ISCNY

In Edward Grabowski’s presentation on early 20th-century mail order fraud, he delves into the activities of Professor Victor Segno and his Signal Success Club. The focus is on three covers featuring U.S. parcel post postage due stamps addressed to Segno. Grabowski begins by explaining Segno’s fraudulent scheme of sending “success waves” to clients for $10 a year, equivalent to about $200 today. He then details the technical aspects of the covers: an unpaid cover from Buenos Aires with a 50 centimes due mark and 10 cent postage due stamp applied in Los Angeles, an underpaid letter from Sydney marked with 30 centimes due and U.S. postage dues added later, and a cover from the Gold Coast, underpaid and marked for 8 cents due, showcasing blue crayon cancellations at Station E. Grabowski also discusses Segno’s operations, including his publications and the use of his Los Angeles address. The presentation concludes with a review of Segno’s international reach, the legitimacy of the covers, and the historical context of Segno’s mail fraud activities.