Rukov__ pro sb_ratele Hradcany
(Manual for Hradcany Collectors),
by Frantiŕek Hamr and Ji_Ě Čkaloud, Svaz _eskách filatelistu ve spoluprěci s _eskou poŕtou
(Union of Czech Philatelists and the Czech Post, PragueŰ1998)
None of our readers need be told that the Hradcany series is comprised of the first stamps issued by Czechoslovakia. Nor do they have to be told that it is a long series much beloved by collectors of Czechoslovak stamps everywhere. In fact this series was recently the subject of an exhibit in Japan. Nor do they need to be told that it is a series much studied because of its interesting variations in paper, color, perforations, plate flaws, damaged and repaired plates as well as interesting usages. This issue has also been the subject of several good monographs and handĄbooks. So why do we need another one, you ask.
Whether another handbook is needed can be debated. Probably not for the average collector, but for the advanced collector interested in Hrad_any there is never enough information. Hamr and Čkaloud have made a useful contribution to the study and collecting of the Hradcany series. They have taken this large subject and organized it into two main sections, each with 17 sub sections. The first section is the basic information on the stamps, their design, printing, paper, colors, perforations, unissued stamps, counterfeits, uses, stationary, covers, perfins, cancellations, statistics, postal rates, and references. The second half is just as detailed, but here the authors deal with pricing these stamps in all their variations.
The book extensively illustrates the main retouches (repairs), joined types and the currently much in vogue, column types. These illustrations show the specific stamps by plate position and describe their differences in detail. Another aid to the collector are the detailed tables covering the many variations considered. The cancellation types used on Hrad_any stamps are also fully illustrated. Especially useful to me are the illustrations of the postal stationery bearing the Hrad_any stamps.
Unfortunately the text is in Czech. There is a useful summary in English and German, but in my view it is much to short. Nevertheless, this handbook will be useful even to the non-Czech speaker because of the tables and illustrations. And with the help of the SocietyĚs Glossary of Philatelic Terminology even the more detailed texts should be manageable.
The authors promise a similar companion volume which will cover the Hrad_any stamps with over prints, like the first air mail series, postage dues, and stamps used in the plebiscite territories. This companion handbook is scheduled to be available in time for the Brno 2000 exhibition.
Jaroslav J Verner