Fremont Stamp Club News

April 2014 - Volume 36 Number 4

2014 Officers

We are on the web: www.fremontstampclub.org

Published monthly by The Fremont Stamp Club Mailing Address: P.O. Box 8450 Fremont, CA 94537

Meetings held on the second Thursday of each month at 7 PM in the Cultural Arts Center 3375 Country Drive, Fremont Please address correspondences to FSC editor at the above address or email to: [email protected]

Ken Goss Dave Epps Theresa Goss Bill Beeson Ken Goss Ray McCoy

President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Editor Past President

Board members: Don Ehlers Jim Sauer Alan Baker

Al Harris Mike Watson Tom Hayes

Stamp Shows Santa Cruz Post Card & Collectables Show

The Hilton 6001 La Madrona Drive Scotts Valley, CA April 13

10AM to 5PM

Westpex 2014 San Francisco Airport Marriott

APS Slide Show

The Story of the Penny Black

Burlingame, CA April 25

10AM to 6PM

April 26

10AM to 6PM

April 27

10AM to 4PM

Vintage Paper Fair Elks Lodge 6446 Riverside Blvd Sacramento, CA May 3

10AM to 5PM

Page 1

Fremont Stamp Club News President’s Column

Dear Stamp Friends: Last month was good fun at the Spring auction. We had some laughs, lots were sold and there was some spirited bidding for a couple of items. Thank you to those who brought items for the auction. We will do this again in the Fall. This month is an APS slideshow on the Penny Black. I think we take for granted that we can mail a letter. The introduction of the postage stamp by Great Britain gave access to the postal system at a lower cost for all. Before the introduction of the postage stamp, the cost of mailing a letter was charged by distance and was complicated. Reducing the cost for a basic letter to one penny made use of the mails for all more affordable and allowed for economies of scale as more people used the mails. I wrote a short article (page 3) about the first public use of the mails in Nepal. The endorsement on the cover I show is the equivalent of a postage stamp paying the required fee for the letter to enter the mails. The prime minister of Nepal at this time in history determined that

April 2014 - Volume 36 Number 4

having access to the mails for the general populace would strengthen Nepal economically as communication would lead to commerce. Previously, the mails had only been for use by the government. Having access the to the postal system (as primitive as it was at the time) was a big step for the common people who were living in a feudal agrarian society. April is a great month for philately in the bay area. I remind everyone every year how fortunate we are to have Westpex - considered by many to be the best stamp show in United States. I encourage everyone to go and if any member can offer another member a ride, let them know at the meeting. Theresa and I once again volunteer to help with projectors at all the society meetings and presentations at the show. Thank you to all that continue to support the club. I always look forward to visiting and talking stamps with everyone. And if anyone has a Penny Black in their collection, please bring it Thursday! See you at a meeting! Ken

Fremont Stamp Club - 2014 Calendar Month

Program

9-Jan

“Show and Tell” and Linn’s 2014 Stamp Poll

13-Feb 13-Mar 10-Apr 8-May 12-Jun 10-Jul 14-Aug 11-Sep 9-Oct 13-Nov 11-Dec

Membership Participation - “Olympics” Spring Club Auction APS Slide Show - The Story of the Penny Black

COALPEX Discussion– David McNamee ***NO MEETING—GRADUATION*** TBD TBD “Fall Classic” Auction National Stamp Collecting Month Club Election Christmas Pot Luck and Bingo Page 2

Fremont Stamp Club News

April 2014 - Volume 36 Number 4

First Private Use of the Mails in Nepal

I began collecting Nepal again after a 30+ year hiatus, having been introduced to the area in high school by the late Frank Vignola. Frank was one of the leading exhibitors of Nepal and started collecting the country when it opened to the West in the 1950’s. Frank gave me a great introduction and shared his knowledge and duplicates with me. But as a young collector, I was limited to what I could acquire. As an adult collector, I am searching and often finding the items that were out of reach to me when I began the area. Once such item is below: Stampless Cover “Mahasul Chukti” - Endorsement for Public Mail Kathmandu to Palpa Kathmandu

(Abbreviated “MA. CHU. 2 Pice)

Kathmandu 1 November 1880

Reverse of cover (reduced) Palpa (Early Classic Datestamp) 7 November 1880

During the historically important year of 1879, the postal service was first made available to the general public. Called MAHASUL CHUKTI, public mail bears the postmaster’s handwritten endorsement that a specific amount of postage had been paid by the sender. The standard rate at the time appears to be one half anna (2 pice). Previously, the mail system in Nepal had only been for use by government officials. Page 3

April 10th

APS Slide Show The Story of the Penny Black Doors open at 7 PM

P.O. Box 8450, Fremont, CA 94537

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