W. G. Crosby FDC Catalog
Introduction:
Almost 50 years ago, Mike Mellone announced in 'First Days' a planned specialty catalog of W.G. Crosby Cacheted covers. While that book never became a reality, many of Crosby's earlier cacheted first day covers were produced in the Planty catalogs initially published in 1976 and then later published in much more detail between 1994 and 2006. Additionally, Crosby's cachets were featured in Mellone's 1940's cachet catalogs published in 1984 (which mentioned that "[h]e [Mellone] enjoys all cachets, but particularly Crosby cachets.") For the most part, the Planty catalog gives a very good image of most of the cachets, though only in black and white. And in most cases it describes the colors Crosby used in the cachets The 1940's catalog, however, published 20+ years before the Planty catalogs suffers from relatively small images that make it often difficult to see the variety of Crosby's cachets and does not detail any of the colors he used. Thus, as good as those catalogs are, they do not bring forth the full beauty and detail of Crosby's work which can only be observed with larger images and of course by seeing them in Color.
In 1992 William H. Stroebel published his much appreciated book entitled "Walter G. Crosby, Philatelic Cachet Specialist." The book covers Crosby's full scope of cachet making activity and is a must have resource for any serious collector of W.G. Crosby cachets. It gives descriptions of many of Crosby's covers, including large photographs (though not in color) and describes details of Crosby's methods, explaining to some degree how Crosby managed to create so many different varieties of cachets for the same event or first day cover issue.
This online catalog is an attempt to bring Crosby's cachets to life by showing them in color, and also updating the information from the past catalogs with the new discoveries of cachets, (including both earlier Scott #s as well as additional cachets from existing listings). For instance, this catalog shows FDCs going back to 1928, and even thermographic cachets as early as 1929. As an example of cachets not shown in the Planty catalog, at this point there are 40 additional cachets illustrated here of Crosby's work on Scott #773 (California Pacific International Exposition), the stamp that is traditionally viewed as his "first."
So what is and is not in this catalog. First, the catalog is designed only to show United States first day covers. Thus, with some very limited exceptions (notably for the Canal Zone stamps issued at the same time as Scott #856), it will not illustrate his enormous contribution to Naval and Air covers, patriotic covers, etc. The plan is to begin with images of his early covers and then move on roughly chronologically through the last of his covers which appeared in 1949 two years after his death as his wife kept the business going through that period of time. As updates are added, I will try to document the changes made to the catalog toward the bottom of this page.-
As a long time collector (and sometimes seller) of Crosby covers, the vast majority of the images initially used here come from my current or former collection inventory. But to make this catalog truly useful, it will need assistance from other Crosby collectors who would like to share images from their collections. Please use the contact form below to let me know of cachets you would like to contribute. I will then follow-up with you as appropriate. I would also welcome comments, suggestions, corrections, etc. to make this a better and more useful resource. While I intend, generally to be adding covers to this catalog relatively chronologically, there may be exceptions, particularly if there are specialty collectors of individual Scott numbers who would like to contribute. Contributions will be acknowledged (unless the contributor prefers not.) Special thanks to Don Mackert and Bob Owens who have provided numerous scans from his collection for this website. Paul Hoffman who wrote several articles in First Days about the Famous American series was kind enough to provide me with some detailed information to assist in that part of the catalog. Steven Zwill-inger who has also written in First Days provided me with a number of images for the Texas Statehood Issue (Scott #938). Also thanks to David L. DuBois for images from his collection of Scott #C23, and to D.A. Lux for images of the Territorial Series (Scott #s 799-802.)
Organization:
A word about the organization of this catalog. Although Planty (and later Mellone) numbers will appear in this catalog, it is not my intent to follow those numbers necessarily in the order listed in the Planty Catalog. Nor is it my intention to "add" additional Planty numbers. Adding to the Planty number system is something that would need to be done by a new publisher of the Planty catalog (or at least someone who had the legal authority to do so). So, I have organized the cachets of individual Scott #s in what seems to me to be a logical sequence, sometimes following the Planty number system and other times not. Additionally, I have created a number system to use throughout this catalog with Crosby's initials (WGC) so that there can be a reasonable organization of the cachets. Where an existing Planty number exists I have indicated so...and where not, you will just find the WGC number. Again, any thoughts on how this is done or how it can be improved are welcome.
Acknowledgements:
Scott Numbers (Scott# etc.) refer to the numbers assigned to stamps as registered by Amos Press, Inc.
Planty Numbers (P# etc.) refer to the numbers appearing in Mellone's Planty Photo Encyclopedia of Cacheted First Day Covers
Mellone Numbers (M# etc) refer to the numbers appearing in Mellone's Specialized Cachet Catalog of First Day Covers of the 1940's
I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions about this catalog and of course am always interested in obtaining early Crosby FDCs.
Ken Stern
You may contact me by sending the completed form below.
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Update Information:
2023-05-19 Just a quick note to indicate that many many covers have been added since I "completed' the website as noted just below. I expect to continue to add covers on an ongoing basis but will likely not very often include update information here.
2022-09-23 The first edition of this website is now COMPLETE! What that means is that I have included pages for all known Crosby Scott number fdcs. There will of course be continuing updates as more covers are added and otherwise modified. Plus I plan to add some additional information to the website as time allows.
2022-09-08 I have done a complete re-working of the 773 Cal-Expo issue which corresponds to an article I have submitted to First Days to be published later this year. Additional work will be done to that section in the coming weeks. And I will get back to working on the 1940s airmail issues as well.
2022-07-31 Completed 1949 and working on the first group of 1940s airmails.
2022-07-20 Completed 1948. Only 1949 and the 1940s airmail and B.O.B. issues to go!
2022-06-05 Completed the rest of 1947.
2022-05-09 Completed part of 1947, through Scott #946 (Joseph Pulitzer.)
2022-05-06 While I have not updated additional years over the past month, I have actually been quite busy. I have acquired a number of new early covers, including a complete set of Crosby Beazell type covers for the Washington Bicentennial series which were cancelled unofficially aboard the USS Hamilton on January 1, 1932. Additionally I have been working on a series of articles for First Days which will be published later this year. Two have been submitted and it is anticipated that there will be two more as well.
2022-03-27 Completed the listings for the year 1946.
2022-03-24 Over the past several weeks I have added a number of additional covers for issues already cataloged, notably the Canal Zone issue of 1939. Today I also added Scott #940.
2022-02-20 Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Groundhog Day, and almost Happy Presidents' Day. Yes it has been almost 3 months since I have made a significant update to this website. Today I am uploading the first stamp of 1946, Scott #939. I hope to begin adding additional stamps soon. Note some additional updates to the earlier issues, including a particularly nice group of Scott #703 covers.
2021-11-25 Happy Thanksgiving! As I am waiting to start cooking the turkey I have updated a number of items, notably Scott #936 and some of the Overrun countries issue, particularly #921. Also note the variations in Scott #917, WGC-1.
2021-11-21 Added the remainder of the 1945 issues (Scott #s 934-938)
2021-11-20 I am still working on the remainder of the 1945 issues and should be finished soon. Meanwhile I have updated many other issues, notably some additional Scott #858 cachets.
2021-10-21 Added the first group of 1945 stamps, Scott #s 927 to 933.
2021-10-14 Added Scott #s 922, 923, 924, 925, and 926, This completes the stamps issued in 1944.
2021-10-12 Added the Overrun Countries Series (Scott #s 909-921). This concludes the stamps issued in 1943.
2021-10-08 Added Scott #908 (Four Freedoms). Next will be the Overrun Countries Series (Scott #909-21) which will likely take some time.
2021-10-06 Added Scott # 907 (United Nations.)
2021-10-03 Added Scott #s 905 (Win the War) and 906 (Chinese Resistance) which completes the 1942 series.
2021-10-01 Added Scott #904 (Kentucky Statehood)
2021-09-30 Added Scott #903 (Vermont Statehood) which was the only regular issue stamp of 1941. I will include all of the 1940s airmail and B.O.B. issues in one group at the end of the catalog.
2021-09-27 Added Scott #902 (Thirteenth Amendment) which concludes the stamps through 1940.
2021-09-25 Added the National Defense Series, Scott #s 899-901. That leaves just one stamp, Scott #902 to complete the 1940 year set.
2021-09-20 Added three new stamps, Scott #s 895-898. Now working on the defense issues (Scoot #s 899-901)
2021-09-13 Added Scott #894 (Pony Express). Also some new 773s, 855s, etc.
2021-09-09 Added Scott #C24 which is the last stamp to be added for 1939. Next will move on to 1940 and the stamps issued after the Famous American Series.
2021-09-07 Added Scott #858 (4 States Statehood). For 1939 I now only have Scott #C24 (Winged Globe Airmail) left to complete.
2021-09-05 Am now well into the work on Scott #858 (4 States Statehood) but I have not yet uploaded any images. Have also uploaded additional images for -other issues.
2021-08-20 Uploaded the portion of the catalog for the Panama Canal 25th Anniversary issues. (I have included covers not only for the US Stamp - Scott #856, but also for the Canal Zone stamps issued at about the same time - making for about 200 varieties at this time.) As with the Famous American issues there will likely be some re-working as time goes on. Also updated additional covers found for other stamps.
2021-08-11 Completed the work on the Famous American issues. It is a complex process and may well need some re-working. Am now working Scott #856 (Panama Canal) issue. This may well be more complex than virtually any other issue as will be seen once I start to upload that issue. Have also added additional covers to earlier areas of the catalog.
2021-07-29 Continued work on the Famous American pages...probably getting close to completing that section - at least as far as I can at this time.
2021-07-27 Added Scott #857 (Printing Anniversary) along with some additional items to the Famous American pages.
2021-07-19 Added the first portion of the Famous American Series of 1940 which includes the basic #6 covers for the series. More to come later. May move to Scott #857 first before I resume FA to give me a break from the complications of the FA series. Also added additional covers for prior years.
2021-06-18 Added Scott #855 - Baseball Centennial. Need a significant number of baseball covers to make that section better. I have received a major contribution from Paul Hoffman for the Famous American Series of 1940 so will likely move to that issue next.
2021-06-11. Added Scott #854 - George Washington Inauguration
2021-06-08. Added the 1938 Presidential Series.
2021-05-24. Added Scott #852 and #853 from 1939. (Still working on 1938 Presidential Series)
2021-05-16. Added 1938 commemoratives and Scott #852 from 1939. (Not yet added 1938 Presidential Series)
2021-05-01. Initial upload of the catalog. It includes listings through 1937 (including #C21-22)
Copyright © 2022 Kenneth Stern. All Rights Reserved.
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