[press release]
AFDCS Donates $5,000 to Boston 2026 International Show

The American First Day Cover Society, the world’s largest not-for-profit organization for FDC collectors, has donated $5,000 to Boston 2026 World Stamp Show, the next internationally-sanctioned stamp collecting exposition in the United States. The contribution was approved in a unanimous vote of the AFDCS Board of Directors.

Leaders of Boston 2026, the American Philatelic Society and the AFDCS have been working toward making first day covers a separate class for exhibits at an international show. Currently, FDCs are part of the “Other” catch-all class.

“We want to send a message that the AFDCS is a major player in the hobby, not just another organization,” said AFDCS board member Foster Miller, who proposed the donation. “We also want to send a message to the international stamp community that first day covers are important.”

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 Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The AFDCS is the fourth-largest stamp society in the U.S. In addition to advocating for first day cover collecting and exhibiting, it also publishes handbooks, catalogues, directories, teachers’ aids, and a bimonthly award-winning journal, First Days [right], and has a YouTube channel for videos about FDCs. It sponsors an annual contest for cachetmakers and is a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show, which will next be held August 25-28, 2022, in Sacramento, Calif. The AFDCS-sponsored “Americover Exhibition” at that show will have 25 exhibits in 138 frames.

Membership in the AFDCS starts at $24 for Internet-only access (anywhere in the world) or $35 with the printed magazine. 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.

[press release]
Preparations for Boston 2026 World Expo continue on several fronts. The American First Day Cover Society is the latest philatelic organization to contribute funds to help make the next U.S. international exhibition possible. A $5,000 donation was approved by AFDCS’s leadership this past week.

Founded in 1955, it is the world’s largest group of over 1,100 members specializing in the creation and collecting of first day covers. Their extensive web site at afdcs.org offers viewers a wealth of information along with videos on their new YouTube channel, accessible through a home page link. “We want to send a message that the AFDCS is a major player in the hobby, not just another organization,” said AFDCS board member Foster Miller, who proposed the donation. “We also want to send a message to the international stamp community that first day covers are important.”

Nancy Clark, Boston 2026 President, said, “It’s just this kind of support within the philatelic community which makes it possible to continue to promote both our hobby and our mission to enrich lives through philately.”

Are you planning to attend the Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento, California in late August? If so, stop by the Boston 2026 First Day Ceremony on opening day, August 25 at 2 PM on the show floor stage. It starts with the design unveiling and release of the second in a series of patriotic-inspired promotional labels followed by a presentation by Yamil Kouri [left], the show’s Commissioner General and a Director of the once-a-decade exhibition. All are welcome.