A brief biography of Helen Kingsbury Zirkle (1898 – 1976)

My interest in Chinese stamps has focused for the past few years on Manchukuo. During this time I have collected a number of books that have aided my research and one of the most useful has been a book with the catchy title “The Postage Stamps and Commemorative Cancellations of Manchoukuo/Manshukoku, Manchou Tikuo, Manchukuo”, written […]

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Korea’s First Post Office Cancel – Don’t Be Misled!

In the summer of 1964 I received the following letter from a French gentleman: “Enclosed is $3000.00 plus in Korea No. l’s and 2’s in singles, pairs and combinations. All stamps are tied on piece and with the exception of one or two stamps the condition is very fine or superb. As I do not […]

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Download (KSS Members Only): “The Christmas-Tuberculosis Seals of Korea”

In August, 2018, Helen Zirkle’s publication “Philatelic handbook for Korea, 1884-1905”, which was published in 1970, was added to the KSS website for the members to peruse and download. Earlier, in 1966 Ms. Zirkle also wrote for the Korea Stamp Society one of the first comprehensive publications of the Korean seals, called “The Christmas-Tuberculosis Seals of […]

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Download (KSS members only) “Philatelic handbook for Korea, 1884-1905” by Helen Zirkle

In 1970 the “Philatelic handbook for Korea, 1884-1905” was published by The Collectors Club in their series of handbooks as handbook number 23. Written/compiled by Helen Zirkle and others it was published in 1970 and was, at the time, one of the very few specialized books about Korean philatelic history. 

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