Hello from America

Joe Coulbourne checking in. Jan just got me access so I thought I would drop a note. I collect France & Colonies stamps (used up to 1900 and mint/mint not hinged from that point forward). I also collect the precancels and perfins and am more of a fanatic on them. My wife is French and from Vitry le Francoise hence my love of France. I still work although I am close to my 3rd retirement. I like unusual covers and frequently write articles for perfin clubs and precancel societies here in the USA.

Hello Joe
Glad to have you on-board. Look forward to seeing a small piece from you on your perfins.
Welcome!
Cheers
Jan

Hello Joe. Mick Bister here, your Journal Manager.
Welcome to the website and forum. I hope you will find lots of useful information in the back numbers of the Journal.
So, your wife comes from Vitry-le-François. We pass through Vitry or near it each summer on our way down to Burgundy. Sometimes we stay overnight at La Chaussée-sur-Marne which you will know. Didn't make it this year though for obvious reasons.
I have several collections on France, too many in fact, but one of my favourites is the stamps of the 1960s. I was a student in France in 1962 and when I wrote letters home I discovered the beauty of French issues compared to the dismal productions in GB. I have all the 1960s stamps mint - that's the easy part - but I also collect single usage of each stamp on cover according to the rate it was intended for. Some of the rates are not easy to find and I still have gaps after 58 years.
Take care
Mick