2025_GASS_program

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August 14-17

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center

SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS

Presidents’ Message

The Great American Stamp Show Welcomes You

Welcome one and all to the Great American Stamp Show! It is our great pleasure as the presidents of the American Philatelic Society, American Topical Association, and American First Day Cover Society to open this landmark event, the biggest annual philatelic exhibition in the United States. Our three organizations are also celebrating our fifth year of collaboration, making this event bigger and better than ever before.

Each organization has a booth as you enter the show floor, where staff and volunteers will be glad to answer your questions, tell you about membership benefits, and more.

Beyond the three welcoming booths, you’ll find the dealer bourse, where more than 85 dealers covering a wide range of collecting specialties will greet you, offering to sell material (and sometimes buy) at every price range. Check out the Dollar booth section on the right side of the hall for lower budget stamps and covers. And on Saturday, the regular bourse will be supplemented by the cachetmakers’ bourse, a special section for cachet designers to sell their own work. For those who are looking for a social buying experience, check out Stamps by the Bucket and Covers by the Container, and join fellow

collectors to sift through stamps in bulk.

On the right side of the hall you’ll find an immense field of exhibits, most of which are competing in one of three World Series of Philately shows. You’ll also find youth exhibits, the Champion of Champions, and special exhibits, including a competition-class exhibit by the Universal Postal Union, located just outside of the convention hall. Don’t miss the famous Inverted Jenny on display with other U.S. rarities.

On the left side of the hall, dozens of societies and clubs welcome you to take a break at their booths and see what membership in a specialty society can do for you. Many additional societies will be present at the show and offer seminars and meetings open to any interested attendee.

Join us at seven first day ceremonies, dedications and stamp unveilings, three held on Thursday, three on Friday, and one on Saturday. Buy stamps and obtain special pictorial postmarks for every day of the show at the USPS booth. And don’t miss the special meetings and seminars held throughout the show.

Great American Stamp Show also includes a special youth activity area hosted by the APS Education department. Enjoy the show!

The convention center hotel offers a free shuttle service in a three-mile radius. This radius includes the Arlington Park Metro Station, which provides service to downtown Chicago. The shuttle runs Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. The Woodfield Trolley is a complimentary trolley service to and from several Woodfield shopping locations. More information (including hours, schedules, and an area map) is available at stamps.org/GASS/travel.

The United States Stamp Society

for the Collector of Postage & Revenue Stamp Issues of the United States

Join USSS at Booth No. 127 or online at www.USStamps.org

The United States Stamp Society is the largest public organization dedicated to the research and study of United States postage and revenue stamps. The Society is a non-profit, collector-focused organization with a worldwide membership of nearly 1,400. Since 1926, the Society has encouraged philatelic study through committees specializing in specific stamp issues like the Washington-Franklin Heads and the Prexies.

Other committees study specialized areas of US philately such as Plate Numbers and Marginal Markings, Private Vending and Affixing Perforations, Booklets and Panes, and Luminescence. Our research is made available through published books, research papers and articles in our monthly journal, The United States Specialist. All members receive a copy of the journal each month and are also entitled to significant discounts on all other Society publications.

Members of the United States Stamp Society will be on hand at the Great American Stamp Show. Please visit us at Booth #127 to learn more about our research, our publications and especially the benefits of membership in the Society. We look forward to meeting you there!

United States Stamp Society, P.O. Box 1602, Hockessin. DE 19707 • USStamps.org

OUTGOING APS Board of Directors

President Cheryl Ganz

Secretary Peter McCann

Treasurer

• Board of Vice Presidents

Past

OUTGOING APRL Board of Trustees

President Melanie Rogers

Vice President

Thomas Bieniosek

Treasurer Kathryn Johnson

Secretary Murray Abramson

Matt Liebson
Casey Jo White
Hugh McMackin
Jean Wang
Barry Feddema
Yamil Kouri
Greg Galletti
Mark Banchik
Michael Cortese
Stephen McGill
Evan (Van) Siegling
Elizabeth Hisey

INCOMING APS Board of Directors

INCOMING APRL Board of Trustees

Murray Abramson
Andrew Kelley
Matt Liebson
Michael Bloom
Casey Jo White
Matthew Healey
Barry Feddema
Jean Wang
Dwayne Littauer
Greg Galletti Ron Klimley
Michael Cortese
Stephen McGill
David Klauber Bruce Wasserman

Show Overview

SHOW GUIDE TO GREAT AMERICAN STAMP SHOW 2025

Welcome! You have arrived at the Great American Stamp Show 2025 in Schaumburg, Illinois, where collectors will band together for four days of philatelic fun. This annual show is the country’s largest devoted to stamp collecting. Most events are free and open to the public, though registration is required for some events.

Complete your collection or start a new one with offerings from more than 85 dealers of stamps, postal history, ephemera and more. More than 55 philatelic societies and groups are in attendance and holding meetings, with nearly 40 manning booths on the show floor.

Show Hours

Thurs-Sat 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

There are hundreds of world-class exhibits; rarities, including an Inverted Jenny; seven first day ceremonies and stamp unveilings; a special exhibit by the Universal Postal Union right outside the entrance hall; dozens of presentations; book signings; a youth area, and so much more.

GASS is hosted by the American Philatelic Society (APS) and American Philatelic Research Library (APRL), American Topical Association (ATA), and American First Day Cover Society (AFDCS); all will hold board meetings and member conventions during the show. The show is also co-sponsored by the United States Postal Service, which will launch two new stamp issues during the show as well as a special dedication ceremony of another issue; and offer new stamps and related products at the USPS booth.

APS staff revving up for GASS 2025.

APS Booth

APS Executive Director Kirk Gillis encourages you to head over to the American Philatelic Society booth after you check in through the registration area. Stop by to visit with staff members, pick up your member ribbon, shop for books and brand new merch items (including stamp jewelry!), buy tickets for Saturday’s Celebration Banquet, and more.

Meet APS staff members at the booth or on the show floor: Kirk Gillis, Membership and Show Director Wendy Masorti, Show Assistant Amy Larimer, Editor-in-Chief Susanna Mills, Education Director Tomalei Vess, Education

Assistant Nathaniel Penven, Director of Information Services Marian Mills, Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Krantweiss, Expertizing Director Ken Martin, Marketing Manager Nora Bryson, and star volunteers Leonard and Darlene Bloom. Also, Executive Director Emeritus Scott English will be in attendance – wish him luck as he leaves the APS and begins his new career!

Join ATA in the Garden!

Special APS Events

The APS is hosting several special events during the show. Check out the list on page 10 for additional details.

It’s full summer and many of us are enjoying delectable fresh vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, and more.

When we look out our windows, we see a profusion of flowers in full bloom – zinnias, daisies and dahlias. Summer can last forever if you visit the American Topical Associations Community Garden at GASS and explore the many opportunities to begin a topical collection of summer’s bounty.

Collecting topicals is easy with an ATA checklist. Please visit the friendly folks at our booth and see how you can create a collection of gorgeous stamps on a specific topic. If you are a country collector, you will enjoy collecting topics related to that country. If you are looking for a fun opportunity, a topical collection offers many opportunities to collect stamps, but also many other philatelic and non-philatelic items, such as ephemera, related to that topic. Of course, you might decide to collect a topic related to a hobby or special interest that has no relation to your previous collecting areas.

Come and explore topical collecting. We’ll welcome you at our booth and show you the fun of topical collecting! For more information about the American Topical Association, see pages 90 to 99.

American First Day Cover Society Experience

We, of the American First Day Cover Society, look forward to seeing you at Great American Stamp Show 2025, and to having you see us.

As you visit GASS, be sure to head over to the Americover section of exhibits to see masterful collections of first day covers from the 1920s to the 2020s. Please attend our meetings and seminars, including two with the U.S. Postal Service people most responsible for new issues and first day covers. Visit our booth to see some of the latest covers, pick up some cacheted envelopes for the stamps being issued at this show and a free “Americover 2025” button, and chat with stamp and cachet artist Chris Calle. Join us in our nightly hospitality suite for informal get-togethers.

And, of course, while you’re at the booth, join the AFDCS. We’ll be happy to explain the benefits of membership.

More information about the American First Day Cover Society is on pages 100 to 110.

First Day Ceremonies

This year’s show will feature seven first day ceremonies and unveilings for new stamp issues. First, we’ll welcome the United States Postal Service as they issue “Boston 2026 Stamp Show” Forever stamps (Thursday); hold a special dedication ceremony for “250 Years of Delivering Mail” and “Putting a Stamp on the American Experience” (Friday); and issue the “Luna Moth” non-machinable surcharge stamps (Saturday). The United

Nobody does it better.

Heritage—Over 75 years of experience expertizing stamps and covers from the greatest collections ever formed.

Expertise—An outstanding staff of in-house experts and consultants with lifetimes of experience backed by a 250-volume reference collection and the latest in high-technology equipment.

Authority—Recognition as a leader that comes from a time-honored history of knowledge and expertise.

Certificates—With over 590,000 certificates issued to date, a PF Certificate is recognized as the most authoritative and reliable opinion in all of U.S. philately.

Stop by Booth 115—Bring your stamps and covers to be certified. We’ll bring them back to New York. If you’ve not done business with the PF before, we’ll be pleased to discuss the process with you.

Add value to your collection with a PF Certificate.

Nations Postal Administration joins us on Thursday to issue “No Nukes” stamps in USD, CHF and EUR denominations. Also on Thursday, the Boston 2026 World Expo committee releases its final label, which is a fundraiser to support next year’s international show.

On Friday, the National Duck Stamp Collectors Society will issue its 2025 cinderella stamp, designed by Jeffrey Klinefelter. Later that afternoon, the Rattlesnake Island Local Post will unveil its new issue.

More information on first day ceremonies is available on page 52.

On the Show Floor

The main attraction of the show for many attendees is the dealer bourse, with more than 85 dealers, selling material for all budgets from around the world. Check out the full dealer list on page 34, and the dealers by specialty listing on page 44 for more details about which booths may have the material you’re looking for.

On Saturday, we’ll have one of the largest cachetmakers bourses so far, with 11 different cachet artists selling their hand-designed cachets and covers. This is a great chance to sit down with an artist and support the art of cachet design.

Meetings and Seminars

Great American Stamp Show hosts the annual meetings of many philatelic societies and organizations, meet and greets, educational seminars on a variety of topics, and more.

While you’re at it, make a note of the dates and times of the special APS events happening both on the show floor and in the meeting rooms.

• Thursday, 2 p.m. APS Presents: A Digital Library Renaissance: Status Report with APRL Director of Information Services Marian Mills. Meet your library director and learn about the major updates to the Robert A. Mason Digital Library.

• Friday and Sunday, 12 p.m. Exhibit Tours with Ken Martin, APS Director of Expertizing.

• Friday, 10 a.m. A special showing of the 2025 documentary The Stamp

Thief, followed by an exclusive Q&A with the film’s producer, Gary Gilbert. This event will be held offsite, and is ticketed, with limited seating. Check with Susanna Mills at the APS Booth to see if tickets are still available!

• Friday, 2 p.m. Stamp S.C.H.O.O.L: Learning without Limits… but wait there’s more! with APS Director of Education Tomalei Vess. Discover the APS’s new learning platform and community space and learn what’s next for APS education.

• Friday, 3 p.m. Stamp S.C.H.O.O.L.’s First New Course: New Ways to Look at Postal History, with presenter Gary Wayne Loew, postal history expert and former Editor-in-Chief of The American Philatelist. In advance of the publication of Gary’s book, Fundamentals of Postal History, Gary is here to give a beginner’s overview of understanding postal history!

• Saturday, 9 a.m. APS General Meeting. The APS and APRL boards will host the annual meeting, give a brief report on the state of the APS, and recognize several award-winners.

• Saturday, 12 p.m. Catalog Editing Roundtable, hosted by Susanna Mills. Catalogs are some of the most useful resources a collector can acquire, offering everything from detailed listings, specialized material, to valuation estimates. It follows that being a catalog editor is a very important role in the hobby. We sit down with several specialized catalog editors to discuss the process and challenges of publishing a catalog.

• Saturday, 3 p.m. Workshop for Hopeful Writers and Editors, hosted by Susanna Mills. Bring a draft of your latest articles or projects and get oneon-one time and actionable feedback with philatelic editors.

• Sunday, 11 a.m. A Fellowship Year in Review with the YPLF Class of 2025, hosted by the APS Education department. Meet the outgoing and incoming fellows, and see what the Class of 2025 has learned over the past year.

• Sunday, 2 p.m. Estate Planning for Philatelists, with APS Director of Expertizing Ken Martin. Your family will thank you for having a plan in place for your collection after your death. Ken Martin explains everything you need to consider.

Rarities and Special Exhibits

Many of the show’s rarities can be found in the non-competitive Court of Honor. America’s most famous stamp – the 24-cent Inverted Jenny of 1918 – makes it appearance, courtesy of its owner, the American Philatelic Research Library. Two other rarities – the autographed 1962 Dag Hammarskjold 4-cent invert pane and the George Washington Free Frank – are also on display, courtesy of the APS.

The Universal Postal Union has provided a special traveling exhibit to appear at the show. In this competitive exhibit class for postal administrations, stamp-issuing entities show off material from their new issues over the last three years, including full technical information for each stamp shown. See this exhibit in the entrance hall right outside of the show floor, and be sure to vote for your favorite entry.

More information about rarities can be found on page 58.

Exhibits

Great American Stamp Show brings together three World Series of Philately national exhibit competitions on one show floor: StampShow (APS); National Topical Stamp Show (ATA); and Americover (AFDCS). The show is also the home of the WSP Champion of Champions competition, in which the best of the best exhibits from last year’s competitions compete for the Benjamin and Naomi Wishnietsky

The convention center hotel offers a free shuttle service in a three-mile radius. This radius includes the Arlington Park Metro Station, which provides service to downtown Chicago. The shuttle runs Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

The Woodfield Trolley is a complimentary trolley service to and from several Woodfield shopping locations. More information (including hours, schedules, and an area map) is available at stamps.org/GASS/travel.

Champion of Champions award.

Also at GASS, a youth exhibit display division, welcoming young philatelists to get started with competitive exhibiting. Browse the youth displays and the Youth Champion of Champions exhibits, and while you’re at it, check out the Most Popular exhibits, and vote to select the next most popular exhibit winners.

Literature

The APS hosts an annual literature competition - stop by the literature booth to peruse the best books, journals, articles, websites and other resources published in the last few years. The literature booth is sponsored by the Collectors Club of Chicago.

Meet authors Ed Bergen (Walt Disney’s First Super Star: Mickey Mouse Vols. 1-4; and Walt Disney’s Second Superstar: Donald Duck Vol. 1) and Dr. Steven Berlin (Mail Robbery Postal History) for book signings during the show.

Don’t Miss Out

Annual APS /APRL, AFDCS and ATA Celebration Banquet: The banquet will start with a cash bar at 6:15 p.m. Saturday followed by dinner and the awards ceremonies. The ATA and AFDCS will present awards and the APS will present top exhibit and lifetime achievement awards (Luff, Mueller, and Peterson Awards), as well as the Champion of Champions and the show’s grand and reserve grand awards. The cost is $90 as tickets last – purchase yours at the APS booth.

Cachetmakers’ bourse: Eleven cachetmakers will sell their covers at the cachetmakers’ bourse, Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the show floor near the stage. Attendees can chat directly with the artists and pick up some nice items for their collections.

Youth Area: There are activities, games, prizes and stamps for young collectors. Collectors of all ages can also enjoy the treasure hunt for low-value stamps

Offical cachets for the show, designed by Chris Calle.

via Stamps by the Bucket and Covers by the Container.

Sightseeing: Schaumburg has plenty to offer you in your time off the show floor. Outdoor parks, the Trickster Art Gallery and Chicago Athenaeum’s International Sculpture Park, Woodfield Mall and the open-air Streets of Woodfield. For kid-friendly activities, check out the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, or the Atcher Island Water Park. Check out information about dining options and other activities at www.chicagonorthwest.com, and choose “Schaumburg” under the Communities tab.

Schedule of Events

The dealer bourse, exhibits, and youth activities can be found in the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. The Celebration Banquet will be held at the Convention Center, Nirvana Ballroom. Listed locations are meeting room #’s (located on the 1st & 2nd floor) in the convention center unless otherwise indicated.

All events are one hour and are free, unless otherwise indicated. Events requiring tickets or registration are noted. Statements made and opinions expressed in the meetings and seminars are not necessarily those of the APS, ATA and AFDCS. The schedule is subject to change.

Show Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday & Saturday • 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday

Thursday, August 14

TIME EVENT LOCATION

10 a.m.

11 a.m.

12 p.m.

• SHOW OPENS

• First Day of Issue Ceremony - USPS, “Boston 2026 Stamp Show” Show Floor Stage

• Book signing - Mail Robbery Postal History, Dr. Steven J. Berlin Show Floor - Literature Area

• CANEJ presents, “APS Judging Seminar: Making the EEF Meaningful”, Elizabeth Hisey and Darrell Ertzberger Schaumburg G

• Book signing - Walt Disney’s First Super Star: Mickey Mouse Vols. 1-4 and Walt Disney’s Second Superstar: Donald Duck, Vol. 1, Ed Bergen Show Floor - Literature Area

• Linn’s Stamp News - Postcrossing Meetup, Jay Bigalke (2 hrs.) Utopia A

1 p.m.

• Boston 2026 Label First Day Ceremony Show Floor Stage

• AFDCS Presents - “My Favorite American Authors and Poets on FDCs”, Cynthia Scott Schaumburg G

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

• APS Presents: A Digital Library Renaissance, Marian Mills Schaumburg E

• AFDCS Presents - USPS Stamp Services: Overview of U.S. Stamp Program Schaumburg F

• First Day of Issue Ceremony - United Nations Postal Administration, “No Nukes” Show Floor Stage

• AFDCS Presents - “July 1, 1971 - USPOD becomes USPS”, Foster Miller Schaumburg G

a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d a d

• Germany Philatelic Society, “The KgU Propaganda Stamps of East Germany, 1953-1957: An Update”, Oliver Wyrtki Schaumburg F

4 p.m. • AFDCS Presents - First Day Cover Show and Tell, Ralph Nafziger Schaumburg G

6 p.m. • SHOW CLOSES

6:30 p.m. • APS Stamp Soiree (Invitation Only, 3 hrs.) Chandler’s - Schaumburg Golf Club

8 p.m. • AFDCS Hospitality Suite (4 hrs.) Imagination Room

Friday, August 15

8 a.m. • American Stamp Dealers Association - Board Meeting (closed, 2 hrs.) Epiphany

8:30 a.m. • U.S. Philatelic Classics Society - Board of Directors Meeting (USPCS members only, 1.5 hrs) Serenity

9 a.m. • AFDCS Membership Meeting and Cachet Contest Results, Lloyd de Vries Utopia A

• Germany Philatelic Society - Board of Directors Meeting (closed, 2 hrs.) Schaumburg G

10 a.m. • SHOW OPENS

• APS Presents: The Stamp Thief film screening and a Q&A with producer Gary Gilbert and a Holocaust survivor (3+ hrs, tickets required) Woodfield AMC

• BNAPS General Meeting and Presentation, “The Challenges in Collecting the Large and Small Queens of Canada”, Richard Judge Schaumburg E

• Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group presents - “Topical Falkland Stamps”, Alan Barasch Schaumburg F

• Morse Telegraph Club - “Telegraphy: The 150-Year Communications War”, Philip Leber (1.5 hrs.) Schaumburg H

11 a.m. • Special Dedication - USPS, “250 Years of Delivering” Show Floor Stage

• Book signing - Mail Robbery Postal History, Dr. Steven J. Berlin Show Floor - Literature Area

12 p.m.

• “Alice in Wonderland, Calif.”, Frederick P. Lawrence Schaumburg G

• APS Writers Unit #30 - Writing Philatelic Articles that Get Published, Gary Wayne Loew Euphoria

1 p.m.

• Book signing - Walt Disney’s First Super Star: Mickey Mouse Vols. 1-4 and Walt Disney’s Second Superstar: Donald Duck, Vol. 1, Ed Bergen Show Floor - Literature Area

• Exhibit Tour - Ken Martin, APS Director of Expertizing Show Floor - Exhibit Frame 51

• Linn’s Stamp News - Postcrossing Meetup, Jay Bigalke (2 hrs.) Utopia A

• Third Reich Study Group - Annual Meeting Schaumburg H

• Wine on Stamps Study Unit - Business Meeting Schaumburg E

• Wreck & Crash Mail Society - “Mail Robbery Postal History”, Dr. Steven Berlin Schaumburg F

• First Day of Issue Ceremony - National Duck Stamp Collectors, New release 2025 Show Floor Stage

• ATA Annual Meeting (2 hrs.) Utopia B

• Collectors Club of Chicago & UPSS Presents, “Postal Cards 1869-1873, Steps and Stumbles”, Don Heller Schaumburg E

• German Colonies Collectors Group, “Collecting the German Colonies and Navigating its Philatelic Covers”, Oliver Wyrtki Schaumburg H

• Souvenir Card Collectors Society - General Meeting & Presentation, “Souvenir Cards used as First Days (and other uses)”, Stephen Patrick Schaumburg G

• Universal Ship Cancellation Society - “Collecting Naval Covers”, Steve Shay Schaumburg F

2 p.m.

• AFDCS Presents - USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services Utopia A

• American Air Mail Society - “Indian Rocket Mails during WWII”, Markand Dave Schaumburg F

• APS Education - “Stamp S.C.H.O.O.L.: Learning without Limits…but wait there’s more!”, Tomalei Vess Euphoria

• Boston ‘26 World Expo Update Schaumburg G

• Literature Exhibit Feedback Forum Schaumburg E

• United Nations Philatelists - Annual Membership Meeting (2 hrs.) Schaumburg H

3 p.m.

• Rattlesnake Island Local Post - Unveiling of the 2025 Stamps Show Floor Stage

• American Ceremony Program Society - 2024-2025 Ceremony Review and Catalog Updates Schaumburg G

4 p.m.

• APS Presents - “S.C.H.O.O.L.’s First New Course: New Ways to Look at Postal History”, Gary Wayne Loew Euphoria

• Gastronomy on Stamps Study Unit - General Meeting and presentation “Making Tacos, Philatelically”, Wayne Youngblood Schaumburg F

• JAPOS Study Unit - “JAPOS: A Study Unit for Lovers of Literature”, Cynthia Scott Schaumburg E

• WE MeetUp - Women Exhibitors & “Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, and Explorer”, Susan Jones (1.5 hrs.) Utopia B

• American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors - Board Meeting (2 hrs.) Epiphany

• Art Cover Exchange - Informal get together, Carolyn Marks Utopia A

• Gay and Lesbian History on Stamps - General Meeting Schaumburg G

• Germany Philatelic Society - “International Exhibiting: My Experiences at Mare Balticum 2024 in Estonia”, Ken Gilbert Schaumburg H

• Machine Cancel Society - General Meeting Schaumburg E

• Royal Philatelic Society London Meeting, “Meet the President”, Simon Richards Euphoria

• U.S. Philatelic Classics Society - “Mail Robbery”, Steven Berlin Schaumburg F

6 p.m. • SHOW CLOSES

6:30 p.m. • ATA President’s Reception (Advance ticket required, 3 hrs.) Westwood Tap

7 p.m. • Universal Ship Cancellation Society - Board of Directors Meeting (3 hrs.) Epiphany

8 p.m. • AFDCS Hospitality Suite (4 hrs.) Imagination Room

Saturday, August 16

8 a.m. • American Stamp Dealers Association - General Meeting Schaumburg H

9 a.m. • American Philatelic Society - General Meeting (1.5 hrs.) Utopia C/D

10 a.m. • SHOW OPENS

• Americana Stamps - “Locals & Expresses: A Selection of Private Mails that Built America”, Angelo Ismirnioglou Utopia B

• Biology Unity of ATA - General Meeting Epiphany

Welcome to Cleveland!

Welcome to Schaumburg!

We're glad you're here! Thank you for supporting the American Philatelic Society and being a part of the King of Hobbies and the Hobby of Kings!

We're glad you're here! Thank you for supporting the American Philatelic Society and being a part of the King of Hobbies and the Hobby of Kings!

We wish you an exciting and memorable time at the Great American Stamp Show!

We wish you an exciting and memorable time at the Great American Stamp Show!

The Collectors Club of Chicago's primary objectives are the documentation, preservation, advancement and promotion of philately through education, study, research and services.

The Collectors Club of Chicago's primary objectives are the documentation, preservation, advancement and promotion of philately through education, study, and research.

For more information about the Collectors Club of Chicago, visit our website: www.collectorsclubchicago.org

Photo credit: Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA

11 a.m.

• Cachetmakers Bourse (6 hrs.)

12 p.m.

Show Floor - USPS Area

• German Colonies Collectors Group, Annual Review & Show and Tell, Oliver Wyrtki (2 hrs.) Schaumburg H

• U.S. Possessions Phil. Soc. & International Philippine Phil. Soc. - Joint meeting, with talk by Dr. Ron González on “Bogus, Forgeries and Broken Letters on the Puerto Rico Overprinted Stamps 1899-1900” Schaumburg G

• Universal Ship Cancellation Society - Pearl Harbor Chapter Meeting Schaumburg E

• First Day of Issue Ceremony - USPS, Luna Moth Utopia C/D

• Auxiliary Markings Club - “How to Understand Auxiliary Markings”, Gary Wayne Loew Utopia A

• Book signing - Mail Robbery Postal History, Dr. Steven J.

Berlin Show Floor - Literature Area

• CANEJ Meeting (closed - CANEJ members only) Epiphany

• China Stamp Society - Annual Membership Meeting Serenity

• Polonus Polish Philatelic Society - Annual Meeting (2 hrs.) Schaumburg F

• Scouts on Stamps Society International - Board of Directors Meeting (closed) Schaumburg E

• Third Reich Study Group - “Censorship during WWII Explained!”, Christopher Kolker Schaumburg G

• U.S. Philatelic Classics Society - “Domestic Forwarded Mail Prior to 1900”, Larry Lyon Utopia B

• American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors Open Forum Utopia C/D

• American Ceremony Program Society - Annual Meeting Schaumburg G

• American Plate Number Single Society - Membership Meeting & Presentation - “They Messed It Up? U.S. Plate Number Errors”, Rick Burdsall Schaumburg H

• APS Presents - Catalog Editing Roundtable, Susanna Mills (1.5 hrs.) Euphoria

• Book signing - Walt Disney’s First Super Star: Mickey Mouse Vols. 1-4 and Walt Disney’s Second Superstar: Donald Duck, Vol. 1, Ed Bergen

Show Floor - Literature Area

1 p.m.

• Cats on Stamps Study Unit Presents - “What’s New in the Family Felidae?”, Marci Jarvis (1.5 hrs.) Schaumburg E

• Joint APS/APRL Organizational Meeting Epiphany

• Linn’s Stamp News - Postcrossing Meetup, Jay Bigalke (2 hrs.) Utopia A

• Tour of the Youth Exhibits by Youth Champion of Champions Participants Show Floor - Exhibit frame #54

• American Ceremony Program Society - Auction (2 hrs.)

Schaumburg G

• ATA - “Introduction to Stamp Collecting - Topical Style”, Jennifer Miller Utopia B

• Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections General Meeting (2 hrs.)

Schaumburg F

• Plate Number Coil Collectors Club - Executive Board Meeting (closed, 2 hrs.) Schaumburg H

1:30 p.m.

• Philatelic Exhibit Judges Feedback Forum (2.5 hrs.) Utopia C/D

• Universal Ship Cancellation Society - General Meeting (1.5 hrs.)

Schaumburg E Fine Philatelic Offerings from the Commonwealth and Beyond

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

• U.S. Philatelic Classics Society - “Charge and Charged Post Office Box Markings”, Jim Milgram Utopia B

• Zeppelin & Airship Collectors - “Zeppelin Posts 100 Years Ago - Centennial Celebration of U.S. Zeppelin Official Mail”, Bob Helms (1.5 hrs.) Utopia A

• APS Presents - Workshop for Hopeful Writers & Editors, Susanna Mills Euphoria

• Germany Philatelic Society - Annual Meeting and Auction (2 hrs.) Schaumburg G

• International Society for Japanese Philately, “Iriomote Essay: Resumption of Japan’s Control of Ryukyus, 1972”, Joseph Boling Schaumburg F

• Plate Number Coil Collectors Club - Membership Meeting (2 hrs.) Schaumburg H

• Scouts on Stamps Society International - General Meeting (1.5 hrs.) Schaumburg E

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

• Society for Hungarian Philately - Annual Meeting Schaumburg F

• Medal Level Ceremony (Exhibit Medals & Society Awards) Utopia C/D

5:30 p.m. • Literature Medal Ceremony Utopia C/D

6 p.m.

6:15 PM

7 p.m.

8 p.m.

• SHOW CLOSES

• Celebration Banquet Reception - Cash Bar Convention, Nirvana Threshold

• Celebration Banquet (Luff, Mueller, Peterson, Hall of Fame, Distinguished Topical Philatelist, AFDCS Distinguished Service Award & Exhibit Grand and Reserve Grand Awards - Ticket Required) Convention, Nirvana Ballroom

• AFDCS Hospitality Suite (4 hrs.) Imagination Room

Sunday, August 17

8:30 a.m. • AFDCS Charter & Life Membership and Volunteer Breakfast (Invitation only) Imagination Room

• Collaboration Crew - Discussion on Strategic Initiatives to Promote Collaboration on Challenging Philatelic Matters (1.5 hrs) Schaumburg E

10 a.m.

• SHOW OPENS

• APS Writers Unit #30 - Council Meeting (closed) Schaumburg G

• Judges Roundtable Schaumburg E

11 a.m.

• APS Presents - A Fellowship Year in Review by the YPLF

Class of 2025 Schaumburg H

• APS Writers Unit #30 - Annual Meeting Schaumburg G

• ATA Exhibit Walk of Thematic Exhibits, Dawn Hamman and Susan Jones Show Floor - Exhibit Frame 401

• Book signing - Mail Robbery Postal History, Dr. Steven J. Berlin Show Floor - Literature Area

• International Society of Japanese Philately - “Japonica: What it’s all about philatelically”, Ken Kamholz (2 hrs.) Schaumburg E

• Polonus Polish Philatelic Society - Hosted tour of Polish exhibits Show Floor - Booth 107

12 p.m.

1 p.m.

.

2 p.m.

4 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

• AFDCS Convention Planning Committee Meeting (closed) Schaumburg G

• ATA Study Unit Officers & Editors Forum (closed) Schaumburg H

• Book signing - Walt Disney’s First Super Star: Mickey Mouse Vols. 1-4 and Walt Disney’s Second Superstar: Donald Duck, Vol. 1, Ed Bergen Show Floor - Literature Area

• Exhibit Tour - Ken Martin, APS Director of Expertizing Show Floor - Exhibit Frame 51

• AFDCS 7-1-71 Affair Chapter Meeting Schaumburg G

• Illinois Postal History Society - “Illinois Post Offices”, Steven Bahnsen Schaumburg H

• International Society for Japanese Philately - “Philately of WWI POW Camps”, Harold Krische Schaumburg E

• APS Presents - Estate Planning for Philatelists - Ken Martin, APS Director of Expertizing Schaumburg H

• SHOW CLOSES

Where Conversation Meets Education

Where Conversation Meets Education

Conversation Meets Education

Join Today! s t a m p s c h o o l . s t a m p s . o r g

• AFDCS Post Show Dinner Moretti’s Ristorante & Pizzeria

@ the Stamp SCHOOL H U B

Meetings & Seminars by Organization

Day, Time, Room #

American Air Mail Society

Indian Rocket Mails during WWII Fri., 2 p.m., Schaumburg F

American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors

Board Meeting (2 hrs.) Fri., 4 p.m., Epiphany Tour of the Youth Exhibits Sat., 12 p.m., Exhibit frame #54 Open Forum Sat., 12 p.m., Utopia C/D

American Ceremony Program Society

Board of Directors Meeting (closed) Thurs., 8 a.m., Hotel Restaurant 2024-2025 Ceremony Review and Catalog Updates Fri., 3 p.m., Schaumburg G

Annual Meeting Sat., 12 p.m., Schaumburg G

Auction (2 hrs.) Sat., 1 p.m., Schaumburg G

American First Day Cover Society For all event/meetings see page 105

American Philatelic Society

Jury Breakfast (Closed) Thurs., 7 a.m., Serenity

APS Presents: A Digital Library Renaissance Thurs., 2 p.m., Schaumburg E

APS Stamp Soiree - (Invitation Only, 3 hrs.) Thurs., 6:30 p.m. Chandler’s - Schaumburg Golf Club

Exhibit Tour Fri., 12 p.m., Exhibit Frame 51 The Stamp Thief screening (3+ hours, tickets required) Fri., 10 a.m., Woodfield AMC

APS Education - Stamp S.C.H.O.O.L. Introduction Fri., 2 p.m., Euphoria

Literature Exhibit Feedback Forum Fri., 2 p.m., Schaumburg E

Stamp S.C.H.O.O.L.’s First New Course: New Ways to Look at Postal History Fri., 3 p.m., Euphoria

General Meeting (1.5 hrs.) Sat., 9 a.m., Utopia C/D

Cachetmakers Bourse (6 hrs.) Sat., 10 a.m., Show Floor - USPS Area

Joint APS/APRL Organizational Meeting Sat., 12 p.m., Epiphany

Catalog Editing Roundtable (1.5 hrs.) Sat., 12 p.m., Euphoria

Philatelic Exhibit Judges Feedback Forum (2.5 hrs.) Sat., 1:30 p.m., Utopia C/D

Workshop for Hopeful Writers & Editors Sat., 3 p.m., Euphoria

Medal Level Ceremony (Exhibit Medals & Society Awards) Sat., 4:30 p.m., Utopia C/D

Literature Medal Ceremony Sat., 5:30 p.m., Utopia C/D

Celebration Banquet Reception - Cash Bar Sat., 6:15 PM, Convention, Nirvana Threshold

Celebration Banquet (Ticket Required)

Sat., 7 p.m., Convention, Nirvana Ballroom

Judges Roundtable Sun., 10 a.m., Schaumburg E

A Fellowship Year in Review by the YPLF Class of 2025 Sun., 11 a.m., Schaumburg H

Exhibit Tour Sun., 12 p.m., Exhibit Frame 51

Estate Planning for Philatelists Sun., 2 p.m., Schaumburg H

American Plate Number Single Society

Membership Meeting & Presentation Sat., 12 p.m., Schaumburg H

American Stamp Dealers Association

Board Meeting (closed, 2 hrs.) Fri., 8 a.m., Epiphany

General Meeting Sat., 8 a.m., Schaumburg H

American Topical Association For all event/meetings see page 98

Americana Stamps

Locals & Expresses Sat., 10 a.m., Utopia B

APS Writers Unit #30

Writing Philatelic Articles that Get Published Fri., 12 p.m., Euphoria Council Meeting (closed) Sun., 10 a.m., Schaumburg G

Annual Meeting Sun., 11 a.m., Schaumburg G

Art Cover Exchange

Informal get together Fri., 4 p.m., Utopia A

Auxiliary Markings Club

How to Understand Auxiliary Markings Sat., 11 a.m., Utopia A

Biology Unit of ATA

General Meeting Sat., 10 a.m., Epiphany

Boston 2026 World Expo

Label First Day Ceremony Thurs., 1 p.m., Show Floor Stage

Boston ‘26 World Expo Update Fri., 2 p.m., Schaumburg G

British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS)

General Meeting and Presentation Fri., 10 a.m., Schaumburg E

CANEJ

APS Judging Seminar Thurs., 11 a.m., Schaumburg G

CANEJ Meeting (closed - CANEJ members only) Sat., 11 a.m., Epiphany

Cats on Stamps Study Unit

What’s New in the Family Felidae? (1.5 hrs.) Sat., 12 p.m., Schaumburg E

China Stamp Society

Annual Membership Meeting Sat., 11 a.m., Serenity Day, Time, Room #

Collaboration Crew

Discussion on Strategic Initiatives to Promote Collaboration on Challenging

Philatelic Matters (1.5 hrs) Sun., 8:30 a.m., Schaumburg E

Collectors Club of Chicago & UPSS

Postal Cards 1869-1873, Steps and Stumbles Fri., 1 p.m., Schaumburg E

Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections

General Meeting (2 hrs.) Sat., 1 p.m., Schaumburg F

Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group

Topical Falkland Stamps Fri., 10 a.m., Schaumburg F

Gastronomy on Stamps Study Unit

General Meeting and Presentation Fri., 3 p.m., Schaumburg F

Gay and Lesbian History on Stamps

General Meeting Fri., 4 p.m., Schaumburg G

German Colonies Collectors Group

Collecting the German Colonies and Navigating its Philatelic Covers Fri., 1 p.m., Schaumburg H

Annual Review & Show and Tell (2 hrs.) Sat., 10 a.m., Schaumburg H

Germany Philatelic Society

The KgU Propaganda Stamps of East Germany, 1953-1957 Thurs., 3 p.m., Schaumburg F

Board of Directors Meeting (closed, 2 hrs.) Fri., 9 a.m., Schaumburg G

International Exhibiting Fri., 4 p.m., Schaumburg H

Annual Meeting and Auction (2 hrs.) Sat., 3 p.m., Schaumburg G

Illinois Postal History Society

Illinois Post Offices Sun., 1 p.m., Schaumburg H

International Society for Japanese Philately

Iriomote Essay: Resumption of Japan’s Control of Ryukyus, 1972 Sat., 3 p.m., Schaumburg F

Japonica: What it’s all about philatelically (2 hrs.) Sun., 11 a.m., Schaumburg E

JAPOS Study Unit

Machine Cancel Society Day, Time, Room

Philately of WWI POW Camps Sun., 1 p.m., Schaumburg E

JAPOS: A Study Unit for Lovers of Literature Fri., 3 p.m., Schaumburg E Linn’s Stamp News

Postcrossing Meetup (2 hrs.) Thurs., 12 p.m., Utopia A

Postcrossing Meetup (2 hrs.) Fri., 12 p.m., Utopia A

Postcrossing Meetup (2 hrs.) Sat., 12 p.m., Utopia A

Day,

Room

General Meeting Fri., 4 p.m., Schaumburg E

Morse Telegraph Club

Telegraphy: The 150-Year Communications War (1.5 hrs.) Fri., 10 a.m., Schaumburg H

National Duck Stamp Collectors Society

First Day of Issue Ceremony New Release 2025 Fri., 1 p.m., Show Floor Stage

Plate Number Coils Collector Club

Executive Board Meeting (closed, 2 hrs.)

Sat., 1 p.m., Schaumburg H

Membership Meeting (2 hrs.) Sat., 3 p.m., Schaumburg H

Polonus Polish Philatelic Society

Annual Meeting (2 hrs.) Sat., 11 a.m., Schaumburg F

Tour of Polish Exhibits

Rattlesnake Island Local Post

Meet Show Floor Booth 107

Unveiling of the 2025 Stamps Fri., 3 p.m., Show Floor Stage

Royal Philatelic Society London

Meeting, “Meet the President” Fri., 4 p.m., Euphoria Scouts on Stamps Society International

Royal Philatelic Society London

Board of Directors Meeting (closed) Sat., 11 a.m., Schaumburg E

General Meeting (1.5 hrs.) Sat., 3 p.m., Schaumburg E

Society for Hungarian Philately

Annual Meeting Sat., 4 p.m., Schaumburg F

Souvenir Card Collectors Society

General Meeting & Presentation Fri., 1 p.m., Schaumburg G

Third Reich Study Group

Annual Meeting Fri., 12 p.m., Schaumburg H

Censorship during WWII Explained! Sat., 11 a.m., Schaumburg G

U.S. Philatelic Classics Society

Board of Directors Meeting (USPCS members only, 1.5 hrs) Fri., 8:30 a.m., Serenity

Mail Robbery Fri., 4 p.m., Schaumburg F

Domestic Forwarded Mail Prior to 1900 Sat., 11 a.m., Utopia B

Charge and Charged Post Office Box Markings Sat., 2 p.m., Utopia B

U.S. Possessions Philatelic Society & IPPS

Joint meeting, with talk Sat., 10 a.m., Schaumburg G

United Nations Philatelists Inc.

Annual Membership Meeting (2 hrs.) Fri., 2 p.m., Schaumburg H

United Nations Postal Administration

First Day of Issue Ceremony, “No Nukes” Thurs., 3 p.m., Show Floor Stage

United States Postal Service

First Day of Issue Ceremony, “Boston 2026 Stamp Show” Thurs., 11 a.m., Show Floor Stage

Special Dedication, “250 Years of Delivering” Fri., 11 a.m., Show Floor Stage

First Day of Issue Ceremony, “Luna Moth” Sat., 11 a.m., Utopia C/D

Universal Ship Cancellation Society

Collecting Naval Covers Fri., 1 p.m., Schaumburg F

Board of Directors Meeting (3 hrs.) Fri., 7 p.m., Epiphany

Pearl Harbor Chapter Meeting Sat., 10 a.m., Schaumburg E

General Meeting (1.5 hrs.) Sat., 1:30 p.m., Schaumburg E

Wine on Stamps Study Unit

Business Meeting Fri., 12 p.m., Schaumburg E

Women Exhibitors

WE MeetUp (1.5 hrs.) Fri., 3 p.m., Utopia B

Wreck & Crash Mail Society

Mail Robbery Postal History Fri., 12 p.m., Schaumburg F

Zeppelin & Airship Collectors

Day, Time, Room

Zeppelin Posts 100 Years Ago - Centennial Celebration of U.S. Zeppelin Official Mail (1.5 hrs.) Sat., 2 p.m., Utopia A

BOOK SIGNING

Mail Robbery Postal History, Dr. Steven J. Berlin

Each day at 11 a.m., Literature Booth

Walt Disney’s First Super Star: Mickey Mouse Vols. 1-4 and Walt Disney’s Second Superstar: Donald Duck, Vol. 1, Ed Bergen

Each day at 12 p.m., Literature Booth

Bourse Directory

All participating dealers are members of the APS, ATA and/or AFDCS. An asterisk (*) indicates an APS Dealer Member. A smiley face () indicates the dealer caters to beginners. Dealers marked (Dollar) are dollar booths, where the max price for covers is $1 and stamps are max 35¢. Booth numbers are listed to the right. (Find dealers by specialty on page 44.) The floor plan can be found on page 62.

10 Cent Ryan ................................................

Levittown, PA • rterlecky@hotmail.com A to Z Stamps* ..............................................

Tempe, AZ • www.worldwidestamps.com

Abacus Auctions* ..................................................

Melbourne, Australia • www.abacusauctions.com.au

 ......................................................

West Sand Lake, NY • www.agatherin.com

Alex* .......................................................

S. Allman .................................................

Franklin Lakes, NJ • willard.s.allman@gmail.com Amos Media Co. ...................................................

Sidney, OH • www.linns.com Paul Aschenbrenner* ...............................................

Milwaukee, WI • paulmaschenbrenner@gmail.com

Bardo Stamps* ....................................................

Buffalo Grove, IL • www.bardostamps.com Bill Barrell Ltd.* ...................................................

Grantham UK • www.barrell.co.uk Fred Boatwright* ................................................

Hawk Point, MO • stampooh@centurylink.net C & D Philatelics ..................................................

Ruby, VA • www.spacecoverstore.com

Cherrystone Auctions, Inc.* ......................................... 110 New York, NY • www.cherrystoneauctions.com

Coast Philatelics* .............................................. 316/318\ Costa Mesa, CA • chizz5@aol.com

Coins, Stamps ‘n’ Stuff* ..........................

Urbandale, IA • jbKoepp@msn.com

Colonial Stamp Company* ..........................................

Los Angeles, CA • www.colonialstamps.com

Compustamp*.....................................................

Scottsdale, AZ • www.CompuStamp.com

Connoisseur Stamps and Collectibles, Inc.* .........................

Chicago, IL • robbinslaw@mindspring.com

Corinphila & Kohler ...............................................

Germany • www.heinrich-koehler.de

Cwiakala Auctions .................................................

Chicago, IL • www.cwiakalaauctions.com

D & P Stamps* ............................................... 519/521 Chula Vista, CA • www.dpstamps.com

DK Enterprises* ...............................................

Silverdale, WA • dickkeiser.com

Auctions* .........................................

 ..................................................

PA • www.englerstamps.com

George Enstrom, Ltd. ..............................................

Byron, IL • genstromstamps@gmail.com

......................................................

Lantana, TX • www.ebay.com/str/etradegoods

 ......................................................

Beaufort, NC • fairwinds66@live.com

FDCACE .........................................................

Ellettsville, IN • bgdsn@comcast.net

David Feldman Auctions ...........................................

Switzerland • www.davidfeldman.com

First Century Stamps* .............................................. 122 Fenton, MO • firstcenturystamps@gmail.com

Fox River Stamps* ........................................ 228/230/232 Salem, WI • www.foxriverstamps.com

Richard Friedberg Stamps* ......................................... 419 Meadville, PA • www.friedbergstamps.com

Geezer’s Tweezers* ............................................. 522/520 Baltimore, MD • www.geezerstweezers.com

Wayne Gehret ...............................................

Ephrata, PA • www.usmintsheets.com

Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s .......................................... 428 London, England • www.stanleygibbons.com

Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc.* .................................. 509/511

Middletown, NY • www.hgitner.com

Global Philatelic Associates* ........................................

Memphis, TN • palazolo@bellsouth.net

Harmer’s International .............................................

Yorktown Heights, NY • www.harmersinternational.com

Labron Harris* ....................................................

Glen Echo, MD • labronharr@aol.com HB Philatelics* .................................................. 515 Florissant, MO • www.hbphilatelics.com

Redwood City, CA • www.houseofzion.com

 .....................................

PA • www.ericjackson.com

Lake, NY • kerik1@aol.com Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions ..................................... 619/621

CT • www.kelleherauctions.com

TX • www.csastamps.com

Philatelic Society Inc. .................................

Knoxville, TN • www.knoxstamps.com

Philatelics* ...............................................

IN • www.ksphilatelics.com

IN • mandshobbies.com

Stamp Co.*  .............................................

NY • www.markest.com/

 .........................................

CT • www.millerstamps.com

Wiltshire, England • www.forpostalhistory.com

Stamps, Coins, and Currency* ..........................

Mountainside, NJ • www.mountainsidestampsandcoins.com

Murphy’s Stamps, Etc.* .............................................

Greenfield, IN • murphys.stamps.etc@outlook.com

Newport Harbor Stamp Co. ......................................... 315 Newport Beach, CA • newportharborstamps@gmail.com

NobleSpirit .....................................................

Pittsfield, NH • www.NobleSpirit.com

North Star Stamps* .......................................... 128/130 Jewell, IA • kevinlunn@reagan.com

Kenneth A. Pitt Postal History ....................................... 218 Panama City Beach, FL • pittpostalhistory@gmail.com

Professional Stamp Experts* ........................................ 225 Las Vegas, NV • www.gradingmatters.com

Rasdale Stamp Company* .......................................... 212 Chicago, IL • www.rasdalestamps.com

Rattlesnake Island Local Post ........................................ 330 Gypsum, OH • www.rilp.org

Mark Reasoner* ..........................................

Prospect Heights, IL • reasonerstamps@yahoo.com

Risk Strategies/Hugh Wood .........................................

New York, NY • www.hughwood.com

Roy’s Stamps* .....................................................

St. Catharines, ON Canada • www.roysstamps.com

San Pedro Stamp Company* .......................................

Tucson, AZ • sanpedrosc@gmail.com

Kurt A. Sanftleben* ................................................

Virginia Beach, VA • www.read-em-again.com

Sarantopoulos Philatelics * ............................................

Des Plaines, IL • www.greekstampstore.com

Robert M. Sazama* ................................................

The Villages, FL • www.floridastampbuyer.com

Scholl & Haag* ....................................................

Cincinnati, OH • randyschollstampcompany.com

Rusty Shoaf* ......................................................

Lafayette, IN • rusty.shoaf@rshoaf.com Dick Smith Stamps. .

Middlesex, NJ • dick638@optonline.net

Telah W. Smith* ...............................................

Ashland, OH • www.telahsmith.com

City, OR • www.stampart.us

 ....................................................

Chicago, IL • stampkingchicago@hotmail.com

Stamps* .............................................

MI • www.sterlingstamps.com

F. Taff*......................................................

CA • jt9955rex@gmail.com

England • www.stephentaylor.co.uk

MO • tigercollect@sbcglobal.net

IN • bradlhouser@aol.com

..............................................

CT • volovskirarities@sbcglobal.net

MO • www.worldwidephilatelics.com/

• www.wulffstamps.com

CACHETMAKERS

Special bourse held Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

6° Cachets • Somerset, NJ

Anon E Mouse Cachets • Columbus, IN

Bella Cachets • Saint Paul, MN

Colorano “Silk” Cachets • St. Petersburg, FL

Dragon Cards • Washington Township, NJ

Junior Cachetmakers – Annajoy & Katie

David Peterman • Plymouth Tw., WI

Philatelic Press • Greer, SC

Ardis Quick • Vadnais Heights, MN

Mike Smith Postal Art • Chicago, IL

Wally Jr. Cachet • Amherst, MA

United Nations Postal Administration will hold a first day of issue ceremony for “NO

Please see us at the big Chicago show - The highest quality U.S. stamps at the show!

Larry Volovski, Volovski Rarities, Box 208, Thomaston, CT 06787.

Email: VolovskiRarities@sbcglobal.net Phone: (860) 480-0186.

To receive a copy of our current catalog - please call now.

Scott #166 $9,000.00

XF/Sup-OG-LH - Stunning! With 2022 PSE cert. - XF-SUP-95.

Scott #70b $10,000.00

VF-OG-LH, scarce Steel Blue shade. With 2003 PF certificate.

Scott #341 $13,000.00

Superb-OG-NH - Perfection! With 2019 PFC graded SUPERB-98.

Scott #292 $9,000.00

XF/Sup-OG-NH - Stunning never hinged example. Tremendous 1898 “Cattle In Storm”. With 1996 PF certificate.

Scott #244 $12,000.00

XF/Sup-OG-LH, spectacular JUMBO margins! With 2000 PF & 2013 PSE cert graded XF-SUP-95J.

Scott #356 $10,000.00

VF-OG-LH, matchless GEM pair. Tremendous color. With 2022 PSE certificate.

Scott #389 $8,250.00 Fine-used. Light crease. Desirable Orangeburg coil. With 2022 PSE certificate.

Scott #354 $10,000.00

XF/SUP-OG-NH - Finest known. With 2024 PSE cert - XF-SUP-95J.

Scott #4 $3,000.00

Superb-OG-NH - Stunning example. With 2023 PSE cert - SUPERB-98.

Please see us in Chicago - Our booth is way in the back, but our stamps are way upfront!

Larry Volovski, Volovski Rarities, Box 208, Thomaston, CT 06787.

Email: VolovskiRarities@sbcglobal.net Phone: (860) 480-0186.

To receive a copy of our free current sales catalog - please call us today.

Dealers by Specialty

Airmails

Fred Boatwright ................ 322

Engler Stamps .................. 431

Murphy’s Stamps, Etc. ........... 527

Rattlesnake Island Local Post ..... 330

Don Tocher U.S. Classics ........ 422

Triple “S” Postal History Inc. ..... 312

Appraisals

10 Cent Ryan ............... 603/605

A to Z Stamps .............. 319/321

Fred Boatwright ................ 322

Coins, Stamps ‘n’ Stuff .............. ..........703/704/705/706/803/805

Connoisseur Stamps and Collectibles, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525

DK Enterprises ............. 430/432

Dutch Country Auctions......... 332

David Feldman Auctions ........ 221

Wayne Gehret .............. 504/506

Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions 619/621

Markest Stamp Co. .............. 216

Miller’s Stamp Company ......... 309

Robert M. Sazama .............. 328 Asia

Willard S. Allman ............... 306 Auctions

Abacus Auctions ................ 516

Cherrystone Auctions, Inc. ....... 110

Dutch Country Auctions......... 332

David Feldman Auctions ........ 221

Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s 428

Harmer’s International .......... 518

House of Zion .................. 317

Markest Stamp Co. .............. 216

Rasdale Stamp Company ........ 212

Sterling Stamps ............. 220/222

Vance Auctions Ltd. ............. 209 Australia-Oceania

Abacus Auctions ................ 516

Willard S. Allman 306 Back of Book

George Enstrom, Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 320

Richard Friedberg Stamps ........ 419

Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc. 509/511

Eric Jackson Revenue Stamps ..... 415

Lewis Kaufman/Roy DeLafosse, Ltd. 326 KS Philatelics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118/120 Mountainside Stamps, Coins, and Currency..................... 311 Tiger Collectibles ............... 227 Don Tocher U.S. Classics ........ 422 Booklets

Lewis Kaufman/Roy DeLafosse, Ltd. 326 British Commonwealth Abacus Auctions 516 Willard S. Allman ............... 306 Coast Philatelics ............ 316/318 Compustamp................... 305 Cwiakala Auctions .............. 106

Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s ....... 428 Harmer’s International .......... 518 M & S Hobbies ............. 427/429 David Morrison ................ 305 Roy’s Stamps ................... 416

San Pedro Stamp Company ...... 517

Robert M. Sazama .............. 328 Rusty Shoaf .................... 116 Stamp King .................... 510 Canada Coins, Stamps ‘n’ Stuff .............. ..........703/704/705/706/803/805

First Century Stamps ............ 122

Roy’s Stamps ................... 416

Stamp King .................... 510

Vance Auctions Ltd. ............. 209 Classics

David Alex ..................... 226

Colonial Stamp Company ........ 425

Connoisseur Stamps and Collectibles, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525

First Century Stamps ............ 122

Knoxville Philatelic Society Inc. . 615/617

San Pedro Stamp Company ...... 517

Don Tocher U.S. Classics ........ 422

Volovski Rarities ............ 609/611

Collections

Coins, Stamps ‘n’ Stuff .............. ..........703/704/705/706/803/805

Geezer’s Tweezers ........... 522/520

Rasdale Stamp Company ........ 212

Mark Reasoner ....... 210 & 604/606

Robert M. Sazama .............. 328

Scholl & Haag .................. 215

Stamp Art ......... 325/327/329/331

Village Stamp & Coin ........... 205

Confederates States

Global Philatelic Associates ...... 409

John L. Kimbrough ............. 417

Miller’s Stamp Company ......... 309

Kenneth A. Pitt Postal History .... 218

James F. Taff ................... 426

Volovski Rarities ............ 609/611

Credit Union

USPS Federal Credit Union ...... 531

Discount Postage

David Alex ..................... 226

Wayne Gehret .............. 504/506

North Star Stamps 128/130

Sterling Stamps ............. 220/222

Duck Stamps

Bardo Stamps .................. 421

Engler Stamps .................. 431

HB Philatelics .................. 515

Murphy’s Stamps, Etc. ........... 527 Ephemera

aGatherin ...................... 418

Kenneth A. Pitt Postal History .... 218

Kurt A. Sanftleben .............. 203 Errors, Freaks, Oddities

Bill Barrell Ltd. ................. 211

320

Harbor Stamp Co. ...... 315 Essays & Proofs

Barrell Ltd. ................. 211

James F. Taff ................... 426

Great Britain

Bill Barrell Ltd. ................. 211

Colonial Stamp Company ........ 425

Cwiakala Auctions .............. 106

Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s ....... 428

Roy’s Stamps ................... 416

San Pedro Stamp Company ...... 517

Insurance

Risk Strategies/Hugh Wood ...... 529 Latin America

D & P Stamps .............. 519/521

Etradegoods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512

Telah W. Smith ............. 217/219

Literature

aGatherin ...................... 418

Amos Media Co. ................ 229

Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s ....... 428 House of Zion .................. 317

New Issues

Sarantopoulos Philatelics ........ 126

Telah W. Smith ............. 217/219

Wulff’s Stamps, Inc. ............. 310 Paper Money

Sarantopoulos Philatelics ........ 126 Plate Blocks

Bardo Stamps .................. 421

Engler Stamps .................. 431

Lewis Kaufman/Roy DeLafosse, Ltd 326

Miller’s Stamp Company ......... 309

Mountainside Stamps, Coins, and Currency..................... 311

Newport Harbor Stamp Co. ...... 315

Rattlesnake Island Local Post ..... 330

Stamp Art ......... 325/327/329/331

Volovski Rarities ............ 609/611

Postal History

Abacus Auctions 516

...................... 418 Willard S. Allman ............... 306

Bill Barrell Ltd. ................. 211

Topicals

Coast Philatelics ............ 316/318

Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc. 509/511

Telah W. Smith ............. 217/219

United Nations

United Nations Postal Administration ............................. 231

United States

A to Z Stamps .............. 319/321

David Alex ..................... 226

Bardo Stamps .................. 421

Cherrystone Auctions, Inc. ....... 110

Coast Philatelics ............ 316/318

Coins, Stamps ‘n’ Stuff .............. ..........703/704/705/706/803/805

Dutch Country Auctions......... 332

Engler Stamps .................. 431

George Enstrom, Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 320

First Century Stamps ............ 122

Fox River Stamps 228/230/232

Richard Friedberg Stamps ........ 419

Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc. 509/511

Harmer’s International .......... 518

HB Philatelics .................. 515

Eric Jackson Revenue Stamps ..... 415

Lewis Kaufman/Roy DeLafosse, Ltd. 326

Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions .. 619/621

KS Philatelics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118/120

Markest Stamp Co. 216

Miller’s Stamp Company ......... 309

Mountainside Stamps, Coins, and Currency..................... 311

Murphy’s Stamps, Etc. ........... 527

Newport Harbor Stamp Co. ...... 315

NobleSpirit .................... 204

North Star Stamps .......... 128/130

Professional Stamp Experts ...... 225

Rasdale Stamp Company 212

Mark Reasoner ....... 210 & 604/606

Scholl & Haag .................. 215

Stamp Art ......... 325/327/329/331

Stamp King .................... 510

Sterling Stamps ............. 220/222

James F. Taff ................... 426

Tiger Collectibles ............... 227

Village Stamp & Coin ........... 205

Volovski Rarities ............ 609/611

Worldwide Philatelics ........... 206

Wulff’s Stamps, Inc. ............. 310 United States Covers

10 Cent Ryan ............... 603/605

aGatherin ...................... 418

C & D Philatelics ............... 304

River Stamps ....... 228/230/232

Tweezers ........... 522/520

Gehret .............. 504/506

Possessions

Century Stamps ............ 122

River Stamps ....... 228/230/232

Jackson Revenue Stamps ..... 415

Philatelics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118/120

Stamp Experts ...... 225

Coast Philatelics ............ 316/318

Connoisseur Stamps and Collectibles, Inc..

. 525

Corinphila & Kohler ............ 132

Cwiakala Auctions .............. 106

D & P Stamps .............. 519/521

Dutch Country Auctions......... 332 Etradegoods. .

. 512

David Feldman Auctions ........ 221 House of Zion .................. 317

Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions .. 619/621

Knoxville Philatelic Society Inc. . 615/617

M & S Hobbies ............. 427/429

Markest Stamp Co. .............. 216

Mountainside Stamps, Coins, and Currency..................... 311 NobleSpirit .................... 204

North Star Stamps .......... 128/130

Rasdale Stamp Company ........ 212

Mark Reasoner ....... 210 & 604/606

San Pedro Stamp Company ...... 517

Robert M. Sazama .............. 328

        

Participating Societies

Numerous societies, associations and clubs are scheduled to have booths and/ or meetings at GASS. *Those marked with asterisk (*) are hosting a Society booth in addition to meetings/activities. Those without are hosting just meetings/activities.

*American Philatelic Society • Booth APS

*American Topical Association • Booth ATA

*American First Day Cover Society • Booth AFDCS

*American Air Mail Society, Booth #105

American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors

*American Ceremony Program Society, Booth #105

*American Plate Number Single Society, Booth #107

American Stamp Dealers Association

*American Society of Polar Philatelists, Booth #109

*ATA Taste of Topicals, Booth #103

*APS Writers Unit, Booth #111

Americana Stamps

Art Cover Exchange

Auxiliary Markings Club

Biology Unit of ATA

*BOSTON 2026 World Stamp Show Inc., Booth #111

*British North America Philatelic Society, Booth #113

Cats on Stamps Study Unit

Canal Zone Study Group, Booth #121

*Chicago Philatelic Society, Booth #101

*China Stamp Society, Booth #113

Collaboration Crew

*Collectors Club of Chicago, Booth #101

*Collectors Club (NY), Booth #115

*Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections, Booth #117

Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group

Gastronomy on Stamps Study Unit

Gay and Lesbian History on Stamps

*German Colonies Collectors Group, Booth #119

*Germany Philatelic Society USA, Booth #119

Illinois Postal History Society

*International Federation of Scout & Guide Stamp Collecting Org. (IFSCO) Booth #131

*International Philippine Philatelic Society, Booth #121

*International Society for Japanese Philately, Booth #123

JAPOS Study Unit

Machine Cancel Society

*Military Postal History Society, Booth #109

Morse Telegraph Club

*The Philatelic Foundation, Booth #115

*Plate Number Coil Collectors Club, Booth #125

*Polonus Polish Philatelic Society, Booth #107

*Puerto Rico Philatelic Society, Booth #127

*Royal Philatelic Society London, Booth #129

*Scouts on Stamps Society International, Booth #131

*Society for Hungarian Philately, Booth #133

*Society of Israel Philatelists, Booth #135

*Souvenir Card Collectors Society, Booth #137

*Third Reich Study Group, Booth #119

United Nations Philatelists Inc.

*United Postal Stationery Society, Booth #139

*U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, Booth #129

*United States Possessions Philatelic Society, Booth #121

*United States Stamp Society, Booth #127

*Universal Ship Cancellation Society, Booth #109

Wine on Stamps Study Unit

Women Exhibitors

Wreck & Crash Mail Society

Zeppelin & Airship Collectors

Connect With Chapters and Affiliates

Nearly 400 local stamp clubs have joined with the APS as Chapters, and 180 national specialty groups are APS Affiliates — all are dedicated to your passion, the excitement of stamp collecting. We connect you to collectors in your neighborhood and with your interests, no matter what or where. stamps.org/affiliates stamps.org/clubs

First Day Ceremonies and Unveilings

Thursday, August 14

11 a.m.; Show floor stage

Boston 2026 World Stamp Show

United States Postal Service

Official Co-Sponsor of Great American Stamp Show

The Great American Stamp Show kicks off with a first day of issue ceremony by the USPS, as they issue a set of stamps in anticipation of the Boston 2026 World Stamp Exposition, a once-in-adecade event to be held in May 2026. The pair of stamps celebrate Boston’s role in the American Revolution, including Paul Revere and the Old North Church.

1 p.m.; Show floor stage

2025 Boston 2026 Label

Boston 2026 World Expo

Continuing the Boston 2026 theme, the committee has annually issued a label at GASS for the five years leading up to the show. The labels help to fundraise and raise awareness for the upcoming world exposition, which will be held May 23-30, 2026. The label will be unveiled and issued during the show; shown above is the 2024 label.

3 p.m.; Show floor stage

No Nukes

United Nations Postal Administration

The UNPA commissioned illustrator Sergio Baradat to design a set of stamps for the UN’s “No

Nukes” campaign, in response to worldwide threats of nuclear weapons. There are three designs, with each design printed in USD, CHF and EUR denominations.

Friday, August 15

11 a.m.; Show floor stage

250 Years of Delivering and Putting a Stamp on the American Experience

United States Postal Service

The USPS officially celebrated the first day of issue of the ‘250 Years of Delivering’ and ‘Putting a Stamp on the American Experience’ stamps on July 23 in Washington, D.C., but will be celebrating again at GASS with a special dedication ceremony. Released together, ‘250 Years of Delivering’ is an illustrated pane of 20 interconnected stamps showing a town from above as a mail carrier does her deliveries; meanwhile, the prestige booklet (32 pages) is a celebration of the most popular stamps issued by the postal service over the years, and additionally comes with two sheets of a new Forever stamp: a reframed and modernized version of the United States’ first stamp, the 5-cent Franklin.

1 p.m.; Show floor stage

Support Wildlife Habitat Conservation 2025 Issue

National Duck Stamp Collectors Society

The National Duck Stamp Collectors Society holds an annual art competition to design a cinderella stamp for the Society, which is used for fundraising. This year, the Society will issue a perforated pane of 12 stamps featuring a painting

by Jeffrey Klinefelter (Indiana) of a wood duck drake. Mr. Klinefelter is an experienced painter with 40 state duck stamps to his name.

3 p.m.; Show floor stage

New Issue Unveiling

Rattlesnake Island Local Post

Rattlesnake Island, located on Lake Erie, is one of a few areas in the U.S. which does not have mail service from the USPS. The Island set up a local post in cooperation with the airlines serving the island in 1966, creating special triangle-shaped stamps. After a recent hiatus, the Rattlesnake Island Local Post began issuing stamps again in 2022. They will unveil their next issue at this ceremony.

Saturday, August 16

11 a.m.; Utopia C/D

Luna Moth

United States Postal Service

Sponsored by Linn’s Stamp News, the USPS will issue the non-machineable surcharge Luna Moth stamp. First day of issue cancellations will be available at the USPS Booth.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• Thursday, 11 a.m. Show Floor Stage

USPS Presents: ‘Boston 2026 World Stamp Show’ first day ceremony

• Thursday, 2 p.m. Room Schaumburg F

AFDCS Presents: USPS Stamp Services: Overview of U.S. Stamp Program

• Friday, 11 a.m. Show Floor Stage

USPS Presents: ‘250 Years of Delivering’ and ‘Putting a Stamp on the American Experience’ special dedication ceremony

• Friday, 2 p.m. Room Utopia A AFDCS Presents: USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services

• Saturday, 10 a.m. USPS Booth ‘Luna Moth’ FDOI cancellations

Visit the USPS booth and check out all the stamp-inspired products from the 2025 Stamp Program.

Philatelic Rarities & Special Exhibits

24-cent Inverted Jenny, The Most Famous U.S. Stamp

On May 14, 1918, William T. Robey bought a pane of the first U.S. airmail stamps, which had been issued the previous day. He was astonished to find a pane with all 100 stamps showing the Curtiss Jenny biplane upside down. Word of Robey’s find traveled quickly; no additional errors were found. Now, over 100 years later, the Inverted Jenny remains one of the most desired and valuable U.S. stamps. Position 65, the top left stamp of the famous ‘McCoy block’, currently owned by the American Philatelic Research Library, will be on display.

The Hammarskjold Inverts

The 1962 Dag Hammarskjold 4¢ invert was the first such error to elude postal inspectors since the Jenny Invert in 1918. The appearance of the error prompted Postmaster General J. Edward Day to order 40 million more errors (the yellow background is inverted and shifted to the right) to be printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Leonard Sherman, the New Jersey jeweler whose dreams of wealth were shattered by Day’s action, donated his discovery sheet to the APS in 1987.

l More individual lots sold - over 25,000 in 2023

l More frequent auction sales - over 75 auctions per year

l More images provided per lot - over million frames of videos, individual pdfs and jpegs/tiffs

l More buyers on our list - over 30,000 clients from more than 100 different countries

l More live bidding - 1000s of registered live bidders

l More consignors - over 600 served in 2023

l

l

Hundreds on hundreds of quality collections from every corner of the globe, from issue-specific holdings to general collections, face value lots, dealer stocks, “never know what you’ll find” accumulations, and Topical collections—from collectors and dealers for collectors and dealers. Whether your interest is stamps or covers, classics or modern, we’re sure to have something to entice.

Please allow ample time to view and reserve space now! As always collection sales are highly imaged online.

Floor Plan

George Washington

Free Frank

U.S. Presidents are provided free franking for their postal mailings. This privilege was first offered to George Washington when he became president in April 1789. In May 1789, just weeks after his inauguration, he used this folded letter sheet for correspondence to the Honorable James Warren, postmaster general of the Continental Army. Washington signed it “President/U.S.”

Universal Postal Union Competitive Exhibit

GASS is proud to host a display from the Universal Postal Union of the 20th UPU Competition Class 2025. This display is traveling around the world from Switzerland, to the U.S., to South Korea, to Uruguay. The exhibit shows displays from several dozen stamp-issuing entities, each with selected resent issues and detailed information. The exhibit can be found in the entrance hall, outside of the show floor, and there is an opportunity for visitors to vote for their favorite.

2025 Luff Honorees Menuz, Schwartz, and Liao

Since 1940, the Luff Awards are the most prestigious awards that the American Philatelic Society can bestow upon living philatelists. The Luff Award was established in honor of John N. Luff, APS president from 1907 to 1909. Luff Awards are presented each year at the APS annual convention for meritorious contributions by living philatelists.

Wayne Menuz, Mark Schwartz, and Bobby Liao have been chosen as the 2025 recipients of the John N. Luff Awards. They will be honored at the Celebration Banquet on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in Schaumburg, Illinois. They will join a distinguished company of 163 prominent philatelists.

Wayne Menuz

Luff Award for Distinguished Philatelic Research

Mark Schwartz

Luff Award for Exceptional Contributions to Philately Bobby Liao

Luff Award for Outstanding Service to the American Philatelic Society

Exhibits

Below, in frame order, is a list of exhibits. All show attendees are encouraged to vote for their favorite exhibits in the StampShow, NTSS, and Americover competitions.

– Steven Bahnsen

8 In Honor of Those Who Have Served – Larry Gasser

Youth

51-52 The Life of Saint Patrick – Laurelei Fox

53 The Wonderful World of Butterflies – Sahitya Setty (Most Popular and Youth)

Youth Champion of Champions

54 Youth Championship Intro – AAPE

55-58 Thinking of You – Christina Esbeck

59-60 The Best Way to Own a Cat – Victoria A. Munoz 61-63 Maritime Machinery – Kaitlyn Zhang

64 The History of the Blarney Castle – Tabitha Fox (Most Popular and Youth C of C)

65 The Roaring Reds – Andrew Ciko

66 A Penguin’s Perspective: A Philatelic Expedition into Antarctic Exploration, Collaboration, and Scientific Research – Adrianna Baumle

67 All About Giant Pandas and Stamps – Genevieve Turner

68 Swiftie Stamps: A Philatelic Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift – Ellen Tate

69 Celebrating 200 Years of Florida’s Capital ‘Tallahassee’ – Sahitya Setty

Most Popular

53 The Wonderful World of Butterflies – Sahitya Setty

64 The History of the Blarney Castle – Tabitha Fox

102-109 Women of the Black Heritage Series - From the Fields of Slavery to the Halls of Congress – Mark Thompson

110-117 Smokey Bear Issue of 1984 – Rick Gibson

118-126 James William Denver - The Man and His Times – William J. Johnson

127-134 “The Match of the Century” - A Philatelic Extravaganza!! – Michael Schumacher

135-139 The Dublin Censor Office 1939-1945 – Karl Winkelmann

140 CACAO: The Path to Chocolate – Carol Edholm

Americover

102-109 Women of the Black Heritage Series - From the Fields of Slavery to the Halls of Congress – Mark Thompson (Most Popular and Americover)

110-117 Smokey Bear Issue of 1984 – Rick Gibson (Most Popular and Americover)

201 “Combo” First Day Covers of the Fourth Bureau Era – James Hering

202 The Southern Rhodesia Commemorative Stamp of the 50th Anniversary of the Occupation of Matabeleland – Mark M. Loomis

203 Combination First Day Covers of the Fourth Bureau Definitive Issues –Ralph H. Nafziger

204-213 The 1966 Polish Millennium Issue – Ronald J. Klimley

214-218 The Thirteen Cent US Liberty Bell Design – Jere Dutt

219-228 The Eagle Has Landed - The First Priority Mail Stamp - $2.40 Priority Mail – Charles J. O’Brien, III

229-236 The Forest Conservation Issue of 1958 – Rick Gibson

237-244 The 2c General Pulaski Stamp – Ronald J. Klimley

245-251 Telegraph Centenary Issue of 1944 and it’s First Day Covers – Philip Leber

252-254 Weird Stuff First Day Covers – Lloyd A. de Vries

255-261 The U.S. Prevent Drug Abuse Stamp and Its First Day Covers – Robert R. Henak

262-267 STAMPS - The Heart of the Art – Mark Thompson

268-272 Don Bloom Cachet Covers – Edward Mendlowitz

273-280 Frank Lloyd Wright- First Days and Usage of the 2¢ Definitive Issue –Charles J. O’Brien, III

281-284 The 1987 Bret Harte $5 Stamp on FDCs with Cachets – Cynthia Scott

285-289 Presidential Inauguration and Swear in Covers and Related Events

1929 - 2025 – Edward Mendlowitz

290-294 The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Commemorative of 1955 –Thomas Bieniosek

295-296 WC Handy Stamps, First Day Covers and Memorabilia – Michele D. Brown

297-302 Plan for Better Cities: The 1967 Urban Planning Stamp and its First Day Covers – Todd Ronnei

303-307 The US/Canada Not Joint Issue of the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Highway – Eric R. Knapp

308-312 How Now Brown Mouse? The Evolution of Anon E. Mouse cachets –Cynthia Scott

313-317 The United States Red Cross Issue of 1931 – Michael Clark

NTSS

127-134 “The Match of the Century” - A Philatelic Extravaganza!! – Michael Schumacher (Most Popular and NTSS)

140 CACAO: The Path to Chocolate – Carol Edholm (Most Popular and NTSS)

401 The ATA One-Page Exhibit Program – American Topical Association

402 Benjamin Franklin’s Life Story Told with 30 Stamps, Covers, and Cards – Edward Mendlowitz

403 The Eastland – Phillip J. Stager

404 Postal Stationery of the Government of Western Thrace – Yavuz M. Corapcioglu

405 Early Glider Mail 1923-1939 – Jane Snowdon

406 Spoiled by War: The Games of The XIIth Olympiad – Andrew Urushima

407 I Am a Red Panda – Catherine Gilbert

408 United Nations Se-Tenant Continuous Design Stamps: Blocks and Strips – Timothy Bergquist

409-418 Philatelic Story of the Invasion of Ukraine – Glenn Roehrig

419-425 The Commerce of Gold Coast (Africa) 1875-1925 – Lesley Lorant

426-435 Ancient Egypt: Time of the Pharaohs – Carl “Van” Jennings

436-445 Mohan to Mahatma: Gandhi’s Life and Legacy – Raj V. Rajan

446-450 Tale of the Crooked Road: The Alaska Highway from Early Promotion to the opening to the Public – Eric R. Knapp

451-458 The Jewel City - Postcards of the Panama Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco, 1915 – Dawn R. Hamman

459-466 The Bayeux Tapestry – Sherri Soraci Jennings

467-473 Games of the Xth Olympiad - Los Angeles 1932 – Conrad Klinkner

474-475 Cats, Cats, and more Cats – Ardis Quick

476-482 Hand-Painted, Hand-Drawn, and Hand-Colored Covers with Animal Name Postmarks – Greg Balagian

483-488 Walt Disney’s Richest Superstar: $crooge McDuck and $crooge’s Celebrated Creator, Carl Barks – Edward Bergen

489-493 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, Development and Ramifications – Christopher Dahle

494-498 The Bible: From Antiquity to Modern Culture – Mark Loomis

499-500 The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine: 1947-1948 – Fran Adams

501-505 Captain James Cook’s Voyages in the Pacific 1768-1779 – Alan Farrell

506-510 From Mark of Oppression to Symbol of Gay Pride - The Pink Triangle –Tomas L. Griebling

511-515 Fabrege’s Imperial Easter Eggs: Extragance & Intrigue – Norma Nielson

516-519 Charles Dickinson, Founder of Dickinson Air Line and the First-Which was Their Second to Last - Day of CAM 9 Service from Chicago to Minneapolic - St. Paul in 1926 – Dr. Bruce Arlen Wasserman

520-522 Lion as a Subject of Inaugural Stamp Issues – Greg Balagian

523-525 Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, Explorer – Susan Jones

526-528 Japan’s Philatelic Commemoration of the 1st Anniversary of the Greater East Asian War – David & Laurie Bernstein

529-531 Insular Gospel Books of Ireland and the British Isles (c.650-900) –Susan Jones

532-534 Böhmen und Mähren: Nazi Propaganda in World War II

Czechoslovakia – Martin Kent Miller

535-537 Poland’s White Eagle – Dr. Edwin J. Andrews

APS StampShow

118-126 James William Denver - The Man and His Times – William J. Johnson (Most Popular and StampShow)

135-139 The Dublin Censor Office 1939-1945 – Karl Winkelmann (Most Popular and StampShow)

601 The KgU Propaganda Parodies of East Germany, 1953 to 1957 – Oliver Wyrtki

602 US #1 “Block of 100” – Grant Marquette

603 The Czechoslovak Legion in Russia 1917-1920 – David L. McKinney

604 Leonminster, Mass. Provisional Postage Due and Instructional Labels –Chip Gliedman

605 Covers Mailed to President Roosevelt from the 2nd Republic of Poland – Leslie Butler

606 The U.S.-German Treaty Rate of 1909-1915: Creating Confusion but Saving Money – A. Lavar Taylor

607 Pre-WWII U.S. Navy Ship Cancellations, 1933-1939 – James Hering

608 Stamps of the Indian Princely State of Jhalawar – Vivek S. Chopra

609 Production Archival Material and Final Appearance of 1993 Garni Stamp – Igor Grigorian

610 The Provisional Government of Ireland Dec. 1921 to Dec. 1922 –Robert M. Benninghoff

611-620 US Telegraphy: Origins, Consolidations and Technologies – Philip Leber

621-625 Swiss Overprinted Issues for the SdN and BIT - The First Definitive Series and Supplemental Issues – Greg S. Galletti

626-635 Transition to War: Pearl Harbor Ships before and after December 7, 1941 – Lloyd Ferrell

636-645 Union Occupation Mail – Michael McClung

646-650 The End is Near: WWI Era Mail Sent To and From German Colonies and Post Offices Abroad – A. Lavar Taylor

651-660 Philatelic Scripophily: Taking a Bite from the Bulls and the Bears. Revenue-Stamped Stock Certificates of the Civil War Tax Era, 1862–1872 – Michael T. Mahler

661-670 Poland - 1939-45: Occupation - Resistance - Liberation - History from the Combatants’ Viewpoints – Leonard Piszkiewicz

671-675 The Evolution and Development of Rural Free Delivery in West Virginia (1900-1925) – Wayne Farley

676-685 Watermarks and Countermarks of the AQ Lettersheets of the Republic of Venice 1608-1797 – Art Bunce

686-695 Returning mail addressed to killed or missing soldiers in the German feldpost system, 1939 – 1945 – Jason Yang

696-700 Landpost “uber” Lehrte: An Example of the Rural Mail System in Germany – Ken Gilbert

701-709 Rebel Documents, Yankee Stamps: the Untold Story of How the Union Collected It’s Stamp Taxes in the Confederacy, During Wartime Occupation and by Postwar Retroactive Stamping – Michael T. Mahler

710-718 All Aboard for the Graf Zeppelin’s Flight Around the World! – James D. Hill

719-726 Postal Stationery of the Ottoman Empire 1869-1922 – Yavuz Corapcioglu

727-732

Postal Rates and Usages of U.S. Parcel Post Postage Due Stamps (PPPD)on Domestic and International Mail - 1913 to 1928 – Wade E. Saadi

733-740 Fiji Islands 1840-1903 – Andrew Ward

741-748

Postal History of the 1861 United States 24-cent Design – Robert J. Faux

749-756 Cork Postal History to 1696 to 1875 – Brian Callan

757-764

Postal History of the Italian Social Republic 1943-1945 – Seref Bornovali

765-772 The Air and Gas Defense League (LOPP) in Polish Aerophilately (1923 1939) – Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski

773-780 POLAND: Warsaw Postal Adminstration/November 11, 1918 to June 1919/First Issues of a New Country – James Mazepa

781-786 Switzerland Imperforate Sitting Helvetia Definitives 1854-1863 - The “Strubels” – Bruce Marsden

787-792 Little Known Pearl Harbor Ships - without postal facilities – Lloyd Ferrell

793-794 Poland Official Mail - The Flat Fee/Lump Sum Regulations 1923-1931 – Ross Marshall

795-796 The Indestructible Irish – Tim Carey

797-803 25¢ Honeybee - From Design to Postal Usage – Robert E. Thompson

804-810 German Postal Agencies in Morocco – Larry Gardner

811-817 Line Engraved Issues of Great Britain – Stuart Reddington

818-824 Rates and Usages of the U.S. 3-Cent Circular Die Stamped Envelopes: 1917-1960 – Stephen L. Suffet & Marilyn Suffet

825-828 Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company – Bob Crossman

829-836 The Rocket Mails of India – Markand Dave

837-842 American Forces in Korea 1945-1955 – John Barwis

843-848 Provisional Issues of South Vietnam (1963-1980): Philatelic Evolution and Uses – Emory Earl Toops

849-853 Early California Mail 1828-1851 – Edward J. and Pat Laveroni

854-858 Postal Stationery Issued and Used in Puerto Rico from 1878-1906 –Rafael Blanco

859-860 The First International Women’s Year of the United Nations (1975) and the Philatelic Voices of Africa – Agbenyega Adedze

861-865 Errors, Freaks & Oddities of the U.S. Bicentenial Period – James L. McKinzie

866-870 The New York Postmaster Provisional ogb 1845 – Mark Schwartz

871-875 German East Africa 1890-1927 – Trevor Brock

876-879 Six Flags over Lehrte – Ken Gilbert

880-883 Shanghai, Port of Last Resort, 1939-1947 – Edward G. Rosen

884-886 A Postal History Map of the United States of America – Chip Gliedman

887-889 Airmail Service to Palestine/Israel During Transition, March to August 1948 – Edward G. Rosen

890-892 Imperial & Republic of China Official Postal Seals – H. James Maxwell

World Series Champion of Champions

901 World Series of Philately Shows Intro – APS

902-911 America’s Embossed Revenue Stamped Paper – Roger S. Brody

912-921 Evolution of American Mail 1685 to 1799 – Vernon R. Morris, Jr. MD

922-930 Burma - The First Two Issues – Michael Ley

931-938 The Two Cent Hardings – James Hering

939-946 Great Britain: Development and Evolution of the Penny Red Stars (1854-1864) – Juan Farah

947-954 The Handling of Mail in the Confederate States of America by the Confederate Government and Private Individuals from Secession to Appomattox – Daniel M. Knowles

955-960 All Aboard! A Grand Tour - American Style, 1915 – Dawn R. Hamman

961-970 Panama Postal Stationery 1903-1940 – Bradley Wilde

971-980 The Development and Impact of Missions in Southern Rhodesia –Mark M. Loomis

981-985 Separation Anxiety: Mis-Cuts, Pre-Cuts & Mis-Perfs in Britian’s Line Engraved Stamps – Paul Sarjeant

986-993 Mexico - The Provisional Period 1867-1868 – Marc E. Gonzales

994-1001 Pre-Prohibition United States Beer Stamps 1866-1919 – Louis Caprario

1002-1009 Washington & Franklin Coils: The Development of the Third Bureau Flat Plate and Coil Waste Issues 1908-1915 – Gregory Shoults

1011-1018 Sesquicentennial Exposition 1926 – Charles J. O’Brien, III

1019-1026 U.S. Departmentals, 1873 to 1884 – Lester C. Lanphear, III

1027-1034 Finding Antarctica - Then Finding More of It – Jiri Kraus

1035-1042 Philatelic Invention in the United States: 1861-1881 – Jan H. Hofmeyr

1043-1050 United States of Columbia 1868-1881 – Alfredo Frohlich

1051-1058 Classic Columbia 1862-1863, The 5th and 6th Issues – Alfredo Frohlich

WELCOME HOME

Literature Competition

All entries are in English unless otherwise noted. For catalogs, handbooks and society journals that are for sale or have sample copies, the contact information and cost is provided where known. View entries at the literature booth, sponsored by the Collectors Club of Chicago.

Articles

A1 “A Basic Classical Postal History Review” – Daniel Maddalino

June 2024, Cresthaven Stamp Club Newsletter

A2 “A Study in Race, Racism, and Presidential Politics”– Calvin Mitchell & Baasil Wilder

March 2025, The American Philatelist (American Philatelic Society)

A3 “Fishing with FDR” – Juan L. Riera

August 2023, Universal Ship Cancellation Society Log

A4 “Georgia Postmaster and County Postmarks” – Michael H. Wing

October 2023, La Posta

A5 “Great Barrier Reef on Stamps” – Lokeswara Rao Madiraju

November/December 2024, Topical Time (American Topical Association)

A6 “Objective Methods for Philatelic Grading” – David B. Waller

April – Oct. 2023, Poway Stamp Club Newsletter

A7 “Pep Pills, Porn and Postage Stamps: 1983 Counterfeiting of the 20-cent Flag” – Tim Lindemuth

January 2025, The United States Specialist (United States Stamp Society)

A8 “Plating Finland’s Serpentine Rouletted Stamps” – Werner Hofmann & Ed Fraser

December 2024, Scandinavian Contact Quarterly (Scandinavian Philatelic Society)

A9 “Postal Stationery as Maximum Card Forerunners” – Sun-Yu Ng 2023, North American Maximaphily (Maximum Card Study Unit)

A10 “Pursuing UOs in Northern New Jersey” – Lloyd A. de Vries

May-June 2024, First Days (American First Day Cover Society)

A11 “Royal Arch Oak” – Daniel Maddalino

May 2024, Cresthaven Stamp Club Newsletter

A12 “The Death of the Phillippine Clipper” – Dr. Bruce Arlen Wasserman

May/June, The Airpost Journal (American Air Mail Society)

A13 “The Little Route that Couldn’t: The Short Life of the Minneapolis to Deluth Cam 9 Spur” – Dr. Bruce Arlen Wasserman

March-April 2025, The Airpost Journal (American Air Mail Society)

A14 “The Real Stalag 13: Camp Hammelburg” – Ken Gilbert

November 2024, The American Philatelist (American Philatelic Society)

A15 “The USS Manley (DD-74) at Puerto Colombia” – Juan L. Riera

February 2025, Universal Ship Cancellation Society Log

A16 “When the US Post Office Silenced the Father of Rural Free Delivery” –Michael H. Wing

January 2025, Georgia Post Roads (Georgia Postal History Society)

A17 “Zloty Centennial” – Ronald J. Kimley

June 2024, The American Philatelist (American Philatelic Society)

A18 “Korean War POW Mail, 70 Years After the Armistice” – Tony Bard 2023, Korean Philately (Korean Stamp Society)

Catalogs

C1 Western Ukraine 1918-1919: A Specialized Philatelic Catalog – Ingert Kuzych

Published 2024 by Ukrainian Philatelic Resources. Order from Ingert Kuzych, email ingert@verizon.net for shipping costs

Electronic

E1 Celestial Chronicles-Stellar Impressions (eBook) – Capt Vijay Wadhwa (author/editor)

Published 2024 by Amazon.com. Order from captvijaywadhwa@gmail. com or Amazon.com. Cost $29.99.

E2 Concepts to Cosmos (eBook) – Capt Vijay Wadhwa (author/editor)

Published 2025 by Amazon.com. Order from captvijaywadhwa@gmail. com or Amazon.com. Cost $29.99.

E3 Croatia (Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska) 1941-1945 Concentration Camp Cards (online download) –Philip J. Hughes (author/editor)

Published 2025, free electronic download contact editor via email pj_in_ sb@yahoo.com for download details.

E4 Online Battleship Desk Reference https://battleship-revenues.com/bdr.php – Robert Mustacich (editor)

Published 2024 contents updated bimonthly.

E5 Pennywise - All About Money (eBook) – Capt Vijay Wadhwa (author/ editor)

Published 2025 by Amazon.com. Order from captvijaywadhwa@gmail. com or Amazon.com. Cost $14.99.

Handbooks

H1 A Post Office Adventure Along the British Indian Railway – Sushil Mehra (author/publisher)

Published 2025 by Sushil Mehra. Order via email gauresh@ panofficesystems.com.

H2 First Day Cover Philatelic Exhibiting: A Master Class – Andrew McFarlane (author)

Published 2024 by Exhibitors Press. Order from www.ExhibitSynopsis. com c/o Andrew McFarlane, P.O. Box 669, Bartonsville, PA 18321. Cost $99.

H3 Gandhi Connections – Sushil Mehra (author/publisher)

Published 2024 by Sushil Mehra. Order via email gauresh@ panofficesystems.com.

H4 Kashmir Calling – Sushil Mehra (author/publisher)

Published 2025 by Sushil Mehra. Order via email gauresh@ panofficesystems.com.

H5 Postal History of Cowlitz County, Washington –Ted Gruber (author/ publisher)

Published 2024 by Ted Gruber. Order online www.cowlitzbook.com or from Ted Gruber, P.O. Box 239, Kelso, WA 98626, cowlitzbook@gmail. com. Cost $35.

H6 Ramayana on Stamps – Lokeswara Rao Madiraju (author)

Published 2025 by Indie Press. Order from madirajul@gmail.com. Cost $25 +shipping.

H7 Rebel Document, Yankee Stamps - The Untold Story of How the Union Collected Its Stamp Taxes in the Confederacy, During Wartime Occupation and by Postwar Retroactive Stamping –Michael Mahler (author)

Published 2025 by Amazon. Com. Order from Amazon.com. Cost $35.

H8 Reprints Conterfeits and Forgeries of Mexico’s First Design, 2nd ed –Marc E. Gonzales (author/publisher)

Self published 2024. Order by contacting author via email marc3771@ aol.com.

H9 The Port Hood Provisional Stamps of 1899, A Literature Review and Census –Gordon Smith (author)

Published 2024 by Postal History Society of Canada. Free download https://www.postalhistorycanada.net/php/Library/Books/index.php or email gs@postalHistory.ca.

H10 The Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery of Guatemala – Michael Bloom (author/editor)

Published 2024 by Amazon Books. Order from www.Amazon.com (search Guatemala stamps) Three volumes Part 1, 2 and 3. Cost $168.

Journals

J1 Bulletin of the Polonus Polish Philatelic Scoeity – Mark Maestrone (editor)

Journal of the Polonus Polish Philatelic Society (www.polonus.org).

Order sample aurushime@yahoo.com.

J2 El Quetzal –Richard L. Eldridge (editor)

Journal of the International Society of Guatemala Collectors (www. guatemalastamps.com)

J4 La Posta: The Journal of American Postal History – Peter Martin (editor) www.lapostapub.com. Order sample ($10 + postage), La Posta Publications, P.O. Box 6074, Fredericksburg, VA 22403.

J5 NJPH, Journal of the New Jersey Postal History Society – Robert G. Rose & John Trosky (editors) (www.njpostalhistory.org).

Order sample ($4) NJPH 18 Balbrook Drive Mendham, NJ 07945.

J6 Pennsylvania Postal Historian – Hal Klein (editor)

Journal of the Pennsylvania Postal History Society (www.PaPHS.org).

Order sample ($4) Dick Colberg, P.O. Box 10082, Lancaster, PA 17605.

J7 TELL - Journal of the American Helvetia Philatelic Society – Roger Heath (editor) (www.swiss-stamps.org).

J8/J9 The Airpost Journal – Dr. Bruce Arlen Wasserman (editor)

Journal of the American Air Mail Society (www.americanairmailsociety. org). Order sample ($8.95) AAMS, PO Box 1364, West Chatham, MA 02669, theAPJEditor@gmail.com.

J10 The Album Page – Dennis Ladd (editor)

Journal of the Oregon Stamp Society (https://oregonstampsociety.com).

J11 The Cuban Philatelist – Fernando Iglesias (editor)

Journal of the Cuban Philatelic Society of America (www.cubapsa.com)

J12 The Meter Stamp Society Quarterly Bulletin – Karim Roder & David Crotty (editors) (https://www.meterstampsociety.com/).

J13 The Roadrunner – David Totel (publications director)

Journal of the Arizona & New Mexico Postal History Society (https:// sites.google.com/view/aznmphs/home).

Congratulations to the YPLF Class of 2025

Sjon Brejtfus - Dealer Track

Audrey King – Designer Track

And meet the new Class of 2026

Gabriel Coutinho de Gusmão –Analyst Track

Christina Esbeck – Exhibitor Track

What is YPLF?

Cole Longcor – Author Track

David Nebel – Curator or Exhibitor Track

The Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship is an APS program for philately’s upcoming best and brightest. The program connects young stamp collectors between the ages of 16 and 24 with knowledgeable philatelic leaders, exhibitors, dealers, researchers, and writers. Through the year-long experience, YPLF fellows gain access to amazing resources, shows, and unique learning experiences.

At GASS, you’ll meet the fellows selling material at their booth or walking around the show floor. Stop to say hello and share a few words of wisdom to our aspiring philatelists.

Exhibits by Last Name

Below is a list of exhibits organized alphabetically by exhibitors’ last name. Those beginning with a letter are literature exhibits.

Fran Adams ................499-500

Agbenyega Adedze ..........859-860

Dr. Edwin J. Andrews 535-537

Steven Bahnsen ................. 5-7

Greg Balagian ...... 476-482, 520-522

Anthony S. Bard ............... A18

John Barwis ................837-842

Adrianna Baumle ................66

Robert M. Benninghoff ......... 610

Edward Bergen .............483-488

Timothy Bergquist ............. 408

David & Laurie Bernstein ....526-528

Thomas Bieniosek ...........290-294

Rafael Blanco ...............854-858

Michael Bloom................. H10

Seref Bornovali .............757-764

Trevor Brock ...............871-875

Roger S. Brody ..............902-911

Michele D. Brown . . . . . . . . . . .295-296

Art Bunce 676-685

Leslie Butler ................... 605

Brian Callan ................749-756

Louis Caprario ............ 994-1001

Tim Carey ..................795-796

Vivek S. Chopra ................ 608

Andrew Ciko ....................65

Michael Clark...............313-317

Yavuz M. Corapcioglu .. 404, 719-726

Bob Crossman ..............825-828

Christopher Dahle...........489-493

Markand Dave ..............829-836

Lloyd A. de Vries ....... 252-254, A10

Jere Dutt ...................214-218

Carol Edholm 140

Richard L. Eldridge ............... J2

Christina Esbeck .............. 55-58

Juan Farah .................939-946

Wayne Farley ...............671-675

Alan Farrell.................501-505

Robert J. Faux ..............741-748

Lloyd Ferrell ....... 626-635, 787-792

Laurelei Fox .................. 51-52

Tabitha Fox ......................64

Ed Fraser ....................... A8

Alfredo Frohlich1043-1050, 1051-1058

Greg S. Galletti..............621-625

Larry Gardner ..............804-810

Larry Gasser ...................... 8

Rick Gibson ....... 110-117, 229-236

Catherine Gilbert .............. 407

Ken Gilbert 696-700, 876-879, A14

Chip Gliedman ........ 604, 884-886

Marc E. Gonzales........ 986-993, H8

Tomas L. Griebling ..........506-510

Igor Grigorian ................. 609

Ted Gruber ..................... H5

Dawn R. Hamman . 451-458, 955-960

Roger Heath ..................... J7

Robert R. Henak ............255-261

James Hering ...... 201, 607, 931-938

James D. Hill ...............710-718

Jan H. Hofmeyr .......... 1035-1042

Philip J. Hughes ................. E3

Carl “Van” Jennings .........426-435

Sherri Soraci Jennings .......459-466

William J. Johnson ..........118-126

Susan Jones ........ 523-525, 529-531

Ronald Klimley .. 204-213, 237-244, A17

Conrad Klinkner ............467-473

Eric R. Knapp ...... 303-307, 446-450

Daniel M. Knowles ..........947-954

Jiri Kraus ................ 1027-1034

Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski.......765-772

Ingert Kuzych ................... C1

Lester C. Lanphear, III .... 1019-1026

Edward J. and Pat Laveroni ...849-853

Philip Leber ....... 245-251, 611-620

Michael Ley ................922-930

Tim Lindemuth ................. A7

Mark Loomis .. 202, 494-498, 971-980

Lesley Lorant ...............419-425

Daniel Maddalino .......... A1, A11

Lokeswara Rao Madiraju . . . . . A5, H6

Michael Mahler .. 651-660, 701-709, H7

Grant Marquette ............... 602

Bruce Marsden..............781-786

Ross Marshall ...............793-794

Peter Martin ..................... J4

H. James Maxwell ...........890-892

James Mazepa ..............773-780

Michael McClung ...........636-645

Andrew McFarlane .............. H2

David L. McKinney ............. 603

James L. McKinzie ...........861-865

Edward Mendlowitz ................ . ............. 268-272, 285-289, 402

Sushil Mehra ........... H1, H3, H4

Martin Kent Miller ..........532-534

Calvin Mitchell ................. A2

Vernon R. Morris, Jr. MD ....912-921

Victoria A. Munoz............. 59-60

Robert Mustacich ............... E4

Ralph H. Nafziger .............. 203

Sun-Yu-Ng ..................... A9

Norma Nielson .............511-515

Charles J. O’Brien, III ............... . ....... 219-228, 273-280, 1011-1018

Leonard Piszkiewicz . . . . . . . . .661-670

Ardis Quick ................474-475

Raj V. Rajan ................436-445

Stuart Reddington ...........811-817

Juan L. Riera ............... A3, A15

Glenn Roehrig 409-418

Todd Ronnei ...............297-302

Robert G. Rose................... J5

Edward G. Rosen ... 880-883, 887-889

Wade E. Saadi ..............727-732

Paul Sarjeant................981-985

Michael Schumacher.........127-134

Mark Schwartz ..............866-870

Cynthia Scott ...... 281-284, 308-312

Sahitya Setty ................. 53, 69

Gregory Shoults .......... 1002-1009

Gordon Smith .................. H9

Jane Snowdon ................. 405

Phillip J. Stager................. 403

Stephen L. Suffet & Marilyn Suffet .... . ..........................818-824

Germany Philatelic Society USA

Ellen Tate .......................68

A. Lavar Taylor ........ 606, 646-650

Mark Thompson ... 102-109, 262-267

Robert E. Thompson ........797-803

Emory Earl Toops ...........843-848

David Totel ..................... J13

Genevieve Turner ................67

Andrew Urushima.............. 406

Capt Vijay Wadhwa ........ E1, E2, E5

David B. Waller ................. A6

Andrew Ward...............733-740

Dr. Bruce Arlen Wasserman ......... . ........... 516-519, A12, A13 J8/J9

Bradley Wilde ..............961-970

Michael H. Wing ........... A4, A16 Karl Winkelmann ...........135-139 Oliver Wyrtki .................. 601

Kaitlyn

Exhibit Awards

The following exhibit awards will be presented at the discretion of the jury.

StampShow Special Exhibit Awards

Sponsor Benjamin & Naomi Wishnietsky Champion of Champions

Open Competition Grand

Open Competition Reserve Grand

Single Frame Grand

Most Popular Exhibit

Most Popular Champion of Champions

Literature Grand

Literature Reserve Grand Awards of Excellence: Pre-1900

1900-1940

1940-1980

Post 1980

Research

National Topical Stamp Show Special Awards

The Jack Congrove Grand Reserve Grand

Mary Ann Owens Single-Frame Grand President’s Cup

Most Popular Exhibit

Americover Special Awards

Claude C. Ries Chapter Grand

Richard H. Thompson Reserve Grand

Curtis B. Patterson Single-Frame Grand Award

Robert C. Graebner Novice Award

Marge Finger Most Popular Awards of Excellence: Pre-classic Period, 1847-1931

Classic Period, 1932-1945

Modern Era, 1946-1980

Modern Era, 1981-present

Hand-drawn/ Hand-painted Cachet Society Awards

American Air Mail Society

American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors

American Philatelic Congress

ATA Biology Study Unit

Collectors Club of Chicago

German Colonies Collectors Group

Germany Philatelic Society

New Mexico Philatelic Foundation

Plate Number Coil Collectors Club

Polonus Polish Philatelic Society

United Nations Philatelist, Inc.

United Postal Stationery Society

United States Philatelic Classics Society

United States Possessions Philatelic Society

United States Stamp Society

Universal Ship Cancellation Society

Universal Ship Cancellation SocietyNS Savannah Chapter #109

Women Exhibitors

Polonus Polish Philatelic Society

Stop by Booth #107

Learn more about Polonus & take advantage of show discounts on membership !

Polonus Meetings and Presentations

• Saturday August 16th – Schaumburg F

o 11:00 to 12:00 Annual meeting & presentations on Polish Philately o 12:00 to 1:00 Bring your Polish philatelic items to share & discuss

• Sunday August 17th

o 11:00 to 12:00 Meet at Polonus booth - tour of the Polish exhibits

Our Mission

Dedicated to the advancement and promotion of all aspects of philately of Poland and its related areas through education, research and services.

Our Objective

Promote and encourage the philately of Poland in the English language.

For more information visit https://polonus.org

Jury Members

Exhibit Jury

Ed Kroft (Chief), Vancouver, Canada

Michael Bloom, Oregon

Charles Bromser, Australia

Robert Hohertz, Minnesota

John Hotchner, Virginia

Kathy Johnson, Minnesota

Andrew Kelley, Colorado

Behruz Nassre-Esfahani, California

Raymond Pietruszka, Alabama

Stephen Reinhard, New York

FIP Option Jury

James Mazepa, Florida

W. Danforth Walker, Florida

Literature Competition Jury

Kenneth Trettin (Chief), Iowa

Patrick Walters, Colorado

Alan Warren, Pennsylvania

Thomas Lera (Literature Apprentice), Florida

APS/GASS Program ad: 4.83” wide x 3.7” tall

Simon Richards, United Kingdom

Patricia Stilwell Walker, Florida

UNITED STATES POSSESSIONS PHILATELIC SOCIETY

(APS Affiliate #99)

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization organized for the study of stamps and postal history of the U.S. Possessions

Areas of interest include, all U.S. Possessions, Administrative Areas, and Post Offices Abroad.

Regular membership is $25 per year, including our quarterly journal. New members receive the booklet Introduction to Collecting U.S. Possessions ’ Stamps and Postal History For more information visit our website https://uspps.tripod.com/ or email us at USPPS.Possessions@gmail.com

VISIT OUR TABLE #121 with the IPPS for a sample copy of our journal.

ATTEND OUR MEETING at 10:00 Saturday in Schaumburg G with a presentation by Dr. Ron González on “Bogus, forgeries and broken letters on the Puerto Rico overprinted stamps 1899 -1900”

The American Ceremony Program Society (ACPS) is the only philatelic group devoted to the collection, documentation, and preservation of printed ceremony programs and items created for new postal issues.

Benefits of membership

*Quarterly, award-winning journal, The Ceremonial, packed with first day coverage, history, news, and columns of interest to any philatelist

* Quarterly auctions offering a safe and convenient way to build your collection and to sell your unwanted duplicates

* Multiple collecting interests for first day collectors, topical enthusiasts, postal historians, or anyone simply interested in stamp collecting

* Annual Convention where you can meet other ceremony program enthusiasts, visit a multitude of dealers with deep stock, view exhibits, and participate in society business and social events

Sample copy of The Ceremonial, which contains articles on first day ceremonies and treasured programs, auction news, and a schedule of upcoming first day ceremonies. A downloadable pdf copy comes free with membership to ACPS. Join now!

*Membership: $15 per year

*Lifetime membership: $225

*Printed ACPS journals: additional $15 per year

Send check payable to American Ceremony Program Society to ACPS

Secretary/Treasurer:

John E. Peterson 6987 Coleshill Drive San Diego CA 92119-1953

Questions: jkpete@cox.net; 619-466-3443

Welcome!

We welcome you on behalf of the American Topical Association, the world’s largest organization for enthusiastic people who collect stamps picturing topics. We hope you’ll stop by our booth to see the innovative and exciting things that are happening with ATA!

New collectors and experienced philatelists are discovering the fun of topicals and are joining ATA. If you collect by topics, or want to get started, we would love to help acquaint you with ATA’s broad range of services. You’ll enjoy our award-winning journal, Topical Time, and you’ll find your hunt for topical stamps is facilitated tremendously with our topical checklists (we offer nearly 1700 topics!).

ATA also offers programs and courses, via Zoom and recorded videos. You’ll enjoy programs on many different topics, as well as “how to” programs on many aspects of collecting and exhibiting.

Here at the show, we have an exciting new program to share and a separate booth for our Taste of Topicals™ starter kits. Our affiliated topical study units have also scheduled many programs and meetings throughout the show. Our annual meeting on Friday is an update on ATA activities, as well as a celebration of the many people who help ATA thrive — our volunteers.

ATA members and show attendees are invited to visit the booth for a special attendee gift, while supplies last. Stop by Booth 400 at the main entrance to pick a crop of fresh topicals for your collection.

ATA member dealers have huge selections of topical stamps for you to browse. And members can always come by the booth to purchase a new checklist for easy shopping.

We hope you have lots of fun here at the show, and go home with fresh enthusiasm for our great hobby.

ATA Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF

STAFF MEMBERS

Jennifer L. Miller Executive Director
Martin Kent Miller Topical Time Editor
Sara Giavedoni Communities Coordinator
Amy Wieting
John M. Hamman
Eric R. Knapp
Betsy Vallejo
Raj V. Rajan
Dawn R. Hamman President
Jeffrey A. Hayward 1st Vice-President
Thomas W. Broadhead 2nd Vice-President
Gerhard Peters Secretary
Kim E. Kellermann Treasurer
Michele M. Bresso Christopher E. Dahle
Igor Grigorian
Dale E. Smith Immediate Past President
Laurie Anderson
Susan B. Jones
Jane L. Snowden SHOW MANAGER

ATA FEATURED STUDY UNIT

Gastronomy on Stamps

Do you enjoy cheese? Or chocolate? Or ice cream? If you say “yes” to any of those, you’ll understand why so many other collectors have said “yes” to joining the Gastronomy on Stamps Study Unit. It was formed in 2018 to cater to the diverse interests of individuals who enjoy good food of all kinds. At the unbelievably low cost of only $5 annually for an electronic membership, the study unit dues are perhaps today’s biggest philatelic bargain. For print membership, the cost is $20 in the US, $30 in Canada, and $40 elsewhere.

Membership services of the Gastronomy Unit include:

• The Philatelic Gourmet, a full-color quarterly journal

• An illustrated new issue list of all gastronomy stamps from 2018 to date. Available on the website in Excel and PDF. Graphics of all stamps can be extracted from Excel to construct color album pages and more.

• Website at gastronomystamps.org, regularly updated with quarterly journal, quarterly illustrated new issue list and gastronomy Theme of the Month.

• Annual meeting at GASS or other stamp show.

The current officers are Founding President David Wolfersberger and SecretaryTreasurer Alan Barasch. Appointed positions are Editor Vera Felts and Webmaster Alyn Lunt. They will happily welcome you to membership in the most delicious of all the ATA Study Units!

You may join at GASS (the annual meeting is currently scheduled during GASS on Friday, August 15 at 3:00 p.m. in the Schaumburg F room) or by visiting gastronomystamps.org and clicking on Membership Application. Dues can be paid via PayPal to gastronomy@mophil.org or by mailing a check to Alan Barasch, PO Box 411571, Creve Coeur, MO 63141-1571. Please email David Wolfersberger at dewolf2@swbell.net for more information.

IGOR GRIGORIAN RECEIVES ATA’s Highest Honor

Igor Grigorian of Los Angeles, California, has been selected as the 2025 ATA Distinguished Topical Philatelist. ATA’s highest award is presented each year to someone who has made outstanding contributions to philately, especially topical philately. The award will be presented at the awards banquet at the Great American Stamp Show.

Igor began collecting stamps in Armenia as a child. After pausing his collecting as a teenager, he returned to the hobby following the independence of Armenia in 1991. He was inspired by the first stamps issued for the newly independent republic. He rejoined the Union of Philatelists of Armenia and was elected executive secretary. He also contributed to The Armenian Philately, the union’s journal. His early philatelic leadership in Armenia helped pave the way for his later contributions in the United States.

After immigrating to the US in 1994, Igor co-founded the Armenian Philatelic Association (ARPA) in 1997. Since then, he has held numerous leadership roles, including vice president (2012–2013) and president (2013–2016 and 2019–present). In 2020, he became editor of the ARPA Journal, which has won large silver and vermeil awards under his guidance. During his tenure, the journal expanded to include articles from around the world, and it has become a leading voice in Armenian topical philately. Igor also contributes articles to every issue. Igor joined the ATA in 2012. He played a central role in ARPA’s transition to becoming the Armenica Study Unit of ATA in 2013.

Igor is an enthusiastic exhibitor. He began exhibiting in 2013 at SESCAL and has since developed five philatelic exhibits, four of which have been shown at WSP exhibitions. He has also contributed several entries to the ATA’s My One Page Exhibit! program. His exhibits frequently combine historical and cultural themes, focusing on Armenia and its artistic and architectural heritage.

Igor has served in numerous philatelic organizations. In 2022, he was the awards chair and acting bourse chair for SESCAL. He has also served on the organizing committees for the Armenian National Stamp Exhibition in Yerevan. He is an accredited philatelic judge and an ATA board member, now serving his third term. Igor has also served as an ATA study unit coordinator, assisting in reviewing study unit activities for Topical Time.

Igor has also written for Topical Time, Enophilatelica, and Armenian Wine and Spirits Magazine. His article, “On the History of Cognac Production in Armenia” received a vermeil award at the Sarasota National Stamp Exhibition. His article “Crown of Hungary: Was It Made for the Armenian King?” also received a vermeil award in that competition.

Igor is a member of numerous philatelic organizations, including the American Philatelic Society, American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, Philatelic Society of Los Angeles, Collectors Club of Southern California, and multiple ATA study units.

ATA is pleased to recognize Igor for his lasting contributions to philately and his leadership in the ATA and Armenian philately.

ATA Volunteer of the Year Beth COLLINS

Some people just make you feel comfortable from the first time you meet them. Beth Collins is one of those people. She is friendly, fun, and willing to work.

Beth was born and raised in Minnesota. In college, she received a degree in Forest Management with minors in Soils and Urban Forestry. She worked for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya, planting trees during a drought (fun fact – it doesn’t work). She then worked for the US Forest Service, attended graduate school, and subsequently worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Beth retired in 2022 with 34.5 years of total Federal service.

Beth Collins, ATA’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year.

Beth started collecting stamps to earn her Stamp Collecting Badge in Girl Scouts in the late 1960s. When she returned home from Kenya, she started collecting again, focusing on Kenya and the US. It soon grew to include Uganda, Tanzania and all the variations of British East Africa. Then she discovered trees on stamps and stamps showing Peace Corps volunteers. That started her love for topical collecting.

Beth joined ATA in 2008 and served on the ATA board from 2010 to 2022, acting as secretary for part of that time. Board members work on many things, usually behind the scenes. The board meets via Zoom several times a year. Board members attend shows, including the Great American Stamp Show, at their own expense – this isn’t a paying gig.

But this award isn’t for her service on the board. Beth has been a wonderful ambassador at many shows, especially the Minnesota Stamp Expo. She has recruited numerous members and has been the friendly face of ATA at many events. Beth has volunteered at the booth at GASS for many years and has been instrumental in running the cash register and ensuring the cachets are serviced at the USPS booth each day. She also helps set up before the show and breaks down the booth when it’s over. Beth is invaluable to the work of keeping things organized.

Beth will help in most any way that you ask. ATA Executive Director Jennifer Miller has a phobia of blowing up balloons. She is afraid of them popping. So, what did she do for ATA’s 75th Anniversary plans at GASS last year? She decided to have four balloon towers. Some of you may remember them. They were set up at the doorway and the front of the room for our very festive annual meeting. Jennifer brought an electric balloon air pump, but was scared to use it. True to character, Beth stepped up. Then she sat down and blew up all the balloons. She was a lifesaver! Beth helped bring the vision to life!

Naturally, we can’t forget the stamp collection. When asked what she collects, Beth’s usual answer is, “Anything that strikes my interest.” In addition to Trees/Forestry and Peace Corps, she collects Northern and Southern Lights, Scouting, Penguins, Maple Syrup, Star Wars and the list goes on.

Beth Collins is a delightful person with a servant’s heart. ATA is honored to recognize her the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2025.

JOIN US AT THESE ATA SPECIAL EVENTS

Friday – August 15

Explore ATA’s Taste of Topicals™ stamp kits on hundreds of topics.

Location: Booth 103

10:00 a.m. - Topical Falkland Stamps, Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group, presentation by ATA member Alan Barasch.

Location: Schaumburg F

12:00 noon - Wine on Stamps Study Unit business meeting.

Location: Schaumburg E

1:00-2:30 p.m. - The ATA Annual Meeting. Join us for a review of activities and goals; the installation of officers and directors, and; a special presentation by Vera Felts honoring this year’s Featured Study Unit, Gastronomy on Stamps.

Location: Utopia B

3:00 p.m. - Gastronomy on Stamps general meeting.

Location: Schaumburg F

4:00 p.m. - Gay and Lesbian History on Stamps general meeting.

Location: Schaumburg G

6:30 p.m. - ATA President’s Reception (Advance ticket required).

Location: Westwood Tap

Saturday, August 16

10:00 Biology Unit general meeting.

Location: Epiphany

11:00 a.m. - First Day of Issue Ceremony for the Luna Moth stamp, speaker Thomas Broadhead, ATA Second Vice President.

Location: USPS Stage.

12:00-1:30 p.m. - Cats on Stamps Study Unit, speaker Marci Jarvis, What’s New in the Family Felidae?

Location: Schaumburg E

1:00-2:00 p.m. - Intro to Stamp Collecting - Topical Style with ATA Executive Director Jennifer Miller

Location: Utopia B

3:00-4:30 p.m. - Scouts on Stamps Society Int’l general meeting.

Location: Schaumburg E

4:30 p.m. - Medal Level Ceremony includes exhibitors in National Topical Stamp Show and special awards.

Location: Utopia C/D

6:15 p.m. - Celebration Banquet includes presentation of ATA Grand, Reserve Grand, One Frame Grand, President’s Cup & Most Popular awards.

Location: Nirvana Ballroom

Sunday, August 17

11:00 a.m. - ATA Exhibit Walk of Thematic Exhibits with Dawn Hamman and Susan Jones. Meet at first thematic exhibit, thematic exhibits are identified with a ribbon.

12:00 noon - ATA Study Unit Officers and Editors Forum, closed meeting for ATA affiliated study unit officers and editors.

Location: Schaumburg H

The American Topical Association gratefully acknowledges these sponsors of events and awards:

ATA Booth Sponsor

John Everett and Elizabeth Kent

ATA President’s Reception

Dawn and John Hamman

Jack Congrove Grand Award Anonymous

Mary Ann Owens Single Frame Grand

Michele Bresso

ATA Reserve Grand Award

Amy Wieting

ATA Most Popular Exhibit Award

Kim Kellermann and Darlene Pylar

Distinguished Topical Philatelist Award

Jeff Hayward and Adriana Blancarte-Hayward

ATA Annual Meeting

Igor Grigorian and Karine Chilingaryan

ATA-Affiliated Study Unit Show Sponsors

Armenian Philatelic Society

CartoPhilatelic Society

ESPER

Gastronomy Study Unit

Penguins on Stamps Study Unit

Ships on Stamps Study Unit

Wine on Stamps Study Unit

What Is Americover?

Youwill hear this word several times during this show, and possibly see other spellings of it (“AmeriCover" and "AMERICOVER”).

WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW

Lloyd A. de Vries

From 1993 to 2019, it was the American First Day Cover Society’s independent show, exhibition and convention. It achieved World Series of Philately status in 2005, after a five-year qualification period, just in time for the AFDCS’ 50th anniversary. From then on, the Grand Award winner of Americover has been included in the American Philatelic Society's Champion of Champions contribution.

“This accomplishment is a milestone in the history of FDCs in that it can finally bring our sector of the hobby to the forefront attention of all of philately and promote the required understanding that has been lacking for so very long,” AFDCS board member Julian Pugh wrote in the April 15th, 2000, issue of the AFDCS journal, First Days. Charter member and gold medal exhibitor Alan Warren echoed those sentiments in the July 15, 2005, First Days, noting that the AFDCS had grown from “rather humble beginnings as an upstart group in a hobby where first day covers were, except for the true aficionados, mostly frowned upon,” to an accepted form of philately.

However, Americover was also a “fun” show, known for stunts such as having a professional comedian as its banquet speaker and a live pheasant as the guest of honor at a first day ceremony.

The entertainment at the Americover 1999 banquet was balloon car races. I remember sitting at a table with the APS contingent — several directors and the executive director, all “serious collectors,” and watching in amazement as this usually-staid group laughed and cheered on our racecar “driver” until they were red in the face.

“The folks at Americover were so friendly and their welcome so genuine that I almost hated to leave on Sunday,” APS president Janet Klug wrote in the February 2000 issue of American Philatelist.

In the photo, three board members (myself, Foster Miller and Todd Ronnei) dressed for the Americover 2010 post-show dinner at a 1920s-style Chicago speakeasy.

By the way, we learned recently that two of those balloon racecars are in the AFDCS Archives at the American Philatelic Research Library!

However, by 2019, hotel costs had become prohibitive for a show that was in a different city each year, and many dealers were opting to stay at home rather than lug boxes and boxes of first day covers around the country. We accepted the invitation of the APS to join with it and the American Topical Association in Great American Stamp Show 2000.

Just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic to cancel most in-person stamp shows. We participated in Virtual Stamp Show 2000 instead and joined GASS in 2001. However, Americover is still a World Series of Philately exhibition.

At this year’s show, you will find more than 125 frames of competitive FDC exhibits, most of them vying for a chance to represent Americover in the C of C. (Not mine. If I win the Grand, I will demand a recount!)

There are other vestiges of Americover here this weekend: Each night, Wednesday through Saturday, the AFDCS sponsors a “hospitality suite,” a free venue to snack and chat with others. It's open to everyone, not just members.

AFDCS Executive Vice President Ralph Nafziger (left) and AFDCS Treasurer Mark Thompson (right) mounting one of their exhibits at a past Americover/GASS.

The lots for the annual Americover Silent Auction are on display there, with the (written) bidding ending Saturday night. We get together for a purely social informal dinner after the show closes Sunday night. (Check at our booth for the location and time. It's payyour-own way.) We also have Americover Station postmarks for each day of the show, in addition to the GASS and first-day postmarks.

And which spelling is correct? Show chairs Steve Ripley and Mike Mellone, show volunteer Betty Buchanan and AFDCS president Tom Foust came up with “AMERICOVER,” after “AFDCS/Cover Fest” failed to catch on for the 1992 standalone show. The then-editor of First Days objected to the all-caps spelling (as do I), and changed it to “Americover.” As Ripley told me recently, “It all varies now, by who is using the name.”

Everything you need to know about Americover 2025

Pinback Buttons

These popular souvenirs will be produced in a limited quantity, so stop by the booth early to ensure you can get one before they are gone. Membership not required!

Member Ribbons at the AFDCS Booth

AFDCS members can stop by the booth to pick up a ribbon to attach to their GASS show badge. These ribbons are designed to recognize our valued members and for use as a recruiting tool at the show. Again, stop by the booth to get yours while supplies last.

Americover Updates

Americover-Great American Stamp Show updates are posted periodically on the AFDCS website at https://www.afdcs.org/americover

The Hospitality Suite will be Wednesday through Saturday at the Imagination Room at the show hotel starting at 8:00 pm. Come to the Suite for the 2025 Silent Auction, for FDC comradery and some evening snacks.

Download a show floorplan at https://stamps.org/great-american-stamp-show/floor-plan

Americover Donations

Go to https://www.afdcs.net/Donate-Now to donate to these special funds.

$100 Grand Slam Fund

$35 AFDCS Anniversary Fund

$15 Button Fund

Plan To Attend the GASS Celebration Banquet

It is where the winners of the Grand and Reserve Grand exhibition awards — including Americover’s — will be announced, as well as some of the top organizational awards, such as APS’ Luff, ATA’s Distinguished Topical Philatelist and our own Distinguished Service Award, if we have one. (Unlike other philatelic societies, we don't award the DSA every year.)

AFDCS members often sit together at this Saturday evening event, although there is no requirement they do so! We talk about our families, our jobs, our travels and, oh yes, sometimes philately. It is also a chance to get dressed up, although ties and jackets (or their equivalent) are not required.

Tickets for the banquet are $90 and it will be held in the Convention Center itself. Go to https://classic.stamps.org/SS -Function-Tickets or contact the APS to reserve tickets.

Americover Station Pictorial Postmarks for GASS 2025 (Subject to approval)

250th Anniversar y Midnight R ide of Paul R evere

AUG 14, 2025

AMERICOVER STATION SCHAUMBURG, IL 60173

Boston 2026 Station Pictorial Postmark for August 14

GASS 2025 Events of Particular Interest to

FDC Collectors

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted (*AFDCS Chapter)

Wednesday, August 13

8:00 pm AFDCS Board of Directors meeting (public, 2 hours) Prosperity Room

8:00 pm AFDCS Hospitality Suite (public, 2 hours) Imagination Room Show Hotel

Thursday, August 14

11:00 am First Day Ceremony: Boston 2026 stamps Show Floor Stage

12:00 pm Postcrossing Meetup (public, 2 hours) Utopia A

1:00 pm Boston 2026 Label First Day Ceremony Show Floor Stage

1:00 pm AFDCS: “My Favorite Authors and Poets on FDCs” Schaumburg G

2:00 pm AFDCS: U.S. Stamp Services Overview Schaumburg P

3:00 pm AFDCS: “ July 1, 1971 - USPOD becomes USPS” Schaumburg G

AFDCS SEMINARS & MEETINGS

3:00 pm United Nations “No Nukes” First Day Ceremony Show Floor Stage

8:00 pm AFDCS Hospitality Suite (4 hours) Imagination Room Show Hotel

Wednesday, August 15

9:00 am AFDCS Annual Membership Meeting Utopia A

9:30 am AFDCS Cachet Contest Results Utopia A

11:00 am Special Dedication: 250 Years of Delivering Show Floor Stage

12:00 pm Postcrossing Meetup (public, 2 hours) Utopia A

1:00 pm National Duck Stamp Society* First Day Ceremony Show Floor Stage

1:00 pm “Souvenir Cards used as First Days” Schaumburg G

2:00 pm AFDCS: Stamp Fulfillment Services Utopia A

3:00 pm Ceremony Program Society* 2025 Review Schaumburg G

4:00 pm Art Cover Exchange* Utopia

8:00 pm AFDCS Hospitality Suite (4 hours) Imagination Room Show Hotel

Saturday, August 16

10:00 am Cachetmakers Bourse (6 hours) USPS Area

11:00 am Luna Moth First Day Ceremony Utopia C/D

12:00 am American Ceremony Program Soc.* meeting Utopia A

12:00 am A.C. Program Society* auction (2 hours) Schaumburg G

1:00 pm National Duck Stamp Society* First Day Ceremony Schaumburg G

7:00 pm

G ASS 2025 Celebration Banquet (ticket required) Preceded by cash-bar reception at 6:15 pm. The Americover exhibition Grand and Reserve Grand Awards will be announced. Nirvana Ballroom

8:00 pm AFDCS Hospitality Suite (4 hours) (Silent Auction closes about 11 pm) TBA

AMERICOVER 2022 EXHIBITS

Saturday, August 17

8:30 am AFDCS Charter & Life Members and Volunteers Breakfast (invitation only) TBA

1:00 pm 7-1-71 Affair Chapter* AFDCS meeting Schaumburg G

6:30 pm AFDCS Post-Show Informal Dinner TBA

8:00 pm AFDCS Hospitality Suite (4 hours) Imagination Room Show Hotel

Americover 2025 Awards at GASS

®

Claude C. Ries Chapter Grand Award

Claude C. Ries Chapter Grand Award

This award is sponsored by the Southern California Claude C. Ries chapter of the AFDCS. It consists of a crystal pyramid with suitable inscriptions and is given to the best multi-frame FDC exhibit at Americover.

Richard H. Thompson Reserve Grand Award

Sponsored by Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc.

For the second best multi-frame FDC exhibit at Americover.

Curtis B. Paterson SingleFrame Grand Award

Sponsored by the Robert C. Graebner Chapter

For the best single frame FDC exhibit at Americover.

AFDCS EXHIBITS

GASS 2025 Cachetmakers Bourse

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. near the USPS area

◆ Junior Cachetmakers – Annajoy & Katie

◆ Anon E Mouse Cachets

◆ Bella Cachets

◆ “Colorano” “Silk

◆ Dragon Cards

◆ David Peterman

◆ Philatelic Press

◆ Ardis Quick

◆ Silver Fox Studio

◆ Mike Smith Postal Art

◆ Wally Jr. Cachet

◆ 6º Cachets

Visit us at Booth #529

The American Philatelic Research Library

Book loans, copy & scanning service, reference assistance, David Straight Memorial Philatelic Union catalog, and Robert A. Mason Digital Library. 500+ new journal issues are added to the digital library monthly.

Librarian: Marian Mills, ext. 246, mmills@stamps.org

Reference: Nathaniel Fenush, ext. 241, nfenush@stamps.org

General questions: Cassidie Cain, ext. 240, library@stamps.org

Digital Library: Geoff Hobart, ext 245, ghobart@stamps.org

The American Philatelist, Philatelic Literature Review & StampEd

The American Philatelist is the world’s premier stamp magazine: 100+ pages published monthly, written by members for members. The PLR is the biannual journal of the APRL, highlighting philatelic research, resources, publications and libraries. StampEd is the APS’ new, free digital magazine, for the next generation of stamp collectors.

Editor-in-Chief: Susanna Mills, ext. 207, smills@stamps.org

Senior Editor: Jeff Stage, jstage@stamps.org

Graphic Design & Classifieds: Chad Cowder, ext. 223, ccowder@stamps.org

Advertising: Steve Schwanz of FOX Associates, 800-440-0231, adinfo. theamericanphilatelist@foxrep.com

APEX Expertizing Service

Offers guaranteed opinions on the genuineness of stamps by a committee of experts.

Director: Ken Martin, ext. 205, kpmartin@stamps.org

Submissions: Sharon Shawley, ext. 206, sshawley@stamps.org

APS/APRL Services

APS Stamp Insurance Plan

The most comprehensive coverage available — low cost for members and quality service through Hugh Wood Insurance. Toll Free: 1-888-277-6494, insurance@stamps.org Website: www.hughwood.com

Circuit Mail Sales

A $4,000,000 inventory awaits your request — mini-stamp stores delivered to your front door.

Director: Carol Hoffman, ext. 270, choffman@stamps.org

Manager: Bill Dixon, ext. 228, wjdixon@stamps.org

Education Programs

Learn more about collecting! The APS offers virtual learning events, on-demand videos, courses and more.

Director of Education: Tomalei Vess, ext. 237, tvess@stamps.org

Shows and Exhibitions

Annual Great American Stamp Show, show calendar updated regularly with club/affiliate events, exhibitions, and WSP show resources.

Director: Wendy Masorti, ext. 218, wendy@stamps.org

Assistant: Amy Larimer, ext. 225, amy@stamps.org

StampStore via HipStamp

Buy & sell online through APS StampStore on HipStamp. New items added every business day.

Director: Carol Hoffman, ext. 270, choffman@stamps.org

General Information & Membership

Have a question or need assistance utilizing any of our services? Social Media: Nora DeGeorge, ext. 209, nora@stamps.org

Membership Assistant: Laurie Seltzer, ext. 201, info@stamps.org

G r e a t A m e r i c a n

Show Patrons

The APS would like to recognize individuals and organizations that provided funds to support the Great American Stamp Show. GASS is the largest philatelic event held in the United States, support helps to ensure future shows and the growth of the hobby. The following list is up to date as of July 16th.

Show Sponsor

United States Postal Service

Literature Booth

Sponsor ($500)

Collectors Club of Chicago

Show Patron

($100 - $500)

Ken Dort

Ann Dunkin

Elizabeth Hisey

Intl. Society for Japanese Philately

Serge Kahn

Vernon Morris

Scott Pendleton

Ian Sellick

United States Stamp Society

Dr. Bruce Wasserman

Show Patron

($50 - $100)

Greg Cain

Dane Claussen

Marci Jarvis (Cats on Stamps)

Daniel Knowles

Mark Schwartz

Ronald Strawser

Show Patron (Under $50)

Allied Military Government

Collectors’ Club

Akthem Al-Manaseer

Jacquelyn Alton

Douglas Bagarus

Steven Bahnsen

Alan Barasch

Trevor Bills

Jim Boerke

Even Brande (Gellein Stamp Co.)

Tom Broadhead

Frank Caprio

Bob Crossman

Lloyd de Vries

Thomas Dooley

Rita Dumaine (Sam

Houston Philatelics)

Vera Felts

Mark Gereb

Kurt Glenzer

Chris Green

Fred Gregory

Carol Gregory

Eszter Hargittai

Tom Hayes

Jeff Hayward

Kathleen Hendricks

Thomas Hosking

Howard Ingram

Mike Jacobs

Robert Jarvis

Gene Kathol

Dan Keating

Dean Kelly

Steven Kennedy

David Kent

David Klauber

Trice Klauber

Ronald Klimley

Marian Knowles

Philip Koelsch

Bobby Liao

Richard Livingston

Gary Wayne Loew

Michael McCarthy

Jim McKinzie

Thomas Meier

Paul Miller

Ken Nilsestuen

Catherine O’Connor

Carol Peluso

David Perry

Mary Ann Peterson

Kenneth Peterson

Bob Rufe

Andrea Rusnock

Laura Sachs

William Schultz

Michael Schumacher

Cynthia Scott

Steve Shay

Sandra Shedroff

Lee Shedroff

Ronda Sirkovic

Jane Snowdon

Greg Street

Becky Street

Kevin Sward

Lawrence Tausch

Kenneth Trettin

Hal Vogel

Dr. Bruce Wasserman

Wayne Youngblood

John Zwyer (Flamingo Philatelics)

American Philatelic Research Library

The world’s largest philatelic library, at your fingertips! The APRL holds more than 90,000 volumes on stamp collecting, postal history, and mail services, plus unique archives. Search our holdings, article indexes, and digital collections via the library website.

The APRL offers:

• Expert research assistance

• Photocopy and scanning services (nominal fees apply, discounted for members)

• Book loans by mail (available to members only)

• A 19,000 square-foot library and reading room at the American Philatelic Center, open to the public

• Robert A. Mason Digital Library, with hundreds of pages added every week. stamplibrary.org • library@stamps.org

Please Print or Type

Mr., Mrs., Other First Name

Date of Birth

Major Stamp Collecting Interests

r Check here if you do not want the Society to provide your name to firms with philatelic offers deemed of value to the membership.

By signing I agree to abide by the APS Philatelic Code of Ethics and agree to be bound by all rules and regulations (stamps.org/ rules-and-regulations) of the Society and its bylaws. I understand notice of applications for membership is published in The American Philatelist

SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT Date

Signature of Parent/Guardian (required for applicants under age 18) Date

Name of Sponsor (optional)

Sponsor’s APS No.

METHOD OF PAYMENT Payable in U.S. dollars, checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank made payable to the American Philatelic Society. $ ________ r Check r Money Order r Visa r MasterCard r Discover Account Number

APS Membership

12 Months of Membership

 $45 United States  $55 Canada  $65 Other

 $35 Digital

Fill it out at the APS booth or mail your application to:

APS, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823 Payment Method o Cash o Check

Signature of Cardholder

Robert S. Boyd Collection of U.S. 1851-61 Stamps & Postal History

Coming to auction: Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025

Viewing available at Booth 110

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