As Flodden W. Heron aptly observed in a recent issue of the ARGONAUT, it is estimated by the Postal Department that one person out of every fifteen is interested in stamp collecting. There are over twenty-five journals issued exclusively for stamp collectors, and three hundred and two American newspapers maintain stamp departments. In addition sixty-four radio stations conduct regular stamp broadcasts. Book collectors constitute a much smaller group, and to date there has been no connection between these two enthusiastic armies of “acquisitioners.” To bring these two groups into closer cooperation, Mr. Heron recently suggested to the Pacific Philatelic Society of San Francisco the use of postage stamps of authors as association items for collected books. Investigation disclosed that postage stamps had been issued in honor of nearly one hundred authors.

He states that the idea occurred to him when coming into possession of a Stamp Case, invented by Lewis Carroll of “Alice in Wonderland” fame. It contained twelve pockets for stamps of different denominations. Progressively this gave birth to the thought of using stamps as association items in connection with first editions, artistically affixing them to fly-leaves, inside covers, or occasionally to title pages. Time will increase the scarcity or rarity of the stamps, and in some instances, as with certain bookplates, greatly enhance the value of the books to which they are affixed. Of course we must bear in mind that the number who collect stamps exceeds greatly those whose interest is in rare books. At the same time, many high school and college students and other groups, would like to collect books but cannot afford the prices of first editions. However, if postage stamps are classified as association items, thousands can buy books not first editions, but good reading copies. The inserting of proper stamps, will permit of book collecting on an inexpensive scale, because it is only necessary to watch dates, and acquire first-day “covers” for merely the regular price of the stamps. And as time goes on, these first issues will have increased value for book insertion, quite aside from their desirability to stamp collectors. For example, a copy of “Leaves of Grass,” issued by the Modern Library, with a first-day Whitman “cover” laid in, should fetch over double the cost of the book within a year after the stamp was issued. And this, in spite of the fact that a postage stamp in connection with a book can not be compared with an author’s inscription or presentation. It can be more likened to a bookplate, which has been added to the volume by some one other than the author. Two of Mr. Heron’s favorite authors are Lewis Carroll and Sir Walter Scott, and as he could find of them no existing postage stamps, he had two made, for his personal use, which serve as illustrations for this article. We feel certain that Mr. Heron will be glad to answer any question pertaining to book stamps on the part of those interested, if they will address their inquiries to him at Mills Building, San Francisco.

Temple Scott, rare book expert, died on Sept. 30th. in Edinburgh. Among his many activities, he had been adviser in the assembling of some of the notable private libraries of this country, including those of Jerome Kern, and the late William H. Woodin, former Secretary of the Treasury. The Kern collection was considered one of the most valuable ever gotten together in America, and in 1929 was sold at auction for $1,300,000. Also remembered are some of Mr. Scott’s outstanding purchases including the letters of Lord Chesterfield for which he paid $75,000, and the original text which Sir Walter Scott prepared for a definitive edition of his novels, and which set him back $150,000.

The first volume of Dr. Greg’s “Bibliography of the English Drama to 1640” is reported as ready. Information regarding it can be obtained from R. B. McKerrow, Picket Place, Wendover, Bucks, England.

Mrs. Nellie Dumont, widow of the minstrel king, Frank Dumont, died several months ago at her home, 1207 Green St., Philadelphia, Penna., where she had resided for 60 years. Mr. Dumont in his lifetime, possessed an unusually fine collection of theatrical material, and to this day, as far as we know, it has never been definitely established, just what became of it.

A list of old magazines and newspapers that are worth real money, in the February issue of THE COLLECTOR’S GUIDE.