Handbooks
New ATA Handbook: Wild Cats in Art
February 8, 2011
The American Topical Association is releasing its 161st handbook on topical collecting at APS AmeriStamp in Charleston. The title of the newest
handbook is Wild Cats in Art. Authored by Greg Balagian, it is the first multi-part book released by the ATA. Extensive in detail, it
includes both Scott and Michel numbers for listed stamps.
The new ATA handbook will be of special interest to collectors of art on stamps as well as those interested in feline philately. Wild Cats consists of 357 pages, size 8.5"x11", with more than 2500 high-quality color illustrations. Stamps from 220 countries are listed and illustrated. Hundreds of illustrations have accompanying vignettes that show the details of the felines in the art work of the stamps.
Balagian is a noted philatelist and has exhibited "Big Cats and Humans," where he showcased the representation of felines in art, religion, literature, entertainment, heraldry and astrology. This book is a natural extension of his interest and expertise.
The graphic designer for the latest ATA handbook is Amanda Morgenstern, a young American philatelist with a BA (Honors) in Graphic Design and an MA in Typographic Design from Cambridge School of Art in the UK. Morgenstern began her career with Hallmark Cards in the UK and is now a freelance designer. Her clientele includes the ATA as well as other U.S. and international entities. In 2009, her work for a client won a Platinum MarCom award. Morgenstern's online portfolio can be found at http://abovevivid.carbonmade.com/
The professional printing of Wild Cats in Art was done by Minuteman Press of Toledo, Ohio, which is donating a copy of the handbook to the American Philatelic Society. Presentation of newly-printed copies of the book, to the author and Ken Martin, Executive Director of APS, is occurring at an ATA Member Roundtable meeting at APS AmeriStamp in Charleston on February 12, 2011. View a sample page from Wild Cats in Art
The price of the new handbook is $75 ($72 for ATA members), plus $3.50 domestic postage. Copies will be available later this year at ATA society tables at the National Topical Stamp Show in Milwaukee, APS StampShow in Columbus, the ASDA National Stamp Show in New York, and Chicagopex. A limited number of books has been printed. After the initial printing will be sold, print-on-demand books will be available at an approximate cost of $90, domestic delivery included.
Orders for the new ATA handbook may be made by check sent to ATA, PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008, by MasterCard/Visa/Discover called or faxed to the ATA Central Office at 618-985-5100, or by PayPal to americantopical@msn.com
New Handbook: Barack Obama on Worldwide Stamps
June 2010
The American Topical Association released its 160th handbook on topical collecting in Denver at the National Topical Stamp Show. Released in
June, the new handbook is the seventh in the long-running series written by Melvin Morris. The new handbook will be of special interest to
collectors of Americana, U.S. Presidents, Black history on stamps, and politically-related philatelic issues. It covers the period of time
between Obama's announcement of his intent to run for U.S. President and his selection as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in late 2009.
Obama consists of 96, fully color illustrated pages, with eight short chapters and 113 high-quality illustrations. Stamps from 30
different countries are listed and illustrated. Chapter titles include "Senator Obama's, Free Franks," "Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize," "The Coming
of 'Bo' Obama," and "Michelle Obama Stamps." This handbook will be a fine visual reference for philatelic bookshelves. Morris was the editor of
Americana Philatelic News, newsletter of ATA's Americana Unit, from 1992 thru 2009. He is a
retired high school and college teacher and was an editor for Grolier's Encyclopedia International. His collecting interests include the
U.S. Presidents and also dogs on stamps. His brief biography in the Obama handbook relates the story of how he collected stamps before he was
born!
Orders for the new ATA handbook should be sent to ATA, PO Box 8, Carterville,IL 62918-0008 for payments by check or money order. MasterCard, Visa, Discover and PayPal orders can be called into the ATA Central Office at 618-985-5100 or to americantopical@msn.com.
