[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
National Postal Museum Announces Smithsonian
Philatelic Achievement Award Recipients:
Gordon Eubanks Jr., Christopher King and Patrick Maselis Will Receive Award Nov.

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has announced the 2025 Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award recipients, Gordon Edwin Eubanks Jr., Christopher Miles Bertram King and Patrick Valère Maria Jérôme Maselis [right to left in the photo]. They will be honored at a gala at the museum Saturday, Nov. 8.

The Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award (SPAA) was established in 2002 to honor and celebrate living individuals for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of philately. This achievement may include original research that significantly advances the understanding of philately, exceptional service to the philatelic community or sustained promotion of philately to the benefit of current and future collectors.

“The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum is honored to present this esteemed award to such accomplished and influential individuals from around the world,” said Elliot Gruber, director of the museum. “Winners from the United States, United Kingdom and Belgium demonstrate the global presence of lifetime achievers in the field of philately.”

The SPAA award medallion is a 3-inch, gold-plated bronze disc depicting a sunburst with eight straight and eight wavy rays. Derived from the family coat of arms of James Smithson, founding benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution, the sunburst became the Institution’s official seal June 3, 1966, and is incorporated into the official flag flown by Smithsonian facilities and Smithsonian-sponsored expeditions throughout the world. As such, it is a universally recognized symbol of enlightenment and learning that links the Smithsonian’s history with its future. The medallion is suspended from a grosgrain neck ribbon in Smithsonian blue and yellow.

“I could not think of three more perfect individuals to have been chosen to receive this year’s Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Awards—one of the most prestigious awards in the world to recognize outstanding achievements in philately,” said Charles Shreve, chair of the museum’s Council of Philatelists. “In addition to being outstanding philatelists, all three are spectacular ambassadors of our hobby.”

A special website provides information about the SPAA gala event, including information on purchasing tickets to attend.

About the recipients:

Gordon Eubanks Jr.
Gordon Edwin Eubanks Jr. frpsl, United States (born 1946), is one of the foremost students of classic U.S. stamps. He assembled and exhibited some of the finest collections of the 1847 through 1861 Federal issues ever formed, recognized for their depth of research and presentation quality. He won the American Philatelic Society’s Multiframe Champion of Champions twice, in 2012 and 2014, for two separate exhibits—a rare distinction shared by only a handful of other philatelists.

At the World Stamp Show–NY 2016, Eubanks received the Grand Prix National for his exhibit, “The United States Imperforate Issues of 1851–1856 and Their Importance in an Expanding Postal System.” He has also assembled significant collections of early Kingdom of Hawaii postal history, Great Britain and Commonwealth material, postal history of the U.S. Presidential issue of 1938 and mail to Africa and Asia flown by Pan American Airways.

Eubanks is a board member of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, where he supports research, publication and digitization efforts as chairman of the society’s website committee and the 1847 Issue section editor for its publication, Chronicle of the Classic U.S. Postal Issues. He received the society’s Distinguished Philatelist Award in 2019 and its Tracy Simpson Cup for outstanding service in 2022.

He is an active member of, and frequent presenter to, the Collectors Club of New York and Royal Philatelic Society London. He previously served on the boards of the Philatelic Foundation and Westpex, where he was bourse chairman. He was a member of National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists from 2012–2025.

In addition to his philatelic accomplishments, Eubanks had a distinguished career in the military and corporate sectors. He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine force during the Cold War and later became a pioneer in software development during the early personal computing era.

Christopher King
Christopher Miles Bertram King rdp frpsl, United Kingdom (born 1948), is a prolific collector, researcher and exhibitor specializing in the philately of Denmark, the Duchy of Schleswig, Lübeck and Napoleonic Europe as well as illustrated, propaganda and censored mail. His exhibits have won numerous international gold and large gold medals, especially “Schleswig, From Danish Duchy to Prussian Province: Early Mail to 1867.” He frequently contributes ¬articles to publications such as Scandinavian Contact, Posthorn, London Philatelist and Collectors Club Philatelist. He is an internationally accredited juror for postal history.

King joined the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) in 2005 and advanced quickly through its ranks. He became a member of council in 2007, was elected a fellow in 2008 and served as a vice president from 2009–2012. As president from 2013–2015, he focused on positioning the society’s library, building and membership for the future. He led the effort to find a new home for the RPSL, completed in 2019.

His record of service to international philately includes Keeper of the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists (2009–2015), chairman of the British Philatelic Trust (2010–2015), executive board member of the Association of British Philatelic Societies (2009–2012) and board member of the Club de Monte-Carlo de l’Elite de la Philatélie (2016–2024).

King was elected a membre associé of the Académie de Philatélie (France) in 2013 and invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 2014. He received the RPSL’s Bacon Medal and was named an Honorary Fellow in 2018. He received the award of the European Parliament of L’Académie Européenne de Philatélie in 2018 and the Collectors Club of New York’s Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately in 2019.

Patrick Maselis
Patrick Valère Maria Jérôme Maselis rdp frpsl, Belgium (born 1961), is an industrial chemist, managing director and passionate collector internationally recognized for his many contributions to philately. A fourth-generation philatelist, Maselis has created gold and large gold medal-winning exhibits of Belgium and Colonies stamps and postal history. His scholarly approach is marked by meticulous research into rare postal documents, rates and markings. He regularly shares his expertise and collections through publications, exhibitions and lectures.

As president of the Club de Monte-Carlo de l’Elite de la Philatélie (2009–2022), he organized and promoted the biennial MonacoPhil exhibition, an exceptional showcase of the world’s greatest philatelic rarities, attracting leading collectors, scholars and dealers from across the globe.

Maselis served as president of the Royal Philatelic Society London (2017–2019), the only non-British individual ever elected to that position. During his tenure, he emphasized international outreach leading up to the society’s 150th anniversary and tirelessly promoted the “Tomorrow’s Royal” committee (led by Peter Cockburn) that helped the society relocate to new premises.

In addition, Maselis actively supports and nurtures young collectors. He has hosted them on visits to London and Monte Carlo and provided them with opportunities to engage with collectors and experts from around the world and participate in events such as dinners, meetings and exhibitions.

In 2012, he was invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and to join the National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists. He received the Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately in 2021. He is first vice president of L’Académie Européenne de Philatélie and a membre correspondant of the Académie de Philatélie (France), among numerous other philatelic affiliations.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information, visit postalmuseum.si.edu. Follow the museum onFacebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
National Postal Museum Announces Nomination Process for Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award
Award Recognizes U.S. and International Philatelists

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has announced the opening of the nominating process for the 2025 Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award. The Smithsonian award will recognize philatelists from the U.S. and international philatelic communities. The nomination process is open Feb. 18 through April 7. Award winners will be honored at a museum-hosted gala event in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8.

The Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award was established in 2002 to honor and celebrate living individuals for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of philately. This achievement may include original research that significantly advances the understanding of philately, exceptional service to the philatelic community or sustained promotion of philately to the benefit of current and future collectors. The award celebrates excellence in philately on a global scale, recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field worldwide. Nominations from outside the U.S. that reflect the rich diversity and international impact of philatelic scholarship, service and collecting are welcomed and encouraged.

Click here for the award’s nomination form.

The SPAA medallion is a 3-inch, gold-plated bronze disc depicting a sunburst with eight straight and eight wavy rays. Derived from the family coat of arms of James Smithson, founding benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution, the sunburst became the Institution’s official seal June 3, 1966, and is incorporated into the official flag flown by Smithsonian facilities and Smithsonian-sponsored expeditions throughout the world. As such, it is a universally recognized symbol of enlightenment and learning that links the Smithsonian’s history with its future. The medallion is suspended from a grosgrain neck ribbon in Smithsonian blue and yellow.

Eligibility criteria and information about the entry and judging processes can be found on the museum’s website. Award winners will be approved by the Smithsonian Board of Regents, consisting of the Chief Justice of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, three members of the United States Senate, three members of the United States House of Representatives and nine citizens.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. Through the preservation and interpretation of our postal and philatelic collections, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum educates, challenges and inspires its audiences on the breadth of American experiences. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000 or visit the museum website at www.postalmuseum.si.edu.

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[press release/donor letter] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Pennsylvania Postal History ExhibitionThe Chester County History Center (CCHC) presents the special exhibit Letters and Post Cards: 1820-1920 Chester County with a collection of postal history and picture post cards that illustrate U.S. postal delivery from and to West Chester from 1820 to 1920. This exhibit presents the rare opportunity to view hundreds of examples from the exclusive collection of renowned philatelist and guest curator William Schultz.

Visitors will also be able to view Domestic Rates – U.S.P.O. Acts of 1792 to 1863, Schultz’s nationally award-winning postal history materials. tI includes rare early examples of mail that depict pivotal moments in postal delivery in the U.S. as it changed from something affordable to only a few to a method of communication that the average person could use.

Whether you are fascinated by colorful post cards of scenes gone by or are intrigued by how far a letter traveled 200 years ago, this exhibit will capture your imagination. The exhibit is included with museum admission and open to the community.

CCHC has long been a safe keeper, partner, and supporter of postal history. Since 2019, the History Center has hosted The Philatelic Gathering in West Chester welcoming a group of stamp and postal history collectors that every month explores and shares a myriad of topics and create new philatelic friendships. This partnership underscores the value of postal history as part of the fabric of our society and asserts the History Center’s commitment to its preservation.

This region, steeped in rich American history, witnessed the emergence and development of postal services as a vital conduit for communication, trade, and cultural exchange. The evolution of postal services in the Greater Philadelphia area reflects the broader historical trends of the nation and provides a unique lens through which the growth, challenges, and resilience of these communities can be comprehensively understood.

Chester County History Center has been Chester County, PA’s resident storyteller since its founding in 1893. CCHC is a nonprofit historical institution with the mission to “Link the Past to the Present, to Inspire the Future” while engaging, preserving, educating, connecting, and imagining with our community. CCHC is responsible for three centuries of history through the preservation of documents, photographs, and newspapers in our research library and photo archives, as well as artifacts in the museum. These primary historical materials are central to the core exhibition “Becoming Chester County,” the first visible storage space, and year-round youth and adult education programs.

[From the website, the visiting hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is an admission charge. Visiting information here.]

This post consists of several pages. “Mouse over” the bottom margin and up/down arrows should appears.

Registration link

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
National Postal Museum To Host Maynard Sundman Lecture
Cheryl Ganz To Speak on “U.S. Zeppelin Postage Stamps”

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum will host the 20th Maynard Sundman Lecture Thursday, Nov. 2, at 4 p.m. ET at the museum and also online on Zoom. Admission is free, but reservations are required.

Everyone wants to own a set of zeppelin stamps from the 1930s. But why did the Post Office Department issue four zeppelin stamps to subsidize a German aircraft’s operations during the Great Depression? Why were the values of these stamps so high and who received all that money? How did the rates and routes change from 1930 to 1933? Why were zeppelins important to transoceanic mail service?

The lecture audience can learn the stories about these zeppelin stamps that are so iconic to philatelists today. Cheryl Ganz will trace production of the issues at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from source materials to die proofs to certified plate proofs with marginal markings. The first days of issue examples will cover the various city postmarks and private cachets. Finally, she will illustrate when and where Graf Zeppelin flew mail with U.S. franking and the many ways that passengers, crew and collectors sought to create varieties.

Ganz is a social/cultural historian and lifelong stamp collector. These two interests have directed her research in both local postal history and zeppelin posts.

Ganz is a Smithsonian curator emerita following her retirement as the chief curator of philately at the National Postal Museum and as lead curator of the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery, the world’s largest postage stamp gallery. She currently serves as president of the American Philatelic Society, as the USA North Central representative of the Royal Philatelic Society London and as a member on the U.S. Postal Service’s Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee—the committee that selects subjects and reviews designs for U.S. postage stamps.

About Cheryl Ganz
Ganz’s exhibits, publications and talks focus on her specialty of zeppelin posts and memorabilia worldwide, especially from U.S. airships, the 1933 Graf Zeppelin Chicago flight and Hindenburg. She founded and administers the Facebook group of Zeppelin & Airship Collectors and edited and co-edited “The Zeppelin Collector” for 37 years. In addition to zeppelin material, she collects Wisconsin postal history, Germany, Switzerland and China.

Her philatelic recognitions include the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists, APS Luff Award for Exceptional Contributions to Philately, Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award, Writers Unit Hall of Fame, Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately, Mortimer L. Neinken Medal, Carlrichard Brühl Medal, Carl Lindenberg Medal, Wisconsin Philatelic Hall of Fame, AAMS Aerophilatelic Research Award, RPSL Lee Medal, Nicolas Carter National Service Award, USPCS Distinguished Philatelist Award, Elizabeth C. Pope Lifetime Achievement Award, FISA Gold Medal, Canadian Aerophilatelic Society Award, Chris Hunt Award, Newberry Award and the Single Frame Champion of Champions.

Ganz earned a doctorate in U.S. history from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her publications include The 1933 Chicago World’s Fair: A Century of Progress, Delivering Hope: FDR & Stamps of the Great Depression, Fire & Ice: Hindenburg and Titanic, Favorite Finds, Pacific Exchange: China & U.S. Mail, Every Stamp Tells a Story: The National Philatelic Collection,Zeppelin Hindenburg: An Illustrated History of LZ-129 and U.S. Zeppelin and Airship Mail Flights plus more than a hundred articles.

The National Postal Museum’s Maynard Sundman Lecture Series was established in 2002 through a donation by Sundman’s sons, David and Donald. The Sundman lectures feature talks by authors and expert philatelists on stamps and stamp collecting.

The public can visit the museum’s website [direct link] for additional information and registration instructions.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000 or visit the museum website.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]<
National Postal Museum Announces Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award Recipients
John McClure Hotchner, Donald J. Sundman and Scott R. Trepel Will Receive Award Nov. 4

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has announced the 2023 Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award recipients, John McClure Hotchner, Donald J. Sundman and Scott R. Trepel. They will be honored at a gala at the museum Nov. 4.

The Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award (SPAA) was established in 2002 to honor and celebrate living individuals for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of philately. This achievement may include original research that significantly advances the understanding of philately, exceptional service to the philatelic community or sustained promotion of philately to the benefit of current and future collectors.

“The National Postal Museum is honored to present this esteemed award to these prominent and influential individuals,” said Elliot Gruber, director of the museum. “Their lifetime achievements in the field of philately embody the essence of this award.”

The SPAA award medallion (right) is a 3-inch, gold-plated bronze disc depicting a sunburst with eight straight and eight wavy rays. Derived from the family coat of arms of James Smithson, founding benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution, the sunburst became the Institution’s official seal June 3, 1966, and is incorporated into the official flag flown by Smithsonian facilities and Smithsonian-sponsored expeditions throughout the world. As such, it is a universally recognized symbol of enlightenment and learning that links the Smithsonian’s history with its future. The medallion is suspended from a grosgrain neck ribbon in Smithsonian blue and yellow.

“I could not be more delighted that the Smithsonian Institution has chosen to honor these three impressive philatelists,” said Charles Shreve, chair of the museum’s Council of Philatelists. “Each has contributed, in unique ways, to the betterment and promotion of stamp collecting—one of the greatest and most enjoyable hobbies in the world.”

A special website provides information about the SPAA gala event, including information on purchasing tickets to attend the event.

About the recipients:

John McClure Hotchner, RDP, FRPSL, United States (born 1943), has been a collector since age 5, with wide-ranging interests that include numerous country and thematic studies. Selections from World Rarities and Uniquities, his 400-page exploration of the breadth and depth of philately, have been shown in numerous courts of honor at the American Philatelic Society, World Series of Philately and international shows. Hotchner is a competitive exhibitor and an accredited philatelic, literature and chief judge who has headed juries at numerous national and international shows.

As a member of the U.S. Postal Service’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 1998–2010, Hotchner helped select more than 1,700 U.S. stamps—steadfastly championing subjects that he felt highlighted American cultural, historical and scientific achievements. A member of the National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists 2002–2017, he was named to emeritus status on his retirement. He led the American Philatelic Society for 16 years in numerous capacities, including the board of vice presidents (1991–1993), director at large (1994–1997) and president (1997–1999). He has served on the boards of more than 20 other organizations including Stamps for the Wounded, which introduces wounded veterans to philately as a form of occupational therapy.

Hotchner’s reputation as a writer, editor and researcher has been established through thousands of columns and articles published in a wide number of philatelic magazines. These include feature articles for Linn’s Stamp News, where his “U.S. Notes” column has appeared in virtually every issue for 32 years; U.S. Stamp News; The Philatelic Exhibitor, which he edited from 1986 to 2010; and The American Stamp Dealer and Collector.

Hotchner has received the United States Stamp Society’s Walter Hopkinson Award (1984); the Luff Award for Outstanding Service to the American Philatelic Society (2004); the Collectors Club of New York’s Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately (2005); the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors’ Bernard Hennig Award for Excellence in Judging (2008); the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society’s Distinguished Philatelist Award (2008); the St. Louis Stamp Expo’s Elizabeth C. Pope Award for Lifetime Contributions to Philately (2013); and the American Philatelic Society’s Charles J. Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award for Philatelic Literature (2013). He was elected to the Writers’ Unit Hall of Fame in 1999 and invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 2017.

Donald J. Sundman, FRPSL, United States (born 1954), is a lifelong stamp collector, second-generation professional philatelist and tireless promoter of stamp collecting. He became general manager of Mystic Stamp Company in 1974 at the age of 19 and was named president in 1980. From paper catalogues to a “This Day in History” mobile phone app launched in July 2015, Sundman’s marketing has popularized stamp collecting and made it accessible to beginning collectors.

In 1985, he purchased stamps from the partial pane of $1 Rush Lamp inverts, and later discovered that the sheet was originally purchased by employees of the Central Intelligence Agency, making worldwide news. In 1998, he purchased the only privately held copy of the 1¢ Z Grill, which he later traded for the unique Inverted Jenny plate number block. He exhibited these rarities frequently at stamp shows, helping to boost attendance and garner positive press coverage for philately. Sundman assisted the American Philatelic Research Library in recovering one of the stolen stamps (position 76) from its ‘McCoy block’ of Inverted Jenny stamps, offering a reward for its return in 2014. (The photo above is from NYC World Stamp Expo 2016.)

He joined the National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists in 1995 and was elected chairman in 2004, a position he held until 2021. He endowed the museum’s annual Maynard Sundman Lecture Series in 2000, along with his older brother David, to honor their father. He was a major sponsor of the National Postal Museum’s William H. Gross Stamp Gallery. He has presented numerous items to the National Philatelic Collection, including the famed 1979 $1 ‘CIA Invert’ he played a key role in uncovering.

Sundman became a trustee of the Philatelic Foundation in 2006 and has served as its secretary and vice-chairman. He has sponsored more than 8,000 new American Philatelic Society members and received the Society’s Luff Award for Outstanding Service in 2010. He is a member of the Club de Monte-Carlo de l’Elite de la Philatélie and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London in 2019. He co-authored (with Janet R. Klug) 100 Greatest American Stamps (2007).

Scott R. Trepel, FRPSL, United States (born 1962), began his philatelic career right out of high school, working for Stanley Gibbons and Christie’s/Robson Lowe in New York. He joined the Robert A. Siegel firm as a partner with its founder in 1992. As president of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, he has organized innumerable famous name sales and held the gavel when many records were broken, including the Inverted Jenny plate block at $2.97 million, the Brazil Pack strip at $2.185 million, the Hawaiian 2¢ Missionary cover at $2.242 million, the Inverted Jenny single at $1.35 million and the 1¢ Z Grill at $935,000.

Trepel’s auction catalogs incorporate a high level of research, including census data and historical background for the items offered, that have garnered philatelic literature awards. He has published numerous research articles in well-respected journals and edited the 1869 section of The Chronicle of the U.S. Classic Issues for many years. He co-authored (with Ken Lawrence) Rarity Revealed: The Benjamin K. Miller Collection for the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and The New York Public Library. He has also self-published books on the City Despatch Post and the Pony Express.

For his research work in U.S. philately, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society has awarded Trepel the Dr. Carroll Chase Cup on four separate occasions (1989, 1994, 2003 and 2006). He has also won the society’s Mortimer L. Neinken Award (1987) and Distinguished Philatelist Award (1996).

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information, visit postalmuseum.si.edu. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum Launches New Virtual Exhibition
Complete Collection of U.S. Postage Stamps Honoring Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans or Their History and Culture

The National Postal Museum’s new virtual exhibition, “Stamps Across the Pacific: A Visual History of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Migrations” is now available for viewing on the museum’s website.

The exhibition showcases the diversity and cultural significance of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander American communities in the United States through the medium of postage stamps. It features every U.S. Postal Service-issued stamp commemorating their unique histories, identities and contributions to American culture. Additional objects from the museum’s vast collection place these migrations within the larger context of U.S. relations with their countries of origin, and they help to illustrate these communities’ experiences in the United States. Detailed descriptions give insights into the rich cultural traditions of these celebrated communities.

Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander immigration to the United States has a long and complex history, dating back to the mid-19th century when Chinese immigrants first arrived in search of economic opportunities. Over time, they were joined by others from countries around the Pacific Rim, including Japan, Korea and the Philippines, who began to arrive in large numbers during the 20th century.

“We are thrilled to share this new virtual exhibit with the public during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month,” said Daniel Piazza, chief curator of the National Postal Museum. “We hope that visitors to this virtual exhibition come away with an appreciation for the diverse experiences of these communities in the United States.”

The experiences of these immigrants in America have been shaped by political and economic factors, including periodic outbreaks of violence against them and discriminatory government policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Despite these challenges, Native Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants have formed strong communities in the United States and significantly contribute to American society in areas such as science, technology, the arts and others.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
National Postal Museum Announces Nomination Process for Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award
Award To Recognize U.S. and International Philatelists

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has announced the opening of the nominating process for the 2023 Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award (SPAA). The Smithsonian award will recognize philatelists from the U.S. and international philatelic communities. The nomination process is open Jan. 19 through March 1. Award winners will be honored at a museum-hosted gala event in Washington, D.C., Nov. 4.

The SPAA was established in 2002 to honor and celebrate living individuals for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of philately. This achievement may include original research that significantly advances the understanding of philately, exceptional service to the philatelic community or sustained promotion of philately to the benefit of current and future collectors.

The SPAA medallion is a 3-inch, gold-plated bronze disc depicting a sunburst with eight straight and eight wavy rays. Derived from the family coat of arms of James Smithson, founding benefactor of the Smithsonian, the sunburst became the Institution’s official seal June 3, 1966, and is incorporated into the official flag flown by Smithsonian facilities and Smithsonian-sponsored expeditions throughout the world. As such, it is a universally recognized symbol of enlightenment and learning that links the Smithsonian’s history with its future. The medallion is suspended from a grosgrain neck ribbon in Smithsonian blue and yellow.

Eligibility criteria and information about the entry and judging processes can be found on the museum’s website. Award winners will be approved by the Smithsonian Board of Regents, consisting of the chief justice of the United States, the vice president of the United States, three members of the United States Senate, three members of the United States House of Representatives and nine citizens.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. Through the preservation and interpretation of our postal and philatelic collections, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum educates, challenges and inspires its audiences on the breadth of American experiences. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000 or visit the museum website at www.postalmuseum.si.edu.