The second block of rooms for Great American Stamp Show 2024 in Hartford is now online: Use this link or go to the APS website’s GASS section. Don’t wait! Last year, the second block sold out quickly. You won’t be charged for your rooms until you check in, so there’s no reason not to book now.

If you are told “your dates are not available” (or something like that), modify the dates. Earlier Friday, within hours of the new block being posted, Sunday night had sold out (and was re-stocked by the APS). You can then change the dates closer to the show.

The Hilton is at 315 Trumbull Street, about 8/10 of a mile from the convention center (according to Google Maps, and depending on the entrances used for either building). It is also on the DASH free shuttle bus service which will be extended for those attending GASS: 7 am to 11 pm Wednesday through Saturday and 7 am to 5 pm on Sunday. It also goes other places of possible interest to those attending the show. A map can be found here or you can click on this picture for a larger version without the “stops” listed.

The convention center is at 100 Columbus Boulevard.

From the AFDCS:

Have you booked your hotel rooms yet? The initial block of rooms arranged by the APS at the adjacent Marriott is all but sold out — just like last year. The APS is working on more rooms — just like last year — and most are likely to be at another hotel nearby. And — just like last year — that second hotel will sell out and you’ll be on your own.

The APS prices are often better than what you can get on your own. Many of the early morning and evening events will be at the Marriott, the “show hotel.”

The AFDCS doesn’t get any benefit from where you stay; we just want our members to have a great time at the show, so reserve your rooms today. (You can always cancel or change later.) Start at www.stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show/travel

GASS 2024 Preregistration is now open. Save time (and get a better badge!) at https://stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show/preregistration

New Show Chair: Catherine O’Connor will steer our Americover efforts, after many years of great leadership from Foster Miller. You can still reach the committee at showinfo@afdcs.org Foster still heads our Sales and Membership Departments.

Chris Calle (right) will design the official show cachet and will be at the AFDCS booth during the show to autograph covers and chat with collectors. There will be at least two pictorial postmarks each day plus the first-day cancels for Pinback Buttons and Autumn Colors.

ATA is celebrating its 75th anniversary at the show. Like the AFDCS and APS, the American Topical Association is a cosponsor of GASS, and plans a two-hour celebration Friday afternoon.

Volunteer! We are looking for members to help staff the AFDCS booth. Shifts generally run about two hours. The tasks may include sales, talking about first day covers, and referring those with collections to an appropriate dealer. Contact Americover 2024 volunteer coordinator Ralph Nafziger, nafziger@peak.org if interested. The APS is also looking for volunteers, especially in putting up exhibits and working the registration booth, and has details on its website at www.stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show/volunteer

Connect Online: While the AFDCS website is undergoing reconstruction, visit us on Facebook, either the Americover page (search for “Americover”) or the AFDCS group, www.facebook.com/groups/afdcs

If you are having trouble booking your hotel rooms for Great American Stamp Show 2024 at the show hotel (Hartford Marriott), try again later this week. But, yes, the initial block of rooms is almost completely sold out! The APS is working to secure a block of rooms at a second hotel.

For the link to the hotel reservations at the Great American Stamp Show rate, go to www.stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show . Travel / hotel is the second item on the left, or go directly to www.stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show/travel

The show is August 15-18. It includes Americover 2024, the 69th annual convention of the American First Day Cover Society. Pre-registration is now open, too. It’s free and non-binding.

Great American Stamp Show 2023 (“GASS”) is history, but stamp collectors are already getting ready for the next edition, in Hartford, Connecticut.

Attendance was approximately 2,500 for the 2023 four-day show.

We’ll update this page as we get more details, but here are the basics:

• August 15-18, 2024
• At the Connecticut Convention Center downtown
• Co-sponsored by the American Philatelic Society, American Topical Association, American First Day Cover Society, and the U.S. Postal Service
• Admission will be free. But you’ll have to supply your own caffeine to keep up with all the events!

Meanwhile, the Palmares (exhibit winners) for the three exhibitions at GASS 2023 are here, and the list of literature awards is here. On the left, Nick Lombardi was presented with the Champion of Champions award, for the best philatelic exhibit in the previous 12 months, by APS president Cheryl Ganz. It was the 21st time his exhibit had been in the running for this top award but the first time it had won. It was also the first time an exhibit of post-19th century stamps or covers had won the C of C.

Picture this: There will be at least two pictorial postmarks available for each day of Great American Stamp Show in Cleveland, August 10-13, plus one for the first day of Boston 2026’s latest label and one each for the new stamps the U.S. is issuing.

To handle the expected extra demand for postmarks at the show, U.S. Postal Service is bringing four clerks experienced in hand-canceling covers and cards from Stamp Fulfillment Services in Kansas City.

Postmarks are provided free of charge, provided there is postage meeting at least the first-class rate on the item being canceled.

The Digital Color Postmarks for the two new issues — Life Magnified and Thinking Of You — will not be in use at the show, because they require special equipment that does not leave the SFS facility. However, the USPS is sure to have already-canceled FDCs on hand.

Planning to leave some or all of your FDC collection to the American First Day Cover Society in your will? Have questions about bequests? The AFDCS Bequests Chair, Henry Scheuer, has prepared an easy-to-use analog presentation (we used to call them loose-leaf notebooks) that will be at the AFDCS booth during Great American Stamp Show in Cleveland, August 10-13.

In addition, Scheuer, a financial industry professional, will be at the AFDCS Booth from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday to answer questions.

The AFDCS is a 501[c](3) not-for-profit educational organization to which donations are tax-deductible.

The American First Day Cover Society’s seminar and discussion on the U.S. stamp program at Great American Stamp Show will feature three managers from the U.S. Postal Service’s Stamp Services department: Lisa Bobb-Semple, the acting director of the unit; Shawn Quinn, manager of stamp development; and senior stamp development specialist Michael Henry. The program is at 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 10, in the Huntington Convention Center (Room 11), and is open to the public.

William Gicker, the director of Stamp Services, went on administrative leave last month for undisclosed reasons.

There is a main pictorial postmark and an Americover postmark available for each day. These two postmarks may also be used for first day covers of the Life Magnified stamps. These two postmarks may also be used for first day covers of the Thinking Of You stamps.

The AFDCS is seeking members to volunteer for Great American Stamp Show.

The available slots are:

AFDCS BOOTH:
Thursday, Aug, 10, Friday, Aug. 11, and Saturday August 12: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., 12-2 p.m., 2-4 p.m.. and 4-6 p.m.
Sunday, August 13: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., 12-2p.m., and 2-4 p.m.

COVER PREPARATION: Thursday, August 10 and Friday, August 11: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Please let Americover volunteer coordinator Ralph Nafziger — nafziger@peak.org — know by August 4 if you can help, and if so, when and for which duty.