Page 7 - Gustaf Douglas: Classic Sweden

Prologue

There was one hero namely Diego Carlström, an What really made our combination work was that
expert in radiology who killed the “forgery party” the elder gentlemen treated us the younger collectors
using his technology. The forgery theory was in reality with openness and respect (that is when we
an attempt to kill the classic issues by declaring them deserved respect). But I got one handicap by sitting in
forgeries; in fact an attempted murder‐plot against the board of Stockholmia 74, led by Georg B.
the ”traditionalists”. The then head of the Postal Lindberg. I sided with Georg because he was straight,
Museum joined “the forgery party” seeing this as dared to use plain language and would yield to
“money philately” in the true revolutionary spirit of reason. But the ”Old Guard” created a lot of
1968. unnecessary work.
I spent a lot of time in Gothenburg on a consultancy
assignment. I met collectors there and also joined the
Gothenburg ”SFF‐society”. Two philatelists I met in
Gothenburg were Per Sjöman and Sven Eric

Beckeman FRPSL. In Stockholm I learned a lot from
Sven Åkerstedt and Tomas Bjäringer RDP HFRPSL.
For many years, Tomas and I worked together in
writing articles in the FACIT catalogue.

Georg B. Lindberg (1907‐1996), former
President of the Swedish Philatelic Fede‐
ration, head of Stockholmia 1974 and
one of the most well‐known Swedish
philatelists internationally.

In the end Georg prevailed and STOCKHOLMIA
1974 was quite a success even from an economic side.
But all the fighting made me decide not to take part in
competitive philately any more. Gradually I sold most
of my collection but continued to work in the FACIT
catalogue up to the next STOCKHOLMIA in 1986.

Into the present collection
In 2001 Tomas Bjäringer asked me if I wanted to
co‐write a book on ”Sweden Number One” on cover
for the upcoming 150 years anniversary of the Skilling
Gustaf Douglas (left) together with Tomas Bjäringer, Banco stamps (2005). I never regretted that since the
RDP, HFRPSL and Sven Eric Beckeman FRPSL (sitting) project was self‐rewarding and Tomas mastered all
in the large library room at ”no 41” in conjunction with imaginable supporting reference literature for the part
the Swedish Display given to the Royal Philatelic of writing I did.
Society London on 5 February 2009. Gustaf and Tomas I started to look into my old notes on my collection
have a lifelong friendship in philately and Gustaf and and also realised I had saved a few nice pieces – some‐
Sven Eric are currently the two greatest and most times for sentimental reasons and others because the
active collectors of classic Sweden. market had not come to appreciate their significance.
Some of them still play important roles in my
collection of today and gave me a good second start.