Presidential topical collections in general are not very popular largely because there is so little philatelic material that has been issued for most Presidents (quick- name three stamps that have Garfield or the current Presidential flavor-Coolidge- on them or imagine any postal history with a Taft twist). The exceptions are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR and of course JFK. Washington and Jefferson are well commemorated by the United States and there is a fair amount of material available relating to our first President on the various American Revolution thematic issues that have come out over time. Lincoln of course has a great human rights angle and of all American Presidents has been the most widely portrayed on foreign stamps. FDR has a WWII hook and was the only President who was a philatelist, so he has been well remembered on issues throughout the philatelic world. But JFK was different. Struck down by an assassin as a young and vibrant man, JFK has always had the charisma that makes for commemoratives. And so JFK thematic collections have always outnumbered all other American President’s thematic collections combined. For years after Kennedy’s death the less reputable philatelic countries of the era (many of them Trucial States) churned out high value stamps and specialty items and intentional errors for the American market. Kennedy collections were very difficult to sell on the secondary market, mainly because the owners had paid such crazy prices for their stamps and covers. But in philately at least, time heals all wounds and succeeding generations have bid Kennedy collections to the point that they are downright affordible. When you consider the historic and philatelic interest you might think about adding a few volumes to your shelves especially since we are just two years from the fiftieth anniversary of Kennedy’s death. For those of us who were around to remember where they were when Kennedy was shot, that fact alone is enough to make us really feel old.
