Helen Morgan - Snapperup of unconsidered trifles

research category

George, Georges, Gustave

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

I am a careful researcher but not infallible, and I wish to clarify a point about a certain Monsieur Herpin here.
My book, Blue Mauritius, included a brief history of philately to set the scene, mention of which must include a word on the origins of the history of the word philately, or more specifically, the […]

Postcards, history and the souvenir hunter

Monday, November 19th, 2007

What constitutes a good memento of travel?
Kate Holden recently reflected on this in The Age (A2, 20 October 2007, p.3), noting that you can buy Vegemite and Tim Tams in London (so no point bearing these as gifts) and you can get most things in Australia, so what then is worth bringing home as a […]

The right attitude to archives

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

I love Alexander McCall Smith’s stories; simple, thoughtful, entertaining and easy to read. He even demonstrates a fine understanding of the value of correspondence and stamps! But does he have the right attitude to archives?
In the most recent installment in his Sunday Philosophy Club series, The Careful Use of Compliments (Little, Brown, 2007), the value […]