https://www.dougrisser.com/blog daily 0.75 2017-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1615315547968-X063UP6PUYGCMG0BDSUG/20180722_201036362_iOS.jpg Blog https://www.dougrisser.com/blog/2017/10/23/next-trip-february-25-march-5-2018 monthly 0.5 2021-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1508795579860-HWA6L714MNPJMUAD02JD/IMG_1083.JPG Blog - Next trip: February 25-March 5, 2018 - Arenal Volcano This is an evening view of the famous Arenal Volcano in Guanacaste, the area where Give-a-Book will conduct a mission i February and March 2018. Contact me for more information. This is the same area where I visited in June 2017. https://www.dougrisser.com/blog/category/Give-a-Book+Costa+Rica monthly 0.5 https://www.dougrisser.com/blog/category/Blog monthly 0.5 https://www.dougrisser.com/blog/category/Follow+my+travels monthly 0.5 https://www.dougrisser.com/blog/tag/Blog monthly 0.5 https://www.dougrisser.com/vocational daily 0.75 2017-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507508116724-8AK81B2A5A9LMTPHJ4CN/UnderConst.jpg Vocational https://www.dougrisser.com/menno-travel daily 0.75 2017-10-12 https://www.dougrisser.com/collecting daily 0.75 2017-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1508352958713-STCXU0T6BC9V42Y7QY32/Bolivia+500+centavos+9+star+black.++This+issue+is+notorious+for+poor+centering+with+the+majority+of+500+centavos+stamps+having+the+perforations+cutting+into+the+design+on+one+or+two+sides. Collecting The 500 Centavos 9 Star Black issue is not scarce, though it carries a high catalog value. What is unusual is that this issue is notorious for poor centering with the majority of 500 Centavos 9 Star Blacks having perforations cutting into the design on one or two sides. The stamp has an APEX certificate stating it as genuine, original gum, previously hinged. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509463667383-SSYZ2EX6WNWK9Q0J81W5/Paz+Estenssoro.jpg Collecting This is one of the scarcest modern Bolivia stamps. President Victor Paz Estenssoro had this stamp printed in Spain. By the time the stamp was issued, Paz Estenssoro had been overthrown as President and the issue was ordered to be incinerated. When cleaning out the incinerator, a few stamps were found to be intact with all showing some degree of damage from burning. This one is one of the best remaining stamps with some yellowing at the bottom left and burn marks at bottom right but with all perforations intact. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509463129882-3DIYF1QYQKR80W5N5OZW/First+airs+regular+%26+inverted.jpg Collecting The first air mail stamps were created in 1925 for use on specific flights between Cochabamba and three other Bolivia cities: La Paz, Oruro, and Sucre. Of course, these basic stamps also exist with the overprint inverted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509462476594-3XPBCPHP9M5DW8BDVM33/Challas+unused+block.jpg Collecting This is Bolivia's first stamp that was contracted for on March 18, 1863 and engraved by Justiniano Garcia. It was rescinded on April 29. The plate consisted of 110 stamps of four values (11 rows of 10 stamps each), 1/2 real, 1 real, 2 reales, and 4 reales and was printed in both blue and black with the blue stamps scarcer. Since they were hand engraved, each stamp is different from the others and the issue can be plated. These issues are often referred to the "Challas" issue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509463354836-TFDVFO1PKL8FOTNTL2IR/Early+airs+imperf+blocks.jpg Collecting The first "air mail" stamps listed by Scott were not really air mail stamps but were intended for all mail. They commemorate the establishment of the National Aviation School. Four values exist imperforated with three shown here. The 10 centavos value exists in two colors (shown here). The stamps here are from a corner of the sheet and show the engravers, Perkins, Bacon & Co of London. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1508353806712-F4AZQ79N1FM5MEZUZ0FP/Bolivia+Condor+Plate+1%2C+State+1+various+used.jpg Collecting Bolivia's first issue, the Condors, is famous for being hand engraved with each of 72 stamps unique and readily identifiable. The plate was soft and wore quickly necessitating several complete re-engravings of the entire plate and several more retouches to some of the stamps in the plate. There are no known complete sheets of the first engraving, only singles and pairs, blocks, or strips. The stamp served both fiscally (for revenue purposes) and for postage. Postal cancellations are much scarcer than stamps "cancelled" by pen. Shown is a representation of 69 out of the 72 positions of the original plate. This issue had many varieties including colors and paper types ranging from pelure to thick.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509464042147-DSJV832B6E9E956538UN/001+%282%29.jpg Collecting This set of stamps issued in 1981 commemorated the July 17 Revolution. Shortly after its issuance, the low values were withdrawn because of controversy about the hammer and sickle symbol. The low values are almost never seen as being used at that time. Sets of singles are around but not common (probably came from new issue dealers). Blocks like this are seldom seen. I have this set in sheets of 100 (folded) which are likely unique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509462874676-1NCOQBK6MO1402ZAXRZW/Challas+used+block.jpg Collecting This also shows a "Challas" issue, again in the blue color. This one shows that more than one value was included in each sheet with the top row showing the 1/2 real stamp and the lower two rows being a 1 real stamp. Although these stamps were "official" for six weeks, no authentic stamps of this type exist showing genuine postal usage. This block with the left sheet margin was likely cancelled without official usage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1508353380209-ONC162N7QA4QAIJCZMQF/Bolivia+missing+red+color+Olympics+stamp.jpg Collecting Shown are a normal Bolivia Scott 519 and a variety missing the red color. I've heard that only three such stamps, all postally used, are known. This one came from the Alex Rendon holding. I first saw a stamp such as this (perhaps this one?) in 1976 when visiting the noted Bolivia collector Irvin Hershkowitz in Pennsylvania. He was proud to show me one that he owned.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509461954443-CIB6KCY9VELWWMD2MMXD/10c+1899+half+sheet.jpg Collecting This is the top half of a sheet of stamps with the "E.F. 1899" overprint on the thin paper issue of 1894. Note that the first stamp in the fourth row shows the inverted overprint variety. While the Scott catalogue values the inverted overprint at double the value of the regular stamp, in reality perhaps one in 50 are genuine inverted overprint. I have another half sheet of this tamp and it also has one inverted overprint out of 50. All these stamps were overprinted by hand and other varieties, such as double or rocked, can be found.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509462319214-LR62XEVLJ8DQXYUVGEBL/Bolivia+116c+inverted+center+block.jpg Collecting Inverted centers are relatively common in Bolivia stamps compared with stamps of the US or Europe. Finding them in blocks is unusual. https://www.dougrisser.com/home daily 1.0 2020-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1560448233102-5NVK4EBBEGXF9Z01U79F/IMG_5170.JPG Home Kitchen area https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1544634418177-RZOM8KJZASXB9TAO6YQY/coffee+area.JPG Home Front hallway and coffee area https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1615316482661-GU9D5WR3FQ7TY9U2D36P/IMG_3767.JPG Home https://www.dougrisser.com/stamps daily 0.75 2017-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1596723463180-THQU9F0VZ12N925OH5YH/Bolivia%2B116c%2Binverted%2Bcenter%2Bblock.jpg Stamps https://www.dougrisser.com/civic-involvements daily 0.75 2021-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507757460338-1KVHZ6GG096IZC2CN88A/IMG_1298.JPG Civic involvements https://www.dougrisser.com/sharon daily 0.75 2019-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1560449712118-IRI3O7S13A6XKN06K2GA/Sharon+in+Japan.jpg Sharon Sharon in Japan https://www.dougrisser.com/mtsexchange daily 0.75 2019-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1560452942919-7VS5U692DQWCL6VBG1VS/IMG_5169.JPG MTS Realty/The Exchange New sitting area in renovated space https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507836302491-S4PGWWKJ7O8R8JNNWUR7/IMG_7189.JPG MTS Realty/The Exchange Sitting area of The Exchange https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507836389982-J3GTLE9VO9W0VVP10714/IMG_7191.JPG MTS Realty/The Exchange Coffee area at The Exchange https://www.dougrisser.com/travel daily 0.75 2020-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507756597351-0CDO60E8VWS4KXNVAQXE/Milford+Sound Travel Milford Sound 2017 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507836643301-QESVYF8ZRMUMBVVMU2WU/IMG_0985.JPG Travel Hanging Bridges Park, Costa Rica 2017 https://www.dougrisser.com/genealogy daily 0.75 2017-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1512075069903-XNWYZ4R88O7IM0BDLYRQ/Doug%27s+maternal+family+tree.jpg Genealogy This chart shows the family tree of my Mother, Eva Arlene Miller, going back to my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Christian Miller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1512074812074-U8WEPOPW7FZ6XFR6F4JS/Doug%27s+paternal+family+tree.jpg Genealogy This shows my father's, Woodrow Theron Risser's, family tree going back to Abraham Risser. Abraham was the son of Hans Risser born around 1685 in Friedelsheim, Germany, the ancestral Risser home. Risser is a Swiss name probably originating in Zurich, expelled in the late 1500s or early 1600s because of their Anabaptist-Mennonite religion, moving to the Ementhal Valley (Canton of Berne). It is not know when Rissers moved to Germany but in 1711 Hans Risser moved from Ibersheimer Hof, Germany, to Friedelsheim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1615315919230-5YG41MP2MMGP0XWHM126/IMG_0321.JPG Genealogy https://www.dougrisser.com/family daily 0.75 2020-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1560449311553-45321N6GF1ZN1QHI4PTY/Doug+%26+Teagan.jpg Family Doug & Teagan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1560449365315-1PQB57EB1EHUUKURNXTK/Sharon+%26+Teagan.jpg Family Sharon and Teagan in sunroom at home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1560448889221-YV7TM5GY5TH6TX4E7VVP/Jay%2C+Jaxon%2C+%26+Amber+at+Jaxon%27s+B-Day+party.jpg Family https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1615315814830-C0UQ2Q2KNWV1B701OEFF/IMG_7874.JPG Family https://www.dougrisser.com/contact-1 daily 0.75 2020-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507507121025-MEIC9G1SIKBTXAK4T2CW/image-asset.jpeg Social Media https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1615315989271-067GVCY866K7G6HYYLG1/IMG_5910.JPG Social Media https://www.dougrisser.com/contact-2 daily 0.75 2017-09-27 https://www.dougrisser.com/january-4-2015 daily 0.75 2017-10-18 https://www.dougrisser.com/elkhart-rotary-club daily 0.75 2019-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1615316114163-5NBUB3YFQVE4G0J07Z8R/Darrell+and+Doug+Cooma+2017.JPG Elkhart Rotary Club https://www.dougrisser.com/about-me daily 0.75 2018-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1509464797415-SWI5FLH5YAQ584BU6J37/IMG_3518.JPG ABOUT ME October 2017 picking apples at Kercher's Sunrise Orchards with grandson, Jaxon, age 6. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1507755438666-47PTEUFWBYP4E0024T9M/IMG_0565.JPG ABOUT ME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1615316587447-WVFKP45CBMTGNJGIHS4M/IMG_0321.JPG ABOUT ME https://www.dougrisser.com/rotary-international daily 0.75 2018-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1512142669130-D322DCO0ML07DOTPEF23/2015-09-14+15.33.16.jpg Rotary International Connections with Costa Rica Rotarians in 2015 with Give-a-Book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1512142944313-VBDTTGGX532J3ZN6DFDP/2016-06-24+12.25.52.jpg Rotary International Rotary Friendship Exchange Team in Cappadocia, June 2016 https://www.dougrisser.com/giveabook daily 0.75 2017-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1512144814866-CCFLFZLGF3DFZHXAQ496/2015-11-18+08.46.36.jpg Give-a-Book Unpacking books at a rural school in Costa Rica 2015.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59c2e56bd2b857541a3e483e/1512145319475-HM2YPMD8H4QYZQLDOD8L/2015-11-17+11.44.00.jpg Give-a-Book Nothing like curling up under a desk with a new book and a friend!   https://www.dougrisser.com/home-alt-bedford daily 0.75 2025-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500612440-PGQSIY8KL9F7T5VIXQLO/chambers-2.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Contact Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500503574-5BAPXZO9U06UV61P49UO/chambers1.jpg Home Alt Sustainability Starts with you Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500933384-LII4SRIPHFYOUFX0UCXC/chambers-4.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390504287124-HQ8GNX1JCE22V047MSQ9/chambers-8.jpg Home Alt Preserve Nature Join Us https://www.dougrisser.com/ebay-store daily 0.75 2017-09-24