COSTALES, EUGENE NORMAN

Copyright 2011-2025 John N. Lupia, III

Eugene Norman Costales (1894-1984), was born in New York on August 19, 1894, son of Alfredo Costales  and Helena Costales, both Cuban immigrants to New York.

Costales was a member of stamp societies including : the Collectors Club of New York, the American Philatelic Association, where he also served as an expertizer, and also of the American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA).

From 1916 to 1926 he served as assistant editor with John Nicholas Luff for Scott Stamp & Coin Company, New York.

His June 1917 draft card lists a physical debility having glaucoma (cloudiness) of the right eye that was an attempt for being exempted from the draft. However, he was drafted the following year forcing him out of Scott Stamp & Coin Co, until a little while after his return when he resumes editing and compiling stamps and their values for Scott catalogues.

On July 27, 1917, he married Viola G. Tagle (1898-1986). They had two children Audrey Viola Costales (1922-), and Thomas Costales (1923-2011).

He served in the United States Army from September 5, 1918 to January 29, 1919.

On January 6, 1921 Eugene Costales and his sister Leonie Beuchner of Tuxedo Park, New York, petitioned the New York probate court to probate their mother Helena's Last Will and Testament. Their mother had died on December 19, 1920. She left real estate valued at $3,000 awarded to Eugene by the probate court.

In 1922, Eugene N. Costales was working for Scott Stamp & Coin Co. compiling the very First Edition of Scott's Specialized United States Catalogue of Postage Stamps, published in 1923

In 1924, Eugene N. Costales, as assistant editor for Scott Stamp & Coin Co., compiled the Second Edition of Scott's Specialized United States Catalogue of Postage Stamps.

In 1926 Eugene N. Costales became a partner in Economist Stamp Co. 

First Flight Peru to New York, May 17, 1929, back stamped Cristobal, Canal Zone. $300 write john@numismaticmall.com

In 1932, Costales left Economist Stamp Co. to establish his own independent firm under his own name at Hollis, New York, conducting 61 stamp auctions over the next decade until 1942. These auctions included some of the major collectors of stamps including Colonel Edwrad Green, and Alfred F. Lichtenstein.

Costales cover postmarked Hollis, New York, February 5, 1934, sent to APS Member #5088, and Cincinnati Collectors Club Member, Dr. Leon G. Tedesche, Cincinnati, Ohio.

From 1955 to 1971 Costales worked as a consultant, advisor for the publishing division of Scott Stamp & Coin Co. for their product line of the Scott Postage Stamp Catalogues.

In 1976, the American Philatelic Society presented him the Luff award.

In 1982, the Philatelic Foundation presented him the Neinken medal.

In 1983, he was awarded the Dr. Carroll Chase Cup by the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society.

Eugene Costales died on November 2, 1984 at Irvine, Orange County, California.

In 1985,  the American Philatelic Society posthumously enrolled him into the Philatelic Hall of Fame.