Ethel Bergstresser McCoy
Encyclopedia
Ethel Bergstresser McCoy (1893 – 1980), of New York City
, was a philatelist
who created a number of stamp collections, and was active within the philatelic community.
s, which included a block of four, acquired in 1936, of the famous “inverted jenny” listed as C3a in the Scott catalog.
During the 1955 American Philatelic Society
Convention, held in Norfolk, Virginia
, the very valuable block was stolen. In 1979, the year before she died, she bequeathed the block, if it could be found, to the American Philatelic Research Library
. In an investigation led by philatelic “detective” James H. Beal
, the two stamps on the left side of the block of four (positions 65 and 75) were eventually recovered.
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, was a philatelist
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...
who created a number of stamp collections, and was active within the philatelic community.
Collecting interests
Ethel McCoy is most noted for her collection of United States airmail stampAirmail stamp
An airmail stamp is a postage stamp intended to pay either an airmail fee that is charged in addition to the surface rate, or the full airmail rate, for a piece of mail to be transported by air....
s, which included a block of four, acquired in 1936, of the famous “inverted jenny” listed as C3a in the Scott catalog.
During the 1955 American Philatelic Society
American Philatelic Society
The American Philatelic Society is the largest nonprofit stamp collecting and organization of philately in the world, with almost 44,000 members from 110 countries...
Convention, held in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, the very valuable block was stolen. In 1979, the year before she died, she bequeathed the block, if it could be found, to the American Philatelic Research Library
American Philatelic Research Library
The American Philatelic Research Library , based in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, is the largest public philatelic library in the United States....
. In an investigation led by philatelic “detective” James H. Beal
James H. Beal
James H. Beal , of Ohio, was a philatelist who was a recognized expert on fakes and forgeries of rare postage stamps.-Fakes and thefts:...
, the two stamps on the left side of the block of four (positions 65 and 75) were eventually recovered.
Philatelic activity
Ethel McCoy was one of the first women to break the appearance of an all-male barrier in the philatelic community, and in 1937 she was named director of the American Air Mail SocietyAmerican Air Mail Society
The American Air Mail Society is a U.S. nonprofit organization devoted to the collecting and study of airmails and aerophilately.-History:...
.