Prexie Era Committee

2007 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

Interest in the stamps and the postal history of the Prexie Era (late 1930s through the late 1950s) remains strong as seen through the activities of the Presidential Issue Committee and its members.  Collecting interests include the 1938 Presidential Issues (the Prexies), the 1940 Famous American Series and the Transport Airmail Stamps of the Forties.

With an active membership of about 90, the Committee publishes a newsletter, "The Prexie-Era" edited by Steve Roth, featuring original articles written by the members.  The newsletter is distributed quarterly to the membership by snail-mail and e-mail.  The latest issue (our 37th!) features articles on a World War II POW cover, a 1943 Crash Cover and a late correspondence from the Civilian Conservation Corps mailed to Gibraltar.

Articles from members have also been published in various philatelic publications, including the The United States Specialist and the American Air Mail Society's Air Post Journal.

The Committee has also undertaken a census of commercially used $2 and $5 Prexie covers.  Results will be published shortly.

The Committee will hold its annual meeting in conjunction with the APS StampShow in Portland this August.  In addition, to accommodate as many members as possible, regional meetings are held around the country.  Recent meetings were held at CHICAGOPEX, FLOREX and AmeristampExpo in Riverside, CA.

At least sixteen Committee members continue to earn awards exhibiting their Prexie-Era material.  In addition, members have given presentations at stamp shows and stamp clubs around the U.S. and Canada.

2006 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

Interest in the stamps and postal history of the Prexie Era (the late Thirties through the Mid-Fifites), including the 1938 Presidential Series, the Famous American Series of 1940 and the Transport Air Mail Series of 1941-1944, remains high.

The Committee continues to be active with approximately 80 dues-paying members.  The Committee's newsletter, The Prexie Era, edited by Steve Roth, is published at least four times a year, and has inspired members, including Louis Fiset, Ken Lawrence, Chuck McFarlane, Dickson Preston and many others to write about their favorite areas of Prexie Era collecting.  Topics have included Internment Camp Mail, Special Handling Services, Customs Censorship, and World War II Air Mail Routing.

The Committee will hold its annual meeting in conjunction with Washington 2006 on May 29, 2006.  In addition, in an effort to involve members from across the country, regional meetings were held throughout 2005 at the APS/Winter Show, GA (February 2005); Philatelic Show, MA (May, 2005); and Chicagopex, IL (November, 2005).

2005 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

The Presidental Issue/Era Committee remains active with over 90 dues-paying members.  Not only do Committee members collect and study the 1938 Presidential Series, but issues released during the Presidential Era (1938-1954), including the 1940 Famous Americans and the Transport Airmails.

The Committee held its most recent Annual Meeting at INDYPEX 2005, in conjunction with the USSS Annual Meeting.  In addition, to reach as many interested people as possible, regional Committee meetings were held at Stamp Show 2004 in Sacramento and the APS 2005 Winter Show in Atlanta.  Over twenty members attended each of these meetings.

In addition, the Committee publishes a newsletter, The Prexie Era, edited by Steven Roth.  Issued quarterly, the newsletter contains informative articles about the stamps and postal history written by Committee members.  Recent topics have included "Secret Atomic Post Office Boxes," "CPNY Censor Markings" and "Routings of A December 1941 Cover to Egypt."

2004 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

The Committee remains active with nearly 100 collectors of the Fifth Bureau Issue (commonly known as the Prexies), the 1940 Famous Americans Series, and the Transport Airmails making up our membership roster.

The Committee held its annual meeting in conjunction with the United States Stamp Society's Annual Meeting at NOJEX in May.  In addition, to reach more members, a regional Prexie-Era Group meeting was held last January at the APS Winter Show in Norfolk, VA.  An additional meeting will be held at the APS Annual Show in Sacramento, CA this August.

Steve Roth continues to edit the Committee's newsletter, "The Prexie Era."  This ten-page publication is sent to members at least four times a year.

More than 16 Committee members continue to earn awards exhibiting their Prexie Era material at regional and national shows.  I am pleased to report that member Robert Schlesinger won the Walter A. Hopkins Trophy for the best 20th Century United States exhibit at Chicagopex 2003 for his Prexie rate study.

And for hot summer fun, Committee Chair Jeff Shapiro will teach a course entitled "The Wonderful World of the Prexies" as part of the American Philatelic Society's 2004 Summer Seminar to be held in State College, PA June 27 through July 2.

2003 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

The Committee remains active with over 90 collectors of the 1938 Presidential Series, the 1940 Famous Americans, and the Transport Airmail Series of the early Forties on our membership roster.

The Committee will hold its annual meeting in conjuction with the USSS Annual Meeting, held at CHICAGOPEX in November.  In addition, to reach as many members as possible, regional Prexie Group meetings were held in 2003 at Philatelic Show (Boxborough, MA) and APS/Columbus.

Steve Roth continues to edit the Committee's newsletter, The Prexie Era, published at least four times a year.  Under Steve's guidance, we have entered the Twenty-First Century, with a third of the members receiving their newsletters electronically.

At least 16 Committee members continue to earn awards exhibiting their Prexie Era material at regional and national shows across the country.  Bill DiPaolo recently won the Grand Award at Peach State Stamp Show 2003 for his wonderful Prexie Coil exhibit.

2002 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

2001 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

The committee currently numbers about 125 members.  The committee publishes a newsletter, The Prexie Era, and also holds an annual meeting, alternating between the USSS Annual Meeting and national stamp shows around the country.  In 2000, the committee held its annual get-together at NAPEX.  Regional meetings in 2000 were also held at Philatelic Show and Chicagopex, to reach as many members as possible.

Committee members continue to submit articles for an on-going monthly series, "Presidential Issue Usages," edited by Prexie afficionado, Len Piszkiewicz.

2000 Annual Board Meeting Committee Report

The Committee continues to grow following the decision to focus not only on the 1938 Presidential definitives (commonly known as the "Prexies"), but also the Famous Americans and the Transport Series of the early Forties.

While the Committee normally meets once a year (at a gathering we used to call "Prexiepex"), in response to members' requests, regional meetings and seminars were instead held at FLOREX '99, CHICAGOPEX '99 and Philatelic Show 2000, in the hopes of involving more members and attracting wider attention to Prexie Era philately.  In addition, at least 15 Prexie Committee members continue to exhibit at local and national shows.