The American Topical Association is releasing its 161st handbook on topical collecting at APS AmeriStamp in Charleston. The title of the newest handbook is Wild Cats in Art by Greg Balagian, it is the first multi-part book released by the ATA. Extensive in detail, it includes both Scott and Michel numbers for listed stamps.

The new ATA handbook will be of special interest to collectors of art on stamps as well as those interested in feline philately. Wild Cats consists of 357 pages, size 8.5″ x 11″, with more than 2500 high-quality color illustrations. Stamps from 220 countries are listed and illustrated. Hundreds of illustrations have accompanying vignettes that show the details of the felines in the art work of the stamps.

Balagian is a noted philatelist and has exhibited “Big Cats and Humans,” where he showcased the representation of felines in art, religion, literature, entertainment, heraldry and astrology. This book is a natural extension of his interest and expertise.

The graphic designer for the latest ATA handbook is Amanda Morgenstern, a young American philatelist with a BA (Honors) in Graphic Design and an MA in Typographic Design from Cambridge School of Art in the UK. Morgenstern began her career with Hallmark Cards in the UK and is now a freelance designer. Her clientele includes the ATA as well as other US and international entities. In 2009, her work for a client won a Platinum MarCom award. Morgenstern’s online portfolio can be found at http://abovevivid.carbonmade.com/

The professional printing of Wild Cats in Art was done by Minuteman Press of Toledo, Ohio, which is donating a copy of the handbook to the American Philatelic Society. Presentation of newly-printed copies of the book, to the author and Ken Martin, Executive Director of APS, is occurring at an ATA Member Roundtable meeting at APS AmeriStamp in Charleston on Feb. 12.

Price of the new handbook is $75 ($72 for ATA members), plus $3.50 domestic postage. Copies will be available later this year at ATA society tables at the National Topical Stamp Show in Milwaukee, APS StampShow in Columbus, the ASDA National Stamp Show in New York, and Chicagopex. A limited number of books has been printed. After the initial printing will be sold, printed-on-demand books will be available at an approximate cost of $90, domestic delivery included.

Orders for the new ATA handbook may be made by check sent to ATA, PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008, by MasterCard/Visa/Discover called or faxed to the ATA Central Office at 618-985-5100, or by PayPal to americantopical@msn.com.

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Vera Felts
Executive Director
American Topical Association
PO Box 8, Carterville, IL 62918-0008
americantopical@msn.com
http://www.americantopicalassn.org
Phone/Fax: 618-985-5100