H.e. Harris & Co. -- A Bit Of Nostalgia

I came across these packets in one of the boxes that housed my father's collection (he gave it to me two weeks ago). A few other SCF threads discuss Harris but none address this "Adventures with Postage Stamps" series which struck me as a great way to convey the linkage between the stamp and its historical background.

These twelve packets are still sealed but one duplicate was opened so I've included images of its content. Judging from the copyright date on the insert, H.E. Harris was distributing these in the mid- to late-1930s.






Sadly, Whitman Publishing's H.E. Harris line doesn't carry a modern day equivalent. Any thoughts on how to expose today's youth to philately through a Wii, Xbox or PlayStation?

What a great find. You should have plenty of fun going through those packets.




Butch

Wow! Those are certainly old-timers!

While not nearly as old, these circa-1976 packets were also popular in later years. I don't believe they produce these anymore, either. (I've scanned a couple of samples of stamps in the packet, too.):

I can remember buy many H.E. Harris 10 cent packets at Woolworths and Duckwalls stores in the early 1960's.

Here are two more unsealed packets that are probably of the type sold at Woolworth's in the 1960s and 70s.



I'm also finding this 1958 Harris catalog to be quite entertaining -- that year you could buy an unused set of Zeppelins (C13-16) for $110. At those prices, KirkS could have completed his large bank note set with a used 153 and 155 for $14.35 and StampVirgin could have gotten a 187 with full OG for only $14.75!

Oh Tom, if only ....

yeah, if only..

my main US postal albums are 2 HE Harris Albums, the first one covers beginning - 1991, the second one covers 1992-2010
All my revenues and BOB stuff are in separate 3-ring binders..

Does anyone have (or know where one is available) a 1950's Harris catalog like the one pictured? That little catalog sure brings back a lot of memories. I would say that I wish I had kept the ones I had, but I am sure that the drool on them would have sent them to an early grave.

i still might have one or two of those lying around.

You mean you didn't send them all to me