July 2018 - Hungaria Stamp Exchange

Today, Alan is looking at cabinet drawings for the new Hungaria Stamp Exchange library which is currently under construction and planning for its opening Fall 2018. It becomes apparent it is now time to reflect on how did this little stamp trading club comprised of Budapest friends come this far? A brief journey back in time to Budapest in the late 1920’s finds Béla Bauer, Alan’s father, trading Hungarian postal stamps with members of his close circle of friends in Budapest. At that time, while not studying for dental school, Béla’s other hobbies include writing music and trips with friends to Lake Balaton.

Hungarian FDC sent to
Sec. Béla Bauer in NYC

Béla Bauer married and moved to the United States in the early 1940’s. He arrived in New York City to start his new dental laboratory and get his family settled into his newfound homeland. He soon joined a local stamp club, Hungarian Philatelic Society, and filled the role of the secretary of the organization.

Once Béla and his family moved from New York City to central New York State, he started a small part-time stamp business called the Hungaria Stamp Exchange, focusing primarily on Hungarian stamps and some Hungarian postal history.

Hello Friends and Philatelic Collectors,

Here in New England we are welcoming summer with our first heat wave of the season. So, what better time to take a pause and share some of our recent events and conversations.

In May, after Alan presided over the annual meeting of the Society for Hungarian Philately, the Hungaria Stamp Exchange team had the privilege of hosting a scrumptious Eastern European dinner for members of the Society for Hungarian Philately at the Cardinal Spellman Stamp Museum in Weston, Massachusetts. The staff of the Museum kindly offered their community room for the meeting and dinner as well as displaying many frames of their extensive Hungarian collection. The collection even includes a rare Inverted Madonna! Equally amazing was the special exhibit of the US Inverted Jenny that was open at the same time.

Hosts Diane and Alan
Inverted Madonna from Cardinal Spellman
Inverted Jenny Exhibit at the Cardinal Spelllman Museum
Enjoying conversation & food
Magyar Posta Display
Hungaria Stamp Exchange Display
Alan at New England Stamp Show
Festive gathering of SHP members & guests

Thank you to Joe, Jeff & George for sharing their wonderful Museum with us.

The Philatelic Journey of Vic Berecz

Before the start of these festivities, Stacie and Diane had the privilege of interviewing Vic Berecz, an icon of Hungarian philately and one of the founders of the Society for Hungarian Philately. We are delighted to share with you here, highlights of Vic’s view on his specialty The Pioneer Period of Hungarian Airmails, his vision for the creation of the Society for Hungarian Philately and advice for collectors starting their philatelic journey.

Month: July 2018

Budapest Au Revoir: Hungaria Stamp Exchange Retrospective

Fanciful Flights & Hungarian Airmail Vision of Vic Berecz