Catalogue Time and the

Approval Department

During July of every year, the advance sheets of the catalogue start appearing. Each week, 64 pages, or two signatures, as the printer folk have it, are issued and mailed to subscribers. It has been decreed by the Powers-that-be that the new prices go into effect simultaneously with the mailing of each batch of sheets.

We know that everyone is glad to find out the quotations for the new philatelic year, showing how much their stamps have increased in value; but look what happens to the Approval Department! We have devoted to United States stamps alone hundreds of books subject to discounts of 10%, 50% and 80%. These are immediately rendered obsolete and must, with very few exceptions be entirely remade.

That is quite a task in itself but as succeeding lots of advance sheets come out, the books corresponding to the countries they cover, suffer the same fate. We are not kicking—it's part of the job—but there is an immense amount of detail connected with it. So we must ask your indulgence if sometimes, the book you ask for is not immediately available; we try hard to see that it is.

In preparation for the coming season, we have already made considerable progress. All the United States selections have been perpared as well as those of a large number of foreign countries. The first grade of 10% books of United States postage stamps are all prepared by our Mr. Eugene N. Costales, whose work on the Specialized Catalogue establishes him as an authority on these issues.

During the past year we have added very extensively to our stock of United States envelopes as we have noticed a quickening interest in these fascinating and by no means formidable issues, ever since the publication of our National Album. We have selections of them all; the dignified Nesbits, the scarce issues of 1861 to 1865 with high values in two colors. The delicately engraved Reays and the sometimes ludicrous Plimptons are well represented, as are the others down to and including the interesting provisional issues of 1921. They are all there, in simplified form and

correctly numbered with no intricacies of dies to confuse you. We will leave that phase of the game to the specialist.

Perhaps envelopes do not appeal to you. But remember that if you are interested in any group of stamps that we can secure for you, we will make every effort to place a selection of them in your hands at the earliest possible moment. Our existence can only be justified as long as we are successful in performing this service.

Scott's "Pathfinder"
Finds the Way

The mention of a Sixpenny stamp album recalls us to Scott's Monthly Journal from which we gather some interesting details of the way that broadcasting is being utilized in America for philatelic extension work. As a result of wireless talks coupled with an invitation to listeners to send for a free gift of an album and some stamps to make a start along the pleasant highroad of Philately, 15,000 people have applied to the Scott Stamp and Coin Co. for these self-starters.

It says much for the public spirit and the enterprise which we have long recognized about the present Scott firm that all these 15,000 people have been duly supplied. They have produced a special album -The Pathfinder-which goes with a packet of stamps and some hinges. They are now offering to philatelic propagandists these initial outfits for individual extension work at 10 cents an outfit, and for every ten purchased and given away they offer the extensioner another ten free.

"Is there any better way to bring pleasure and happiness to the youngsters about you? Or, is there any less expensive way to boom your favorite hobby?" they ask.

The questions are both to be answered in the polite negative. All credit is due to the Scott Stamp and Coin Co. in a magnificent lead to the trade in propaganda.

If dealers everywhere instead of trying to best each other, devoted their energies to spreading the Gospel of Philately they would quickly reap a rich reward.

-Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly.