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Rukov__ pro sb_ratele Hradcany
(Manual for Hradcany Collectors),
by Frantiàek Hamr and Ji_Ì Èkaloud, Svaz _eskách filatelistu ve
spoluprìci s _eskou poàtou
(Union of Czech Philatelists and the Czech Post, PragueÛ1998)
None of our readers
need be told that the Hrad_any series is comprised of the first stamps
issued by Czechoslovakia. Nor do they have to be told that it is a long
series much beloved by collectors of Czechoslovak stamps everywhere.
In fact this series was recently the subject of an exhibit in Japan.
Nor do they need to be told that it is a series much studied because
of its interesting variations in paper, color, perforations, plate flaws,
damaged and repaired plates as well as interesting usages. This issue
has also been the subject of several good monographs and hand¡books.
So why do we need another one, you ask.
Whether another handbook
is needed can be debated. Probably not for the average collector, but
for the advanced collector interested in Hrad_any there is never enough
information. Hamr and Èkaloud have made a useful contribution to the
study and collecting of the Hrad_any series. They have taken this large
subject and organized it into two main sections, each with 17 sub sections.
The first section is the basic information on the stamps, their design,
printing, paper, colors, perforations, unissued stamps, counterfeits,
uses, stationary, covers, perfins, cancellations, statistics, postal
rates, and references. The second half is just as detailed, but here
the authors deal with pricing these stamps in all their variations.
The book extensively
illustrates the main retouches (repairs), joined types and the currently
much in vogue, column types. These illustrations show the specific stamps
by plate position and describe their differences in detail. Another
aid to the collector are the detailed tables covering the many variations
considered. The cancellation types used on Hrad_any stamps are also
fully illustrated. Especially useful to me are the illustrations of
the postal stationery bearing the Hrad_any stamps.
Unfortunately the
text is in Czech. There is a useful summary in English and German, but
in my view it is much to short. Nevertheless, this handbook will be
useful even to the non-Czech speaker because of the tables and illustrations.
And with the help of the SocietyÌs Glossary of Philatelic Terminology
even the more detailed texts should be manageable.
The authors promise
a similar companion volume which will cover the Hrad_any stamps with
over prints, like the first air mail series, postage dues, and stamps
used in the plebiscite territories. This companion handbook is scheduled
to be available in time for the Brno 2000 exhibition.
The Society book sales
program has a few copies of Manual for Hrad_any Collectors
available for $10.00 post paid.
Jaroslav J Verner
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