The Beginnings of Atlantic Stamps

I began collecting stamps on August 6, 1975, the very same day I came home from sleep away camp. While visiting the local stationary store on Main Street in my original hometown of Flushing, NY, I purchased a United States album, a package of used American stamps, and hinges, all for under $4. Over the next few years, I managed to fill about 600 spaces.

Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, there were numerous people who were very influential and guided me along that deserve special mention. I will try to recall as many as possible going forward.

Leo Hobbie collected the world in his Senior Statesman album, but was an enthusiast of United States and United Nations stamps. He would often visit the U.N. post office and enjoyed showing me the amazing stamps that he bought. Leo frequently invited me to join him and his son, Wayne, to visit the stamp shops in New York City and one time actually convinced my mom to let me take St. Patrick’s Day off from school! I remember the bitter cold and windy days as a kid, but wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Gene Post built phenomenal collections of both the People’s Republic of China and Russia. I only met him once and he was very kind to give me my first global stamp album, a red Aristocrat. It was evening when he dropped it off and my mom told me to look at it the following day since it was a school night. I told her yes, of course, but couldn’t resist looking the album over until very late into the night.

Neighbors Arnold Ackerman, who opened a briefcase of sheets from Egypt from the 1950’s and 1960’s, and always enjoyed trading his duplicates for mine. And his upstairs neighbor, Joe, who took immense pride in his collections of New Zealand and the Canal Zone, only purchasing the very best pieces to place in his stamp albums.

And to my high school friend, Chris Williams, who got to travel the world, always finding the time to visit a local post office for me and bring back stamps from Spain, Ecuador, and Colombia. I never got to visit those far away and majestic places but enjoyed seeing the beautiful photos and hearing many fascinating stories that accompanied them.

I have never forgotten those who were special and think back on all the amazing times along Francis Lewis Blvd and enjoying snacks at the D’Aquila Pastry Shop in Bayside, the Lemon Ice King in Corona, or hanging out in Woodside in New York City. There were always wonderful stories to share with special friends.

Stepping back a bit to 1985 when I was 22, I got to visit a stamp show at Madison Square Garden. This was my first real opportunity to see stamps from the British colonies and they were fascinating and beautiful. I stopped at one of the booths and met Larry Martin, of Crown Colony Stamps, of Bellaire, TX. He was one of the nicest people I have ever met. I purchased some of his items, including King George V sets from Barbados, Bermuda, and British Guiana, but the highlight of the day was a Canada 50c “Bluenose” schooner of 1929, in fine unmounted condition. This iconic stamp reminded me of the days I would sail with Chris and his grandfather, Mons Grinager of Briarcliff Manor, along the Hudson River, and would also later influence the naming of the Atlantic Stamp Company, which began in 2002.

In 1998, I purchased the 1933 sets of Basutoland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate from Aron Halberstam of Brooklyn, NY. The following year, after purchasing numerous British colonial issues from him, including the Rhodesia Arms issue of 1896-97, I was able to add a Ceylon 1927 100-rupee King George V, S.G. 360, to my collection. I never got to meet Aaron in person but am grateful for his kind friendship and the wonderful conversations with him by telephone.