For many years I have been a Collector and an Exhibitor of the Confederate States of America General Issue Stamps.

Before I retired my CSA General Issue Exhibit several years ago, the exhibit had won quite a number of awards including national level Gold Medals as well as the CSA Trophy presented by the Confederate Stamp Alliance in 1992 to the best all around Confederate Exhibit.

Since 1971, I have been a very active member of the Confederate Stamp Alliance (CSA). The CSA is our national philatelic organization composed of over 600 members who are sincerely interested in Confederate Philately. The Confederate Stamp Alliance has further honored me with the August Dietz Award for Publishing in 1989 and the Haydn-Meyer Award for overall service to the Alliance in 1992. In 1996, the Confederate Stamp Alliance conferred upon me the rank of General, an honor given up to that time only thirty-eight times since its inception in 1948. I am also a long-time member of the American Philatelic Society.

The information above prefaces my now current role as a Philatelic Consultant. As such, I am able to assist clients who have Confederate Stamp and/or Postal History Collections in the following ways --

1. Formal appraisals for insurance or tax purposes.
2. Advising collectors and providing appraisal services to collectors who are considering selling their collections. As a continuation of this, I can also help the collector negotiate a sale through my many contacts as I am in direct communication with other collectors and dealers who are willing and able to make purchases both large and small. As a Philatelic Consultant performing a formal appraisal, I am bound by the ethics of the profession and cannot purchase the material myself.
3. Working directly with collectors and assisting them in obtaining good quality stamps and/or covers for their collection -- a service known as Collection Building.
4. Assisting the collector with the planning and development of a formal philatelic exhibit. This service would be most useful for the collector who has never before exhibited on a regional or national level and is seriously considering doing so.
5. Estate Planning for the disposition of the CSA philatelic material on the death of the collector. Philatelic Estate Planning is most certainly best done while the collector is still active.
6. Assisting families who have inherited Confederate collections and do not know the value or how to sell the material.

My expertise is in Confederate Stamps and Postal History, so I limit my activities exclusively to that field. The client would therefore be assured of a timely, accurate and up-to-date appraisal. If you have questions or you would like to avail yourself of the services that I offer, please do not hesitate to contact me by E-mail (CLBCSA@cox.net). If you wish, you may also write to me at the address below or give me a call on the telephone.

I am also interested in purchasing outright any Confederate material you may have for sale. In order to avoid a conflict of interest, the seller must put an asking price on the material. I cannot buy the items myself after I have performed a formal appraisal.

-- CLBCSA@cox.net --

Several years ago, I wrote an editorial for the Confederate Philatelist journal. The editorial was never published. It dealt with the disposition of an exhibit when the exhibitor had decided to sell. There are some good ideas in this editorial, so I have published it here at my website. Click EDITORIAL if you wish to read it and use the back button to return to this page.

In NOV 1997 my new book titled Straightline, Fancy & Unusual Cancels & Handstamps on Confederate General Issue Stamps was published. Click on the title or the book cover below for more information and use the BACK Button to return to this page. I am also currently working on a new major exhibit highlighting the material in the book. I would appreciate it very much if anyone who has a CSA General Issue Stamp either on of off cover with an unusual postmark please contact me.

My long time friend and partner in the world of Confederate Philately is John L. Kimbrough MD of Texas. John is a nationally known dealer who specializes in CSA Stamps and Postal History. If you would like to learn more about Confederate Philately, be sure and visit his comprehensive website (Direct Link Below).

If you would like to learn more about the Confederate Stamp Alliance and perhaps join as a member, be sure and visit the CSA's Home Page (Direct Link Below).

In cooperation with Dr. John L. Kimbrough, we recently published two new books on Confederate Philately – Collector's Guide to Confederate Philately (2002) and a supplemental volume which we call the Color Companion (2003). John and I have been awarded the Stanley B. Ashbrook Cup by the U. S. Philatelic Classics Society and the August Dietz Award by the Confederate Stamp Alliance. The book has been awarded a Gold Medal and the Best of Show Grand Award Trophy by the American Philatelic Society at APS StampShow 2003. And Gold Medals at several other shows. We do plan to enter both books in the INTERNATIONAL Show in Washington DC in 2006.

The “Collector's Guide” has 25 chapters covering all aspects of Confederate Philately with a glossary and table of contents. Over 360 pages and spiral bound to lay flat. Over 550 actual images of stamps, covers, cancels, drawings, and an easy to read text with 9 appendices and an extensive bibliography.

The “Color Companion” is designed as a supplement to our original book and is not intended to stand alone. It is also spiral bound to open flat with 68 pages and 140 actual color images (many enlarged) of stamps and covers. It also contains the most extensive writing to date concerning Confederate States Navy and Confederate New Mexico covers with color illustrations.

The price for the original "Collectors Guide" is $35.00 and the "Color Companion" supplement is $65.00 ($95.00 if both books ordered together as two separate volumes). Prices are postpaid in the USA. We do offer both books bound togther as a single volume for $100.00. For more information on these two now indispensible books for the CSA collector and ordering your own copy on-line, please visit the COLLECTOR'S GUIDE page on John's website (opens in a new window).