Monthly Archives: August 2025

Cachet Winners: It Runs In The Family

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Awards in the recent American First Day Cover Society cachetmaking contest for 2024 issues went to three mother-daughter pairs and one father-mother-daughter family unit. We also missed a grandfather/granddaughter combo at first, because of the difference in last names.

And the top award went to a brother-sister collaboration: Doug George and his sister Jennifer MacLellan, both of Massachusetts, produced what the judges decided was the best cachet of the year, a first day cover that was a booklet with a tiny embroidered baseball jersey for the Hank Aaron issue. It was also the winner in the Esoteric category. (Photo on the left.)

Marrah Reichert who tied for first place in the Juniors 10 and Under category, is Kevin Colton‘s granddaughter. Last year, he won the overall Top Cachet award. This year, his Holiday Joy FDCs won second in Se-Tenant Covers, third for the Big Dog Race in Event Covers, and he continued his domination of Foreign Covers with first- and second-place wins. But that’s Marrah’s Lunar New Year FDC shown here. She’s now 11 but was 10 when she produced this cachet.

Carolyn Marks designed the Miscellaneous Medium category winner for Shaker Design, while daughters Annajoy and Katelyn took home their own plaques for Juniors Ages 11 to 17 for, respectively, Bluegrass and Pinback Buttons. That’s Annajoy, Katelyn and Carolyn, left to right, in the photo.

Mother Amy Scolieri won Rookie of the Year honors, while daughter Genivieve placed second in Juniors Ages 10 and Younger. That’s Amy and Genivieve in the photo. Father Gregory Scolieri won second and third in Hand-Drawn/Hand-Colored/Hand-Painted. (His photo is below.)

Tricia Richmond won in the Printed Artwork/Design, Multicolored and Noncommercial categories, while adult daughter Darcy Richmond took second place Miscellaneous Medium and third in Noncommercial. The Richmonds were not able to attend Americover/Great American Stamp Show 2025, where the awards were presented.

There’s even a father-daughter connection of sorts. Arianna Calle, now a college student, has won in the Junior categories in the past. This year, she placed second in the Hand-Colored/Hand-Painted and Printed from Original Artwork, first and second in Hand-Colored/Hand-Painted and Printed from Non-Original Artwork, and first in the Printed/Single-Color. Her father Chris provided the artwork for the second-place Event cover of the year. (Chris ran the contest, but swears he did not get involved in Arianna’s categories. But he did get to flash a big smile while holding two of her awards.)

Back to that George family: Doug won first and third in the Hand-Colored/Hand-Painted and Printed from Original Artwork category, second and a tie for third in single-color, first place on his own in Duck covers and third in a collaboration in that category, and first and third in the Se-Tenant issues category. Sister Jennifer, on her own, won third place in Esoteric.

“Both my sister and I were shocked and amazed that we won the Top Cachetmaker award this year,” Doug told The Virtual Stamp Club. “Just being able to work with my brother and connect and learn from him is rewarding enough,” added Jennifer.

“The Hank Aaron booklet design was all Doug’s idea,” she said. ” It was great to see his vision come together.”

The Hank Aaron FDC combines her embroidery wizardry with other cachetmaking techniques.

We promised you a photo of Gregory Scolieri, here receiving his award from competition chair Chris Calle.

You can see the complete (illustrated) list of winners here on The Virtual Stamp Club, starting here.

Photos courtesy of Doug George.

McFarlane Book Wins AFDCS Literature Award

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Press Release
McFarlane Exhibiting Book Wins AFDCS Ward Award

First Day Cover Philatelic Exhibiting: A Master Class by Andrew McFarlane is the 2024 winner of the American First Day Cover Society’s annual Philip H. Ward, Jr., Memorial Award for Excellence in First Day Cover Literature. It also won the Grand Award in the 2025 Great American Stamp Show literature competition as well as a large gold. The more than 500-page book was published by Exhibitors Press and is available on Amazon in both hardcover and paperback editions. Autographed copies may be ordered from his website.

The first four volumes of Kenneth M. Stern’s ongoing series of catalogues of Walter G. Crosby First Day Covers, covering 1928 through 1943, was the runner-up. The fifth and final volume, 1944 through 1949, was published earlier this year. All are also available on Amazon and Stern publishes updates on his website.

“It’s an honor even to be considered,” said McFarlane. “Receiving the award goes beyond anything I’d ever dreamed.”

As an exhibitor, he has won more than seven national exhibition Grand Awards, including that of the American First Day Cover’s Americover in 2005, 2011 and 2013. McFarlane, an IT consultant, also is the recipient of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors’ Diamond Award for multi-frame exhibiting. He lives in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains with his wife Caroline.

Philip Henry Ward, Jr., began servicing first day covers in 1909. An electrical engineer by trade, he wrote on new issues for The American Philatelist, Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News and The Weekly Philatelic Gazette in the early 20th century.

The American First Day Cover Society is a not-for-profit educational organization. In addition to publishing its journal First Days, the AFDCS also publishes handbooks and catalogues, and promotes the collecting of both modern and “classic” issues and cachets, as well as exhibiting FDCs. It offers awards for outstanding first day cover exhibits and an annual contest for cachetmakers, and is a co-host of the annual Great American Stamp Show.

For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 57, Somerset, WI 54025-0057.

USPS “Easter Eggs” on 2025 Stamps

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I haven’t seen these mentioned elsewhere, but we learned at Great American Stamp Show that there are at least two “Easter Eggs” or hidden images in U.S. stamp designs for 2025. The first was on the Betty White stamp: Her visible earring is in the shape of a paw print, to represent her love and advocacy for animals:The second is on a stamp not yet issued, one of the Holiday Cheer stamps:On the one with the birds, at least two of the snowdrops on the branches have “frost” inside them. (The one shown here is sideways.)And I’m told there will be others in 2026.

Monty Python (UK 2025)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
And Now for Something Completely Different!
Set of 10 Stamps Celebrate Monty Python

  • Issue date: 14 August
  • Six stamps in the main set celebrate unforgettable characters from the iconic television series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus
  • A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, celebrate the 50th anniversary of the cult film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/montypython and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has announced that a set of 10 stamps will pay tribute to one of Britain’s most influential and enduring comedy troupes – Monty Python.

The main set of six stamps celebrates the unforgettable characters and sketches from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the iconic British comedy series that redefined television humour. Each stamp features a vibrant montage of scenes and cut-out illustrations, perfectly capturing Monty Python’s unique blend of wit, satire and absurdity.

The stamps showcase legendary moments from the show, including the Spanish Inquisition, the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Lumberjack Song, the Dead Parrot Sketch, Nudge Nudge and Spam.

And in honour of 50 years of the cult 1975 film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, celebrate the film that redefined spoof cinema and cemented the group’s international status.

Scenes featured are:

      • The Black Knight’s defiant “’Tis but a scratch!”
      • King Arthur and his knights receiving their divine quest
      • The panicked cry of “Run away! Run away!” from a failed charge
      • Sir Robin’s encounter with the Three-Headed Giant – “You’re lucky, you’re not next to him!”

    From iconic television sketches to blockbuster films, chart-topping albums, and sold-out live performances, the legendary group – Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin – has been at the forefront of comedic innovation for nearly sixty years, captivating audiences across generations with their unique blend of wit, satire, and surreal humour.

    Sir Michael Palin said: “Very glad to share a stamp with the nude organist!”

    David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Monty Python has left an indelible mark on global comedy, all while remaining unmistakably British at its core. From their groundbreaking television debut to a string of iconic films, this stamp collection honours a body of work that has shaped the comedic landscape for nearly six decades.”

    The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/montypython and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps is priced at £17.90. The stamps go on general sale from 14 August.

The set of stamps is £10.20 or about $13.70 USD. The souvenir sheet is £6.80 or USD$9.13. The additional products include the presentation pack, first day covers, medal covers (FDCs), postcards, framed stamps and a fan sheet.