Monthly Archives: January 2024

APS Boots a Troubled Show

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[from the APS press release and other sources] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
APS Board of Directors Takes Action on Two World Series of Philately Shows

On January 26, the APS Board of Directors took action on two World Series of Philately shows, revoking the WSP status for SEAPEX and approving a bye request for the Plymouth Show.

SEAPEX
On June 12, 2023, the APS Board of Directors found the SEAPEX Committee violated the WSP rules. The Board gave the SEAPEX Committee until January 1, 2024, to remedy the violations. Although SEAPEX held a bourse-only show in September 2023, the Committee took no action to correct the violations or communicate with the APS. As a result, the Board unanimously approved revoking the WSP status for SEAPEX.

On its website, SEAPEX says “The inability to put on a full WSP show this year is at least partially due to a lack of people to cover all of the roles in the show committee to put it on. Those interested in becoming part of a rebuilt committee should contact the SEAPEX committee. We will probably plan to meet sometime at the show.” This, however, was on the same page as details for the show last fall.

Plymouth Show (Scheduled for April 20-21, 2024)
The APS received a request from the West Suburban Stamp Club to waive the requirements under the approved rules for the World Series of Philately for the Plymouth Show. Specifically,

An emergency meeting of the show committee revealed the following deficits. First, the Plymouth Show has had a steady decline in attendance. Dealers have also decreased due to retirement and health reasons. Finally, inflation has continued to rise increasing the entire cost of the show. Declining revenues resulting in substantial financial losses at the past several Plymouth Shows demanded immediate action to downsize the Plymouth Show for 2024. The show committee will be reevaluating and considering options to bring back exhibits in 2025 and beyond.

The APS press release does not say why Plymouth Show needed a bye, except the phrase “to bring back exhibits in 2025 and beyond.” The WSP rules state that a two-day show (such as Plymouth) must have between 100 and 125 frames of exhibits and three APS-accredited judges, each receiving an honorarium of $300, two banquet tickets and some additional meals.

The bye request was unanimously recommended by the Committee on Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges (CANEJ) and unanimously approved by the APS Board of Directors.

World Series of Philately
The World Series of Philately is the APS-accreditation process for national-level competitive exhibitions in the United States and Canada. The multi-frame Grand Award winner for each WSP show is eligible to compete in the Benjamin and Naomi Wishnietsky Champion of Champions held at the Great American Stamp Show each year. The WSP is part of a locally organized stamp show, not a standalone event. A bye or suspension does not necessarily mean canceling the entire show, only the sanctioned exhibition.

Tiffney Leaving Library For Linn’s

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[contains material from press releases] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
From cataloguing articles to writing and editing them: The Chief Librarian and Director of Information Services at the American Philatelic Research Library, Scott Tiffney, is leaving the APRL to become an editor at Linn’s Stamps News, Scott Stamp Monthly and the Scott postage stamp catalogues, all published by Amos Media in Sidney, Ohio. Denise MCarty is managing editor at present.

Replacing Tiffney at APRL will be Marian Mills, currently the Library Technical Services Manager. [Her photo is below.] The changes take effect April 1.

“I look forward to the opportunity and challenge of continuing to contribute to the philatelic community in my new role with Amos Media,” Tiffney said in a story on the Linn’s website.

“For years, Scott has been the face, heart, and soul of the library. Under his leadership, we’ve experienced a transformation from solely brick and mortar to a worldwide philatelic resource,” said Scott English, Executive Director of the APS. “He’s embodied the members’ first mission of the APS and APRL, and he will be missed.”

In addition to his duties running the Library, Tiffney also wrote columns for American Philatelist, the American Philatelic Society’s journal, and the APRL’s Philatelic Literature Review, as well as columns for La Posta and the ASDA journal. He has also written articles silent film and library science publications.

Still, Tiffney admitted in an email interview with The Virtual Stammp Club, the switch from librarian to editor/writer will be challenging. “I welcome the opportunity in this new role to remain in the hobby while using the knowledge that I’ve gained at the APRL regarding philatelic writing and research,” he wrote. Still, “the difference between the two occupations is not as vast as one would imagine” because both involve critical thinking and presenting information to the public.

Tiffney started at the APRL as a volunteer in 2010 and joined the library staff full-time in October 2012 as the Library Research Assistant. He became the Librarian and Director of Information Services in January 2018. [We interviewed him then. Read or listen to the feature here.] Since taking over the position, Tiffney has led the growth of the Robert A. Mason Digital Library, which now hosts more than 8,700 journal issues and is growing.

“My time at the APRL has been some of the most rewarding in my professional career,” he said in the APS announcement. In his email, he added, “The decision to leave the APS/APRL was a difficult one. I’ve learned so much about the philately and those in the hobby in my nearly 14 years at the APRL, but the opportunity to try something new and still stay in the hobby was an exciting option for me. The work will definitely be different from the work I’ve done in libraries for most of my career, but at this point I was looking to explore something outside of my immediate comfort zone in order to see what else I could contribute to philately.”

He may not be moving to the Sidney, Ohio, area where Amos is located. “One of the aspects of the position that appealed to me the most was that the majority of the duties could be done remotely,” he told VSC. “I’m sure there will be times when I may need to be in Sidney, but the majority of the position can and will be done remotely which will enable me to continue to use the resources of the APRL in my new role.”

However, the real burning question from this career move is “Who will be doing the public address announcements at Great American Stamp Show?”

“That’s a great question. Auditions will be happening shortly,” Scott replied. “All kidding aside, I found going to shows like GASS and especially smaller shows one of the truly special perks in working here. It was always a treat meeting members and others in the hobby and hearing their stamp stories.”

Mills joined the APRL in December 2017, replacing Tiffney as Library Research Assistant. She received a B.S. in Library Sciences from Clarion University in 2012 and a Masters in Library and Information Sciences from Simmons University in 2017. In February 2020, the APS promoted Mills to Library Technical Services Manager, where she took over day-to-day management of the Mason Digital Library, the David Straight Memorial Philatelic Union Catalog, the APS/APRL archives, and donations of philatelic literature.

“I am honored to continue the work of the staff, Scott Tiffney, and my predecessors in making the library more accessible to our membership and researchers from around the world. In my previous positions in the library, I have been fortunate to have worked with some wonderful people: library staff, the membership, board members, and other philatelic librarians,” added Mills. “I look forward to renewing those relationships and creating new relationships as I move into this new role in the library.”

Mills is currently on maternity leave after she and her husband, Aaron Myers, welcomed their first son, Ellis, in November. She will return on March 1, 2024, to transition to her new position in April.

Weather Forecasting (UK 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Stamps Celebrate a National Obsession:
Royal Mail Reveal Stamps Dedicated to Weather Forecasting

Issue Date: 1 February 2024

  • Eight stamps mark the 170th anniversary of the Met Office and depict the history, science and future of Weather Forecasting
  • The subjects covered include the Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica, establishment of the iconic Shipping Forecast in 1924, and Barbara Edwards, the first British female TV weather presenter
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to order now at www.royalmail.com/weatherforecasting and by telephone on 03457 641641

It’s a national obsession the British are known for around the world – our fascination with the weather – and today, Royal Mail reveal images that pay tribute to the perennial conversation starter. A set of eight Special Stamps celebrate the 170th anniversary of the Met Office and the history, science and future of Weather Forecasting.

Featuring beautiful composite images, the stamps showcase advances in weather forecasting over the last two centuries, including the Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica, establishment of the iconic Shipping Forecast in 1924, forecasting’s critical role in military operations such as D-Day and Barbara Edwards, the first British female TV weather presenter.

The set of stamps illustrates the following developments in forecasting:

  • Luke Howard, pioneer meteorologist, who classified clouds in 1803
  • Storm barometer of Robert FitzRoy, who founded what is now the Met Office, in 1854
  • Terra Nova Expedition, which studied extreme weather in 1910–12
  • Marine buoys, which collect data for the Shipping Forecast, which was first broadcast via morse code in 1925 and first heard on the BBC in 1925.
  • Weather observers during the Second World War, who were vital to the success of the D-Day invasion in 1944, among other military operations
  • Radar and computers, which improved forecasting accuracy from the 1950s onwards
  • Barbara Edwards, who became the first British female TV weather presenter in 1974
  • Supercomputers and satellites, which help track the Earth’s weather today

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “The British love to talk about the weather. It is a national obsession. Whether we are fishermen heading out to sea, farmers planning the harvest, or staycationers worried about losing our tent to the winds, people of all ages want to know whether it will be sunny or wet, hot or cold. These stamps celebrate the people and the science behind the weather forecast.”

Professor Penny Endersby CBE, Chief Executive of the Met Office said: “The Met Office has a proud position in UK history. As an island nation we are often at the mercy of the weather and our role is to help people stay safe and thrive in every corner of the UK and beyond. As these beautiful stamps demonstrate, the Met Office has constantly evolved from our roots at the pioneering edge of weather forecasting through to technical innovations of the modern era.”

Claire Martin, niece of Barbara Edwards and former Canadian weather presenter, said: “I was always slightly in awe of my Aunty Barbara growing up. With her feet firmly planted in science, she proudly worked on-air, defiantly refusing to “dumb down” the weather information being delivered. She was a consummate professional and an unassuming trailblazer for women in the UK in the field of Broadcast Meteorology. She paved the way for me to follow a very similar career path in Canada! It is so thrilling, so rewarding to see her honoured with a Royal Mail stamp”.

Royal Mail worked closely with the Met Office on the stamp issue and their archive is the source of many of the images used for the collection. Royal Mail also worked with writer and historian Peter Moore. Moore is the author of several non-fiction books, including the critically acclaimed Sunday Times bestseller, The Weather Experiment (2015), which tells the story of how a pioneering group of thinkers – artists, scientists, adventurers and mathematicians – sought to invent a standardised way of predicting the weather.

Weather Forecasting:
Two centuries ago, people had little understanding of weather. They gleaned clues from nature when they could, but mostly they considered the skies to be a chaotic space beyond human control. Things began to change in the early 19th century. In 1803, Luke Howard, a London pharmacist, published a booklet outlining his system for naming clouds. Soon after, Naval Officer Francis Beaufort invented a wind scale. Theories about storms followed, and a new department of government, which would eventually be called the Met Office, was established in 1854. The figure appointed to lead it was a Royal Navy officer and surveyor named Robert FitzRoy. Within a decade, FitzRoy was using the electric telegraph to issue storm warnings and forecasts. A new era had begun.

While FitzRoy’s original forecasts were soon curtailed, they returned later in the Victorian era and became a familiar part of British life. By the 20th century, weather science had gone global, with observations playing an important part in the Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica, and with the iconic Shipping Forecast being broadcast to mariners from 1924. During the Second World War, forecasting played a critical role, shaping plans for military operations such as D-Day. For all its importance, much of this wartime work was done with processes and charts that would have been familiar to an earlier generation of meteorologists, but once peace came, the Met Office underwent a technological revolution.

Throughout the later 20th century, weather reports were increasingly produced by powerful computers, which were fed global data from many sources, including radar and satellites. The forecasts were refined into television bulletins and presented by much-loved figures such as Barbara Edwards, Michael Fish and Ian McCaskill. The developments have continued into our times.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to order at www.royalmail.com/weatherforecasting and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack (below) including all eight stamps in the set is priced at £13.30. The stamps go on general sale on 1 February.Official FDC with Exeter postmark:Also available with the Tallents House postmark and without the stamps, postmark or address.

Hotchner: Collecting U.S. Abroad

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U.S. Stamps are Collected Abroad
American stamp clubs in Denmark and the UK
by John M. Hotchner

America’s stamps are a focus for some collectors in other countries. In at least two, Denmark and the United Kingdom, there are even organizations where such collectors can meet and exchange information and stamps. There are likely others.

I was reminded of this by the passing of the original sparkplug of the Danish club, Arne Rasmussen. We had been corresponding for over 30 years, and it was a real shock to receive an email from one of his sons saying that he had passed away in his sleep at the age of 95.

It’s one of the joys of our hobby that we can share it with other collectors. In addition to many friends in the U.S., I have philatelic friends in a dozen countries with whom I exchange information and stamps. It adds a pleasing dimension of international understanding; and knowledge of how others see us and our institutions in this country.

I am a long-time member of The American Stamp Club of Great Britain, and enjoy American Stamp Club of Great Britainits quarterly publication, The Mayflower, capably edited by John A. Edwards. It is a lively journal and one which moves me to contribute an occasional short article or bit of information.

There is little of the wailing and gnashing of teeth that is often found in our publications here. I suppose the membership to be more interested in what the USPS is issuing than in bemoaning what they have not chosen to honor, or critiquing USPS employees for their lack of interest in serving stamp collectors. Another benefit is the advertising by British dealers with American material to sell. I’ve acquired for my collection several covers that had been sent abroad with interesting, higher value frankings.

Corresponding members such as myself are also welcome to bid on desirable material in the quarterly auctions, and attend the yearly (in November) convention; which I hope to do one of these days.

The club now has a website where you can read sample copies of The Mayfower and get more information on how to join.

Should you wish to comment on this column, or have questions or ideas you would like to have explored in a future column, please write to John Hotchner, VSC Contributor, P.O. Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125, or email, putting “VSC” in the subject line.

Or comment right here.

Nancy Clark Passes Away

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by Lloyd A. de Vries

Nancy B. Clark, president emeritus of Boston 2026 and a former treasurer of the American Philatelic Society, has died after a long illness. She was 77.

Nancy and her husband Doug were among the founders of Peachtree State Stamp Show in Georgia, which is now called “Southeastern Stamp Expo.” The 2024 edition was held this past weekend, and Doug attended. The couple chose the judges for the exhibit competition.

And Nancy was following news from the show on Facebook up until the end, “liking” and commenting on posts.

She ran for APS president in 2003 against Janet Klug, thus guaranteeing the U.S. national stamp federal would have its first woman president. Klug won. According to her candidate statement for Treasurer on The Virtual Stamp Club, she was president of Olymphilex 96, the American representative to the FIP Commission for Youth Philately, as a Commissioner for MLADOST `84, JUVALUX `88, DUSSELDORF `90, and CANADA `92. She earlier headed the Rochester (NY) Philatelic Association and the Athens (Ga.) Philatelic Society, was secretary to the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, editor the Georgia Postal History Society’s Georgia Post Roads and president of the Georgia Federation of Stamp Clubs. She had retired from her “teaching and minister of music careers.”

For several years after her service on the APS board, she hosted the “APS Stamp Talk” internet radio program. Most of the time, she worked from home on the show, but in 2006, she hosted it live on the floor of the Washington 2006 international show. She hosted the show for about 17 years. “I’m an evangelist,” she told Linn’s Stamp News. “I want to share the word about this wonderful hobby. It’s given me so much joy that I want to share it with folks.”

Nancy headed the group that made the successful bid for the 2026 international show that will be held in Boston this May. “It’s going to be a fabulous gathering in Beantown,” she told me in my own radio interview in 2016. (You can hear the edited feature here.

She was an internationally- and U.S.-accredited judge and won the APS’ Luff Award for Exceptional Contributions to Philately in 2008.

In 2022, she was named one of U.S. philately’s “Most Influential People” by Linn’s. She told the newspaper that she began collecting as a child in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of two stamp collectors. “I’d be plopped on the floor with an album and my parents would bring me a couple packets of stamps” at the Rubber City Stamp Show, she said.

She and Doug moved to Cape Cod after his retirement from the University of Georgia, but they were still active in the Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs: She was on its board and advised even on this year’s show.

Much more importantly that her philatelic curriculum vita, Nancy was a friend to everyone, and someone I looked forward to seeing at shows. Someone commented, “May her memory be a blessing.”

It already is.

Further details are not yet available. Check back for updates

Her Wikipedia listing.

From Boston 2026:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Nancy Clark

It is with great sadness that the Boston 2026 team and the philatelic community as a whole mourn the passing of Nancy Clark, the founder, patron and president emerita of Boston 2026 World Expo.

Recognized most recently in the 2022 edition of Linn’s Stamp News Most Influential Philatelists and Their Epic Stamp Stories, Nancy’s story began in her home town of Akron, Ohio, where both her parents were stamp collectors and began encouraging her interest in the hobby at the age of 5. She became a music teacher and found employment in Rochester, New York. There she joined the Rochester Philatelic Association in the 1970s, taking an interest in exhibiting, judging, stamp show organization, and creating youth stamp programs in local grammar schools. Quoting Nancy, “When my kids were kids, that’s when I first began working with beginning collectors.”

Nancy’s talents in these areas became well known to national philatelic leaders at the time and she was tapped to lead youth activities at the 1986 Ameripex international exhibition in Chicago. However, there was a greater need for qualified judges at the time and she reluctantly agreed to turn youth responsibilities to others to judge instead. Around the same time, she received a grant from the Council of Philatelic Organizations to design and develop youth areas for national shows.

Moving out of the area in the early 1980s, she and her husband Doug Clark were the driving force behind the creation of the Georgia Federation of Stamp Clubs in 1990, eventually becoming the current Southeast Federation of Stamp Clubs that annually hosts the national WSP Southeastern Stamp Expo. An even bigger assignment awaited her as she was chosen to head the Olymphilex 1996 international exhibition taking place in conjunction with the 100th Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Nancy has always had strong ties with the American Philatelic Society, holding several committee positions and offices over the years, including Treasurer and Director at Large. She was accredited as an APS chief philatelic and literature judge and FIP international judge. Many will remember her for hosting “APS Stamp Talk with Nancy Clark” for more than 17 years, interviewing leaders from organized philately.

In more recent years Nancy was appointed Interpretive Master Planner for the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History in 2010 before heading up Boston 2026 activities.

A recipient of many prestigious award from a variety of societies, Nancy’s philatelic recognitions include the APS 2006 Kehr Award for work with beginning collectors, APS 2008 Luff award for exceptional contributions to philately, the Philatelic Foundation’s 2018 Neinken Medal for distinguished service, and an appointment as a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of London for noteworthy contributions to philately.

Anyone who met her will always remember her smile, kindness and encouragement in whatever philatelic ventures awaited.

Dewey Sweeps Southeastern Stamp Expo Exhibiting

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Dewey sweeps! Anthony Dewey’s exhibits at Southeastern Stamp Expo won the multi-frame Grand Award (“The 3¢ Connecticut Tercentenary Issue of 1935 and its First Days”), the Reserve Grand (“The U.S. Alphabet-Denominated Rate-Change Series, 1978-1998”) and the Single-Frame Grand (“The War Rate: United States Postal Rates and Fees from February 1, 1815”). No one can recall a single exhibitor winning the top three awards at the same show.

Tony is shown above with his trophies and his wife Martha. Below, he accepts the SESE Grand from show chair Scott Marks and jury selection co-chair Douglas Clark.

All three exhibits won Large Gold Medals. The Connecticut exhibit also won the American First Day Cover Society award .and the U.S. Stamp Society Statue of Freedom Award.

We will post a link to the palmares (list of show awards) as soon as they are available.

AFDCS: Latest News about Americover/GASS 2024

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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

Current U.S. Postal Rates (as of January 2024)

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These are the current basic rates, as of January 21, 2023:

Product
Letters (1 oz.)
Additional ounces
Letters (metered 1 oz.)
Domestic Postcards
International Postcards
International Letter (1 oz.)
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope
Large Envelopes (flats) (1 oz.)
Ground Advantage, starts at
Semi-Postal Stamps		 Prices
68¢
24¢
64¢
53¢
$1.55
$1.55
$30.45
$9.85
$1.39
$5.00
85¢

More rates can be found here, or use the USPS rate calculator.

Japanese Collectors Donate to Boston 2026

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
International Society for Japanese Philately Donates to Boston 2026 World Expo

The International Society for Japanese Philately (ISJP) is pleased to announce its $5,000 donation to Boston 2026 World Expo. Ed Kawasaki, the President of the ISJP, explains, “This donation signifies our commitment to bringing the beauty and excitement of Japanese philately to an international audience, while providing an opportunity for our members to network and share our passion.”

The ISJP will host a booth, hold a series of seminars, have a special networking event, and sponsor the Robert M. Spaulding Award for the best Japanese and related exhibit. “We are delighted to plan a fun and educational gathering while fostering fellowship in Japanese philately,” says Ken Kamholz, publisher of the group’s award-winning quarterly publication. “We are building on the experience of the ISJP’s participation at World Stamp Show NY-2016 and will offer a wonderful opportunity to connect, collect, and learn—whether a neophyte or expert.”

The ISJP was founded in Canada in 1945, now with 450 members from 28 countries and 47 states and territories, as well as strong chapters in London, England; Washington, DC; and Southern California. Members have access to a library, expertizing services, the complete run of JP online and much more. Its web site is at https://isjp.org.

To become a member of the ISJP, please contact Ken at publisher@isjp.org. For those with questions or ideas about making the ISJP’s participation at Boston 2026 a success, please contact ISJP Director Jeff Susman at jlsusman@UTMB.edu.

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.

GASS 2024 Hotel Rooms Going Fast!

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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.