BULLETIN - Rathkamp Matchcover Society · 2017. 2. 22. · Bread, in one form or another, has been one of the principal forms of food for man from earliest times. The trade of the

Bread, in one form or another, has been one of the principal forms of food for man from earliest times.

The trade of the baker, then, is one of the oldest crafts in the world. Loaves and rolls have been found in

ancient Egyptian tombs. In the British Museum's Egyptian galleries you can see actual loaves which were

made and baked over 5,000 years ago. Also on display are grains of wheat which ripened in those ancient

summers under the Pharaohs. Wheat has been found in pits where human settlements flourished 8,000

years ago. Bread, both leavened and unleavened, is mentioned in the Bible many times. The ancient

Greeks and Romans knew bread for a staple food, and even in those days people argued whether white or

brown bread was best.

Further back, in the Stone Age, people made solid cakes from stone-crushed barley and wheat. A

millstone used for grinding corn has been found that is thought to be 7,500 years old. The ability to sow

and reap cereals may be one of the chief causes which led man to dwell in communities, rather than to live

a wandering life hunting and herding cattle. [https://www.botham.co.uk/bread/history2.htm]

As you can see from the covers shown on the next two pages, a Bread collection can certainly be very

bright and attractive, and basically, here, you’d be going for front-strikers. Loren Moore, CA, has the

largest collection I know of, 241 as of December 2016, and the covers shown here are his!

BULLETIN

PRESIDENT TREASURER EDITOR

John Bachochin Loren Moore Mike Prero

15731 S. 4210 Rd., POB 1181 12659 Eckard Way

Claremore, OK 74017 Roseville, CA 95678 Auburn,CA 95603

918-342-0710 916-783-6822 530-906-4705

No. 386 Dues due April 1st March 2017

by

Mike Prero

No. 386 SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2017 Page 2

[Covers courtesy of Loren Moore, CA]



The Pour le Mérite is an order of merit established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. The Pour le

Mérite was awarded as both a military and civil honor and ranked, along with the Order of the Black

Eagle, the Order of the Red Eagle and the House Order of Hohenzollern, among the highest orders of

merit in the Kingdom of Prussia. After 1871, when the various German kingdoms, grand duchies, duchies,

principalities and Hanseatic city states had come together under Prussian leadership to form the federally

structured German Empire, the Prussian honors gradually assumed, at least in public perception, the status

of honors of Imperial Germany, even though many honors of the various German states continued to be

awarded.

The Pour le Mérite was an honor conferred both for military (1740–1918) and civil (1740–1810, after

1842 as a separate class) services. It was awarded strictly as a recognition of extraordinary personal

achievement, rather than as a general marker of social status or a courtesy-honor, although certain

restrictions of social class and military rank were applied. The order was secular, and membership endured

for the remaining lifetime of the recipient, unless renounced or revoked.

New awards of the military class (known in First World War informally as the Blue Max ceased with the

end of the Prussian monarchy in November 1918. The civil class was revived as an independent

organization in 1923 (Pour le mérite für Wissenschaften und Künste). Instead of the King of Prussia, the

President of Germany acted as head of the order. After the Second World War, the civil class was re-

established in 1952. This version of the Pour le Mérite is still active today.

The Pour le Mérite still is an order into which a person is admitted into

membership, like the United Kingdom's Order of the British Empire, and is

not simply a medal or state decoration.

The Pour le Mérite gained international fame during World War I. Its most

famous recipients were the pilots of the German Army Air Service, whose

exploits were celebrated in wartime propaganda. In aerial warfare, a fighter

pilot was initially entitled to the award upon downing eight enemy aircraft.

Aces Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke were the first airmen to receive

the award, on January 12, 1916. It was awarded to Germany's highest-

scoring ace, Manfred von Richthofen, in

January 1917. Although it has been

reported that because of Immelmann's

renown among his fellow pilots and the

nation at large, the Pour le Mérite became

known, due to its color and Immelmann's

first name, as the "Blue Max," that has not

been confirmed.

The number of aerial victories necessary

to receive the award continued to increase

during the war; by war's end the

approximate figure was 30.



The East’s Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is

a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and

Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is about 2,200 miles long, though the precise length changes over time

as parts are modified or rerouted. The trail passes through 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee,

Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts,

Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

The Appalachian Trail was completed in 1937 after more than a decade of work, although improvements

and changes continue. It is maintained by 31 trail clubs and multiple partnerships, and managed by the Na-

tional Park Service, United States Forest Service, and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The

majority of the trail is in forest or wild lands, although some portions traverse towns, roads and farms. The

trail conservancy claims that the Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only trail in the world.

At least 2 million people are said to do at least one day-hike on the trail each year. Thru-hikers attempt

to hike it in its entirety in a single season — more than 2,700 people thru-hiked the trail in 2014 — and

some hike from one end to the other, then turn around and thru-hike the trail the

other way, known as a "yo-yo". Many books, memoirs, web sites, and fan organi-

zations are dedicated to these pursuits.

An extension known as the International Appalachian Trail continues northeast,

crossing Maine and cutting through Canada to Newfoundland, with sections con-

tinuing in Greenland, through Europe, and into Morocco. Other separate exten-

sions continue the southern end of the Appalachian range in Alabama and con-

tinue south into Florida, creating what is known as the Eastern Continental Trail.

The Appalachian

Trail, the Conti-

nental Divide

Trail, and the

Pacific Crest

Trail form what

is known as the

Triple Crown of

l ong–di s tance

hiking in the

United States.

[ h t t p s : / / e n .

wikipedia.org/

w i k i /

Appa lach ian_

Trail

An American Tour:

111


Match Manufacturers:

Atlas Match Corp. (1932-1937)

There were actually three different Atlas Match Co.’s. We’ve already covered the latest and current Atlas,

located in TX. The earliest was a Jersey City, NJ, company that operated from 1900 to c. 1906. It’s the

middle Atlas that we’re interested in here, and it should be noted that none of the companies were related to

each other.

―Our‖ Atlas was founded by Rae Korn, Nat and Sully Fruitman (the Fruitmans also later started the

Jersey Match Co. and the Manhattan Match Co.). This one was in Newark, NJ. The covers are notable

mainly because of their age and relative rarity. Actually, for a company that was only on the scene for five

years, the variety of cover types is interesting. We have XL’s (talls) and the later, shorter varieties; there are

wide-strikers and narrow strikers; and, there are Safety First and CCBSM footers (with most Atlas covers

sporting the Safety First. Quality-wise, these are better covers than the Atlantic covers we covered in the

last issue, but still far less than Crowns, which were their contemporaries (but then, it’s rather unfair

holding anything up to Crowns since even today their original artwork is unrivaled!).

Atlas covers are another of the ―oldies‖ that so many collectors look for. Eyebrows raise when the

collectors comes across one of these...but we don’t come across them all that often—which is part of their

allure, after all. Only 88 are currently listed. The great majority are Safety Firsts. Known dated covers range

from 1934-1936.


Stephen F. Austin

Austin was born in the lead mining regions of southwestern Virginia to Moses and Maria Austin. His

father Moses travelled to San Antonio and gained a grant of land in the Spanish territory of Texas, with the

intention of settling U.S. families in Mexico. Austin was reluctant to join the Texas venture, but he obtained

a loan to help support his father's venture. He was at Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1821 when he learned of

his father's death.

He traveled to San Antonio with the intent of reauthorizing his father's grant, arriving in August 1821.

The grant was reauthorized by Governor Antonio María Martínez, who allowed Austin to explore the Gulf

Coast between San Antonio and the Brazos River in order to find a suitable location for a colony. Stephen

Austin advertised and in 1821 the first U.S. colonists crossed into the granted territory .

Austin's plan for a colony was thrown into turmoil by the independence of Mexico from Spain in 1821.

By late 1825, Austin had brought the first 300 families, now known in Texas history as the "Old 300", to

the grant. Austin had obtained further contracts to settle an additional 900 families between 1825 and 1829.

He had effective civil and military authority over the settlers, but he was quick to introduce a semblance

of American law - the Constitution of Coahuila and Texas was agreed on in November 1827. The Mexican

government had attempted to stop further US immigration as early as April 1830, but again the skills of

Austin had gained an exemption for his colonies.

Austin travelled to Mexico City and he did gain certain important reforms, but not a state government.

Austin was arrested in January 1834 and charged with insurrection; he was not tried and was finally

released, returning to Texas in August 1835. In his absence the colonists had not softened their stance; war

began in October at Gonzales. Austin was appointed commissioner to the US by

the provisional government.

He stood for election in the

newly independent Republic

of Texas in September 1836

and was defeated. He was

made Secretary of State, but

soon fell ill and died. There

are many places in Texas

named after Austin.[http://

en. wikipedia.org/wiki/

S t e p h e n _ F . _ A u s t i n ]

[caricature by Texas cartoon

-ist Richard Bartholomew

c o u r t e s y o f h t t p : / /

www.famous texans.com]

I have 5 Austin covers in

my Historical Characters

collection, but, as always,

I’m sure there are more!


www.southernswapfla. com or

c o n t ac t Fr a n k D e n z le r

[email protected]

TRANS CANADA SWAP-

FEST 2017: April 27-29,

Radisson Hotel, Kitchener, Ont.

CAN. (519-894-9500 ) Room

rate: $105.99 (2 queens or 1

king) and $130.99 (suite). The

hotel is providing certificates

for 3 nights accommodation that

the club will use as prizes in its

raffle. FMI: Morris Pasternak,

51 Beaufort Hills Road,

Richmond Hill, Ont. CAN L4E

2N2

[email protected]

AMCAL 2017: May 3-5. Days

Inn, Palm Springs, CA. (760-

416-2333). Room: $80 King/

Double. $25 registration

includes Mexican dinner. FMI:

web site or Denise McKinney,

[email protected].

Sponsored by Angelus MC.

UES 2017: June 7-11,

Location ?, Room: $82 single or

double/$105 suite. More info

coming.

RMS CONVENTION 2017: August 21-27, 2017. Ramada

Plaza Hotel (same as UES

location), Hagerstown, MD. 301

-797-2500. $82 Double/$105

US Mini Suite. More info to

f o l l o w . A l w a ys c h e c k

Convention Central at http://

matchcover.org for latest

details.

...On April 1st! Send in your

check now and be done with it!

$10 for hardcopy bulletins; $5

for e-bulletins in blazing color.

Check made out to Sierra-

Membership

New Members

#1020. Muncert, Eric, 1046

Luzerne St., Johnstown, PA

15905

Collects: Johnstown, PA;

Pennsylvania; Naval; Baseball;

Football

#1021. Jones, Martha Ann, 3311

Backmeyer Rd., Richmond, IN

47374

Collects: Mermaids, Roses,

Shamrocks, Shells, Bears

#1022. Schlotterbeck, Michael,

121 S. 47th St., Richmond, IN

47374-6008

Collects: Royal Flash, Indiana,

Lobsters, Full-Length, Alaska, F

-S Beer, F-S Gold Courses,

Giants (stripped), Coffee, CAN

Tax Stamps

Ads

BOXES! I have plenty of boxes

to trade for your 20-strike, single

address Hotel/Motel/Restuarant

covers. Can trade all at once or

in segments. Mike Prero, 12659

Eckard Way, Auburn, CA 95603

([email protected])

Coming Up

SOUTHERN SWAPFEST

2017: March 21 through March

25, 2017. Holiday Inn Hotel and

Suites Tampa North. (813) 971-

7690). Room rates: Single - $89

per night, Single Deluxe - $99

per night, Executive Suite - $109

per night. Latest details at http://

Diablo Matchcover Club and

sent to Loren Moore, POB 1181,

Roseville, CA 95678.

Good Grief, Idaho

Loren found this cover with

yet another interesting town

name!

Yes! It’s Dues time! Dues are

due April 1st! Please send them

into Loren now (checks made

out to: Sierra-Diablo Matchcover

Club. And, if you’re still one of

the few who are still getting

B&W hard copy bulletins, now

is the time to switch to full-color

e-bulletins...and cut your dues in

half at the same time!


Replace with advertising text

Company Name

COMING

UP

Apr: “Remembering WWI”

May: “Collecting Insurance”

Jun: “AMCAL 2017”

SIERRA-DIABLO...we’re

the hottest club in the

hobby!

stance.

This obvious trend not only

underscores the change in our

hobby’s circumstances, but also

the more immediate change in

this hobby tradition. In a way, I

suppose, one could also argue

that the appearance of e-mail and

cell phones has lessened the ur-

gency of club meetings.

Happy Birthday!

Bachochin, John....................3-1

Fisher, Gery..........................3-1

Spivey, Lloyd.......................3-4

Mendonca, Raulin.................3-7

Tate, Michael........................3-7

Crum, Dwain.......................3-16

Cole, Larry..........................3-18

Thomas, Bob.......................3-28

Gray, Tom...........................3-30

Barbieri, David.....................4-2

Samuels, Mike......................4-4

Bitter, Kathy.........................4-6

Potter, Russell.......................4-7

Cosentini, George...............4-12

Hardin, Regina....................4-15

Moore, Loren......................4-16

Corrales, Greg.....................4-19

Moore, Scott.......................4-23

Turrini, Michael..................4-23

Bouchard, Denis

4-24

Marquette, Don

4-29

Gigantino, Bill

4-30

The Sierra-Diablo Bulletin is a

publication of the Sierra-Diablo

Matchcover Club. Deadline for all

submissions is 2 weeks before the

issue month. Any information

herein may be reproduced with

appropriate credit line. Dues of $5

(e-bulletin); or $10 hard copy

(individual), $15 (family), $15

(Canada/Mexico) or $20 (outside

N. America) are payable to the

Sierra-Diablo Matchcover Club, c/

o Loren Moore, POB 1181,

Roseville, CA 95678

Visit the Sierra-Diablo Web Site

at: http://www.matchcover.org/

Sierra. You can reach the Ed. on

line at [email protected] for

h e lp wi th Bu l l e t in /h obby

questions, concerns or problems.

anymore. Sierra-Diablo has had

no meetings in years, of course,

but now Lone Star, San Diego,

and one or two more clubs no

longer have ―regularly sched-

uled‖ meetings, which is a

euphemism for ―no meetings‖,

since all of this was brought on

by fewer and fewer collectors

attending said meetings.

Other clubs have announced

cutbacks on the number of an-

nual meetings. Southern On-

tario, for example, recently an-

nounced cutting back to two a

year.

Still other clubs only meet

once a year, at the RMS Con-

vention...the Girlie Club, for in-

Club Meetings?

Anyone?...

Anyone?

There was time

when club meetings

were the norm,

but...not so much

March’s Smile

Editorial

BULLETIN - Rathkamp Matchcover Society · 2017. 2. 22. · Bread, in one form or another, has been one of the principal forms of food for man from earliest times. The trade of the

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