History of Ornithology

1/3) Let's take a look at this postcard acknowledging receipt of a remittance for the monthly periodical The Ornithologist and Oologist (O&O). As a collector of ornithology’s postal history, it's an exciting addition to my collection. Why?... #ornithology #philately

2/3) ...Because it is signed by Eaton Cliff, who was the journal’s unpaid editor for just two years: 1884–85. It records a remittance of $4.80 paid not just for the O&O ($1.50), but for the weekly Forest and Stream ($4.00). The math doesn’t add up, suggesting a bundled discount deal.

1/2) This 1933 postcard was sent to Waldo Lee McAtee (1883-1962) in his capacity as Treasurer of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU), a post he held for 18 years (1920-38). He had joined the Union in 1903, the same year he joined the Bureau of Biological Survey. #ornithology #philately

The theme for ORAPEX 2027 is “Social Philately”, and I’m honoured to have my work listed among the recommended resources. A wonderful recognition of a growing area of philately that explores the stories, people, and communities behind the stamps and postal history. #philately

1/3) This c.1949, philatelically-inspired cover from Niamey, Niger, addressed to Miss. Serle at 64 Strathearn Rd, Edinburgh, was likely sent by the Scottish doctor and ornithologist William Serle, who was listed at this address in 1950s editions of IBIS and the BOC Bulletin. #ornithology #philately

2/3) William Serle travelled to Africa in 1937 as a medical doctor, living 20 years in Nigeria and Cameroon. In 1957 he returned to Scotland to become a minister. He was ordained in 1959 and made minister of Drumoak Church, where he served 28 years and to where this Cameroon cover was addressed.

1/3) The Cooper Ornithological Club (COC) was founded 133 years ago today, on 22 June 1893. One week later, this postal card was sent to William Otto Emerson (1856-1940), a founding member of the club, and of its forerunner, the California Ornithological Club. #ornithology #philately

2/3) The 1¢ Grant postal card, addressed to Emerson at his home in Haywards, California, is from William Dutcher (1846-1920) in his capacity as AOU Treasurer. Emerson had joined the AOU as an associate member in 1885. Dutcher writes seeking a reply to an earlier letter sent 25 May.

1/3) #Ornithology and #philately collide with Danish ornithologist Peter Skovgaard. In 1920 he founded Dansk Ornithologisk Central (DOC) and the journal Danske Fugle, launching a bird-ringing scheme that eventually marked over 256,000 birds. He sent this 1943 DOC cover to his nephew Roland.

2/3) Skovgaard (1887-1972), pictured, manufactured his own aluminium bird rings, but obtaining metal was not always easy. He therefore reached an agreement with a supplier interested in stamps: aluminium in exchange for the more unusual postage stamps received on letters reporting ringed birds.

1/3) In 1852, a fifteen-year-old boy left Cornwall carrying a newly issued midshipman's ticket. His first voyage took place on the pioneering first official mail service between Britain and Australia by steamship. #philately #history #Australia

2/3) Four years later, he found himself on another historic voyage: helping transport the descendants of the Bounty mutineers to Norfolk Island aboard a ship commanded by a tyrannical captain.

(1/3) It's May 10, so here's a 10 May 1905 cover sent by the natural history dealer Frank Haak Lattin to William H. Fisher at 1318 Bolton Street, Baltimore, Maryland. This was the stockbroker William Harmanus Fisher Sr., a pioneer Maryland ornithologist and bird photographer. #ornithology #philately

(2/3) Fisher resided at the Bolton Street address during the mid-1900s before moving to Calvert Street by 1910. He joined the American Ornithologists' Union in 1895 and contributed to publications including Lattin's The Oölogist, in which his portrait (shown here) appeared in the April 1895 issue.

(1/3) This 3c postal stationery cover, postmarked Washington D.C., 21 May 1863, is addressed to Addison Emery Verrill at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ). A Smithsonian Institution handstamp at top left marks it as a trace of MCZ efforts to build its collection. #ornithology #philately

(2/3) Verrill had been appointed, while still a Harvard student, by MCZ founder Louis Agassiz to oversee and develop the museum's nascent bird collection. In the 1862 annual report, Verrill reported that the holdings had increased by 2,274 specimens representing more than 450 species.

(1/2) A 6 Dec 1926 cover from the Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union to Bradshaw Hall Swales (1875-1928), Honorary Assistant Curator of Birds at the U.S. National Museum. Swales became Honorary Custodian of birds’ eggs in 1918, advancing to his curatorial role in 1921. #ornithology #philately