The Collecting And Use Of Obsolete Vintage Stamp Albums Thread

Doc - What a great story! Funny you bring up magic. I grew up in a household where everything revolved around magic. My grandfather was a professional magician from the 1920's up until his death in 1961. He left a position in 1924 at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company where he had joined the Millionaires Round Table by selling over a million dollars in life insurance policies annually (no small feat in 1924) to follow his passion. His specialty was cards and other manipulations. He was also an expert at removing items from your person. Countless people would hear my last name and recall my grandfather having removed their wristwatch or wallet from their person on stage. Houdini and Thurston and Blackstone corresponded with him, and Houdini would stay at his house when he was in town. He was also a professional calligrapher. I have some of his framed works and they are stunning. Some of my favorite items are covers that were mailed to my father while he served in the Army Air Corps in WWII that are completely covered in amazing calligraphy. I will try and find them and post them here.

Sorry for the tangent to the topic but I just took a great trip down memory lane.

He should have met King Faroukh, who, aside from his liking for girls and oysters (possibly connected) was a stamp collector with magical gifts. During one meeting, he removed Churchill's watch.

That would be a BIG yes from me. I'm quite literally surrounded by books.

Great thread by the way

While I don't collect vintage albums I do like a vintage catalogue.

rog - thanks for sharing your memories...they're awesome !!
Houdini...I'm speechless...

"Rosabelle, believe"

Houdini's secret code with his wife Bess, to prove that there was an afterlife.
Bess conducted the annual séance for 10 years after his death, and the code was never transmitted. At some point the code was leaked, which made it pointless to use as a measure of proof.

Houdini, during his mortal life, exposed spiritualists as frauds...

John

Great thread, I have had a few pass through my hands just to get the stamps but the only one I still have is a 1897 Mekeel International. I find the graphics in old albums such as that far above the current offerings, but yes....the paper is a show stopper. I've also had the thought of copying the stamp issuing states that were strictly 1800's to modern paper for small specialty collections, German and Italian States, etc. Would not be filled much, but would be all inclusive and with illustrations. Alas, I'm not that saavy with the necessary programs. I did just purchase the Vintage Reproductions of the Browns to 1900, so maybe something along those lines will emerge.

1936 Scott International Airpost Album.
Hardbound.
Covers issues up to 1935.







John