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some | by LARRY MCINNIS The dean of philatelic dealers -- and philatelic writers -- is Herman "Pat". Herst, who now lives in retirement in Florida. Retirement means he doesn't "deal" so much any more, but that's offset because he's got time fo be a more prolific writer than ever. He's written some cute books about the "old days' in stamp dealing, when dealing meant Nassau St. in New York City. But he's gol some other remembrances, as we'll see. Some time ago I wrote a column on the Canada Seaway issue of June 26, 1959, and the history of one of Canada's most notable philatelic errors, the Seaway Invert (Scott 387a). I mentioned that some of the errors turned up in Winnipeg, Man., and in Picton, Ont., but I didn'! mention some 'urned up in Joliete, Que. That's because I didn't know. I suspect very few people knew, like perhaps a couple or so, and that includes Pat Herst. Pat read the column and wondered, in his own column in Canadian Stamp News, (where mine was _ published also) why the Joliette find hadn'! been mentioned. Then he went on to tell the story -- more of an anecdote -- about how he became involved. The stamp was issued in 1959. At that time, Hers! was a dealer operating out of Shrub Oak, N.Y., about 40 miles outside of New York City. He had made frequent buying trips to Quebec, starting in the early 1930s, when he first became a dealer. Herst wrote that a Joliette collector wrote 'o him soon after news of the invert got out, saying there was one on a bill he had received from the local electric utility. He didn'! want to sell it, bul suggested Hers! contact the company. Herst's American was no match for the French of someone a! the utility. He told his original contact that he was going to North Hatley, Que., for a meeting of the British North America Philatelic Society, of which he was a member, so perhaps the Joliette contact could meet him there. The contact had, meanwhile, got a vertical strip of 10 mint from the utility by paying something "substantially over face.' Face for the 10 was 50 cents, and we'll never know the details of a deal for stamps that now sell for $5,000 to $14,000 each, depending on condition. Anyway, they got together. The contact 'old Herst he didn't have any mint copies, but he had some 20 envelopes - observation: on which the inverts had been placed to mail out customers' bills. At North Hatley, a deal was made, and a fantastic one for the times in my mind: $900 per envelope (cover). Herst immediately offered them for sale a! $1,000 but had no takers. No problem. Canadians are careful. When Herst got home, he used a device called "Stamp lift" to remove the stamps from the envelopes. Much of the original gum was preserved, but some was disturbed. He advertised them for sale, correctly discribed, in Stamps, a U.S. magazine-style philatelic newspaper, al $1,200 each. One buyer took the lot. For a little work with his gizmo, Herst made a $300 profit on each of his 20 covers, or $6,000. No wonder he remembers the North Hatley BNAPS meeting fondly. Herst made a telling "Tt is odd that since the incident, 1 have never seen an auction offering a Seaway invert described as having the gum disturbed."' He wonders if the buyer's collection was no! doctored before being auctioned after his death. We'll probably never know. What I would like to know is, who was the Joliette contact and what did he do with the vertical strip of 10 mint The Man with One Red Shoe this movie features an engaging klutz hero by TERRY DUPUIS Director Stan Dragoti seems to specialize in comedies. He made a spoof about Dracula with George Hamilton called Love At First Bite. He directed Michael Keaton in the hit comedy called Mr. Mom. His latest film is an espionage comedy called The Man With One Red Shoe. It's a remake of a French film called The Tall Blond Man With One Black Shoe. Dragoti transposes the plot to an American setting. Tom Hanks portrays the title character. How he comes to be wearing one red shoe is due to a prank by his fun-loving buddy portrayed by Jim Belushi. Belushi has sprayed one of Hanks' sneakers with red paint. Ordinarily, this would be a harmless joke, but it has serious repercussions for Hanks, when some secret agents spo! him at an airport wearing a red shoe. They take it as a sign that he is the quarry they have been looking for, and they peg him as a_ superspy, keeping him under constant sur- veillance. In actual fact, Hanks is a concert violinis! and he has nothing at all to do with the world of spies and American intelligence operations. A lot of the humour in the film is derived from the fact that the man with one red shoe is completely unaware of the flurry of espionage activity which is going on around him. There are actually two competing teams of agents who are interested in Hanks' activities. One group is led by the obese director of the C.I.A. por- trayed by Charles Durning. Dabney Coleman portrays his ambitious adversary who is trying to oust him from his position. Each of these men has the other under constant surveillance, and they have each others' homes and headquarters bugged. When Durning wishes to say something private to one of his aides he has to go out to his backyard;, and turn on the lawn sprinklers so that he won't be overheard. The agents are really batfled by Tom Hanks. He seems to be nothing more than a slightly clumsy absent- minded musician, but they decide that 'his is just his cover. . They search his,apartment. They tail him around Washington. They even try to decipher messages from nis violin solos when he plays in concerts. When all else fails, they send in an attractive blonde agent plaved by Lori Singer to attempt to seduce him. The Man With One Red Shoe is the 'type of comedy which becomes tiresome after a while. So many comedies have been made which spoof the C.I.A. and American in- 'elligence operations, that this latest film really has nothing new to say. And Dragoti uses quick cuts throughout as a homage, I supposed, 'o European style film-making, but this didn'! work so well. The tempo seems 10 be off base constantly in The Man With One Red Shoe. What interest this movie generated for me came solely from the per- formers. Tom Hanks makes an engaging klutz hero, and Jim Belushi, brother of the late John Belushi, gets quite a few laughs as his friend. Carrie Fisher as Belushi's mousy wife is almos! unrecognizable in her role. Charles Durning lends his con- siderably bulky presnece as the oily C.I.A. director, and Dabney Coleman is Outstanding as always. He usually plays pompous unlikeable men of authority, and this is exactly the type of role he has once again. These performers occasionally manage to make The Man With One Red Shoe seem like a richer comedy than it actually is. stamps he bought from someone at the electric utility? In any case, the 20 cover (removed by Pat Herst) plus the strip of 10is only 30, It's certain that 50 must have been a' the post Where are the others? LETTERS Letters are invited. verted 1959 stamps here are still unaccounted for office. Please send enquiries to the writer at P.O.Box 40, Beauharnois, Que., J6N 3C1. National Stamp Collecting Month is just around the corner = Did you know... ..that all Canadian postage stamps issued since 1859 can still be used to prepay postage on mail? ...that in the early days, when mail could be sent either prepaid or collect, the Post Office made a refund to ad- dressees who found that they had paid postage "n anonymous letters? ..or that a boon to postal customers was introduced in 1858, when sheets of stamps were firs! perforated? Prior to that time each stamp had to be detached from the sheet with scissors. These are just some of the facts that contribute to making the world of stamp collecting so fascinating. Many more facts will be discovered by Canadians this October, when Canada _ Post Corporation, and the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada launch a month-long campaign to stimulate interest philately. in a W LTT ES Be P02 St: Fn. October has_ been designated as Stamp Collecting Month in many countries, and this is the fourth year that Canada has par- ticipated. As part of Canada Post's con- tinuing involvement in Community calendar Oct. 17 Day long bus trip to Mennonite country, lunch included, $25. For a sea! reservation telephone 526-9678. Sponsored by Triple F Club of Alliance Church. Oct. 19 Benefit for Bridghett Laurin in S!. Theresa's High School auditorium, Midland, music by The Music Makers or- chestra. Tickets at Orr's Jeweller's, Johnstone's Music Land, Huronia Office Supply. Globe Restauran', all in Midland, and Wally's Men's Shop, Penetanguishene. K oe POLPLLEIS x. Don't miss your evening with the stars! Advance Tickets Now or at the door | Admission *7.00 per person 13 Fox St., Penetanguishene 549-3163 International Year, program attention bitions and interests of young Canadians. Schools will be supplied information kits, and local postmasters with this will on Youth will be available to year's speak to interested focus groups. the am- Stamp collecting has been practiced for nearly 150 years and is considered the world's mos! popular hobby. ©1985 PUNCH PUBL. DIST. BY L.A. TIMES SYND. "Good morning, sir! | represent Rupert Murdoch. We bought a controlling interest in you as you slept." is pleased to present "Vince Anthony" Vince Anthony, Mentalist Extraordinaire is one of the most Sought after entertainers today This talented and dynamic performer will ensure that you will never forget an evening with him: Vince Anthony is The Man with the Million Dollar Mind. The Brian Cusson Duo will be appearing In the dining lounge oe. Bae Sept. 27,28 ' 9. dae Bt edtesbrt'I fd /*. = & LY haa id a LEI IIMS VE OIL a OP road Tuesday, September 24, 1985, Page 23