Christmas card includes revenue replicas and a quote about collecting

U.S. Stamp Notes — By John M. Hotchner

The Christmas card shown with this column was created in 1958 by George T. Turner (1906-1979), one of the great names in the stamp hobby.

A graduate of Cornell University with degrees in chemistry, he left a career in business to head the United States Post Office Department’s Division of Philately in 1958. He was the acting curator of the Smithsonian Institution’s philatelic collection from 1959 until 1962, and was chairman of Sipex, the Sixth International Philatelic Exhibition, held in 1966 in Washington, D.C.

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Turner was also a passionate collector of philatelic literature and amassed what was acknowledged to be the best philatelic library in the United States. In addition, he was active as an officer and committee chairman of the American Philatelic Society for nearly 30 years, starting with his election to a director slot in 1951.

In recognition of his many involvements and accomplishments he was elected to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1978.

The Turner library book plate included inside his 1958 Christmas card reflects his consuming interest in U.S. revenue stamps.

Another highlight inside the card is the following quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson:

“It is perhaps a more fortunate destiny to be born with a taste for collecting … than to be born a millionaire.”

I suppose it would be nice to be born rich and with a taste for collecting, but that wasn’t my fate. And the taste for collecting has been a wonderful gift by itself for nearly 70 years!

The outside of the card is red with the words “Happy Holidays” in white. There also are holiday greetings below Stevenson’s quote in the inside of the card.