Franklin Institute Donates Rare Stamp Collection

It is being reported (a bit belatedly) on the Huliq.com website that, "The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum has received a well-known stamp collection from the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The Harry L. Jefferys collection, which includes an inverted Jenny and numerous other philatelic rarities, was bequeathed to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in 1948 by insurance executive H.L. Jefferys. It has been in storage at the Institute for decades."

According to the report (which is based on an early April press release), "The Harry L. Jefferys collection consists of U.S. stamps, covers, proofs and essays and is particularly strong in the 1851-1857 issue. The collection includes full panes of the one-cent and three-cent 1851 issue and the twelve-cent 1857 issue, as well as scarce positions of the one-cent 1851 issue, including positions 7R1E and 99R2. The collection includes a three-cent 1851 issue with double impression and a four-cent Schermack Type III coil single. Also included are several printing errors, including plate position No. 2 of the 1918 inverted Jenny airmail stamp."

Cheryl Ganz, curator of philately at the National Postal Museum, is quoted as saying, "We are honored to include these new additions in our ever-growing collection. Items such as the intact panes of the 1851 and 1857 issue are quite rare, and the double impression of the three-cent 1851 issue is one of only three known copies-it is the one cited by Carroll Chase in his famous study of classic U.S. stamps."

Shown above, the April, 2006 unveiling of the four commemorative stamps
honoring Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday.

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