Transcribed & Summarized by Roy P. Weber
Previously owned by the late Robert Rohdehamel of Indianapolis
and postal history dealer Elwyn Doubleday

Best regards from this African city … Back in France in about ten days when I hope to get some plating done.

I have been back from French Northern Africa two or three weeks and have been spending considerable time in an attempt to complete the plating of Plate 8. I have gone about as far as I can with the material on hand and have identified all but one stamp in the left pane and four in the right pane, although some few stamps still have a question mark.

I am sending … 105 stamps at $2 per stamp amounts to $210.00 which sum please add to our account. My sister … that your monthly check has been coming to hand promptly. Please believe that this is much appreciated.

I also enclose four new positions from Plate 8, for which please add $8.00 to our account. I’m working hard on 6 & 7 and have now got them completed as follows: 6L 94%, 6R 97%, 7L 97%, 7R 100%. So you can see I’m only a dozen stamps shy of completion. … Here’s a bit more information regarding plate 6 that I forgot to give you when I wrote before. One stamp 66R6 showing recutting along the right end of the top of the upper label block and along the top of the upper right diamond block. Four more stamps 65-67-68 & 69R6 show recutting along the right end of the top of the upper label block (but upper right diamond block not recut). These are the only stamps on 6, 7 or 8 that show any recutting except of the frame lines (47R6 excepted). Odd that they should all be in one row. Generally speaking, 6 is a little less heavily recut than 7, though both are much more lightly recut than 8. … I expect to run over to London next month to attend the opening of the new Royal Philatelic Society building. Hope to find some 3c 1851s while there.

In separating 6 & 7 from 8 the bottom frame line is of the greatest aid. All Plate 8 show this line heavy while 6 & 7 (except the bottom row stamps) show this line more or less faint. … It is surprising how difficult some of these single stamps are to plate.

The copy on cover turns out to be 21R7 and therefore a very early date of use from this plate. My record dates from 6, 7 & 8 now stand as follows

Plate 6 May 8, 1856 (These should come much earlier)
Plate 7 March 1, 1856
Plate 8 April 25, 1856 (April 14, 1856 probable)
Plate 6, 7 or 8 (probably 6 or 7) Feb 13, 1856

It’s a shame this latter stamp is cut so close that it can’t be plated. Since the list appeared in the A.P. only one other 3c 1851 date has been changed – Plate 3 having been put back one day to March 22, 1852. Incidently Ashbrook & I have a revised list nearly read to publish.

Still plugging away on 6 & 7, and making slow progress.

I see the 3c O.B. 1851 has gone up to $1.50 in the new catalogue. Whew!

I’ve been plugging away lately on Plates 7 & 8 (leaving 6 for the moment) and I’m sure you will be glad to know that I’ve completed the reconstruction of both 7 & 8 although a few positions still have a "?". I’m pretty sure I can finish 6 (it’s 95% done left pane & 97% right pane) and then all 13 plates (counting separate states as plates) will be completed except that I do not know where certain copies identified as coming from Plate 0 go in this plate. Quite a plating problem this has been.

One stamp 81R8 has, so I have just noticed, a small but consistent flaw – a short horizontal line about 3/5 of a mm above the top of the button on the tunic.

I return herewith all but 26 copies of those sent. These kept are all A reliefs and will take more time to plate. … If you wish to trade one each of 27R7 & 47R7 (the poorer copy in each case) I’ll be glad to allow you three positions which you lack – all in A1 condition. I happen to need these … You also have here a copy of 98R7 which seems to show nothing of the flaw…

As for the plating –

18 copies (margins etc) @ .25 $ 4.50
30 copies (body of plate) @ .50 $15.00

I think the $1.50 price for O.B.s in the new Scott is really due to demand. Plating eats up a lot & I’ve been a keen buyer. I think I cleaned out all that Scott had – and it was quite a bunch.

Had a little luck in getting 3c 51-57 in London. About 30 O.B.s, a dozen plate 8s and a few others. One 3c 57 II with an inner line, one with recut triangle, a part perf 3c 1857 type I – at least it surely looks like a genuine copy! … Strange to say the 3c 57 II with recut inner line was correctly described in a stock book! Quite up to date. Don’t suppose one American dealer in 20 would recognize it.

Regarding 3c 1851 plate numbers. I’m afraid there isn’t much chance of getting a complete set. I’ve never been able to do so – in fact I’ve never seen a plate No 7 – except just enough to the top of one to identify it. However I’d keep on picking up all I could find if I were you. I think they will be worth much more some day than they are now. For example I bought a superb Plate No 5 on a cover in Boston last winter and paid $35 for it. A collector there saw it & offered me a profit of $15 if I’d let it go. I didn’t.

I bought a few mighty nice U.S. other than 1851s, the profit on which should help pay expenses.

Herewith another little batch made up of one position from Plate 8 (56R8) – found in England – and 19 copies from the top row of Plates 6 & 7 all of which I believe you lack in your reconstruction.

I’ve just finished the reconstruction of the right pane of Plate 6 and have the left pane (on which I am now working) done except for three A relief positions, and I am fairly sure I can find these.

I recently bought a used block of four O.B.s from the bottom rows of what I think is the left pane of Plate 0. If my guess is right it will give me a boost with that pane. Have you any new pairs etc from Plate 0?

I enclose herewith the 26 copies from 6 & 7 all of which are plated for you. Believe me, single copies, especially of A reliefs, are not easy.

I also enclose 44 new positions from the right pane of plate 7 – all that I can furnish for the moment. If I’m right this leaves 32 blank spaces. Right?

44 new positions @ $2.00 each = $88.00
Plating 26 copies @ 50c each = $13.00

My sister writes that your check comes regularly. Please believe that this is appreciated by both her and me.

You will be glad to know, I am sure, that I’ve completed Plates 6, 7 & 8 entirely. A few positions have a "?" but probably all are correctly placed. The 3c ’51 plating job is now practically done except for placing certain Plate 0 stamps that surely come from this plate.

I’m working along at plating up my surplus singles on hand and these will probably yield a few new positions for you. In addition I hope to find when I get back to America quite a bunch of stamps from all the scarcer plates that are, supposedly, being put aside for me.

In the previous lot sent (from 7R) was a reconstructed vertical pair from the right edge of the pane. Please let me know the positions. I like to keep a record of all pairs seen (even reconstructed) to aid in proving the plating correct, and I forgot to note this piece.

Mr. Klein’s catalogue reached me two or three days before the sale and I cabled a bid on the block of 4 3c ’57 from Plate 11. In another week I should know whether or not I got it. Had no idea I was "bucking" you! I sent a foolish bid of $102, but suppose probably some millionaire topped me. As I may have told you I saw a single copy of 50L11 (with the number) a year or so ago so I knew it had a recut right inner line. This block must be a wonder, even if it is not tied on the cover. I sincerely hope my bid didn’t interfere with yours. Did you get the single with recut inner line? Were the other three stamps in Klein’s block normal, that is without inner lines?

As I told you some time ago I suspected there was one more position on Plate 6 showing a faint gash on the shoulder. This turns out to be 70L6 and the gash is so faint that it only shows on early impressions & then but vaguely. I am now in a position to make more definite statements regarding Plates 6, 7 & 8 and shall rewrite (in the addenda of my 3c article) the chapters on these three plates.

Perhaps I’ve been taking too great a chance in sending so many stamps unregistered. At any rate I’m going to register the last batch, under separate cover. … You will find enclosed as follows …

The right stamps which are, perhaps, worth a premium, come from the 8^th vertical row of the right pane of Plane 6. One is a fine shift -18R6- and all eight show an extra line outside the right frame line. I think you will agree that these are not at all common. A few "gash on shoulder" are also included (from the body of the plate) but these are … as normal. Incidentally these should, someday, be highly appreciated by 3c 1851 collectors, as misplaced transfer roll reliefs.

I’m afraid I may have marked some as coming from a wrong plate. … Some day I must recheck all your plates. It’s not entirely easy to keep an accurate record and I want your plate to be absolutely correct.

I’ve just received an invitation to act as one of the judges at the coming exhibition. I’ve accepted – rather against my will – but with the proviso that I may enter my 3c ‘51-‘57s for competition. I suppose it will mean much work and I rather begrudge the time it will take. However its understood that you & I have time for a good session together on 3c 1851s whenever you come on.

Nothing new in stamps … sailing … due in NY 8 days later

I’m taking the liberty of troubling you to keep the enclosed envelope in a safe place for me until I return. Will drop you a line on my arrival and have you send it on to me. I’ll explain fully when I write again. Gosh! How we dread that ocean trip!

Following is a little bit of the most important errors & omissions that I have so far found in the book. I take it for granted that your copies have arrived. If anything should happen to me please see that these corrections are published.

Page 39 Plate 8 was not just back in use in 1859
Page 57 23^rd line 45L5L should read 44L5L
:
Page 62 Plate flaw in front of queue is 58R26
:
Page 110 Plate 4 early use sure March 31 ’55 probably March 19 ‘55
:
Page 244 The list of 1853 year dates gives Greenville Maine as "52" instead of "53"

Of course there are plenty more, but these perhaps are most likely to mislead readers. Someday I must recheck your plates 1E & 1i. I may have made some mistakes in giving the state (e or i) on certain positions. What other mistakes & omissions can you point out?

I hope to do some nice quiet serious stamp work this winter.

I’ve gone over the O.B.s I picked up while in N.Y. – really found quite a bunch of them. So I’m able to enclose 13 new positions for your plates.

I’ve not yet started with the Pl 10 group … but shall soon. I picked up quite a few pairs & strips in N.Y. & borrowed a lot too, yours & O’Donohues & Cabeens, so I have a nice lot of material to start on.

I can’t quite make my figures for your account the same as yours. You say that, after the above check was sent, you make it $582.92. I have gone over mine a couple of times & make it $5 less…

I’ve been plugging along on the Plate 10 group material & am making fair progress. I’ve made one very disagreeable discovery however, that Plate 10 exists in three (count ‘em, 3) states! Can you beat that? Guess I can never do them all & shall be satisfied if I can put one plate together made up of the three states, mixed. This will at least give the positions of the recuts. Will send you some of the dope soon. Have located a few strong shifts, etc etc.

Enclosed you will find a small miscellaneous lot – 2 cards which total $6.00 & 8 covers which add up to $10.10. Total $16.10. Next time I’ll try to dig out something better.

Phillips has done very well so far in selling from my lot.

I’ve been doing a little work lately on the Type II shifts and am able to send you 9 new ones – or at least 9 that are not on your list that I have. I also am sending 3 covers on approval – Total $18.60.

I had expected to return quite a bit of your Pl 10 material that you loaned me, but the discovery of three states of Pl 10 decides me to keep it a while longer to see if I can separate the E’s & I’s. I am, though, returning two of your covers. One is 61R10E. It was this position that proved three states of Pl 10. The intermediate & late states both show the queer double transfer while the early state, as you will see, shows no trace of it. I’ve plenty of other proof (positions showing the three states) so I’m sure of the fact.

I’m making progress, though it’s slow, with 10, 11 & 12. It’s really very difficult work.

As I may have told you I’ve been working recently on Indian Territory postmarks. … I have now Indian Territory postmarks as far back as 1843 and know that they exist on covers of the ’51 & ’57 periods. I now have around 100 different towns from this territory, which I guess is a pretty good showing.

Here are the plate positions of three strong double transfers – Type II G1=65R10L H1=75R10L A3=10R10L. Wish I could locate the rest of the recuts, but I can’t seem to, except recut N E&L is the top row right pane Pl 11.

Let me say again that I much appreciate your showing my lots to other collectors. Have you any suggestions as to what might please any of them? Cancellations or plate varieties, on or off cover?

I enclose 13 covers, three of which make a little set. Nothing very special although the Boston carrier is unusually clear & the calendar is better than they usually come. The olive-yellow is really rare. They total $20.65.

I’m back from a couple of weeks in London & glad it’s over. I don’t like the English (except for my friends) the food is terrible & the hotels are poor & expensive & the climate is fierce. And as for the English trains, one might as well ride in an open touring car. … Stamps (U.S. stamps) are nearly non-existant there. And the prices are worse than the hotels. … Please blame the English & not me for the prices & send "em all back if you wish.

Thank you for the clipping. The cracked plate block is the one that Bellinger first had that finally wound up in Emerson’s collection. I think you have seen it. Surely you have seen my photo of it. Almost surely Pl 18. Emerson is selling all his unused.

Regarding Pl 12, there are still quite a few 3c 57 II Plate numbers that I’ve never seen, & that’s one of them. I hope you find some more Pl 10 group pieces. Sure need them.

I forgot to mention that Pl 2E pair enclosed. It must be a very early impression though used late in Calif. It’s this way! (drawing with line from UR label thru upper left label) 99-100R2E. Faint between the stamps but it surely looks as though the engraver didn’t entirely raise his tool between the stamps. Strikes me as a nice item. Would you mention it in the corrections to the 3c book?

Queer thing but France is about the only country in the world today that has no unemployment problem. The weekly reports here show only a few hundred idle in all France. They import much manual labor, too. It’s hard to understand just why this should be so. They lost very heavily in man power during the war – 1,900,000 men I believe – but so did other European countries.

Stamp news is very scarce. Someone sent me one of those Mass. … stamps. What a mess! The poor native with a bunch of bananas around his middle yelling for help …

Herewith another batch of plated Pl 10 group stuff etc that you kindly loaned me. I still have on loan 27 more stamps of yours of this sort, mostly in pairs & strips. Some of these I hope to return in the near future. These have helped a lot & I am really making progress. Now have 178 out of 200 from Pl 10 (all states included) & 72 from the left pane of Pl 11 (all states). The right pane of Pl 11 seems the hardest but I’ve made some progress all the same – 29 are in definitely & another built up block of 8 is probably placed.

Jacobs of Chicago has just loaned me his lot. Not nearly as large as yours but very useful especially because of a few long strips. Those "courthouse finds" must have unearthed a lot of this stuff, but I’ve not been fortunate enough to see much.

Yours of Apr 28^th enclosing the strip of 4 Pl 10 … just in hand. The strip has been plated but I haven’t yet had time to match the stamps. Mighty nice of you to have dug it out. If I can get a bit more material I can complete those 2 plates in two or all three stages. I doubt, though, if there is enough # 11L in existence to do it.

This will acknowledge returns of $33.00 & check for $30.00 … According to my figures the balance is now $505.47. Do you agree?

I’ve been working quite some lately on the Pl 10 group plates and am returning to you herewith another little lot of yours that I have finished with. … The pen cancelled single of yours I’d like to swap for the one of mine next to it. Yours is the late state (I believe) of the same position of which mine is the i state. As I can’t match yours I’d much like to have it for reference – should you care to trade. Some day I hope to be able to plate these extra line copies. There is a chance that they all come from the SE corner of the right pane of Pl 11.

No special news except that the Royal Philatelic Society of London has awarded me the Crawford medal for this year for my 3c book. It’s supposed to go to the best book of the year – in their opinion. I was both pleased & surprised.

The stamp game seems pretty slow. … I’m wondering if bad business conditions in America aren’t making a difference. Phillips is selling very little for me, though I fear he isn’t spraining himself any in sending material out on inspection. Did he ever send you anything? I’m curious to know.

Our balance is now $470.47, not including the covers enclosed herewith. Do you Agree?

I also appreciate your offer to swap the remaining Pl 10 group pieces that I have of yours.

At any rate all of your Plate 10 group stuff has now been returned. Is it all accounted for? And I surely have appreciated the loan of it, and the swap for the unplatable pieces.

I’ve checked the plating of the imprints. One comes from the rare Pl 18 (1^st you have of it) and another (from the plate I call "I") I can’t match. … I now have 8 copies of yours with type II imprints that I can’t match. Don’t seem to make much progress, but still hope to find at least some of them. The three new center lines I’ve plated. All come from Pl 10E. The plate scratch is a peach & surely a new one to me. I can’t match it at all. Do you care to sell or swap the poorer one of the two? I’ve listed them for the book. … The best of all, however, is the pair 41-42L11L (the plate I used to call (12?)). This is absolutely the first imprint copy I ever saw from 11L. You certainly have a nice piece there. I can’t match either one in this state. The absence of Pl number on this piece is because the entire "No 11" is opposite 51L11.

I’ve just had some bad news financially. A N.Y. state bank (National Bank) in which I was quite deeply interested – directly & indirectly – financially has just closed. It had been looted by it’s president over a period of three years! Several Govt examinations during this period failed to show anything wrong, but the last time they showed up he shot himself dead. Seems to me as though the examinations made must have been very superficial or careless. This hits me pretty hard, along with dividends being cut all down the line & puts quite a crimp in my income. I had always considered this one of my "giltest" edged investments!

I’m going to try to sell some of my many duplicate territorials. Would you be interested in any 1851 & 1857? And any stampless?

I hope to write a more or less important article on certain territorials, this winter for the Collector’s Club Philatelist.

I’ve not made much progress with 10 & 11 recently because of lack of material. Don’t forget me if you find any more pairs or better.

Do you care for any Pa towns (unusual ones) on 3c ’51 or ’57?

Thank you very much for the "Scrarch B" and the pretty College of St James Md cover.

I’ve taken your tip and just bought a few shares of A.T.&T. common.

Back from London a few days ago and found a bank notice that your $35.00 had been received. I am surely obliged. It’s very kind of you to make it $10 extra, especially when times are so hard. I had a pleasant time & picked up a nice gold medal (The Crawford Medal) for my 3c book. Found almost nothing in the way of stamps. … U.S. stamps such as we want hardly exist in the dealer stocks. I flew both ways … a gale behind us made the trip 2 ¼ hour schedule in 1 ¾ hours!

I have a recollection some where in the back of my head that you once said you could use some 3c 1851 varieties of impression. At any rate I’ve put a little batch together & send it along. There are 13 varieties, including most all except a double impression, for which I want $15. The oddest is the offset on a 3c 51 orange brown. It looks at first glance like an impression showing through, but it’s not, as it doesn’t register. I’ve always priced these varieties very much higher in the past, but I guess prices have come down.

Hope you enjoyed the Akron show. The only one I’ve seen recently was the 1^st
International Air Mail Exhibition here in Paris. The balloon posts were fine, but the modern stuff doesn’t hit me at all.

Your "23" cancellation sounds good.

I’ve just finished going over Plate 6 very carefully. Plated up all copies on hand etc etc. First, have you a copy of 97R6, the big flaw? I have you down as lacking that position. Please let me know whether you do or not. I have a fair duplicate on hand if you want it. I enclose herewith 10 copies … to better poor ones sent previously. … I now have a source of supply that brings me some 6, 7 & 8 copies pretty regularly so I hope to do more soon.

Herewith one new position 84L1E & 15 "betters" for Plates 4 & 5L … Please add $2.00 to the account, making the present total $299.97.

I’ll have some new & "better" O.B.s for you shortly if nothing slips.

Just bought a few A.T.&T. 5 ½% bonds. Guess that’s one investment I won’t have to worry about.

I’ve just gone over a new batch of over 100 O.B.s, and how many new positions do you suppose they yielded for you? Exactly one. I’m sure not having much luck.

Very little stamp news. Did you see my article in the January number of the Collectors Club Philatelist?

My wife is in Florence Italy for a few weeks looking for sunshine. So I’m a widower in Paris. Oh! Well – I can stand it.

Herewith one new O.B. position on cover -33R5E - @ $2.00. I am also sending 8 other covers which total 13.65 thinking that some of them might appeal to you. The best by far, of course, is that Pleasant Grove Allegany Co. Md. I’ve seen few or not any better examples of a county cancellation on a 3c 1851. The Zevely family included the 3^rd assist P.M.G. who corresponded with Toppan, Carpenter & Co.

The San Francisco "26 PAID" must be very rare.

I’m also much obliged for the loan of the pair & single from Pl 10 which I return herewith. The pair is nice because the lower stamp is 98R10E which on i & L show the strong shift.

Herewith a few O.B.s.

As I may have told you we expect to see quite something of Italy & Austria & perhaps a bit of Jugoslavia & Hungary, before summer.

Just sustained quite a severe loss in selling some Queensland bonds. I bought them a few years ago as gilt-edged & then the government went socialist or worse & the bonds are way down. If they had been A.T.&T. bonds or stocks I’d not have the trouble.

We don’t seem to agree exactly on the account …

(Start) 276.97
Feb 9 ’31 new O.B. 2.00; 8 covers on approval 13.65
Mar 5 ’31 2 new O.B.s 4.00
Mar 5 ’31 check 26.97
Mar 28 ’31 check 39.45
Mar 28 ’31 3 covers returned 2.25
(Balance) 226.95

So I make the present balance 226.95 instead of 225 even.

I am also sending the batch you sent for checking. The 3c 57 II imprint is probably 31L9E or L. Someday I hope to tell surely.

I never noticed before how very much alike 97R8 & 99R7 are. The same is nearly as true with 37L2L & 54L2L.

That article I wrote for Ward was written some years ago while I was trying to get him to sell my plates. Why don’t you write up an article such as you suggest, giving the odd varieties on each pane of the common plates? It should go well. … It might go best in Mekeel’s or the American Philatelist.

Guess your dope on A.T.&T. common is right. I paid a bit too much for mine – around 206 – or perhaps I should say I could have gotten it cheaper a bit later.

Back in Paris after having rolled 7500 km – plenty enough for one trip.

Thanks for the return of the 17L2E (poorer copy) and for the $30 check. Much appreciated. Amount now stands at 170.95 according to my figures & the enclosures herewith. You will find 2 new positions ($4.00) 34L8 & 74L1E & a better copy of 67L7 which I believe replaces a very poor one. Return the poorer one at your convenience. Also a stampless cover from Vera Cruz Mex during the U.S. occupation of the Mexican war. This is proved by the "JULY" which is nothing like the Spanish name for that month. This I figure is worth at least the 2.50 it is marked.

Sorry to hear that business conditions aren’t better. I figure that the change toward an upward trend is due … that things will improve fairly fast before long. A lot of stocks look cheap if one could buy them – put them away for a few years. A.T.&T. for example.

The Sharon Stamp Club will come back as soon as times are good again. Too good a club to pass out.

We leave Paris in a week or so but don’t expect to leave France until next spring. Probably go to the high French alps for the summer to escape the hot weather.

We have a furnished villa for one month – all conveniences & a garden with real palms!

I don’t like the German situation at all. I’m afraid they have no intention of really pulling themselves together the way the French did when the franc started to go to zero. But I still hope that the fall will see the curve going upward as you say.

Back in Paris where we promptly found a little apartment to our liking. Hope to stay put until next spring.

Herewith the 3c ’51 you sent me a few weeks ago to plate. It turns out to be 14L3.

I am sending two little sheets of 3c ’51 at what I’ve tried to make "depression prices". … Incidentally I’d much appreciate it if you would return those not wanted as soon as convenient. Believe it or not but I’ve … prospect a buyer of such things in the U.S.A.!

And here’s one more thing. That 25 (or 30) per month is very soon to run out. I’ll be lonesome without it, though undoubtedly you can stand it better than I can. Is there a chance that you might like a plate of 1L in the orange brown color? I have one somewhere nearly complete that you may have at 1.00 per stamp, payable at $10 per month. As you know these are scarce, probably, more so than most other O.B. plates. The only reconstruction in existence. I still have some furniture on storage in New York at $10 per month & this sum would take care of that. Let me know what you think at your convenience.

When you write I’d appreciate just a line regarding the present state of affairs as you find them. Things are so rotten that I’m beginning to be optimistic. Always darkest just before the dawn, etc etc. If A.T.&T. at 135 isn’t a buy I’m crazy. And Mack Truck at 20. They say the cash assests of the latter are more than $20 per share!

Your 3c ’51 cover sounds good for a first day. I don’t believe Hartford used the magenta town & black grid except in 1851. The list of stamps sent out, which Bartels dug out, isn’t complete. That’s sure. No reason why Hartford shouldn’t have had the stamps on July 1^st.

France is finally off the gold standard but I suppose prices will rise so rapidly that it won’t benefit me except for a very short time.

Things are slowly getting better in Spain. It looks as though the reds were doomed.

I like your idea fine and am much pleased to go over your charts etc. I’ve only one criticism that amounts to anything and it is this. To draw the position of the guide dots so that someone who is matching them can work easily I believe the lower right (or upper right) corner of the stamp should be drawn to scale. …

But the idea is fine & should help the 3c ’51 a lot. This question of guide dots isn’t easy. It needs a lot of copies to be sure about some positions & even then its sometimes difficult. For example your diagram of 88R3 may be correct but with all the copies I have in front of me as many show absolutely no trace of a dot where you put it (or anywhere else) that it had better perhaps be marked "no dot".

I don’t know what more could be put in a diagram unless one showed the number of dots in each rosette touched by the inner line. This would be a big job but would help like the dickens in plating.

I don’t quite agree with your figures that 34.50 is still due. I think you are cheating yourself a bit. … Balance 34.20 and not $34.50 as your letter states.

I’m interested in what you say about Sharon Steel Hoop Co selling at $4.00 above the junking value. I wonder if they are paying dividends. I am tempted to sell a few more bonds and buy stocks with the proceeds. Lots of them are, I really believe, tremendous bargains.

How is the article for the Shift Hunter getting along?

I take this opportunity to thank you for the check of $25.00 received recently.

This will acknowledge the receipt of $11.50 closing our account. I want to thank you for your steady payments even in spite of the very hard times. You have certainly been most courteous and kind right through our dealings. I trust that when better times come again (and they must come soon) I may find something more for you among my 3c 1851s & ‘7s.

Has any further progress been made with that idea of illustrating the 3c ’51 guide dots? That sounded very interesting to me.

I return herewith the stamps you sent for checking. … I’m glad to do this checking for you whenever you wish. It takes very little time.

Now that everyone sees no chance for better times they should come soon. I … though depend a lot on that bunch of fat heads in congress. If they can get it into their thick skulls that the budget must be balanced & economies enforced all may be well. I see the A.T.&T. are sticking to their dividends. That’s good news.

The check was very welcome. Do you suppose I have anything else that might interest you?

I shall keep the tracing of the Profile House, N.H. postmark and if I ever get around to writing a real list of corrections and additions to the 3c book I shall certainly mention it. I think I have seen such covers before but at any rate it is of very decided interest. It must have been a summer post office at this famous resort.

I shall have to keep the two pairs from the Plate 10 group as well as the imprint on cover until I get back to Paris the later part of next month.… I shall return to you the other imprints of this stamp which I have kept so long. I fear I cannot do much more with them until considerable new material turns up.

The stock market certainly acts as though the turn had come, though in reality it is too early to tell very much about it. It will be interesting to know how much of the movement is political.

I have no recollection of having received mats of the 3c 1851 showing different shifts. Incidentally I would think it would be extremely difficult to show the shifts excepting by re-touching actual enlarged photographs of each individual stamp. In other words the mats show no recutting which is often very necessary in identifying the shifts largely because so many of them are minute.

Please keep me informed with the progress you make with your various charts, etc.

Back in Paris as my reference stuff is available. Herewith the imprint 3c ’57 II cover you sent, as well as the 8 other 3c ‘57 II imprints of yours that I have kept so long. I’m afraid I’ll not make much more progress with the 3c ‘57 II plates unless I can find some new material, especially some of the missing plate numbers. It’s queer that as many have never been seen. All these 9 imprint copies come from such plates. I’ve given them letters to identify them until the numbers show up – if they ever do. … Incidentally four of them are, as far as I know, unique -–that is to say I’ve never seen a duplicate of 51L"H", 41L"G", 31L"I" & 51L"I". They must be rare.

The two pairs of type II from the Plate 10 group you will find in the envelope bearing 61L"F". I’ve spent quite some time with them but, strange to say, I can’t do a thing with either of them! If I ever get after this Plate 10 group again hard, I may ask to reborrow them.

I also take the liberty of enclosing 10 3c ‘51-’57 covers on approval. Nothing very rare as the lot only totals $5.35.

I was a bit surprised by Mr. Bedford’s article in the November A.P. but this does not alter the fact that I like it very much indeed. I have sent him a line of appreciation. It set me to thinking and a result I have written for the American Philatelist a short list giving the principle corrections and additions to the 3c book. I also sent Mr. Bedford a copy of this. Of course you and certain other collectors already have this list, and probably certain other minor corrections as well, but I feel sure it will be a good idea to have it printed so that all owners of the book may make the corrections. I trust you will find it possible to complete the series of charts. As you know I am always glad to help as best I may.

I’ve just received the charts of Plates 1L & 2L. They are fine. You are certainly doing your share to keep popularizing the best stamp of all.

I surely hope it will work out so that the series may be completed.

Thanks for the note on 44R8. That surely is a nice flaw & one I had never noted at all. … I sure want to see a photo of that "26" (Chase draws the 6 backwards). I’ve not yet heard from Dr. Dorsett but dare say I shall in due time. If you don’t get the photo from him in a reasonable time write him again. How big is the Pl No block from 26L?

I’ve not heard from Tennel(?) but I guess he will print my article giving the corrections of the 3c book. He also has something from me regarding the "August" & "September" ‘61s.

Yes, if things really pick up, the 3c 1851-7 should go better. It’s hard to judge very well from over here, but it looks as though a very slow but (let’s hope) steady improvement is on the way.

Well, the big crash came at last & right suddenly. Happily I foresaw it so was able to get some cash over here to keep me going. I trust the Sharon Banks are listed among those that are to re-open shortly. What a period to live through! I can’t help but feel that Roosevelt has done very well so far. He is about as active & energetic as Hoover wasn’t.

While I think of it – if you still see Mekeel’s – let me know whether that American Y. Souren(?) is still advertising with them. He stole an approval selection of mine & the lawyer tells me it would cost more than it’s worth to sue for it. Fortunately it was only about $40.00. If he had been really bright he might have stuck me for several hundred.

I bought the enclosed oval town. One I never saw before – Woodville, Pa. Do you want it at a dollar?

Regards from the French coast down near Bordeaux.

Wylie promised me that he would accept no more ads from Souren until he had paid me. I have not been paid a cent but the Mekeel prints his ads all the same. Draw your own conclusions.

Yes, Norona(?) did a good job with the Cyclopedia. He deserves much credit for carrying on in spite of Konwiser. This latter has just been kicked out of the A.P.S. & that’s a good job done. He is a disagreeable trouble maker if there ever was one. He is really doing American philately much harm. He writes all the time & seldom gets anything straight.

The Toledo Norwalk & Western RR is a good one. Congratulations. The PAID QUARTERLY is certainly odd & must be scarce.

That San Quentin cover is a … I never saw but one letter in our period, as far as I remember, that ever went to or from a prison. And Fremont campaign covers are also mighty sweet. You have surely had some luck in finding nice pieces lately.

The only U.S. cover I’ve found for a long time that is really nice is a "Cantonment Gibson Ar" stampless cover, dated 1842. The Cantonment existed before the fort of the same name. This adds a really fine piece to my early Indian Territory lot.

Do you suppose I have any 3c 51s or 1857s that might interest you? If you are willing I’ll send a few pieces on approval at depression prices.

I am taking the liberty of sending you a few items on approval. They total $57.00. If by any chance you could use the lot call it $50 even. Most of the items are rare. Pay me when and as you please.

I’m well and everything is going fine with me except for the financial side. Except for my A.T.&T. stock & bonds & my French $ bonds most everything I had has gone flooey. No use regretting, but naturally I wish I had put all I had into the bonds mentioned above. I sure would like to sell some ‘51s & ‘57s. Is there anything I have that might appeal to you if the price was right?

I return herewith the two pieces you asked me to sign on the back. This I have done with pleasure. I am surely obliged to you for having sold these two items.

Ten days ago I slipped … I broke both sides of my pelvis!

Do you suppose Mr. Aull(?) might buy something more?

I’m glad of the A.T.&T. is holding its own. It’s surely as conservative an investment as there is in the U.S.A. today.

Do you by any chance happen to know what became of Grerner’s(?) collection of 3c ‘51-’57? He was supposed to have a very fine lot though I believe no one ever saw it all.

Yes, I saw a notice of the death of Mr. Seely. Too bad as I liked him very much. I too visited him at his home in Hammondsport. He was very keen on early U.S.

I also saw that you had won the Grand Prize at Syracuse, but I didn’t know that you weren’t out afer it. So much the better.

I enclose one item at $15.00 that I believe is truly rare. I never saw but two "No. 8" and this is the only one I ever owned. Does it appeal to you?

I’m leaving Paris next week and expect to stay away until about the middle of September.

I enclose one cover that seems to me mighty nice. It’s 41L1E with sheet margin but with no trace of the imprint. This is by far rarer than any plate number. Do you want it at $30.00 payment to be made as & when you please?

I quite understand that you hardly feel like buying expensive pieces at the present time. I wonder how A.T.&T. investigation is going to turn out. I suppose they want to cut that 9% dividend ("they" = the investigators).

I’m sticking a couple of the French Red Cross Xmas stamps on the back. It’s odd but the portrait of Dr. Calmette would pass as a portrait of Dr. Diena of Rome – the great Italian philatelist & perhaps the greatest philatelist alive.

I’m not sending any stamps and shall not for the present unless I run across some minor items that seem interesting.

I have gone over the lot as carefully as I may. … The Type II imprint copy come from Plate "E" – but what its real number is I don’t know. I don’t suppose you have turned up any new plate numbers for the Type II plates, have you? Funny some have never been seen. I’ve … worked on the shifts … several off cover copies are too much for me. … A couple, as you noted, are probably smears. 4L10i & 9L11i are plated but I’ve not counted them as shifts.

The tracing of the Lynchburg shows a mighty pretty cover. I’ve seen this postmark somewhere before (not this cover, though).

The French are much afraid that Germany is going to attack her within the next year. Let’s hope not. But why is Germany arming so rapidly & strongly? No other country is going to attack her – that’s sure & that’s why it looks so dark.

I may get over for the Exhibitions at N.Y. in May of next year.

Here is one more O.B. that I believe you lack, and the next to the last of the pane R5E. … Send me your check for $2.00 at your convenience.

As you may have seen I’m a member of the jury for the 1936 N.Y. show, so, if all goes well, I’ll get over for a few weeks at that time. You’ll surely be in N.Y. at that time.

I’ve gone through my stock & dug out the best copies (duplicates) to fill your want list. Some are right nice & some are anything but. So don’t hesitate to return all you don’t want. … Say a dollar for the plating & checking if that’s satisfactory to you.

By the way, I’ll try to see that you get good photos of the missing positions one of these days. By any chance, if you have a duplicate of any of the following positions, I need them. 57L0, 65R0, 9R1E, 15L5E, 69R5E, 74R6. I believe you have them all in your plates.

I think your idea to show your ’57 II plate varieties a very good one. I don’t remember any such exhibit either. By all means show them

I’m not yet sure that I’ll be able to make the trip – confidentially it’s for financial reasons that I hesitate. However I may arrange it – I surely hope so. And if I do, here’s to seeing you & Mr. Anel(?) soon.

Just a line in haste to say that I’m sailing the 29^th on the Paris & arrive in N.Y. the 6^th. … I am looking forward to seeing you in N.Y. It’s a long time since we have had a chat.

Send mail for me care Geo. B. Sloane, 116 Nassau St, New York, N.Y.

I return herewith the 65L0 which is correctly plated. I enclose also an 18L2L @ 50c & a Dayton Ohio town postmark @ $1.50. I may have showed it to you in N.Y. – at any rate it’s the only really satisfactory postmark I ever saw on a 3c ’51 with hollow letters.

It was surely nice to get together in New York. I’m really sorry we couldn’t have had more time, but the exhibition week was certainly hectic.

I don’t know what is going to happen in this country. Only time can tell.

I’m now out near the Swiss border and I have only a very few of my 3c 1851s with me. As soon as I get back to Paris (probably mid-September) I’ll see what I can do for the three positions you lack in your plates – 91R1E, 81L6 & 57R6. As for the "?"s in Plate 0. There is practically no doubt but that all these stamps are correctly placed, but when they weren’t absolutely tied in I put a ? after the position. I guess you can erase the ?s without much danger.

Congratulations on the strip of 74-84-94L5L! What a piece! I have a vague recollection of having seen these three stamps in a block of 6 (2 hor x 3 ver) but it was far from fine.

Just a line to ask if you can help me out with any of the following O.B.s

10, 20, 22, 34, 40, 46, 66, 75 & 83L2E
9, 10, 21, 40, 41, 42, 72, 80, 82 & 89R2E

I want reasonably fine copies – they need not be superb.

I’m back in Paris and shall probably stay for some time if the lid doesn’t blow off. The situation is pretty bad all over Europe but, if we don’t get war, perhaps things will straighten out.

As for the three stamps you lack in your reconstructions. 81L6 I’ll have photographed & shall send you. … 57R6 I thought I sent you, at any rate here is another. It’s in a pair with 47R6. … It’s inside the envelope bearing the 91R1E. It (the 91R1E) is a bit short at lower right, but ironed out it should go fairly well in your reconstruction.

Herewith two photos of 81L6 which I believe is the only stamp in your plates of which you didn’t have even a photo. They come from my "working plate" & between them you have the complete design.

I am leaving tomorrow, Sunday, for England where I shall stay 10 or 12 days. I dread the London hotels and restaurants (only the deluxe hotels have heated rooms!). … I had put all my best stamps (plates etc) in safe deposit before your letter arrived so I’ll have to await my return before checking & returning the stamps you sent. I’m much obliged also for the photo of R22.

I am right sore at the way Klein & Co kicked D??? F??? out of the editorship of the American Philatelist. And I’m not alone in feeling that way. Do you know anything about it all? F??? did good work over a period of 15 years & deserved better treatment.

Herewith the missing position – that is, a photo of it. … Your plates are now complete? Is that right?

I must have celebrated too well yesterday, as I can’t seem to write decently.

Just a line to acknowledge your good letter and the return of the block from Plate 10E. I quite understand your not wanting to buy right now & I’ll send nother more for the present.

I need a very fine to superb used copy of each of the following two positions. 24L2L & 46L2L. Do you happen to have either or both to spare?

I’m certainly much obliged for the two stamps from Plate 2L. They are just what I wanted & I’m really please. I needed them badly.

The Plate 12 is surely a wonderful find. Did it come to you as a result of your article for the congress? I can’t seem to find a single copy among all I have. Have you any more from the plate? May I keep the photo?

When you find the time you might see if you have a fine copy of any of the following positions to spare. But if you have, please place a price on them

34L2L, 2R2L, 47R2L & 1L3 6, 9 & 38R7 1R7

Things are quiet here now – perhaps ominously so!

I’ve just received the two numbers of "Stamps" including your excellent 3c check list. Good work! Keep it up! It all helps with grand old stamp.

I haven’t heard from you for a long time.

I can’t leave Paris until after the PEXIP which commences the 18^th & lasts until the 27^th. Right after that I’ll get away where it’s cooler. Hot as Hades here now.

Can you, by chance, help me out with any of the following 3c 1851 positions – reasonably fine copies. 6R6 9R6 38R6 34L2L 7R2L 47R2L & 1L3.

I saw what I believe was a new recut inner line on a 3c 57 II, the other day. I’ll try to get you a photo.

I’ve just had sent from the U.S.A. a lot of 3c ’51 ’57 pieces that I had put aside. Is there anything in particular you are looking for, outside the missing positions on you plates?

Glad you are still on the active list – perhaps though you aren’t so glad. Sorry business is so rotten. … The great trouble is that your politician is interested first, last and all the time in himself and his own pocket book. If the country counts with him, it is very little and only a secondary matter.

The 99L1i is correct but the date isn’t, I believe, the earliest known as I listed & still have a July 13, 1851, while yours is July 18 – darned early at that.

Tomorrow I’m going to Strasbourg for 48 hours or so – chasing a lot of French postal markings which interest me greatly.

I’ll write you more one of these days about the Plate 10 group shifts that I have. I’d like to sell the lot intact, as it really should be kept together. The plating is well advanced, but it’s almost impossible to get any material to help in completing it over here. There’s a little job to keep you out of mischief, if you want it – to complete 10 & 11 in their various states. And one of the most interesting problems around as far as U.S. is concerned. The shifts alone make a gorgeous study.

I haven’t had the pleasure of hearing from you for some time.

I’ve been working a little lately with Plates 1L, 2L & 3. I find I need copies as shown in the following list. If you can furnish me some, I’ll remit promptly. I believe they are all – or most all – very ordinary varieties. …

I’ve taken a cottage in Brittany for the summer, but please address me at … Paris as usual. We are much worried about war – in fact it looks about certain, though no one except Hitler and a few others know when. The U.S.A. is lucky to have 3000 miles of ocean between it & Europe!

I surely much obliged for the stamps you sent … if you won’t put a cash price on them let me do a lot of plating for you. I certainly owe you that.

Of those I plated for you only one, I believe, fills a hole in your plates – 81L6 finishing that pane, as my records go. Isn’t it queer how a few positions are so rare – perfectly usual positions at that. We simply can’t find them!

As soon as I get around to it, I’ll list what I have from plates 10 & 11 etc … I don’t want to wait though, about sending back your stamps as one never knows what may happen here most any time.