POSTAL RATES OF CHILE 1766-1959 , CHILECOLLECTOR PUBLICACIONES, Ross Towle

POSTAL RATES OF CHILE / TARIFAS POSTALES DE CHILE

Ross A. Towle has been a collector of Chile since 1974. He is a life member of the American Philatelic Society, American Philatelic Research Library, United Postal Stationery Society, American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, United States Philatelic Classics Society, and Western Philatelic Library. He is a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society, London. And he is a member of Sociedad Filatelica de Chile, Chile Specialists of North America, Meter Stamp Society, Collectors Club (of New York), Collectors Club of San Francisco, American Philatelic Congress, Philatelic Computing Study Group, Postal History Society, Union of Bulgarian Philatelists and other philatelic organizations.

He is the webmaster for WESTPEX (www.westpex.com) and the FIP Postal Stationery Commission (www.postalstationery.org) and. He is a Director of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors and Secretary/Treasurer of the American Philatelic Congress. He is an accredited USA National Judge. He is the Assistant Editor of Postal Stationery the bimonthly organ of the United Postal Stationery Society.

His philatelic interests include Chilean postal stationery, international mail to/from Chile until 1 April 1881, Chilean meters, Chilean auxiliary markings, Chilean postal forms, Chilean postal rates, world-wide "back-of-the-book" postal stationery, International Reply Coupons, Bulgarian postal stationery, Bulgarian postal forms, USA self-adhesive postage stamps, modern USA post office vending envelopes and packets, postal items containing the name "Towle", and philatelic literature.

He is a pioneer in the use of electronic media for philatelic publishing. His international gold medal CDROM Catalog of Chilean Postal Stationery: 1871-1996 consistently received the highest number of points in the electronic literature class in multiple FIP World Philatelic Exhibitions (Italia98, IBRA99, España2000).

AWARDS / MEDALLAS
SESQUICHILE 2003 - Oro / Gold
(Santiago de Chile, Julio 2003)

NAPEX 2004 - Oro / Gold
(Washington DC, Junio 2004)

ESPAÑA 2004 - Vermeil Grande/Large Vermeil
(Valencia, Mayo 2004)

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INTRODUCTION BY

Thomas Kannegiesser A., FRPSL
President
SOCIEDAD FILATELICA DE CHILE

The world of Chilean philately was pleasantly surprised to hear that the work done for so many years and with such painstaking care, by our member and friend Ross A. Towle, was going to be published and thus made available for all the philatelic world's enlightenment. It was an even greater surprise that the debut appearance of the work was to be in conjunction with our International Philatelic Exposition SESQUICHILE 2003, held in Santiago, Chile, July 2003. I am also personally honored to have been asked to write the Introduction to this interesting and deep study.

A well-known refrain says that in order for a man to have a complete life he ought to write a book. Ross has now completed that task.

Philately, in a general sense, is the collection and the study of stamps and other postal issues. Born as a hobby, philately rapidly became a passion for some, acquiring great importance and, amongst other things, giving life to a growing field of specialized literature. The desire to know more about various philatelic issues-- qualities of stamps for collecting, knowledge related to printing, perforation, paper, etc.-- has led many passionate collectors to carry out interesting studies. These studies frequently make important cultural contributions besides being of philatelic interest.

This study of the postal rates of Chilean correspondence merits our deepest respect and recognition because it will allow many of our members to enrich their philatelic knowledge.

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INTRODUCCION POR

Thomas Kannegiesser A., FRPSL
Presidente
SOCIEDAD FILATELICA DE CHILE

La filatelia chilena se ha visto gratamente sorprendida al ser informada que el trabajo realizado durante varios años, con tanto esmero, por nuestro socio y amigo don Ross A. Towle, vería la luz pública para conocimiento de la filatelia mundial. Nuestra sorpresa ha sido aún mayor, no sólo al conocer que la aparición de la obra se haría con motivo de nuestra Exposición Filatélica Internacional SESQUICHILE 2003, celebrada en Santiago de Chile en Julio de 2003, sino que también por haber sido elegido para escribir la introducción de este interesante y profundo estudio.

En parte de un refrán, se dice que para que un hombre tenga una vida completa debe escribir un libro. Ross ya ha cumplido con esa parte.

La Filatelia, en el sentido general, es la colección y el estudio de sellos y otros valores postales. Nació como afición, convirtiéndose rápidamente en pasión, adquiriendo gran importancia y dando vida, entre otras cosas, a una floreciente actividad editorial especializada. Las exigencias acerca de la calidad del sello para colección, así como el conocimiento referente a impresión, dentado, papel, etc. ha llevado a muchos coleccionistas, en su afán por conocer aún más sobre las diversas emisiones, a realizar interesantes estudios que, con mucha frecuencia logran, además del interés filatélico, un importante aporte cultural.

Este estudio de las tasas postales en el franqueo de la correspondencia chilena, merece nuestro más profundo respeto y reconocimiento, pues permitirá a muchos de nuestros socios enriquecer sus conocimientos filatélicos.