In the November – December 2021 – No. 461 of First Days (the Journal of the American First Day Cover Society) an article profiling Cachetmaker: Tom Mueller by Pat Morgan was published. Pat wrote the article with encouragement from David Zubatsky, Tony Dewey and Martin Miller. The article was edited by Lesa Morgan and the final edit was performed by Martin Miller.

The objective of this article was to highlight the life and talent of the Cachetmaker: Tom Mueller.  The goals were to share; personal experiences in having known and worked with Tom, how he came to become a cachet maker, how his hobbies and passion influenced his works, the uniqueness of one of the very few cachet makers to use oil paint on paper covers, illustrations that support the story in addition to the cachets, remind collectors of the AFDCS Rookie of the Year and Best Cachet of the Year for 1991 that Tom was awarded, and have the reader get to know Tom and appreciate his talents that he has shared with the world of philately over the last 30 years.

Hopefully, you will enjoy the article!

The Perf-Dispatch newsletter of the Greater Mound City Stamp club was also judged, in addition to 27 others, and was awarded a Large Vermeil Medal.

The Greater Mound City Stamp Club website was judged, in addition to 28 others, and was awarded a Large Gold Medal.  This ranking puts it in the top 5 of all websites judged.

The Perf-Dispatch newsletter of the Greater Mound City Stamp club was also judged, in addition to 27 others, and was awarded a Large Vermeil Medal.

In 2022, hopefully the GMCSC will continue to impress and grow philately through our website and newsletter.

Authored By: Edward Bayham

In the February 2021 issue of the Perf-Dispatch, John Marquardt described the role of the Royal Navy in
transferring British gold reserves to Canada for safe keeping during WW II. Did you know that the U.S.
Navy played a role as well?

Germany invaded France, Holland, and Belgium on May 10, 1940. 405 tons of French gold reserves were
removed to Halifax Canada on a French aircraft carrier and two fast cruisers. Another 212 tons of gold
were transported to Casablanca in French Morocco on May 28 and transferred to the U.S. Navy’s
armored cruiser U.S.S. Vincennes (CA-44) that brought it to New York. The illustrated cover documents the
ship’s return via the Azores.

In March 1941 the U.S.S. Vincennes called on Pernambuco, Brazil and continued on to Cape Town, South
Africa. It returned to New York City with ₤67.5 million in British gold bullion to pay for arms purchased
from the United States under the Lend Lease Act of March 1941.