The United States Stamp Society (USSS) is a “non-profit” volunteer-run association of collectors devoted to the study of postage and revenue stamped paper produced for use in the United States and U.S. administered areas. Once concerned exclusively with the production of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the USSS has expanded its coverage to all United States issues regardless of printer.
Pandemic Advisory
There will likely be delays in processing applications and orders due to COVID-19
2020 Annual Meeting at NOJEX/ASDA Expo
I certainly hope that all of you, your families and loved ones are all safe and healthy. Please do all you can to help stop the spread of this virus.
Although long-range planning for me has come down to a week at a time, some folks have inquired about the status of our 2020 annual meeting scheduled for October at NOJEX in East Rutherford, NJ, As of now, NOJEX is still planning to be held the weekend of October 23rd through the 25th at the Meadowlands Hilton. Should this change, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, please stay well and use some of this time to enjoy your collections and maybe even write a short (or long) article for The Specialist.
Nick Lombardi
Kenneth Zierer Wins Literature Grand Award
Ken Zierer received one of the seven Large Gold medals awarded to the 32 submitted articles. The article, published in 2018 in three parts, in the May, June and July issues of The United States Specialist can be found by browsing the digitial Specialist. The competition, the first ever for philatelic articles at a World Series of Philately (WSP) show was judged by Peter McCann, Chief Judge, Patricia Walker and Patrick Walters. It would appear from the favorable reaction by the collectors at the Sarasota event, that this new form of article competition, might become a semiannual event at WSP shows.
The Virtual Philatelic Program Series®
On Wednesday May 27 at 5:30pm EDT, The Collectors Club will be hosting “Interesting Usages During the Prexie Period,” a live, virtual, program presentation by Gordon Eubanks using Zoom technology.
The talk will discuss interesting uses of the Prexie stamps and uses to unusual locations and/or people. The Prexies were the work hours taking use from the great depression, through World War II and into the prosperity of the 1950’s. They are not modern, over 81 years since they were issued, and provide a great window into history of our country.
Gordon Eubanks is an avid exhibitor having received the Champion of Champions award twice: first for his 1847 and more recently for his 1851-1856 traditional exhibits. Internationally, these exhibits have been awarded a large gold each time they were shown and well as Grand Prix National at New York 2016. He has, additionally, written extensively on the “art” of philatelic exhibiting, to the benefits of many of his colleagues.
Gordon has been active in the philatelic community, currently serving on the board of the Classics Society and previously the Philatelic Foundation. He is a member of all the major societies including the United States Stamp Society, The Collectors Club and the Royal Philatelic Society. He was a collector as a youth and returned to active collecting some 25 years ago.
New U. S. Possessions Book
United States Possessions: Postage Due Stamps and Covers is now available in the Store section of the USSS website. The book presents the story of Postage Due stamps used in the major Possessions or territories of the United States. Written from a stamp collector’s perspective, the authors address the challenge of identifying the myriad of Possession Postage Due stamps by concentrating on stamp identification while also covering the Postage Due issues of Cuba, the Danish West Indies, Puerto Rico, the Panama Canal Zone, the Philippines and more.
In addition to the text, the monograph contains over 300 illustrations and five appendices help provide information to supplement and further explain key points. In many cases, the information presented is new or, if previously reported, organized in a new manor to help the reader understand the complexity of the Possession Postage Dues.
Hard cover, 352 pages, 6-in x 9-in.
Member Price: $34 U.S. postpaid Non-Member Price: $39 U.S. postpaid