Victor E. Engstrom
Encyclopedia
Victor E. Engstrom was a philatelist
known for his knowledge and collections of stamps of Nordic countries
.
He was an Army veteran of World War II with the rank of colonel and served in military intelligence. He graduated from Lehigh University
in 1936. He retired as president of a major building firm founded by his father.
s and postal history
of Nordic countries and their possessions. He had a world famous reputation for his knowledge and collection of postage stamps and postal history of the Danish West Indies
.
, where he established the Danish West Indies Study Unit and wrote extensively on the Danish West Indies in the unit’s journal. He was also editor-in-chief of the three volume Danish West Indies Mail 1754-1917, published from 1979 to 1982. Engstrom served various posts at the Scandinavian Collectors Club, including the office of president. He also edited the club’s journal, The Posthorn.
. In 1975, he received the World Series Champion of Champions from the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame
. He received the Earl Grant Jacobson Award for research, the Carl Pelander Award for outstanding service, and the Eugene Klein Research Award from the American Philatelic Congress. He was honored by the United States Classics Society and received the Luff Award
for Distinguished Philatelic Research in 1996. In 1997, he received the Distinguished Philatelist Award from the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society
. He was named to the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame
in 2002.
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...
known for his knowledge and collections of stamps of Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
.
Background
Victor E. Engstrom came from Montclair, New JerseyMontclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
He was an Army veteran of World War II with the rank of colonel and served in military intelligence. He graduated from Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
in 1936. He retired as president of a major building firm founded by his father.
Collecting interests
Victor Engstrom was a student of postage stampPostage 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...
s and postal history
Postal history
Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of postage stamps and covers and associated material illustrating historical episodes of postal systems...
of Nordic countries and their possessions. He had a world famous reputation for his knowledge and collection of postage stamps and postal history of the Danish West Indies
Danish West Indies
The Danish West Indies or "Danish Antilles", were a colony of Denmark-Norway and later Denmark in the Caribbean. They were sold to the United States in 1916 in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies and became the United States Virgin Islands in 1917...
.
Philatelic activity
Victor Engstrom was a member of the Scandinavian Collectors ClubScandinavian Collectors Club
The Scandinavian Collectors Club is a United States-based philatelic society dedicated to the collection and study of the postage stamps and postal history of the Scandinavia region, including the geographical regions of Åland, Aunus, the Danish West Indies, Denmark, the Faroes, Finland, Greenland,...
, where he established the Danish West Indies Study Unit and wrote extensively on the Danish West Indies in the unit’s journal. He was also editor-in-chief of the three volume Danish West Indies Mail 1754-1917, published from 1979 to 1982. Engstrom served various posts at the Scandinavian Collectors Club, including the office of president. He also edited the club’s journal, The Posthorn.
Selected works
- Danish West Indies Postal Stationery (The Scandinavian postal stationery lexicon)(Scandinavian Scribe. 1971)
- Danish West Indies Mails, 1754-1917. Volume I: Postal History (Scandinavian Printing and Publishing Company. 1979)
- Danish West Indies Mails, 1754-1917. Volume 2: The Postal Emissions(Scandinavian Printing and Publishing Company. 1981)
Honors and awards
Engstrom received numerous awards for his expertise and his dedication to the growth of the hobby of stamp collectingStamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
. In 1975, he received the World Series Champion of Champions from the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame
American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame
The American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame award honors deceased philatelists who have contributed significantly to the field of national and/or international philately.-History:...
. He received the Earl Grant Jacobson Award for research, the Carl Pelander Award for outstanding service, and the Eugene Klein Research Award from the American Philatelic Congress. He was honored by the United States Classics Society and received the Luff Award
Luff Award
The Luff Award is awarded by the American Philatelic Society for meritorious contributions to philately by living philatelists.-Established:...
for Distinguished Philatelic Research in 1996. In 1997, he received the Distinguished Philatelist Award from the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society
U.S. Philatelic Classics Society
The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society is a society dedicated to the study of United States postal issues and postal history from the Stampless era up to the Bureau Issues.-History:...
. He was named to the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame
American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame
The American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame award honors deceased philatelists who have contributed significantly to the field of national and/or international philately.-History:...
in 2002.