Thanks to Ron Mitchell via the Virtual Stamp Club, I've learned that "Stan Cornyn and Murray Geller filled all the International albums that existed at the time (eleven) over about six years in the 1970s. Their story was reported by Cynthia Gorney in the Washington Post in an article called "They Collected the World." ...[It] was reprinted in Scott's Monthly Stamp Journal, July 1978, pp. 16-17 and 20-21."
The original Washington Post citation is "They Collected the World: The Herculean Effort for a Grand Total of 195,219 Stamps. In a Herculean Effort, They Collected the World." By Cynthia Gorney, Special to The Washington Post. Apr 26, 1978, B1-[B2?] (in the "STYLE Entertainment People Comics" section).
The collection was sold by Collectors Auction Service in four sales under the title "Cornyn - Geller All - World Collection": Part One, Countries A-F : March 1, 1978 ; Part Two, Countries G-M : August 1, 1978 ; Part Three, Countries M-R : November 1, 1978; and Part Four, Countries S-Z : March 15, 1979.
I've requested a copy of the Scott's Monthly reprint from the APS Library as well as the auction catalogs and will post more information later. If anyone knows of others who have completed a volume 1 (or more), please let me know.
The famous stamp collector Josiah Lilly said that there were 100,000 postage stamps he wanted for his collection and he succeeded in acquiring 77,000. My considerably easier target is 35,000 of the more common stamps from 1840-1940 contained in the Scott Blue International Album Volume 1. This blog will record my progress, provide general information about Classic era philately and hopefully encourage other "Blue" collectors.
2 comments:
This is a great idea for a blog. I have struggled with the same issues. I want to collect the whole world too, but of course a 42volume Scott International Album set is a bit daunting and pricey. Besides, I'm with you that I would have acres of blank pages! Stamps through about 1960 aren't too bad, but I want to collect modern stamps too. I'm still struggling with this. Just put them on blank pages? put them in Hanger cards? I am still trying to figure it out. I'm looking forward to your progress.
Thanks for the encouragement. Although obviously I've gone in a different direction, one of the most interesting exhibits I remember seeing at a stamp show was from a collector who unashamedly only collected the stamps that most interested him (or her). So a Cape of Good Hope triangle or US $1 Trans Mississippi could be next to a common stamp from this century if it were special to them. Although that approach had a lot of appeal, I'm such a pack rat that I know I need more focus.
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