Mystic Founder Mentored by Stamp Giant H.E. Harris
Those who have been collecting stamps for a number of years will remember the name H.E. Harris. He was a giant in the stamp-collecting world, and his innovative idea of selling stamps on approval led to significant growth in the hobby. H.E. Harris Stamp Company, the business he began as a 14 year old, grew to be “The World’s Largest Stamp Firm.” In addition to being a very successful businessman, Harris was also a mentor to young entrepreneurs with their own small stamp companies. One of the men he invested his time and talent in was Mystic Stamp Company founder, Lawrence Shaver.
In 1923, Shaver answered an H.E. Harris ad in Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News directed toward would-be stamp dealers. The young man paid $500 for a starter stock of stamps, and began his business in a rented room in the same building as the Camden, New York, post office. A short while later, Shaver traveled to Boston to meet Harris in person. When H.E. found out the new business didn’t have a name yet, he suggested naming it after the Mystic River that flowed by his office. Mystic Stamp Company was born. Over the following years, Shaver’s connection to H.E. Harris grew from professional to personal.
Shaver wasn’t the only stamp dealer who was mentored by H. E. Harris. In 1935, recent high school graduate Maynard Sundman began his stamp business in Bristol, Connecticut. His success soon caught the attention of Harris, who taught the young entrepreneur about the mail order business. Ten years later, Sundman moved to New Hampshire and established the Littleton Stamp Company, where the business continued to prosper.
In 1974, Shaver sold Mystic Stamp Company to Sundman, who was a good friend as well as a competitor. The new owner’s youngest son Donald became president. Mystic continued to grow under Don’s leadership and in 1989 the company moved into a brand-new 50,000-square-foot facility.
Mystic Stamp Company is now America’s leading stamp dealer. Its early success was due in large part to H.E. Harris’ willingness to share his knowledge with two young stamp dealers.
Great article. Over the years I have dealt with all this companies. My First Album was a Harris World wide Album.
Dennis
Hi,
I’ve collected stamps since before WWII and dealt with the Harris Company. They were very fair and honest to do business with! Just like your company, MYSTIC
I remember H.E.Harris, What happened to them?
WHAT HAPPENED TO H E HARRIS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 2011
Those of us who started in philately over thirty years ago remember H E Harris. Harris was the largest stamp dealer in the mid twentieth century, growing rapidly during the Great Depression with the Captain Tim radio show. Harris was a leading promoter of philately with album publishing and approvals so that by 1975 Harris had tens of thousands of customers and, it was argued, made more new collectors than the Post Office itself. By 1975 Henry Harris was an old man and was ready to sell his business and the story of the demise of Harris tells us a lot about American business in the 1970s and 1980s. Harris sold his business to General Mills and as a young stamp dealer I had visions of General Mills promoting stamp collecting on the back of every box of Cheerios sold in America. But this was not to be. General Mills ran a late twentieth century venture capitalism division and it was this unit that bought Harris. Their goal was simple. They stripped Harris of its assets, sold off the inventory, floated the publishing division and closed down the approval business. Employment went from hundreds to zero. The employees lost out, stamp collectors lost out, everyone lost except General Mills which made far more money dismantling Harris than Harris ever made keeping his company in business and his employees and collectors happy. (The model that General Mills used was the venture capital model of the time and was the same model that was used to enrich venture capitalists at places like Bain Capital). Now don’t get me wrong. I am a capitalist-all stamp dealers are. But the rewards that the purveyors of what they euphemistically call “creative destruction” get seem far out of proportion to the harm that they cause. I know this story well because the same team from General Mills that bought Harris made an offer for my company in 1981. But by then it was clear what the pattern was to be. We decided to stay as stamp dealers because we felt a commitment to our staff, our customers and to our hobby and because of our fear that after they dismantled our company we would have nothing left to do.
Posted in News Philatelist’s Guide to Stamp Specialization By JOHN APFELBAUM
Disgusting. I grew up with H.E. Harris. His company deserved a better end than bone picking
I had almost forgotten about H.E. Harris. I discovered them when my brother and I each bought a big bag of stamps in that cool orange bag with the string tie at Woolworth’s in Watertown, NY. It took days and days to sort, soak and hinge all those stamps.
There were many more “Big Bags” to follow. Harris did approvals too, and when I was older I started with those, hinging them into my GIANT Citation worldwide album (From Harris, of course). A Liberty US album followed after that.
H.E. Harris may have been a mentor to young businessmen but more importantly he was a also a mentor to young stamp collectors who are still collecting after 60 years!
I remember those orange bags of stamps. I bought mine from the Woolworth’s in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Thank you for this very interesting article. I quite enjoy reading about the history of stamps, and stamp companies. I appreciate the ease of navigation while using your new website. Mystic is such a good company. I have many stamps purchased from Mystic. Keep up the good work.
got some rare old stamps i would sell but not authentacated i know they are rare but not going to pay big bucks to do so thats why there is not many done so with how can a person trust a company that you have had nothing to do with not me wasnt born yesterday to many scams out there 60 years of collecting not going to blow it now
Mystic is America’s leading stamp buyer. We pay more for stamps! If you’re interested in selling your stamps, this form can help…
https://www.mysticstamp.com/Selling-Stamps/Tell-Us-About-Your-Stamps/
Great story! I think one of the key concepts here is that of mentoring. Many collectors seem to lament the lack of large numbers of new collectors coming into our hobby. I’ve found that investing time with new collectors of any age is the best way to build their interest and increase their commitment to the hobby. And as the story tells it certainly works with young stamp dealers too!
I too recall the Harris company from my youth. Sharing our interest and knowledge is critical to growing the numbers of newer collectors. Most of the collectors I have met online, or at stamp shows/auctions are past 50 as I am. It appears very few kids today find stamps as exciting as Netflix and video games, so we had better offer our help and support to ANY other collector we may come across. If you collect stamps, I hope you’ll join StampCommunity.org — there are always collectors in this forum who are asking questions and seeking knowledge.
JUST AN ADDENDUM. WHAT AN AMAZING MAN, THE BEST OF THE LOT, YOUR FATHER WAS (I BOUGHT FROM LITTLETON BY MAIL AND ACROSS THE COUNTER WAY BACK IN 1949-1955) AND HARRIS (I BOUGHT FROM HIM TOO) AND ALL THOSE INCREDIBLY ENTREPRENEURIAL MEN OF THAT ERA (WHICH YOU ARE EMULATING AND EXPANDING SO WELL). I ALSO REMEMBER THE UTTERLY CREATIVE PHILATELIC AND NUMISMATIC MERCHANT, H.E. MacINTOSH, WHO OWNED TATHAM STAMP & COIN IN SPRINGFIELD AND SADLY IN PANIC, GUILT AND DELUSION, TERMINATED HIS LIFE AND HIS BUSINESS. AGAIN, I SALUTE YOU. MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL..
Thanks for the kind words about my father and others. Harris was an important source for stamps for Littleton, Mystic, Garcelon, Jamestown, and Kenmore all bought most of their stamps wholesale from H.E. Harris. My father was close friends with Harris having met in the 1930’s. After my father returned from army service in North Africa and Europe during WWII he started Littleton Stamp Company with trade credit from Harris. H.E. Harris’s son, known as Bill, started Kenmore after WWII. Bill flew in the army air force. Bill passed away a few years ago. Bills daughter and son-in-law continue to run Kenmore in Milford.
My father admired McIntosh and Tatham and that was one reason Littleton started selling coins in the 1950s. Now that company is Littleton Coin Company and my brother David Sundman is president. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
– Don Sundman
Hello, I have enjoyed the comments. I am 65 and began collecting at age 12 with stamps enclosed in Red Rose Tea boxes in Canada in the 1960’s. My album smelled like tea! I started with a Harris Ambassador album ordered from Boston…later to a Standard two volume in 1970. Over the years I expanded the original Standard to a 7 volume set,adding supplements. The old original pages have spaces for stamps that are no longer seen much,as well as new issues into the 2000 year. With care,it is still in good shape,and one of the few ways I could have a worldwide collection and albums at reasonable cost. The vinyl brown binders look neat and tidy. I do not place all pages in the album,especially countless junk showing cartoon characters or movie stars from countries that have nothing to do with those topics. The best issues are from 1940-1970,when stamps were more relevant. Today,there are still a few worthwhile modern issues from various countries,but I am selective. You don’t want to or have to fill every space.
I love old US and Canadian stamps from the 1850-1950 era as well as Great Britain,France and Germany,when history is truly depicted in the stamps. Thanks for reading. Brian
I worked at the H.E.Harris Stamp Co. located on Mass. Ave., Copley Square, Boston. The building was six stories and employed 100’s of people, many of them women.
I started there just after graduating from Somerville High School in 1961 and worked there till May of 1963 when I joined the U.S. Army, I was 20 years old.
I started on the 4th floor as an order filler of albums and stamp supplies, a few months later I was assigned to the sixth floor of the building. My job was to take the elevator to the first floor and pick up the mail stored in large burlap bags, and take them back to the sixth floor and sort them on a large table for distribution.
Most of the mail was the Approval returns which were then distributed to 12 women who would open them, remove the money or checks and then resort the returned stamps by category..
I spent a lot of time working on that sixth floor with the women, most of whom were in their 40 or 50’s. They worked hard but had a lot of fun on the job. Happy, talking and joking and getting along with everyone.
I’m a retired police officer now and have a lot of fond memories working at the H.E. Harris Stamp Company.as a young man.
I never met Mr. Harris while I worked there; but his company was a reflection of the type of man he must have been; a fantastic place to work, great employees, friendly camaraderie, caring supervisors, enjoyable work, a really fascinating and interesting business; much more complex and involved than what one would expect.
Disturbing to hear how sadly it ended for so many employees, loyal caring customers and collectors of all ages from many states and countries.
I too worked for HE Harris on Mass Ave one of my first jobs while in high school I loved that job loved my supervisor she was the best will never forget her. Worked in approvals, then one day this was in the late sixties quite a few of us including my supervisor was let us go I was devastated!!! Don’t remember the reason we were let go !!!
Fred La Marca Lordsburg, N.M. I began collecting used world stamps in the late 60’s after a few years it became too much. Early 70s I switched to mint U S singles and soon after discovered Plate Blocks. In the 80s with 3rd, 4th, & 5th child arriving, I had little extra money for stamps and would now and then buy sheets at the P O and keep the blocks and use the the others for mailing. As my children went on their own I returned to serious Plate Block, Zip Code, Mail Early, Minni Sheets, Etc. I have the early version H E Harris Albums 1& 2 the 3 is a Liberty and a Regular Stamp Issues Block Liberty Album, all are the two post type. Three of the albums the plastic covers have seperatted at the folds. I purchased a American Heirloom w/ slip cover to improve my collection and found two pr0blems, one; the Album is too short for the pages and two; it has three rings (which I want but the pages are two holed). I have tried to find better quality albums and Plate Block supplements that have 3 ring holed pages. Can some suggest a solution.
I didn’t know about H E Harris Co went out of business until I read the histories above. I have been a customer of all three, Littleton, Mystic, Jamestown, HE Harris and others over the years.
I was introduced to stamp collecting when I was 12 years old. (1959) A neighbor and friend suggested I mow his lawn weekly and he would pay me in what he would consider a fair wage. One catch. The fee would be in postage stamps. Thus began my learning experience as well as collecting experience in the world of postage stamps. My neighbor would set down with me each “payday” and explain the origin and meaning of each stamp. He gave me my first stamp album. This continued for several years and advance to shoveling his driveway during the winter (Michigan). I was an arrangement agreed on by both he and I not to also include overview by my father. The active years tapered off somewhat one I got in high school, but not completely. The first company I dealt with on my own was H.E. Harris. Upon graduation from high school in 1965 and receiving orders to Vietnam, I gave my entire collection to my girlfriends brother. I got it in my head that I would not be coming back from Nam and the collection wouldn’t do me any good. I really didn’t have a concept of what my collection was worth but I was more intent I getting away from my strict living environment so I graduated high school June 4, 1965 and departed for the U.S. Navy the next day. The exchange of the stamp collection didn’t occur until about a year later when I received orders to DaNang Vietnam and would be assigned to cargo operations “in country.” Most everyone believed in country meant the final stop in life. Don’t know if the young man ever continued in the area of stamp collecting in as much as I lost contact with the family. I do hope however someone got some pleasure from it. I remained in the service for almost 10 years. Time goes by and the small things just slip away with the time. I really did enjoy the collecting and learning about facts behind the stamps. Here it is now 42 years later and my son just came up with the idea to collect stamps together. Great avenue to be able to share time with him and regain some old memories at the same time.
Thanks for the many years of memories brought back in just a few conversations with my son.
Very much enjoyed the history lesson of the creation and expansion of philately
by men who had a keen understanding of growing a business and providing out-
standing customer service. I dealt with Fleetwood and Colorano FDC’s before
Mystic purchased those businesses. I cannot praise Mystic’s customer service
enough! They are second to none!
As the story of General Mills dismantling and ruining HE Harris business follow-
purchase, we see a similar pattern in present day with the governments’ issue of
$350 billion for coronavirus impact and the so-called big banks standing by and
not issuing business loans. This includes JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo,
and Bank of America. The community banks in small town, rural America were
the ones “jumping in with both feet!’ and making loans! Praise God for their foot-
print! Growing up in Oklahoma with community banks the primary source of
financing, they remain the leader there. If you’re looking for a brick and mortar
big name bank, you’ll realize they are few and far between as income and pop-
ulation do not meet their interests. Community banks know the people, their
business, their operation, yes, even their family. I was fortunate enough to work as
an Agriculture Specialist for a rural lending agency renamed the Rural Develop-
ment Agency acting through the USDA where I worked with farmers, housing
applicants, etc through some 30+ loan programs. As a rural lending agency whose
objective was to insure the survival of the family farm, I found myself working
with banks, contractors, realtors, subdivision developers, etc. Very much connected to small town America and not a “big bank” in sight! haha