The Walter W. Hopkinson Trophy

By Roger S. Brody
P.O. Box 722, Westfield, NJ 07091-0722

The Walter W. Hopkinson Memorial Literature Award for the best article published in The Bureau Specialist was created in 1954.  Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Constance B. Hopkinson offered an additional gift and a bequest for a trophy for the best exhibit of 20th Century United States stamps.  The trophy was to be presented at certain important national or regional exhibitions.  The award would be known as the Walter W. Hopkinson Trophy.

Like the Literature Award, the Trophy was established by Mrs. Hopkinson in memory of her late husband who had died on May 8, 1953.  Walter W. Hopkinson (BIA #87) enjoyed a long and distinguished career in philatelic circles, particularly the Bureau Issues Association.

Hopkinson, a member since 1928, was a plate number specialist and during his entire quarter-century of membership was most active in advancing knowledge and providing data for the benefit of the membership of the Association which he served so well.

The Walter W. Hopkinson Trophy, customarily a sterling silver tray (Figure 1) was to replace the "President's Award" begun a year earlier by then B.I.A. President Sol Glass.  In 1953 President Glass created the President's Award to recognize outstanding exhibits presented by B.I.A. members at national or regional shows like SEPAD (Philadelphia) or IFPEX (Kankakee).  The President's Award was presented at eight exhibitions in 1953.

The new Hopkinson Trophy represented a higher recognition of exhibited 20th century material.  The award was to be presented annually, usually at the show representing the Annual Meeting of the Society.  The award criteria have changed since 1954 when Earnest A. Schonrock won the first for his "U.S. 20th Century Commemoratives" at SESCAL.

Initially it was intended that the selection would be made by a judging group wholly separate and distinct from the one that determined show awards.  The members of such a panel, chosen for their knowledge and ability, would more likely be familiar with and responsive to the restrictions surrounding this award.  The eligible material to be judged was to be United States 20th century stamps (Bureau issues).  Stamps for use in the Canal Zone and the Philippines, official seals and postal stationery were not eligible subjects.  Revenues, air mails, commemoratives, postal savings are examples of stamp issues that were eligible.  The award was based on the exhibit's content of Bureau issues.  That initially did not create any particular problem for 20th century items; however, the Overrun Countries issues, printed by the American Bank Note Company, would, for example, be excluded.  An eligible exhibit could include more than 20th century United States (Bureau issues) but the award would be given for the stature of the eligible portion.  The original instructions included a reminder that the twentieth century began January 1, 1901.

It is not clear when the severe restriction against stamps other than Bureau Issues was eliminated.  Today, an exhibit of 20th century stamps and/or postal history of postage or revenue stamps and stamped paper of the United States and U.S. administered areas that are produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and other contract printers are eligible.

Over time the responsibility for the selection of the winning exhibit was returned to the accredited group judging the show exhibits.  To insure reasonable competition, a provision requires a minimum of five eligible entries.  If the restrictions and requirements surrounding the award of the Hopkinson Trophy seem unduly strict, it is because this is no ordinary award.  The Hopkinson Trophy is not to be given routinely.  If the judges do not consider that any eligible exhibits of sufficient caliber warrant it, the award will not be made.  It is only given once a year at the annual meeting show exhibition, unless that show is an international show like Pacific'97.  The award can only be won once by an individual and thus it is of greater value, intrinsically, than most grand awards.

A complete list of winners of the Walter W. Hopkinson Trophy is published below.  The Board of Governors is pleased to honor not only the Hopkinson winners, but also those who have shared their research and studies with their fellow members through the medium of exhibiting.