A merger between the largest U.S. stamp collecting organization, the American Philatelic Society, and the major stamp deaer organization, the American Stamp Dealers Association, is unlikely to happen in the near future. Outlining work ahead for the APS Board, executive director Scott English wrote on January 6, 2023:

The APS/ASDA merger is not our best option to move forward. Looking at the risks and opportunities of a merger, the scale tilts toward the risk side. We’ve spent years getting the APS and APRL fiscal house in order, and a merger with the ASDA will not further what we’ve accomplished.

The APRL is the American Philatelic Research Library, of which he is also executive director and which owns the American Philatelic Center, the headquarters of the APS.

In his statement, which can be found on the APS website, English said a significant portion of the membership opposed the merger, while a significant majority (85%) felt collectors and dealers should work together to foster more ethical practices in philately.

The APS already has a dealer member program, with hundreds of APS members registered as dealers and a Dealer Advisory Council established by the APS Board in 2016. Both programs should be more effective in serving collectors and dealers.

Our earlier story on the proposal that English and a member of the ASDA board had floated, can be found here.

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Need a break from the merrymaking or the family? Your team isn’t in the playoffs? You’re home alone with no burglars in sight? Check out the new videos on the American First Day Cover Society‘s YouTube channel this weekend. Go to www.afdcs.org/videos.html for previews and links.

The recent programs include Michael Dodd’s “Great Britain First Day Covers – My Collecting Journey.” Dodd writes a regular column for the AFDCS journal First Days, as well as for other publications in Britain and Australia. He also is the author of a book, Caveat Emptor and Other Advice For Philatelists.

Another program is “Weird Stuff First Day Covers,” presented by Lloyd de Vries. The FDC columnist for Linn’s Stamp News and host of The Virtual Stamp Club shows how first day covers can be so much more than just an envelope, a stamp and a cancel.

And Foster Miller tells us about “The Isle of Man – FDCs and Event Covers” from 1973 to the present. His seminar traces the history and culture of the Isle of Man through its first day and event covers. The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea off the coast of England and has been postally independent since 1973.

Membership in the AFDCS is not required to view these videos, but with memberships starting at $24 for Internet-only access or $35 with the printed magazine, it is very affordable and a good asset for any first day cover collector, anywhere in the world.

The AFDCS publishes handbooks, catalogues, directories and its bimonthly award-winning journal, First Days. The society also advocates for first day cover collecting and exhibiting, and is a co-host of Great American Stamp Show, which next will be held August 10-13, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio.

For more information on the AFDCS, visit its website www.afdcs.org, email afdcs@afdcs.org or write to the society at Post Office Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246.

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Zais and Moticha Join AFDCS Board

The Board of Directors has two new members: Mike Moticha and Mick Zais. They were running unopposed, along with incumbents Jim Tatum and Lloyd de Vries. The vote totals were:

Lloyd de Vries 236
Michael Moticha 234
Jim Tatum 233
Mick Zais 224

In addition, Fred Collins, Mark Gereb, Michael Rosenthal and David Lorms each received

Michael Moticha and Mick Zais

one write-in vote. The Election Committee chaired by Otto Thamasett (with Jack Ginsburg and Roy Souther) received 245 ballots, of which four were disqualified.

Tatum, who lives in Oregon, was first elected to the board in 2020, de Vries, of New Jersey, in 1986. Moticha is a long-time active member of the Claude C. Ries Chapter (Southern California) and is part of the AFDCS Auction Committee. Zais is a former president of the American Philatelic Society who resigned that post in 2018 to become U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education and later Acting Secretary of Education. He currently lives in South Carolina.

Four seats on the AFDCS Board of Directors are elected each year for three-year terms, beginning Jan. 1. In addition to the 12 elected directors, the president, the editor of the official journal First Days, and the general counsel serve on the board ex officio, if not elected to the board in their own right.

AFDCS directors are not compensated for serving on the board nor reimbursed for their travel expenses.

For more information on the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org or write to the AFDCS, PO Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246, or via e-mail at afdcs@afdcs.org.

From AFDCS Auctions chair John White:

With apologies, the pre-packaging and sending of final invoices for Auction 95 has been delayed due to vandalism in the county I live in – Moore County. Unknown parties shot-up multiple power sub-stations throughout the county, leaving over 40,000 people without power. The outage is estimated to extend to Thursday December 8th.

As many of you know, I am a full-time Firefighter/EMT with Aberdeen Fire/Rescue. I was on duty when the incident occurred. We were busy all night running calls of various nature, and assisting law enforcement with traffic control. Today I am at my part-time station, and will be back at Aberdeen tomorrow (Monday).

The lots have already been separated out by the winning bidders. As soon as power is restored, I will be able to get back to the task and get the invoices out to everyone.

According to The New York Times, the local sheriff “said that the attack appeared targeted, but did not provide further details on a motive or suspect.” A state senator called it a “terrible act, and it appears to be intentional, willful and malicious.”

Some of the damaged equipment will need to be replaced completely, and the outages could last until Thursday for some power customers.

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Nominations Sought for ATA Award

The American Topical Association is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Topical Philatelist award. The ATA’s highest award is presented each year to a person who has made outstanding contributions to philately, especially topical philately. It will be presented at the awards banquet at the Great American Stamp Show in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 12, 2023.

Individuals, study units and chapters/stamp clubs may nominate a person who they think is qualified. The recipient is chosen by a committee made up of past recipients. Letters of nomination should be sent to the chair of the selection committee, Vera Felts at vera_1102@yahoo.com or mail to 211 Petal Lane, Sequim, WA 98382-3612. Deadline for nominations is December 31, 2022.

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AAPE Announces Youth Grand Champion of Champions for 2022

Amelia Kelbert was named Youth Grand Champion at the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE) Youth Champion of Champions competition at the Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento in August.

Amelia’s thematic exhibit, “The World of the Monarch Butterfly (Daneius Plexippus)” qualified for the competition by winning the Youth Grand Award at PIPEX 2022. She is 17 years old and lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her exhibit also received the Most Improved Award and the Best Use of Worldwide Material award from the International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors. She did not attend the show.

The Reserve Grand Award was awarded to Adhyaatman Agarwala from Brooklyn, New York, age 15, for his postal history exhibit entitled, “Ecuadorian Slogan-Based Covers Related to the Ecuador-Peru Border Conflict of 1941.”

Eleven exhibits by youth ranging in age from 13 to 18 qualified and competed – each having won a Youth Grand Award at an APS World Series of Philately Show. The participants are eligible for 19 different awards donated by WESTPEX, Collectors Club of Chicago, Pinnacle Stamp Club, the American Topical Association, the International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors and individuals.

[Press Release]
AFDCS Gives Top Honors to Three: Litvak, Thompson, Fall

The American First Day Cover Society has given its top honors to three of its long-time leaders, Michael Litvak of California, Mark Thompson of Tennessee and Tris Fall of Pennsylvania.

Litvak, who recently stepped down for health reasons after more than 31 years as Executive Vice President, was named an Honorary Life Member, the first person to receive the society’s highest award in 13 years. In addition to serving in that post, Litvak had also chaired the AFDCS Fundraising Auctions, helping bring them to a new level of funding for the organization, and is a founding member of one of the most active chapters, the Claude C. Ries Chapter #48 in Southern California. Until recently, the former public schoolteacher was Ries Chapter President. [Photo: Litvak at Americover 2017]

Litvak also served on the AFDCS Board of Directors for many years, was president of the American Ceremony Program Society (another AFDCS chapter), and has written dozens of articles for the AFDCS journal, First Days.

Thompson and Fall received the Distinguished Service Award for their meritorious service to the AFDCS. Thompson is currently AFDCS Treasurer and has been the advertising manager for First Days for the past nine years. The treasurer position is normally an auditor, but in the dark days following the sudden death of executive director Douglas Kelsey, Thompson was instrumental in reconstructing and restructuring the society’s financial records and accounts.

As advertising manager, he cleared up and collected thousands of dollars in past-due accounts, to the point where, today, no advertisers are in arrears beyond the current cycle. His exhibit “Women of the Black Heritage Series” has won gold medals and proven to be a crowd-favorite with nine most-popular awards at national shows. [Photo: Thompson mounting his exhibit at the Great American Stamp Show/Americover in 2022]

Tristram R. Fall III is an attorney in Philadelphia. “Tris” was advising the AFDCS on legal matters regarding intellectual property — one of his specialties — even before he became General Counsel in 2014. He writes or examines all contracts involving the AFDCS. In addition, when necessary, he acts as parliamentarian for AFDCS meetings and is a member of the Bylaws Committee. His wide-ranging collecting interests include the U.S. Bicentennial, aviation, and space.

“Being the attorney for a stamp society isn’t a flashy post, but oh so necessary in this litigious age,” said AFDCS president Lloyd. A. de Vries. “Tris has helped keep us out of trouble.” [Photo: Fall at Americover 2015]

DSA recipients are chosen by a vote of past DSA recipients. Honorary Life Memberships are recommended by the Honors and Awards Committee (currently chaired by James Tatum, Jr.) and confirmed by the Board of Directors.

The AFDCS publishes an award-winning bimonthly journal, First Days, handbooks, catalogues, and directories, produces video presentations on Zoom and makes them available on its YouTube Channel, and advocates for first day cover collecting and exhibiting. The AFDCS also is a co-host of the Great American Stamp Show, which next will be held August 10-13, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Memberships start at $24 a year (without printed copies of First Days). For more information on the AFDCS, visit its website www.afdcs.org, email afdcs@afdcs.org or write to the society at Post Office Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246.

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Using First Day Covers In Education:
AFDCS Makes Free Teaching Aids Available

First day covers are the perfect philatelic medium for education, because the cachets allow more information about the events and people on the stamps. Now, teachers and other educators can download from the American First Day Cover Society website eight booklets, each consisting of 12 to 19 lessons, using FDCs.

They were developed by AFDCS director Kris McIntosh, a retired high school social studies teacher with nearly 40 years of experience in education. The lessons cover American and Texas history from the colonization of North America through the Gilded Age and the Great Depression and into Barack Obama’s presidency. The e-books McIntosh has prepared include illustrations of FDCs, discussion, quizzes and reviews.

“First day covers are primary sources that can add diversity in a teacher’s tool kit,” writes McIntosh.

They can be downloaded at www.afdcs.org/FDClessons.html Membership in the AFDCS is not required to use the lesson plans, but each issue of the society’s bi-monthly journal First Days includes more stories and information about first day covers, both current and historical. The AFDCS also publishes handbooks, catalogues and directories, produces video presentations on Zoom and makes them available on its YouTube Channel, and advocates for first day cover collecting and exhibiting. The AFDCS also is a co-host of Great American Stamp Show, which next will be held August 25-28, 2022, in Sacramento, Calif.

Memberships start at $24 a year (without printed copies of First Days). Junior members (ages 17 and under) are $20 and do include the printed journal.

For more information on the AFDCS, visit its website www.afdcs.org, email afdcs@afdcs.org or write to the society at Post Office Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246.

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Former ATA President Jack Denys Dies

Jack André Denys, president of the American Topical Association (ATA) 2008-2016, and accomplished thematic exhibitor, died on June 26, 2022. He was 79.

Jack joined the ATA in 1976. During his tenure as president, Jack oversaw the hiring of key staff and led the association in advancing technology and member services. For the ATA journal, Topical Time, he wrote a regular column and many other articles. He was a charter member of the 1949 Society, ATA members who have included the association in their wills. In 2014 Jack received the ATA’s Distinguished Topical Philatelist award, its highest honor. The letter nominating Jack called him “the most influential and positive voice for topical philately in the world today.”

A member of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE), Jack wrote for its journal The Philatelic Exhibitor, receiving the Randy L. Neil Award for the best article in 2011. In 2018 he co-edited the ATA handbook What’s First? and contributed to the ATA’s handbook Topical Adventures.

The Bayeux Tapestry, his primary philatelic topic, depicts William the Conqueror’s invasion of England and victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. His exhibit earned 10 consecutive gold awards, which qualified him for the AAPE Diamond Award. The exhibit won the Reserve Grand (2007) and the Grand (2008) at the National Topical Stamp Show.

Co-founder of the Albrecht Dürer Study Unit of the ATA, Jack served as president and editor of its Dürer Journal for 20 years. He recently re-activated that organization, again serving as president and editor. He also belonged to the American Philatelic Society (APS) and the Westfield (NJ) Stamp Club.

A retired Lutheran minister, Jack lived in Somerville, NJ, with his wife, Mary Anne.

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A new video presentation on YouTube looks at Whooping Cranes on stamps and first day covers for the U.S. issue of 1957. In her program, Susan Jones, calls Sc. 1098, “one of the most beautiful stamps the Post Office Department put out.”

The quickest way to “The Whooping Crane“ and other videos on the American First Day Cover Society YouTube channel is www.afdcs.org/videos.html

Jones presented a talk at a virtual meeting of the Claude C. Ries Chapter (Southern California) of the AFDCS in November 21. In addition to discussing and showing various cachets and postmarks, she also talks about the postmarks and poster stamps associated with the issue, and why it was issued.

Membership in the AFDCS is not required to view the videos, but with memberships starting at $24 for Internet-only access or $35 with the printed magazine, it is very affordable and a good asset for any first day cover collector, anywhere in the world.

The AFDCS also publishes handbooks, catalogues, directories and a bimonthly award-winning journal, First Days. The society also advocates for first day cover collecting and exhibiting, and is a co-host of Great American Stamp Show, which next will be held August 25-28, 2022, in Sacramento, Calif.

For more information on the AFDCS, visit its website www.afdcs.org, email afdcs@afdcs.org or write to the society at Post Office Box 246, Colonial Beach, VA 22443-0246.