The JOY of Philatelic Research

1. The JOY of Philatelic Research Presented by David L. Herendeen Institute for Analytical Philately, Inc Council of Philatelists, Smithsonian NPM 13 August 2011

2. Overview • Why Do Research? • What is Philatelic Research? • What Makes a Good Researcher? • Steps in Performing Research • A Real-World Example • Documenting Your Research • Possible Financial Support

3. A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLEThe Labuan Inverted Frame

4. The Labuan Inverted Frame • For more than 30 years, many auction catalogues in the U.K. and the U.S. said “only 6 or 7 of these stamps are known” • Suddenly, in 2004, an auction catalogue appeared that said “19 copies known.” • How could this happen??? • Who cares?

5. Why Do Research? • To satisfy our innate curiosity • To answer the unanswered questions • To share our knowledge with others • To correct past errors • To apply new techniques and perspectives to philatelic study • For personal glory and recognition

6. What is Research? - Our Favorite Research is the process of discovering new knowledge or the synthesis of existing knowledge into a form useful for a stated purpose through the application of systematic techniques and methods.

7. Is Philatelic Research… • A Science? …knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, as obtained and tested through the scientific method, and concerned with the physical world. • A Humanity? …branches of knowledge, such as philosophy, sociology, literature, and art, concerned with human thought and culture; the liberal arts.

8. Our Answer • It can be either a science, humanity, or both • Perhaps most similar to Anthropology which has two distinct parts: • Physical Anthropology, basically a “hard” science • Cultural Anthropology, for the most part a humanity

9. A Good Researcher is . . . • Most Importantly • Open-minded and Collaborative • Methodical, Careful, Organized, Logical • Exhaustive in Searching out Information • Hard working • Less Importantly • A Good Written Communicator • A Strong Philatelic Networker

10. Step in Performing Research How do we get our ideas and form them into a research project?

11. Two Major Methodologies Descriptive Analytical

12. Descriptive Methods • Studies of: • How and why post offices developed in a country • Impact of geopolitics on stamps or postal history • Implementation of UPU regulations • Economics of postal services • Studies of special postal services • Impact of military campaigns on Postal Service

13. Analytical Methods • Studies of: • Printing methods • Paper types and manufacturing processes • Perforation devices • Color • Applications of: • Optical sciences for color analysis • Chemistry of ink, paper and gum • Probability and statistics • Database technology

14. The Labuan Inverted Frame Generally analytical Census is a statistical enumeration Statistical inference to determine how many errors may have been printed

15. Sources Where do we find the information we need?

16. Sources • Philatelic Libraries and Collections • APRL • NPM • Rocky Mountain PL • RPSL • Public Libraries • Major Cities • Library of Congress • Archives • Washington, DC • British Library • Musée de la Poste • Colleagues • Other scholars • First-hand accounts • The “Network” • Internet

17. Knowledge Base The KNOWLEDGE BASE is the synthesis of all data and information on your subject. From these data, one develops the research thesis and proves the hypothesis.

18. The Labuan Knowledge Base? • Collectors owning copies • Philatelic network • Literature search ( Journals ) • Auction catalogues • Major dealers • Expertizing organizations • RPSL, BPE, PF, APEX

19. Getting Started • Do you have a question about your field that no one seems to have answered? • Have you searched the body of literature to see if your question has already been answered? • Do others in your field care about the question (and answer)? • Do you think you know the answer? THEN…

20. Getting Started • Formulate your hypothesis: • What are the exact questions? • What would it take to prove your hypothesis? • Assemble your sources • Use “outside readers” at all times as a “sanity” check of your ideas • Avoid some of the classic pitfalls • Select the best medium for sharing your results

21. The Labuan Inverted Frame • Hypothesis: • It is possible to perform a comprehensive census ofthis rare stamp? • Is it possible to reconstruct multiples? • Can a statistical analysis be used to perhaps determinehow many errors may have been printed? • Built database of samples • Find qualified outside readers

22. Pitfalls in Research Real-world example of a problem to be avoided

23. Pitfalls • Second-hand sources, which provide no quantitative information, may have been garbled in transmission and then repeated in various philatelic publications for many decades. • Previous researchers (if any) were neither careful nor exhaustive in their approach. • Erroneous conclusions may have been drawn from sketchy data

24. The Labuan Inverted Frame • The report of Sir Denny Bacon’s 1928 presentation of the King’s Labuan collection to the Royal Philatelic Society, London said: • “In conclusion, Mr. Bacon remarked that only six stamps were to be found in the whole of the British Empire issues with the head or frame inverted, of which this Labuan stamp shown was one of them.” • LP, 1928

25. Moral of the Story • Remember Fox Mulder of the X-Files? • Use his skeptical approach: TRUST NO ONE THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

26. Disseminating your Research Once you have performed your research project, how do you publicize it?

27. Disseminating Your Research • Write articles for specialty journals • Write and publish a book • Write articles for the press • Create an internet site • Create a database or other software application • Present talks and seminars • Many of the above!

28. Major Publication Venues • Collectors Club Philatelist • The Congress Book • American Philatelist • London Philatelist • Books (CCC, CCNY, Rossiter, APS) • Other specialty journals

29. Selecting a Publication Medium • How “important” or “significant” is your work? • How large is the perceived audience? • What is your budget? • Can you obtain institutional support?

30. The Labuan Inverted Frame • Where to Publish • Article is obvious • But, length is problem • London Philatelist on point • Topic is important for Empire philately • Figures in color • Should reach 99% of those interested • Archival record of research

31. Possible Financial Support • Humanities (but not only) • National Postal Museum Scholarships • Scholarship partners • CSA, USSS, NAPEX, Washington 2006 • Now available throughout the year • Contact Tom Lera (LeraT@si.edu)

32. Possible Financial Support • Scientific • Institute for Analytical Philately, Inc. www.AnalyticalPhilately.org • Access to Centers of Excellence (WMU, RIT, Rutgers) • Strategic Alliance Partners (NPM, PF, USPCS, CSA) • Grants available at any time • Contact Dave Herendeen (dherendeen@aol.com)

33. Conclusion • Many philatelic “facts” seem to be settled, but in reality they are not. • You will make new discoveries if you examine a philatelically rich area in detail. • It takes dedicated time and effort to become the expert in any given area. • It is deeply satisfying to complete a project successfully. FINIS