Jesse Spector, MD led an open discussion entitled “Philately in the 21st Century”. The Train has left the station. Are you onboard?
When in the late 1990s, he was encouraged by an ardent philatelist to resurrect the hobby of his youth, Jesse returned to stamp collecting with a passion. Over a decade he built up extensive U.S., British North America, and Finland collections. Granted, quality was less a concern than filling up empty spaces. And oh, the pleasure of eclectic back of the book collecting.
So, what then, with his pleasure at a high, was the seemingly concurrent paradox of membership in philatelic societies and clubs dropping, even precipitously, venerable publications barely surviving or going out of existence, and jam-packed aisles at philatelic shows often now but a distant memory.
We all know the answer, albeit reluctantly accepted, that times change. George Bernard Shaw opined that “progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” Well then, if progress is inevitable, and that includes buggy whips, oil lamps, ice boxes and rug beaters going by the wayside, are certain avocations also on the chopping block.
Enjoy this discussion and the excellent discussion that followed.