Lars
When you emailed the museum did you describe some the issues we've had with the downloadable pages or provide a link to the SOR threads? I've long thought this should be of interest (concern?) to museum staff. Well, I hope they'd care.
Jim
Almost goes without saying, this should be of real concern IF the displays at the museum are that error-filled.
"When you emailed the museum did you describe some the issues we've had with the downloadable pages or provide a link to the SOR threads?"
Perfect. Very diplomatic.
BTW, the Smithsonian is affected by the partial shutdown of the US government. Though its museums are open at least through January 1, lots of behind the scenes staff work has stopped. So I wouldn't expect a response any time soon.
Jim
"BTW, the Smithsonian is affected by the partial shutdown of the US government. Though its museums are open at least through January 1, lots of behind the scenes staff work has stopped. So I wouldn't expect a response any time soon."
Believe it or not, I received a reply today from the Collections Manager at the National Postal Museum in the Smithsonian.
She answered a few questions and promised to forward a few others to the curator when he returns after the shutdown, so that was a pleasant and unexpected surprise!
Here is a summary of her comments:
NORTH AMERICA
1. The notation for Antigua was previously corrected in the gallery exhibit.
2. Guatemala is still listed under Caribbean in the exhibit, but she is forwarding that to the exhibition staff for review.
EUROPE
1. The former USSR and satellites appearing under Romania instead of Russia was corrected in the gallery exhibit, but the images she sent me indicate that they put TRANSCAUCASIAN FEDERATED REPUBLICS as a precedent country to Russia, but I placed it in WESTERN ASIA with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. I haven't mentioned that yet. I was just glad everything else matched up!
AFRICA
1. Equatorial Guinea errors still exist in exhibit panels. She will forward comments to curator and exhibition staff for review.
ASIA
1. Mongolia and Sri Lanka - errors still exist in exhibit panels. She will forward comments to curator and exhibition staff for review.
==============================================================
I have more issues than that to raise, but I wanted to start with issues that are hard to debate first, then move into more controversial topics and invite them to decide for themselves if something needs to change. I'm just thrilled that they responded.
I am, however, rather saddened by the following:
We had noted that in Other selected entities – “ITALY – Italian offices in Jerusalem” is listed on page 120 and repeated on page 121
We had speculated that maybe on page 121 it should be an overall stamp for the Aegean Islands, or maybe the Island of Calchi (spelled Karki in Italian, and thus between "Dalmatia" and "Lero"). Maybe it should have something else we missed?!?!?
Nope. In a realization as dramatic as learning there is no Santa Claus, I learned that “ITALY – Italian offices in Jerusalem” on page 121 wasn't a typo but a remnant. The Collections Manager sent me an image of the page in the exhibit showing that item gone from that page - not replaced by something else. So I suppose the takeaway is you can delete it or replace it with ANYTHING and still remain true to the Smithsonian exhibit.
I will post more info after the shutdown if I am able to find out more.
Happy New Year!
Lars
I just visited the gallery. The one-of-each collection is on heavy boards that take some effort to pull out of the wall. I was glad that they have not adopted a broader definition of countries. Their format focuses attention on the stamps they have, rather than on the numerous inconsistencies noted in this thread.
I'm glad someone here got to see it! If I am ever in DC I plan to visit myself.
Did you happen to look at the panel with Switzerland?
I did look at the Switzerland panel. I had to go back a second time to find it. There was a note that the cantonal issues were excluded because they were on display in a separate exhibit on world rarities on the other side of the room.
Interesting that they were pulled out of the exhibit to use in an alternate exhibit. I am hopeful of getting a chance to visit the exhibit in the next year or two along with the APS headquarters to look at the stamp albums in the American Philatelic Research Library as part of a major road trip. Current target is September of 2021 after my son finishes college and finances allow following the end of tuition payments. Of course, just mentioning it may jinx the idea.
"I did look at the Switzerland panel. I had to go back a second time to find it. There was a note that the cantonal issues were excluded because they were on display in a separate exhibit on world rarities on the other side of the room."
I was finally able to get a complete PDF file of the Smithsonian panels. I will be posting updates to the various categories soon, but if anyone wants a copy of the PDF from Smithsonian, please let me know.
I do want to reply to something Greaden wrote:
"I was glad that they have not adopted a broader definition of countries. Their format focuses attention on the stamps they have, rather than on the numerous inconsistencies noted in this thread."
If anyone has plans to visit the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., if possible get a photo of each of the 50 frames of the "A Stamp for Every Country" exhibit in the Stamps Around the Globe room. I have emailed the Smithsonian to ask if they have those images available, but I have not heard back from them yet. There are some obvious errors in the printable pages inspired by those frames, and it would help a lot to see the original frames to determine how to make corrections to the downloadable pages.
See the "Stamp For Every Country" threads if you want more background info, but if anyone plans to go to DC and visit the museum, your help would be greatly appreciated!
Lars
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
Lars
When you emailed the museum did you describe some the issues we've had with the downloadable pages or provide a link to the SOR threads? I've long thought this should be of interest (concern?) to museum staff. Well, I hope they'd care.
Jim
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
Almost goes without saying, this should be of real concern IF the displays at the museum are that error-filled.
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
"When you emailed the museum did you describe some the issues we've had with the downloadable pages or provide a link to the SOR threads?"
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
Perfect. Very diplomatic.
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
BTW, the Smithsonian is affected by the partial shutdown of the US government. Though its museums are open at least through January 1, lots of behind the scenes staff work has stopped. So I wouldn't expect a response any time soon.
Jim
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
"BTW, the Smithsonian is affected by the partial shutdown of the US government. Though its museums are open at least through January 1, lots of behind the scenes staff work has stopped. So I wouldn't expect a response any time soon."
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
Believe it or not, I received a reply today from the Collections Manager at the National Postal Museum in the Smithsonian.
She answered a few questions and promised to forward a few others to the curator when he returns after the shutdown, so that was a pleasant and unexpected surprise!
Here is a summary of her comments:
NORTH AMERICA
1. The notation for Antigua was previously corrected in the gallery exhibit.
2. Guatemala is still listed under Caribbean in the exhibit, but she is forwarding that to the exhibition staff for review.
EUROPE
1. The former USSR and satellites appearing under Romania instead of Russia was corrected in the gallery exhibit, but the images she sent me indicate that they put TRANSCAUCASIAN FEDERATED REPUBLICS as a precedent country to Russia, but I placed it in WESTERN ASIA with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. I haven't mentioned that yet. I was just glad everything else matched up!
AFRICA
1. Equatorial Guinea errors still exist in exhibit panels. She will forward comments to curator and exhibition staff for review.
ASIA
1. Mongolia and Sri Lanka - errors still exist in exhibit panels. She will forward comments to curator and exhibition staff for review.
==============================================================
I have more issues than that to raise, but I wanted to start with issues that are hard to debate first, then move into more controversial topics and invite them to decide for themselves if something needs to change. I'm just thrilled that they responded.
I am, however, rather saddened by the following:
We had noted that in Other selected entities – “ITALY – Italian offices in Jerusalem” is listed on page 120 and repeated on page 121
We had speculated that maybe on page 121 it should be an overall stamp for the Aegean Islands, or maybe the Island of Calchi (spelled Karki in Italian, and thus between "Dalmatia" and "Lero"). Maybe it should have something else we missed?!?!?
Nope. In a realization as dramatic as learning there is no Santa Claus, I learned that “ITALY – Italian offices in Jerusalem” on page 121 wasn't a typo but a remnant. The Collections Manager sent me an image of the page in the exhibit showing that item gone from that page - not replaced by something else. So I suppose the takeaway is you can delete it or replace it with ANYTHING and still remain true to the Smithsonian exhibit.
I will post more info after the shutdown if I am able to find out more.
Happy New Year!
Lars
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
I just visited the gallery. The one-of-each collection is on heavy boards that take some effort to pull out of the wall. I was glad that they have not adopted a broader definition of countries. Their format focuses attention on the stamps they have, rather than on the numerous inconsistencies noted in this thread.
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
I'm glad someone here got to see it! If I am ever in DC I plan to visit myself.
Did you happen to look at the panel with Switzerland?
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
I did look at the Switzerland panel. I had to go back a second time to find it. There was a note that the cantonal issues were excluded because they were on display in a separate exhibit on world rarities on the other side of the room.
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
Interesting that they were pulled out of the exhibit to use in an alternate exhibit. I am hopeful of getting a chance to visit the exhibit in the next year or two along with the APS headquarters to look at the stamp albums in the American Philatelic Research Library as part of a major road trip. Current target is September of 2021 after my son finishes college and finances allow following the end of tuition payments. Of course, just mentioning it may jinx the idea.
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
"I did look at the Switzerland panel. I had to go back a second time to find it. There was a note that the cantonal issues were excluded because they were on display in a separate exhibit on world rarities on the other side of the room."
re: Smithsonian Stamp Gallery
I was finally able to get a complete PDF file of the Smithsonian panels. I will be posting updates to the various categories soon, but if anyone wants a copy of the PDF from Smithsonian, please let me know.
I do want to reply to something Greaden wrote:
"I was glad that they have not adopted a broader definition of countries. Their format focuses attention on the stamps they have, rather than on the numerous inconsistencies noted in this thread."