHOICE: 40% OFF; EARLY US MINT SHEETS PRIOR TO % OFF! 25 & 1.00 COVER TABLES; TABLES OF POSTAL HISTORY; FIRST DAY COVERS THE MORE YOU BUY, THE BETTER THE PRICE; LITERATURE; DUCK STAMP PRINTS; FACE, DISCOUNT POSTAGE LOTS Much, much more. Don t miss this sale! Come smooze with Mike Marmarelli, Larry Spray and the staff REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE BROOKMAN STAMP COMPANY MICHAEL JAFFE STAMPS 6300 NE ST JAMES RD VANCOUVER WA (360) PAGE 8 July 2011 PAGE 9

6 The Boy Scouts and the Boer War of 1900 By Eric Hummel Sometimes trying to identify a stamp will lead you to places you never would have expected. Last month Bill Seymour was working on a collection of stamps from the Bechuanaland Protectorate. A fairly old collection with a lot of the usual suspects. However it also included a couple of mint stamps and two stamps on piece which were all overprinted Mafeking Besieged. The two stamps on piece were postmarked Mafeking C.G.H. (Cape of Good Hope). After determining which COGH stamps they were, we decided they were of sufficient value and uncommon enough to warrant listing them on ebay. The stamps were of two series from the Bechuanaland Protectorate overprinted Mafeking (new value) Besieged. The first series (Scott #167-72) with a condensed overprint in three lines, the second series (Scott #173-77) with a taller overprint Sc. 167 CV 240 spaced to bracket the original Sc. 173 CV 1050 Bechuanaland Protectorate overprint. Shortly after the 4 items were listed on ebay, we received an concerning the Sc. #175 on piece. The individual questioned the date of the postmark and cited the Scouts on Stamps Society International (SOSSI). Scouts on Stamps? - what s going on here? After a few Google" searches, it turns out the SOSSI website has an article about Scott # (the Sgt. Major Goodyear and Colonel Robert S. Baden-Powell issues). Apparently these photographically produced stamps (really local posts) have been extensively forged - including forged postmarks. Sc. #178 was printed April 7th and the others on April 10th (the Scott catalog shows slightly different dates). The besieged defenders were relieved on May 18, 1900 and, therefore, the last use of the stamps was made on May 17. Cancellations in February, March, early April and after May 17 will thus be forgeries. The SOSSI web article also states that postmarks with letters 1/2 mm or more inside the dial are considered forgeries. So, not directly aimed at the earlier Mafeking Besieged overprints, except the part about the postmarks. The Scott catalog does not give dates for the # stamps, but does give a date for the overprint on COGH stamps as March 23rd OK, so what was this Siege and how is it related to Scouting. More Google searches. There isn t room here to recount the Second Boer (1900), so briefly: the two Boer Nations, Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, declared War on Great Britain. At that moment, the British were Sc. 174 with May postmark - CV $90 OSS - NPL FUND RAISING SALE JULY 30th AM to 5 PM AT THE CLUB HOUSE DON'T SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. WE ALSO WILL HAVE A LARGE SELECTION OF STAMPS, COVERS, ALBUMS AND MORE. EVEN SOME FREE STUFF!!! PAGE 10 July 2011 PAGE 11

7 Boy Scouts and Boer War, Continued. greatly out-numbered in the region. They devised a plan to send the Bechuanaland Protectorate Regiment under Colonel Baden-Powell to Mafeking to establish a Garrison which would draw Boer Forces away from their incursions into the Cape Colony and the Colony of Natal. He eventually raised two regiments, including locals, of about 1500 men. The Boers sent a force of 7500 men to Mafeking. The siege began on October and lasted 217 days. The Boers reduced their number to about 1500 in November to send forces against other towns. After forming the fighting regiments, there was a shortage of men to perform other tasks. The Colonel decided to organize the town s boys of 12 to 16 years of age into the Mafeking Cadet Corps. Their leader was the 13 year old Warner Goodyear, who became their Sergeant- Major. The Cadets' duties included acting as lookouts, helping in the hospitals and carrying mail and messages around the town and to outlying forts, sometimes as much as a mile away across open ground. At first they used donkeys, but as the siege ran on, food became scarce and the donkeys ended up in the kitchen. From then on, the cadets used bicycles instead. The town produced its own postage stamps, known as "Mafeking Blues" (Sc.#178-80). Col. Baden-Powell returned to England in 1903, becoming Inspector-General of Cavalry and after 2 years Commander of a northern Territorial Division. During that command, he started the Boy Scout movement, inspired by the bravery of the Mafeking Cadets. Sc. 175 with April postmark - Some letters more than 1/2mm from the dial - CV $105 The Mafeking Cadets, with their 13 year old leader Sergeant-Major Warner Goodyear on the right. BOOK REPORTS July-August 2011 Now Online at => Unique Estate Appraisals BUYING AND APPRAISING STAMPS David and Karen Bowers (503) Outside Portland NE Broadway Portland Oregon Hours: Tues.-Fri.: Noon-5 PM Saturdays 10 AM - 3 PM Website: The July-August issue of Book Reports leads with an article by Don Overstreet, Thoughts on thematic Exhibiting, that incorporates lessons from Tom Current s award-winning exhibit The Harp - From Cradle to Cloud. This is followed by U.S. Security Grills A Refresher by Charles Neyhart. A new Stumper to solve for those with inquiring philatelic minds. Library News and Notes and the third installment of Janice Weinstock s donation of her Aerophilatelic library are included. Book Reports is published only in electronic form on the NPL website: Book Reports can be read on screen with adjustable sized type or downloaded as a PDF file. You can even send your address to us at nwpl@qwestoffice.net and we will send it to you. PAGE 12 July 2011 PAGE 13

8 Portland Winter Stamp Fest ( Gary Hoecker ) Saturday: 23 July :00 am - 5:00 pm Shilo Inn Convention Center Willamette 1 Room NE Airport Way, Portland Attending Dealers: Bob Beall Tom Kinberg Ice Bear Stamps HARMER-SCHAU AUCTIONS NORTHWEST, INC. Next Show: TBA - August Portland Stamp Fest Shilo Inn Phone: (503) hoecker@teleport.com Website: PROFESSIONAL APPRAISALS OF STAMP AND COVER COLLECTIONS MEMBER : ASDA, NSDA, OSS 7940 SE Division #A Portland OR (503) Visit our website at For prices realized from our last auction - March Gary Tiffin Gary Hoecker David Markowitz Local Stamp Shows Rose City Stamp Fair Saturday - July 9th at OSS Attending Dealers AStamps Bob Burger Gary Tiffin Grant Williams Terry Ferguson Collector s Corner Saturday - July 23rd at OSS All OSS members may come and have a table to sell or trade philatelic items. To reserve a table, please call the Show Manager Rod Steelman Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday NPL Board Meeting 7:00 PM OSS Board Meeting 7:00 PM 12 OSS Meeting 8:00 PM Library opens 6: Rose City Stamp Fair 10:00-4: Collector s Corner 10:00-4:00 24/ OSS Meeting 8:00 PM Library opens 6:30 July OSS - NPL FUND RAISING SALE!!! Upcoming OSS Events 2nd Tuesday - July 12th regular evening meeting. Program: Dog Team Mail by Caroline Brandt. 4th Tuesday - July 26th regular evening meeting. Program: Maps by Margaret Campbell-McCrea. OSS - NPL FUND RAISING SALE - Fifth Saturday of The Month - July 30th. Even some FREE stuff!!! Events Around Town Westside Stamp Club: First Monday of each month - 1 Tigard Senior Center. July 11th Beaver Stamp Club: Third Tuesday of each month, 1-3 Lutheran Church SE 92nd Ave. Portland, OR. --July 19th PAGE 14 July 2011 PAGE 15

9 STOP BY OUR STORE IN VANCOUVER!! WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR STORE FRONT AT OUR OFFICES IN VANCOUVER AND BROWSE THROUGH THOUSANDS OF US AND WORLDWIDE SETS AND SINGLES, PLUS COLLECTIONS, SPECIAL OFFERS AND, OF COURSE, A WIDE RANGE OF COLLECTOR SUPPLIES. FREE PRICE LISTS ALSO AVAILABLE. SOME ITEMS YOU ARE LIKELY TO FIND WHEN YOU VISIT: A broad assortment of US & Foreign collections and special pieces in a variety of prices. Comprehensive stocks of Disney, Baseball, Entertainment, Princess Diana, World Wildlife Fund and a variety of foreign sets. The US boxes you see at the shows, and some you don t see, are available to browse through on request. Also, we have specials on Canada, Trust Territory, united Nations, U.S. Souvenir Pages, Covers and More. Many basic collecting supplies with particular strength in Mounts, Stock books, Stock pages, Glassines, 102 cards plus albums, supplements and catalogs. Of course, you can always find almost anything to do with Federal and State Ducks, Indian Reservation Stamps, Foreign Ducks, etc. You ll always find 100 s of attractive Duck Prints that you can look through-all priced at substantial discounts. WE ALSO BUY STAMP COLLECTIONS!! WE RE EASY TO FIND!! CALL IF YOU NEED HELP OR DIRECTIONS! Public Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Monday-Friday. Other hours by appointment. If you have special needs, we suggest you call first NE St. James Rd., Suite 103B, Vancouver, WA Local Phone Toll-free FAX Website: => dave@brookmanstamps.com July 2011 PAGE 16