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Stamp Collecting For The Cyclist, Ronald F Sudbury (1981)
Harry Hayes Philatelic Study 0 905222 42 3 Octo 60pp
An illustrated catalogue of stamps issued between 1887 and 1979
that feature bicycles
 
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In the genus of hobbies, stamp collecting comes below even trainspotting
for the Asbergersesque associations it carries. Offering to take a prospect
upstairs to 'show off your stamp collection' is a dependable dampener
of unwanted advances, regardless of their ardor.
So it was with heavy heart that I picked up this list compiled by Ronald
F Sudbury. Marrying cyclists with stamp collectors, as he has, would surely
give some the impression that cyclists were, well, boring obsessives,
I figured?
I can't pretend that leafing through this catalogue did much to assuage
my predjudice - although the frequent use of the bicycle on stamp designs
does reinforce my sense that there is something particularly satisfying
about illustrations that utilise the shape of a safety bicycle. Some nice
designs are reproduced here, to be sure. And the Soviet era East European
enthusiasm for cycling stamps resulted in many charming designs.
But do, please, resist the idea that it might be 'interesting' to start
collecting these lick-to-sticks. The beneficial effects of bicycling on
the butt, and the profile-enhancing qualities of lycra will be as nothing,
if members of the opposite sex think for a moment that stamp collectors
and cyclists appear anywhere on the same spectrum.
PS June 09
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