U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has notified the Postal Service Board of Governors that it should begin looking for his successor. In neither the USPS press release nor his letter to the Governors, was there an indication of when he will leave the post.
DeJoy became PMG in 2020. He is currently in his late 60s, and only 4 years into his “Delivering for America” Plan. “I am confident that with a period of dedicated focus preparing for this change, the Postal Service will be well positioned for future success under the new leadership,” he says in the press release.
[press release]
D.A. Lux of Texas will chair the American First Day Cover Society’s Convention Planning and Americover 2025 committees. He has attended nearly every Americover show in the past 15 years, often volunteering at the AFDCS booth.
Americover, which is both the organization’s annual celebration of first day covers as well as its convention, is now part of Great American Stamp Show (GASS), which this year will be held August 14-17 in Schaumburg, Illinois. It includes an exhibition of FDCs, a cachetmakers bourse, AFDCS meetings, seminars, and social events.
D.A. has been a member of the AFDCS and the American Philatelic Society — also a cosponsor of GASS —for more than 40 years. He didn’t attend his first stamp show, however, until TEXPEX in 2008. Three years later, he came to his first Americover and joined the Fred Sawyer North Texas Chapter of the AFDCS. He is currently Sawyer’s president. He was the 2024 recipient of the AFDCS’ Distinguished Service Award and is the society’s Chapter Coordinator.
His main collecting interest is the 1983 Brooklyn Bridge stamp and FDCs (Sc. 2041), which he has exhibited at Americover and other national shows. He also collects stamps and FDCs of the $2 Bobcat (Sc. 2482), the four 1937 territory issues (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Sc. 799-802), and the Chief Anderson stamp (Sc. 4879), as well as just the stamps of Thailand, and the FDCs of several cachetmakers.
He lives in Northern Texas with his wife, Dee. Before retirement, he was a Chief Electronics Technician in the U.S. Navy, including tours of duty on nuclear submarines.
In addition to holding Americover, the AFDCS also publishes its award-winning journal First Days six times a year as well as handbooks and catalogues; has a YouTube channel; promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, and exhibiting them; and offers awards for outstanding first day cover exhibits, the writing of serious FDC literature and the best FDC cachets of the past year.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, Wis., 54025-0057.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] Legendary Rock Band AC/DC Celebrated with 12 Special StampsIssue date: 18 February
Stamps mark the 50th anniversary of AC/DC’s groundbreaking debut album, High Voltage
The main set of eight stamps features dynamic images of the band performing live, while an additional four stamps show the covers of some of their most successful and influential albums
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/acdc and by telephone on 03457 641641
Royal Mail is celebrating the legendary rock band AC/DC with a set of special stamps marking the 50th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album, High Voltage.
The main set of eight stamps captures some of the band’s dynamic live performances over the last 50 years in venues across the world.
A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet feature the covers of four iconic AC/DC studio albums: High Voltage – AC/DC’s debut album; Highway to Hell – their sixth studio album released in 1979; Back in Black – the biggest-selling rock album of all time, and Power Up – AC/DC’s triumphant return in 2020. The stamps in the miniature sheet are set against a striking design taken from their album Black Ice.
Formed in 1973, AC/DC have spent more than 50 years perfecting the art of stripping rock music back to its core elements. Led by the twin-guitar attack of Glasgow-born brothers, Malcolm and Angus Young, and with two of the greatest frontmen in history – Bon Scott (1974-1980) and subsequently Brian Johnson (1980 to present) – in their ranks, the band is responsible for the biggest-selling rock album of all time, 1980’s Back in Black – a record that defined the sound of hard rock for a long time to come.
Outside of the studio, AC/DC command a devoted following drawn to the band’s electrifying live shows: supercharged performances complete with outsized props and stadium-ready anthems that continue to set the bar for any self-respecting rock act. In their current incarnation, with Stevie Young standing in for his late uncle Malcolm, AC/DC remain fully charged.
AC/DC become the eighth music band to feature in a dedicated Royal Mail stamp issue – following on from: The Beatles, 2007; Pink Floyd, 2016; Queen, 2020; The Rolling Stones, 2022; Iron Maiden, 2023; Spice Girls, 2024; and The Who, 2024.
David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “AC/DC is one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Over the past half century, they have recorded some of the best-known rock anthems and have given us Back in Black – the biggest-selling rock album of all time. These stamps capture a sample of their electrifying live performances, along with some of their most iconic album covers, and celebrate their significant contribution to the world of rock music.”
The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/acdc and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £22.10. The stamps go on general sale from 18 February.
[press release] Nominations Open for FDC Writing Award For Works Published In 2024
Nominations will be accepted through May 30, 2025, for the Philip H. Ward Award for Excellence in First Day Cover Literature, presented annually by the American First Day Cover Society. All works published in 2024 are eligible.
All articles and published in First Days, the AFDCS journal, are automatically considered. Other articles and works may be submitted to the Ward Award Committee chair, Mark Goodson, 315 East Dewey Street, Ellettsville, IN 47429-1901, bgdsn@comcast.net, either as clippings or .pdf scans of the material as published.
The award is presented each year at Americover, the annual convention of the AFDCS, which will be held August 14-17, as part of Great American Stamp Show 2025 in Schaumburg, Illinois. A complete list of past winners can be found at www.afdcs.net/Ward-Literature-Award
Past works honored by the AFDCS reflect a wide variety of sources, including journals of other organizations and books.
The award is named in honor of Philip H. Ward (1890-1963), the distinguished Philadelphia stamp collector, dealer and journalist who was a pioneer in the field of first day covers. The award was instituted by the AFDCS in 1964.
The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization, established in 1955. In addition to First Days, the AFDCS also publishes handbooks and catalogues, and promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, as well as the exhibiting of FDCs.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, WI 54025-0057.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
The Collectors Club in New York has named the newest honoree of its Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately. He is Dr. Yamil H. Kouri Jr. of Sarasota, Fla. The award was announced at the club’s annual meeting in New York on Jan. 8, 2024.
This richly deserved honor reflects Kouri’s long list of accomplishments in philatelic exhibiting, writing and organizing, as well as his tireless work in recent years to broaden the appeal and reach of the hobby by leading the organization of Boston 2026 World Expo, next year’s once-a-decade international stamp show.
Kouri was a 2020 signatory of the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and winner of the American Philatelic Society’s Luff Award, among numerous other awards. He is a numbered member of the Real Academia Hispánica de Filatelia, the highest honor in Spanish philately.
Born in Cuba, Kouri began collecting stamps during his childhood in Mexico and Puerto Rico, naturally focusing on the Spanish Caribbean area, particularly the history of its maritime mails. He has published over 200 articles in some 20 different philatelic journals, and his first book, The Postal History of Spanish New Orleans, appeared in 2004; it has since been followed by half a dozen other books and 10 specialist monographs, most recently Mails of the 1861-1867 European Intervention in Mexico (with Steve Walske), published in 2022. Kouri was also the editor of The Cuban Philatelist and other journals.
An active philatelic exhibitor since his teenage years, Kouri has garnered Large Gold and Gold medals at numerous international shows with a handful of different exhibits, culminating in the A.P.S. Champion of Champions award in 2019 for “The First Postal Issues of the Spanish Antilles (1855-1865).” Kouri is also an internationally accredited postal history judge and has presented at dozens of shows and conferences around the world.
His leadership positions have included vice-president of the A.P.S., chairman of the board of the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History, and vice president of the Federación Interamericana de Filatelia (FIAF).
In his spare time, he keeps busy as an oncologist and hematologist in Sarasota, Fla. where he moved with his wife, Suzanne in 2022 after living in the Boston area for three decades. Their five children now range in age from 24 to 35.
Kouri expressed his gratitude for the recognition bestowed on him by the award and touched on the real rewards philately has brought him.
“The friendships I have in the hobby have enriched my life incredibly,” Kouri said. “I am incredibly grateful.”
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] Boston 2026 U.S. Commissioners Named
Three regional U.S. commissioners have been announced by Boston 2026 World Expo to handle the transport and care of exhibits before, during and after the show.
Representing the East is Chris Lazaroff, a well-established first day cover creator and enthusiast since the 1980s. He has been instrumental in promoting all aspects of FDC collecting to philatelists worldwide and an active advocate of the cachet maker bourse nationally. Chris was appointed U.S. commissioner to the IBRA 2022 exhibition in Germany, WSC Exhibition Thailand 2023, EFIRO 2023 in Romania and to the upcoming Uruguay 2025 and Liberec 2025 exhibitions. Among the former American First Day Cover Society president‘s accomplishments was reaching his goal of attending U.S. first day ceremonies in all 50 states between 1982 and 2016.
The Central commissioner is Gregory Shoults, a well-known exhibitor whose single and multi-frame exhibits on various aspects of the Third Bureau Washington-Franklin coils have won top honors, making several appearances in the APS Champion of Champions over the past 15 years. Most recently he was the CAPEX 2022 U.S. commissioner in Toronto and earlier was appointed to Brasiliana 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. Greg has been the exhibits chair for the Garfield Perry March Party national stamp show in Cleveland, Ohio, for the past 10 years. He belongs to numerous philatelic organizations, holding positions in many of them.
Vesma Grinfelds of California will be in charge of exhibitors from the West. She was the prior U.S. Commissioner to Korea 2014, New York 2016, Jerusalem 2016, Prague 2018, Indonesia 2022, IBRA 2023, Bangkok 2023, Mare Balticum in Estonia 2024 and will continue the role for the upcoming PhilaKorea 2025. She is active in the Collectors Club of San Francisco, American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE) and Rossica. For many years Vesma has been the Director of the AAPE Youth Champions of Champions competition held at GASS annually. She received the 2024 APS Kehr Award for service to guarantee the future of the hobby.
Overseeing the three will be Commissioner General Yamil Kouri and Deputy Commissioner General Dzintars Grinfelds.
Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.
Updated May 3, 2025:
The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 3484.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] New Black History Month stamp features Marie Joseph Angélique Accused of a crime she denied doing, Angélique’s story sheds light on the history of – and resistance to – enslavement in what is now Canada
MONTRÉAL – Canada Post today unveiled its 2025 Black History Month stampfeaturing Marie Joseph Angélique. Her harrowing story reminds us of the history ofenslavement in what is now Canada – and sheds light on how those who wereenslaved resisted their bondage.
On April 10, 1734, a fire broke out in Montréal that engulfed much of the city’smerchant quarter. Dozens of buildings and homes burned down. Angélique, a 29-year-old enslaved Black woman, was arrested. It was alleged that she lit the fire toescape her enslaver after learning she had been sold and would potentially be sentto the West Indies.
Her trial lasted several weeks and included more than 20 witnesses, although notone is believed to have seen the crime committed. Most accused Angéliquebecause she had tried to escape before, and they said she had a history ofrebelling against and threatening her enslaver.
Angélique maintained her innocence throughout the trial. “Madam, although I maybe wicked, I am not miserable enough to do an act like that,” she said during her interrogation. However, the courts found herguilty. They condemned her to death and had her tortured to force a confession. On June 21, 1734, she was publicly hanged.
Although historians disagree on whether Angélique was guilty, her story continues to encourage ongoing conversations aboutracial equality, justice and the importance of acknowledging the complexities of Canada’s past.
About the stamp
The stamp features an illustration of Marie Joseph Angélique, who is shown with agency and resolve while defiantly facing theviewer. With no known portraits of Angélique, the illustration was based on a photograph taken by Jorge Camarotti of actor andmodel Penande Estime.
The stamp was designed by Nathalie Cusson of Scooter Design, illustrated by Alexis Eke and printed by Colour Innovations. Theissue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ stamps and an Official First Day Cover. The cancel site is Montréal.
Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and at select postal outlets across Canada.
[en Francais pour les médias d’information] Un nouveau timbre du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs met en vedette Marie Joseph Angélique L’histoire de Marie Joseph Angélique, accusée d’un crime qu’elle nie avoir commis, rappelle l’existence de l’esclavagisme et la résistance à cette pratique dans ce qui est maintenant le Canada.
MONTRÉAL – Postes Canada a dévoilé aujourd’hui son timbre du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs 2025 à l’effigie de Marie Joseph Angélique. Son histoire poignante nous rappelle l’existence de l’esclavagisme dans ce qui est maintenant le Canada, et le combat de ceux et celles qui ont trouvé des façons d’y résister.
Le 10 avril 1734, un incendie ravage une grande partie du quartier marchand de Montréal. Des dizaines de maisons et de bâtiments sont rasés. Marie Joseph Angélique, une esclave noire de 29 ans, est arrêtée. On dit qu’elle aurait allumé l’incendie pour échapper à sa maîtresse après avoir appris qu’elle avait été vendue et qu’elle pourrait être envoyée dans les Antilles.
Son procès dure plusieurs semaines; plus de 20 personnes sont appelées à témoigner, mais aucune ne semble avoir été témoin du crime. La plupart accusent la jeune femme parce qu’elle avait déjà tenté de s’enfuir, affirmant qu’elle s’était aussi déjà rebellée contre sa maîtresse et l’avait menacée.
Marie Joseph Angélique maintient son innocence tout au long du procès. « Madame, je suis peut-être malveillante, mais je ne suis pas assez misérable pour commettre un tel acte », plaide-t-elle durant son interrogatoire. Elle est toutefois reconnue coupable, condamnée à mort et soumise à la torture jusqu’à l’obtention d’une confession. Le 21 juin 1734, elle est pendue sur la place publique.
Bien que les opinions des spécialistes soient partagées sur la culpabilité ou l’innocence de Marie Joseph Angélique, son histoire continue d’alimenter des conversations sur l’égalité raciale, la justice et l’importance de reconnaître les complexités du passé du Canada.
À propos du timbre
Le timbre présente une illustration de Marie Joseph Angélique au regard à la fois déterminé et défiant. Comme il n’existe aucun portrait connu d’elle, l’illustration est inspirée d’une photo prise par Jorge Camarotti de l’actrice et mannequin Penande Estime.
La vignette a été conçue par Nathalie Cusson de Scooter Design, illustrée par Alexis Eke et imprimée par Colour Innovations. L’émission comprend un carnet de six timbres Permanents🅪 et un pli Premier Jour officiel. Le lieu d’oblitération est Montréal.
Le timbre et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans certains comptoirs postaux au pays.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] Magnificent Armour and Artefacts of the Royal Armouries Celebrated with 12 Special Stamps
The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom’s national museum of arms and armour
Eight stamps show stunning examples of armour from 1520 to 1686 owned by monarchs including King Henry VIII, King Charles I, King Charles II and King James II. A further four stamps show images of other treasures from the Royal Armouries collection from the UK, Europe and Asia.
The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/royalarmouries and by telephone on 03457 641641
The Royal Armouries’ origins lie in the Middle Ages, and at its core is the celebrated collection originating in the nation’s working arsenal, assembled over many centuries at the Tower of London.
In the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, selected items began to be arranged for display to visitors, making the Royal Armouries one of the oldest deliberately created visitor attractions in the country.
The collection consists of over 75,000 objects from around the globe and spans the ancient world to the present day.
It is displayed at three sites: the White Tower at the Tower of London, a purpose-built museum in Leeds (which includes the National Firearms Centre) and at Fort Nelson near Portsmouth.
David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “These stamps show magnificent examples of craftsmanship, engineering and high fashion, proving that for royal warriors of the past, dressing to impress was as important on the battlefield as anywhere else. We are grateful to the Royal Armouries for allowing us to share just a few examples from their collection”.
Jack Wanstall, Senior Licensing and Partnerships Manager, Royal Armouries said: “The Royal Armouries is delighted to be working in partnership with Royal Mail to showcase a selection of objects from our collection of over 75,000 pieces of history. Each object tells a story and we hope these stunning pieces will inspire curiosity about the role of arms and armour in shaping our world”.
The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/royalarmouries and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £20.10. The stamps go on general sale from 30 January.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] APS Announces New Director of Education
The APS is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Director of Education, Dr. Tomalei Vess of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
“We are excited to welcome Tomalei to the team,” said APS Executive Director Scott English. “She brings her extensive experience and passion to help us expand our programs to educate and recruit collectors at all levels. We look forward to her leadership in shaping the future of education and engaging our philatelic community.”
Vess, who holds a PhD in biology from Duke University, has experience in both K-12 and university education, as well as museum education. That experience, in addition to her background in sales and entrepreneurship, will be crucial as she takes over the helm in Education.
In 2025, the department’s focus will be on the creation and launch of Stamp SCHOOL, a community engagement and learning platform established in memory of Stephen “Steve” Campbell. Vess will also be working to expand APS youth programs, develop new philatelic resources, and conduct outreach to stamp collectors of every level.
Joining Vess in establishing these programs is Sarah Aldrich, who was recently appointed as both the APS learning coordinator and one of the APRL’s digital projects assistants.
“Sarah and I are excited to learn from and collaborate with our membership, and beyond,” Vess said. “We are ready to create a vibrant space for philatelic education and engagement to sustain and grow the hobby.”
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
The American First Day Cover Society, the only not-for-profit organization in the world dedicated to the stamp collecting specialty of first day covers, has named Anthony Bard of the United Kingdom as editor of its award-winning journal, First Days.
Tony is also the editor of The London Philatelist, the journal of the Royal Philatelic Society London, as well as the Scandinavian Collectors Club’s The Posthorn, Korean Philately and The Mayflower for the American Stamp Club of Great Britain. Like First Days, The Posthorn won large gold medals in 2024 Literature competitions.
“I confess to being an incurable philatelist,” he says. “I began as a stamp collector, became (and remained) a postal historian and was even briefly a producer of limited edition Great Britain first day covers.” He has been a fellow of the RPSL since 1990.
Before becoming a full-time postal historian in 2015, Tony owned food businesses (both human and pet). Even before that, however, he won The Royal’s Tapling Medal (left) for the best London Philatelist article in 2014, and his exhibits of the postal history of Jammu and Kashmir have won international gold medals. More recently, he has shown single-frame exhibits of Korean War postal history.
First Days is published six times a year. The AFDCS also publishes handbooks and catalogues, and promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, as well as exhibiting FDCs. It offers awards for outstanding first day cover exhibits and annual contests for both serious FDC literature and the best FDC cachets of the past year. It is also a co-host of the annual Great American Stamp Show, which this year is August 14-17 in Schaumburg, Ill.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, Wis., 54025-0057.
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has notified the Postal Service Board of Governors that it should begin looking for his successor. In neither the USPS press release nor his letter to the Governors, was there an indication of when he will leave the post.
