The Derleth-Trimpey Correspondence

Ephraim Burt Trimpey of Baraboo, Wisconsin was a photographer and a philatelist. He did photographic work for Arkham House and Derleth, and the two exchanged Christmas greetings. The back of the card featuring John and his wife in a sleigh is the inscription “Again old Dobbin and the Trimpeys bring you friendly Christmas greetings.”  Here are three covers which Derleth saved for the stamps and not the envelopes themselves. I have described the Derleth cinderella elsewhere, but you should also not the strip of three 1 cent National Parks issue with a plate number “21247.” This was a common practice for Derleth. He would include a return envelope addressed with postage — many with collectible plate numbers — to his customers when sending book orders out. When Augie received payment he would add the used plate numbers to his collection. Also note the 1 cent George Washington with plate number “21826″ and the motto “Portraiture of the Better Kind.” It is interesting to contemplate that what is ephemeral and quite disposable one day becomes a collectible in the following decades — in this case seven decades.

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