Randy Neil, Past President of the American Philatelic Society says:

Being a very devoted amateur historian and follower (and member, actually) of various museums, I am very dismayed at the precedent that will be set in this instance by the National Postal Museum.

All the proclivities of stamp dealers and other interested parties aside, the fact that a museum hasn't come up with a game plan to stay the executioner's striking of the match is repulsive to me.

It is the PRECEDENT that is the rub here. All other issues pale in comparison. Institutions (and their directors) have and will make decisions that the public will decry (and loudly, sometimes...look what the NY Public Library did with the Miller collection, causing a huge outcry in the hobby). It happens. But what the NPM is doing in this instance is something that sets a exceedingly bad historical precedent.

The American Philatelic Society Board of Directors needs to speak out on this issue---and put our Society on record as not supporting the destruction of any philatelic holding that is the property of a museum---for ANY reason. This is not an issue that the APS Board can allow to lie fallow without action on their part.

Randy L. Neil
Past President
American Philatelic Society