This story has been kicking around philately for a month or so as a rumor; now it is confirmed. It’s the passing of a giant of our hobby. White Ace once published some of the most-used albums for collectors. ArtCraft was a staple of first day covers, before its run ended after 77 years in 2016. And so many of us grew up awaiting delivery of The Washington Stamp Exchange’s little yellow flyers with special offers.

[press release]
After 85 Years, Washington Stamp Exchange Is Closing

Washington Stamp Exchange was incorporated in 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression, when Leo and Sam August pooled their meager assets to start a business selling first day covers and stamps to collectors. Their first location in Newark, New Jersey at the corner of Washington and Market Street, became their inspiration to name their business Washington Stamp Exchange.

In the photo on the left, Americover 2014 tour participants visit Washington Stamp Exchange headquarters in Florham Park, NJ.

Stamp collecting and the relatively new specialty of cover collecting were rapidly growing hobbies then, and their business was already gaining collector interest when a fortuitous encounter with a salesman offering engraved stationery led to their introduction of ArtCraft Engraved first day covers in 1939. [The first ArtCraft cachet is shown on the right.]

Stamp issues were relatively infrequent in the early 1940s, so while the ArtCraft first day covers were a quick success, adding new products became important to continuing the growth of their business. In 1945, they released the first White Ace stamp album which they published under the trade name of The Washington Press.

At left, company owners Michael August, son of one of the August Brothers, and Tim Devaney, son-in-law of the other, celebrated ArtCraft’s 75th anniversary at Americover 2014, the annual show and convention of the American First Day Cover Society, held that year in Somerset, NJ.

From those beginnings, and through exceptional creativity and hard work, the company became a mainstay of the stamp collecting hobby. In addition to its products for collectors, the Washington Stamp Exchange was instrumental in the founding of the American First Day Cover Society and has been a major supporter of the American Philatelic Society, the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum and the National Postal Museum.

After 85 years, many millions of ArtCraft First Day covers, hundreds of thousands of White Ace Albums and the enthusiastic patronage of many thousands of loyal customers and friends, it is with considerable reluctance that the management of the Washington Stamp Exchange has decided to close its business at the end of 2018.

Starting with this announcement and continuing until it is sold out, everything remaining in stock – ArtCraft First Day Covers, White Ace Albums and supplies – will be offered at steeply discounted prices. Much of what is available can be found on the company’s website www.washpress.com. [At right, Americover 2014 tour participants Otto Thamaset, John Hayner and John Friederich show some of the goodies they purchased at Washington Stamp Exchange headquarters.]

The disposition of artwork, production materials, equipment and fixtures has not yet been determined, and inquiries are invited from dealers or from anyone seeking to acquire such items as well as large volumes of collectible items and supplies.