Return-Path: Received: from web5201.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.95]) by farley.mail.mindspring.net (Mindspring Mail Service) with SMTP id t5rfsk.3cut.37kbi1c for ; Thu, 11 Jan 2001 09:13:40 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <20010111141338.16906.qmail@web5201.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [152.163.206.186] by web5201.mail.yahoo.com; Thu, 11 Jan 2001 06:13:38 PST Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 06:13:38 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPC Gram 221 To: mpcgram@yahoo.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii ==================================================== MPC Gram ==================================================== Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics ---------------------------------------------------- Series 002-Number 221 Thurski -11 January 2001 Even More FUN Treasure by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski The FUN Show is now history and as you've already heard from many Gram contributors, everyone that attended had a great time. It was well after midnight, and nearly 2AM on a couple of nights when we quit talking and went to bed. That's real late for a senior citizen. When the alarm rang at 7:30 the next morning, we were ready to go and start all over again. At every show that I attend, I always find some great items that fit neatly into my collection. The FUN show was no exception, as I came home with probably a dozen items that I bought. Three of the are exceptional and I'd like to tell you about them. I found nothing the first day and was a little disappointed. The second day, I was searching for items in the token/exonumia section of the bourse floor, when some British Stamp Booklets caught my eye. Are you back to collecting stamps you might ask? The answer is a definite "No,” but these were interesting because printed on the cover of the 2 by 2 1/2 inch booklet was the sentence "LETTERS TO THE FORCES--AIRGRAPHS GET FIRST PRIORITY" The question immediately came to my mind, -- Did the British issue special stamps for letters sent to servicemen? Well, no they didn't, however the booklet showed that they did have reduced rates for all mail sent to military members stationed overseas. But this was not the interesting part of the booklet, as printed on one of the flyleaves between the stamps was the title "Invest in War Savings.” Below were the five bullets -- 2 1/2% National War Bonds -- 3% Savings Bonds -- 3% Defence Bonds -- National Savings Certificates -- Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks World War II Remembered mentions the first two items, and shows a sticker promoting the fourth, but makes the statement that none has been observed and that help is needed. That remains true today. We still haven't seen any bonds from Great Britain. This little booklet confirms that they must have been issued. Has anyone seen them? Let us know if you have. My second find was a real shock to me. I had walked the cross aisle between the BNR Press table and Harold Kroll's table at least 50 times during the show. Late on Saturday, as I again made the trip, I passed the table occupied by Currency Auctions of America. CAA was holding an auction in an adjacent hotel so everyone had left that table early. As I passed the table, something caught my eye and I really skidded to a stop and did a double take. A new dealer had put some stock in the empty cases. Right on top was a Chief Ouray check. Chief Ouray is the Indian that is pictured on the 692 $20 MPC. This check is identical to the one from the John and Nancy Wilson collection shown on page 117 of the Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates. It is numbered about 240 less than the Wilson's check and dated 2 months earlier. The dealer wasn't there when I saw it, so I parked myself right there until he returned. We negotiated a price and I walked away with my prize. The final find actually found me. Harold and I had packed up so that we could start the long drive home around noon on Sunday and were standing at Leo May's table, when another dealer saw me and came over to ask me what an item was worth. Harold said he knew it must be good because my eyes got real big and lit up. It turned out to be a Military Check issued to a German POW upon his repatriation. You can see a similar one on page 396 of World War II Remembered. I gave him what I thought it was worth and he asked if I was interested. Of course, I said and he said he would be right back. True to his word he returned in about five minutes and we completed the deal. So these were a couple of the treasures that came home with me. Now, I have to save up my money to see what Chicago show might have to offer. ==================================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- Next week will be Fest week. By that I mean that it is time to start making firm plans. We will publish the schedule next week and start taking reservations. Clear your calendars, lie to your spouses, and prepare for the Fest! ==================================================== Mail Call ---------------------------------------------------- Dear Gram, I have never seen this before: You can add to your next book!!! An-ex Army Sgt. who is getting me some MPC (I met him at FUN) told me that the reason for the paper nickels (fractionals) etc., was because coins would jingle and alert the enemy. I had never thought of this!!! Cents were not worth the trouble and money was rounded up or down as appropriate as we should do now. Nick PS He is in bad shape Has a morphine pump for his back, has severe wounds and walks with crutches. He was in Laos and Cambodia and has currency from there as well. Puts a new light on use of MPC. It was really used by military that suffered and died. Sometimes, we forget that aspect of MPC. PPS He did not get a free trip like the Clintons to Hanoi!!!!!!! It cost us $61 mil to get them there and back .. they should have stayed!! PPPS Great exhibit by Marv Dear Nick, Since this is a nonpolitical publication, I assume that you thought that the Clintons should stay in Vietnam to look for MPC! Editor =================================================== Departments --------------------------------------------------- WWII numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar 2001 --------------------------------------------------- Not only does the scholarship fund have an official identity but also has a bank account! Any further donations should be paid to the order of "Military Numismatists Scholarship" and sent to: Military Numismatists c/o Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 THE UPDATED LIST OF SCHOLARSHIP BENEFACTORS 11/22/00. These folks have generously provided money or material to finance scholarships to the ANA WWII Numismatics seminar. Your contributions will help promote collecting WWII material and be greatly appreciated. Mike Cummings Ed B. Doug Bell R. A. Medina Harold MPCKid Kroll Bill McNese Marcus Turner Larry Ski Fred PK6 Joel Shafer World Wide Ventures John & Nancy Wilson Neil Shafer ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest II ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest is the annual feast of MPC. After some difficulties of coordination we have not changed the dates and tentatively scheduled 9-11 March 2001 for MPC Fest II. If these dates cause a problem, please write the gram immediately. ==================================================== Post/Base Exchange (PX/BX/NEX) Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale will be run here for free. Send your ads to the gram. This service is for everyone, most humble dealer or most advanced collector. The point is to make the gram more interesting. Send in a list of items for sale and we will list them here in the gram. In all cases confirm your order via email first. MPC Series 651 $1 uncirculated $30. Ian Marshall, please e-mail for confirmation. iam@total.net. MPC Series 681 $1 with aviator vignette CU, $17. verify at fred@papermoneyworld.com. =================================================== Staff: publisher and editor: Fred Schwan - fred@papermoneyworld.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein critic: Harold Kroll - MPCKid@papermoneyworld.com; index manager: Ed Beaman webmaster & technical advisor: Doug Bell - (Wiz): doug@papermoneyworld.com; The Boss: Judy Schwan ===== MPC Gram is published by BNR Press and papermoneyworld.com as a free service to the community of military money collectors. Your suggestions, criticisms, complaints, editorial contributions, letters, and even praise are very welcome. The entire contents including linked illustrations are copyright protected by the publishers. In the case of contributors, the copyright is protected on behalf of the creators. Please send all correspondence regarding the gram to MPCgram@yahoo.com. 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