Henri Kastler was born May 13, 1863 in Sundhouse, Bas-Rhin, France (then Sundhausen, Germany). He was a French philatelist and founding member of the Academy of Philately (French: Académie de philatélie). A notary by profession, he had a remarkable personality who imposed him from the outset as president at the constituent general assembly, a post he kept for 28 years until his death in 1957 in Paris at the age of 94. Henri was 1st holder of seat no 15, Dec 19, 1928 to May 13, 1957, and (1st) President from Dec 19, 1928 to Jan 13, 1957. He was added to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1947.
Henri Kastler – Founding President of the Academy of Philately.
Henri had fabulous stamp collections, which he preferred to exhibit “out of competition”, as the difference was great with other exhibitors. He had particularly collected his region of origin, Alsace-Lorraine, and published a series of studies that are authoritative on this subject.
