[press release]
Hall of Fame established to recognize major contributors to AMG philately

The Allied Military Government Collectors’ Club (AMGCC) is proud to announce the initial class of inductees to the newly formed AMGCC Hall of Fame. These three individuals were instrumental in establishing post-World War II AMG philately as a challenging and respected area of collecting; creating resources that encouraged involvement in the field and further study. They are:

Joseph V. Bush (1917-2001) Joe Bush established his mail-order company specializing in AMG stamps and postal history in 1946. Virtually every philatelic publication carried his advertizing, and he is credited with popularizing the field. But he was not content to just sell stamps and covers. He was passionate about publicizing the history and the production information about them, and worked with researchers such as the other two inductees to produce monographs, catalogs, album pages, and to provide copies of documents that helped to understand the importance of AMG philately and facilitate collecting.

Harry W. Wilcke, M.D. (1925-2007) Dr. Wilcke was a researcher and prolific author on AMG philately; producing over 80 articles on a wide variety of AMG topics. Among his most important contributions was serving as an author, and primary editor of the Bush AMG Catalog-Handbook, and author of The AMG Story, a 150-page collector’s manual, published in 1994 by the U.S. Possessions Philatelic Society.

Harry S. Cass (1912-1957) Cass was the primary researcher documenting the production and use of AMG stamps. He was a co-editor and driving force behind the initial editions of the Bush AMG Catalog-Handbook, and the primary researcher for the Bush-Cass Catalog of AMG Revenue Stamps published in 1956.

It is truly said that we stand on the shoulders of those who established a firm foundation for the modern collecting and study of AMG philately. AMGCC is proud to begin with this group of contributors to recognize the people who devoted a life time of effort to promoting and explaining the stamps and covers we love.

The AMGCC was established in 2012 to promote and study the stamps and postal history of post WW-II allied occupation stamps used in Western Europe and Asia. It has a website, www.amgcollectors.org, and a full color quarterly journal, “A.M.G. Courier”. Collectors interested in membership may contact Secretary/Treasurer David Arking, 223 Williamsburg Rd, Lansing, MI 48917, or at arkmail@comcast.net