This column was written for the Philatelic Literature Review (PLR) by Marsha Garman - APRL Refrence Assistant
Reference work at the American Philatelic Research Library is very interesting work; it’s also very challenging. On any given day, I may receive requests for information on luminescence on stamps, local or bureau precancels, cover information (cachets, cancels, or other markings), identification of stamps, perfins, postcards, or feuillets de luxe (some what?), or the incredibly complex postal rates and routes. I never know what to expect.
What is a feuillet de luxe?
An introductory paragraph from Catalogue Officiel NET Belgique 1986 about Feiullets de luxe is translated by Google as follows: “[These sheets with unperforated stamps and in the original colors, are issued by the Regie des Postes and have no postage value.]”
The sheets I have found in the catalogs commemorate a special event. I have found feuillets de luxe listed with several countries: Belgium, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zaire, and Rwanda, to name a few. These sheets are collected by some of our members and, from what I have seen from the catalogs, they sell for a much higher value than the stamps
As I am not an expert on feuillets de luxe, I would appreciate any further insights or corrections about this genre.
After nearly two years in my position as the reference assistant, I don’t believe I have made it through one day without learning something new. Well, if not learning, at least I have been exposed to something new. I love my job, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by what I still do not know. Where do I start?
Here, I will share the broad strokes I take in my approach to answering your research requests. In subsequent columns, I will get down to the nitty-gritty research for specific topics and the resources available in our library.
Some requests are easy. Can you give me the Scott catalog value for the French airpost stamp C17? Absolutely!
Most requests, however, require more digging. Sometimes the digging starts with going back to the patron. At times, the requests I receive are too broad: Can you send me a catalog on locals? Or too cryptic: I have an old 2-cent stamp with a woman in a veil. Can you identify it? These requests require my getting back to the patron to clarify their needs. Which country, state, city or type of locals are you researching? Can you send an image of your 2-cent stamp for identification?
On the other hand, the lack of information may be due to gaps in my knowledge on the subject. What is a feuillets de luxe anyway? Is Kiribati a country? Where is Dahomey located? When my knowledge on a particular topic is lacking, I start with an internet search. A quick search will usually give me enough background on an unknown subject to enable me to begin my search in the library.
Once I have a clear idea of what I am looking for, I start with the library catalog. I search the catalog in two ways, depending on the type of material I am trying to find. If the patron is looking for material that is specific to the APRL – such as books, catalogs, or archival material – I will limit my search to our library’s online catalog. Using keyword searches on various related terms will usually find some material on the subject if we have it.
If I don’t find anything through my first search, or if the patron is looking for journal articles, I will do an “articles” search. Article searching is a new feature in our upgraded catalog. I find it very helpful. Article searching is not limited to the APRL, so the results will return titles that have been indexed by several libraries, usually resulting in some positives hits on the subject. The APRL journal holdings include nearly all journal titles held by the other libraries in our shared database, so if a title comes up in the results list, it will most likely be available through our library even if it has been indexed by another library.
Many requests can be answered through a catalog search, but if I still haven’t found something, or if what I have found doesn’t fully answer the request, I will look through a relative index/bibliography, search our Digital Library journals, or take a look in the archives for more information.
If I still come up empty, I will try to contact someone with expertise in the field who may have the answer or can point me in the correct direction.
Once I have pulled the materials from my search, I will review them to see if they contain the information the patron seeks. I have found that even though the title and/or subject terms seem to point to a correct resource, when I review the material I find there is minimal information (or none) on the desired subject. On the other hand, if I find the resource is spot on, I may look for additional material on the subject in its bibliography. I have found some of the best resources in this manner.
After gathering some possible resources, I will email or call the patron with my annotated list to see if they are interested in having anything sent. I include a reminder of the cost to borrow materials or have pages scanned. Sometimes the patron will have further information or detail that will require me to do more research, and the process begins again. It’s a good thing I love this work!
In my next column, I will discuss the resources used for finding federal and state revenue stamps.
To make a reference request, contact Marsha at [email protected]. There is no charge for reference requests that take relatively little time. Research work, however, is charged at $20/hr. You will be notified if your request is considered research work and be given an estimate for the amount of time it may take to complete.
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