ATA NEWS

A Free National Stamp Convention is Coming to Denver  NTSS2010  

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                                                         PRESS RELEASE,  June 11, 2010

                                                         ATA Releases Five New DVDs

 The American Topical Association (ATA) has released five new multimedia presentations representing a variety of topics of interest to stamp collectors.  The DVDs are excellent for stamp club programs and for the enrichment of individual philatelists. Thirty DVD titles are now available from ATA.  Titles of the latest releases are:  Collecting the Presidents, My Eclectic Collection, Firemen on Stamps, Integrating the U.S. Navy, and When Presidents Die.

 Melvin Morris, a member of the Americana Unit of the ATA, provided the philatelic material used for Collecting the Presidents and When Presidents Die.  Mel's contributions to philatelic literature are well known.  He edited the Americana Philatelic News from 1992 until early this year, and also wrote six ATA handbooks related to the American presidents.  A seventh handbook will be released soon.

 Linda Geerlings, an artist and ATA member from Oregon, has contributed a lovely program called My Eclectic Collection.  Linda describes beautiful and interesting scented stamps and stamps made of unusual materials in this creative DVD.

 The Fire Service in Philately Study Unit of the ATA and its member Edward Flory have contributed Firemen on Stamps to the ATA's new releases.  It is a welcome addition to the philatelic literature on a popular collecting topic.

 Harvey Edwards, ATA member from Nevada, has written and illustrated a comprehensive DVD on Integrating the U.S. Navy.  Using both U.S. and international stamps along with covers and other philatelic material, Harvey brings history alive in the presentation.

 ATA DVDs are available to members and nonmembers alike for $10 each plus postage of $1.50 (U.S.), $1.75 (Canada/Mexico), or $2.25 (overseas).  Stamp clubs can lease the programs for $5 plus postage.  If more than one DVD is ordered, cost is $9 each.  Up to five DVDs can be shipped for the listed postage prices.  For a complete list of available DVDs, contact the ATA Central Office.

 The ATA Audio-Visual Program is conducted by Dennis Dengel of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., ATA Second Vice President.  Dennis is ably assisted by Harvey and Terri Edwards, who provide technical and narrative support.  Collectors who would like to share their collections through audio-visual means are asked to contact the ATA Central Office.

 All thirty DVDs in ATA's multimedia repertoire will be available at the National Topical Stamp Show in Denver, Colo., on June 25-27, and also at the ATA society table at APS StampShow in Richmond, Va., on Aug. 12-15.

 To contact ATA about the Audio-Visual program or to order DVDs, e-mail americantopical@msn.com, call 618-985-5100, or write to PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008.  

New Translation Service to be Available to ATA - UPDATE

Members of the American Topical Association (ATA), may submit requests for translation directly to the APS Translation Service. Please include your ATA membership number in your request. ATA members may request up to six items (short translations of less than 250 words each) per calendar year, after which, a US $5.00 fee will be assessed per additional item, in addition to any required fee by the translator and postage forwarding. The US $5.00 fee will be donated to the American Philatelic Society. The APS Translation Service can handle translations of for most major languages.

Bobby Liao, chairperson for the APS Translation Service advises that information for translation requests for ATA members is now available from the APS Website. Additional details on the types of philatelic items, languages, fees and request details are available from the APS website.

Mr. Liao's mailing address is: Mr. Bobby Liao, APS Translation Service. APS HQ, 100 Match Factory Place, Belfonte, PA 16823. .

Watercraft on Stamps II - Newest ATA Handbook!

Handbook #156

The newest handbook to be released by the American Topical Association (ATA) is Katherine A. Kirk’s, Watercraft on Stamps II (HB #156). This handbook picks up from where Watercraft on Stamps I (HB117) left off when written by this same author in 1991. This new work is 315 pages long in an 8 ½ X 5 ½ format with perfect binding. Twenty-four pages show a total of 92 illustrations in black and white, while twelve pages feature 52 illustrations in color.

The listings of stamps picturing different watercraft is based on stamps found in the 1999 Scott’s Catalog and are listed by country for easy identification. In addition to the stamp listings, there are write-ups of specific types of watercraft including dugouts, Viking Boats, Clipper Ships, and the Panama Canal.

A series of short articles on topics such as the first stamp showing ships, ships on stamps on stamps, the earliest stories of ship-building, navigation, maritime tall tales, St. Brendan and other Irish Sailors, Columbus, the two Mayflowers, the USS Constellation, Cape Horners, tall ships of today, famous liners of the past and submarines.

This new handbook is priced at $26 with ATA existing or new members receiving a $4 discount to $22. Joining the ATA in order to reduce the cost of this book would amount to getting a membership for $16 rather than the normal $20 for US addresses. A membership form can be found on their website listed below. Shipping prices are $3 to US addresses, $9 to Canada, and $12 for all other countries, pursuant to the new USPS pricing structures. Payment can be made by VISA, MasterCard, PayPal or a check on a US Bank in US Dollars.

Watercraft on Stamps I, (Handbook 117), which is 170 pages in length, has a selling price of $17 but can be obtained for an additional $10 with no additional increase of postage when ordered with Book 2.

Computers on Stamps and Stationery, Volume 2

ATA Handbook #152

Computers on Stamps and Stationery, Volume 2 by Larry Dodson has just been released by the ATA.  This book picks up from where Volume 1 left off in 1998.  The new 235 page, perfect bound handbook consists of information tying stamps and stationery to a variety of computer related subjects including: predecessors to the computer, contributors to computer development, methods of input and output, computer systems, inside the computer, computer applications, beyond stamps and postal stationery and changes from Volume 1.  Additionally, the author has furnished a list of appendices by country, a glossary, references and an Index of Computer issues by country.

This work is in 8 ½” by 5 ½” format.  There are several illustrations, some in color, throughout the book.  It is the intention of this handbook, when combined with Volume 1, to identify, in a logical manner, all stamps relating to computers.  Included are variations of color, perforations, and watermarks.  Overprints and surcharges are also listed.  In a number of cases, imperforates, deluxe sheets, black prints, and other varieties exist.  If varieties have their own catalog numbers, this handbook lists each of them. 

The book sells for $25.00. However existing and new members of the ATA receive a special price of $21.00.  Additionally, if Volume 1, listed at $17.00, is bought in conjunction with an order for this handbook, a special $8.00 price for this initial 160 page handbook is being asked. Postage for either Volume 1 or 2 individually or together is only $2.00 total in the US.  Postage to Canada is $3 for Volume 1, $4.00 for Volume 2 or $5 for both.  Elsewhere, the postage costs are $4, $5 and $7 respectively. 

John James Audubon on Stamps

By Lois Herrmann of the Biology Study Unit

ATA Handbook #151

Spiral bound in color, this book lists stamps picturing Audubon’s avian work from 65 countries. It includes a systematic listing of all 251 Audubon bird plates, identifying which ones appear on world-wide stamps.

33 pages. 8 ½ X 11

This new book is available now from the ATA Office for $16 to non-ATA members and $14 to members of the ATA. Add $2 for postage to US addresses; $3 to Canada and $4 elsewhere.  You may order this, and all other ATA Handbooks from this website. Just click the "Handbooks” button to the left under “Related Links”.

INSECTS ON STAMPS

By Donald Wright, Jr.

Handbook #150

480 pages of information, facts and checklists by Donald Wright, Jr.  Part 1 is a listing by country and part 2 lists these small life forms by Taxonomic Order and Family.

Handbook 149 - Plants on Stamps, Volume IV, by Alex Stansen and Jeane Gould. This 133 page work measures 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches and comes perfect bound, including several full color pages. It portrays actual plants on stamps starting in 1998 (where Volume III left off) and continuing through April, 2003. The 208 listed countries have issued approximately 4600 postage stamps on this subject during this timeframe. The handbook depicts scientific names, where identifiable, because (in the author's words) "common names were omitted because they were found to vary considerably in different parts of the world, and even within larger countries, such as the U.S." Not included in the listings are "quasi-botanical" items (stylized/symbolic designs, paintings, depictions on china, drawings, stained glass, etc.) and lower plant forms (including ferns, mosses, algae and fungi/mushrooms) since these are considered separate philatelic topics. Plants on stamps was considered the most popular topic collected by ATA members in a 2003 analysis of the membership's collecting interests. COST: $18 (for non-members) or $16 (for ATA members). Postage is an additional $2 in the US, $3 in Canada, or $5 everywhere else.

EXTRA BONUS: HB #118 (Orchids on Stamps) included FREE ($9 value) with every order placed.
See the "Internet Specials" page for more information.

Presidents on Stamps:
Two-for-One Offer

Is politics a driver in your life? Then why not consider collecting Presidents on Stamps? We have five books available now and will have a new one, Presidents of the 20th Century by the end of 2005.

You can buy HB #144 – The Roosevelts on Worldwide Stamps,(FDR) by Melvin Morris,Don Saddler and Dave Kent for $22 (less $2 for ATA members – or – HB #147, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and His Family on Worldwide Stamps, (JFK II) by Melvin Morris and Dave Kent for $22 ($2 off of ATA) then get either or both, George Washington on Stamps or Abraham Lincoln on Worldwide Stamps FREE! (one free book per book ordered). Each of these books was also written by Melvin Morris and each originally sold for $12 each.The Roosevelt and Kennedy hand- books run 104 and 124 pages each,respectively, with many illustrations in full color.

The Kennedy Handbook updates a previous ATA Handbook, #127 (JFK I) written by Don Brenke priced at $8 or only $6 for ATA members. Buy this book now for only $4, while supplies last. Don’t delay. Take advantage of this special offer now and build up your instant library of handbooks for US PRESIDENTS ON STAMPS. Send check, money order, VISA, MasterCard or PayPal to: American Topical Association – PO Box 8 – Carterville, Il 62918-0008 , (email) americantopical@msn.com .

Ten Year Index Handbook #142

The 10 year Index is packed with 193 pages of valuable topical information

Marilyn Shaftstall has created an index of 60 issues of Topical Time. This work lists articles, checklists and items of information that have been published in this journal from 1985 through 1994. The alphabetical subject list will let you quickly locate articles on your favorite topic. For example, there have been 70 articles referencing Music, 12 on Musical Instruments and 84 more on musicians and composers.

This 8½ X 11  inch, spiral bound Handbook, #HB142 is priced at $20, but

ATA members get a special price of just $16.00 plus postage of $2 (US), $4 (Canada), $5 (elsewhere). 

SPECIAL ATA CD OFFER!

We are offering the Railways CD for $25.00. The CD covers about 1100 pages and incorporates HB138 and all 5 supplements ($75.00 value on $58.00 sale value).

In addition: we will send you HB138 FREE if you buy the Railways CD and add postage shown for HB138.