This is an article, by J. Murray Bartels*, on the early days of the United states National Museum Collection, was originally published in April, 1914.

“Mr. Joseph B. Leavy, of New York, has been “on the job” at the U.S. National Museum, since early November, 1913 and is making much progress in arranging and mounting the stamp collection, writes Mr. J. Murray Bartels to the Philatelic Gazette.

We may briefly mention that the Government is extremely fortunate in securing the services of such an experienced and ardent philatelist. The committee appointed by the American Philatelic Society at its annual Convention last August held its first meeting at the Museum on February 21st.

Present were Messrs. Beck, Leavy, Morris, Wheaton and Bartels. It was decided to request Mr. Leavy to furnish for publication a list of U.S. and other stamps, which were missing in the collection and to request donations in this manner. In many instances stamps of a quite common nature are wanted and, of course, there are no funds available for the purchase.

Mr. Leavy is doing very attractive work in mounting. The lettering is done on a typewriter before the stamps are mounted. Two sizes of type are represented on the machine in use, which makes it possible to have inscriptions in two sizes of capitals. The effect is very neat and considerably ahead of anything we have seen accomplished by the use of a typewriter. We are pleased to state that in his work Mr. Leavy is not confining himself to the use of any one catalogue, but is sufficiently discerning to use his own judgment, according to the requirements of each individual case.

In U.S. and Colonial Possessions, spaces are left for all known varieties, in order to properly record their existence and to emphasise the fact that certain things are missing. This may also be an aid in securing donations from collectors visiting the Museum.

We understand that a suitable cabinet is being constructed to hold the collection, when mounted. Protection against light is, of course, a salient feature.

The Museum is in possession of considerable material in the nature of valuable duplicates, which according to present-day market quotations, would run nicely along into five figures. Most notable among these are nearly a whole sheet of each value of the much-prized bluish experimental paper of current design.

It is hoped that some means may be devised ere long to convert such duplicates for the benefit of the regular collection, either by means of exchange, or for the establishment of a fund, which would be used for purchasing missing specimens. It can already be stated, without exaggeration that this collection will be of great value for study and reference, even to the advanced collector.

For instance, in Austria, we find the early issues, each followed by the various printings of reprints, the value of which, is constantly growing in importance, as the number of specialising collectors increases.

Mr. Leavy’s contract, we believe, is to run for a year, but the work can impossibly be finished in so short a time. There has been some talk of making the position of government philatelist a permanent one, but the relatively small compensation and other requirements, are certainly a very small inducement to any man, who might be considered in the same class as the present incumbent.

*An interesting footnote, with regards to Mr. Bartels, appeared in The Postage Stamp, a few months later (19 September 19, 1914):

‘Well-known Dealer in Königsberg

There appears to be some uncertainty as to the whereabouts of Mr. J. Murray Bartels, who came from New York to go to Cassel, reaching the latter place on July 28th. In the Philatelic Gazette, it is stated that ‘Owing to the declaration of war, and the postponement of the Exhibition, Mr. Bartels went to Königsberg, where he still is, being unable to leave the country.’

I hear Bartels cannot get his stamps out of Germany, though he could come himself.”