Stamp Collector Allen Bohart Interview
Allen Bohart is the Chairman of the Americana Series Study Group (ASSG), a member group of the United States Stamp Society (USSS). The ASSG is dedicated to the study of the definitive series known as the Americana Series of United States postage stamps, which were issued from 1975 to 1981. Recently, ephemera talked with Allen about the joys and challenges of stamp collecting.
ephemera: When did your passion for stamp collecting begin? What's kept it going?
Bohart: I started collecting stamps when I was eight years old. A teacher in my elementary school started a little stamp club, and I thought it would be a lot of fun. I've always had an interest in research and history, so philately fit well with those interests--and has kept my interest level up for all these years. In the past 10 years or so, my interests have migrated away from stamps and more towards the postal history side of things, though I still maintain several stamp collections as well.
ephemera: A lot of accomplished collectors get started young. It sounds like you've found a way to keep things fresh. What other challenges or obstacles do you encounter in collecting? How do you overcome these challenges?
Bohart: The biggest challenge in philately is finding some of those hard to get items for your collection. When you do find them, you need to be ready for them. You have to put money aside to prepare for the day you find that prize item. Often, those items are expensive due to their relative scarcity, so the financial considerations are not trivial.
ephemera: What are your favorite items in your collection, and how/why do they inspire you?
Bohart: My favorite item is a stampless folded letter from my hometown of Elmira, NY, dating back to 1837. It is written by a lady who is describing her vacation in Elmira to her Aunt in Boston. Elmira was founded as a city in 1821, so this cover was only 16 years after the city was founded. I continue to look for earlier letters and envelopes, in the hopes that I will eventually find something that dates back to 1821.
ephemera: That's a fascinating story. What other areas of stamp collecting interest you?
Bohart: I also have a specialized collection of the Americana Series of United States stamps that were issued from 1975 through 1981. This represents a fascinating period of U.S. history in which the country saw a lot of changes in society, politics, economics, and of course the Postal Service.
ephemera: What's your advice to achieving success as a collector?
Bohart: I guess that would largely depend on what you would define as success for a collector. If you enjoy the time you spend on your collection, I think most collectors would deem that as success. On another note, I think that collectors should define what a collection means to them, rather than following what others are doing. The more personal your collection is, the more it will mean to you, and the more enjoyment you will get out of it. I see way too many people out there who collect for the sheer numbers of it, either numerically or financially, and I think that those people are not getting the full experience that collecting has to offer.
ephemera: Thank you, Allen. It's been a pleasure speaking with you, and good luck with your quest to find more early Elmira items.
For more information on stamp collecting, check out these great books.
Scott 2007 Us Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps
