TEXTILE STAMP
COLLECTING:
WHAT IS IT?
You may be a
long time topical
stamp collector.
Or you may be
new to stamp
collecting. We
will introduce you
to Textile Stamp
Collecting, the best and most flexible topical
collecting area. Of course, we are not
prejudiced, not at all!
The textile field is very broad and very old.
Textiles have been found in archeological sites
dating back many thousands of years.
Processes such as carding, spinning, and hand
weaving were developed very early.
As time went on the processes were improved
and mechanized to increase production with
less labor. Time became available to decorate
the textiles. Yarn and fabric dying were
developed. Embroidery and other types of
needlework decorated the fabrics. Special
decorative fabrics were produced, such as lace
produced by methods like crochet.
Postage stamps go back
only to 1840. Paralleling
the development of
textiles, the first stamps
were very plain,
intended only to
indicate that postage
was paid. As time went
on people discovered
that pictures on the
stamps could tell others a lot about their
country and its crafts. The earliest Textile
stamps appeared in the 1890’s, Canada was
depicting Queen Victoria with extensive lace.
Stamps showing wool-bearing animals
appeared about the same time. Queen
Elizabeth of Romania was shown working on
a handloom in the early 1900’s.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
category for many
textile issues is not easy
to determine. A
number of Textile
stamp issues fit into
several categories. A
third checklist has
recently been added:
Folk Costumes.
As a
member
you receive
four copies
of the
TextileRama
newsletter each year, with six to ten pages in
each issue. The content includes new Textile
issues, articles about various phases of Textile
topical collecting, background on production
and decorative techniques, and many others.
Contributions by members are encouraged.
The checklists are updated in each TextileRama issue.
Also as a member you have access to our
checklists. We have these in two forms, "By
Category" and "By Country". Since many
members only collect a limited range of textile
stamps, the "By Category" list is most popular.
The "By Country" is popular for those who
collect a wide range of
textile stamps, as it is
very useful when
examining a dealers
stock. Each checklist is
over 90 pages long. The
current cost is listed in
Textile-Rama.
Incidentally, when using
the list be sure to check
similar categories for a complete listing. For
example, check both embroidery and
needlework for decorative work. For lace,
crochet also needs to be checked. The
Please mail your request for membership,
using the attached form, with the dues to:
Lillian L. Monson, 1062 Bramblewood Drive,
Castle Rock CO 80108-3643. A check needs
to be made out to Lillian L. Monson, with the
purpose written on the "memo" line. The
subscription begins with the beginning of the
current calendar year, so
any issues already
distributed will be mailed
to you.
All back issues of Textile-Rama are available.
An index through 1999 is available to
members upon request.
Dues are nominal, but are subject to change.
To ensure you get the current amount, please
contact Lillian Monson at the address or e-mail
listed below. We suggest paying for two years
at one time to save on postage for you and for
the Textile Unit.
If you have any further
questions, please don't
hesitate to forward them,
either by mail or by email: textilerama@mindspring.com. Our
unofficial website is found at
www.caratexstamps.com.
TEXTILE
MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
Name:
STUDY UNIT
A UNIT OF THE
AMERICAN TOPICAL ASSOCIATION
Address:
Postal (Zip) Code
Country
Telephone
E-Mail
ATA Member: Y N Number
APS Member: Y N Number
Collecting Interests:
Mail application with dues payment in US
dollars to:
Lillian L. Monson
1062 Bramblewood Drive
Castle Rock CO 80108-3643
USA
1 June 2007
From Fibers to Finished Fashions
Including Processes and
Decorative Arts