Stamp Community Family of Web Sites
Thousands of stamps, consistently graded, competitively priced and hundreds of in-depth blog posts to read
Stamp Community Forum
 
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.
Welcome Guest! Need help? Got a question? Inherit some stamps?
Our stamp forum is completely free! Register Now!

Rip Herbert Trenchard, From An APS Email Blast.

 
To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
Author Previous TopicReplies: 2 / Views: 585Next Topic  
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1069 Posts
Posted 10/24/2023   6:48 pm  Show Profile Check docgfd's eBay Listings Bookmark this topic Add docgfd to your friends list Get a Link to this Message
[from the APS]

Closed Album: Dr. Herbert Allen Trenchard (1931-2023)

Closed Album: Dr. Herbert Allen Trenchard (1931-2023)
10/24/2023

APS and APRL mourn the loss of the "Dean of U.S. Philatelic History."
It is with deep sadness that the American Philatelic Society (APS) and the American Philatelic Research Society (APRL) announce the passing of Dr. Herbert "Herb" Trenchard, the dean of U.S. philatelic history.

Herb Trenchard came to stamp collecting in 1944, when his high school librarian gave him copies of Stamps magazine to read. During these formative years, he began buying stamps from local New Orleans dealers. His busy college years studying physics brought an end to his active collecting of stamps, but he continued to request, receive and collect many auction catalogues.

In 1955, Herb attended his first philatelic auction, the sale of the Caspary collection at H.R. Harmer, Inc. in New York City. While the items were beyond his budget, it stirred in him the idea of obtaining every U.S. stamp auction catalog ever printed. He soon began requesting catalogs from every philatelic auction house he could find, from the biggest firms to the most obscure. To fill in those catalogs that had already been published, he contacted Sy Colby and Lou Robbins, who regularly attended many of the New York City auctions, and purchased their collections of older catalogs; Herb also enlisted their help in obtaining more recent catalogs from sales that he was unable to attend.

Exploring every avenue in his quest to build his collection, Herb next reached out to prominent philatelic editor and publisher Harry Lindquist, securing from him every auction catalog that he had received in the course of his career. No longer satisfied with only U.S. catalogs, Herb then turned his attention to acquiring British and European auction catalogs as well. His professional work as a theoretical physicist involved frequent trips to Europe, where he made time to visit auction houses and stamp dealers, adding many important older catalogues to his collection.

In 1961, following time in the Army, Herb moved his family to University Park, Maryland which led to one of the most important turns in his philatelic life: a close relationship with U.S. philatelic bibliophile George Turner. Through this close and lifelong relationship, Turner encouraged Herb to become more involved in organized philately, beginning lifelong passion for documenting organized philatelic history, specifically U.S. philatelic history.

Meanwhile, Herb's collection of catalogs continued to grow. As of 1975, his holdings totaled over 75,000 items. Then in 1984, Herb started a new collection. This collection contained materials related to the history of stamp collecting, or as he described it "anything connected with stamp collecting except stamps." Those items of philatelic ephemera were kept in a number of albums, boxes, file cabinets, and book cases, and included items like business cards, cinderellas, show programs, postcards, and photographs on such topics as:

Stamp Dealers
Philatelic Exhibitions
Famous Collectors and their Collections
Early Philatelic History in America
S. Locals
Forgers and Forgeries
Early Philatelists who Impacted U.S. Philately
First Day Ceremonies
The Famous Americans issue of 1940
Special Areas of Postal History
The St. Louis Bears
Ionian Islands
By the early 2000s, Herb's collection totaled over 90,000 items, and in 2018, Herb and his family reached out to the APRL began the process of donating his vast holdings for inclusion in the library's collection. This enormous and unique collection of catalogs and other ephemera, which arrived on 24 pallets in over 600 bankers boxes, is an invaluable resource for collectors, dealers, expertizers and researchers interested in provenance, values and condition of philatelic auction items over time.

"It was a genuine pleasure and honor getting to know Dr. Trenchard on the visits we made to pick up his extraordinary collection of literature as a donation to the library," said Scott Tiffney, APRL librarian and APS Director of Information Services. "During these visits he often spoke of his love for the library and the importance of it as a research treasure for the APS and the worldwide philatelic community. His dedication to the library's mission is expressed in this lasting gift of his collection to the APRL."

As a prolific writer, Herb's articles have appeared in nearly every major U.S. philatelic journal including The American Philatelist, the U.S. Chronicle, Penny Post, Philatelic Literature Review, Collectors Club Philatelist, Postal History Journal, Linn's Stamp News and First Days. Herb was also actively involved in a number of philatelic organizations over his lifetime. He served in every office of the Washington Philatelic Society, including its presidency, was a member of the Board of Directors of SIPEX (the 1966 U.S. international exhibition), and was on the NAPEX Board from 1960 to 1980. He was also member of the Board of the American Ceremony Program Society.

Herb joined the American Philatelic Society in 1970 and eventually became a Life Member of the Society. He was appointed to the APRL Board of Trustees in 1986 and also served as the board's Vice President. His unique qualifications as a philatelic historian were put to good use in serving as historian and archivist for various organizations such as the Baltimore Philatelic Society, the Washington Philatelic Society and the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs, culminating in his notable appointment as APS Historian in 1993.

His membership on the APS Hall of Fame Committee began in 1973; he later chaired the committee. His philatelic work also included being an active volunteer at the National Postal Museum, serving for a time as an advisor and assistant to the NPM branch of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

"Herb leaves an incredible legacy with the APS and APRL, from his remarkable 23 years on the APRL Board of Trustees and serving as the APS historian. He gave tirelessly in service to his fellow members," said Scott English, Executive Director. "His final act of kindness was leaving his large collection of material to the APRL for the benefit of generations of members to come. We will work to honor his legacy over the years to come."

Dr. Trenchard's contributions to philately have been recognized by the many awards and honors he received over his lifetime, the most significant of which included his designation as a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London; the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award in 2006; the John Luff Award in 1992 for Outstanding Service to the APS; and election to the Hall of Fame of the APS Writers Unit.


Send note to Staff

  Newly listed items on eBay by docgfd. View all docgfd's items on eBay.
Right Now on eBay
Bedrock Of The Community
11511 Posts
Posted 10/24/2023   7:14 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add rogdcam to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Hopefully the APRL is digitizing everything.
Send note to Staff  Go to Top of Page
Pillar Of The Community
United States
7669 Posts
Posted 11/06/2023   6:34 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add floortrader to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
In 2018 he donated 600 banker boxes to the APRL ,has those boxes been sorted and processed into the APRL or are they aviable to researchers intact ? I have to believe 80% of his stuff is already duplicated on the selves of the APRL .

I would like to see what he had on Fakes and Forgeries because my concern is all the records from Sergio Sismondo most likely ended up in the dumpster behind his condo
Send note to Staff  Go to Top of Page
Edited by floortrader - 11/06/2023 6:36 pm
  Previous TopicReplies: 2 / Views: 585Next Topic  
 
To participate in the forum you must log in or register.

Go to Top of Page
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Stamp Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2025 Stamp Community Family - All rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Stamp Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Privacy Policy / Terms of Use    Advertise Here
Stamp Community Forum © 2007 - 2025 Stamp Community Forums
It took 0.19 seconds to lick this stamp. Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.05