Welcome to our "World of Resources".  This is one of the key elements of this website that we hope will expand exponentially. 

First, the OPS library holdings have carefully been referenced and are, now offered, for the first time, in their entirety.  By clicking the "LIBRARY COLLECTION" button below, you will redirected to that area.

We have also posted an archive which, over time, accumulate the minutes, events and day-to-day happenings of the OPS.  Reference articles and such will not be found here, but rather under their respective headings.  You can link to "THE ARCHIVE" by clicking the button below or navigating from the table in the margin at left.

Reference materials have frequently been written or presented in various formats by members of the OPS and by other individuals in the broader philatelic community.  It is hoped that material produced by the membership will find a permananet home here.  Material that stands on its own, or as the program grows, may be offered in future subcategories for more practical use and easier navigation.

It should be noted that any contribution, no matter how small will be most welcomed.  In some instances viewers will have the option to be redircted to other parts of the site, where such information(s) are best suited - exhibits for example.  As this resource grows, an index will grow with it, using selected keywords to help find the specific postings of interest.

A "REFERENCE ARTICLES" button has been provided below for quick navigation to that area.

The OPS collections area will be a much slower area of growth.  Through partnership with PERFORATIONS ©, some personal collections that are offered for consignment will be documented, completely scanned, and represented here in .pdf format accessible for viewing online.  This is made possible by careful planning and financial investment.

It should be noted here, that no collection will be posted without the agreement of the owner and, unless specifically requested, the owner will remain anonymous.  Any written notes that add substantce to the collection will also be preserved through this format.   

This unique component of the website is a service currently being offered here exclusively.  Over the past decade, a virtual reference collection has been put together incorporating all of the worlds stamps upto 1990 (the first 150 years). In many instances this dateline has been extended.  The best visual means to present this material are being reviewed, overcoming the technical restrictions while being sensitive to copyright and accessability issues.

The good news is, it is almost ready to go and many country listings could soon find a home here in a user-firendly format. 

The underlying principles here are simple.  List in a logical fashion, the issued stamps of a specific country (with images).  When information pertaining to that issue is relevant, supplemental information or links will be provided. An example of this might be a link to "Laid Paper" demonstrating what it is and why it is important in a philatelic context. 

Also, information will gradually be updated that try to overcome signigicant factors that currently limit our hobby in several aspects.  A useful example might illustrate and describe the differences between and original printing and a forgery within a specific stamp issue. 

International viewers will be provided a high degree of access AND along with members, make suggestions, provide their own scans of rarer items or offer clarifications to information.  Knowledgeable collectors will have opportunity to respond to information, with hopes that in the end the real philatelic truths will be found. 

Realistically, it is fair to expect decades more to pass before this project approaches anything nearing completion.  However, as infromation resources improve it is hoped that our hobby will become more transparent and accessible to an ever growing audience. 

It is believed by many, that if our hobby is to have a healthy expansion into future generations, that topical collecting need be given equal footing in the broader philatelic community.  That is a debate for the philatelic philosophers, but hopefully provided here will be tools to help accellerate that process.  Similar to the country listings suggest in "PERFORATIONS WORLD", a matching approach will be provided, over time, for a host of topics that appeal to that growing community.  Lists, links, and informations will be generated and contributions most welcomed.  The goal again is to provide a free service to the philatelic community offering a comprehensive presentation on selected topics.  There will be additional benefits provied to both traditional members of the OPS as well as virtual members and ideas are currently being explored so that these services might begin to be offered in the near future.

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