A Virtual Stamp Club exclusive by Danforth Guy:
She was born June 1, 1974, making her 50 years old.
Her Wikipedia entry and IMDB entry.
Alanis Morissette (Canada 2024)
Reply
Author Archives: VSC
Scott U.S. Catalogue Update (September 2024)
5897 1¢ Fringed Tulip, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
5898 2¢ Daffodils, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
5899 3¢ Peonies, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
5900 5¢ Red Tulips, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
5901 10¢ Poppies and Coneflowers, serpentine die cut 11¼x11
5902 1¢ Fringed Tulip, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5903 2¢ Daffodils, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10¾ vert.
5904 3¢ Peonies, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5905 5¢ Red Tulips, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5906 10¢ Poppies and Coneflowers, coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10¾ vert.
Add “a” to the number for the imperforate version:
5907 (73¢) Alex Trebek
5908 (73¢) Hank Aaron
5909 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Bronze Dragon with Necklace and Blue Plesiosaur
5910 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Five-headed Tiamat
5911 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Character in Maze
5912 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Character in Blue Robe Casting Spell
5913 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Archlich Acererak Raising Army of the Dead
5914 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Drizzt Do’Urden Holding Sword
5915 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Warrior Fighting Red Dragon
5916 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Character Holding Container of Toxic Green Dragon’s Blood Above Her Head
5917 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Death Knight Riding Nightmare Leading Army of the Undead
5918 (73¢) Dungeons and Dragons Game, 50th Anniv. – Purple Worm
b. Block of 10, #5909-5918
c. Imperforate block of 10, #5909a-5918a
5919 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Smile
5920 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Hello!
5921 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Fun
5922 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Sweet
5923 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Kudos!
5924 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Happy
5925 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Peace
5926 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Love
5927 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Yes!
5928 (73¢) Pinback Buttons – Cheers!
b. Block of 10, #5919-5928
c. Imperforate block of 10, #5919a-5928a
5929 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Trees, Purple Shadow at Lower Right
5930 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Trees Covering Wagon Path
5931 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Trees and Grassy Path
5932 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Canopies of Trees with Green, Yellow, Orange and Red Leaves
5933 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Tree with Orange Brown Leaves and Trunk at Lower Right
5934 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Grove of Trees with Purple shadowed Trunks Right
5935 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Trees with Blue and Purple Shadows
5936 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Tree with Red Orange Leaves, Tree with Green Leaves at Upper Right
5937 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Tree with Brown and Green Leaves
5938 (73¢) Autumn Colors – Tree With Orange Leaves, Blue Sky in Background
b. Block of 10, #5929-5938
c. Imperforate block of 10, #5929a-5938a
USPS Seeks Temporary Holiday Package Hike
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Proposes Temporary Rate Changes for 2024 Holiday Shipping Season
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service filed notice today with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding a temporary price change for some package services for the 2024 peak holiday season. This temporary price adjustment is to help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season.
The planned peak-season pricing, which was approved by the governors of the Postal Service on Aug. 8, would affect prices on the following commercial and retail domestic competitive parcels: Priority Mail Express (PME), Priority Mail (PM) and USPS Ground Advantage. No other products or services would be affected.Pending favorable review by the PRC, the temporary rates would go into effect at midnight Central on Oct. 6 and remain in place until midnight Central on Jan. 19, 2025.
This seasonal adjustment will bring prices for the Postal Service’s commercial and retail customers in line with competitive practices.
As a strategic part of the Delivering for America 10-year plan, these temporary changes will support the Postal Service in creating a revitalized organization capable of achieving our public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended.
The planned price changes include:
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zone 1-4
Commercial:
- $0.30 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
- $0.45 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
- $0.75 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
- $3.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Zone 5-9
- $0.70 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
- $1.25 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
- $2.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $7.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
USPS Ground Advantage Zone 5-9
- $0.35 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
- $0.75 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
- $1.25 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $5.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zone 1-4
Retail:
- $0.40 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
- $0.55 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs
- $0.95 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
- $4.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs
Priority Mail Zone 5-9
- $0.90 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
- $1.45 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
- $3.25 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $8.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs
USPS Ground Advantage Zone 5-9
- $0.50 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
- $1.00 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
- $2.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $5.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs
Priority Mail Express:
Commercial:
- $1.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
- $1.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
- $1.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
- $3.95 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
- $3.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
- $7.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $8.95 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs
- $13.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Retail:
- $1.10 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
- $2.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
- $2.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
- $4.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
- $3.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
- $9.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $9.75 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs
- $16.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
The PRC will review the proposed prices before they are scheduled to take effect Oct. 6. Complete USPS price filings, with prices for all products, can be found on the PRC website’s Daily Listings section at prc.gov/dockets/daily. Price change tables are also available on the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.
Notably, the Postal Service has some of the lowest postage rates in the industrialized world and continues to offer great values in shipping.
VSC Note: Retail customers may find it easier to just go to the USPS Rate Calculator for the latest rates.
First-Time Entrant Wins Top Honors of AFDCS Cachet Contest
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
First-Time Entrant Wins Top Honors of AFDCS Cachet Contest
A first day cover by Central New York resident Kevin Colton, who had never entered the American First Day Cover Society’s annual cachetmaking contest before, was chosen as 
the best design of 2023. His cachets for the Winter Woodland Animals (Sc. 5822-25) and, in particular, for the deer, jumped out at the judges, says contest chair Chris Calle.
Colton, who uses the trade name “KSC Cachets,” also won the Se-Tenant category with his set of four FDCs, as well as taking first place in Printed Artwork/Design, Multicolored (U.S. Flag, Sc. 5790 or 5791), and first, second and third place in Foreign 
Covers. In addition, his granddaughter Marrah Reichart, took first place in the Ages 10 and Under category with her cachet for the Red Fox stamp (Sc. 5742).
“I was totally blown away when I read the results,” Colton said. “I never expected to do so well. I love the creative process of designing covers that fit the topic of the stamps issued.”
The retired photographer had been creating KSC Cachets off and on since 1998, but an injury ten years ago kept him from working. His interest in first day covers was rekindled. Now he produces FDCs for almost all of U.S. and Canada issues, usually 20 to 25 each, as well as event covers and some add-ons (cachets on earlier uncacheted FDCs).
Colton says the Winter Woodland Animals designs were created in PhotoShop using a combination of stock images and artificial intelligence. “I have the idea of what I want and then begin to put all the pieces together,” he said. Each of the cachets in this set are composed of three to four different images, before he manipulated them into the final image design.
His cachets are printed on a Canon Pro 200 inkjet printer. “I had to change the entire 
configuration of the printer profile to be able to print on #6? envelopes,” he said. ”I only use dye-based ink to hold more vivid colors on the paper of the envelopes and the ink is more durable over time.”
He had been urged to enter the competition during a conversation with Calle. “My goal has never been to win contest but to create covers that I like and share them with others.”
Colton can be reached at kevin@kevincoltonphotography.com or 2043 Worden Rd, Seneca Falls, NY 13148-9722.
Click here to see the complete results for the Issues of 2023 Contest.
The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization. In addition to holding the Cachetmaking Contest, the AFDCS also publishes its bimonthly magazine First Days, handbooks and catalogues, and promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, as well as exhibiting FDCs. It also offers awards for outstanding first day cover exhibits, and is a co-host of the annual Great American Stamp Show.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027.
No More Printed Linn’s Stamp News
Linn’s Stamp News, the major weekly news publication of U.S. philately, is now only available as a digital (online) product. In a “Philatelic Forward” lead article, editor-in-chief Jay Bigalke announced that issue No. 5000 [right], with a cover date of August 26, 2024, and which went online about two weeks earlier, was the last printed issue. Sister publication Scott Stamp Monthly, which only resumed as a separate publication last year, will continue to be available as a hard-copy (that is, a printed magazine), as well as digitally.
Amos Media CEO Rick Amos, in a memo to staffers quoted in Linn’s, attributed the decision to the shift in readership from print to online and to increasing costs, which Amos called “unsustainable.” He promised that Linn’s would continue to report philatelic news, although some Linn’s features may move to SSM. He also said that new options and features are being developed for the Linn’s website.
Take our polls asking Print subscribers if they will continue to subscribe.
There is currently no mention of the change on the non-subscription part of the website, other than the lack of a printed-copy option in subscriptions.
Linn’s had currently been producing some issues as digital-only while others were available in both formats.
Two quick polls for Linn’s subscribers. Please only vote if you are currently a Linn’s subscriber:
Stotts, Reinhard, Trettin Get Top APS Honor
[click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
APS Honors Stotts, Reinhard, Trettin with Luff Award
The American Philatelic Society honored Jay Stotts, Steve Reinhard and Ken Trettin with its 2024 Luff Award [left to right in the photo]. Since 1940, the Luff Award has been the most prestigious award that the American Philatelic Society can bestow upon living philatelists. The Luff Award was established in memory of John N. Luff, APS president from 1907 to 1909, who was considered the most prominent American philatelist of his era.
The APS Luff Awards are available annually for:
- Distinguished Philatelic Research
- Exceptional Contributions to Philately
- Outstanding Service to the American Philatelic Society
Recipients sign the Luff Award Scroll and are presented with engraved rings. The 2024 Luff Award winners will join a distinguished company of 157 prominent philatelists.
For Distinguished Philatelic Research, Kenneth H. Trettin:
Kenneth H. “Ken” Trettin is one of the hobby’s quiet giants.
Trettin is a 50-year-plus APS member and has been a member for more than 40 years in several other groups, such as the American Revenue Association, Collectors Club of New York, U.S. Stamp Society, U.S. Philatelic Classics Society. He has served on several boards of directors, exhibits revenues and was an early exponent of special studies and display class exhibits.
Trettin is an accredited chief philatelic exhibit judge, but has especially offered his expertise and knowledge in the area of literature, for which he is a philatelic literature judge.
“Since 1965, Ken has been one of the low-key giants in organized philately, and especially, philatelic literature,” wrote Hal Vogel, a 2022 Luff Award winner who nominated Trettin. “He is not only a prolific prepress advisor and varied author, but he has also been the longtime scholarly editor of several publications, including The American Revenuer and the American Philatelic Congress Book.
Trettin’s prepress work includes everything from offering directions, editing, and layout to writing articles and copyreading. (He’s written more than 150 articles, many without bylines.) He pioneered the use of desktop publishing for philatelic literature and became a mentor to many other editors who needed guidance in the area when it was new.
“One cannot be in his presence long without recognizing how his soft, professional personality has enabled him to be both a wise, accomplished author and a research-writing mentor to many,” wrote Vogel.
Among the books and journals he has had a hand in are The American Revenuer journal (1976-2011); The Congress Book (2006-2019); several publications for the American Revenue Association, including Catalog of US Revenue Stamped Documents – Civil War Era; Second Federal Issue 1801-1802; Third Federal Issue 1814-1817; Colonial New Sweden and its Postal Communications, 1638-1655 (2023, by John Barwis; and North Atlantic Non-Contract Steamship Mail (2022), by Barwis and Dick Winter.
Trettin has contributed significantly to several generations of APS literature evaluations and has served on numerous literature evaluation competitions and committees.
Trettin’s past awards include the Charles J Peterson Philatelic Literature Lifetime Achievement Award (2015); the Chicago Philatelic Society Newbury Award for significant contributions to Chicago area philately (2010); the USPCS Distinguished Philatelist Award (2001); the Diane D Boehret Award (1999) from the American Philatelic Congress; and induction into the Writer’s Unit #30 Hall of Fame (1999).
And, to remind us that philately has its place and can easily intersect with other pastimes, Cheryl Ganz offered this final note about Trettin: “Ken Trettin is well known as a revenue collector, great editor, and outstanding literature judge. He is smart and fun. But there is another side to Ken’s vast expertise. He brews his own beer and smokes his own sausages. Ken and his wife, Eileen, have hosted many beer tasting evening events at stamp shows. They often drive to stamp shows in their convertible, carrying their mascot Kermit along to be photographed at the sites on the back roads.”
For Exceptional Contributions to Philately: Jay Stotts
Jay Stotts, like many of us, has been a collector since childhood. His involvement in the hobby has escalated since his marriage, because his wife, Denise, was equally interested in the hobby. As a young married couple, they were both involved and encouraged each other’s interests. He joined the APS in 1978.
Stotts joined the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club of Cleveland after they changed their bylaws in the mid-1980s to allow women as members, and after getting involved, served the club in many capacities, including as a board member (1986-92) and as March Party chairman in 1992. In 1992, Jay and Denise were award the Garfield-Perry LaGanke Award for service to the society.
Stotts’ interest in the United States Fourth Bureau Issue led him to join the Bureau Issues Association (BIA). He contributed a 13-part series of articles for its journal, The Specialist, for which he was awarded the society’s 1989 Walter Hopkinson Award for Literature.
Stotts was appointed to the BIA Board in 1991, a position he has held continuously with the exception of his tenures as president of the society. He was appointed to the presidency of the BIA in 1992 and served in that capacity through 1997. After the society changed its name to the United States Stamp Society (USSS), he was appointed as the society’s president and served in that capacity from 2000 through 2002, when he was again appointed to the board, a position which he still holds. He planned and coordinated a series of 20 seminars on the history of U.S. 20th century philately for the PACIFIC ’97 international stamp show.
Stotts has been an avid exhibitor since 1980 and an accredited APS judge since 1989. He served on the national Committee on Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges (CANEJ) of the APS for eight years (1990-98) and he was a contributor to the seventh edition of the Manual for Philatelic Judging and Exhibiting. His Fourth Bureau Issue material has earned five national grand awards and the 1995 BIA Walter Hopkinson Award for Exhibiting. He was recognized for excellence in philatelic judging in 2019 when he was awarded the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors’ Bernard Hennig Award.
After their relocation to Houston, the Stotts became active in both the Houston Philatelic Society and the Greater Houston Stamp Show Committee. Jay has served as the society’s secretary and as the newsletter editor for more than 25 years. He was awarded the Distinguished Philatelic Texan Award of the Texas Philatelic Association in 1999 for his contributions to philately and he was awarded the Nicholas G. Carter Volunteer Recognition Award by the APS in 2009.
With the approach of the 100th anniversary of the issue of the Fourth Bureau Issue in 2022, he and the Fourth Bureau Issues Committee of the USSS began work on a published legacy resource for the issue. Jay served as editor and the society published the 500-page book, The United States Fourth Bureau Issue 1922-1938, which earned grand awards for the literature competitions at both Chicagopex 2022 and the Great American Stamp Show 2023. The book sold out in 15 months.
In addition to the positions he fills with the USSS and the Houston club, he currently serves as the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors’ director of its Exhibit Critique Service. Jay and Denise continue to support each other’s efforts in philately and understand that this is a hobby where the more you put into it, the more enjoyment and enduring friendships you reap from it.
For Outstanding Service To The APS: Stephen Reinhard
Four years ago, Newsday, the Long Island, NY, newspaper, presented an article about philately that started, “What keeps somebody glued to a hobby for 70 years?”
Stephen Reinhard, who then at 78 had just hit his 70-year mark in the hobby, answered easily, in both print and an accompanying video published by the prime newspaper where he lives.
“I’ve learned so much about history and geography, from where countries are located to what their capitals are,” said Reinhard in print and in an accompanying video. “I don’t have a talent for those subjects. I spend hours a day in my stamp room at home. I got interested when I was 8 years old, and it’s never stopped.”
Like many of our honorees, Reinhard’s contributions to the hobby are too many to include here, but we’ll give you a taste.
In general, as summarized by a 2017 article in Linn’s Stamp News, “Reinhard is a longtime researcher and writer, an award-winning international exhibitor, and a philatelic judge. He has fulfilled numerous leadership roles in the stamp hobby while sharing his enthusiasm for his aerophilately specialty and promoting philatelic exhibiting as a foundation of the stamp hobby.”
Reinhard has more than a dozen years of service on the APS board of directors, including serving as president from 2013 to 2016.
Reinhard became an accredited national philatelic judge in 1989 and started judging internationally in the early 2000s. He’s judged at about 120 national and international exhibitions. He’s also served on national and international accreditation committees.
As with all other areas of his involvement, Reinhard has completed several roles for other organizations, particularly the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP), Collectors Club of New York and the American Air Mail Society.
For the FIP, Reinhard has served several times as U.S. commissioner and a judge to international shows. He has served as several positions for both the Collectors Club of New York (president, 2002-2004) and the Philatelic Foundation. He has served in several roles for the Air Mail Society (director for 35 years, president 1988-89). In other areas he served on the National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists (2013-2017) and was the creator and show chair of Aerophilately 2022.
Reinhard’s award-winning exhibits include “United States Pioneer Airmail, 1910-1916,” “United Kingdom Coronation Aerial Post, 1911” and “Swiss Pioneer Airmail, 1913.”
Reinhard served as managing editor for three volumes of The American Air Mail Catalogue (sixth edition) and written such articles for The Airpost Journal and other publications as “Chautauqua Lake Airmail – 1913-14,” “Miscalculated-Printed Matter to Mexico” and “Mexico Airmail to the U.S. was not Always the Fastest Way.”
Reinhard has garnered many of the hobby’s most prestigious honors, which include election to the Aerophilatelic Hall of Fame (2000); becoming a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London (2001); FIP medal for service (2012); honorary life membership to the American Air Mail Society (2015, one of only seven in the society’s 100-year history); and the Collectors Club of New York’s Lichtenstein Medal (2017).
“Steve has given his time and talents to philately his entire adult life,” said the nominating petition from Cheryl Ganz. “I have worked with Steve on boards and committees for 40 years …He puts the good of the hobby first, and is a respected voice. Steve devotes his time and energy to philately out of his passion for this great hobby. He is a gentleman. He is very deserving of APS’s highest honor, having served in many roles for decades.”
FEPA Recognizes Boston 2026
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Boston 2026 Receives FEPA Recognition
The Federation of European Philatelic Associations (FEPA) has granted Recognition status to the Boston 2026 World Expo.
FEPA is the continental European organization that supports 45 members (national philatelic federations, associations and unions) in promoting philately. Its activities are principally focused on sharing information, promoting innovation and cooperation, supporting exhibitions and rewarding achievements.
FEPA recognition is normally restricted to exhibitions on European territory. In granting its recognition to Boston 2026 World Expo, however, the FEPA Board is aware of the global importance of this exhibition and wishes to help the Organizing Committee to promote the show in Europe.
Recognition by FEPA grants Boston 2026 three privileges:
- Marketing and promotion of the exhibition through its channels (magazine, website, newsletters, etc.)
- Technical expertise as requested
- Use of its logo and flag
FEPA information can be found on its web site at fepanews.com.
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.
Boston 2026 Releases 4th Label
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Fourth Boston 2026 Label Now Available
Boston 2026’s newest collectible label was released at 1 PM today during a ceremonial presentation about the World Expo on the exhibition floor at the Great American Stamp 
Show in Hartford, Connecticut.
Award-winning stamp artist Chris Calle has once again shared his talents in support of America’s next international philatelic exhibition by creating the fourth in a series of yearly patriotic-themed promotional “The Road to Boston 2026” designs.
The 2024 artwork features a portrait of John Adams, the Harvard educated lawyer from Massachusetts who eventually became the second President of the United States. Furthering his work as a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he was one of five men on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. A view of Adams addressing the Congress is seen under his likeness. So, too, are two of the four U.S. stamps from the 1974 Bicentennial Era issue depicting Philadelphia’s Carpenter’s Hall, site of the first Continental Congress and later referred to as Independence Hall, and the quote, “We ask but for Peace, Liberty and Safety” from the Congressional petition to King George III.
As before, 3,000 water-activated sheetlets of nine labels were produced by the Portland Stamp Company. Prior labels depicted a Post Rider in 2021, Ben Franklin in 2022 and Sam Adams in 2023. All three are no longer available.
Both the unsigned and a limited edition of 450 artist-signed versions of the 2024 sheetlet are available. Orders are currently being accepted through the Boston 2026 web site.
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.
Dragon Cards at GASS 2024
Dragon Cards will have a double booth Saturday at the Cachetmakers Bourse of Great American Stamp Show in Hartford. I’m going to try to bring almost everything!
Order now at www.dragoncards.biz or the eBay Store www.ebay.com/str/dragoncardsfdcs and and pick up at the Bourse (Saturday only) and I will refund your P&H charges.
But today is the last day to order that I will be able to mail out orders before the show.
Lawrence Article Wins AFDCS Ward Award
You can click on the photographs for larger views.
“The Greatest American First Day Cover” by Ken Lawrence is the 2023 winner of the American First Day Cover Society’s annual Philip H. Ward, Jr., Memorial Award for
Excellence in First Day Cover Literature. The article appeared in the February 2023 issue of The Chronicle of the US Classic Postal Issues. It is the story of a July 2, 1847, cover sent from New York City to Indianapolis, franked with the 10-cent George Washington (Scott 2), one of the first two U.S. stamps. It was first discovered in 1972 and is currently on display at the National Postal Museum. [Photo here courtesy of the NPM.]
All articles in First Days, the official journal of the AFDCS, automatically are considered for this award, but articles and works in other publications may be submitted for consideration. A complete list of past winners can be found on the AFDCS website at www.afdcs.org/ward.html
Lawrence’s articles have won the Ward competition twice before and shared in a third. One of those articles also was awarded the U.S. Stamp Society’s Barbara Mueller Award. 
He is a recipient of the Charles J. Peterson Philatelic Literature Life Achievement Award, and served as a vice president of the American Philatelic Society and trustee of the American Philatelic Research Library.
Although he has been writing about FDCs for 40 years, “this article is probably the most important one I have written,” he says. Although the official first-day-of-issue for Scott 1 and 2 is July 1, there is no evidence they were placed on sale until the next day, when this cover was mailed.
Philip Henry Ward, Jr., began servicing first day covers in 1909. An electrical engineer by trade, he wrote on new issues for The American Philatelist, Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News and The Weekly Philatelic Gazette in the early 20th century.
The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization. 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 exhibiting FDCs. It offers awards for outstanding first day cover exhibits and an annual contest for cachetmakers, and is a co-host of the annual Great American Stamp Show.
For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027.
