August Dietz
Encyclopedia
August Dietz was a philatelist
, editor and publisher, who specialized in the study of mail and postal history of the Confederate States of America
.
on October 19, 1869. He moved to Richmond, Virginia
, in the United States in 1871, and began his collecting of postage stamps in 1888.
He died September 26, 1963 in Richmond, Virginia.
and typographer
, and because he had access to some of the postal sources of the Confederate States of America, he became interested in the postage and philatelic history of the Confederate States.
Today he is regarded as the Father of Confederate Philately.
He established himself in Richmond at 900 West Clay Street, Station A, Richmond, Virginia.
(1935–1939) and is presented yearly, starting in 1962, to those who exhibit distinguished service to Confederate Philately in the field of research and writing.
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
, editor and publisher, who specialized in the study of mail and postal history of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Early life
Dietz was born in PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
on October 19, 1869. He moved to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, in the United States in 1871, and began his collecting of postage stamps in 1888.
He died September 26, 1963 in Richmond, Virginia.
Philatelic career
Because he was a trained lithographerLithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
and typographer
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
, and because he had access to some of the postal sources of the Confederate States of America, he became interested in the postage and philatelic history of the Confederate States.
Today he is regarded as the Father of Confederate Philately.
He established himself in Richmond at 900 West Clay Street, Station A, Richmond, Virginia.
Editor and Publisher
The Dietz publishing chronology:- 1896 – editor of the Virginia Philatelist, a monthly philatelic magazine published in Richmond.
- 1901 – formed his own company, Dietz Printing Company
- 1924 – commenced writing articles on Confederate philately.
- 1924-29 – published The Southern Philatelist
- 1929-33 – published The New South Philatelist
- 1931 – published Dietz Confederate States Catalog and Handbook (expanded and reissued in 1937, 1945, and 1959 – expanded and published in 1986 as Specialized Catalog of the Postage Stamps of the Confederate States of America.)
- 1933-36 – published Stamp and Cover Collecting
- 1937-39 – published Stamp and Cover Collectors Review
- 1929 – published his famous The Postal Service of the Confederate States of America
Writings
Dietz was considered an expert in Confederate philately and wrote widely on the subject. Some of his studies included:- The engraver of the Five Cents De La Rue
- The South's "Way of Life" - Random Notes for the Student of Confederates
- The Confederate States Post-Office Department, its stamps & stationery
Honors
Dietz received numerous honors including:- 1938 – awarded the Lindenberg MedalLindenberg MedalThe Lindenberg Medal is an award given to those who provide “conspicuous service to philately” because of their investigations and contributions to philatelic literature.It is considered by some as the Nobel Prize of Philately.- Origin :...
by the Berlin Philatelic Club - 1940 – awarded the first Luff AwardLuff AwardThe Luff Award is awarded by the American Philatelic Society for meritorious contributions to philately by living philatelists.-Established:...
by the American Philatelic SocietyAmerican Philatelic SocietyThe American Philatelic Society is the largest nonprofit stamp collecting and organization of philately in the world, with almost 44,000 members from 110 countries...
for Exceptional Contributions to Philately - 1948 – awarded the honorary title of “General” by Confederate Stamp AllianceConfederate Stamp AllianceThe Confederate Stamp Alliance is a philatelic organization dedicated to the collection and study of postage stamps and postal history of the Confederate States of America . It is an affiliate of the American Philatelic Society.-History:...
- 1955 – awarded the Lichtenstein MedalLichtenstein MedalThe Lichtenstein Medal, also known as the Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately is given annually to a living individual for outstanding service to philately.-Origin:...
by the Collectors Club of New YorkCollectors Club of New YorkThe Collectors Club of New York, often referred to as the Collectors Club, is a private club and philatelic society in New York City. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest existing philatelic societies in the United States... - 1964 - inducted into the American Philatelic Society Hall of FameAmerican Philatelic Society Hall of FameThe American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame award honors deceased philatelists who have contributed significantly to the field of national and/or international philately.-History:...
The August Dietz Award
The August Dietz Award is named in honor of the Founding Father and first President of the Confederate Stamp AllianceConfederate Stamp Alliance
The Confederate Stamp Alliance is a philatelic organization dedicated to the collection and study of postage stamps and postal history of the Confederate States of America . It is an affiliate of the American Philatelic Society.-History:...
(1935–1939) and is presented yearly, starting in 1962, to those who exhibit distinguished service to Confederate Philately in the field of research and writing.
See also
- Postage stamps and postal history of the Confederate StatesPostage stamps and postal history of the Confederate StatesThe postage stamps and postal system of the Confederate States of America carried the mail of the Confederacy for a brief period in American history. Early in 1861 when South Carolina territory no longer considered itself part of the Union and demanded that the U.S. Army abandon Fort Sumter, plans...
- US Presidents on US postage stamps, Civil War era
- PhilatelyPhilatelyPhilately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
- Philatelic literaturePhilatelic literaturePhilatelic literature is written material relating to philately, primarily information about postage stamps and postal history- Background to philatelic literature :...
- The Stamp SpecialistThe Stamp SpecialistThe Stamp Specialist is the title of a series of books on philatelic research written and edited for the advanced collector of postage stamps.-Format:Twenty books were issued between 1939 and 1948...