Alfred Lichtenstein (philatelist)
Encyclopedia
Alfred F. Lichtenstein was one of the most famous American philatelists
.
stamp
collections were one of the most complete, with a passion for stamps issued before 1870. He collected stamps issued by Canadian provinces and the Confederation of Canada
, Switzerland
, Cape Colony
, Ceylon, Gambia, Mauritius
, Argentina
and Uruguay
. Considering the postal history of the United States, his collection was a reference for "Western Express".
He was an active member of the Collectors Club of New York
which was developed by Lichtenstein and his friend Theodore Steinway. He was also a member of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
.
An international philatelic judge during three decades, he was the commissioner of international philatelic exhibitions of 1913, 1926 and 1936 (the last two in New York). When he died, he was preparing the Centenary International Stamp Exhibition (CIPEX) of 1947.
Lichtenstein exhibited the Buenos Aires “barquitos” tete-beche pair at the 1940 exhibition held at The Collectors Club of New York to commemorate 100 years of postage stamps. When he died in New York City
in 1947 (also his birthplace) and his daughter, Louise Boyd Dale, continued his philatelic legacy, it was assumed that she had possession of the pair.
In March 1945 in New York City, Theodore Steinway, others philatelists and Lichtenstein founded the Philatelic Foundation
. It is a non-profit educational institution whose goals are philatelic expertise, research and publications. After 1947, his daughter Louise Boyd Dale continued to support the foundation.
His stamp collections and those of his daughter were sold during auctions at Harmer's between 1968 and 1971, between 1989 and 1992, and in 1997.
, the major British philatelic distinction.
In 1948, the American Philatelic Society
added him to its Hall of Fame list of the most important deceased philatelists.
In 1952, the Collectors Club of New York
created a philatelic award called the Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award
. Theodore Steinway was the first person to receive this prize for his work in developing philately. In 1996, this club named Lichtenstein "the Outstanding American Philatelist" of the first half of the 20th Century.
, also a philatelist.
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
.
Biography
Alfred Lichtenstein's classicClassic stamp
A classic stamp is a postage stamp of a type considered distinctive by philatelists, typically applied to stamps printed in the early period of stamp production, e.g., before about 1870. However, as L. N. Williams puts it, "the term has never been satisfactorily defined"...
stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
collections were one of the most complete, with a passion for stamps issued before 1870. He collected stamps issued by Canadian provinces and the Confederation of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, Ceylon, Gambia, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. Considering the postal history of the United States, his collection was a reference for "Western Express".
He was an active member of the Collectors Club of New York
Collectors Club of New York
The Collectors Club of New York, often referred to as the Collectors Club, is a private club and philatelic society in New York City. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest existing philatelic societies in the United States...
which was developed by Lichtenstein and his friend Theodore Steinway. He was also a member of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada is the premier philatelic organisation in Canada. It is a member of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie and the Federation Inter-Americana de Filatelia ....
.
An international philatelic judge during three decades, he was the commissioner of international philatelic exhibitions of 1913, 1926 and 1936 (the last two in New York). When he died, he was preparing the Centenary International Stamp Exhibition (CIPEX) of 1947.
Lichtenstein exhibited the Buenos Aires “barquitos” tete-beche pair at the 1940 exhibition held at The Collectors Club of New York to commemorate 100 years of postage stamps. When he died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1947 (also his birthplace) and his daughter, Louise Boyd Dale, continued his philatelic legacy, it was assumed that she had possession of the pair.
In March 1945 in New York City, Theodore Steinway, others philatelists and Lichtenstein founded the Philatelic Foundation
Philatelic Foundation
The Philatelic Foundation is a philatelic organization granted a charter in 1945 by the University of the State of New York as a Nonprofit Educational Institution.-Location:...
. It is a non-profit educational institution whose goals are philatelic expertise, research and publications. After 1947, his daughter Louise Boyd Dale continued to support the foundation.
His stamp collections and those of his daughter were sold during auctions at Harmer's between 1968 and 1971, between 1989 and 1992, and in 1997.
Tributes
In 1927, Alfred Lichtenstein signed the Roll of Distinguished PhilatelistsRoll of Distinguished Philatelists
The Roll of Distinguished Philatelists is a philatelic award of international scale, created by the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain in 1921...
, the major British philatelic distinction.
In 1948, the American Philatelic Society
American Philatelic Society
The American Philatelic Society is the largest nonprofit stamp collecting and organization of philately in the world, with almost 44,000 members from 110 countries...
added him to its Hall of Fame list of the most important deceased philatelists.
In 1952, the Collectors Club of New York
Collectors Club of New York
The Collectors Club of New York, often referred to as the Collectors Club, is a private club and philatelic society in New York City. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest existing philatelic societies in the United States...
created a philatelic award called the Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award
Lichtenstein Medal
The Lichtenstein Medal, also known as the Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately is given annually to a living individual for outstanding service to philately.-Origin:...
. Theodore Steinway was the first person to receive this prize for his work in developing philately. In 1996, this club named Lichtenstein "the Outstanding American Philatelist" of the first half of the 20th Century.
Personal life
Lichtenstein married Anne Boyd, and they had one child, Louise Boyd DaleLouise Boyd Dale
Louise Boyd Dale was a philatelist and the daughter of fellow philatelist Alfred F. Lichtenstein.Born in New York City, she was raised as a stamp collector from an early age in the environment of her father’s rare collections and numerous prominent philatelic friends, she herself became a...
, also a philatelist.