Hello Everyone,

As usual, lots to discuss. First, I had lots of
technical problems today just sending out this gram
because I was pasting in the letter below. I am not
sure what the problem is, but I gave up and took
another approach.

Monday's chat was good I thought. Lots of discussion
about Allied Military yen. In particular the
differences among the printings. Good discussion.

We also had some more discussion about Phil's new
find--the first Series 521/2 $5 (second printing).
Well, it turns out that he obtained the note from
David Seylee. Furthermore, it turns out that David had
this note in his inventory at the Chicago Paper Money
Expo. I not only was at that show, but my table was
near David's. So it seems obvous to me that the note
is rightfully MINE and Phil should send it to me
forthwith! I will be generous and allow visitatin
rights at each MPC Fest! Seems fair to me!

I received the following letter from a chatter. He did
not ask for annonimity, but I took his name off
anyway. Letter writer, if you want to be identified,
identify yourself on chat and/or write again and I
will put your id in the next gram.

The letter includes a lot of ideas. I will not comment
on the ideas for the moment in the hope that some of
you will comment. You know me, if I get started, I
will comment for hours/pages.

I will discuss the "questtion" at the end.

> The silence on the chat is deafening at times. Some
thoughts:
> 
 1. Set a certain night aside every week for exclusive
discussion on amc,jim, other wwII currency (everything
but mpc)
> 
> 2. Since the participants vary from east to west
coast: what if we set the standard time at 10:00 est
but set aside 11:00 for west coasters; that might keep
the activity from waning. Of course, we have to get
some west coasters to participate.
> 
> 3. Is the primary purpose of the chat to inform and
educate or just be a place for advanced
collecto/dealers to send private messages, set up
phone calls and otherwise transact mpc buy/sell/trade?
I haven't reconcile the two in my mind yet would
prefer it to be a place for learning from the
"experts". For instance; maybe give some ideas of the
current areas of reserach being conducted by certain
participants. Then by reviewing "remembered" and notes
held in collections a participant can make some
worthwhile contributions.
> 
 Maybe everyone could contribute their own most wanted
question: One of mine is: "If I have a specimen piece;
how can I figure out where it was issued?" Probably
impossible  but food for thought.
> 
 Keep in mind that I am not the typical well heeled
dealer/collector so I need a bit more to keep me
interested. No offense intended by any of this but
just wanted to share some random thoughts.

end of letter>

Ok, well your question about specimens is not easy to
answer. Perhaps I do not even understand the question.
I assume that you are using the word specimen in the
technical sense of sample rather than sense of
example. Even that was not clear. Assume that you mean
a note marked specimen.

Well, the first comment is that in the most common
sense specimens are not issued. Also assume that you
are talking about MPC here as opposed to other types.
Well the specimens would normally be "issued" to
finance offices for official use and then to
individuals for the same reason.
It you want to know at what finance office a
particular specimen was "issued" there is not much
hope except with associated documents. There is only
once case that comes to mind. A Series 461 specimen
book (illustrated in the Comp Catalog) has pencil
annotations on the cover indicting that the booklet
was to be returned to LTC Gunston. Gunston is a well
known personality in AMG stamps. He was in Europe
during the war and after so presumably that his where
he had this booklet.
Some other specimens in a Smythe sale had clues as to
the person who had them. It would then be possible to
insestigate where that (dead) person obtained them.
I may not even be close to your question and I am
tired of fighitng the computer, so I will close.

Thanks for writing. Please write again and that goes
for the rest of you too. Your comments are welcome and
necessary.

Only 292 days till Fest II!

See you at chat.

Fred

=====

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please respond to this address or to fred@papermoneyworld.com

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