Communicating with Geography: The Siegfried Feller Collection of Map Postcards

In one of my first posts, wherin I attempted to define what I mean by "cartophilia", I gave credit to Siegfried Feller for contributing to my interest in map memorabilia. Mr. Feller published a "zine" called Cartomania; all about map postcards and other memorabilia. I subscribed to that zine for several years.

Today I recieved a comment on that post (the FIRST comment on my blog... woo hoo!):

Indeed Siegfried Feller edited his wonderfully eclectic newsletter, Cartomania, from 1986 to its final issue in the Fall of 1999. His collection of over 10,000 map postcards, trade cards, matchbooks, T-shirts and more was recently given to the Harvard Map Collection. The collection is now being rehoused for preservation purposes and an exhibit of a selection of these items will open this month at the Harvard Map Collection.

David Cobb, Curator
Harvard Map Collection

Indeed! From the Harvard Map Collection website:

December 5–January 18

Communicating with Geography: The Siegfried Feller Collection of Map Postcards

Highlights from a recent gift to the Map Collection of more than 10,000 map postcards. The collection, a gift from Siegfried Feller, includes both new and used postcards and is international in scope.

Thank you, Mr. Cobb! I wish I could be in Massachusetts to visit the exhibit.

After additional "googling" of Mr. Feller, I have also discovered that he is a retired librarian from the University of Massachusetts. Another delightful coincidence. I would love to meet him one day.

What is Cartophilia?

Cartophila = Love of maps

"Carto" as in cartography

Cartophiliac = One who loves maps

I don't pretend to have coined this term. I'm not sure who did. Fifteen or so years ago, I subscribed to a newsletter that I think was called Cartophilia*. It's publisher was a collector of maps and map memorabilia. I think he collected primarily post cards and the like, much as I do. But the point was, he was a collector of affordable maps. I love antique maps, but I could never afford to collect something like that. He inspired me in my own collection, which you will read about on these pages, if I don't bore you completely to tears.

One of my hopes is that someone will read this blog and remind me of who that gentleman was (all I remember was that he lived in New England somewhere). I would like to credit him for coining the term (if he did) as well as credit him for encouraging me in my hobby.

*UPDATE 9/25/07: While looking for something else, I came across info that reminds me that Cartomania is/was published by Siegfried Feller in Massachusetts.