Musician shares joy of stamp collecting around the world

Stamp Collecting Month is here and Michael Lynn is sharing the hobby with others around the world. Since early 2023, Lynn has been sending stamp collecting starter kits to people who request one. Over the last 21 months he has sent about 550 kits, each containing more than 100 collectable items, to people in the U.S. and 32 other countries. "I have a lot of common material and I don't want to spend time selling small packages for small amounts of money," said Lynn, 70, of Wellington. "I thought, well, I could give them away." Thus began a pleasant and satisfying philatelic journey for the professor of Baroque flute and recorder and curator of musical instruments emeritus at Oberlin College's Conservatory of Music. The kits include century-old stamps, more recent definitive and commemorative U.S. and foreign material, first day covers and even one or two pieces of postal stationery, all neatly placed in sturdy plastic stock sheets for shipping. It takes about 20 minutes to assemble each kit, time Lynn considers well spent as he strives to introduce the various facets to collecting to others. "People like the large colorful commemoratives," he said. Requests for kits can be sent to usstamps@mac.com. Growing up in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Lynn was introduced to stamp collecting as a child by his maternal grandfather during family visits to Colorado Springs, Colorado. When he went off to college to study music and establish his career, he put stamps aside. Still, he never forgot his love of collecting. "I blame it all on the collecting gene," said Lynn, who joined the Oberlin College faculty in 1977. "If I have 10 of something, then I want 20 of something." He returned to stamp collecting in the 1970s and said he built and sold collections of U.S. classic 19th-century stamps and German States issues. His connection with the college led him to specialize in Oberlin postal history. His collection includes mail related to several Oberlin College presidents and advertising covers of 19th-century local businesses. Lynn's predisposition to collecting extends to his musical career as well. He has assembled a wide array of 18th and 19th century flutes from around the world. But it's sharing the joy of stamp collecting that delights Lynn. "It lets me tinker with stamps all the time," he said. Lynn would like to get a sponsor to provide the stock pages and other supplies he uses for the kits. A sponsorship would help save a few dollars and allow for the project to connect with others in the philatelic world. For now, Lynn plans to push forward. "I don't see myself stopping doing it. It's a good sort of retirement activity and as I do less of other sort of professional things, this is a good way to spend some time and enjoy it. I get really nice notes from people who appreciate their kits. It's rewarding in that way." Cuy-Lor annual show The 65th show of the Cuy-Lor Stamp Club is set for Oct. 25-26 in Rocky River. That's a Friday and Saturday, a change from previous shows, which were held on Saturday and Sunday. This year's event celebrates sea turtles, stemming from the June 12 release by the U.S. Postal Service of six stamps showcasing the diversity of turtle species. As is customary, the club will have a show cover with turtle cachet and pictorial postmark for sale. The show will host 12 dealers and 32 frames of exhibits. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday at Memorial Hall in the Rocky River Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd. Dennis Sadowski can be reached at sadowski.dennis@gmail.com.