The
Leatherstocking Stamp Club of Cooperstown was founded in 1934 with
an active roster of approximately twelve members. The club was formed
with the express purpose of promoting a stamp for the Baseball Centennial
Celebration planned in 1939.
On
April 19, 1937, the Board of Directors of the Cooperstown Chamber
of Commerce adopted a resolution encouraging the federal government
to consider issuing a commemorative baseball stamp to coincide with
the centennial plans in 1939. Two weeks later, the Leatherstocking
Stamp Club endorsed this resolution.
The
club’s charter members formed a committee and contacted Alfred
R. Corbett, a local architect and draftsman, to design covers. He
designed the first for National Air Mail Week in 1938, promoting the
baseball centennial. Corbett also submitted three other designs, one
of which was selected by the club and became the official cover of
the centennial.
On
June 12, 1939, the first U.S. baseball stamp was issued in Cooperstown
with US Postmaster General James A. Farley autographing and selling
the first sheets.
After
a decade of activity, spurred by the Centennial of Baseball in 1939,
the activities of the club gradually ceased. It was reactivated in
1965.
One
of the club’s major activities was the sponsorship of a stamp
show in August of each year. Known as COOPERPEX, the first exhibit
was held in 1973 at the American Legion Rooms in Cooperstown. The
show was being held in conjunction with the Oneonta Stamp Club at
the Elks Club in Oneonta. Because of its connection with these well-known
communities, this show attracted visitors from a wide area.
