I founded Gellein Stamp Company in honor of my great-uncle Per Gellein (1899-1983). Dr. Gellein was one of the most recognized Norwegian philatelists in his lifetime. In 1976, when I was nine years old, “Uncle Per” gave me my first stamp catalog, Norgeskatalogen 1976. This gift was the germination for a life-long passion for philately.
As often happens, life sometimes gets in the way of hobbies. In my case, my hobby was put on the backburner for many years while I started a family and had a successful career as a software entrepreneur. In recent years, having more resources available, my passion for the hobby has been reignited.
While the world may not need another stamp company, I wanted to combine my passion for stamp collecting with my passion for technology and entrepreneurship. With Gellein Stamp Company I want to create a platform for connecting with other philatelists with similar collecting interests and for selling and trading the many duplicate acquisitions I have made in recent years. I am also active as a philatelic writer and plan to feature some of my writings on this site.
My speciality is Norwegian stamps, but as often happens when one acquire collections, I also end up with stamps and covers from many other countries, some of which I know better than others. Thus, our slogan is Stamps and Covers from Norway and Elsewhere.
Even Brande
Even Brande Bio
Even Brande was born in Oslo, Norway in 1967. After graduating from High School in Oslo and completing the required military service in Norway, he moved to the United States in 1988 to pursue a business education. He finished a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Wyoming in 1991. While it was always the plan to move back to Norway, Even met his future wife, Anne, a native Wyomingite, one day during his senior year in 1991. They were married in Oslo, Norway in 1993.
After finishing his undergrad in 1991, Even was hired into Tandy’s Management Trainee program and helped run a RadioShack store in Fort Collins. After his one-year training work permit expired he returned to UW for his MBA. Upon finishing his MBA in 1993 he was hired by Dr. Brooks Mitchell, his former entrepreneurship professor, to work as a Corporate Services Executive at Aspen Tree Software, an early Laramie technology company. There, he was later promoted to Marketing Director. After Aspen Tree sold in 1997 Even decided that Laramie is a great place for running a software business. He subsequently started Handel Information Technologies in the summer of 1997. Over the years he grew Handel from a small tech startup to a leader in Government Social Services Software. Today, Handel employs about 20 people, most out of the Laramie office. He served as Handel’s CEO for 21 until 2018. He remains Chairman of the company and works on special projects and as advisor to the CEO.
Even is also a graduate of the 2006 Class of Leadership Wyoming. He has served on several boards including the Governor’s Internet Privacy Task Force, State of Wyoming Information Technology Policy Council, Wyoming Technology Business Center, Laramie Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), State of Wyoming Innovative Education Council, United Way Co-Chair, University of Wyoming College of Business Advisory Board, and University of Wyoming Department of Computer Science Advisory Board. Even is a sought-after speaker and frequently speaks at technology conferences on topics involving government and technology. Even is also an Adjunct Professor in the University of Wyoming College of Business where he has taught Entrepreneurship and Information Management. He currently teaches a graduate course in Business Analytics.
Even is a member of several stamp clubs and societies including Oslo Filatelistklubb, American Philatelic Society, The Royal Philatelic Society of London, Scandinavian Collectors Club, Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library, and the Cheyenne Stamp Society. Even enjoys attending club meetings, shows, and auctions. He loves history and specifically postal history, and is a frequent writer on various philatelic topics. Even primarily collects classic Norwegian stamps and covers but also dabbles in a few other areas including USA, Faroe Islands, and Imperial Russia.
Even is also passionate about music, running, cross-country skiing, and anything outdoors. He and his wife have three children. The family enjoys the outdoors and split their time between their home in Laramie, WY and their ranch in Virginia Dale, Colorado. He is a dual citizen of Norway and USA and proud of being a University of Wyoming Alumni.