Czech Stamp Dealers in the USA

Lubor Kunc

I have found in the collection of “normal” entires following ones relating to the Czechoslovak stamp dealers of USA.

First covers are connected with Alfons Stach, famous Prague stamp dealer, who had to emigrate to the USA in 1938 because of his Jewish origin. He didn´t returned to Czechoslovakia and he set his business in the USA. He is famous e.g. thanks to his participation in “production” of letters delivered by first flight Praha – New York in 1946.

All entires shown in the article come from post-war period and illustrate how he moved his business around the America. His firm was originally situated in American philatelic center at Nassau Street in New York (nicely described by J. Jezek in his text on Herman Herst), than he moved to Lenox in Massachusets and Miami in Florida.

Another pre-war Czech stamp dealer emigrating to the USA was Artur Kessler establishing his new business at famous 5^th Avenue in New York. He was also participating in the first flight Prague – N.Y. letters production.

We should also mention company K.Line (originally having HQ in Berwyn – a Czech district of Chicago). The company still exists, is situated in Elmhurst and owned by George Kobylka. It has so close relation to ”old country”, that it is the only certified representant of Czech Postal Administration in Northern America.

The above firms are not the only stamp dealers having a connection with the Czech Republic. I know also firm Tribuna Stamp Company from Willow Springs (again Illinois state) organizing the auctions of Czechoslovak philatelic material.

And finally at the I would like to express my thanks to Mirko Vondra for providing me with a lot of covers, among them I have found the ones accompanying the article.