Philatelic Trivia

I thought I had posted this earlier but I guess it didn't "take."

Who is John Paul Keller?

He is well known in certain philatelic circles and to probably even more non-philatelists.

Hit Man!

Lawrence Block's Stamp Collector
John Paul Keller is addicted to the unruly passion of stamp collecting. It's the thing that forms a bond with his past and helps him forget his troubles. Keller visits stamp shops around the country on his travels, and sometimes drops into some of the tonier Manhattan auction houses

At home Keller reads "Linn's," works on his albums, and sorts through approvals from his favorite dealer in Maine. He spends days hinging stamps because he can. He's unattached and he takes long vacations between jobs, not because he wants to but because contract killers have to be careful.

Lawrence Block

It sounds like you may just have browsed the Internet a little bit!

You're absolutely right. Block just wrote a 12,000 word novelette and gave it to the ASDA to publish in it's magazine American Stamp Dealer & Collector. Keller fulfills a "contract" between bids at an auction in Dallas.

The first half was in this month's issue. The second half will be out next month.

Cool!

You know, now that I think about it, some of the old geezer dealers I've dealt with over the years were probably retired hit men!

I am needing to read his books. I have seen the signed first day edition. A stamp collector had brought it to a club meeting. This collector also collects first edition books. The series seems like it would be a good read & John Paul Keller is an intriquing character.