By Dennis Sadowski
Longtime stamp collector Michael Lynn continues sharing the joy of stamp collecting around the world.
Two years ago, to mark October as Stamp Collecting Month, we wrote about how Lynn, who lives in Wellington, sends free stamp collecting kits to people who request one. It’s his way to build interest in philately.
Lynn told me at a recent meeting of the Black River Stamp Club that he has surpassed mailing more than 1,600 kits throughout the United States and to 59 other countries to collectors young and old alike.
“I am always amazed when someone from a new country writes me asking for a kit,” he said.
There’s no marketing involved in the project he has named Michael’s Stamps. Word of Lynn’s endeavor spreads largely from person to person in the loosely connected stamp collecting network.
The words of gratitude Lynn has received from people getting the kits help drive his ongoing commitment.
The September issue of The American Philatelist magazine of the American Philatelic Society featured Lynn’s recap of his work. “I hope they have started many people along the path of collecting stamps,” Lynn wrote.
The kits include items from the thousands of duplicates in his collection as well as from donated material. Century-old stamps, more recent U.S. and foreign material, first-day covers and even one or two pieces of postal stationery can be found in a typical kit.
Lynn, 72, professor of Baroque flute and recorder and curator of musical instruments emeritus at Oberlin College’s Conservatory of Music, spends about 20 minutes assembling each kit. It’s time he still considers well spent as he strives to introduce the various facets of collecting to others.
He said he is considering looking at establishing the project as a nonprofit organization so he can deduct his expenses for postage and stock sheets totaling about $2,500 annually. The arrangement would help people who donate stamps or funds to be able to take a tax deduction as appropriate.
Having nonprofit status also would provide “a better setup” to allow the project to continue into the future, Lynn said. “I really want this to continue indefinitely and hopefully have a meaningful impact on building new collectors,” he added.
Interested in receiving a kit or know of someone who would like one? Send a request to usstamps@mac.com.
Cuy-Lor Stamp Club show
The Cuy-Lor Stamp Club hosts its annual show Oct. 30-31 at Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River.
Club president Alan Hanzl said the club’s 67th exhibition and bourse will feature 40 nine-page frames of exhibits, the most in more than three decades. Topics will span Czechoslovak history, U.S. postal stationery and stamps from around the world.
In addition, the show will welcome 13 dealers, host an area for new collectors of all ages and offer souvenir show covers for sale. The U.S. Postal Service is expected to be onsite offering the latest stamp releases including a wide range of issues for the upcoming holiday season covering Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza.
Parking and admission are free.
For more information, send an email to hanzlal@att.net.
Club meeting
The Black River Stamp Club will review plans for its upcoming show on Nov. 21 in Elyria during its next regular monthly meeting. The show’s theme is the centennial of Marilyn Monroe’s birth on June 1, 1926. She has been featured on stamps worldwide.
Members will gather Oct. 14 at the Avon branch of the Lorain Public Library, 37485 Harvest Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m. for socializing, buying, selling and trading with a business meeting and show discussion to follow. The evening ends with the usual monthly auction.
The club’s show in six weeks runs from noon to 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post 12, 393 Ohio St., Elyria. Email blackriver.stampclub@gmail.com for more information.
The meeting is open to anyone interested in stamp collecting or local postal history.
Dennis Sadowski can be reached at sadowski.dennis@gmail.com.