u/OhioStampFan

Today I received the newest addition to my photo philately collection.

I bought this 1993 Fleetwood 2765 WORLD WAR II 1943 V-Mail - Letters From Around the World cover on eBay for $4.75, including the taxes and shipping.

According to the description on the rear of the cover:

““Frequent and rapid communication with parents, associates, and other loved ones strengthens fortitude, enlivens patrio-tism, makes loneliness endurable, and inspires to even greater devotion the men and women who are carrying on our fight far from home and friends." This statement from the U.S. Post Office Department was especially true during World War II when thousands of U.S. troops were shipped to every corner of the world. As the war escalated, the task of delivering mail between the U.S. and these often remote and "classified" locations grew increasingly difficult and more cumbersome Thus, V-mail was born. This new technology for sending mail, which carried the popular "V" for victory as part of its name, greatly trimmed the number of bulky mail bags that formerly occupied precious cargo space. To send a V-mail letter, the message was penned on a special form and directed to a postal facility. There the letter was opened, censored, reduced by a photographic process and recorded on film. It was the film, not the written letter, that was transported to its destination post office. One sack of V-mail weighing 45 pounds could replace 37 sacks of conventional mail weighing an astounding 2,575 pounds. At the post office, the filmed letter was enlarged on photographic paper. In the space of about 10 days, even a letter sent to a little-known location, would arrive at its intended destination. This boon to wartime mail delivery was also a great aid in boosting morale on both fronts, overseas and at home.”

I previously added a V-mail envelope to my photo philately collection. I’m excited to continue to do research and add additional pieces related to this important military use of photographic equipment in postal history.

Do you have any v-mail in your stamp collection? Tell me about it by commenting below.

I am a photographer of 40+ years and a recently resumed stamp collector. I am combining these interests through "photo philately," the collecting of stamps, postal history, and ephemera related to photography. This includes stamps depicting photography innovators (George Eastman) and famous photos (the Times Square "kiss" on VJ Day), photography advertising postcards (Kodak Girls, camera shops, et.c), and ephemera related to photography.

It is this last item about which I am posting here today. I am specifically researching Kodak processing mailers for my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590267544998) and blog (soon to be launched, www.photophilately.com).

I have a good foundational understanding of the topics/objects, and have been searching for examples on eBay. I am wondering if any of the collectors here have examples of Kodak processing mailers in your collection that you might share images of with me? Tell me why you collect them. What do they mean to you? What makes them unique?

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

While doing some photo philately research, I recently found this article from Linn's Stamp News that showcases a camera in a pictorial cancellation from 2023.

According to the article:

"The Aug. 24 [2023] US Postal Service Postal Bulletin included two Auburn, N.Y., postmarks honoring Vietnam veterans. The second pictorial postmark ... includes the text “Welcome Back Vietnam Vets” below a 35-millimeter camera with silhouettes of veterans in the lens."

Do you know of other postmarks or cancellations that fit the photo philately theme? This would include cameras, photography, or photographers.

Please let me know by commenting below.

Article link: https://www.linns.com/news/postmarks-for-the-wall-that-heals-vietnam-veterans

My latest photo philately eBay acquisition arrived today.

I added this unposted, vintage postcard of Eckerd’s Drugs in Columbia, SC (USA) to my collection. It shows the cigar counter at the drugstore and also pictures the photo section, as evidenced by the cameras and film on the right (just above the state name). I think it’s a nice addition, especially for $2.39 ($4.32 with tax and shipping).

Eckerd was, in the late 1970s the second largest drugstore chain in the United States. The chain was acquired by JCPenney in 1996, which later sold it to CVS.

Did you ever shop for film or cameras at an Eckerd drug store? Tell me about your experience by leaving a comment below.

I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of newest eBay purchase, a postally used postcard from Camera Craft. The postcard advertises the store in Morristown, NJ - my hometown. It is postmarked in 1960, and bears a 1954 3-cent Liberty stamp. The card is addressed to Morris Plains, NJ - a nearby town in which I also lived.

Camera Craft operated 18 stores throughout New York and New Jersey, according to the card. The Morristown store closed in 1969, according to a Google search, after it was destroyed in a large multi-alarm fire on February 18, 1969. This predates my birth.

I remember Sandrian Camera, which operated in Morristown from 1927 until 2014. Adding a Sandrian postcard or advertising cover is on my wish list.

My newest eBay photo philately acquisition is a postcard (mailed in 1915 with a 1914, #443, 1-cent Washington stamp) depicting the ANSCO Camera Works near Binghamton, NY (USA).

According to Google: Ansco was a major early American photographic company rooted in Binghamton, New York, tracing its origins back to 1842 as E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. It later merged with the Scovill & Adams Company to become the Anthony and Scovill Company (giving the name Ansco) and played a foundational role in the history of US photography.

In 1928, Ansco merged with the German chemical and photographic firm IG Farben / Agfa, operating as Agfa-Ansco through the 1930s.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the U.S. government seized control of Ansco due to its German parent company ties, removing foreign management and running it under treasury oversight until 1965. Later, it became part of GAF (General Aniline & Film).

I managed to purchase the postcard for $5.98. I like the vintage cars depicted on the card. I bought this one over several others, which depicted the building but didn’t look as nice as this card.

Do you have any ANSCO materials in your collection?

A new addition to my photo philately collection: a friend and work colleague was vacationing in Yosemite National Park. I provided him with an Ansel Adams stamp and asked him to buy me a postcard picturing Half Dome, Merced River at The Ansel Adams Gallery to match the stamp. Today my postcard arrived! It’s difficult for me to make out, but I *think* the cancellation depicts the Yosemite Valley. I’m disappointed that the cancel is smudged, but very pleased to have the card and stamp in my collection. Thanks, Bill!

Today's addition to my photo philately collection is this carte de visite (CDV) photo from Knapp & Marble studio in Syracuse, NY.

The back includes the photo studio's information and a 1862–1871 U.S. 2-cent Proprietary Revenue stamp (Scott #R13), featuring a portrait of George Washington. The stamps were originally used to pay taxes on items like medicine, cosmetics, playing cards, and photos during the American Civil War era.

I won this CDV on eBay for $7. This is the first CDV in my photo philately collection. I'll certainly be keeping my eyes out for other images with the 1-cent and 3-cent stamp values.

Do you have any CDVs with revenue stamps in your collection? Let me know by commenting below.

My most recent photo philately acquisition is this postally-used postcard depicting the Minolta Tower Centre & Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada.

The 14-cent “Great Americans Series" stamp depicts Julia Ward Howe, who was a prominent poet and abolitionist. She is most famous for writing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The stamp was issued in 1987.

The postmark in the card is from 1988.

I am just returned to stamp collecting in the last year. My interest include topical collections of baseball, Judaica, and photography on stamps. I am also slowly working on assembling a Mystic historic album. I’ll never have the budget to “complete a collection“. Nor do I want to invest in high grade stamps. I am most interested in the history behind the postage. I am considering putting together a select collection of “famous” stamps like Inverted Jenny, the Penney Black, etc. just for personal satisfaction.

What stamps would you include in a similar collection of reproductions? Is this idea even worthwhile?

Image for example only. I enter the HipStamp giveaway almost daily.

Among the stamps featuring famous photos that I’ve added to my collection is Scott #1371, the 1969 six-cent stamp showing “earth rise.” The image was made during the Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders.

I was thrilled to find this Hasselblad advertising postcard that features the photo and is posted with the stamp.

It is by far the most expensive interesting and most expensive item ($30) in my collection.

Do you have the earth rise stamp?

I’m a lifelong photographer who recently returned to stamp collecting.

Knowing I needed to narrow my stamp collecting focus (pardon the pun), I started a topical collection of stamps featuring cameras, photographers and photography inventors, and famous photographs.

Out of that initial effort, I expanded my collection to include an exploration of stamps, postcards, ephemera, and postal history that celebrate photography.

I’ve been enjoying researching the topic, searching for items, writing about my collection, and beginning to build out an online presence devoted to my new hobby.

If you’re interested in photo philately, too, and want to share your collection or trade items, please let me know.

I won eBay auctions for several different Kodak postcards in recent months.

This one is from the 1964-1965 World’s Fair in Flushing (Queens), New York, and depicts the Kodak Pavilion.

The caption states: “The most complete and colorful exhibit ever assembled to display photography’s impact on our lives will be housed in this two-level pavilion
topped by an 81-foot-high Picture Tower displaying the world's largest outdoor color prints.”

It carries a four-cent Lincoln stamp.

Have you seen this postcard before? Do you have other Kodak postcards in your photo philately collection? Let me know by commenting.

I won eBay auctions for several different Kodak postcards in recent months.

This one is from the 1964-1965 World’s Fair in Flushing (Queens), New York, and depicts the Kodak Pavilion.

The caption states: “The most complete and colorful exhibit ever assembled to display photography’s impact on our lives will be housed in this two-level pavilion
topped by an 81-foot-high Picture Tower displaying the world's largest outdoor color prints.”

It carries a four-cent Lincoln stamp.

Have you seen this postcard before? Do you have other Kodak postcards in your photo philately collection? Let me know by commenting.

One of the first stamps I purchased for my photo philately collection was the 1954 George Eastman 3-cent stamp (Scott #1062).

I’ve since added a 4-stamp block, an Artcraft first day cover that includes a Kodak information card, a maximum card postcard picturing George Eastman that includes a canceled stamp, and a 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter trading card honoring Eastman as a “mind that made the future.”

Do you have this stamp in your collection? What interesting variations do you have? Comment below to share your stamps or suggestions.

I’m a lifelong photographer who recently returned to stamp collecting.

Knowing I needed to narrow my stamp collecting focus (pardon the pun), I started a topical collection of stamps featuring cameras, photographers and photography inventors, and famous photographs.

Out of that initial effort, I expanded my collection to include an exploration of stamps, postcards, ephemera, and postal history that celebrate photography.

I’ve been enjoying researching the topic, searching for items, writing about my collection, and beginning to build out an online presence devoted to my new hobby.

If you’re interested in photo philately, too, and want to share your collection or trade items, please let me know.

I’m a lifelong photographer who recently returned to stamp collecting.

Knowing I needed to narrow my stamp collecting focus (pardon the pun), I started a topical collection of stamps featuring cameras, photographers and photography inventors, and famous photographs.

Out of that initial effort, I expanded my collection to include an exploration of stamps, postcards, ephemera, and postal history that celebrate photography.

I’ve been enjoying researching the topic, searching for items, writing about my collection, and beginning to build out an online presence devoted to my new hobby.

If you’re interested in photo philately, too, and want to share your collection or trade items, please let me know.