Across the Fencepost
Newsletter of the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
January 2015
By WFSC President Karen Weigt
Volume 37, Issue 1
Counting Snowflakes
It was during
an early evening
snowfall when
the woman next
to me said,
“Look, the
flakes are so big
you could count
them.” I replied,
“I suppose, but I
have better things to do.” Then I
thought about the 1993 U.S.
Christmas Contemporary issue,
where counting the snowflakes
beneath the snowman’s carrot nose
was one of those ultimately “better
things to do.”
The se-tenant issue was
produced in five different
formats and the snowman stamp
can be identified by the number
of snowflakes.
• Three larger sized stamps
have seven snowflakes beneath
the nose: Scott Nos. 2793
Newsletter Date
(water-activated and
perforated sheet) and
2799 (identical imperf
coil and convertible
booklet). See Figures
1 and 2.
• One smaller sized
stamp has five snowflakes beneath the
nose: Scott No. 2796
(water-activated and
perforated folded
booklet). See Figure 3.
• One smaller sized
stamp has four snowflakes beneath the
nose: Scott 2803
(self-adhesive and
imperf ATM pane).
See Figure 4.
Chapter 350
Chapter 107
www.wfscstamps.org
“Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs”
Issue
Theme:
Figure 1. Scott 2793
Figure 3. Scott 2796
There are other
notable differences between four
of the five formats, but a quick
count of the snowflakes makes it
easy for an initial sorting.
Snow
Figure 2. Scott 2799
Figure 4. Scott 2803
May all your New Year snowfalls be light and may you always
have better things to do. 
President’s Message
1
WFSC 2014 Accomplishments
1
Know Your WFSC Region VP
2
Wisconsin Native New Editor of
American Philatelist
3
Circus First Day in Baraboo
4
Education on Stamps
5
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
5
Show Schedule and Calendar
6
FEDERATION FOCUS
WFSC 2014 Accomplishments
By WFSC President Karen Weigt
T
he WFSC continues to be an active
organization with several accomplishments
in 2014. Here are some of the major actions:
• Formed a Website Committee to evaluate
the WFSC’s site for content, visual
appeal and ease of use.
• Began a listing on the website of dealers
who participate in WFSC shows
and bourses as a source for bourse
chairmen and collectors looking
for dealers in their area.
• Provided the opportunity for dealers who
are WFSC members to have an ad
page on the WFSC website or a link
to their own current website.
• Presented a dealer recognition award.
• Received a gold award for Across the
Page 1
Fence Post in the 2013 Chapter
Newsletter Competition.
• Began adding more ATFP back issues
to the website archives.
• Sponsored our own WISCOPEX 2014,
which was an overwhelming success,
and launched plans for WISCOPEX
2015.
• Inducted three to the Wisconsin Philatelic
Hall of Fame.
• Produced a WISCOPEX 2014 show
postcard commemorating Wisconsin’s wild turkey.
• Revived the WFSC’s District Representative’s Award.
• Certified another WFSC judge.
• Staffed a table at MILCOPEX.
• Created a back-page ad policy and
Across the Fence Post
updated a guideline for exhibit judge
remuneration.
• Began a Facebook account.
• Received a huge donation of Wisconsin
postal history material and began
disposition plans.
• Participated in the first-day-of-sale
event at Rudolph, Wis., and
produced a Rudolph the Red- Nosed
Reindeer cover.
• Instituted a policy for honoring
clubs with the largest annual
membership increase.
Many thanks to all who made these
accomplishments possible. The
WFSC plans to move forward
in 2015 as a preeminent organization with another exceptional list
of achievements. 
January 2015
FEDERATION NEWS
By Karen Weigt
Know Your WFSC Region VP- Art Schmitz, Southeast Region VP
Clubs within the Southeast Region are:
• American Air Mail Society
(Billy Mitchell Chapter)
• American Topical Association (Chapter 5)
• Germany Philatelic Society (Chapter 18)
• Italian American Stamp Club
• Milwaukee Philatelic Society
• North Shore Philatelic Society
of Milwaukee
• Northwestern Mutual Stamp Club
• Waukesha County Philatelic Society
• Wauwatosa Philatelic Society
A
rt resides in Milwaukee, Wis., and keeps
busy with the largest number of clubs in any
WFSC region. He has served as a WFSC region
VP since January 2000 and was inducted into the
Wisconsin Philatelic Hall of Fame in 2006.
In the past, he has served as secretary,
treasurer, and president of the Wauwatosa
Philatelic Society, president
of the American Topical
Association Chapter 5, and
vice president of the PolishAmerican Stamp Club. Art
started and led a stamp club
at the Milwaukee YMCA
Boys Department from
1946 to 1951.
As a retired special
education teacher of
35 years, it’s not surprising that he collects education on stamps.
He also has an interest in collecting stamps
of dead countries.
Art is a former WFSC certified judge.
He has won a variety of awards for his own Irish
and education exhibits. He is also a member of
the WFSC Speakers Bureau and has presented
programs at local stamp club meetings and
WFSC conventions, as well as at non-philatelic
gatherings.
Art furthermore has written many articles and
philatelic book reviews for Across the Fence Post
and has contributed several original articles published in the American Philatelist.
(NOTE: The WFSC has revitalized the Region
VP Award. Does your club have an individual
who has contributed outstanding service to your
club or to philately in general? If so, contact your
WFSC region VP to make arrangements for a visit
to your club for an award presentation. (See VP
contact information on the bottom of p. 2.)
ATTENTION WFSC STAMP CLUBS:
WFSC Treasurer Al Vick has mailed the 2015 dues notices to your club
treasurer or contact. Al puts a lot of time and energy into preparing these
notices. It’s helpful when clubs respond promptly so he can close the
books on this annual activity. We appreciate the same for our members-at-large.
Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs Officers
-Wisconsin Valley Philatelic Society
Across the Fence Post is the official publication of the
Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit
organization. WFSC also is a life member of the APS (since
1953). For more information about WFSC, please visit the
website, www.wfscstamps.org.
ATFP is published monthly September through April, and
every other month May through August (10 issues per year).
News of Wisconsin collectors, club news and other gratis original
philatelic features are welcomed. The editor accepts submissions
in any format, but prefers email if possible. The editor reserves
the right to make editorial changes to submitted copy.
Material appearing in ATFP not carrying an individual
copyright notice may be reproduced only by not-for-profit
organizations, provided the author(s) and ATFP receive credit
or attribution. All materials carrying an individual copyright
notice are the sole property of the author(s).
Unless explicitly stated by an officer in conjunction with
official WFSC business, opinions expressed by the editor or
individual authors are not necessarily endorsed by the WFSC.
Submission deadlines for editorial and advertising materials
are the 1st of the month preceding month of publication (i.e.
Jan.1st for Feb. issue).
Editorial matter should be sent to: Aimée Devine, Editor
ATFP, 2111 E. Luther Road, Janesville, WI 53545. Phone:
608-758-1354 ([email protected]).
Advertising material and payment should be sent to Dave
Carney, Advertising Manager, ATFP, 706 Lang Way, Kimberly,
WI 54136. Phone: 920-687-9077 ([email protected]).
For a complete list of advertising rates and policies
(display, classified, and listings), request a copy from the
advertising manager.
Across the Fence Post
January 2015
PRESIDENT:
NE REGION VP:
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION VP:
Karen Weigt
4184 Rose Ct.
Middleton, WI 53562
[email protected]
Maurice D. Wozniak
[email protected]
Vacant
-Green Bay Philatelic Society
Art Schmitz
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT:
-Northwoods Philatelic Society
Michael Mules
P.O. Box 267
Mukwonago, WI 53149
[email protected]
-Oshkosh Philatelic Society
-American Air Mail Society
(Billy Mitchell Chapter)
SECRETARY:
Ken Grant
E11960 Kessler Rd.
Baraboo, WI 53913
[email protected]
TREASURER:
Allen E. Vick
2090 River Estate Lane
Stoughton, WI 53589
[email protected]
-Bay de Noc Stamp & Coin Club
-Outagamie Philatelic Society
-Wisconsin Postal History Society
EAST CENTRAL REGION VP:
Darren Mueller
[email protected]
-Fond du Lac Stamp Club
-Kettle Moraine Coin & Stamp Club
-Manitowoc Philatelic Society
-Sheboygan Stamp Club
SW REGION VP:
John Paré
[email protected]
VP YOUTH DIVISION:
-Badger Stamp Club
MaryAnn Bowman
P.O. Box 1451
Waukesha, WI 53187
[email protected]
-Baraboo Stamp Club
Page 2
-Janesville Stamp Club
-Monroe Stamp & Postcard Club
SE REGION VP:
-American Topical Association
(Chapter 5)
-Germany Philatelic Society
(Chapter 18)
-Italian American Stamp Club
-Milwaukee Philatelic Society
-North Shore Philatelic Society
(Milwaukee)
-Northwestern Mutual Stamp Club
-Waukesha County Philatelic Society
-Wauwatosa Philatelic Society
CENTRAL REGION VP:
Mike Sagstetter
[email protected]
-Central Wisconsin Stamp Club
-Chippewa Valley Stamp Club
-Lakeland Stamp & Coin Club
Wisconsin Native New American Philatelist Editor
APS Press Release
T
he American
Philatelic Society
has hired Jay Bigalke
as its new American
Philatelist editor.
Bigalke will be responsible for the society’s
100-page monthly publication, working with a
staff of three and an
advisory board. The
Bigalke at
society editor also
WISCOPEX ’14
is responsible for the
library’s quarterly Philatelic Literature Review and plays an important
role in public relations and graphic design.
Bigalke previously worked for Linn’s
Stamp News, published by Amos Media Co.
of Sidney, Ohio. There he served as senior
editor and was responsible for covering major
U.S. stamp stories, managing of its social
media platforms, video production, stamp
show participation, and serving as editor
for multiple columnists.
APS Executive Director Ken Martin
expects Bigalke to not only continue the
American Philatelist’s long-time editorial
excellence but also expects that his philatelic
and postal service network, digital content
experience and attendance at philatelic events
will significantly benefit the society.
Save the
Date!
Bigalke’s selection has the full support
of the American Philatelist Advisory
Committee. Committee chair Rod Juell
suggests APS members should get ready for
exciting editorial leadership.
Bigalke is a 2005 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied
retail and journalism. His professional experience also includes working for Coin World
(sister publication to Linn’s). There he developed a web-based publication covering different aspects of the numismatic field. He also
worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a casual
city mail carrier.
Bigalke’s spark for collecting stamps
started in October 1991. He grew up in a
small town of less than 100 people in
Wisconsin where he visited the post office
daily. His great-grandmother and the post
master in the town helped encourage the
interest in stamps. He became an APS member
in 2001 about the time he began designing and
selling cachets.
His philatelic interests include modern
U.S. stamps, ceremony programs, first-day
covers, and other related ephemera. Other
collections include stamps of Japan and British
Commonwealth stamps from 1937-1940
showing King George VI. He has personally
attended 217 first-day-of-issue ceremonies
in 47 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Bigalke was the inaugural recipient of
the American Philatelic Society’s Outstanding
Young Adult Philatelist award in 2008,
inducted in April 2011 to the Wisconsin
Philatelic Hall of Fame, and in 2013 was
the Most Popular Champion of Champions
exhibitor winner with his exhibit on the 2009
U. S. Simpsons stamp issue.
Current editor Barb Boal previously
announced her retirement effective December
31 after 14 years as editor and more than
30 years of service to the American Philatelic
Society. Bigalke’s employment with the
APS begins December 1 allowing for a
short transition. 
Jay was born and raised in Readfield, Wis.,
and is a member of the Badger Stamp Club
(Madison).
Jay,
congratulations
and
best wishes
from the
WFSC!
Janesville Stamp Club
Exhibition & Bourse
Saturday, February 7, 2015 ● 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wishing you
a very happy
New Year.
-from the WFSC
Page 3
NEW
DATE
&
LOCATION
Ramada Inn - Janesville
3900 Milton Ave.



call 608-758-1354;
U.S. Postal Service Station
Featuring the Battle of New Orleans Stamp

For more information
Free Admission & Parking
Beginner’s Table for Youth and Adults


Free Stamp Collection Appraisals
Silent Auction (ends at 2 p.m.)
email [email protected]
Across the Fence Post
January 2015
FEDERATION NEWS
Circus First Day in Baraboo
By Kenneth Grant
T
he U.S. Postal Service announced there
would be no program for the issuance
of the Circus souvenir sheet in Baraboo on
December 10, 2014, but that did not stop some
collectors from celebrating the event. Wisconsin Philatelic
Hall of Fame
collector and
recently
named American Philatelist
editor, Jay
Bigalke,
arrived in
Baraboo to
service first
day souvenirs
of the souvenir
sheets
(Figure 1).
The
Figure 1. Jay Bigalke and Ken sheets were
available in
Grant servicing covers at the
two formats
Baraboo Post Office.
at the Baraboo
Post Office, either as part of the 2014
Yearbook or in press sheets of 12. The
souvenir sheet that came as part of the
yearbook was die cut and contained three
perforated stamps. The press sheets were
composed of twelve die cut imperforate
souvenir sheets.
Although there was no program,
Figure 2. Members of the Circus World Museum.
members of Circus World Museum were
The clown is holding the original poster used on
on hand to celebrate. The photo (Figure 2)
the stamp seen below.
shows T. J. Howell, juggler; Karen Caylor,
Baraboo postmaster; Timothy Noel Tegge,
clown; and Peter Stugis, ringmaster. The pictured poster is the original 1917 poster used
on the stamp, a circus item valued at $2,500
by Tegge, the owner of the sheet.
Postmaster Caylor had 100 press sheets,
copies of the yearbook, and FDCs of the press
sheet available for purchase. The USPS had
reported that the press sheets had been sold out
before the December 10th day of issue. Circus
World Museum also had a small table at the
post office where they applied the first-day
cancel to covers franked with the previously
Figure 3. A cancelled souvenir sheet.
issued circus stamps. 
TOPICAL CORNER
Education on Stamps
By Art Schmidt
By Art Schmidt
A
few decades ago, with a burgeoning
general collection, I was faced with
the question of what do I do now? Although
U.S. was included, I’d always been fascinated
with the designs, colors, and significance of
issue of my foreign stamps.
After a period of thoughtful consideration,
I finally came to the conclusion that the realities of life demanded that I limit my philatelic
interests in some fashion or other. Being a
teacher led me to be able, in a sense, to eat
my cake and have it too, as the saying goes.
Checking through Scott catalogs, I came to
the conclusion that if I limited my collecting
interests to the topic of “Education on Stamps,”
I could continue enjoying my fascination with
foreign issues, with at least some semblance
of a limit to what was available.
It soon became evident that the topic had
to be considered in terms of various categories
within the term, such as academies, colleges,
schools, facilities (houses, boats, ships) on
which educational activities took place,
educators, museums, universities, etc.
Although more limited than an effort
involving all postal material through the years,
I’ve come to realize I’ll never attain completion
of the several thousand issues available in my
Page 4
“Education on Stamps” collection, to which
each new catalogue offers more material, but
I’ll always enjoy the search and the satisfaction
of adding yet another specimen to my now
well-organized collection.
I should add that the
first stamps to begin this
collection was a set from
Kuwait issued to commemorate a museum
there. They were purchased from a dealer I’d
1998 Brazilian stamp
been working with on my showing every teacher’s
general collection. 
dream — a rapt audience.
FDC from 1962 celebrating the 75th anniversary
of the Association of State Universities and Land
Grant Colleges.
Across the Fence Post
Sample of
educationrelated stamps
issued by the
USPS.
1999 Pitcairn Island set showing the
development of local education.
January 2015
FEATURE ARTICLE
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
By MaryAnn Bowman
I
t’s snow season in Wisconsin! I love to take a walk in newly
fallen snow. Everything is so white and the world seems so quiet
and peaceful. I vividly remember one particular time when I took a
walk through a large wooded park. It was snowing big wet flakes
and I decided to venture off the trail to go deeper into the woods.
Suddenly a small herd of six deer ran through the snow. It was a
breathtaking sight to see them romp through the forest and frolic
in the snow. Then all too quickly, they were gone. But the memory
of that day lingers on in my mind.
Imagine that you are walking on a snowy, snowy day.
What would you see? Would children be playing in the snow?
Sledding? Skiing? A snowman? Would you see birds in a tree?
Animals scurrying in the snow? Many postage stamps of the world
depict winter scenes. You can recreate special winter memories
through the use of stamps and covers. Create your own philatelic
winter wonderland. 
Above left – This Canadian stamp, from 1971 is called, Maple Leaf in
Winter. Above right, top – A U.S. stamp, Winter Sunday in Norway,
Maine, is from 1969. Two people are out walking, while others are riding
in a sleigh. Above right, bottom - Winter Pastime, by Nathan Currier, was
issued in 1976 and shows people ice skating on a pond.
Above – Available in late 2014, this set
of U.S. stamps is called, Winter Fun. One
of the stamps shows a child making a
snow angel and another making a snowman. Top, middle – This U.S. set of four
was issued in 1982 and shows children
sledding, building a snowman, ice skating, and trimming a tree. Right – A 2014
souvenir sheet from Ukraine showing
winter animals. Bottom – A handpainted
ACE (Art Cover Exchange) cover showing brownies trying to skate and sled on
an old mill pond. Below – A die-cut poster stamp from Wausau, Wis., promoting
skiing. Center - A Phil Stamp cover
showing the dangers of ice skating.
Page 5
Across the Fence Post
January 2015
WFSC Show Schedule
(Some dates and details may be subject to change, and there will likely be additional listings.)
List your show, bourse, auction or other event here!
Contact Karen Weigt, 4184 Rose Ct., Middleton, WI 53562.
Phone: 608-836-1509 ([email protected])
WFSC CLUB SHOWS
February 7, 2015
JANESVILLE EXHIBITION
& BOURSE
Janesville Stamp Club
Ramada Inn
3900 Milton Ave.
Janesville, WI
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Contact: Aimée Devine
608-758-1354
[email protected]
May 16-17, 2015
March 14-15, 2015
WISCOPEX ’15
Wisconsin Federation
of Stamp Clubs
84th Annual Convention
Retlaw Plaza Hotel
One North Main Street
Fond du Lac, WI
Contact: Karen Weigt
4184 Rose Ct.
Middleton, WI 53562
608-836-1509 [email protected]
ROCKFORD ’15
Rockford Stamp Club
Forest Hills Lodge
1601 W. Lane Rd. (Hwy. 173)
Rockford/Loves Park, IL
July 2015
March 7-8, 2015
STAMPFEST ’15
Milwaukee Philatelic Society
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Hall
1435 So. 92nd St.
West Allis, WI
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 10am-3pm
Contact: Carol Schutta
6814 Southview Cir.
West Bend, WI 53090
262-388-1453
[email protected]
March 21, 2015
BAYPEX ’15
Green Bay Philatelic Society
St. Matthew Catholic Church
Multipurpose Room
2575 S. Webster Ave.
(parking in rear)
Green Bay, WI
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Ray D. Perry
920-469-8925
[email protected]
April 19, 2015
DANEPEX ’15
Badger Stamp Club
Crowne Plaza Hotel
4402 E. Washington St.
(across from the East Towne Mall)
Madison, WI
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Bob Voss
P.O. Box 35
McFarland, WI 53558
608-838-1033
[email protected]
April 25, 2015
OUTAPEX ’15
Outagamie Philatelic Society
VFW Hall
501 Richmond St.
Appleton, WI
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Corey Gertner
P. O. Box 11
Appleton, WI 54912
920-257-4028
[email protected]
Page 6
BAY DE NOC STAMP
& COIN SHOW
Bay de Noc Stamp and Coin Club
Bay College, M-Tech Building
(on 30th Street)
Escanaba, MI
10am to 3pm Eastern Daylight Time
Contact: Mark Kuehn
7019 Co Rd 426, M.5 Road,
Gladstone, MI 49837
906-786-2103
[email protected]
July 25, 2015
10th LAKELAND COIN
& STAMP CLUB
SUMMER SHOW
Lakeland Coin and Stamp Club
Woodruff Town Hall
Hwy. 47E
Woodruff, WI
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contact: Dean Marin
9030 Blumstein Rd.
Woodruff, WI 54568
715-356-9453
OTHER MAJOR
SHOWS AND BOURSES
January 10-11, 2015
MSDA WINTER STAMP SHOW
Midwest Stamp Dealers Association
Comfort Inn
600 Milwaukee Ave.
Prospect Heights, IL
March 13-15, 2015
ASDA MIDWEST POSTAGE
STAMP SHOW
American Stamp Dealers Assoc.
Linder Conference Center
610 E. Butterfield Rd.
Lombard, IL
April 18-19, 2015
MSDA SPRING STAMP SHOW
Midwest Stamp Dealers Association
Comfort Inn
600 Milwaukee Ave.
Prospect Heights, IL
12/14
May 22-24, 2015
COMPEX ’15
Chicago Area Philatelic Societies
District 214 Fieldhouse
2121 So. Goebbert Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL
June 27-28, 2015
J.D. MANVILLE - OWNER - CELL 715 — 498 —1111
www.jadecostampandhobby.com
9/15
When paying for ads, please remember
to make the check out to the WFSC.
MSDA SHOW MILWUAUKEE
Midwest Stamp Dealers Association
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Hall
1435 So. 92nd St.
July 11-12, 2015
MSDA SUMMER STAMP SHOW
Midwest Stamp Dealers Association
Comfort Inn
600 Milwaukee Ave.
Prospect Heights, IL
July 17-19, 2015
MINNESOTA STAMP EXPO
Maplewood Stamp Club
Twin City Phil. Soc.
Lake Minnesota Stamp Club
Minn. Stamp Dealers Assoc.
Crystal Community Center
4800 N. Douglas Dr. North
Crystal, MN
Call for Materials
Your input to Across the Fence Post
is not only important on a regular basis,
but is also urgently needed. Please consider
writing a letter to the editor, a feature
article, or even a caption for your favorite
cover or philatelic item.
Please send submissions to Editor Aimée
Devine ([email protected]) or
2111 E. Luther Rd., Janesville, WI 53545.
July 24-26, 2015
NSDA SUMMER SHOW
White Eagle Banquet Hall
6839 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Niles, IL
PLEASE!
We maintain one of the
largest inventories
of United States stamps
in the Midwest.
See us at —
Double check dates and
times for all shows.
There have been several
changes since the show
calendar (orange insert in
the Sept. issue of ATFP)
was printed.
JANESVILLE SHOW: February 7
STAMPFEST ’15: March 7-8
9/15
Across the Fence Post
January 2015