Robert G. Rufe has been selected to receive the Walter W. Hopkinson Memorial Award for the best article or series of articles published in The United States Specialist during 2007. The award is given annually by the United States Stamp Society and consists of an engraved plaque and an honorarium. The award will be presented at the Society’s Annual Meeting at NOJEX at the end of May.

Rufe’s articles on “The U. S. Special Handling Issues” appeared in three parts in the October, November, and December issues of The United States Specialist. These articles described, in detail, the many complexities and challenges faced by collectors of this “back of the book” issue, which is only given a half page of coverage in the Scott’s Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers.

The first article dealt with the 1925 first printing and the occurrence of transfer roll relief breaks. The second article addressed the yellow-green color change in the 1928 second printing, the new 10¢, 15¢, and 20¢ denominations, and an analysis of the quantities printed. The final installment dealt with the dry printing era, means of identification, and terminology. Rufe also included a “Chronology of Special Handling Issue Events” that will greatly assist any student of the issue in understanding its evolution and usage over a period of more than thirty years.

The Hopkinson Memorial Literature Award selection committee consists of the last three living winners of the Award. The committee for the 2007 Award consisted of Melvin Getlan, Chairman, the 2004 winner for “Follow-up On Early Usage of Dummy Test Stamps;” Nicholas Lombardi, 2005 winner for “The U.S. Registry Label & Receipt of 1907;” and Wallace Cleland, the 2006 winner for his seven part series “AMG Plate Blocks.”

The Award has been given annually since 1954 in honor of Walter W. Hopkinson. It was established by his wife, Mrs. Constance B. Hopkinson, in view of Hopkinson’s interest in philatelic scholarship and the dissemination of research and knowledge through the Society’s publications. Hopkinson was a plate number specialist as well as a long-time member and vigorous supporter of the Bureau Issues Association, as the Society was then named.

A list of all previous winners of the Award can be found on the Society’s website, www.usstamps.org. Just click on “Feature Articles and Links” and then “Description of Awards given by the Society.”