STAMP CLUBS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 161, 11 July 1938, Page 7

STAMP CLUBS.

FEDERATION IN U.S. s 1 I NATIONAL ORGANISATION. ! ] ] AID GIVEN TO INSTITUTIONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, June 21. Philately is rapidly gaining the recognition it should have as the world’s foremost collecting hobby, according to Harry L. Lindquist, president of the National Federation of Stamp Clubs of America, who has boon Visiting Cali- { fornia. I After 75 years, philately in this country now has a national organisation of nearly 700 member clubs, representing over 100,000 collectors. This great body is accomplishing more in a month than the great group of unorganised collectors, the small local groups of 10 to 100, and j even the national societies of 5000 or less, can do in 10 years, Mr. Lindquist is convinced. , He says that 100,000 people in any organisation command respect of Government officials, big business and the world in general. Permanent Exhibit. A permanent exhibition of stamps is) being given a prominent position in Radio City, in New York, where it will be viewed by hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Among other activities encouraged by the national federation is the aid given inmates of hospitals, sanatoria, children’s homes, and even penal institu-l tions. The federation, through its| regional directors, has been able to map! a definite programme for starting and; assisting stamp clubs in these institutions, and those in charge claim good! results, while the unselfish collectors! who carry on the work say they arel well repaid in satisfaction. j

The wcjrk of the federation is only', beginning. Under its direction it is ex-j pected to see intelligent handling of

school stamp clubs instead of the hit-or-miss fashion now employed. More and better exhibitions are being planned, and .the organisation of study groups among those having mutual interest in sidelines or specialities is being featured, with better care of the recruit, that he may receive the information needed to keep him in the hobby. Most of the devotees in California favour collections of the United States and the British Empire.