Category: Tutorials

Historic Places, Tutorials

Pro Patria and Swiss Castles

Pro Patria, officially Stiftung PRO PATRIA Schweizerische Bundesfeierspende, is a Swiss patriotic and charitable organization. Its purpose is to give meaning to the Swiss National Day (Schweizer Bundesfeiertag in German, Fête nationale suisse in French, Festa nazionale svizzera in Italian, and Fiasta naziunala svizra in Romansh), August 1, by collecting donations to the benefit of social and cultural works of national public interest. Pro Patria … Continue reading Pro Patria and Swiss Castles

Mark Joseph Jochim1 Comment
Historic Events, Historic People, Tutorials

Mozart’s Linz Symphony

On November 4, 1783, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 was performed for the first time in Linz, Austria. The Symphony No. 36 in C major, K. 425, (known as the Linz Symphony) was written by Mozart during a stopover in the Austrian town on his and his wife’s way back home to Vienna from Salzburg in late 1783. The entire symphony was written in … Continue reading Mozart’s Linz Symphony

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Topicals, Tutorials

National Stamp Collecting Month: The Art of Engraving & Intaglio Printing

I am intrigued by the process of printing, whatever medium it may be reproduced upon, but my favorite method has always been images created from steel (or line) engraving and printed by intaglio (or recess) printing. This, of course, is the combination that produced so many of our classic postage stamps and is also seen on currency and prints or illustrations, mainly from the 19th … Continue reading National Stamp Collecting Month: The Art of Engraving & Intaglio Printing

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Topicals, Tutorials

National Stamp Collecting Month: The Magnifying Glass

Most lists of useful stamp collecting tools include some form of magnifying glass or loupe as essential to the collector. This is the primary tool for examining condition and authenticity of any stamp or philatelic material, particularly when at stamp shows or visiting your local stamp dealer. Philatelic writer Michael Baadke once wrote “though a magnifier doesn’t protect stamps from damage, it can protect you … Continue reading National Stamp Collecting Month: The Magnifying Glass

Mark Joseph Jochim2 Comments
Topicals, Tutorials

National Stamp Collecting Month: Stamp Tongs

There are a number of tools used by stamp collectors and philatelists. Aside from the stamps themselves, I would argue that the most essential item needed by a collector would be a good pair of stamp tongs —  the “tweezers” used to handle postage stamps. The jaws of stamp tongs are smooth in contrast to the striated jaws of the type of tweezers one might use … Continue reading National Stamp Collecting Month: Stamp Tongs

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Topicals, Tutorials

National Stamp Collecting Month: The History & Use of Stamp Albums

Today’s stamp is one of the best-known to portray a stamp album. Even more popular may be Scott #C16 issued by the Principality of Monaco in 1947, with its photograph of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt perusing his stamp albums. That stamp was featured on A Stamp A Day in April 2017; President Roosevelt’s varied stamp-related activities are found in a number of articles on … Continue reading National Stamp Collecting Month: The History & Use of Stamp Albums

Mark Joseph Jochim8 Comments
Topicals, Tutorials

National Stamp Collecting Month: Starting a Collection – Finding Stamps & Soaking Them

October is National Stamp Collecting Month in the United States and the Philippines and I’ve just been informed that it’s the same in Australia and Canada as well. Do other nations have similar month-long celebrations of our hobby and, if so, which months? Thailand, where I have lived for nearly 14 years, promotes stamp collecting throughout the year but especially on the anniversary of the … Continue reading National Stamp Collecting Month: Starting a Collection – Finding Stamps & Soaking Them

Mark Joseph Jochim1 Comment