“The History of the Barbary Pirates & Europeans in Algeria” — Ken Nilsestuen

Join the British Empire Study Group on Thursday, July 14th at 6 pm (ET)

“The History of the Barbary Pirates and Europeans in Algeria” with Ken Nilsestuen

The life of a pirate has been the subject of many childhood fantasies and the romanticism was kept alive with movies like Master and Commander and Erol Flynn in “The Sea Hawk”. Behind these idealized portraits, the real-life Barbary pirates terrorized coastal settlements and enslaved countless people. The pirates vexed Monarchs and leaders worldwide and their global force change the tides of history.

The British Empire Study Groups invites you to join us on Thursday, July 14th at 6 pm when Ken Nilsestuen, Exhibitor, Judge and Postal Historian tells the History of the Barbary Pirates using actual mail spanning back to the 1500s.

As always an informal social will follow Ken’s presentation where we promise not to make anyone walk the plank for any themed video background.

We look forward to seeing you mate and please feel free to share this invitation with your philatelic and non-philatelic friends.

About Ken Nilsestuen

Ken has been a student of Algerian postal history for at least 30 years. His exhibit has won a grand award, although it is currently awaiting a complete remounting. In addition to Algeria, Ken is currently specializing in the French Congo 1900 issue and the Minnesota Territorial Centennial stamp of 1949.

Having discovered organized philately in the 1970s, Ken has been an APS member since 1979 and is about to finish his term as APRL treasurer. Overall, Ken was on the boards of the APS and APRL for about ten years. He’s also the president of the U.S. France & Colonies Philatelic Society, the Institute of Analytical Philately, secretary of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, and a board member or officer of several others.

Ken is an accredited chief judge, traveling to anywhere from four to six shows each year. He has encouraged many exhibitors with his suggestions and guidance and mentored at least a handful of apprentice judges as they learned the nuances of philatelic judging.

Ken has shared his knowledge with others by writing for the American Philatelist, The Congress Book, France & Colonies Philatelist and several other publications. Late last century he co-authored a monograph on Algerian hand cancels with Laurence Lambert. Following the ideas of others, he also has hosted a monthly Zoom meeting for the France & Colonies group that has drawn attendees and speakers from two continents.