About
Frajola Philately (rfrajola.com) is one of the most thorough free philatelic resources on the internet, built and maintained by renowned philatelist Richard Frajola. The centerpiece is the PhilaMercury Project — an open-access image and description database of more than 25,000 United States postal covers that can be browsed, searched, and sorted by date, origin, and other criteria. Beyond the census, the site hosts Frajola's Board for Philatelists, a public discussion forum where collectors at every level exchange knowledge, ask questions, and engage with some of the most respected names in the hobby. Researchers benefit from a wealth of free downloadable PDF books and catalogs co-authored by Frajola, including award-winning titles such as 'Mails of the Westward Expansion' and 'The Pony Express.' The site also provides searchable PDFs of U.S. Post Office Acts and postal rate history, annotated research sources, the Stanley B. Ashbrook Special Service index, and an Edwin Mueller European classics series. A dedicated Sperati Forgery Site, built around the late Dr. Carl Walske's collection, documents forger Jean de Sperati's work with high-resolution images and detailed analysis. Whether you are a beginner collector or a seasoned exhibitor, Frajola Philately offers deep historical archives and community tools at no cost.
Key Features
- PhilaMercury Cover Census: A free, open-access database of over 25,000 U.S. postal covers with images and descriptions, searchable and sortable by date, origin, and more.
- Philatelist Discussion Board: A public forum connecting collectors worldwide to discuss all philatelic topics, ask questions, and share expertise.
- Free Downloadable Books & Catalogs: Award-winning titles and reference catalogs authored by Richard Frajola available as free PDF downloads, covering topics like the Pony Express and Westward Expansion mails.
- Sperati Forgery Reference Site: High-resolution images and detailed descriptions of Jean de Sperati's renowned philatelic forgeries, sourced from the Dr. Carl Walske collection.
- U.S. Postal History Research Tools: Searchable PDFs of U.S. Post Office Acts, postal rate histories, and annotated research bibliographies for serious researchers.
Use Cases
- Researchers looking up historical U.S. postal covers and verifying their authenticity using the PhilaMercury census database.
- Stamp collectors seeking expert advice or discussion on specific philatelic topics via the public forum.
- Students and historians downloading free PDF books on U.S. postal history for academic research.
- Expert philatelists identifying potential Sperati forgeries by cross-referencing high-resolution images on the forgery site.
- Collectors researching historical U.S. postal rates and legislation using the searchable Post Office Acts PDFs.
Pros
- Completely Free: All resources — the cover census, books, forgery site, and discussion board — are freely accessible with no subscription or registration required.
- Deep Historical Archive: Decades of curated philatelic knowledge in one place, spanning rare covers, postal legislation, forgeries, and award-winning historical narratives.
- Active Expert Community: The public discussion board hosts some of the most respected philatelists on the internet, making it easy to get expert answers.
Cons
- Dated Visual Design: The website's interface is older and may feel outdated compared to modern research platforms, which can affect ease of navigation.
- U.S.-Centric Coverage: The cover census and many resources focus primarily on United States postal history, offering less depth for collectors of international material.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frajola Philately free to use?
Yes, all content on the site — including the PhilaMercury cover census, downloadable books, the forgery site, and the discussion board — is completely free and open-access.
What is the PhilaMercury Project?
The PhilaMercury Project is an online image and description database of over 25,000 United States postal covers. It can be browsed or searched, with results sortable by date, origin, and other criteria.
What books are available for free download?
Richard Frajola offers several authored and co-authored books as free PDFs, including 'The Pony Express' and the Crawford Award-winning 'Mails of the Westward Expansion,' among other catalogs.
What is the Sperati Forgery Site?
It is a dedicated sub-site documenting the philatelic forgeries of Jean de Sperati, based on Dr. Carl Walske's collection. It includes high-resolution images and detailed analysis of each forgery.
Can I contribute to or join the discussion board?
Yes, Frajola's Board for Philatelists is a public forum open to all. Collectors can join, post questions, share knowledge, and engage with the broader philatelic community.
