Programs

movement. This stamp was to be released June 4, 1948, in Chicago, Ill. Depending on how soon Truman had second thoughts about his veto, this action left the BEP with no more than 41 days to design, approve, engrave, print and distribute the issue. It wasn’t even publicly announced until May 11 by Postmaster General Jesse M. Donaldson, less than one month before the stamp’s release date.

BEP artist Charles R. Chickering was tasked with designing the Swedish Pioneer stamp. His rendering, which was approved May 10, depicts a Swedish pioneer heading westward with oxen and a covered wagon. Two vertical columns of six stars each represent the 12 previously mentioned states. Full engraving of the design was completed in only a week, and the die proof was approved by PMG Donaldson on May 18. All printing (64.2 million stamps) was completed May 25-29, making the Swedish Pioneers issue one of the fastest-produced stamps in the history of the United States.

The 5¢ denomination, of course, was chosen to pay the then-current surface rate for lett ers mailed overseas – a rate that was in eff ect from 1875-1953! The blue color of the stamp followed the UPU color conventions.

Collectors Club Programs 2022-23

Dec. 7 Federacion InterAmericana de Filatelia Presentation, Yamil Kouri (Cuba), Guillermo Gallegos (El Salvador) Henry Marquez (Peru). Dec. 21 Special Holiday Program: Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, Randy Bergstrom, Dr. Mary Love, Irv Osterer, Greg Philipson

2023 Jan. 4 Director’s Cut: Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Elliot Gruber, Director Jan. 18 Philatelic Luminaries: Joseph Hackmey Feb. 1 One Thing Leads to Another: Using European Mails to Understand Transatlantic Mails, Rob Faux Feb. 15 United Postal Stationery Society Special Program: Australian Letter Cards, Didier LeGall; Early Postal Cards of Britain and Spain, Don Heller; U.S. Official Stamped Envelopes, Dennis Schmidt March 1 Champion of Champions Roundtable: Gordon Eubanks, Mark Schwartz, Alfredo Frohlich March 15 Zeppelin Milestones a Century Ago in the 1920s, Cheryl Ganz March 29 The Navigators – Commonwealth of Australia High Values, 1963-1974, Jonas Hällström April 19 Westpex Special Program, Behruz Nassre

April 26 American First Day Cover Society (AFDCS) Special Program

May 3 Scandinavian Collectors Club Special Program, Behruz Nassre

More details found at www.collectorsclub.org/events

Collectors Club Philatelist Volume 101, Number 6 327