Electronic resources: National Postal Museum Announces Launch of Centralized Gateway to World’s Greatest Philatelic Research

9 June 2012
Source: The Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum announces the launch of the Global Philatelic Library website, a centralized information gateway to the world’s greatest philatelic research. Founding partners include the National Postal Museum and Smithsonian Libraries in Washington, D.C., the Royal Philatelic Society London and the American Philatelic Research Library in Bellefonte, Pa.

The website establishes a single destination — a responsive centralized gateway — by which philatelists around the world can search, locate and access philatelic research from partner libraries in real time, from any computer. Searchable listings of books and publications, as well as resource locations and access, are now just a click away, providing invaluable resources to those doing philatelic research.

- World-class collection of printed, electronic and other media

- Access and support for beginners, hobbyists, specialists, writers and postal historians

- International collaboration and cooperation with philatelic libraries and museums around the world

- Anthology of fascinating, informative and sometimes even scandalous articles written throughout the past century about philately and some of the people involved in its history.

“All involved with this project should be congratulated,” said Alan Holyoake, internationally known philatelist. “The introduction of a centralized gateway must be one of the most important developments ever to have taken place within the ‘philatelic’ world. I fully expect this centralized gateway to rapidly allow philatelists from around the world to not only enhance their knowledge but also establish relationships and friendships with others around the globe.”

The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world.