Collectors Club of Chicago
Members’ and Guest Speakers’ Exhibits

The CCC exhibits gallery includes award-winning name collections assembled by CCC members and other prominent philatelists, the latter representing guest speakers who have conducted their presentations during the monthly CCC General Meetings.

Baltic Area Military Mail: Allied Forces in the Baltic Area in the Aftermath of World War I
Canada: Canadian 1972-1978 Definitives - The ‘Caricatures’ and ‘Landscapes’ Issues
Ceylon: Money Order and Savings Bank Postmarks of Ceylon
Ceylon: Postal and Revenue Evidence of Ceylon’s 1836-1910 Evolution from Coffee to Tea
Ceylon: 1864-1903 Ceylon ‘Too Late’ Markings
Ceylon: The Evolution of Slave Island, Ceylon, and its Postmarks
Germany: Allied Plebiscite Activities in Germany, 1920-1921
Germany: Die Wiederaufnahme des Auslandpostverkehrs in Deutschland 1945-1949 (The Resumption of International Mail Services in Germany, 1945-1949)
Germany/Switzerland: Mail between Switzerland and Germany from 1 April 1945 to 1 April 1946
Honduras: Honduras - A Traditional Exhibit of the ‘Guardiola’ and ‘Medina’ Issues
Israel: The 1948 Doar Ivri Issue of Israel
Great Britain: London Experimental Fancy Geometric Postmarks
Lundy Island: Atlantic Coast Air Services ‘Tramtickets’ for Lundy Island
Mauritius: Mauritius Revenues, 1858-1904
Mauritius: The British Development of Mauritius
Military Mail: European Boundary Commission Activity on the Aftermath of World War I
Palestine: Palestine Emergency Deliveries Inc
Philippines: Spanish-American War, 1898
Reference Collection: Stamp Collecting
Saar: Allied Plebiscite Activity in the Saar Territory, 1935
Sénégal: Sénégal - 1914-1940 French Colonial Africa
Topical Collection: Buddha: the Prophet of the East
United States: 1970 Disabled American Veterans and Honoring U.S. Servicemen / P.O.W. and M.I.A. Memorial Issue
United States: America’s Victory Mail - World War II V-Mail, 1942-1945
United States: First Federally Issued Postage Stamps
United States: Galena’s 1838-1869 Lead Mining Era: An American “Boom to Bust” Story
United States: The 1938 Presidential Issue - A Survey of Rates
United States: The ‘Prexies’ Go To War
United States: The Fresno and San Francisco Bicycle Mail of 1894
United States: The United States 1943-1944 Overrun Countries Series
United States: U.S. Issues of 1861-1868: Essays, Proofs, Specimens and Issued Stamps
United States: Vignettes of American History: Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790
Versailles Military Mail: Mail of the Congress of Versailles, 1919
'Via Siberia': The Evolution of “Via Siberia” Mail, 1899-1945
  • WWI Baltic AreaBaltic Area Military Mail: Allied Forces in the Baltic Area in the Aftermath of World War I [Alfred F. Kugel, CCC]. This exhibit was created to illustrate mail generated by the Allied military forces sent to the Baltic area following the official end of WWI. The number of men was small, and examples of their correspondence has been difficult to locate. The order of the exhibit is geographical, starting at the west and south of the Baltic, and moving to the north and east (i.e., from Danzig to Finland).(WWIBalticArea)
  • 1972-1978CanadaCanada: Canadian 1972-1978 Definitives - The ‘Caricatures’ and ‘Landscapes’ Issues [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. This exhibit illustrates the Canadian ‘Caricature’ and ‘Landscape’ definitive series, and the methods by which these workhorse definitives were used during the 1970s period.(1972-1978Canada)
  • 1890s-1950 sMoney Order & Savings Bank PsmksCeylon: Money Order and Savings Bank Postmarks of Ceylon [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. Abbreviated as ‘M.O. & S.B.’, ‘M.O. & S. Bk’ and ‘M.O.C.’, the purpose of the Money Order cancellations appears to be clear: to be used on forms and mail related to the Ceylonese postal money order business. In practice, thru cancellers appear to have a multiplicity of usages. This exhibit examines the different cancel types, and illustrates the various uses of these cancels. The exhibit explains ‘how’ and ‘why’ the cancels were used, and how those usages changed over a period of time. Presented chronologically by the reign, and ordered by their use, these postmarks were used in Ceylon during the 1890s-1950s.(1890s-1950sMoneyOrder&SavingsBankPsmks;)
  • 1836-1910 CeylonCeylon: Postal and Revenue Evidence of Ceylon’s 1836-1910 Evolution from Coffee to Tea [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. The purpose of this exhibit is to illustrate the evolution of Ceylon's economy, from exporting the cash crop of coffee, to growing, marketing and selling the world's finest tea. Parallel developments of the postal and fiscal systems of the country are shown, with display documents further illustrate the story.(1836-1910Ceylon)
  • 1864-1903 CeylonCeylon: 1864-1903 Ceylon ‘Too Late’ Markings [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. This exhibit provides a study of the entire period of the Ceylon ‘Too Late’ postal markings, organized by the marketing type. Beginning in 1864, ‘Too Late’ handstamps were employed for mails brought to the post office after the established 5 PM cutoff time for a next day delivery. The post offices advertised their standard next day delivery capabilities, and used the ‘Too Late’ postal markings as a countermeasure to potential complaints of delayed deliveries. The ‘Too Late’ handstamps remained in use until 1903, after which time they were withdrawn.(1864-1903Ceylon)
  • The Evolution of Slave IslandCeylon: The Evolution of Slave Island, Ceylon, and its Postmarks [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. A display exhibit of Slave Island, Ceylon, and its postmarks, showing the evolution of the town through its mail.(Slave Island)
  • Germany 1920Germany: Allied Plebiscite Activities in Germany, 1920-1921 [Alfred F. Kugel, CCC]. This exhibit illustrates mail sent by plebiscite personnel to parts of Germany in order to ascertain whether inhabitants of disputed border territories wished to remain with their home country, or become citizens of new ones formed following the end of World Way I. In most cases, the number of people involved in these polling processes was relatively small, and their assignment time-wise was relatively short.(1920-1921Germany)
  • 1945-1949 German International MailsGermany: Die Wiederaufnahme des Auslandpostverkehrs in Deutschland 1945-1949 (The Resumption of International Mail Services in Germany, 1945-1949) [Walter T. Farber, CCC]. This exhibit traces the gradual resumption of mail services to foreign countries in Germany after the collapse of the Third Reich. Starting with impounded mail from foreign countries and mail privileges for certain groups of people (Displaced Persons, Prisoners of War, etc.), it shows the gradual lifting of geographical restrictions and of the control over contents imposed by the Allied Military Government, as well as by limitations of the crippled German postal system. It then describes the readmission of major types of mail, and the eventual return to an almost normal status in 1949.(1945-1949GermanInternationalMails)
  • 1945-1946 German Swiss MailsGermany/Switzerland: Mail between Switzerland and Germany from 1 April 1945 to 1 April 1946 [Walter T. Farber, CCC]. This exhibit shows how after the collapse of the Third Reich, when the Allied Military Government had banned any postal service between Germany and foreign countries, private citizens and humanitarian agencies, spearheaded by the International Red Cross, found ways to get mail across the border between the neighboring countries of Germany and Switzerland. It also describes several attempts by the Swiss and German postal authorities to reopen the border for private mails before the general ban was lifted on 1 April 1 1946.(1945-1946GermanSwissMails)
  • GUARDIOLAHonduras: : Honduras - A Traditional Exhibit of the ‘Guardiola’ and ‘Medina’ Issues [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. This is a traditional exhibit representing the Honduras 1903 through 1910 Guardiola and Medina definitive series issues. (1903-1910Honduras)
  • The 1948 Doar Ivri Issue of Israel Israel: The 1948 Doar Ivri Issue of Israel [Dr. Robert B. Pildes, CCC].This exhibit traces the development of the designs for Israel’s first postage stamps. The collection includes the rare 1948 ‘Shield of David and Olive Branch’ YEHUDA Essay, YEHUDA Photo Essays designed by Otte Wallish, the Shamir Brothers ERETZ ISRAEL essay original drawing, the Doar Ivri Issue Photo Essays and other specialized items, as well are examples of the issue’s rare postal history.(1948DoarIvri)
  • 1880-1883 London Great Britain: London Experimental Fancy Geometric Postmarks [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC].The purpose of this exhibit is to illustrate the evolution of the London ‘Fancy Geometric Postmarks’. The focus is for their use to obliterate the postage paid, and to explain the reasons that led to their ultimate replacement. Designed by post office staff, seven cancels, comprising ten different designs, were created and were placed into service during the 1880-1883 period.(1880-1883London)
  • Lundy Air Mail Services Lundy Island: Atlantic Coast Air Services ‘Tramtickets’ for Lundy Island. [Richard E. Drews, CCC].This collection is a comprehensive traditional study of the private ‘Tramticket’ airmail issues of the Atlantic Coast Air Services. The exhibit presents tramtickets from all recorded rolls, uses of all values, mail to-and-from challenging sources, and difficult local post markings.(Lundy Air Mail Services)
  • Mauritius RevenuesMauritius: Mauritius Revenues, 1858-1904 [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. An exhibit of Mauritius revenue stamps between the years 1858 and 1904, showing the different kinds of revenue stamps used on the island, and describing the businesses shown on these revenue stamp’s cancels. (Mauritius Revenues)
  • Mauritius Revenues SFMauritius: The British Development of Mauritius [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. This single-frame exhibit explains the British development of Mauritius, as documented by the taxation of imports and exports. The exhibit begins with examples from the 1830s, with shipping bills bearing not tax stamps. (MauritiusRevenuesSF)
  • WWI Boundary Commission.Military Mail: European Boundary Commission Activity on the Aftermath of World War I. [Alfred F. Kugel, CCC]. WWI was long and bitterly fought, resulting in sentiments against the losers being high by the time of the 1918 Armistice. Consequently, the victors were determined to exact a significant price from their enemies in terms of territorial concessions. To that end, a series of Allied Boundary Commissions were formed under the various treaties with the Central Powers to draw up new borders considered appropriate. Primarily British and French military cartographic personnel staffed these Commissions, with Italy being a significant third participant. As a member of the Allies, Japan was invited to send representatives, even though its interest in European affairs was limited. In most cases, the staffs of the commissions were relatively small, and it appears that they didn't post much mail.(WWIBoundaryCommissions)
  • Palestine Emergency IssuesPalestine: Palestine Emergency Deliveries Inc [Dr. Robert B. Pildes, CCC].The Lydda Airport was closed by the British on 25th April 1948, and then handed over to the Arab Legion. All official airmail ended on 1st May, when the United States announced that it wouldn't allow their airplanes to land in belligerent territories. After the S.S. Kadma departed from Haifa on 6th May, Palestine mails were shut off from the rest of the world. In response, the Jewish Agency (New York) created the ‘Palestine Emergency Deliveries Inc.’ This service was the first in the postal history of the U.S., whereby a specially created private organization was authorized to collect, cancel and forward mails destined to a foreign country.(PalestineEmergencyIssues)
  • 1898 PhilippinesPhilippines: Spanish-American War, 1898 [Alfred F. Kugel, CCC]. The United States declared war on Spain on 21st April 1898, and an expeditionary force was assembled in preparation to the occupation of the Philippines. An armistice was signed on 12th August, but a Filipino insurrection led by Emilio Aguinaldo required the presence of a substantial American military force, which finally defeated the rebels on 16th April 1902.(1898 Philippines)
  • Stamp CollectingReference Collection: Stamp Collecting [Anonymous]. A general stamp collection is formed by acquiring one each of as many different stamps as is possible, and arranging them in appropriate stamp albums mounted with ‘stamp hinges’ according to the country of issuance, and the date of issue. This exhibit provides a basic working knowledge of philatelic nomenclature to assist in the study of the stamps themselves, allowing a ‘stamp collector’ to advance to the ‘philatelist’ status.(StampCollecting)
  • Allied Plebiscite ActivitySaar: Allied Plebiscite Activity in the Saar Territory, 1935 [Alfred F. Kugel, CCC].This exhibit illustrates mail sent by plebiscite personnel assigned to the Saar Territory in the mid-1930s to determine whether the inhabitants wished to be reunited with Germany, continue to be administered by the League of Nations, or be annexed to France. The number of people involved in these polling processes was relatively small, and their assignment time-wise was relatively short.(1935Saar)
  • 1914-1940SénégalSénégal: Sénégal - 1914-1940 French Colonial Africa [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC].]. This exhibit presents the postal history of Sénégal during the period served by the ‘Sénégalese Preparing Food’ bi-colored definitive (1914-1940Sénégal)
  • Topical CollectionTopical Collection: Buddha: the Prophet of the East [Anonymous, CCC]. Gautama Buddha, commonly referred to as ‘Buddha’, was born at a time not recorded, but determined as being within the 4th-6th century B.C. period. According to legendary records, his birth took place in the Lumbini Gardens, a grove near the city of Kapilavastu, at the foot of Mount Palpa, in the Himalaya Mountains range. His religious teachings are commonly referred to as ‘Buddhism’. This collection is a topical exhibit of stamps, souvenir sheets and other philatelia depicting the Buddhist religion, and the celebrations of the faith from the countries located in the Far East.(TopicalCollection)
  • 1970ServicemenUnited States: 1970 Disabled American Veterans and Honoring U.S. Servicemen / P.O.W. and M.I.A. Memorial Issue [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. This exhibit presents the D.A.V. and U.S. Servicemen stamps issued 24th November 1970, first focusing on the stamp designs and their introduction, follwed by the first days of issue organized by the design elements. The exhibit ends with examples of the stamps’ postal uses.(1970Servicemen)
  • America’s Victory MailUnited States: America’s Victory Mail - World War II V-Mail, 1942-1945 [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC]. This is a military postal history exhibit of V-Mail. V-Mail used microphotography to reduce military letters to film. Rolls of film were sent by air, developed, printed, and delivered worldwide. V-Mail worked as a morale booster for the troops, and saved air cargo space.(WWIIVictoryMail)
  • GEubanks1847United States: First Federally Issued Postage Stamps [Gordon Eubanks].This traditional exhibit presents a comprehensive study of the first two postage stamps issued by the United States including archival material, production varieties, availability and a diverse range of usages showing how the stamps were handled by the post office and used by patrons.(1847Eubanks)
  • 1838-1869GalenaUnited States: Galena’s 1838-1869 Lead Mining Era: An American “Boom to Bust” Story [Kathryn J. Johnson, CCC].The purpose of this exhibit is to illustrate the lead mining town of Galena, Illinois, as a proxy for the ‘boom to bust’ mining towns found throughout the United States, as it can be illustrated by the contemporary mails. The exhibit begins in 1838, when stagecoach mail services began in Galena, and ends in 1869, when the Transcontinental Railroad construction was completed.(1838-1869Galena)
  • vUnited States: The 1938 Presidential Issue - A Survey of Rates [Robert A. Schlesinger, CCC].This exhibit presents the United States 1938 ‘Presidentail’ issue  the ‘Prexies’  as a survey of the rates of postage and special service fees in effect while those stamps were current, during 1938-1961. The ever-changing rate structures are exhibited, and the impact of the changing military situation during WWII on international air mail rates is highlighted.(1938Prexies)
  • Prexies In War TimeUnited States: The ‘Prexies’ Go To War [Alfred F. Kugel, CCC].At various times during 1938, thirty-two denominations of new definitive postage stamps were issued in what was then-named the ‘Presidential Series’, and more colloquially as ‘The Prexies’, since all but three of the values depicted former presidents. The purpose of this exhibit is to show examples of all of the series’ values as used in a military context.(WWIIPrexiesInWarTime)
  • Bicycle MailUnited States: The Fresno and San Francisco Bicycle Mail of 1894 [Leonard H. Hartmann, CCC]. The ‘Fresno and San Francisco Bicycle Mail’ was both a legitimate local service to transport the mails during a Pullman strike, which began 11th May 1894, and an opportunity for a philatelic adventure. Arthur Banta, an independent entrepreneur, who owned a bicycle store in Fresno, seized the strike’s opportunity to establish a bicycle relay system to convey the mails over the 210 miles distance to San Francisco, issuing rhomboid-shaped ‘Bicycle Stamps’ to indicate payment for the local post carriage fee.(1894 Bicycle Mail)
  • 1943-1944 Overrun CountriesUnited States: The United States 1943-1944 Overrun Countries Series [Dr. James P. Mazepa, CCC]. This exhibit is a special study of the third War Propaganda issue produced by the United States during WWII, commonly named the ‘Overrun Countries’ series. The exhibit presents a complete story for the issue, from its concept, though to the issue’s multifaceted usages. This is accomplished by incorporating elements of the traditional, postal history, illustrated mail, revenue, and Cinderella categories.(1943-1944OverrunCountries)
  • USA 1861-1868 IssuesUnited States: U.S. Issues of 1861-1868: Essays, Proofs, Specimens and Issued Stamps. [Richard E. Drews, CCC ]. This multi-award winning collection, including the American Philatelic Society’s “Champion-of-Champion’s” award, documents the development of the U.S. National Bank Note Company (NBNCo) stamps from the issues of 1861-1866, through to the early grill experiments, which culminated in the 1867-1868 grilled issues. These issues are regarded as the most important, complex and difficult issues in all of classic United States philatelia.(1861-1868USA)
  • BBailerUnited States: Vignettes of American History: Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790 [Benjamin Franklin Bailar, CCC, United States Postmaster General 1975-1978]. This is an expanded version of the special invitation exhibit presented at the entrance of the World Philatelic Exhibition 2006 conducted in Washington DC (Benjamin Franklin).(BenjaminFranklin)
  • 1919VersaillesVersailles Military Mail: Mail of the Congress of Versailles, 1919 [Alfred F. Kugel, CCC]. In the wake of the Armistice agreement on 11th November 1918, the Allied and their Associated Powers met at the Château de Versailles to define the terms of peace with a defeated Germany. The formal signing ceremony took place in the ‘Hall of Mirrors’ in the Château on 28th June 1919. The order in which the material is exhibited is alphabetic for the Allies, then followed by covers from the German delegation.(1919Versailles)
  • The Evolution of “Via Siberia” Mail'Via Siberia': The Evolution of “Via Siberia” Mail, 1899-1945 [Jerry H. Miller, CCC]. This postal history exhibit describes and shows the evolution of mail routed over the ‘Trans-Siberian Railway’ network from the trial and early mail period, through periods of war and revolution, as well as the expansion of mail services upon the connection of the eastern Chinese and southern Manchurian rail lines, thereby enabling the movement of Far East and German Pacific Colony mail to and from Europe, North Africa and North America.(Via Siberia Mails)