LINDQUIST, HARRY LEMUEL

Copyright 2011-2018 John N. Lupia, III

Fig. Photograph of Harry Lemuel Lindquist c. 1970.

Lindquist was a stamp, coin, book, autograph, and print collector, editor and publisher of general hobbies and eventually specialized in the publication philatelic literature beginning in the early 20th century. From 1921 on he operated his publishing business from New York City at 1 West 46 Street, and 153 Waverly Place, New York.

Harry Lemuel Lindquist (1884–1978), was born on August 15, 1884, the only son of five children born to Frederick William Lindquist (1841-1929), a Swedish immigrant working as a coal hauler, and Anna Maria Anderson (1849-1929), a Norwegian immigrant, at Escanaba, Delta County, Michigan. He lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, first in Iron County, Crystal Falls, and in Ishpeming, and in Iron Mountain, Dickinson County, in the heart of the iron mining region. At age nine, in 1893, he began collecting stamps and coins and various other collectibles. In his youth he became a field agent for several collectors and museums. Through these contacts he developed an involvement in the collectibles industry and became the secretary of the American Society of Curio Collectors, and the editor of their house organ, The Curio Bulletin, moving to Chicago, Illinois about 1900.

Fig. Masthead of The Curio Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 2, June, 1910.

Lindquist's earliest career was as a Revenue Officer of the U. S. Government.

Lindquist lived with his parents until about 1917 at the family home 3758 Ellis, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

In 1909, Lindquist launched his first general collectors magazine with a subscription rate of fifty cents per year, The Collectors Journal of Chicago, 700 East 40th Street, Chicago, Illinois. Eventually this publication evolved into strictly a philatelic magazine by 1912.

In 1917, he lived on his own at 3823 Lake Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

In 1918, he entered the Field Artillery Training School, Louisville, Kentucky.

1919, he moved to New York City, New York, and associated with the Collector's Club, becoming editor of the Collector's Club Philatelist.

In 1921, he moved away from his parents and into New York working as the general manager for a publishing firm.

On June 25, 1921, he married Marion Metcalf (1890-)

In 1922, he became the founder and first editor of The Collectors Club Philatelist. He was a Life Member of the Collectors Club, New York.

Fig. Lindquist was editor from the first issue of 1922. The Collectors Club Philatelist, Vol. III, No. 4, October 1924

Fig. H. L. Lindquist photograph published in The Philatelic West. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Philatelic West. Ex-William Reynolds Ricketts.

In September 1932, he began publishing and editing a new weekly philatelic magazine, Stamps.

Stamps A Weekly Magazine of Philately, Vol. 10, No. 1, January 5, 1935, Whole No. 212. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

In June 1935, he sailed on the S.S. Il De France to La Havre, France.

In 1936, he published Lindquist's Philatelic Almanac.

In October 1937, he began publishing a new general hobbies magazine, Avocations. For the philatelic department he hired Harry M. Konwiser, Edward Knapp, and Max G. Johl. For the numismatic department he hired Howland Wood, Curator of the ANS Museum, Wayte Raymond, Stuart Mosher, and David M. Bullowa. For coin advertisements he published those of Moritz Wormser and B. Max Mehl, besides those of Wayte Raymond and others.

In 1938, he was a donor to the ANA.

From 1939 to 1948 he published a twenty-volume series, Stamp Specialist.

Fig. Stamp Specialist "Coral Book" 1945.

From 1930 to 1940, he was residing at 171 West 79th Street, New York.

In 1948, he received the Luff Award for Outstanding Service to the American Philatelic Society.

Fig. First Day Cover sent to Harry L. Lindquist franked with 1959 Belgium 1p, 2p, and 5p with FDC cancel, postmarked February 25, 1959. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

He founded the National Federation of Stamp Clubs, serving as its president.

He was an honorary Life Member of the Royal Philatelic Society of London, England.

In 1978 he was the first recipient of the APS 50 Year medal.

He died on January 16, 1978.

In 1979, he was inducted into the APS Hall of Fame.

The Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania has an archival collection of correspondence between Harry L. Lindquist and Theodore Dreiser (1890-1965), dating to 1937.

Work :

The Rainbow Division : National Federation of Stamp Clubs, Inc. (New York: The Federation, 1957)

Bibliography :

Avocations, Vol. 1, No. 1, October (1937) : 9-10

The Numismatist, October (1938) : 818

"H. L. Lindquist," in Michigan in Philately, unpaginated.

American Philatelist (1978) : 234 obituary

Fig. Harry L. Lindquist Publications, franked with Scott #1015, 1952 / 3 cent purple Newspaperboys of America, meter cancel, postmarked March 16, 1953 . Ex-Anthony DeMola. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

In 1957, he was presented with the Lichtenstein Medal by the Collectors Club, New York.

From 1957 to 1961 he served on the Postmaster General's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee.